tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12924141516055297892024-02-07T13:55:53.992+08:00by Joel OlaveJoel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-37939050955284633822022-03-13T21:29:00.002+08:002023-11-25T15:46:23.471+08:00A Time to Remember<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO-VAEE7pAEhLfp9_vmdZI36BayH3TOfuaG2L2mbsewKXDtA1yv1cFBQFKJ9hdYHhlOBrlVEcCVRAhyaqhIlPPxAkORNMrE7FtnfrZfnGDlDKiBAOWZ81CPxFfbf5951JF4PxlgM-6HHo6GKrZEYm2MBvpo92dbkOnuPmo2-kwFLcD5x2_tsNoGZKABA=s982" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="982" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjO-VAEE7pAEhLfp9_vmdZI36BayH3TOfuaG2L2mbsewKXDtA1yv1cFBQFKJ9hdYHhlOBrlVEcCVRAhyaqhIlPPxAkORNMrE7FtnfrZfnGDlDKiBAOWZ81CPxFfbf5951JF4PxlgM-6HHo6GKrZEYm2MBvpo92dbkOnuPmo2-kwFLcD5x2_tsNoGZKABA=w640-h640" width="550" /></a></div><br />Last I
spoke to Mai was December of last year 2021. I greeted her on Christmas day and
she managed to respond two days later. She said she just had two surgeries due
to complications with her intestine. Just before Christmas she was able to come
home after being in the hospital for 35 days. She said she was feeling better
although the wound still hurt. I really felt bad for her and could only imagine
the struggle she had been going through at that point. My fervent wish, as I
told her, was that she gets well soon and for her to take the rest that she
needs to recover.<span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">She</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> had</span><span lang="EN-US"> been going through a lot. She was
diagnosed with ovarian cancer which was already in stage 4 near the end of 2020.
The surgeries and chemotherapies that ensued left hear weak physically. But
when I got to talk to her some months after that, she was unfazed. She had
already decided to fight her sickness and was doing so in the most courageous
way. Of course, I wasn</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">t witness to all the anguish and sorrow she told me she couldn</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">t help but feel on the first few months
after the diagnosis. But by the time we met, it</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">s apparent she got over that phase. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Chemotherapy
sessions weren</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">t fun but she made progress. I remember her telling me about tumor markers
and how her</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">s got so much better from what it used to be. And although she lost much
of her hair, she felt good and could even do chores after her helper left. I
recall being really grateful hearing these pieces of good news. She had no illusion
that her illness will ever be cured but she was determined to keep it at bay
for as long as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Mai and I
first met at work in Intel in Cavite. Although we went to the same university,
we didn</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">t really know each other until we were both working as Process and
Equipment Engineers. She graduated from the University of the Philippines in
Diliman ahead of me and was already in Intel for a year when I joined in 2003. Since
that time, I</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">ve known not only her great work ethic as a colleague but also her
sincerity and loyalty as a friend. We were both just starting a career that time.
I was lucky enough to be in the same group doing the same Die Attach module as
her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">By the time
Intel closed its operations in Cavite in 2009, she had already left to work in
Singapore. I</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">ve recently reread our email exchanges around that time. It was mostly
about how our lives had changed. She was starting out anew in a foreign country
together with her husband Chie. And I was then about to have a daughter but
soon to lose a job. We clearly felt the challenges were ahead of us but she
seemed to be undaunted and felt for sure that better days were coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">That</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> was
one of the traits I admired about her. We may talk and complain about the
difficulties but she had no qualms about doing the work to take on the
challenges that came her way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I finally moved to Singapore at the end of 2016,
Mai had already switched her career from engineering to financial services.
Although she was a good engineer, she was even better as a financial advisor. From
our discussions, I could immediately sense her passion to this new line of
work. She was excellent not only with her technical knowledge but more so with
her empathy to her clients. She was not the usual insurance agent. She went out
of her way to ensure her best effort and care were extended to all clients,
even the difficult ones. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">After her
cancer diagnosis, she offered many of her clients (which already included me) a
newly released insurance plan that covers cancer. This new product unfortunately
didn</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US">t cover her
case due to a 90-day grace period. So, she personally experienced having to spend
hard-earned money on critical illness expenses. And she just wanted better for
everyone else she could reach out to. Even at a time of personal difficulty,
she still exhibited extraordinary care and compassion to others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">She fought
a good fight. No doubt about it. She was a passionate person. A great mother to
her two kids. A loving wife to her husband. A thoughtful daughter to her mom
and dad. A generous, responsible and kind person overall to her siblings,
relatives, friends and co-workers. I was fortunate to have been her friend. Her
passing was a great loss to me and to everyone who knew and loved her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">She will be
missed greatly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">Goodbye, Mai!</span>Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com1Singapore1.352083 103.819836-26.958150836178845 68.663586 29.662316836178846 138.976086tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-68888285061806793682021-04-17T15:21:00.000+08:002021-04-17T15:21:17.655+08:00How the Covid-19 Pandemic Changed our Lives in Cavite<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiBH4QOHl0196QIjlSbMgZJGzrlexQwxv0fbrjl9ebsSHR06_BH7ezwC9xfGgORPow0OuASl4feY_DQ1q3v9jk8BYShhYz2TORbNqhI3j5_4A-SDRiGTWon8Ki2zUXfImD2WfOehelmJg/s1024/Manghahasik.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiBH4QOHl0196QIjlSbMgZJGzrlexQwxv0fbrjl9ebsSHR06_BH7ezwC9xfGgORPow0OuASl4feY_DQ1q3v9jk8BYShhYz2TORbNqhI3j5_4A-SDRiGTWon8Ki2zUXfImD2WfOehelmJg/w400-h225/Manghahasik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />After more than a year of being away from home, I was able to finally make a short visit back to our hometown and be with my family in Silang, Cavite. If it were not for the Covid-19 pandemic, I would have been home five times in a year. But that became impossible because of all the travel restrictions that has been put in place by many countries around the world, including the Philippines (where I live) and Singapore (where I work). <span><a name='more'></a></span><p></p><p>Life for many overseas Filipinos like myself is now changed (some say permanently) because of this pandemic. The things we used to take for granted, such as being able to head back home frequently, is now difficult, not to mention expensive, to undertake. Freedom of movement is the main casualty because in order to stop the spread of the virus, every precaution possible is being taken and those rules hamper people’s mobility. This new reality is hitting many OFW’s quite hard. </p><p>Lucky for me, my job is safe even with the pandemic raging. I have always thought joining the semiconductor industry was the wrong choice for work. Cycles of boom and bust are quite frequent and compensation is not lucrative given the amount of work and dedication required compared to other industries. This pandemic has shown that there are some advantages not entirely obvious after all. Semiconductors is an essential business. At least the Singapore government thinks so. </p><p>After several delays to my Philippine Airlines flight to Manila, it finally happened middle of March. Nothing was unexpected during the flight. I already knew that I needed to wear face shields on top of a face mask. It’s one of those things unique to the Philippines. I’m not certain if the government prides itself of having implemented something different even one that does not really make sense. Requiring face shields is just one of those things. No other country requires face shields during flight or when you are outside your home. Apparently, some “experts” think it’s a good idea. </p><p>After deplaning, I and other passengers were led and guided by government personnel (specifically Coast Guard people) on the protocols to go thru for quarantine and isolation. OFW’s, like myself, are provided quarantine hotels free of charge. We are said to be “modern day heroes” of the country because of our contributions to the Philippine economy with our significant collective remittances. Free hotel accommodation during quarantine and free swab tests when we return for home visits are ways of appreciating our contribution. Another way of saying “thank you”.</p><p>I got my swab test result on the 8th day of my quarantine period. With result being negative of Covid-19, I was able to go home with some conditions. The official quarantine duration was still fourteen days. But after getting the negative swab test results a week later, I was allowed to continue the rest of my quarantine at home. This gave my wife the green light to come and fetch me from the hotel. Although we needed to report to the village nurse who was tasked to monitor and ensure that I follow the guidelines. </p><p>By the time I got out of the hotel, the number of Covid-19 infections was steadily rising. And so, we can sense an imminent lock down was around the corner. The nation’s capital, Manila, and four nearby provinces which include Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal, were all placed under a strict quarantine rule a few days later. I expected then that my 3 weeks vacation will be mostly spent inside the house. </p><p>The spike in Covid-19 cases that went from a daily average of less than 2,000 in February to over 10,000 by the end of March was a big blow to the country as a whole. To do nothing would have caused significant strain on hospitals as they fill to the brim with severe cases. Health care workers who have already faced serious challenges with the current case load needed to brace themselves for a surge worse than before. To avoid the worst-case scenario, temporary lockdowns to halt the spread of the virus was necessary. It meant having to implement strict restrictions that will also slow down the economy and devastate people’s livelihood. </p><p>Cavite was second only to Manila in number of Covid-19 infections. Hospitals were near full capacity and many could not admit additional patients. Some patients had to stay in tents that serve as temporary wards while waiting for hospital beds to free up. A few resorted to using their cars to wait just outside the hospital with patients hooked to oxygen tanks. It was a bad situation getting worse by the day. </p><p>The only time I went out was to get a Covid-19 swab test. Singapore required a negative result 72 hours prior flight so I scheduled it 2 days before. When I drove myself to the hospital in General Trias, I noticed how the road was not as busy. Because of the lock down, not a lot of people can be seen outside. And those who were outside tend follow the guidelines of wearing face masks and face shields. </p><p>Needing some cash, I came by a mall to withdraw money from an ATM right outside it. There was a short queue and most people follow the physical distancing rules. Many business outlets inside the mall were closed. Since there were restrictions, not many customers were available to keep all the businesses earning. Essential ones such as grocery stores and a few restaurants got signs reminding customers to follow the rules on physical distancing. </p><p>I heard stories of long queues to get swab tests on some hospitals so I expected as much when I went for my scheduled test. However, there were only two other persons getting tested that time which surprised and relieved me. That being my second time for a Covid-19 swab, I already knew what was about to happen. Swabs were used to collect samples through my nose and throat. Very quick and quite simple. Much simpler and quicker than the forms that I had to fill up to get it. I paid 6,000 pesos to expedite the result within 24 hours. Otherwise, 4,000 pesos would have taken 48 hours which was too long a wait for me.</p><p>My third swab test happened when I arrived at Changi airport after flying back from Manila. For 160 SG$ paid in advance, I got a quick specimen collection procedure which was done efficiently enough. On the second day of my 14-day hotel quarantine, I got the result through email which was still negative, to my relief. On my 12th day, I’m supposed to get another swab test done for the last time. With another negative result, I will be free at last to return to my place at Sembawang eager to resume my work refreshed and ready for what comes next!</p>Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-54127172261381031072020-02-02T16:16:00.001+08:002020-02-02T16:22:05.217+08:00Taal Volcano Eruption 2020 Earthquake TrendOn 12 January 2020, Taal volcano started to erupt spewing ashes to the north of it's crater and nearby areas. It was one of the most frightening natural calamity that we've had to face in recent years. Granted the Philippines is a magnet for nature's wrath with more than a dozen typhoons coming our way annually. Earthquakes are not unusual. But a volcanic eruption, so close to home - 15 km away, is something we have not been ready for.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Phreatic_eruption_of_Taal_Volcano%2C_12_January_2020_(reduced).gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="240" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Phreatic_eruption_of_Taal_Volcano%2C_12_January_2020_(reduced).gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Phreatic eruption of Taal Volcano, 12 January 2020</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0%22%3ECC%20BY-SA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buszmail [CC BY-SA]</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a name='more'></a>When my wife told me ashes are raining down from Taal's eruption, I was very concerned for their safety. I was away working overseas so I did not have first-hand experience. Nonetheless, the devastation that followed affecting the people living near the area was just heart-wrenching. My family was exhausted and stressed out but they emerged unscathed, thankfully. Power and water supply were none existent for more than a week. Everyone was also struggling to find N95 masks to guard against sulfur dioxide particulates from the ash fall. Everywhere one looked, it was gray - covered with ash. The roads were slippery so travelling was discouraged. Many animals and plants bore the brunt and lost their lives.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Hmw-Taal-2020112-2020113.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="366" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Hmw-Taal-2020112-2020113.gif" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Time-series animation of the volcanic plume released from Taal Volcano's January 2020 eruption - NASA Earth Observatory</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since then, Taal's volcanic activity seems to have decreased significantly. Philvolcs, the government agency monitoring earthquakes and volcanoes, has lowered the alert level from 4 of 5 to 3 of 5. Although many people were in need of help, I have seen how fellow Filipinos have willingly responded to their aid. For sure, some will not soon forget the experience especially those whose houses were torn by cracks on the ground making them unsafe for shelter.<br />
<br />
Still with alert level 3 raised, the situation is far from cleared. The volcano may still yet erupt and that is not comforting. On a daily basis, Philvolcs releases a bulletin about Taal Volcano and its level of activity. The earthquake data that they monitor is a good indication of how active the volcano still is and what is the probability of an eruption in the near future.<br />
<br />
The bulletin, however, is sometimes not easy to appreciate. It's a snapshot of what has occurred for the last 24 hours and how Philvolcs interprets the data in terms of it's significance to how an eruption is likely to happen. What it doesn't do is provide a time trend of the number of earthquakes leading up to the eruption and afterwards.<br />
<br />
I find this oversight to be puzzling in an agency that should place it's guidance on these kinds of trends. Just to provide a contrast, a stock analyst would always pull out a time based trend of a stock price and the company's financial performance in trying to predict its future value. Although we know their situation is vastly different and could very well be non-scientific in terms of correlation and causation, their method is simple and does make a lot of sense.<br />
<br />
But I have to clarify that I do not discount how great a job Philvolcs has done. I commend it's leadership and its people who work tirelessly in the service of every Filipino. They are modern heroes and should always be honored and paid well as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, I took it upon myself to generate a chart showing how earthquakes have trended from before the eruption to date. All the data I used are from the bulletin that is posted in Philvolcs web site. You can see the trend chart below which includes the Alert level for that day which means you can see when it changed and the underlying trend for the decisions to change it.<br />
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<h3>
