Today is father’s day and I always recalled my father and how he contributed big to what I am today. His sacrifices are soo many that I know I owe him a lot. Although, I wish that we could have been emotionally closer like what I am to my kids (kissing the kids and motivating them to aspire, mind you they are boys). I know that we have a different situation on being a father so I cannot compare how our style.


But my father performed his role to me and I can never ask for more. He drilled in me the importance of education. Most especially, when he is drank, he always murmur the importance of education saying, “ tanging pag-aaral mo lang ang maipapamana namin sa iyo”. It stucked on me and in my heart I know I have to perform well in school.

One of the painful but sweetest experiences that I had with my father is waiting for his jeep so I could ride going to school and asked for my baon. It was a very sweltering afternoon, I patiently waited for him. After almost waiting for an hour, he came by and I wave. I embark on his jeep and sat beside him.

My heart was crumpled and taken aback; my father’s t-shirt is drenched in sweat because of the heat. He looked dead tired because of the humidity that even when he smiled upon seeing me it is a smile of someone who has no choice but to have his kind of work just for me and my siblings to go to school.

I can only pressed his hand and give his soaked towel to lessen the perspiration imprisoning his whole body. I kissed him in his head (one of the few times that I did it to him) and disembark confused on what I just witnessed and felt.

That particular day made my resolve to finish my schooling etched in stone.

Past forward today, I still vividly recall that scene. I know my father is proud of me and I am proud of my father. I have gone through a lot of challenges and I used him as my strength. Almost always I have come-out of the challenges as a victor.

Today is Father’s Day it is time to call him again, greet him and says, “ Salamat Papa”.

Negosyo Power Expo (NPE) 2010 slated this August 20-22,2010 at Trinoma Mall is like a restaurant right now busy welcoming many participants.

So what is in store for this year? Answer many !

But in order to get a hint of what is to come allow me to show pictures from the past.

I had a privilege to listen to the father and son tandem of Mr. Menardo Jimenez and Butch Jimenez. Both are achievers and Filipino leaders in their own right. The opportunity to listen to them is like finding money while you are meandering to a street – it’s a treasure that I will cherish.


Now, I would like to share Butch Jimenez 3P’s in being a leader to a group that moves and grow-up.

Today says a lot of something to what is in store for us in the future. Today always seems already gone the moment you open your eyes in the morning. It seems Today is on a rush to leave the parking lot immediately even before the sun sets in.

This moment is so commonplace in all aspects of our life right now. So having stated the obvious what now?
These are just few of the futuristic topics in store for all of those attending this prestigious annual event.

By the way, the event is slated next week June 24-25 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza. The fees are very affordable for PMA Members it is P10,000.00 and for Non PMA members it is P12,000.00, for onsite registrants it is P15,000.00.

Also, EXLINK Management and Marketing Conference can accept your registration. Just call tel # 643-3887 or 640-1280.

I like to sum the experience that is about to take place in this NMC, it is like reading Alvin Toffler’s Powershift for the first time and basking on different game-changing concepts that is unto your lap for the taking.

Yes, there is this seriousness of topics but don’t be fooled and don’t be afraid, PMA is known for tackling these topics to a very simple yet enjoyable journey.

This morning while I am having my coffee and watching T.V., the news about the SLEX 250% increased toll fee rate got my attention.


Apparently, the increased in the toll way rates generated a negative reaction from the main users of the highway – the bus operators plying it.

This made me look at the details of SLEX development and study the benefits of the improved highway. SLEX is the longest expressway in the country at a distance measuring a total of 97 kilometers. SLEX snakes thru the following cities: Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and the near future Quezon.

All the improvements to rehabilitate SLEX cost P12 Billion pesos. The benefits of a shorten travel time, safe travel, and saved gasoline because of the improved roads are a very good news from the motorists.

I should know how it feels to travel in a very comfortable condition, I use SLEX whenever I go to the south – I believe everybody does.

I remember during my younger days travelling in SLEX, it was very dangerous – few lights, bumpy roads, congested lanes (you guess it a lot of accidents take place during night and even during daylight).

