Oh Hiatus I Long To End Our Days!

Perhaps, some if not many, are missing my posts here.

I too miss to post but my hiatus is work related. If you’re reading my previous postings I’m sure you have the concrete idea

Let’s call it hiatus.

Forced hiatus to be exact. And who’s the culprit? Work, work and work.

Are You A Responsible Pinoy?

Hey guys, I just want to share with you all about the word “RESPONSIBILITY” here. I may sound too preachy here but let us be reminded how we can best display being responsible.  It can help us examine our life’s check and balance status. Henceforth, we can reassess if we are still within its frame.

For all we know, at times we fall short of being responsible. Our selfish attitude sometimes befalls us to its trap and we somehow take for granted to exercise responsibility over people and things in our own life.

Responsibility is taking care of your duties. Responsibility is answering for your actions. Responsibility is accountability. Responsibility is trustworthiness.

 Why is being responsible important?

Responsibility is a core value for living honorably.

Responsibility is being accountable for your behavior.

Responsibility is being dependable when you have things to do.

TRAVEL -Tara Na! Sa Paraiso ng SIBUYAN - The Galapagos of Asia

Cresta de Gallo - is a kidney-shaped unexploited islet
 45 minutes off Sibuyan Island. Cresta boasts a dazzling
white sand beach, vast coral reef teeming with colorful
and breath-taking underwater life making it ideal for snorkeling
and scuba diving, unusual volcanic rock formations,and most
of all, serene and paradise-like surroundings thereby making
your stay on the island, no matter how brief, a memorable one.

"Sabi ko sa inyo, dadalhin ko kayo sa paraiso eh! Wow!" --yan ang pambungad na mga salita ng TV Host/Actor Richard Gutierrez sa trailer ng kanyang pinakabagong show sa GMA 7 na pinamagatang "PINOY ADVENTURES".

I feel so proud that he'll be featuring our place - Sibuyan Island- as a pilot episode on May 13, 2012. It's the first time our place will be featured in full length episodes ( I guess, it'll have three episodes) on TV.

Here's the video of the trailer of that upcoming show of Richard Gutierrez. 

The Pressure of Purchasing

Part of my working space in Procurement Department .
Messy right? Indeed--just for today

Today, I feel like I just needed a breather. A slap of fresh air and a breakaway from all the office work pressures. If you happen to be working in the procurement department maybe you can closely relate to every inch of stress that this kind of job brings. 

It was a whole day of chaos in my department. Admittedly, we are under staff compared to other departments in our company. Adding to my pressure was the recent resignation  of one member of my team. Well, he'd got a new job in an investment bank with a much higher renumeration. Who won't be tempted to quit a current job if the offer from a new prospect is something highly irresistible? Everyone right? 

Para Sa Iyo, Mahal Kong Ina

"The heart of a MOTHER

is a deep abyss

at the bottom of which

you will always

find forgiveness."

-HONORE DE BALZAC-

Just awhile ago while browsing the net, I came across a screen pop-up in one of the sites I've visited and it's reminding of next week's Mother's Day celebration. 

Suddenly, my mind was like shelling out countless of various thoughts. Thoughts for my own mom. My dearest "inay". My nanay. The woman chosen by God to bear me for nine months. A lady carefully picked by our Creator to carry a boy who later will be HIS servant. And as a gesture of paying homage to the home maker, my poetic side will be put to testing water once again. Seldom when I compose poems in my own language. My poem collection are mostly done in English and my Tagalog entries can be counted using one hand only. And this entry will prove that I can be better if not the best of both worlds.

Samu't Saring Pagmumuni-muni - Version 1.1

Mga ilang araw din akong nawala sa blog na ito. Isa lang ang kahulugan nito. Walang bagong blog entry. Sa ilang araw na iyon anu-ano nga ba ang mga pinagkaabalahan ko? 

Ang totoo niyan marami akong mga bagay na ginawa sa loob ng ilang araw na iyon. Kung aking bibilangin, apat na araw din pala akong nag-hibernate sa blog na ito. Katulad ng ibang masipag na Juan (masipag daw oh! haha! oo, masipag ayaw ko kasing maikumpara kay Juan Tamad), punong-puno ang aking iskedyul. Umaapaw nga eh pero ang lahat ng mga iyon ay pawang mahalaga sa akin.

O siya! bibigyan ko na nga kayo ng ideya kung ano ang mga pinagkapaguran kong gawin sa loob ng apat na araw. At eto ang mga mahahalagang bagay na aking pinag-kaabalahan:

Inspiring People: An Ordinary Man With Extraordinary Act

As a token of appreciation to the person responsible for the overnight fame and public recognition of the simple taxi cab driver Mr. Maximo Aton, I believe he equally deserves praises and appreciation too. 

And here I present to you the main man -  Mr. Raine Cruz 

Mr. Raine Cruz with the VP

Mr. Aton's story won't explode into the public  and gain thousands of attention and appreciation should this ordinary man failed to act on his impulse of reciprocating the honesty our hero Mr. Aton had shown him.