Here are my take from these data:</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCZz_ww03kBq75BntPvAyu8r63pHhkXq81iYxcwhj5Y28cUNZyBaOsPa9HgC-BRbuNzUj25s2ujwgkQNPyaK-9VqbKiwkra9iTtPocEg9720KtfakTbso3_y6YWaIoV6MplU_4FqRq-QC/s1600/2020+Taal+Eruption+Earthquake+Trend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="1006" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCZz_ww03kBq75BntPvAyu8r63pHhkXq81iYxcwhj5Y28cUNZyBaOsPa9HgC-BRbuNzUj25s2ujwgkQNPyaK-9VqbKiwkra9iTtPocEg9720KtfakTbso3_y6YWaIoV6MplU_4FqRq-QC/s640/2020+Taal+Eruption+Earthquake+Trend.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li>The earthquake counts prior to eruption (still Alert level 1) before the 12th of January is on a slight upward trend but is not wholly indicative whether the volcano is about to erupt</li>
<li>The peak earthquake activity happened on the 14th of January (2 days after eruption started) and trended downwards after that</li>
<li>Although the start of the eruption caught most everybody off-guard, Philvolcs decided with caution and made the right decision (in my view) in lowering down the alert level from 4 to 3 on the 26th of January when the data is highly convincing</li>
<li>The picture doesn't paint how a volcano will behave in the long run but it's indicative that the worst maybe over in the near future</li>
</ol>
<div>
Source: <a href="https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Philvolcs</a></div>
Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-49103238754347709382019-04-22T16:41:00.000+08:002019-09-02T12:33:01.389+08:00Hierarchy of Needs for an Engineer Working Overseas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfoM3pV0MyNccjB2Ed5DEKTEbPb0Dw1eOyfM0PbIQh69xoNsW4mFi2X0ulW67TFaFVxIhWw4oPVVFSqOW_CgeMLsI0on2ZZG14bqOGa9F1yvPM7ss3FqckhREzzm-LHFCsBqFFoaIRGNa/s1600/Maslow+Hierarchy+of+Needs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="900" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfoM3pV0MyNccjB2Ed5DEKTEbPb0Dw1eOyfM0PbIQh69xoNsW4mFi2X0ulW67TFaFVxIhWw4oPVVFSqOW_CgeMLsI0on2ZZG14bqOGa9F1yvPM7ss3FqckhREzzm-LHFCsBqFFoaIRGNa/s400/Maslow+Hierarchy+of+Needs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I went on a two-week vacation last month by flying back to my home town in Silang, Cavite in the Philippines. It felt like a long-overdue rest for I have not been back home since the Christmas break. I try to be home every two months but my busy work schedule got in the way.<br />
<br />
It was a very rejuvenating two weeks. I enjoyed not worrying about work and was just doing whatever I felt like doing. I was very happy to be with my family. I realized how I missed playing with my kids. They are slowly but surely growing up while I was away.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I left my work laptop in Singapore so that I didn’t have to care too much about what’s going on while I was away. Although I still got my phone that could have received work emails in case I really needed to address something urgent. In reality, my colleagues were very capable to handle the work. So I need not have worried. All were left in good hands.<br />
<br />
As many of us are aware, vacation fulfills a basic need. It’s one of our physiological needs: rest.<br />
<br />
Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, was best known for his theory of the hierarchy of needs. Illustrated on the upper-left corner of this article is a pyramid structure of this hierarchy.<br />
<br />
The idea for the hierarchy is that the base needs to be met before we can begin to successfully fulfill our higher order needs.<br />
<br />
At the base of the pyramid are physiological and safety needs. We need to eat, sleep, rest and have comfort. We also need to feel secure and safe in the environment where we live and work. These basic needs, if not met, will distract us by demanding our attention when we try to advance up the hierarchy.<br />
<br />
You may consider the first 2 levels as material or physical needs. This is in contrast to the succeeding levels which may be thought of as spiritual or emotional needs.<br />
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On the third level is “belongingness and love needs”. Each of us need to feel we are not only a part of a group, community or family, we also need to feel that we are loved by our friends or partners. Feelings of self-pity are often experienced by those who think no one loves or cares for them. And it’s a sign that this particular need is not being met.<br />
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Going up to level 4 is “Esteem needs”. For the good of our ego, we need to feel our lives are good for something. That it has not been a waste. That we have accomplished something noteworthy which we can be proud of. Some may not seek approbations but they know when they have done something good which makes them feel accomplished.<br />
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On the peak of the hierarchy, we find “self-actualization”. It is a term used when referring to becoming the best person anyone can be. When someone’s full potential is realized, that results to the best output or contribution from that person. We can say that he or she has experienced self-fulfilment.<br />
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<h3>
Personal Experiences of These Needs</h3>
I am quite fortunate to be working for a good company and earning enough for may family’s needs. I can, therefore, claim that my physiological and security needs are both being met sufficiently. I work in a very safe place and my family, although not with me, is living comfortably.<br />
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The first two levels of the hierarchy (the basic needs) are, therefore, something that doesn’t occupy my thoughts constantly anymore. I can count them as needs that are mostly met.<br />
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I am also extremely lucky to belong to a loving family. I feel loved by my wife and kids, parents and siblings, friends and relatives. They are some of the nicest persons in the world, with few exceptions. I’m also very fortunate to have enough true friends that I can count on.<br />
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I belong to a community that is not as dysfunctional as others in the Philippines. Our barangay is not first-rate and there are indeed some unpleasant character but it’s pretty good overall.<br />
<br />
Our church is also quite friendly and inclusive. It is composed of people who are not fundamentalists. Leadership team is trying it’s best while the members are very encouraging of each other. There a very few misunderstandings that we can consider serious conflicts. Harmonious and supportive fellowship that brings out good intentions for each other - that is indeed an excellent place to worship.<br />
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I work in a company with colleagues and superiors that are decent and hardworking. Although we strive for excellence and are competitive, no one forgets to maintain respect with each other in the spirit of collaboration and teamwork. We value each other and our egos are not huge.<br />
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I appreciate the value that I have been able to deliver for my company. I understand how I have been able to contribute to the bottomline. Although I am not indispensable, both my colleagues and managers value my efforts and results so much so that I have received promotions, recognition and awards.<br />
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Brooding is a pastime for introverts like myself. And I mostly think about how best to use my time so that I minimize future regret. It’s not easy to do because I have to weigh between short-term pleasure versus long-term gain.<br />
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When I am tired of too much work or when I am just being lazy, I feel it’s worth my time to indulge on fun activities whatever it may be. However, the feeling of lost time always comes back to haunt me.<br />
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Time is precious because we cannot get it back. Every second counts and should be used wisely while we still can.<br />
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I’m afraid of having too much regret when the time comes. So I always try to correct my rudder to follow what I thought should be the correct direction. But how to know the right direction is anybody’s guess. So good luck!Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-49771921317505612362017-10-01T12:19:00.000+08:002017-10-01T12:22:35.279+08:00 Filipino Foreign Worker in Singapore - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From where I sit, I see a Singaporean society that has matured. Gone are the unstable political conditions that characterized its post-independence years. There is no more struggle for survival that their founders had to contend with as described in Lee Kuan Yew’s autobiography “A Singapore Story”. Although the yearning for something better is still there, people are well-adapted. They have the resources to make a good life for themselves and their offsprings. And they seem to relish the fruits of their struggle from a generation ago. Their short history tells of a society that has emerged from difficult circumstances to the one they enjoy today. And for this, they are the envy of those countries that are trying to do the same but kept failing - including the Philippines.<br />
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The only downside with living in Singapore (or any other foreign country for that matter) as an OFW is having to spend time away from family most days of the year. The initial excitement of being in a totally new environment that is ripe for exploration and adventure easily gives way to the feeling of loneliness. It’s bearable for people with families who moved together but not every worker has this capacity nor are every family willing to uproot their lives to a foreign land.<br />
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I am one of those who chose not to go through this ordeal. I knew how difficult it will be and how my family’s finances would suffer if the whole family moved to Singapore. We could of course find ways to adjust if we really wanted to. But we decided that although moving together is an option for us, we will not take it. We have set our minds to making a life in the Philippines however difficult that may prove to be. And my being a temporary OFW is a part of that plan. In other words, I don’t see myself living in Singapore permanently. I view myself as being in transit. This transition is necessary for us in realizing our dream life in our own country.<br />
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I would bet that most Filipinos would rather work in the Philippines if the pay was competitive. It’s not easy to be an OFW. And most days, we plan of our eventual return as soon as possible. We conjure of ways to earn a sustainable livelihood in our homeland. Many plans have come and gone to put up businesses. Whatever business it might be, we dream of success for we figure that is our only way out.<br />
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In the meantime, I resolve to fly home as often as possible. My plan is to be present on important family occasions and be home at least every two months. It’s difficult to be away for longer than that. My kids are very young and I don’t want to miss being there as they grow up. I want to be a good influence to them as much as I know how. Although my wife is very capable by herself, I know she needs a helping hand once in awhile to ease the burden and just be able to relax a bit.<br />
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There are multiple direct flights daily from Singapore to the Philippines. Some are cheaper than others. There are five airlines offering these services namely, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Scoot, Jetstar and Cebu Pacific. The first two are full-service airlines while the last three are budget airlines. For many workers, the proliferation of budget airlines is a blessing. With cheap flights, OFW’s are more able to schedule their return home on a regular basis with less cost. And there is no shortage of passengers as well. As of 2015, OFW’s working in Singapore alone has reached a staggering 141 thousand people.<br />
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Health care is an important aspect that needs to be taken in consideration very carefully by foreign workers especially Filipinos. Without an insurance coverage, health care in Singapore is much more expensive than in the Philippines. I have an employer-based health care benefit which covers myself but not my family since they aren’t residing in Singapore. I have a 5$ co-payment for outpatient consultations including medicines and a 10$ co-payment with specialists. This sounds good but for more serious illnesses, my company’s medical coverage is mediocre. I am therefore not closed to other employment opportunities from companies which will provide better benefits especially in terms of health care coverage.<br />
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Although I would much prefer to work in the Philippines and be with my family, I know this is not an optimal choice for the time being and Singapore offers one of the best working environment and benefits for an OFW like me. And there are many things to like about Singapore, none-the-least of which are the Singaporeans themselves. I like working with them particularly my colleagues and customers. They are very professional, friendly and accommodating. However, I am here to earn money as fast as I can and that objective makes me very open to whatever opportunities are out there that will facilitate my transition out of being an OFW back to the Philippines with my family and friends.Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-77384268701483882372017-06-18T13:51:00.000+08:002017-10-01T12:20:15.208+08:00Filipino Foreign Worker in Singapore - Part 1What is it like to live in Singapore? This was a question that has been answered for me since moving here the start of 2017 for work. I am now officially an Overseas Filipino Worker or OFW for short. Although I have only been here for a short time to give a really comprehensive assessment, I believe my short experience so far has given me a lot of insights as to what I can reasonably expect in the long run.<br />
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I have to say that it was not a totally new experience when I moved here. I was coming over every now and then for about two years prior to my permanent transfer. My trips were rather short since I was based in the Philippines and still reported to our Clark office. Still, several one-month trips had served as preludes to my eventual residency. I knew what I was getting into and I knew what Singapore had to offer.<br />
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I have read people saying that Singapore can be compared to a well-maintained garden. And they are not wrong. Singapore is neat and clean! It is a city of order. Everybody follows the rule and most people seems responsible to ensure the orderliness of the city. For sure there are significant penalties for violations. This was what Lee Kuan Yew learned during the Japanese occupation. Imposing discipline will be effective if done right. That means, considerable punishment and consistent implementation.<br />
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I like that I don't need to drive in Singapore. Not because cars are super expensive (they are) but because public transportation is well-designed, efficient and comfortable. I can take one bus ride to my work place or I can ride the MRT to catch the company shuttle. Both are no-hassle options. These buses have designated pickup locations and can't get extra passengers just anywhere along the way. You would think that that is plain common sense in a public transportation system but wait till you see how it's done in many parts of the Philippines and you’ll be surprised.<br />
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Another good thing about Singapore's public transportation is the use of tap to pay cards. This facilitates the payment system and does away with a conductor. I have the impression that the government designed and refined the transportation system and that they don't stop trying to improve it. They know that they need to determine the optimum number of buses to serve the needs of commuters without causing too much traffic congestion. Such an analysis is not beyond the brain power of Filipinos. But unfortunately the culture of excellence is not valued in our own government. That's not how the Philippine government operates. It is frustrating but we are resigned to it.<br />
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I rent a room here because a whole apartment is just too expensive. Housing is generally expensive in most cities and Singapore is no exemption. However, house prices can be influenced by the government due to its considerable housing involvement. Unlike say Hong Kong where most residential properties are built privately which is not good for supply, Singapore is comparably cheaper with the government willing to reign in housing prices by building more. On top of that, houses built by the Singapore government cannot be owned for speculation. You can only buy one for your family. So a market bubble is less likely to happen.<br />
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Nonetheless, I pay 650 SGD for a common room which can be considered average for the price. That same amount (equivalent to 23k PHP) will afford me a big beautiful house where I live in the Philippines.<br />
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The food options in Singapore are second to none. At least with respect to all the places I have ever been to. And if you are budget conscious like me, there are plenty of places to offer you food for reasonable prices. As such, it wasn’t a big deal that my landlord doesn’t allow cooking by tenants. I don’t need to cook with so many places that offer good food. I also don’t really want to cook since I really don’t know much about it. Moreover, I would really prefer not to work on the mess cooking leaves behind. Ten dollars per meal should be more than enough to cover food expenses for most people. Unless you are the type who likes to experience fine dining on a regular basis, then that would have to be taken into account when budgeting for meals.<br />