I believe that the toll operators should increase and get earnings from the venture of improving SLEX – they deserve it. Although 250% increase is very high. I propose a gradual increase so as not to shock, most especially the bus operators that use SLEX.

SLEX and other road developments are infrastructure that we need badly in order to improve our tourism and trade industry. A highway that guarantees speed and safety is what we need in order to spur economic activities.

The increase of toll rates only shows that there is a price to pay if we wanted to have progress. There can never be free lunch. There is no free lunch. If we want development, we must embrace the risk and responsibilities that goes with it.

SLEX being the longest highway in our country needs to be first class. I am willing to pay additional just to have a taste of it and free my mind from the worries that a decrepit highway offers.

I was once asked if face time matters in the midst of the proliferation of digital promotion. Can we forego meeting face-to-face in this background where a chat is possible, everyone is just an email away, facebook and other social media is so popular?


Having appreciated this question and changes in our social conditions I arrived on 3 reasons why face time still matters.

They are as follow:

1. Engagement – true engagement at that can only take place when two persons meet. There is this transaction that is very special whenever physical meetings take place. Someone creates a special bond with another person thru physical meeting. Prejudice is eliminated when you are given an opportunity to know the person on firsthand experience.

I cannot imagine creating a deep engagement thru twitter or other digital platforms.

2. Spontaneity – Interaction becomes fun and intimate because there is spontaneity. Email is a contemplated response. So does other digital media. Even chat or I.M. is contemplated response most of the times.

Spontaneity is that Special Moment that takes place during face time. It is a moment where you really have the opportunity to veer away with the actual topic and ask other topics in order to navigate the holistic properties of an individual.

There is nothing more exciting than spontaneity that leads to deeper trust.

3. Relationship – since I have mentioned trust. Trust is the prerequisite for a meaningful relationship. We can never replace the warmth and power of a handshake. Two different hands touching each other are not only symbolical but very visual as to what is taking place between two people.

Even eye contacts made by two people with each other or an exchange of laughter caused by a simple banter can never be replaced by our simple tapping of keyboards or video cam encounter (most of the times moving in a slow motion).

Something is lost in the digital plane that humans possess during face time. This very special something that is carried by the 3 reasons I mentioned makes face time a compelling activity that we must never lose or give-up because of the ease that digital platforms offer us.

In the world of business, in particular in establishing our relationship with our clients and partners there is nothing like face time.

Yes, meeting a person face-to-face despite the challenge of a sweltering heat is most beneficial in creating a long lasting relationship and business venture.

This might be a bit of stretch but if ever PNoy and those businessmen in the upper echelons of our society may allow, I propose that we create new infrastructure landmarks that will welcome the Philippines to the 21st century.


Again, this might be a wishful thinking given the big budget deficit that falls on Pnoy’s lap. But it might help if we try to push ourselves in creating something impossible possible.

There are ways to make these happen provided our leaders with vision WILL IT.

A new landmark like the Capital Gates of Dubai which has overshadowed the leaning tower of Pisa has provided a spring of confidence and pride to the nation and the people of Dubai.

Yes, we do have old and historical landmarks. But this is a different matter. These old landmarks belong to the past, worth coming back but it does not assist in projecting a fresh future for our country.

New landmarks will do the job. It will give a huge boost to the confidence of the Filipino people. It will shout to the world that we are coming to join the party of the developed countries.

I watched PM Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia on History Channel telling stories about how he assisted in creating a landmark for Malaysia that stoke the fire of achievement to his people – I am talking about the Petronas Tower.

We in the Philippines can and must aspire to emulate our Asian neighbours in this aspect.

We must create landmarks for the future. Landmarks that will add more sheen to our history and psychologically help us aspire for a higher life and well-being.

I once have a chat with a colleague, she said that during that time when the PICC was built it was the envy of our Asian neighbours. To date, there no other landmarks yet that will cause other countries to give us a second look. There is a no landmark to cause positive feelings to our people.

I propose that we create now that landmark that will bring us back to the map of the world.

