Confidence

Derek Jeter (NY Yankees captain, baseball superstar), a balding Tiger Woods (golf superstar) and Roger Federer shows you what it takes to be a superstar in this video from Gilette. 

Here's to Confidence!

Yes, confidence is all that it takes!  It is usually the ones who initiate, speak out their minds, take risks, and let it all out that are successful in life.  It doesn't matter whether they are right or wrong, so long as their confidence lead them to action.  Act with confidence and everything will more likely fall into place.

Even my Economics professor agrees.  He said that what we're really paying for in our MBA education is how to acquire confidence.  The confidence to speak out, argue, defend, and implement our proposals.  Do you agree?

With regards to the video, I have to say that Federer looked a bit awkward. hehehe (^o^)/  Derek and Tiger looked more natural.  Although I don't follow baseball and haven't seen Derek Jeter in action, I saw an interview of him once and I have to say that all three of them possess a certain quality that I admire.  And that is humility.

For me, Confidence and Success without Humility is "never mind".

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Iberian Chicken (Pollo Iberico) Recipe

My sister found this Iberian Chicken recipe online (heart 2 heart) and asked me to try it.  The picture looks perfect but in reality, I made it too salty for my parent's taste! hehehe (^o^)/  Nevertheless, it was a big hit during dinner time.  (Big hit equates to having only the bones and some of the potatoes left after dinner!)  Why don't you try it this weekend.  Just in time for Father's day.

Here's the Iberian Chicken recipe:
(I changed the original recipe a bit.)

  IBERIAN CHICKEN    

   1 pc. whole chicken (1.0 ~ 1.5 kilo)  clean very well and pat dry

   2 tbsp. whole fresh peppercorn, ground

   2 heads garlic, peeled and pounded

   1 Tbspn rock salt

   8 to 10 pcs. Calamansi  or the juice of 1/2 lemon

   6 pcs. lemon grass, white parts only, pounded

   1 pc. chicken cube dissolved in 1 cup boiled water or

          1 Tbspn Chicken Powder dissolved in 1 cup water

   3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

   3 to 4 pcs. potatoes, peeled and half if needed

   

   1.)  Rub the chicken all over with the ROCK SALT and PEPPER.  

         Remember that you can always add salt later on.  If you don't want 

         it too salty, don't rub that much at this point.  The original recipe 

         used 2 tablespoon rock salt.  I'm changing this to 1 tablespoon.

   2.) Rub with calamansi juice, making sure to rub the inside cavity.

        Or you can use the juice of half a lemon.  If you're using lemon, use 

        the lemon zest as well.  Using lemon will produce a more fragrant
        dish.  I don't think they have calamansi in Spain as well.
        hehehe (^o^)/  Go easy on the lemon as well.  Too much can make
        the sauce very sour.

   3.)  Insert the lemongrass into the cavity, together with some garlic.

   4.)  Pour the chicken cube/hot water mixture and olive oil
         on the chicken.   You can substitute 1 Tablespoon of
         Chicken Powder for the chicken cube.  Marinate overnight in
         an oven-proof tray.  Invert chicken midway.

   5.)  Preheat oven to 350F (180 C).  Put peeled potatoes in the baking
         tray, as well as the rest of the garlic.  Bake. 

   6.)  Remember to baste chicken with the sauce marinade every 5
         minutes for 30 minutes or until chicken is golden brown.  Taste
         the sauce and add salt and pepper as necessary.  Cover with
         aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours until tender. Remove excess
         oil before serving.

Happy Father's Day to all dads out there.  BTW, this recipe was posted at heart2heart in time for Mother's Day. (^o^)/

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Newest Member of the Family

We have a new member in the family!  He helps us in our store and he keeps me company when I'm bored.  I've even made a special toy for him made out of strings and toilet paper cartons.  I play with him during lunch time when I get really sleepy and he gets really cranky and bored.  A perfect symbiotic relationship hahaha (^o^)/.  Here he is tugging at my pants urging me on to play.  

Our new pet kitten!  A stray cat who has found refuge in our store.  A lucky moment of stillness, just long enough for my new Sony Ericsson T700 to capture the moment.  I actually took this photo upside down and only inverted it using Picasa.  