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With so many things to be said, I realize that this article can be rather long. So I will stop for now and continue the rest on a succeeding post. Honestly, I like writing about this to remind myself about my experiences which I could easily forget as time passes by. I find this exercise worth doing because of this so I hope I will find the time to keep at it.<br />
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Cheers!Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-77465729048678921792016-06-12T21:06:00.000+08:002017-04-22T22:19:59.349+08:00How to Solve Difficult Problems Using a Simple Engineering Design Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Being able to solve difficult problems or even easy ones for that matter is crucial to our survival. It’s beyond important. It’s what our lives depend on.<br />
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Imagine for instance the problem of food. When you are hungry or thirsty, you should know how to solve that problem. You should know that you have to eat or drink. If not, you will die.<br />
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But not all problems are as easy to solve. In fact, some are quite difficult to figure out. And when they are difficult to figure out, there is a tendency for us to try to ignore them or wish they would go away.<br />
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How do we raise our kids properly for example is not so easy to answer. Or how do we ease traffic in the city is a huge challenge for public officials.<br />
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Difficult problems require a more deliberate approach. It could take time and effort to analyze what’s going on and even more to come up with a solution.<br />
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If we are wise, we would seek to solve rather than avoid difficult problems. Sure it can be stressful and draining but it can also be a window to an opportunity or new learning.<br />
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But how do we do it? How can we face problems without being paralyzed by fear or uncertainty? Is there a skill that we can develop or a system that we can use that can make it less daunting?<br />
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As a matter of fact, there is such a process. It’s called the <b>Engineering Design Process</b>.<br />
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And I got to read about it in a book recently. But you will see as you read more that it's not new.<br />
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It is similar to the scientific method that anyone of us can apply to whatever difficult problem we have to face.<br />
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When you have a process that you can consistently use to solve problems, a new one that comes along that may seem too much to handle can be broken down to simple and easy-to-follow stages.<br />
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It will still be hard but it will lose its power of overwhelming the problem-owner because he or she will know what steps need to be taken. And it will give him or her a better chance of finding the solution.<br />
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So how does the Engineering Design Process work?<br />
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As promised, it’s very simple and will involve following this chart with five critical steps.<br />
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<li><b>Define the problem</b></li>
<li><b>Collect data</b></li>
<li><b>Formulate a hypothesis</b></li>
<li><b>Debate approaches</b></li>
<li><b>Experiment</b></li>
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First and foremost is to define the problem. The more specifically we define the problem the better our chances would be of solving it.<br />
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In the traffic problem for example we need to define where exactly the problem is. Is it the whole city or just the main roads? Is it a problem all the time or only during peak hours? How slow is the traffic flowing and by how much should we aim to improve it?<br />
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Once a problem is clearly defined, we can then more easily proceed to collecting any available data to help us make sense of it. Depending on the sufficiency of these data, we could either use them or collect more of them through observation.<br />
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For example on the traffic issue, traffic data are collected on a regular basis through CCTV footages and more recently through mobile Apps like Google maps.<br />
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However, there could still be important data which may be unavailable or unrecorded. For these things, more observational work is needed.<br />
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Once sufficient data have been gathered, the next logical step is to do an analysis. Make sense of the data. When this is done, we can infer on what may be causing the problem.<br />
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This is most often called the hypothesis. There could be several hypotheses which could mean there could also be several possible approaches to solving the problem.<br />
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Debating which approach to prioritize is also important because it could potentially lead to a good decision on which one can work best. We don't want to test everything. The less trials before arriving at the solution, the better.<br />
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But in the end, an approach would have to be tested to see if it will work or not. And hopefully one will come out to effectively solve the problem and thus shine a light on what really was the root cause to begin with.<br />
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That's it! The Engineering Design Process in a nutshell.<br />
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This simple approach can be utilized to guide anyone who has to deal with a difficult problem or project. It is systematic and logical so there is a higher chance of success for the problem solver.<br />
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Try it and see how well it works for you!Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-8094903139309285862016-04-17T16:39:00.000+08:002016-04-17T16:46:03.603+08:00Surgery for a First-Timer: Mastoidectomy and TympanoplastyMarch 5 of this year (2016), I underwent a medical operation called Mastoidectomy and Tympanoplasty at the De Lasalle University Medical Center (DLSUMC) in Dasmarinas, Cavite. It was the first surgery that I ever had. Prior to it, I was still able to claim that I have not been subjected to any medical operation in my life. It was a bragging right proving that I was as fit as can be. Not anymore.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/13146056@N05/2483433971/in/photolist-4Msfp6-boKvkC-bntFbm-8ZRzKS-fq6de6-9mjEjb-7exqdV-bCyBtZ-pC6pnK-6jGm54-8VENMy-7PQLcC-pZPYSY-p4P5F1-4tNbE2-zVfPo-zVfVV-oHvi4H-5Ero3L-9kK1qt-khF1mk-8PYQtS-cL53To-7z3h1p-63W6Ba-7ZEmbY-chUbEm-5q6Y55-s9VivV-pWgzBD-6oN7Em-ebDKdc-Faj7q-iMFpn-4Qy9Sv-2D2J8m-7ZEkfL-aCAR4b-jAA3ug-7kYWoy-3d6GhU-9hvoX7-oxdH23-p2eG2-8Wntou-oxe3zE-8p5GC5-oxe2Vo-6E5UEx-oPHnHz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">oldgreentree</a> (Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
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Now, I can no longer say that. All I can brag about is having the courage to have gone through a major surgery that most are not willing to do out of fear. And who can blame these people, really. Going under the knife can be terrifying. If you think about it, not only will your body be opened up, they will do risky stuff inside of it that you can’t even begin imagine.<br />
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When people hear that I had surgery done in my ears, they think of it as a minor procedure. However, it was anything but. I was asleep for six hours during the whole operation. The surgeon cut through behind my ear, opened it wide enough so that he can drill through my skull, fix my eardrum then stitch all of it back together before calling it a day.<br />
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I remember before the surgery was about to begin, the anaesthesiologist came over to tell me that I will wake-up after a while and it’ll be all done. As it turned out, that was exactly how it happened. For a moment, the doctor was saying they will start with the anesthesia to make me sleep and the next thing I know I was feeling groggy as I woke-up at the recovery room because the surgery has already been completed.<br />
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It was unbelievable and I was very thankful that everything went well. Thank God I was still alive. I knew there were risks involved. And for major surgeries, death is always among the possibilities. It may be a small likelihood since I underwent a clearance process but it was still there nonetheless.<br />
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To allow the surgery, I was checked for any medical history of sickness and allergies. My blood was analyzed for several components. An Xray of my chest was done as well to examine my heart and lungs. I have also gone through an ECG exam for the first time.<br />
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All of it was quite thorough. But I welcome it because it showed how meticulously they were to ensure readiness of a patient before going through a delicate operation. It lowers the risk since many things have already been checked.<br />
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Still, the pain started to hit during recovery. I had some trouble sleeping for a few days. I found it difficult to find a position lying in bed that will hurt the least. I would also wake up with blood from my wound staining the pillows. It was the most difficult period of the whole ordeal.<br />
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First time I saw my ear after surgery, I was surprised to find out that it was sticking out. Not the minimal unnoticeable kind but the obvious kind. It was disheartening somewhat to know that I would have to live with that. I was planning on letting my hair grow longer to cover my ears. I looked at hairstyles that I can copy from the internet and I decided on one particular look.<br />
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As I researched about it some more, I read that this sticking out of the ear is due to the swollen wound of the incision. It said that it should go back to normal in a few weeks. But my doctor was not so sure about that. He explained to me why the ear was sticking out as well but mentioned that I can just grow my hair longer to cover it (same as what I was thinking of doing). He didn’t tell me it will go back to normal.<br />
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But it did. After 5 weeks, my ear has finally moved back to where it was before. It’s not sticking out anymore and it aligns with my other ear. I guess even doctors can't possibly know everything.<br />
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The internet has been a very good source of information especially those coming from people who already went through the same thing. Like me, some have experienced reduced hearing after surgery. There’s no guarantee that it will get better but it may in due time.<br />
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I knew such an outcome was unavoidable. Mastoidectomy entails removing infected mastoid bones which is detrimental to hearing. But to treat the problem effectively, removal of the bones was necessary. Else, more severe complications may result.<br />
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All in all, my operation was a success. The wound healed, the infections were removed and my eardrum was restored. But the care for my ear will continue. That’s why regular visits to my surgeon will go on for as long as needed. That’s an integral part of getting well together with observing the restrictions and cautions that would help avoid problems down the road.Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-27018771175301074102015-09-20T21:40:00.000+08:002016-01-26T21:56:26.269+08:00Being Content vs. Striving to Improve - Why We Need Both<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Most people want to live as happily as they can. They want to get the most out of life because they realize that our time is finite and short. And because of that, we better do what’s right.<br />
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But there are certain ideas that can confound us as we search for happiness. One of which is the concept of contentment versus improvement.<br />
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There is an often-stated maxim that says to be happy is to be content. And I would bet that you’ve heard this mentioned more than a few times before. Maybe it was told to someone who’s trying to do too much but still can’t find satisfaction. Or to overachievers who can’t seem to get enough of what they want in life and therefore always need to have just a little bit more.<br />
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On the other hand, there is also a totally contrarian view that can be found in the heap of self-help books available today. This philosophy is based on the premise of self-improvement. People are being goaded to continually strive for betterment. To not be satisfied with what they’ve got but to aspire and work for something better.<br />
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From the looks of it, contentment and improvement are two diametrically opposed ideas. But are they really? Which one should we really be giving serious thought to? Is one better than the other?<br />
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To be sure, both of these ideas deserve merit. We do need to be content and almost certainly have to strive for improvement as well if we want to be happy.<br />
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<h3>
Experience With Contentment</h3>
In my long struggle to wean myself of materialism, I have come to a realization that I can be content with what I have. Mainly, I argue that I shouldn’t make the acquisition of stuff the source of my happiness. There are countless studies showing that a new toy or gadget or whatever material things bring temporary happiness for an average of three months only.<br />
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Although, getting good quality products is also important as long as those products fulfill a need. Buying the best home or the best quality car I can afford is prudent in my book. These are things that I need. I don’t buy them out of envy or vanity.<br />
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But to be driven to accumulate just for the great feeling it gives temporarily is a sign of misplaced discontent. And the never-ending quest to have more money and acquire more stuff would not address the underlying problem of unfulfillment.<br />
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It shouldn’t be the driving force of your determination to succeed. It may be a manifestation of accomplishment for some people who engage in business, but it ought not to be the cause of your life. It shouldn’t be the sole purpose of why you do what you do.<br />
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<h3>
Rooms For Improvement</h3>
On the other hand, I continue to strive to be a better father, lover, son, brother, friend and fellow human being. I think that there is no shortage of areas to improve on when relationships are involved. And because we are social creatures, our happiness depends on the quality of our relationships.<br />
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I tend to be a quiet person but I try to talk more often because that’s how relationships are started and strengthened. I don’t really like going to parties and celebrations with a lot of people but I make the effort to show I care. I spend too much time at work but I also try to make time for my family and strive to give them priority.<br />
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These are some of the areas that I have to improve on. These are areas where I believe I can do something. Where I choose to do something. I am not content with just accepting who I am all the time. I needed to go out of my comfort zone to get better. It’s not easy and I’d rather not do it, but I still choose to do it because it’s the right thing to do.</div>
Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-42953424328092714432014-07-02T18:16:00.001+08:002015-09-20T21:42:07.123+08:00Why We Should Focus on Our Strengths (Not Our Weaknesses) to Contribute<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
All my life I’ve been trying to change myself by focusing on my weakness. I have been constantly concerning myself with ways to improve my flaws for I believed it would help me achieve more.<br />
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For instance, I was pushing myself to learn sales. I’ve read several books on it and even did a part-time sales job. I knew I wasn’t good at Sales.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEwaqaPH96PBYmt_F3T3k-nwaTK3TlSrNehrwT6YAmkO6U9PByCrvfdtm0L45MOr5svcDGqAbN3IvP4ImryWwDYuPL3HeyekU6uE3pWDzKCwGJCeAt3iBum3C5EdWSIhaZb7iqwdtgGio/s1600/Focus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEwaqaPH96PBYmt_F3T3k-nwaTK3TlSrNehrwT6YAmkO6U9PByCrvfdtm0L45MOr5svcDGqAbN3IvP4ImryWwDYuPL3HeyekU6uE3pWDzKCwGJCeAt3iBum3C5EdWSIhaZb7iqwdtgGio/s1600/Focus1.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kayveeinc/5228731704/in/photolist-8Y3BLC-gohNbB-eH6r6k-7J42xL-eFNTo4-m6F5zP-21pjNV-8rRaTN-fsAxXh-6nc9NB-bLANBX-8CcjZe-gnV7a7-GvwY5-6My6d8-fjAhyp-o9zKLZ-6rQ5w9-fzoghG-bmzCKN-cdwm63-cJxa57-cASM4G-7qbhL7-8uPDcD-9kh23d-mwcbtM-iEw6zt-4btoq9-fz8VSR-dWzp7-2otos-7q7nJ6-fyjbu9-j13jNX-8mbpcr-nieNj4-nPKfct-kgcNNt-6jVDrj-gdPFAo-4cvinK-8s9ovF-mHF9B-5FvJny-9oEVJG-eaXHsn-9ckrdp-kdAuvD-o1Lghx/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KayVee.INC</a> (Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
