Good News for OFWs

Here's some good news for everyone, especially for Overseas Filipino Workers! (OFWs)

Is anybody you know graduating this year but unfortunately you couldn't make it back home to attend the graduation rites?  Make your greetings extra special and show them how proud you are by posting your greetings at the Philippine Star's Graduation '09 Webspecial.  Who knows? Philippine Star might decide to publish the greetings one day.  That's free publication for you!  Hurry and greet the new grads now!  (Don't know anyone graduating? Why not pretend! hehehe ^^)  The site will run until the end of April.

The site also welcomes messages from new graduates wishing to extend their thank you's and greetings online.  (You can pretend to be one as well! ^^ Might as well take the opportunity to thank someone you'd been wanting to thank for a long time. (^o-)v )

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Coron, Palawan the Next Phuket?

In the news this week, Diwaran island, an islet in the province of Coron (Palawan), is being developed into the next Phuket Island Resort.  The report said that Banyan Tree Holdings, a big developer of resorts, hotels, spas and residential homes in the Asia Pacific, together with the Tranzen Group is transforming the island into the "single largest integrated island resort in all Asia."

Wow!  More good news for the Philippines!  Read the full article here.  And while you're at it, check out the picture at PDI and compare it with my picture of the Kayangan Lake!  Mine's a lot better right? hehehe ^^

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Vote Earth!

Turn off your Lights on March 28, 2009 from 20:30 to 21:30 and help save Mother Earth! Take a 60 minute break and turn off your computer, TV, lights and radio! Go out and enjoy the silence together with the night's cool breeze and clear blue skies!

1 hour for Mother Earth!
Do your part for the environment.

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I remember doing the same thing last year ^^

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Go to www.earthhour.org for more info.

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Secrets to Happiness - Part 4

Secrets to Happiness Part 4

In part 3 of this series, we learned that very few people are happy because of fear.  In this final section, Bo shares how we can overcome those fears. 

The Only Antidote to Fear Is...
By: Bo Sanchez

Twenty years ago, a friend gave me a book about facing fears.  My arrogant response to her: "Thanks for the book.  But frankly, I don't think I need it.  I don't know why, but fear isn't a problem for me.  I don't have any fears."

Ten years later, I ate my words.

Because after a deep soul search, I realized how my life was run by many fears.  Many of the things I was doing I did because of fear!  I feared what other people said about me.  I feared failure.  I feared angry people.  I feared of not having enough.  I feared of not being enough.  

In my life, I've discovered that there is only one thing that can overcome fear.  There is only one thing that is more powerful than fear.  

The only antidote to fear is LOVE.

When you fill your life with love, your fears naturally disappears.  I'm talking about a love for God, a love for others, a love for yourself, and a love for life itself.  The Bible says, Perfect love casts our all fear, and I totally believe it.

In fact, remember the 7 Tools of Happiness I listed above? (Part 2)  Every single one of them is really a facet of love - and each tool can drive away a specific fear in your life.  Once your fears are gone, happiness will flood your soul.

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And so we are back at LOVE!  It seems to be the key to everything!  Not only is it the main ingredient to overcoming your fears and being happy but also the secret to completing your soul!

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Secrets to Happiness - Part 3

Secrets to Happiness Part 3
By now, you would know that Happiness is a way of life and that we can be Happy always!  And Bo has shared his 7 Tools of Happiness.  In this part, he shares to us why so many people are unhappy.

Your Body is Hardwired To Be Afraid
by: Bo Sanchez

The enemy of happiness isn't sadness.
The enemy of happiness isn't problems.
The enemy of happiness isn't loneliness.
The enemy of happiness is FEAR.

Our lives are so fueled by it.  We run our lives by fear.

In Dan Baker's excellent book, What Happy People Know, he explains how our body circuitry is wired to fear.

