Objectives and Goals

SUNSET HIGHWAY
© Kzimarik | Dreamstime.com

Objectives are not fate; they are direction.
They are not commands; they are commitments.
They do not determine the future;
they are means to mobilize the resources and energies
of the individual for the making of the future.

- Peter Drucker

MFAH 1

This were some of the paintings in Museum of Fine Arts. They are actually quite strict to taking pictures, these are just some of the arts that were allowed, and, NO FLASH (I think it's because it's bad for the paintings).

Bayanihan in Action: Taking Charge of Flood Prevention in Our Communities

Since Typhoon Ondoy devastated Luzon, the people in the affected areas have faced a persistent and dreaded problem: flooding. It’s an ongoing issue that constantly disrupts their lives. They’ve long desired a solution, but the question remains - how?

You know what? It’s not fair to always blame the government for this. First, they’re not the ones littering in your neighborhoods. Second, ask yourself: what can they do that you can’t?

Let me be clear - I’m not defending the government. I don’t fully trust them either. They often fail to listen, and countless pleas have fallen on deaf ears. But that’s precisely why it’s time to take action into your own hands.

SOLUTION: CLEAN YOUR AREA. Don’t wait for the government to step in and do it for you. Start by practicing discipline and encouraging others to do the same. If that means rallying families and individuals in your community, perhaps with the assistance of local officials, so be it. You have the power to make a difference. Sure, it may not be as easy as it sounds, because most of the time, it’s not - but can you live with the reality of facing the same problem every typhoon season?

This is a big challenge, no doubt. But remember: “Together we stand, divided we fall.” Doesn’t that make sense now more than ever? It’s time to embrace our long-standing tradition of bayanihan - the spirit of communal unity and effort.

We proved what we can achieve together during EDSA. Don’t you think it’s time to channel that same spirit, for yourself, for your family, and for future generations?

Don’t just wait for the guava to fall; it might never happen. Instead, make the choice to pick it.

Lousy Employer

My husband's job is quite lucrative. He's being paid on an hourly basis with per diem plus overtime pay. We wouldn't worry about money at all. That is, if you got a really good employer.

But he doesn't.

He can't go further with other projects since his employer is banned from some of them. We have to keep emailing and reminding them about his salary (mind you, they are super late - a month and more). And when they were able to deposit the entire amount to his account, we have to wait until forever (we're still waiting up to this time) for it to be cleared. It was deposited and credited, it bounced so it was debited. And credited again but it has to be cleared. And we are still WAITING for it to be cleared.

It would have been ok if we don't have bills to pay, but we do. And it has been stifling us for quite some time now. He's got a lot of offers from other companies, but he is way too tied because his company petitioned his immigration papers. If he gets out, we have to wave goodbye to our green card. And start all over again with the other companies. With that, we have to say goodbye too to the endless payments we've already made. Duh.

Well, life is not about just the roses, we have to accept the thorns at most times. Even with what we are going through at this time, I still feel sooo positive. I always look forward to a bright new day, because even if life does offer thorns, it just made us bounce back stronger with more lessons we carry to guide us through. Isnt' that what life is all about?

By the way, here's a letter from one of the project managers (and the only one, if I may say) his lousy employer had and it was really something.

&&*&^%^ is one of the companies that agreed to the SF 2G work. I was relying on your company to perform this work, but if you cannot pay your employees how can %**)(*^ perform this new work? Simple, YOU CAN'T.

Here we go again. Until you get these guys paid, I will be excluding ^*%%^%$ from getting any new scopes of work or opportunities. Your employees shouldn't have to bear the brunt of your financial woes by having their withheld paychecks keep your business afloat. That's just wrong on so many levels. I am keeping a keen eye on this situation, and will not let this continue to happen under the radar any longer. These guys bust their humps for us, and they deserve to be compensated for their hard work and not have to beg for their supper.

^%^***^&^&% is now a company based on actions, not words. The days of handshake deals and under the table business practices are over, and the days of actions are here to stay. You are dealing with a whole new beast now, and you don't have any more allies here except for me. I believe in your workforce, and that's why I renewed your MSA. Don't make me regret it. You are at risk of losing out on some unprecedented opportunities. That's not an idle threat, it's a fact. No well-crafted reply is necessary. I already read the last one, and I wasn't moved or impressed. I'm not interested in your excuses any longer. GET THESE GUYS PAID.

I hope they get the message.

Pieces

CHINESE NOODLES 4© Rjlerich | Dreamstime.com


If one dream should fall
and break into a thousand pieces,
never be afraid
to pick one of those pieces up
and begin again.

- Flavia Weedn

Disturbing Video of A Nanny in Action

I saw this video through FB and track it down in YT. I am very, very disturbed with this one. I hope they track this down...anybody???

Website: Pravsworld

I found a really great site today, it reached out to inspire and motivate us to do our best and (or try to) find our inner selves.