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I thought that it was a roadblock that has kept me from being more successful. I was of the impression that Sales is the one area where I needed to excel to develop myself fully. I thought it would improve my communication skills and my people skills.<br />
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<h3>
Failing Strategy</h3>
But I realize recently that this is not a good use of my time. My potential to contribute, I now know, will be greatest when I focus on my strengths instead of my weaknesses.<br />
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For example, I know that I am good at solving technical problems. I have done it successfully several times before and I know I can do it again. But in order to be really good at it, I need to continue cultivating this skill.<br />
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I need to continue to read and expose myself to the kind of technical know-how that would help me solve even more difficult problems.<br />
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<h3>
It's What Successful People Do</h3>
If you think about it, great sports persons practice diligently to get better. They continue to work on their talents as if they were just starting out. They work on their strengths.<br />
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A runner wouldn’t waste his time developing his communications skills on top of honing his running abilities. He runs every day. He is consistently working to get better and better because he knows that is the only way to be really effective.<br />
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Don’t get me wrong. I do believe there are some activities that merit our attention besides the stuff that we are good at.<br />
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But those shouldn’t be the focus. Those are secondary to what we need to do. The primary goal is to be better at what you’re good at. It’s not to improve your weakness.<br />
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<h3>
Working With Others</h3>
When I think about this, I realize that it is also very important that I expose myself to the kind of experience that will enable me to practice. I need to own more problems and fix them. And if I can’t do it by myself, either I ask for help or I get better by acquiring the knowledge.<br />
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Solving difficult problems is usually a team effort though. As much as I would want to avoid it, I need to know how to lead groups of people or learn how to tap the knowledge and experience that others have.<br />
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I need to understand how other people think and feel so that they will be an asset to my efforts and not a hindrance. I may not be giving the bulk of my time on learning to deal with others but I do have to learn to be better at it.<br />
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<h3>
Being Effective with People</h3>
I appreciate the fact that one cannot just impose his or her will on others. But that does not mean that I have to be passive when other people are involved. I cannot afford to be weak in an environment that values confidence. I need to act boldly although I cannot be perceived as arrogant.<br />
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If I am wise, I will be able to get my way without making enemies. That, of course, assumes that I have something in mind. It means I have a plan that I wanted to execute which I believed would be the best way forward. This plan may have been created by me or better yet by a team which includes all stakeholders.<br />
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I need to showcase my potential as a future leader in my field of expertise. That means being involved in a lot of stuff that I participate in. It means getting down to the details. Getting my hands dirty and knowing the ins and outs.<br />
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This seems to be a lot of work. I have the option to either be overwhelmed and not act at all or start now and get going. I want to choose the latter.</div>
Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-87687004799930407732014-04-26T10:13:00.000+08:002014-07-02T18:17:40.530+08:00Introverts In Action - Perception is Different from RealityWhen I was young, I remember people telling me that I should learn to speak up more often. I was just too quiet for a lot of them. Sure I got the occasional praise for being well-behaved. But mostly, I got admonitions to fix myself. My teachers would tell me to participate more. They like students who were loud and active. They have little appreciation for those quiet-type such as I was. I guess they figured the reason I was not speaking out is because I had nothing to contribute, which was not a good sign.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Abraham Lincoln was a successful introvert</span></i></td></tr>
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So I can understand what my daughter must be feeling when people tell her the same thing. She tends to be shy around other people she doesn't know. She is quiet and well-behaved in school to the point of seeming passive. Her teachers are concerned a little bit about it so they involve us, her parents, to encourage her to be more active. But sometimes I feel as if this was the exact same thing that happened to me.<br />
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During my elementary school years, I didn't know there was a name for it. I haven't learned about what an "introvert" was. I didn't know it's in my genetic make-up. I thought or was made to think that there was something wrong with me. That I haven't yet learned a valuable skill.<br />
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I felt inadequate. I was hearing kids my own age speak their minds and all I could do was wish I had the same idea so I could speak up as well. But I never found the nerve to be assertive and talkative back then even with all the admonitions to change that I received. I really thought I needed to be competent in order to be self-confident. So I was focused on studying and learning to improve myself instead.<br />
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It would have been immensely helpful if I knew then what I know now about extroverts and introverts. I have learned that different people have different tolerances to degrees of stimulations. Extroverts are not easily stimulated so they are okay with loud and active environments. They actually crave for it so that interacting with groups of people makes them happy. While introverts are easily stimulated and would rather be in a quiet room reading a book. Their energy can be easily drained by the stimulations they experience so that they need time alone by themselves to recover. Of course, there is a spectrum of extroversion-introversion that people fall into that will make it difficult to identify exactly how a person would behave.<br />
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But the important thing to realize is that nothing is wrong with people who are introverts. It is just the way they are. Sure there are some skills that they need to develop to be more effective. Depending on what they love to do or what their jobs are, there will be instances when they will need to get out of their comfort zones. But introverts need not feel guilty for being who they are. In contrast, they should embrace it and develop techniques to adapt to what is required of them if needed. Introverts like me shouldn't try to change who we are because it wouldn't work. Although we need to realize that we cannot deny our needs and we ought to design a way of fulfilling them.<br />
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Ultimately, we should try to understand ourselves better before we take any action. And one of the ways to do that for introverts that I can recommend is to read the book <b><i>"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain</i></b>. It's an enlightening book that I wished I've read before I started school. Only problem is, it has not yet been written back then. The author is an introvert herself and has devoted her career to understanding introverts. Her passion for her work enabled her to formulate effective methods on how introverts can succeed in a world that prefers the extroverts.<br />
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It's no secret that we introverts are living at a disadvantage that we should acknowledge and tackle head on. There's no denying that society is biased to the outgoing and the loud individual because of the perception they can create. The characters of the introvert are subject to criticisms of the worst kind. But we can do something about it. We should know ourselves better and make the adjustments if the situation calls for it to achieve our goals and contribute to the best of our abilities. It doesn’t mean that we have to change the way we are, it’s just accepting that sometimes we have to be willing to adapt as best as we can if we want to achieve something important to us.<br />
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<i style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/8555461696/in/photolist-e31YGh-e2Vh5e-e31Y7m-4X9iwX-9u4ahJ-5nHAde-avu7v9-9vS7YR-e2VgJa-e2ViNp-9sb5V6-6k8iMA-e2Vn4a-e2Vgq6-e3237d-e2VfYt-e2VmQH-e2VncX-gcCAVY-gcCMrj-9fo4tz-2PSW3B-mqvHVf-9frbTN-bUwQXU-7VwwN6-gcCAmw-gcCM1j-gcCgEe-bn7aSM-9ufMSF-bmtbou-czBVwQ-9nLZ88-5R3jhS-9pykpt-5uuZz5-5nMRGf-hG2GeR-a7xwRf-a87Edf-a7xwYE-5nHCbk-5MLsp-5nHC9c-6k8iUb-dzqneK-9se1zA-88VwEz-98hK1U" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gage Skidmore</a> (Creative Commons)</span></i>Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-38888216501267780162014-04-03T21:34:00.000+08:002014-04-26T10:14:37.843+08:00How to Deal with a Detached Passport Cover in the PhilippinesI recently had the misfortune of having to deal with a detached passport cover. I thought it was no problem and didn't think I had to have it fixed. In fact, when I saw that the cover was detached, my first impulse was to fix it myself by stapling it back to place. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQxvR9puOc9jYITcFJHXGsJF-9F20L2fqo661Of4MtCh1ioR3P7EMpA6-BcR2-4iO_wpWYQYXZx1CeYDPwZrAIT6L8lrlSLgJfAoypB6MDQNPCyOGPFWYIxdQH4dl_bXYQMhl130FfTfi/s1600/Detached+Passport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQxvR9puOc9jYITcFJHXGsJF-9F20L2fqo661Of4MtCh1ioR3P7EMpA6-BcR2-4iO_wpWYQYXZx1CeYDPwZrAIT6L8lrlSLgJfAoypB6MDQNPCyOGPFWYIxdQH4dl_bXYQMhl130FfTfi/s1600/Detached+Passport.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Detached Passport Cover</i></td></tr>
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It was a stupid idea and I was glad I didn't have any stapler available when I had that urge to do it. It would have rendered my passport unusable right there and then. <br />
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The last page of the passport actually states that any unauthorized alteration, addition, etc. are strictly prohibited and would render the passport invalid. It was part of the "Important Reminders" that I never bothered to read.<br />
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How the Passport Cover Got Detached</h3>
My passport was still intact as far as I can remember just before the guy from the Malaysian Airlines counter handed it back to me. I'm pretty sure he was the one who messed it up.<br />
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But I found out later that this was a known issue for Philippine e-Passports. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) acknowledged that the cover could easily tear. So they have advised those affected to go for replacement immediately. They said that they have altered their production to provide spine reinforcements to make the passport stronger.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7e77Jn7tk08wyzliaL-J8I4ezig2RGo4wyjkej96jC9LG3J_c-Rp-iA0wUxycLdgwYfgJqjINf15zJ7Nk7DjIwYsN-Lqn3_deDYdsT4NeDBD1M5uquBfmYpT2fIjSafycz0ZFXpMq2MY/s1600/Detached+Passport+Fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7e77Jn7tk08wyzliaL-J8I4ezig2RGo4wyjkej96jC9LG3J_c-Rp-iA0wUxycLdgwYfgJqjINf15zJ7Nk7DjIwYsN-Lqn3_deDYdsT4NeDBD1M5uquBfmYpT2fIjSafycz0ZFXpMq2MY/s1600/Detached+Passport+Fixed.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Reinforced Spine Passport</i></td></tr>
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But since I only found out about my detached passport cover on my way to Malaysia, I had no choice but to try and use it. The Philippine immigration officer saw the detached passport cover and asked me to sign a waiver which basically states that if I would have problems with my port of destination, it would not be their fault but mine since I decided to travel with the defect.<br />
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Luckily, I didn't encounter any problems. But I decided that I cannot take this risk and would have to get the passport fixed.<br />
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<h3>
How I Dealt with The Detached Problem</h3>
Before I went for the replacement, I wanted to know if I needed to set an appointment first. I didn't want to waste my time getting to DFA only to find out that I will be asked to return with an appointment setup.<br />
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I decided to inquire using the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Philippine-Passport/206073122778369" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> of the DFA for passports and through their email, passportconcerns@dfa.gov.ph.<br />
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Both provided answers which are basically different from each other. The Facebook page said that I needed to treat it as a new passport application with similar requirements which turned out to be false. I'm glad I trusted the email response which stated I had to proceed to the Pending Unit of the Passport Division at DFA ASEANA.<br />
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For those of you who would like a clear and concise list of what to do, here's what I did.<br />
<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgt-DrAgkhVscUjpBj2Kg9DAvn6mUD-vMZBo2mC5to3zSnaWg83UrgRILQm__9-_G58zDkowimIKa2DSesZNEftK319S5-N-wm_-4kyHGozokjDjaygaTJ70UDDNqZ7cCZs45hFgDRVnr/s1600/Detached+Passport+Receipt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgt-DrAgkhVscUjpBj2Kg9DAvn6mUD-vMZBo2mC5to3zSnaWg83UrgRILQm__9-_G58zDkowimIKa2DSesZNEftK319S5-N-wm_-4kyHGozokjDjaygaTJ70UDDNqZ7cCZs45hFgDRVnr/s1600/Detached+Passport+Receipt.jpg" height="533" width="300" /></a>
<li><i>Proceed to DFA ASEANA. Bring a photocopy of the passport.</i></li>
<li><i>Line-up for the passport evaluation to check the detached passport.</i></li>
<li><i>Proceed to the Pending Unit of the Passport Division</i></li>
<li><i>Fill-up an application form for passport renewal and submit together with the photocopy.</i></li>
<li><i>I was asked and proceeded to pay 950 pesos for the 7 working days processing of the passport. I didn't choose the home delivery since I was in a hurry to get the passport as early as possible.</i></li>
<li><i>I lined up for the photo and information gathering for the new passport.</i></li>
<li><i>I went back to the Pending Unit and submitted all the forms back.</i></li>
<li><i>I was asked to return after 7 days to pick up the passport but not before I call first to confirm the passport availability.</i></li>
</ol>
I was instructed to call the hotline <b>02-556-0000</b> which didn't work at all. I can get through after a long wait but once the operator transfers the call, no one answers it. It was very frustrating!<br />
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Luckily I tried the hotline posted on the DFA ASEANA building which is <b>02-834-3222</b>. After some explaining, I was transferred to someone who was able to finally confirm the availability of the passport for pickup.<br />
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My application for renewal was done on March 24 and luckily I got the new passport exactly 7 working days after on April 2. <br />
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<h3>
Additional Burden for Filipinos</h3>
Looking back, I resent the fact that this issue can be traced back to a production vulnerability. It was the problem of the Philippine government agency involved. But for Filipinos affected, we will have to spend time and money to get our passport fixed.<br />
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Adding more difficulty is the fact that no information is readily available to guide those who want to fix their passports. I hope this article will help in some way to address that concern.Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-43509301003346230182014-01-19T11:11:00.001+08:002021-04-08T12:03:29.238+08:00Electric Vehicles Running on Philippine Roads Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">We all know electric is the future of transportation. It’s non-polluting and it’s a heck of a lot more efficient than the combustion engines we find in vehicles today. Both of these advantages means going electric is good for the environment, people’s health and <a href="http://www.joelolave.com/2012/01/malampaya-natural-gas-project-attaining.html" target="_blank">energy independence</a>.<br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The only challenge in moving to electric is the initial cost. It’s more expensive to build electric vehicles than it is to make gasoline cars. That’s because rechargeable batteries are expensive. <br />
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But that does not mean we should stop the adoption of electric vehicles on our streets. Because that’s the only way we’ll see progress with it. We need to try it out to make ourselves ready for it. <br />
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Here in the Philippines in particular, the government has shown its support for electric vehicles. This, at least, proves that some in government are still forward looking. They clearly see what the future would be like and correctly bet on that.<br />
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If you are curious to know, there are electric vehicles currently running on the streets of the Philippines. Most of the efforts right now are on public utility vehicles. Being a country without a good rail system, we rely on gasoline-run buses, jeepneys and tricycles for our transportation. Although they are cheaper, they are also polluting the air we breathe.<br />