Now, you might be asking the question, "Who is Raine Cruz?" Well, I don't even know him personally. It was just last night when we had exchanged few and kind words when he accepted my  friend's request in Facebook for my purpose of asking him some details about the story he wrote for Mr. Aton.

Have you ever experienced hailing a cab, riding in it, and eventually after alighting left one of your most important things inside? And the worse part is you'll only realize something is missing from your belongings when you're already home. I am sure some of you, if not many, can relate to this. And perhaps few of you didn't even manage to retrieve your valued things.

Here is a similar story of Mr. Raine Cruz but the only difference which I find it quite strange is that  he was able to retrieve his valued things from the taxi cab he had rode in with his friend that fateful night of April 26, 2012. For his full story about the incident, please click this link The Honest Cab Driver.

Perhaps only few of us can think of doing what Raine had done. Or maybe a simple "thank you" to the honesty of the person we owe for a thing returned to us is enough to gesture our gratitude. But   what had Raine exemplified is a milestone act of gratitude to the person he encountered that night. 

Though, initially agreeing to meet with Mr. Aton in their decided place brought him a little qualms. A usual reaction of a person who's not confident enough if a certain valued thing can still be retrieved given the fact that he and the driver are completely stranger to each other. And to make him a bit calm he once again asked the presence of his good friend Hero to accompany him to the agreed place. That night, he's determined to pursue and retrieve his valued belongings (a laptop + P5,000 cash) since the laptop contains important contents for his works as a photographer. 

To cut the story short, Mr. Aton showed up to the agreed place with a wide smile on his face. That smile erased the lingering qualms Raine had while anticipating what will happen. And to his surprise, the laptop and the cash money weren't even touched and remained intact.

(Flash Back)

By the way, before a meet up happened, Raine tried to call the Crowne Plaza Hotel to try his luck if the security personnel had managed to record information of the cab they've rode in. Raine and his friend Hero were at Crowne Plaza Hotel that night for a "raket" as he coined it. So the hotel was their point of origin.  And to his surprise, the guard provided him the car's plate number and Mr. Aton's mobile too. He then called Mr. Aton and spoke with him. The cab driver disclosed that he attempted to go back to Raine's place but failed to locate his place once again and so he planned that night to go back to Crown Plaza Hotel to endorse it there since he didn't even know what to do with those things.

Raine offered Mr. Aton a meager amount of money as a reward which the latter initially refused. But due to his insistence, Mr. Aton accepted it.

Inspiring People: One In A Thousand Cab Driver – Maximo Aton

“In a sea full of dishonest and rude people, there is still at least one or two that will do what is right and remain honest and good hearted “

Mr. Maximo Aton
(photo courtesy of Yahoo news)

Who is Maximo Aton? I don't even know him. I wouldn't even meet him perhaps in my lifetime. But his story is worthy of emulation and so I am writing this blog about him.

I heard it in the news and saw it shared in Facebook. And so without even finishing the simple article shared by Mr. Raine Cruz about his experience to the above mentioned subject, I quickly turn myself into my laptop and started writing about this story. In my mind, this is my simple share of spreading the goodness that this humble man had done and the venerable act that Mr. Raine Cruz did in sharing his story.

Kudos to the both of you!

Few days ago, I was ranting my opinions in a comment portion of my good friend’s post about her bad experience with some taxi drivers somewhere in Dasmarinas, Cavite. In fact, it’s not only me who had shared my personal disappointment but her post was bombarded with coherent reactions of disgust about how many of our cab drivers were turning evil  by being opportunist just to meet ends. I would personally attest to the fact that even my wife and I had to experience the same when we had our yuletide vacation last year. But the only difference in our case was that I’ve always diplomatically argue with the cab driver when I've sensed that he’s taking advantage of us.

But it seemed that in a sea of dishonest and crooked people, there is still at least one or two that will do what is right and remains honest and good hearted.

Such is the case of this great and worth emulating simple man Mr. Maximo Aton – a plain taxi cab driver who once again exemplified few of the true characters of a Filipino – kind hearted, mild mannered, and God-fearing. He’s a man who was never ever tempted to do unworthy act even though opportunity of doing so was just right at his palm.

I learned about his story today when I happened to read a “shared article” in Facebook done by Mr. Raine Cruz – his passenger who was overwhelmed by the intensity of kindness Mr. Maximo Aton had shown him and his friend Hero. To read about his article please click this link:  A Man Worthy of Emulation

It is true that finding noble people these days is like looking for a needle in a shore full of sand. Rarity is the term to call it perfectly. Each day, we are dominated by news on television about murder, bank robbery, kidnapping, rape, and the biggest culprit of our system – CORRUPTION. These sad realities hinder us to fully trust other people especially those whom we have just met or brushed-off shoulders with. In our own effort to safeguard and be a steward of ourselves, somehow at some point we tend to forget the idea that there are still few people who are worthy to rest our trust. Those people who remains reliable and even shy of doing act discreditable to their own dignity. People who still choose simple lives than having a luxurious one but obtained through misconduct.