Our brains have three parts.  The brain stem, the amygdala, and the neocortex.  The more primitive parts of our brains, the brain stem ( also called the reptilian brain, because reptiles have these for brains) and the amygdala are programmed for fear.

Why? Our ancestors needed fear for their physical survival.  Imagine yourself living in the wilderness with lions, wolves, and cobras around you.  Danger lurks behind every tree and shadow.

Once their brains register fear, the endocrine glands produce our fear hormones adrenaline and cortisol.  it gave them super strength to fight or flight.  And in fighting or fleeing, they exhaust the adrenaline and cortisol in their bodies.  Well and good.  But what about us who usually sit behind desks and work on computers?

We still have the same fear mechanism.  But this time, we're no longer afraid of lions or cobras behind every tree.  We are afraid of our rising credit card bills.  We're afraid of our boss.  We're afraid of losing our jobs.  We're afraid for our children - what will happen to their future?  We're afraid that at 35, we won't get married anymore.  We're afraid we'll grow lonely.  We're afraid we'll run out of money.  We're afraid of social rejection.  We're afraid of social shame and losing face.  We're afraid of disease. 

And these fears are so real, our endocrine glands produce adrenaline and cortisol as well.  And because we're seated behind our desks, pounding on our computers, we really don't use up any of it.  Adrenaline and cortisol become poison in our bodies, destroying our health bit by bit.

Thus, very few people are happy.

Conclusion: If you want to be happy, we need to overcome our fears.

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Coron Town (Coron, Palawan)

Coron Port!

Love the Hollywood-esque sign. I don't think I've seen anything similar anywhere in the Philippines.

Entrance to the Princess of Coron Hotel.











And lastly, rustic limestone cliffs all over!


Kayangan Lake (Coron, Palawan) pictures here.

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Secrets to Happiness - Part 2

Secrets to Happiness Part 2

As we learned in part 1, Happiness is not an emotion neither it is a mood.  Rather, happiness is a way of life!  We have control over our happiness, it is within our circle of influence.  In this next part, Bo shares the 7 Tools of Happiness.

7 Tools of Happiness

by: Bo Sanchez

I know of strange human beings walking this face of the earth who are extremely happy.  Not just moderately or mildly happy.  But deeply joyful.  (Hey, you may be one of them.  Congratulations!)

I know them.  Some of them are my friends.

Because of my work, I've traveled all over the world.  Last count: 36 countries.  That's a lot of frequent flyer miles, jet lag, and lost luggage.  But that also means I've met more people than the average person on the street.  It's not just the sheer number or the variety of people I've met.  Because I'm a preacher, I've not only met them, I've engaged many of them on a deep level.  Like on our first meeting (or phone call or email), they open up their hear and pour to me their problems like I was their soul amte.

So I have this distinct advantage of knowing lots and lots of people on an intensity that's beyond superficial.

So I asked myself this question:  Who are the happiest people I know?  I listed them down.  After sifting through the hundreds of thousands of people archived in my brain, I asked a more difficult question:  What is common among them all?

I came up with seven great things I see in extremely happy people.  I call them the 7 Tools of Happiness:

1. Happy people create their destiny.
2. Happy people like themselves a lot.
3. Happy people nurture connections.
4. Happy people find delight everywhere.
5. Happy people embrace change.
6. Happy people trust deeply.
7. Happy people work their purpose daily.
   

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Secrets to Happiness - Part 1

Secrets to Happiness Part 1
This is for everyone out there looking to be Happy!  (Who doesn't want to be happy right?) 



The Difference Between Happiness and Pleasure
by: Bo Sanchez

A thick wad of 1,000 pesos bills gives pleasure.
A chocolate parfait with thick chocolate syrup gives pleasure.
A fun movie, with a bucket of popcorn on the side, gives pleasure.
A roller coaster ride gives pleasure.
A kiss gives pleasure.

What's the difference between pleasure and happiness?

Pleasure is an outside job.
But happiness is an inside job.

