where has the blogging spark gone?

i haven't been updating lately, perhaps the "spark" of blog posting has dwindled these past few weeks. what's eating my blogging appetite, work? lack of family time? the crave for simply lazying on the couch and catch some TV shows? exhausting work schedule? or simply no stories to tell. one thing i'm sure is, it's NOT the latter.

too many things have been happening lately and i haven't been catching up with my writing. shame on a former (legitimate professional) writer!

19th PR Congress
i saw big names from the Public Relations world, and one of the speakers i admired most delivering his talk was Tony Ahn who was quick but clear in delivering his part discussing about reputation management. He advised us to "be radically transparent, and engage with public where the public congregates," wherein at this time, they are mostly on social media.

The congress also tackled a good number of topics relating to the disruption that the PR community faces--- the dominance (today) of social media, and how it affects basically everyone.

Filipino-Canadian & Youtube sensation Mikey Bustos had a special appearance by the end of Day 1 and i just couldn't let go of the opportunity of having a souvenir photo with him. After all, his being (pinoy) nationalistic is very admirable.

[caption id="attachment_2757" align="alignnone" width="300"] starstruck with Mikey Bustos[/caption]

handling crisis management

almost very related to the congress i attended, we have been faced with a crisis over the week and we just have to manage it. still long way to go, this is a learning curve for us. and this has been keeping us busy over the past couple of weeks and up to now and maybe in a few more weeks, as reputation tainted with a bad publicity is really not that easy to rebuild right away. and for that, i'm on duty today & tomorrow in one of our projects. talk about losing your one & only weekend day, but yeah, it's part of the job! any way, i was informed to have an offset for the sunday work. that should compensate it. ;)

fast growing up
our little girl is fast growing-up. the only thing she needs now is to talk straight. but i love her baby talk. in a few more months, she won't already be saying these cute words that only her mom and dad can decode. the little girl will soon be the girl who will go independent. i just hope even if she grows up, she still yearns for those daddy hugs & kisses that we do everyday when i come home from work. :( sume-senti?





another thing growing up is wifey's online business. please, please, please... join the craze and enjoy shopping online! visit my wifey's online shop at Bonenica Shop. Such affordable prizes... check out the shop and see things you may need everyday, or simply want. see the difference? we have what you need, and we may also have what you want. visit now! Bonenica Shop!



life's decisions

in a couple of years, our little daughter will go to formal school. we have been offered a life-changing option to decide on and wifey & i both agreed on one decision. abangan!

The Fern and the Bamboo

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...
I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the
bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the
bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year
the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo," He said.

"In the third year, there was still nothing from the
bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was
nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and
insignificant...But just 6 month later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet
tall.
It has spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and
gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it
could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, My child, that all this time you have been
struggling, you have actually been growing roots"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The
bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the
forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give Me glory by rising as high as you can."

(25-Feb., 2006)

"I'll see you in September..."

"...when summer is gone,
have a good time but remember
i'll be waiting back home..."

^ one of the many "September songs" that i love, Gary Lewis' "When Summer Is Gone."

September is the start of autumn---my favorite season. Too bad, we don't have that in Manila. However, it's also an anticipated month here, since it signals the beginning of the "holiday season," so to speak.

The first of September validated my employment in the current company i'm into. It's the first day of my regularization. [caption id="attachment_2742" align="alignright" width="150"] "Basta Radyo... Bombo!" - with Henry Lumawag[/caption] It's my 2nd business trip in Iloilo. This time I don't have any colleague from Manila accompanying me. I'll be holding an event with the help of colleagues based in Iloilo... and i think it's all good. Lot of things to learn all by yourself. This isn't a new set-up for me, and i'm just grateful that everyone around are very helpful and accommodating. This morning, I went to Bombo Radyo to meet its Station Manager. Our company placed an ad in the station and it airs on separate (programs) time slots. It's an honor to have met the station manager of the popular radio station in the region. We chatted a bit, mostly talking about our placed ad, and how they do radio advertising compared to stations in Manila. With the request of my boss, I also booked them a schedule of lunch date next weekend. We value media a lot... we must, just like everyone else should.

[caption id="attachment_2743" align="alignleft" width="150"] little Aya and her medication. Made her well with prayers :)[/caption] I do miss my two girls, though. I'm not very fond of being far from them for more than a day and only the business trips can do that to us. I was touched with the gesture of my little girl when wifey called yesterday, saying that little Aya was inquiring if I brought an umbrella with me. She said it's raining hard back home. I miss my little girl. She always waits for me from work to play "budin" (baby talk for "bugbugin" where the action of beating up a person is retained but not to harm but to kiss the victim all over the upper extremities, mostly in the neck part and face.) Even if she's asthma attacks... she sees to it that she plays with daddy before going to sleep. I wish I can just take away her sickness because we don't want her having a hard time when the attack hits her... :(


longing to see the colorful trees again, the falling of leaves, the feel of the breeze of cold air, signalling the weather transition going to winter... the feel of autumn... just as the summer is gone...

wrapping up August

a few more minutes and the ninth month of 2012 will make its entrance. '-ber months' as they are more popularly called, September marks the anticipation of the most joyous holiday(s) for many Filipinos. before this month ends, let me just recap what other significant things happened aside from what i've already posted.

> headlines today is the appointment of (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas as the new DILG Secretary, officially filling-in the shoes slippers of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. Tough job for Roxas, all eyes will be on him. Congressman Jun Abaya takes over his post as Transportation & Communications chief.

> i received a letter from the HRD, confirming my regularization beginning tomorrow, September 1st. i'm very thankful with my colleagues who have been helpful, especially my boss, Nix, who's ever supportive in everything.

> i've discovered the healing power of ASCOF Lagundi against cough. if i have not taken it the first day i felt pain in my throat, i could have been sick in bed the following days. (this isn't a paid post) let's just give credit where credit is due ;)

> today marks the 3rd death anniversary of the leader i looked up to for many years. truly, "his labor is not in vain..." #bro.EGM

> my dad felt sorry for her apo. when he visited us one day, he saw how the little girl watches TV with barely a clear picture on the tube due to lack of a good antenna. so he instructed us to inquire... and voila!

[caption id="attachment_2737" align="alignnone" width="300"] checking what's on at Disney Junior[/caption]

> because of colleagues influence, i began appreciating milk tea more. uhmm... with pearl sinkers, of course. ;)

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="alignnone" width="300"] Serenitea Adikssss[/caption]

> this month, the "transition month" lives up to its 'title.' wifey & i agreed to give 'it' a shot. in a few years time, we will see... :|