Today we celebrate the Philippine Independence Day. Amidst the flag waving frenzy and patriotic greetings among friends and acquaintances, mostly expressed in FB, my mind is flying somewhere else.


How much have we achieved as an independent nation. How many Filipinos understand Independence? Is the independence we are enjoying beneficial to the majority of the people?

There is a running joke that I enjoy and abhor at the same time. The joke is that we only feel our being Filipino whenever Pacquiao fights. Is this also holds true with our Independence? We only value it whenever someone tramples on our rights or some of our wants are restricted (I understand that most of the times are wants are just caprices).

I am sharing Jennifer Turners meaning of independence presented in different contextual level:

“Independence means the freedom to separate ourselves from personal ideologies and intellectually challenge ourselves to see the full scope of an issue in order to find real solutions for the good of the whole.


Independence means we must not depend on the opinions of others, but on the factual issues and actions of individuals and our governments.


Independence means choosing to empower ourselves with the information to independently make up our own minds.

Independence means creating a world society in which we can perceive nations through a satellite view, rather than a microscopic view, and make value judgments based on what's good for the future, rather than the present.


Independence means we have the freedom to pursue personal needs while choosing global motivations, and face the consequences of those actions, both wonderful and tragic, with the intent to learn, grow, and gain wisdom.


True independence means recognizing that every type of thought and belief system has something to teach, to offer, and that if we learn from those in our world, our chances of creating real change for the betterment of all increases exponentially.


Wisdom demands we further our own independence by freeing ourselves from the prison of personal experience by embracing realities other than our own and thereby freeing ourselves from the shackles of ignorance.”

Ms. Turner gave a very incisive meaning of Independence. The most that struck me is the last paragraph that urges us to free ourselves from our own reality and embracing a better reality. It wants us not to accept what is currently happening in our country and embrace a better country which is also hinge on our shoulders.

Every time I am caught in the middle of traffic I see beggars, mostly kids knocking on my window shield – sometimes I give and sometimes I don’t. But after passing them by, deep inside I know that I embrace their reality and I am part of their reality. And the only way to stop the vicious cycle is to replace it with a better reality that is not very distant. It is just around the corner, if only most of us – especially those who have a comfortable reality would join hands and forcefully declare: ENOUGH OF THIS BAD REALITY THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS LONG HAVE BEEN SUFFERING.

Happy Independence Day!

Now that the dust of the election campaign has settled it is time to buckle down to work.

Base on all economic indicators, like consumer price index and GNP, all is looking up. However , before anything else. Before we are drown into celebration, I would just like to request that President Noynoy Aquino and his government should prioritize in creating an International Caliber Airport.

Yes! An Airport that will awe the tourist visiting in our country. An airport that will symbolize our resurgence as a country that will grab the economic opportunity the changing world offers.

Each time I go out of the country, there is always that gnawing feeling that our airport is one of those lagging behind our Asian neighbours and the world. I know the same sentiment is shared by other Filipinos who wanted to showcase how great our country is in terms of tourism and doing business here.

No wonder our tourist visitors last year is only at three million while our Asian neighbours generated as high as 14 Million.

It is not rocket science, if we do not have the facility and infrastructure to welcome visitors we will not have visitors. Tourist visitors that can promote our country thru world of mouth when they get back home to their respective countries. Business tourists that can be encouraged to set-up shop in our country.

Even our three million visitors are mostly comprise of Balikbayans. A sad reality that does not augur well to our country.

We are declaring that we are embracing globalization and yet we are not doing anything to improve the access of our country to the rest of the world who are very eager to get inside, provided there is ease of access and security.

President Noynoy I know that the past government will leave you a big budget deficit. But please do not make it as an excuse not to create an International Airport – the country’s welcome lobby to the world.

I once attended an event welcoming a new tourism official, she said that our country is the heart of Asia. I like that and I hope the rest of the world can personally know that the Heart of Asia truly is something worth seeking and immersing for.

But only if the heart provides an accessible door way for those willing to enter – an Airport that is.