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So we really need to be thinking about electric vehicles more seriously. It’s not only good for the environment but it also frees us up from oil dependency. We’re not producing any oil so we are at the mercy of oil exporting countries for our fuel. It doesn’t have to remain that way. And the way to change it is to start going electric. <br />
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Here are the electric vehicles we have running on our streets right now.<br />
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<h3>1. Pangea COMET by GET Philippines</h3>There is a push to replace smoke-belching jeepneys by more environment-friendly electric vehicles. One of those being eyed seriously is the COMET or the City Optimized Managed Electric Transport. It’s designed and manufactured by Pangea Motors, a Vancouver, US- based company. In partnership with <a href="http://getevee.com/home.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GET Philippines</a>, these electric vans will soon be mass produced in the Philippines with agreement to deliver 10,000 units to Pasang Masda.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwvZDLI1DiWleV5amIXgbBVGEnnq5qUS3ayPX4zOjt5FjWQR9PdIhh2bn9-KgMlM5GaNIkMheXMygguiD8uwWElNpXRD8wDmrVDMgbIaePmfkqyZ8Wqc0_TjF8RUIdEMlzw8SYCvrsAEg/s1600/COMET.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwvZDLI1DiWleV5amIXgbBVGEnnq5qUS3ayPX4zOjt5FjWQR9PdIhh2bn9-KgMlM5GaNIkMheXMygguiD8uwWElNpXRD8wDmrVDMgbIaePmfkqyZ8Wqc0_TjF8RUIdEMlzw8SYCvrsAEg/s1600/COMET.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/GET-Philippines/354342564696331" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GET Philippines</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>It seems the company’s marketing campaign is doing a pretty decent job of promoting the COMET. They’ve been on TV programs and have visited learning institutions such as the UP and Ateneo. I’m hoping for their success because their electric van presents several advantages over what jeepneys deliver.<br />
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But apart from the technologies that come with this new electric vehicle, what I’m really interested to see work is the system that will be put in place to improve public transport. The company spoke about a cashless payment scheme, a command center, organized terminals and stops, proper driver training and daily maintenance checks. All of these looks very good on paper. I just hope they will be able to execute all of them properly.<br />
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<h3><a href="http://www.joelolave.com/2012/01/electric-tricycle-e-trike-program-to.html" target="_blank">2. E-trikes in partnership with ADB</a></h3>This is an ongoing project which is aimed at delivering 100,000 electric tricycles by the end of 2017 through a partnership between the Philippine government and Asian Development Bank (ADB). According to the loan agreement document found in ADB’s website, 100 million US$ will be borrowed by the government for this project. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4RQRQyIZN2MB8Oe8SV3hX_2gaqEiD3nN2gtfwc6ZM7r2CEoomiBwBL57FPC1FW8JOm4UPJB3kGzrnRws4Cx7bI7iJ6ILXxdMB8Ek2_fBWxQ7F1HKM4lCImkNYCVjogHToIVzQ1nffn_y/s1600/e-trike+terra+motors.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4RQRQyIZN2MB8Oe8SV3hX_2gaqEiD3nN2gtfwc6ZM7r2CEoomiBwBL57FPC1FW8JOm4UPJB3kGzrnRws4Cx7bI7iJ6ILXxdMB8Ek2_fBWxQ7F1HKM4lCImkNYCVjogHToIVzQ1nffn_y/s1600/e-trike+terra+motors.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TerraMotorsPhilippines" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Terra Motors Corporation</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The pilot run started in Mandaluyong with only 20 units. Several manufacturers have already shown off their prototypes to give us an idea of how these tricycles might look like. One of the bidders in Terra Motors - a Japanese company which plans to invest in a production plant in Laguna. Their prototype called the T4 is shown above.<br />
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<h3><a href="http://www.joelolave.com/2011/12/e-jeepney-philippines-at-forefront-to.html" target="_blank">3. E-jeepney at Makati</a></h3>As I have written before on a blog post <a href="http://www.joelolave.com/2011/12/e-jeepney-philippines-at-forefront-to.html" target="_blank">here</a>, this is a project currently being tested in Makati. There are 14 Philippine-made e-jeepneys owned by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.<br />
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To be honest about it, the electric jeepneys look like reconfigured electric golf carts. I would prefer the COMET over this one just because I think they have a better vehicle and a more promising transport system.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hy8kfz4JFEJAfDZNEEJkqxyUWp8T-Yzu0OJ9s6SRY8r5DyioQkoUWnctlMAuds4hX9-2pLDEaZYtdHfGSB7xFCRsGlVX79CNHRZVNiXk83f6rXg5EUJPCXaCmngGl1IhKBGt1rIApu1G/s1600/e-jeepney.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Hy8kfz4JFEJAfDZNEEJkqxyUWp8T-Yzu0OJ9s6SRY8r5DyioQkoUWnctlMAuds4hX9-2pLDEaZYtdHfGSB7xFCRsGlVX79CNHRZVNiXk83f6rXg5EUJPCXaCmngGl1IhKBGt1rIApu1G/s1600/e-jeepney.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
<h3>4. E-bus by Taiwan’s RAC Electric</h3>On March 2013, the first e-bus was inaugurated at the Malacanang Palace. This e-bus was said to be the first of 2000 units to be produced and sold to Victory Liner by Taiwan’s RAC Electric Vehicles, Inc. It has a maximum speed of 90 kilometers per hour. It can accommodate 52 passengers on its 26 seats.<br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If all these projects succeed, we’ll have tricycles, jeepneys and buses all running on electricity. I know it’s not going to happen very soon but I would like to see the day it does. The current experiments on converting public transport vehicles to electric should lead the way to their acceptance and widespread adoption. This then will be one of the rare cases when public transportation technology will lead and private vehicles will, hopefully, soon follow.<br />
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<h3>5. E-scooters by Terra Motors</h3>I’m not entirely sure if Terra Motors have actually sold an electric scooter here. But I’d like to include it in the list just because I think their product is so much better than what’s currently available in the market. The <a href="http://www.terra-motors.com/scooter/a4000i/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A4000i looks well-built</a>. The battery technology is also impressive. It is easily removeable and lasts five times than ordinary rechargeable batteries.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.bikebros.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/20130712_news_t12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://news.bikebros.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/20130712_news_t12.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://news.bikebros.co.jp/topics/news20130712-3/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BikeBros News</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have a bias for good products and I think this one is worth our attention. I don’t have information on pricing yet but I hope it’s not overly expensive. As I have mentioned above, Terra Motors is also among those participating in the e-trike project. It’s worth knowing that they will have a significant presence in the country. It should mean that service will be more dependable and products will be continuously improved.<br />
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<h3>6. E-bikes from China</h3>Electric bikes is a growing industry in the Philippines. I have seen several on the road although I have never tried one. There are several companies exporting these bikes from China and selling them here. Prices are pretty reasonable but I can’t really vouch for their quality, reliability and service. These are three important aspects that need to be considered very carefully before buying one. <br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="text-align: center;">If I were to buy an E-bike, I would be very much concerned about the life of the battery as well. How long before do I need to replace the rechargeable battery and how much would it cost me? Apart from that, what maintenance activities do I need to do to keep the E-bikes in good running condition? Do these sellers have service centers?</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you’re on the market for e-Bikes, I have a list of websites below that you can visit to check out your options.<br />
<ol><li><a href="http://ebike.cdrking.com/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CDR King California Bike</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tailgebikephils.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TailG Electronic Motorcycle</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sas-edrive.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SAS eDrive</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.rfmebike.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RFM Electric Drive</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.eaglemotorcycles.net/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eagle Motorcycles</a></li>
</ol><div>One of the advantages of buying e-bikes is that you don't have to register it with the Land Transportation Office because it's considered a bicycle and not a motorcycle. So you don't need a driver's license. No need to wear a helmet. You don't need to worry about stuff you worry about when buying a motorcycle. But for it to be considered a bicycle, it should have a pedal assist feature and runs at a maximum speed of 35 kilometers an hour.</div><br />
<h3>7. Tesla Model S of MVP</h3>Last but certainly not the least, we should give credit to Manny V. Pangilinan for spending some of his wealth to export a <a href="http://www.teslamotors.com/models" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tesla Model S</a> to the Philippines. It’s a show of support for electric vehicles. The car reportedly cost him nine million pesos including all the taxes and duties. <br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="text-align: center;">Although the Tesla Model S is beyond the reach of most Filipinos, it still represents a promise of what the future of electric cars would be like. It would not come too soon or too easily but it will come. I believe the Philippines and the Filipino people would have open hearts and minds for electric cars once they arrive.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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All of these electric vehicles, both public and private, is a testament to our strong conviction and realization that our transportation will run on electricity in the future. We may not have the infrastructure and technology yet right now to make it a reality but we eventually will. Let's keep our fingers crossed!</div>Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-74342413629365552002014-01-09T21:21:00.000+08:002014-01-19T11:12:03.519+08:00Nudge Theory in Practice: A Gift of Vision for the PhilippinesIf there is one thing that I can wish for the Philippines, it would be the happiness of it’s people. But wishing happiness for everyone is easy. Making it a reality is a great challenge. Especially for someone like me who does not have the resources to make it happen. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gianvc/3278195992/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gian Cayetano</a> (Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
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How can I possibly make an entire country happy by myself? It’s an impossible task. Not helped that I am not an entertainer or that I do not have a lot of money. <br />
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Still, this does not stop me from thinking about it. If I had the resources, how could I do it? How can I make Filipinos happier? - I wonder.<br />
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So I think about what makes people happy. What’s the secret to happiness? Is it money, prosperity, a decent job, a healthy family, less worry, more security, etc, etc? There are many possible sources for making someone happy and it may not be the same for everyone. <br />
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If I wanted the greatest impact, meaning the utmost happiness for the least amount of resources, I would try my best at creating a vision for the country. I believe that a vision can rally people for a cause. We love grand aspirations especially if we think it’s a real possibility. Our aspirations will:<br />
<ol>
<li><i>Make us look favorably of our future</i></li>
<li><i>Inspire us to do our best</i></li>
<li><i>Promote teamwork and care for one another</i></li>
<li><i>Encourage us to try harder</i></li>
<li><i>Give us a sense of living a purposeful life</i></li>
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In other words, a vision is like a pill that can heal. Although it’s not like any ordinary medicine. It is almost like an all-in-one antidote. It cures what ails most people whatever “sickness” they may have that prevents them from becoming happier.<br />
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Challenges Facing this Gift</h3>
Of course, promoting a vision for a country is not easy. For one thing, once the vision is created people will not automatically take that seriously. The source of the vision should have credibility to be listened to by people. And if the people did decide it’s worth hearing, the vision should be able to spread to everyone. It’s going to be a Herculean task to pull off something like that. <br />
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Ideally, a leader should put forth the vision. Like when John F. Kennedy said America would do what’s necessary to be able to walk on the moon in a decade. It gave people a sense of euphoria. Kids started learning Science and Engineering. They wanted to be a part of something great and they did what they could to contribute. <br />
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But an ordinary person sharing a vision is now more plausible than at any other time in history. That’s because we now have social media as a tool. Just recall how one person started the Million People March to fight PDAF in Facebook. It was a grassroots campaign that ultimately succeeded. <br />
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In theory, it’s not impossible to be able to rally people for a cause. As long as they are willing to support the vision. That means the vision should be something they believe is important. Something they are passionate about.<br />
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What Vision Will Give us a Nudge?</h3>
If I were the one to start such a vision for the Philippines, it would be this:<br />
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<b><i>No Filipino will be poor by 2020. The Philippines will be a First world nation by 2030.</i></b></blockquote>
I know it’s something we can’t do easily. In fact, it seem like an impossibility on first glance. But if the campaign is serious and the strategy is sound, the people may just start to believe in it. With luck, our leaders will start hearing it and make it their own. <br />
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Eventually we could be seeing the whole nation pumped up about the great near-future that await us all. And that feeling will reverberate through the ages. It will start movements, businesses, activities. It will trigger creativity, passion and determination. All these things Filipinos already have within them. <br />
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This is not saying we don’t have these important characteristics to begin with. It’s not that we are deficient. It’s just that we have not been challenged enough to start the avalanche of great progress we know we are capable of making. <br />
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So I would give the Philippines exactly that as a gift. A vision and a campaign to promote that vision - both of which will serve to nudge us from mediocrity towards excellence and prosperity!<br />
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How about you? If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift? Hit the comments section below to share your wish for our country!<br />
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#GLOBEProjectWonderful2014Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-41038150250981967432014-01-04T10:42:00.001+08:002014-01-09T21:22:08.096+08:00Have You Set Your Goals for 2014 Yet?There are people who argue that goals are unimportant. They say goals restrict your actions to a certain path and leaves you no room to adjust when opportunity comes. For example, you may set a goal of running a marathon. It’s a challenging goal to accomplish and would, no doubt, require dedication and practice. <br />
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What if during the course of your training you found out you’re much better at something else or that you enjoy playing musical instruments more than running? It’s not in your list of goals to learn an instrument and you can’t add it because it will require so much time to accomplish. If you didn’t have specific goals, some say you could easily switch and not feel you failed on a particular objective. This, to them, is reason enough not to bother with goal-setting.<br />
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No Goals, No Focus</h3>
I would concede that most goals needs constant attention that can be restrictive in a sense. But I think it’s much better than having none for most people. Goals can give us a sense of direction on where we want to go, what we want to achieve and what are the things we needed to do to achieve it. <br />
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Not all people have a sense of urgency and focus in them. Most of us need a push to be able to act in a productive manner. For many of us, the goals we set can do just exactly that. Our goals can set our minds to the right things. It can give us the focus we need to be able to act in a manner that will produce something for us. <br />