As a person, who faithfully advocates our new tourism campaign slogan “It’s More Fun In The Philippines” it’s another testament of honesty that I can use to boost my own campaign here in  a foreign land. This story will surely spark high interest to tourists that truly we’re a country of more fun and great people.

I know I’m just one of I guess millions of people now who have been touched by the honesty of Mr. Aton. And I am doing this act not because I was compelled to do it but I’m doing it out of my modest initiative to help proliferates this good news to the world. To be inspired and do random act of kindness even in trivial ways will surely glorify our Almighty more than our people.

Mabuhay ka! Mang Maximo and million thanks to Mr. Raine Cruz for sharing your simple yet worthy-of-a-read story.


And by the way here is the video courtesy of GMA's 24 Oras news.

God bless to the both of you!


Note: If you want to extend personal messages of congratulations to Mr. Maximo Aton you can reach him through this details:


Maximo Aton
O.L.A. Taxi with Plate Number TYZ 619
I'm still trying to contact Ms. Raine Cruz through FB to ask for his number.

P.S. - As much as I wanted a photo of Mr. Raine Cruz but I can't grab any from his Facebook 
account. Anyway, I'll just share it in his page if possible.


UPDATE on THIS STORY:


April 29, 2012 - Last night, Raine and I finally exchanged words through private FB message and he was so thankful for this article. He then provided me Mr. Maximo Aton's mobile number. So, for those who are willing to say hi or few words to Mr. Aton, just send me your request and I'll provide you his  mobile number. As a respect to Mr. Aton privacy as a person, I won't post his mobile number here.


As we mutually agreed, I'll make a separate blog entry for Mr. Raine Cruz for paving the way to Mr. Aton's public recognition and praises for his kindness and honesty. He too deserves praises for elevating into public platform a simple yet inspiring story of Mr. Aton.

Christian Corner: "We Aren't Created To Be On Our Own"

Photo courtesy of Google --I just modified it

Since it's SUNDAY, I just want to share this article by Greg Monteclaro

Being in Community 

by GREG MONTECLARO 

“In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:5 

We are called to belong, not just to believe.


We are created for community, formed for a family, fashioned for fellowship, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves. The Bible says we are put together, joined together, built together, members and heirs together, and held together. 


We were never meant to be on our own, and must not strive to be separate from others. While our relationship to Christ is personal, it is not intended to be exclusive. In God’s family, we are connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity.


Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing. We are members of his Body — the Church. C.S. Lewis noted that the word membership is of Christian origin, but the world has emptied it of its original meaning. Stores offer discounts to “members,” and advertisers use member names to create mailing lists. In churches, membership is often reduced to simply adding our name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations.

Dining Adventure: La Tavola - Italiana Restaurant

I consider eating now as one of my most tempting guilty pleasures in life.

If it's called as such then so be it. After all, who would've resist eating good food. More so, dining inside a fancy restaurant not locally inspired but internationally made.

How did we end-up into La Tavola - Italiana Restaurant?  Lemme tell you, it was a laid-back afternoon yesterday when my wife approached me like this "Are we goin' out? referring to maybe a stroll in a mall or a dine out escapade. I was really having a not-so-good-mood since I'm feeling dizzy for no apparent reason. I was blaming the gloomy lights inside our house giving us a yellowish-inspired surroundings as the cause of my being dizzy. And so I responded unconvincingly "Uhmm Yes? and then suggested to call our CFC family friend (Otadoy family) to go with us. First few attempts weren't successful. My wife gauging that maybe they're having a siesta probably as of the moment they're on a sleeping mode. And yes, she was right after about past an hour when she received a call from Rachel. A short convy took place then my wife prompted me once again if I'm still willing to go out. She's having qualms since I'm in a sleeping mode and perhaps she might be thinking I would just pass on the idea of goin' out. Well, guess what I finally decided to go. So my wife asked me what time shall we go out and I told her around 5:30pm. We mutually agreed and so we waited for the Otadoy's to fetch us up from the house.

They've fetched us a bit late but it's fine since not everyone was in a hurry or at least hungry that time. Floyd drove smoothly heading to Sports Ghornata first since my wife and Rachel (they're office mates in the hospital they're working at) had to canvass prices for trophies needed in their hospital's "Hygiene Division". I'm not certain if it's intended as awards for their sport fest. 

After several minutes of discussion and checking out of prices they ended up not buying even one instead just took photos of the different trophies and intends to present it to their superior. Thereafter, we drove fast to Al Othaim Mall. But before that, Bea was having a bad mood before entering and after going out of the store. She was crying -- just having tantrums maybe.