Ever since he arrived, our borders from last year have all gone away.  They must be really scared of him.  Well, given the choice between tickling but "malambing" sensations and tickling but scary biting sensations in our feet, we would definitely rather go for the former.  So you'll understand what I mean better, check out this picture of our borders from last year.  Here's one of them caught in the act, taking a sip, from Papa's lucky frog water holder which is used during counting bills. (We were actually amused by some of their antics hehehe (^o^)/)

 

This was taken by my old toy, a Nokia N95, which I sold for a very cheap price after only two years of usage.  Anyway, it was just the free phone from Smart and in the coming months I'll be getting a new one again.  I think I'll go for Sony Ericsson this time, I just love my Sony Ericsson. ^^

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Long Live the Fearless Man

Before I forget, check out this video "Long Live the Fearless Man" and vote!  It's the lone Filipino finalist in the Democracy Video Challenge in YouTube.  I heard about this first at Mornings@ANC.  That's my routine now.  I watch the program every morning and follow news about the Philippine stock market.  I've followed PLDT's shares rise from 1880 pesos a share to 2,300 pesos in just a couple of months!  Too bad I sold my shares too early but still, I managed to earn a lot. (^o^)/  I think I'm gonna try stock trading for a living.  It's quite fun.

Here's the video.

To vote, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/DemocracyChallenge and then click on the "Vote" tab.  All the videos of the finalists will be shown.  Click on "Next Video" until the entry from the Philippines is shown.  Watch the video and give it your "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" by clicking the icon with the thumb sign.  I already voted last week.  Support a fellow kababayan and vote now. (^o^)/

     
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Moments of Intoxication

Tonight the sky was clear and blue. I saw the stars exactly like I want them to be. Everytime, I see sky like that, it takes me back to the time I went camping by the beach in Hokkaido (Japan). I have House Friendship to thank for that lifetime memory. It was a cool autumn night by the beach. After eating Genghis Khan, mutton version of a yakiniku, we enjoyed the clear blue sky and the thousand of constellations visible that night.

It is moments of intoxication that life appears so simple and everything just falls into place like how it's meant to be. It is moments like this that reminds me that life is suppose to be simple. It is enjoying the simplicity of life that makes one happy. Ha! Bo Sanchez eat your heart out. ^^ Love is not the key to happiness, it is simplicity. And I am proud to say that I see that simplicity everyday with my dad.

I just came from a fundraiser event organized by a friend for a friend. Have you ever done one for a friend before? I am proud to say that I have. It was back when I was still working in Japan and a friend badly needed money to support his mother's dialysis treatments. My friend was a former colleague in the company I worked for. He was unfornately cut after a year. I decided to ask our japanese colleagues for donations. After all, 5,000 pesos in Japan is just worth one night of fun over gourmet food and drinks. With the help of other Filipino colleagues, we were able to raise around 90,000 pesos across Japan for our friend's mom.

I felt proud for what I've accomplished for my friend but felt dirty as well. Accomplishing such a feat somehow felt like it did more good for my ego than for my friend. I'm sure you get what I mean. Doing something good somehow does more good for our egos than for those we are trying to help.

Regardless, I salute my friend who organized tonight's fundraiser for stepping up and dedicating her time to help another friend. I realized that consitency / being consistent will erase all doubts. Even though I barely know the beneficiary, we've shared wonderful moments together and I truly love her personality. I hope she gets better and recovers soon.

In the meantime, I am happy and amazed for a friend who saw the fish flying and the sky in the pond. Check out his poem here.

To cap the night, I saw Jamie Oliver challenge one of the Iron Chefs on TV! A rare moment I would say, considering that both chefs competing are well respected in the culinary world.

Ahhh! My ears are still numb and deafened from the sounds in the bar. All along I thought my tolerance for noise was very high. It seems like age has caught up on me and my senses are not as tough as they used to be.

I am choosing to live a simple life. A lot may not get it and may think I am doing otherwise but I don't care. It is in this kind of life that I find happiness.

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What is a Computer Software?

Ever since I took up Computer Engineering in college, it always was a bit difficult to explain to my parents what exactly it was that I was learning and doing in school.  The situation did not change when I became a professional and worked as a software programmer.  Even now, I still don't think they're able to fully comprehend what a software is.  The problem was not only about them being technically challenged but also about me not being able to explain it to them in simple terms.  How I wish I saw this video from Common Craft before to help me out. 