It doesn't depend on any external circumstances.  Yep,  even if you only have three strands of hair on your head.  Happiness isn't the absence of problems.  By the way, do you want me to show you a few people who don't have problems? Great.  Bring your shovel out and let's dig them up from their graves. 

The Bible doesn't say, "Be joyful sometimes."  Or "Be joyful when you don't have problems."  The Bible says "Be joyful always."

Is that possible? I mean, c'mon.  No one can be happy 365 days a year.
But the Bible says, "Be joyful always" because happiness isn't a mood.
Happiness isn't an emotion either.

Happiness is a way of life.

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Mystery Date Revealed!

After 8 (going 9) years, I got to catch up with M again! Same old smiles as you can see from our pictures then and now. (^o^)/

Paris is a lovely city! (but expensive!) In the future I wanna go back in time for the French Open! We were able to pass by the tennis courts but the gates were closed. (Always leave something for next time ^^)

And found this as well! Too bad I can't remember everyone in the pic already. 3 of them to be exact. Hope everyone's doing well, where ever you may be.

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Fulbright Scholarship for Filipinos

Fulbright Scholarship for Filipinos

A friend, through email, told me that the Fullbright Scholarship Philippine Student Program is now accepting applications for MA/MS, PhD, non-degree doctoral dissertation/enrichment in the United States for academic year 2010-2011. The deadline for application is on March 23, 2009. Completed applications must be submitted to the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) office.

Grants under the Fulbright Philippine Student Program are for five months to nine months for non-degree, one to two years for master's, and two years for doctoral degree studies. The grant provides for round-trip international travel, monthly allowance, tuition and fees, book/supply allowance, and health and accident insurance.

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Next Clue: Tour Eiffel!!!

The Eiffel Tower

My travel companion showing a bit of photography brilliance taking this picture to perfection! (Thank you!)

I realized it's hard to be a photographer. Every time you have your picture taken, you want it to be good! I have to remind myself not to be a burden to my companions. hehehe ^^ (A few of you would be able to relate I'm sure. ^^)

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Mystery Date - Guess and Win!

My mystery Valentine's Date! 

Guess her name correctly and win (a picture of me!) hehehe ^^





 Clues:
- Notice the setting
- Notice the clothes
- 8 Years after
- First met her in Nagano, Japan!

It was really nice catching up with you again ... ^^

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SP Jain: Global MBA Scholarship Update

A month ago I received an email from the SPJCM-Dubai and Singapore campus. Apparently, they have started accepting applications for their Global MBA program for April 2009! And the good news is, apart from spending 6 months in Dubai and 6 months in Singapore, the students will get a chance to spend 10 weeks in Toronto, Canada! SP Jain has partnered with York University-Schuilih School of Business which is said to be the No. 1 business school in Canada and ranked No. 15 in the world!

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Good as the offer is, I don't think I'll be ready for the April intake as well. For now, the MBA education I am getting here in Davao will have to do. Hopefully though, Fujitsu will grant me the EWKLP Scholarship, an Advanced Management Studies Scholarship to be held in JAIMS at Honolulu, Hawaii! I'm scheduled for an interview end of March or early April. *fingers-crossed*

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Complete Your Soul

"I'm not frightened.
I'm not frightened of anything.
The more I sufffer, the more I love.
Danger will only increase my love.
It will sharpen it. It will give it spice.
It'll be the only angel that you need.
You will leave life only more beautiful
when you entered it.
Heaven will take you back and look at you
and say:

Only one thing will make a soul complete
and that thing is LOVE."

Narrated by
Michage Berg from the movie, The Reader

This goes specially to my friend, Enrico of Pangan Thoughts (eipangan.blogspot.com). And mind you, it doesn't have to be romantic love hehehe ^^

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After watching the movie (The Reader), I now understand why Hugh Jackman portrayed the movie as such at the opening of the Oscar Awards! I really thought that he hasn't seen the movie. hahaha (^o^)/

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