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Contrast that situation to someone who does not have any goal and daydreams all the time. That person will, most of the time, be idle or may just be doing something that does not necessarily advance any end in mind. You don’t want to be that person. You would want your actions to mean something and you definitely wouldn’t want your time wasted in any way. <br />
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The Best Time to Set Goals</h3>
What better time to set our goals than now - the beginning of the new year. We associate the new year (rightly or wrongly) with new beginnings. It certainly, if nothing else, can be a source of motivation because we believe we can start again as the new year begins.<br />
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Setting goals, however, should be taken seriously. We ought to give it the value it needs for us to commit ourselves to the work to achieve them. We can’t just take it lightly. Because if we do, we’re not going to do our very best and work our hardest. Our goals should be really important to us that we are willing to be all in.<br />
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One year is not very long. And you may have longer-term dreams that may not be completed in just a single year. Still there are milestones that will put us in a better position to achieve our long-term dreams. Our goals for this year could be our stepping stones for the next big thing.<br />
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Guide to Goal-Setting</h3>
But how can we do goal-setting in the most effective manner? There are many tips that you can read about. But you can’t possibly heed all of them. There are just too many. I used the following guidelines for my own goals. I hope this works for you as well.<br />
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<b>1. Write them down</b>. This is basic. Goals should absolutely be written down. The process of writing down your goal distills your thoughts on what you really want. And when you have done so, you can always go back to it to remind you and give you the focus you need.<br />
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<b>2. Five to seven.</b> This is ideally the number of goals to pursue. Too many goals will spread your attention too thin on any one goal for you to be able to accomplish them. Keep your goals between five to seven and you will have a better chance of getting them all done.<br />
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<b>3. Time bound.</b> Goals should never be open-ended. Put a specific date when you want a goal achieved. Be aggressive as much as possible but be realistic as well. Time it in a way that will make sure you work on it as soon as possible. <br />
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<b>4. Share with the supportive.</b> Sharing your goals with people who will support you is very important. It makes you more committed to the work and these people will encourage you when you need encouragement. <br />
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<b>5. Don’t give up!</b> Giving up on a goal is very easy. Anybody can concede defeat. But few will persevere no matter what. By expecting difficulties to come your way as you pursue your goals, you will be ready to face seemingly daunting challenges and improve your chances to succeed.Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-28747250385094555852013-11-26T16:53:00.000+08:002014-01-04T10:43:25.637+08:00What We Can Learn From Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) And the Devastation it Brought to the Central PhilippinesThe images of suffering and destruction in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda after it hit the Vizayas (central Philippines) are powerful reminders of why we need to learn our lessons from what happened. Lives and properties were lost after one of the strongest typhoons in recorded history wreaked havoc to towns and villages along its path. It was a gruesome experience for most people whose lives are now forever altered by what they have been through.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69583224@N05/10800159634/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EU/ECHO</a> (Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
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For all the lives that were lost and for all those who barely survived, we owe it to all of them to learn something so that we will come away wiser after Yolanda. We need to be honest and brutally frank about what went wrong and how we should change to get a better outcome if and when faced with similar calamities in the future.<br />
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Lest we forget these lessons, I believe each of us can put our thoughts into writing to make sure we remember. Every person will have his or her own view and experience with the unfolding of the destruction and everything that occurred afterwards. These are all unique experiences that we can use as a society to discuss the best ways to move forward.<br />
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I was not a victim of the calamity nor was I a relative of anyone in the affected areas. But I witnessed what everyone else must have seen, heard or read in the news on a daily basis. And from the observations that I have made, I think there are key lessons that we can all learn from and hopefully never forget.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>We were not prepared and continue to be unprepared for typhoons despite being one of the most typhoon-prone country in the world.</b> It’s been said over and over that we experience more than twenty typhoons a year. But that apparently has not given us enough leverage to face typhoons better. Sure, this was an incredibly strong one but it’s difficult to understand how we apparently missed the basics. People were not adequately evacuated to safer grounds, there was no quick response plan, the disaster response organizational structure was not well-defined, we didn’t know what storm surges were, etc.</li>
<li><b>The government is structurally inadequate to address the needs of the people. </b>This just validates our third world status as a nation. We don’t have the means at our disposal to provide massive and concerted response to an enormously difficult undertaking which was required in our own country. We didn’t have body bags for the dead, we didn’t have helicopters to reach all the towns and villages affected, we didn’t have mobile hospitals, we didn’t have tents as temporary shelters for the people made homeless. It was a stark reminder that we are still a country which is still lacking in basic necessities and still needs to work doubly hard to get things better.</li>
<li><b>“Zero Casualty” is a goal that is not seriously being pursued. </b>It’s being announced as the intended outcome before every typhoon but we don’t see the corresponding actions required to make it happen. That’s why this goal has never been met and will continue to be unmet.</li>
<li><b>Typhoons can cause tsunami-like “storm surges”. </b>I don’t recall any other previous typhoon which caused such great tidal waves as what has been described by survivors of Yolanda. It’s something we should really study further and learn from so that we’ll get a better handle on how to accurately predict its occurrence and thereby avoid its disastrous outcomes.</li>
<li><b>The media is obsessed with conflicts even in times of calamities.</b> They like calling out politicians for bickering when unity is called for but the media obviously seek these stories out because they know conflicts sell. They like to stir things up which we can easily observe by the way they ask their questions during interviews. They are equally liable in making situations worse and should also take the blame for their misbehavior.</li>
<li><b>The global community stands ready to extend a helping hand. </b>Although we all wished the response was sooner, the world saw what happened and they did not hesitate to help in whatever form they can. This is something we should always remember so that we can do the same when others are in need.</li>
<li><b>Filipinos’ “bayanihan” spirit is still alive. </b>Many pinoys contributed in whatever way they can to help their fellow countrymen. Some gave their time to help in repacking of relief goods, others volunteered to raise funds, some helped by donating money to the organizations providing support to the victims. There were so many different means of extending help and the Filipino people did everything they can think of to contribute. The bayanihan spirit was an extraordinary thing to see in practice and is definitely something we should all be proud of.</li>
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Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-21432269131536487272013-11-10T11:57:00.000+08:002013-11-26T16:54:29.968+08:00What is Your Creative Output?Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the most creative minds that ever lived. He designed mechanical contraptions, painted several masterpieces including the Mona Lisa and got involved in science and engineering innovations. He is the epitome of a creative person.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56041749@N02/7149966049/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mrsdkrebs</a> (Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
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Although it's unlikely for most people to reach the level of creativity of a Leonardo Da Vinci, I believe most of us can and should strive to improve our creativity and the output that we produce as a result.<br />
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When we work to create, we force our minds to think. Of course, the opposite of that is when we stop creating our minds lie dormant without any stimulation. This eventually degrades the brain's capacity to think which further diminishes creativity. It's a vicious cycle that we shouldn't let happen to each of us.<br />
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Everybody Can Be Creative</h3>
Creating something good is not exclusive to any group of people or profession. Everyone can do it. The question is not about capability, it's about willingness. If you and I are willing to work for it to happen, we can produce something. It does not matter what our background is or what our status in life is. Creation won't be hindered whether someone is working the most menial jobs or the most prestigious as long as he or she has the right attitude.<br />
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It is therefore right to say that our inability to create is the result of the wrong attitude that we carry. It's not because we lack talent or our status in life handicaps our work. It's because we choose not to do it and so we fail to succeed.<br />
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Fruits of Creativity</h3>
When we talk about creative works, we often associate it to artists. We think of paintings, music, plays, and sculptures. Although those are indeed creative works, there are many more works that we can consider creative. As I have said, everyone can create so there must be a lot of ways to do it.<br />
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The most ubiquitous proof of this is social media. People create stuff everyday that they share to everybody in the world. We produce photos that we work on as best as we can and post them on Instagram or Facebook. We produce short videos on Vine or YouTube. We write to express our thoughts on our blogs in long form or on Twitter in short form.<br />
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We don't just do all these instantly without applying some of our creative abilities. That's because we know people are discriminating as to what they think is worth their time or what they consider to be junks. So we understandably do our best to create something people will find appealing while we try to give it our personal touch.<br />
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How to Be Creative at Work</h3>
Ideally, however, we should be able to create on our job. The place we work. That would eliminate the need to find extra time to be creative elsewhere. We are, after all, spending much of our time at work. I understand that this may be difficult for some but I believe it is a reality for most.<br />
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We can associate creativity with improving our work. We can create something to make our job easier or more effective. That will surely use our creativity and help us produce something good. If you think about it, there is nothing in this world that is so perfect it can't be improved anymore. There is no job out there where everything is set in place to make it impossible for innovative ideas to make a difference.<br />
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Improving the Quality of Our Creative Output</h3>
We need, however, to acknowledge that our creations will not always be as good as we'd like it to be or what other people would appreciate. There will be times when we or others will hate our work. But hopefully those will occur less and less as time passes. The key is to make sure we are persistent. We can't give up because if we do, we will fail to improve.<br />
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So I believe it's best to try to produce in a consistent manner to hone our skills and become more effective. Imagine if Justin Beiber had stopped making new songs, what do you think would happen to his career? Can he bank on all the popular songs he already has? I don't believe so.<br />
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All of us are capable of making something great. But we need to start acting now to create what we can be proud of and figure out ways to do it consistently over time. If we do this, we can count on a progression that will take us higher than where we were before. That's our best bet to live a purposeful life and hopefully make a difference in this world.Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-31652350690767103552013-09-15T13:51:00.002+08:002014-01-07T22:24:16.350+08:00We Are Born to be Masters of Our Life's PurposeWe often think of men and women who achieved extraordinary success in their professions as somewhat superhuman. Think about Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Henry Ford or Thomas Edison.<br />
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In the Philippines, we look up to people such as Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, Henry Sy or John Gokongwei. Most of us can't imagine ourselves attaining what they've been able to achieve. We think that they are just too talented compared to us ordinary human beings.<br />
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"They Were Born With It"</h3>
This is indeed one way to look at the disparity of our achievements compared to them who we can think of as masters of what they do. But there is another view that we can consider. And it's a view that should make us think about our own abilities and capabilities.<br />
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And that view is this - <i>those people who have achieved great successes are no more talented than each of us. What separates them from most is their dedication to master what they are good at doing.</i><br />
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That is another way of saying that when we were born, we were equal in terms of potential to achieve something. But as we grow older and develop, that's when the difference takes place. It may be that those people had better opportunities than others which they were wise enough to grab and take advantage of.<br />
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But opportunities is one thing, being ready to grab them is quite another and much more important element that we should all focus on. These amazing people were all ready for the opportunities they weren't sure would come. They lived everyday passionate about building their skills and honing their craft.<br />
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Passion and Determination</h3>
If you and I can work on the things we know we enjoy doing and are good at, we will be able to master it over time. That is the key, I believe in being successful. But that is something most of us will not do. Maybe not because most of us are just too lazy to work on our passion but because many are just not in a position of doing something they are passionate about.<br />
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Our work could be something we really hate doing or we just don't know what our real competitive advantage is. We don't know what we want to do. We don't know ourselves. We don't know our passion or what we are good at.<br />
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So I would say that the first and very important step we should all take is to discover ourselves. Being able to understand our true inner self will help us realize many of these things. And once we find that out, we will have the motivation that we need to work long hours to improve.<br />
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Know Thyself</h3>
Knowing ourselves, however, is not as easy as it sounds. Many people struggle with this for a long time. They don't know how to determine what things to pursue because they don't know what makes them tick.<br />
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I can think of several ways in which we can know ourselves better. But there may be others that you can think of. For starters, here's what we can do:<br />
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<li><b>Get feedback</b> - sometimes other people can see in us what we can't see ourselves. They may be our loved ones, our friends, our families, our colleagues. They are most definitely the people we spend much of our time with. Their feedback are valuable because they will come from observation.</li>
<li><b>Review your grades & achievements</b> - oftentimes we take for granted the things we are good at. We think everybody can do it. We can fail to see something we may have an advantage in. So looking at our grades and previous achievements is also a good way to understand our abilities.</li>