Computer Software in Plain English

Hmmm ... maybe I'll let my mom watch this someday and see if she can understand it.  (^o^)/

You might want to check out this video on Saving Money in Plain English as well.  Learn how compounding interest can help you save millions for retirement. (^o^)/

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French Open 2009 Winners (Roger Federer | Svetlana Kuznetsova)

As I had foreseen it, Roger Federer dropped on his knees and shed tears of joy as Robin Soderling's return fails to cross the net giving him the French Open 2009 Championships.  He joins an elite group of players (Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, and Andre Agassi)  to be among the few who have won all four grand slam tournaments! 

Meanwhile, Svetlana Kuznetsova took her time touring Paris and enjoying her time as the new French Open winner.

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A wife like Steffi Graf

The Agassi's are at The French Open!  My bet, Dinara Safina, lost to Svetlana Kuznetzova.  I hope the same thing doesn't happen tomorrow. 

Not only did Andre and Steffi play an exhibition match but Steffi came out during the trophy presentation after the Women's finals.  

Doesn't she look great?!

 

I want a wife like Steffi Graf! (I'm in Love. hehehe ^^)

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New Champions at Roland Garros (French Open 2009)

Regardless of what happens today and tomorrow at the French Open Finals, new French Open Champions will be crowned!  All four remaining semifinalists have never won the French Open title.  

On Saturday, the Women's French Open Finals will feature the current No. 1 seed Dinara Safina against a more veteran player also from Russia, Svetlana Kuznetzova.

On Sunday, the Men's French Open Finals will feature Roger Federer vs. Robin Soderling, the man who ended Rafael Nadal's quest for a 5th straight French Open crown.  

My French Open 2009 Finals bets were a bit off.  Nevertheless, Roger Federer is still alive!  Regardless of whom he faces in the finals he will surely win this time around!  *so excited for him*


And yes, my pictures are biased. hehehe (^o^)/

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Diversity vs. Philippine All Stars

Was very happy to know that the dance group, Diversity, won this year's Britain's Got Talent!  The group really deserved it.  Providing pure entertainment through nice visual effects, synchronicity, and endless creativity.  Personally, I love their take on the Britain's Got Talent judges!  Watch these videos to see for yourself! 

Watch this video of Diversity as well.

Do they stand a chance of winning against the Philippine All Stars?  For those of you not in the know, The Philippine All Stars won the 2008 World Hip Hop Competition.  I would love to see a dance off between the two groups (^o^)/

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Roger Federer wins French Open 2009

This week Roger Federer won the French Open 2009 grand slam tournament to tie Pete Sampras' record of fourteen (14) grand slam championship titles!  He also became one of only 6 men (Rod Laver, Mats Wilander, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal) to have won a grand slam tournament on three different surfaces - hard court, grass, and clay.  

My American Idol 2009 predictions were spot on and my horoscope is telling me that I have the knack.  This is how I see the French Open 2009 tournament ending this weekend.  I saw Roger Federer on his knees in tears in the red clay courts of Roland Gaross after hitting a winning forehand to the open court.  On the other side of the court was Andy Murray still seeking for that elusive grand slam title.

Earlier on I was gonna write that the only way for Roger Federer to lose this year's French Open was if Rafael Nadal loses before the finals.  I'm thinking that the pressure would be too much for Roger if he becomes the favorite to win in the finals again.  Meeting Rafa in the finals would make him the underdog and he can go all out without thinking too much of winning.  I'm taking that back as Rafael Nadal lost today in the 4th round of the French Open!  He lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden.  Roger Federer, the true champion that he is, will be able to handle the pressure! ^^ 

No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic already lost in the previous round.  This leaves the door open for Roger Federer and Andy Murray.  Still in the draw however are two young and powerful frenchmen who have never failed to entertain the predominantly french crowd since day 1.  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils are both in Federer's section of the draw.  I think they will be Federer's toughest opponents enroute to the finals.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Left) and Gael Monfils (Right) at the French Open 2009

Catch the French Open over at the Balls Channel.  Don't forget to tune in this weekend for the finals and see my foretelling abilities at work. ^^

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