There are just things we wanted to do but we can't, no matter how we try. But nobody said we can't do it the way we wanted to. And if somebody does tell you that you can't do it right, then show that person how to do it better. (Okay, did I just said that?)

And if in the process of doing, you made mistakes, then I guess it's time to take the alternative route - if plan A did not work, try plan B. You can try to complete the alphabet. And then at least, you found other ways not to do it the way you did. Mistakes are actually a source of inspiration, don't you think? As for me, it does motivate me to become better at something, for something and in something. Whatever they are, that is.

Time

TIME © Janpietrus... Dreamstime.com

Nothing is stable.
Everything passes and flows.
We mortals, too, have been cast adrift.
And like frail, rudderless craft,
are being swiftly borne
down the dark river of time.

Sail On!

SAIL BOAT
© Isteo | Dreamstime.com

Greatness is not in where we stand,
but in what direction we are moving.
We must sail sometimes with the wind
and sometimes against it-
but sail we must,
and not drift,
nor lie at an anchor.

Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)

The Best Christmas Ever

It's not Christmas yet, but I'd like to share with you this favorite of mine. I found this poem in a magazine long time ago (I think I was about 13 - so forgive me if I haven't noted the author of this wonderful christmas love story don in prose).

WINTER BLIZZARD (2)

© Wildman | Dreamstime.com

“The best Christmas ever?
I remember it well!”
So began the old story
My mother would tell

The familiar old story
We kids love to hear,
Christmas Eve by the fire,
At the end of the year.

“I was eighteen,”
She would smile and say,
“But how well I remember
That one Christmas Day.

On the morning before,
A great storm started blowing,
The air became damp,
And soon, it was snowing.

And then, how it fell,
Flakes just poured from the sky,
Till the drifts piled up
Half a dozen feet high,
The roads became blocked,
Our small airport shut down,
And soon, not a soul
Could escape from the town.

“I remember my father
Reached home around four,
And I saw someone with him
When I opened the door.

A snow-covered stranger,
A guest, I was told,
A young out-of-town lawyer,
Tall! Handsome! – And cold!

A young man from the city,
I heard my father say,
Christmas Eve – he was stranded –
So with us he would stay,
And we’d make his Yule merry.
Or at least we would try,
Till the airport reopened,
And the storm had gone by.

“And then, there began
The best Christmas ever.
Our guest was a dream,
For besides being clever,
And besides being handsome,
He was gentle and shy –
So – I soon fell in love!”
Mother said with a sigh.

“Christmas Eve – Christmas Day –
We spent hours together,
But then I could see
A change in the weather.

The storm had gone past,
It no longer was snowing,
And the following day,
I knew he’d be going.

He’d be off to the city,
He’d be leaving – and then –
I feared that I never
Would see him again.

“Ah, if only, I thought
There was some magic way,
To prevent him from leaving,
To cause a delay.

I was sure that I pleased him,
That was easy to see,
Why, another few days,
And he might fall for me!

Well, I thought and I thought,
But what could I do?
And then, after supper –
Yes, it’s perfectly true –
He said he felt odd,
He confessed he was ill,
One moment so hot,
The next moment, a chill.

Yes, it’s hard to believe,
But it was perfectly true,
That evening our guest
Came down with the flu!

“For a week he stayed with us,
Now better, now worse,
He was so sweet and helpless –
And I was his nurse.

I brought him cold cloths
To put on his head,
I brought him warm soup,
And fluffed up his bed.

Oh, I cared for my patient,
Through each fever attack,
And when he left a week later,
I prayed he’d come back.

Mother paused for a while,
And said nothing more.
She looked at us children.
Sprawled about on the floor.

She gazed at the tree.
All tinseled and bright,
At the wreaths and the fire,
And the holiday night.

Then she said, “Every Christmas
Is special, I know,
But for me, that December
Had a magical glow,
First the hours before Christmas,
And then Christmas day,
The great blizzard that brought us
Together that way,
All the wind and the snow,
And the terrible weather,
Then the last minute flu
That kept us together.”

And she’d look at my father,
And say with a smile,
“I’m so glad you were forced
To remain for a while,
The out-of-town stranger,
So handsome and clever,
The sweetheart I found,
On the best Christmas ever.”

Bathroom Decoration

We have a small bathroom that's all white. I'm a colorful person and I like to see colors in places I see. At this time, I'm thinking of redecorating our small bedroom and the bathroom to fit our lifestyle, but I have no idea where to start. I don't have the budget so it would just a scouring for something I can find inside the house that's good enough to go with the decor.

So far, all I did was organize the clutter on the vanity. It's so drab, since it's all white. Still finding that right art. I'm just using what I can.

Everything I Do

This is a favorite, and reminds me of my high school days...don't you just love Bryan Adams? This was part of the soundtrack of the movie Robinhood - Prince of Thieves.

Things About Iraq

1. The garden of Eden was in Iraq.

IRAQ

© Mbastos | Dreamstime.com

2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!