<li><b>Analyze your hobbies</b> - the things that we enjoy doing by way of our hobbies are mostly those that we can spend time endlessly. And if we spend considerable time on something, we would surely end up good at it.</li>
<li><b>Check what interests you</b> - when you read newspapers, watch television, surf the internet, you may want to analyze the things that can catch your interest. That's usually where your passion lies. It could be a subset of something that you have not really looked into. But you would know it's there and it would be easier to find out what it is.</li>
<li><b>Try new things </b>- if all else fail, you shouldn't shy away from trying new stuff. Sometimes the things that we think we won't like can end up as something we would really enjoy doing especially if we find out we can be good at it. So do not confine yourself with what you already know, try new things to expand your learning.</li>
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Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-46035151081797436142013-06-15T09:03:00.000+08:002013-09-15T13:52:17.937+08:00Experience, Relationships and Meaningful WorkMany people have been motivating themselves with material things. I once read about a self-help book which says that you ought to put pictures of that beautiful house or that fancy car you've been dreaming about at your desk where you can see it everyday. You don't have to actually look at desks to see that this is indeed what people do. Just look at cover photos in Facebook and you'll know how many people have been heeding this advice.<br />
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Self-help book authors argue that these material objects will help you go further by motivating you to do more. And I believe those techniques could actually work. Fancy stuff does motivate us to work harder. We really do think that material things we dream about can make us happy. And from my own experience, I can say that these objects could bring some happiness although it is the kind of happiness that doesn't last that long.<br />
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Even now, I am not immune to wanting stuff for myself. It's very difficult to not want something when you see how great it looks or imagine how useful that object might be to you.<br />
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Even for people who have long ago realized that acquiring stuff is not the way to live, getting rid of this tendency is a struggle. But it's no excuse to stop trying. We are justified to want things that we need but it's very easy to want more than enough. Once we have all that we need, we immediately move on to wanting something more. It becomes a vicious cycle of greed that poisons the way we live our lives.<br />
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So what's really important? I would like to highlight three things that I think are important in a happy life. I did not come up with these three on my own. I got the idea from other people who once lived thinking objects will make them happy but later on realized they really won't. They've been there and done that. So for those of us who are just starting out on our journey, their experience can save us a lot of trouble.<br />
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<h3>
Experience</h3>
What is life really but a series of experiences. So to live a full life, we would have to maximize our experiences in every possible way. That means doing things we have not done before, going to places we've never been to before, meeting people we have never met, eating food we've never tasted and learning from cultures that are different from our own. Sitting all day everyday inside the house is no way to live. We should strive to gain different experiences every new day.<br />
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To be honest, I could use some of these tips. I have always thought of myself as not the adventurous type. I remained content being at home. I didn't feel I would enjoy any outdoor activities. I preferred the comfort of home. I guess that makes me an introvert. And I do not deny that. But I have come to realize that sticking to this idea is not helpful. There's only so much you can do within the confines of your home while there is an abundance of experiences to be had outside.<br />
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<h3>
Relationships</h3>
More than our desires to gain material wealth, cultivating our relationships has been said to bring lasting joy and contentment to many. The bonds that we form with other people such as our families, friends and loved ones give our lives meaning more than anything else.<br />
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Building long-lasting connections is never easy. I know I have made a few but I can do so much more. For instance, I realize how I have very small time spent with colleagues outside of work. Friendships could flourish here if I had the wisdom to make the effort.<br />
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All the people who I spent considerable time with are those that I think I should initiate stronger connections. It won't always work out but to not try at all is nothing but laziness. I realize I am not much of a people-person. But I derive happiness from other people as well. So going out a little from my comfort zone is a very small compromise to make. Relationships, after all, are one of the very important reasons why we exist with others.<br />
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<h3>
Meaningful Work</h3>
Our work consumes most of our time. So it's very important that we find our job meaningful. If we can, then it will bring us happiness more than fancy toys will.<br />
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But not everyone is fortunate to find themselves doing the things they love. Sometimes, it takes effort to really appreciate what you do. Others find it necessary to change jobs that they can be happy about. I believe the key to having one is to feel that you enjoy the process more than the results. Otherwise, you will just force yourself to get on with the things you hate doing.<br />
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Seeking meaningful work or striving to find meaning to what you do because you know how important that is for your well-being is the very first critical step. Awareness can lead you to go further and be better.<br />
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<i>Photo Credit: Lyndon Villareal</i></div>
Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-18127082633542245662013-04-08T00:05:00.001+08:002013-05-04T20:43:41.747+08:00My Temporary Assignment to Dresden Germany - Europe in the Eyes of a FilipinoI wouldn’t say I am a traveled man. I have been to a few countries but I’m certain more people have traveled to more places than I have. Still, my recent trip to Germany has revealed to me the uniqueness of this part of the world. I can’t say that it’s necessarily better but it certainly has a few things going for it. I felt the richness of history all around the place which I very much appreciate.<br />
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This historical tradition is even more astonishing when you see them side-by-side with technological advancement.<br />
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When I walked to the Bruehl Terrace of Dresden Germany, the buildings surrounding the area showcase the awesome architecture of a previous era. Structures such as the Semper Opera House, Zwinger Museum, Theaterplatz, etc., stand as reminders of great architectural achievements.<br />
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Not far from these wonders, however, you’ll find some of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facility in the world. A few kilometers away sits the “Glass Manufacturing” plant of Volkswagen. It’s described as “glass” not because it makes glass as a product. It makes cars alright. Its originality comes with having glass walls everywhere. It’s intended to be the most transparent of manufacturing plants there are.<br />
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Besides that, the factory uses an advanced transport system that is fully automated, driven by magnets. Much like how maglev trains work. The complex system to manufacture a car is made simple with the well-designed and well-engineered facility. It’s really enviable and the technology behind it is nothing short of amazing.<br />
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When you combine the rich architectural history and the adoption of technological breakthrough, the end result can be spectacular. It’s something, I know, Germans are most proud about. And why not? These are achievements that Asia is trying to reach. Although it may take a while for us to get there, seeing how it may look like makes me happy for future generations.<br />
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I have met only a few Germans and so far I came away impressed. They are generally nice to speak with and they are very accommodating. Younger Germans know how to speak English but the older ones oftentimes cannot speak a word of it. So it can be a little tricky sometimes. My German colleagues are hard-working and technically-adept engineers. I know I will learn more from them as I work with them in the weeks ahead.<br />
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On my flight to Singapore on my way to Germany, I sat beside a Filipina who now lives in France. She is married to a British-French guy which explains why she is fluent in speaking both English and French. She was with her son and was on their way back home after a two-week annual visit to the Philippines. She had a lot of good things to say about Europe. But the one that appealed to me the most is how discrimination is much much less there compared to the US. I certainly believed her because she has lived in France for 14 years of her life now.<br />
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As I listened to her stories, I was glad to hear someone has actually made it to a more prosperous life. That’s in contrast to many Filipinos who struggle to make a living overseas. I hope more people will experience the same fate and less of the OFW tragedies that we often hear about.<br />
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<i>P.S.</i><br />
<i>My trip is not done yet so I'll be updating this post in a later time.</i>Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-7984780507692511922013-03-11T22:14:00.000+08:002013-04-08T00:06:17.746+08:00How Our Trip to Anawangin Cove Made our Summer 2013 Truly GreatSometimes work can consume our time and thoughts so much that we forget there is life outside it. To relieve ourselves of the stress-induced work environment, rest and relaxation is always a great idea. That’s how most of us felt when our small group went for a summer outing to Anawangin Cove.<br />
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There were about nine of us when we left Clark, Pampanga early one morning bound for San Antonio, Zambales. We knew the trip was going to take about two hours so we planned to start at five in the morning. But our sleep-deprived colleagues overslept and so we were only able to begin our travel at around six.<br />
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We arranged for a van for transportation. With the size of our group, we thought a mini-van was perfect for our needs. It saved us the trouble of knowing how to get there. We also thought that if we were the one to drive, we'd get tired and enjoy the trip less. Overall, we thought it would save us money so we were lucky to find this van you can see in the photo above. It's brand-spanking new according to the owner. We were the first client to use it.<br />
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As we made our way to San Antonio, we wondered aloud how little we’ve traveled inside the country. Most of us have been sent overseas to work in distant locations but nearby provinces can look totally new and unfamiliar. It was a realization that opportunities like this one to go out of town is a rare occasion that we should all be thankful for.<br />
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After more than an hour of travel by land, we reached our take-off point at Pandaquit for another 30-minute stretch of sea travel using a motorboat. It was nothing fancy. The boat was like every other locally-made vessel owned and operated by a boatman who we had made the arrangement with. He provided us with life-vests just to be safe in case we capsize. The whole trip would not be too far from the shore so it was relatively safe. The sea was calm and did not pose any danger to us.<br />
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Anwangin Cove, we found when we arrived, was probably not the best beach in the Philippines. It’s quite small and doesn’t have the usual business establishments to support tourism. But it’s special in its own right. There were quite a few things we really liked about it aside from the pretty nice sea shore.<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>It’s isolated</b> – aside from the fact that you had to ride a boat to get there, there’s no cellphone signal whatsoever. If you want to be totally cut-off from the world of work, you cannot get any better than this.</li>
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<li><b>It’s not too crowded with people</b> – sure there were many visitors some of whom were camping out for the night. But still the area is large enough to accommodate the number of people visiting. </li>
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<ul>
<li><b>Amazing pine trees</b> – the numerous pine trees just behind the shore makes one feel very close to nature. It’s a welcome change if you’re used to a city environment and wish something different and relaxing.</li>
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<li><b>Mountain ranges all around</b> – if you have more time here in Anawangin, this may be a good place to trek. For us, the mountains showcased the intersection of land and sea at its best.</li>
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This summer getaway was even made better with our food. We got it right when we decided to bring our own grill. We roasted some pork barbecue, stuffed tilapia, eggplant and squid. (We bought the squid at Pundaquit right before we boarded our boat to Anawangin Cove). We also brought with us cooked rice, adobo, salted eggs and some packaged snacks. For our drinks, besides water we had sodas and some alcoholic beverages.<br />
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We realized early on that our food was more than enough for us. So we ate as often as our stomachs would allow. For a while, we intentionally forgot about our diets. This does not happen every day. We thought we can lose the extra weight at a later time.<br />
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We also met some enterprising Aetas who were very eager to sell us their crafts. Seeing them at Anawangin Cove was not really surprising. We see Aetas selling every day in many areas in Clark. They are a hardworking group of people. It’s just unfortunate that opportunities have not caught up with them. They continue to live poor and really have to break their backs to make a living.<br />
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Although we didn’t buy their merchandise for various reasons, we offered them food instead. They were shy to accept at first but I guess their hunger was not easy to overcome. We felt great about sharing our food with them. More so when they expressed their gratitude to us. We figured that their sacrifices to earn a living for their families were difficult enough. The least we can do was acknowledge that and show some expression of our goodwill.<br />
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Our trip home was uneventful. We were bone tired and couldn’t wait to get home to rest. As we made our way back, two things remained in my mind. The first was how Anawangin Cove made our summer a really fun one. The second one was how we might top that next year. It’s a challenge I know we would be more than willing to face. So let’s get it on!Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-16500744946490805782013-03-04T14:22:00.000+08:002013-03-11T22:16:05.629+08:00How to Maximize Your Creativity with SystemsWhether we realize it or not, our creativity is very important to us. It’s not just artists, painters, or even writers who profit from their creativity. Unless your profession is extremely mechanical in nature, you also employ your creativity to solve problems at work. That’s how most of us add value to the company we work for. The problems we address may be small or it may be big, still the outcome helps the business operate effectively.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/minezone/120962030/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">maven </a>(Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
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To make the point concrete, here are some examples to illustrate how we use our creativity at work:<br />
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<li><i>A machine operator needs creativity to meet his output target despite execution problems</i></li>
<li><i>A nurse needs creativity to address the patient’s concerns and make him feel at ease</i></li>
<li><i>A truck driver will have to use his creativity to face the challenges along the road which can affect his schedule</i></li>
<li><i>A farmer needs to be creative to maximize the yield of his crops</i></li>
<li><i>A call center agent needs creativity to satisfy an irate customer</i></li>
</ol>
It’s difficult to imagine a line of work that cannot benefit from a creative mind and spirit. No matter how easy your job may seem, it will get better results when you are in your most creative self.<br />
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But there lies the challenge. How do we make sure we use our creativity effectively? Like any other resource, our creativity has its limits. When we go through the day using it to everything we do, our creativity could be diminished by the time we most need it. That’s what we want to avoid by establishing systems.<br />
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<h3>
What Are Systems</h3>