3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.

4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.

5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!

6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq.

7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.

8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.

9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.

10. Amos cried out in Iraq!

11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.

12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!

13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the fiery furnace!)

14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.

15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.

16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.

17. The wise men were from Iraq.

18. Peter preached in Iraq.

19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon,which was a city in Iraq!

And you have probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots.

Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated it than Iraq.

And also... This is something to think about! Since America is typically represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages...

The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)

PAGE OF KORAN

© Monkeybusi... | Dreamstime.com

Koran (9:11) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.

***This was emailed to me and I find this really weird.

Choosing

WAYS TO CHOOSE
© Djburrill | Dreamstime.com

Optimists are right.
So are pessimists.
It's up to you to choose which you will be.

- Harvey Mackay

Picture Perfect

Two sites for these...

BEFORE AND AFTER

These are just the few pics that I've already edited, I just wanna share how ho-hum pics can become better. I'm not saying I have the prowess for it (heheh) since I've relied too much on BATKHELA for the beautiful pictures that I keep downloading and for the editing? Secret. Hehehe. Nah, I depended on PICNIK. They really offer hassle-free editing. I'm just so happy with the outcome of my pics! Sharing with you what I know and we all can enjoy our still shots! Happy editing!

MBA Reviews

I came across some documents when I was taking my MBA and found myself reading my answers to tasks given to us.  These are my favorites among those critiques/reviews I've made...

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT

 What really is the quality of life?  Can this concept be really seen in an organization?  I was prompted to ask these questions as this topic was being discussed.  I have been working for more than ten (10) years now and I cannot say I have experienced it to its fullest.

 In the Philippine setting, we are compelled to work in an environment where multitasking is necessary.  Where job design and job descriptions were a sundry, but the work and responsibilities involve is much, much more.  Where job rotation and job enlargement is but one and where job enrichment is not discretionary but because there is only one person assigned or plainly because no one will do the job aside from the person involved.

In an organization setting, more often than not, employees today are dissatisfied with their overwhelming workloads, the failure of senior leadership to provide a clear path toward success, and the lack of developmental opportunities.  It is stressful that employees are already burdened with too much work, and stressful too that job performance is unrecognized.  The feeling of working under pressure on too many reports and workload to meet and beat deadlines and the feeling that the effort itself is not recognized, not only causes dissatisfaction, but stress.

 If only a leader can clear out what results are important to achieve and why, and then to work with people to achieve alignment on those behaviors that produce those results. Once people understand what results they need to achieve and what they can do to produce those results, they are better able to make decisions about which activities add the most value. They can make choices about how best to spend their time.  This affords not only employee encouragement, but also a stress-free management.  And maybe, these can achieve a quality of life, not just a concept of what can be, but what is.

CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

 People with disabilities are those with physical, sensory, or mental impairments that can make performing an everyday task more difficult. (Encarta © 1993-2003).  In advocating for their rights, disabled people have worked to establish several important principles. One is that they be considered on the basis of individual merit, not on stereotyped assumptions about disabilities. Another is that society must make certain changes to enable them to participate more easily in business and social activities; an example is wheelchair access to public transportation, building entrances, and theaters. A third principle is that, to the extent appropriate for each individual, disabled people should be integrated with people who are not disabled.  And one major step in achieving their goals is the landmark federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against people with physical or mental disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. Successful implementation of this law promised to have a profound and positive impact on the status of people with disabilities.

 The paper intends to ascertain if proper educational intervention will significantly change the viewpoint of individuals in their discrimination to people with disabilities.  It also provides negation to employers who are considerably unable to employ handicaps especially those that are physically disabled.  Given the background on disability, one can consider that in many cases, eight out of ten individuals have impairments, as the likes of heart diseases, hearing and eye deterioration.  Such impairments may be due to stress or computers.  So, unknowingly, employers do hire the impaired, only, not the obvious ones.

 In a known government agency here in the Philippines, there are some individuals afflicted with diseases.  One has epilepsy and the other one has limp.   They were very much capable of working and they do not hinder anything or anyone.  The local government has its own genre of ADA, the Association of Disabled Persons (ADAP) and most of them work as checkers of cinemas in the local malls.

 To say that orientation on the proper handling of disabled persons can be manipulated by educational intervention is the fervent hope that each one of us is neither biased, and the understanding be instilled.  One can sum up that it is really up to the individual or employer who is faced with such task, but for the employer who has to take many considerations, it is an undertaking.

Just A Thought

There are things we'd rather forget but we usually remember. There are instances that we want to talk but nobody listens; there are times we write letters that we never send. There are people we'd like to ignore but who, for some unknown reasons, we unexpectedly meet. There are times and things in our lives that we hate but we unexpectedly like, as to those persons we try to hate so as not to fall for them...but we usually do.

Life Spent

THE WAY OF LIFE © Showface | Dreamstime.com

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable,
but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)