Most of us use systems in many of our activities. For example, we may have a system in place to know what to wear for the day. This system could help someone who doesn’t want to worry too much about deciding which clothes to wear. We may also have a system to determine what to eat. Or even one to know how to spend our weekend with our families.<br />
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When you think about it, these activities could require a degree of effort to figure out. Without a system in place, it will take our time and energy away from other more important things. It will surely spread thin our creativity by the time we need it to do our jobs well.<br />
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<h3>
How Systems Help</h3>
The objective of having systems, therefore, is to lessen the effort needed for you and me to use our mind to think. We should be able to trust our system to come up with the appropriate results. Examples of systems would be the following:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>A monthly schedule of daily meals to maximize the recipes you know</i></li>
<li><i>An arrangement of clothes inside the cabinet which automatically lets you know which should be worn for the day</i></li>
<li><i>A weekly plan for family weekend activities good for a year to optimize budget and everyone’s schedule</i></li>
</ul>
These are just examples of many systems we can use. The idea is to help us lessen the time thinking about unimportant things. When we have established a system, we can spend the bulk of our creative juices solving important problems or doing creative projects. That’s where we should spend our energy and creativity. It will multiply our results by helping us gain our focus to succeed.<br />
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Let’s live and work smart with smart systems. If you have a system you want to share, hit the comments section. Let us learn from each other!Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-7662402956265257352013-02-11T19:52:00.000+08:002013-03-01T14:39:21.175+08:00How to Lessen Crime in the PhilippinesCrime is a problem in any poor country. The Philippines is no exception. Nightly news is full of crime reports committed on a daily basis. But as the country heads to a more prosperous future, many expect crime to go down eventually. After all, experts surmised, people who lack are the ones committing these despicable acts. When everyone is better off, fewer people will consider committing crimes because there will be less reason for it. Or so we thought.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_fp6HYtgboiFDFTeaEMQ-9B-BTh8qGUvizW0NmiPXBkdpkxuOPKb_hnIVcL69KhT1f1wZ6xgI6t9fpAsego2T3pKverJRs6o5HgBTMVSWOhcbF5avi3NCcOytDxAL28K6JjDorgJADF2/s1600/crime+philippines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_fp6HYtgboiFDFTeaEMQ-9B-BTh8qGUvizW0NmiPXBkdpkxuOPKb_hnIVcL69KhT1f1wZ6xgI6t9fpAsego2T3pKverJRs6o5HgBTMVSWOhcbF5avi3NCcOytDxAL28K6JjDorgJADF2/s400/crime+philippines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37815348@N00/5398546351/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The.Comedian</a> (Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>But if the experience of the US about crime is any indication, this hope is misplaced. Indeed the US experienced a dramatic decrease in crime in the 90's. But it was never about their economic prosperity or people getting richer that made the impact. This question is discussed extensively in the book “Freakonomics” by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner.<br />
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<h3>
Learning from Others</h3>
Although this book is quite popular, I still want to highlight these discussions because I think we can learn a few things from them. The chapter about crime is especially important in my view because of how appropriate it is in the Philippine setting. When the authors described the peak of criminality in the US with this statement - “It was crime that led the nightly news and the national conversation.” they could be mistaken to be talking about the Philippines.<br />
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Just the other day, it was widely reported in primetime news that there are currently more than 200 gangs operating in the country. These gangs are involved in various illegal activities that cause people to lose their sense of peace and security. It’s a big problem no doubt and one which will not likely be resolved unless acted on aggressively.<br />
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<h3>
Exploring the Options</h3>
But what actions can be taken by the government or the police that will help? With the limited resources available, I don’t think we can afford to try everything and see what sticks. We don’t have to do that because we can learn from how it played out in other countries. We can select which actions made significant impact and avoid those that did not really help.<br />
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Here’s a list of some of the reasons experts were using to explain how crime fell in the US starting in the early 90’s.<br />
<ol>
<li>Innovative policing strategies</li>
<li><b>Increased reliance on prisons</b></li>
<li>Tougher gun-control laws</li>
<li>Strong economy</li>
<li><b>Increased number of police</b></li>
</ol>
Among these five, only two actually were proven to have helped in crime reduction. The increase in both police force and prison capacity has been effective in deterring criminal elements from acting out their malicious intentions.<br />
<br />
Take note that policing strategy, however innovative, has not been seen to work as effectively as increasing the number of police personnel. So the right metric that we should be looking out for is the police to population ratio. It needs to improve dramatically to as high as the government can afford. The presence of police officers deter criminals from committing crimes so instead of putting security guards everywhere who are untrained and ineffective, the government should spend on more policemen and women.<br />
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<h3>
Expectations on a Strong Economy</h3>
A stronger economy is something many of us are banking on. When we look at rich countries, we can sense that they have less crime than us. The US situation actually debunks the “strong economy” theory. Although studies have shown that a 1% decrease in unemployment translates to a 1% decrease in non-violent crimes, the overall picture is not conclusive. This means there is no correlation when we look at violent and non-violent crime trends and how the economy performs.<br />
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Reliance on prisons as a deterrent has also been shown to work. Increasing the capacity of existing prison facilities and using them to lock up criminals for a long period of time work effectively as a disincentive to prevent crimes. It’s no coincidence that the decrease in crime in the US happened at a time when incarceration increased four-fold.<br />
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Levitt has also attributed half the decrease in crime rate to the legalization of abortion. It’s a fascinating topic to explore but it’s not realistic to aim for that as a method in the Philippines. We are a pretty conservative country to accept abortion. It will be extremely surprising to see it legalized in this country.<br />
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But even without it, the two reasons given merit above should be a lot of help to formulate steps in reducing crime rate in the Philippines. We expect the Philippines to be a more prosperous country in the future. It won’t necessarily bring with it peace and order, however. In order for that to happen, serious and effective strategies should be undertaken starting now.Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-956596009825933362013-01-29T22:40:00.000+08:002013-02-11T19:51:25.761+08:00The Upside of Making MistakesEarlier today, a friend of mine was laid to his final resting place. We were born on the same year and I have known him since we were kids. Besides being a really sad event, his death is a strong reminder to me that time is indeed the most precious resource we will ever have.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-3SbwygQpYc8DZO7SFEP3wQw0mFKiaNkAT95f76Pc9XK74RxQKvfJdVnE2curmtYB6xuiRqzxUvgwEWiutbvgJCLcowhlSxizs0bOkBDtWcP7Dh9uv2sv278VphEC79TBy2w1eumTDtn/s1600/mistakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-3SbwygQpYc8DZO7SFEP3wQw0mFKiaNkAT95f76Pc9XK74RxQKvfJdVnE2curmtYB6xuiRqzxUvgwEWiutbvgJCLcowhlSxizs0bOkBDtWcP7Dh9uv2sv278VphEC79TBy2w1eumTDtn/s1600/mistakes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaiban/4351734363/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jack Zalium</a> (Creative Commons)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Surely, I have known this to be true all along. But it is one thing to acknowledge a fact and quite another to know how to act knowing it. And with respect to our limited time on this world, I’m sure I can do better than what I’m doing now.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
That’s why I continue to search myself for answers that I may find within. Sometimes I try to imagine what I would do if I knew I only had so few time left. Among the things I thought I would start doing is to try to overcome being timid in many aspects of my life.<br />
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I would be bolder in my actions and become less afraid of the consequences of mistakes I may commit. It doesn’t mean that I would be reckless but it means I will not be too cautious to try something. It means being active to do what I can to accomplish the things I want to do as much as possible.<br />
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When I think about it, this aversion to making mistakes is probably what’s keeping most people from achieving their goals in life. If this is true for you, forgive yourself and move on. After all, there is a great deal of force behind our tendency to be cautious which we continue to live with.<br />
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We are a product of an educational system that punishes mistakes. Sure it’s good to be always right. But that’s an impossibility that we can’t achieve. Being timid and careful is not how we can learn from experience. Nor can it be the way we live our lives if we’re serious about achieving and contributing the best way we potentially can.<br />
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Those of us who’s got big dreams should know that it requires big efforts to achieve them. We should expect a continuous and unrelenting push that we need to exert so that we can win. Inevitably, we’re going to make mistakes along the way. But we shouldn’t be afraid of that at all. On the contrary we should welcome them because mistakes make us wiser.<br />
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Being right has its merits. It gets the job done faster and therefore gets the goals achieved quicker. Ideally, we would want to know we are doing the right thing and not find out at the end that we were wrong. Making mistakes is a discouraging experience for many.<br />
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But for people who are doing whatever they can to the pursuit of their happiness, committing mistakes is not as bad as no movement at all. The fear of being wrong will never be an excuse for them to do nothing.<br />
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Their mistakes tell them that they are not sitting idly by while time slips away never to return again. These are proof that they can still learn. They can still pursue their dreams. They may still commit some mistakes but they are confident that they will learn from them and do better next time around.Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1292414151605529789.post-1742826152288463322013-01-13T10:54:00.001+08:002013-01-29T22:41:25.195+08:00Guns in the Philippines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXJTNwDm-vTJStUpSPWW94agxpteo5XzyN0eAOZumnuO_m19brgdfFsBtl61folisveIueLRbUwa-T5ofKOnwhytq4it-MBfl_I-uwxsDLuQFA1XkQsT1SjIXuDjJDPA6LF3DpD8dRx2I/s1600/toy+gun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXJTNwDm-vTJStUpSPWW94agxpteo5XzyN0eAOZumnuO_m19brgdfFsBtl61folisveIueLRbUwa-T5ofKOnwhytq4it-MBfl_I-uwxsDLuQFA1XkQsT1SjIXuDjJDPA6LF3DpD8dRx2I/s200/toy+gun.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
There’s a nationwide discussion going on right now about guns in the Philippines. Gun control, gun proliferation, gun bans and gun laws are some of the topics being discussed. And although these issues came about due to violent incidents, sometimes a personal experience shapes our own views and opinions.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
A few months ago, our next-door neighbor’s apartment unit was robbed by two men. It wasn’t a totally unexpected event but we were stunned nonetheless. I say not unexpected because break-ins in our neighborhood are not that uncommon. We hear news of these burglaries every now and then from those living nearby. In fact our apartment which has a total of seven units, has been robbed four times already. Luckily, our own unit has not been a victim possibly because we are less accessible from a burglar’s point of view.<br />
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It was a quarter to five in the morning when we were awaken by shouts of "magnanakaw, magnanakaw!". (Thieves in English). As I nervously went out to take a look, I found out that it was our landlord doing the shouting.<br />
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He said he woke up at around 4 in the morning and saw that the gate was open. He was sure it was closed before he went to bed. He immediately suspected that the next door apartment unit was being robbed. And sure enough there were two men at work inside the unit looking for items they could steal.<br />
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Our landlord hurriedly made a call to 117 - the police emergency number. Knowing that he may be overheard by the burglars, he spoke very softly. He asked for them to dispatch policemen to our location. But the call operator was rude and unsupportive. He thought it was a frank call. He even suggested that the reason for the soft voice was that our landlord was having sex nearing orgasm.<br />
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After some more discussions our landlord managed to convince the operator that it really was an emergency. The thieves could escape anytime soon if the police will not come. But instead of coordinating with the police, the operator just gave my landlord the phone number of the nearest police station. So he dialed the number but no one was answering the call. He tried several times but still nobody answered.<br />
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Alas, the thieves were leaving and our landlord knew no one would be there to catch them. The police would not arrive. So as the thieves were walking out, he took a wooden chair and threw it from the balcony down to one of the men. It hit a man but not enough to stop him on his way to escape.<br />
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Our landlord did this as he shouted to alarm the neighborhood. It was a good effort but it wasn't enough. The thieves were able to escape with their loot. The padlock of the gate was missing and the door of the apartment unit was broken.<br />
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<h3>
Who will protect us?</h3>
The police did not arrive at all. The incident was reported to the barangay (village leaders) but no action was taken. For them it must have been too common to even bother. But to us, it was a security problem that opened our eyes to the dangers we faced. We felt the police was totally undependable. We knew we had to take steps for our protection.<br />
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We thought about moving out. Finding a safer community perhaps. But we decided against it because we knew burglars can strike anywhere. We seriously entertained the idea of owning a gun. Although we felt it was a step we'd rather not take, we thought it may be necessary.<br />
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But before getting a gun, we would need to know how to use it first. A gun owner who is clueless about how to use it will just endanger everybody else. He may even pose a danger to himself if he is not careful.<br />
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It was agonizing to have to weigh between the peace of living gun-free and the security a gun can bring us. It's for this reason that we've not really moved forward with any step to make our decision.<br />
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<h3>
Gun Violence Across the Nation</h3>
But the national attention on guns have made us rethink our dilemma. We are now pinning our hopes on national leadership to implement policies that will bring peace and order. The objective is for citizens to feel at ease about his community that owning a gun would not be necessary.<br />
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I know we're a long way from fulfilling that objective. That's why anyone who absolutely needs a gun for protection should still be allowed to own one. But gun ownership ought to be controlled effectively. Strict requirements should be enforced and violations should be stopped. High-ranking officers should be held accountable for failing to implement the law on gun ownership.<br />
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The police should do its job to stop the proliferation of illegal guns and confiscate all undocumented guns in the country. It's a tall order no doubt. But they should try because it's their job to implement the law. Otherwise, all of us will suffer living in danger while worrying about it constantly.<br />
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It's a situation we would not wish anyone to be in. So why would we accept it for ourselves?<br />
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Let's not.<br />
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<i>*Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arleach84/8097731130/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leach84</a> (Creative Commons)</i>Joel Olavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07601884236737487516noreply@blogger.com0