Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a
cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at
the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was
that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white
shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver
jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for
Harvey .
He handed my friend a laminated card and said: "I'm Wally, your driver.
While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission
statement."
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement:
"To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and
cheapest way possible in a friendly environment." This blew Harvey
away, especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the
outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said,
"Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of
decaf."
My friend said jokingly, "No, I'd prefer a soft drink." Wally smiled
and said, "No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet
Coke, water and orange juice." Almost stuttering, Harvey said, "I'll
take a Diet Coke." Handing him his drink, Wally said, "If you'd like
something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports
Illustrated and USA Today."
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated
card. "These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd
like to listen to the radio."
And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air
conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.
Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that
time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell
him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with
his own thoughts.
"Tell me, Wally," my amazed friend asked the driver, "have you always
served customers like this?"
Wally smiled into the rearview mirror. "No, not always. In fact, it's
only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent
most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I
heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had
just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said
that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll
rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate
yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks
quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'"
"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really
talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to
change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other
cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were
unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some
changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I
did more."
"I take it that has paid off for you," Harvey said. "It sure has,"
Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the
previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to
get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for
appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering
machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend
to do it and I take a piece of the action."
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.
I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the
years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to
their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like
ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was
suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop
quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
So, what are you?
NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU SERVE CUSTOMERS WELL. tHAT'S BECAUSE GREAT SERVICE
IS A CHOICE.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
parrot
A parrot swallows a Viagra tablet. His owner, disgusted,
puts him in the freezer to cool off. Later, when he opens the freezer he finds the parrot sweating.
"How come you are sweating?" he asks
The parrot replies "Do you know how f*cking hard it is to open the legs of a frozen chicken?"
Back
puts him in the freezer to cool off. Later, when he opens the freezer he finds the parrot sweating.
"How come you are sweating?" he asks
The parrot replies "Do you know how f*cking hard it is to open the legs of a frozen chicken?"
Back
Thursday, December 4, 2008
What We Need?
During the so-called "new society" of the late
President Ferdinand Marcos, one of the most
often-quoted lines is: "Sa ikauunlad ng bayan,
disiplina ang kailangan." Literally, it means that if
we want this country to improve, we need discipline.
If only, at that time, Filipinos followed this mantra,
the Philippines would have been out there already!
Look at Singapore now! In a speech delivered during a
recent graduation at Silliman University in Dumaguete,
Menardo G. Jimenez Jr. informed that during a
leadership conference in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee
Kuan Yew shared how he built Singapore from nothing to
where it is today.
Right now, Singapore is a showcase of Asia without
poverty, without the overcrowding, or space. It is
certainly Asia without dirt. "In many ways, Singapore
is the perfect place for the newcomer to Asia," wrote
one travel author. "It is like an Asian showhouse."
In his speech, Jimenez said: "He shared that
Singapore, barely a generation ago, was far worse than
many of its peers. But today, it is an economic
superpower. When he first started to lead Singapore,
he asked his think tank to visit neighboring (Asian)
countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam,
Laos, and Cambodia, and figure out what they don't
have. He said they all came back with one conclusion:
These countries lacked discipline. So to differentiate
Singapore from its neighbors, he decided to build his
country on discipline."
Jimenez, senior vice-president of the retail business
group of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone,
explained what discipline really meant: "This meant
that if Singapore promised something to its people, to
its foreign investors, and to other countries, it will
be fulfilled. A disciplined country and a disciplined
people-that's what he built Singapore on."
"He who lives without discipline dies without honor,"
said an Icelandic proverb. George Washington, the
first American president, noted: "Discipline is the
soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable,
procures success to the weak, and esteem to all."
David Campbell pointed out: "Discipline is remembering
what you want."
"Nothing of importance is ever achieved without
discipline," comments Bertrand Russell. "I feel
myself sometimes not wholly in sympathy with some
modern educational theorists, because I think that
they underestimate the part that discipline plays. But
the discipline you have in your life should be one
determined by your own desires and your own needs, not
put upon you by society or authority."
Film actor Clint Eastwood knows to well: "It takes
tremendous discipline to control the influence, the
power you have over other people's lives." Immanuel
Kant believes: "Man must be disciplined, for he is by
nature raw and wild."
An unknown author once penned: "Discipline, like the
bridle in the hand of a good rider, should exercise
its influence without appearing, to do so; should be
ever active, both as a support and as a restraint, yet
seem to lie easily in hand. It must always be ready to
check or to pull up, as occasion may require; and only
when the horse is a runaway should the action of the
curb be perceptible."
If you want to be successful in life, practice
discipline. "If you want to reach your goals and
dreams, you cannot do it without discipline," Jimenez
said in his speech. He cited the case of one of his
god friends, Fred Uytengsu, president of Alaska milk.
"I used to see him on the baseball field when he used
to coach his son's team and I was an assistant for my
son's team. One day, I saw him wearing a shirt that
said, 'If you don't have discipline, you don't deserve
to dream.' No matter how harsh it may seem, the point
is true.
"If you're 350 pounds overweight and you're dreaming
to become the next big hunk, but you don't have the
discipline to watch what you eat, to exercise, and to
make it happen, it isn't going to happen. Don't even
bother dreaming, if you don't have the discipline to
make it a reality. You'll just get frustrated. That's
how important discipline is in achieving success."
Discipline is defined in the world of business as
"work ethic." To drive his point, Jimenez shared an
anecdote from Thomas Alva Edison, a great man who
epitomized what work ethic is all about. "At the age
of 82, the President of the United States said it was
about time he was honored with an award for his
lifetime work. So they put together a huge event in
honor of the inventor.
"Being 82, he felt a bit sick that night and fainted.
Good thing they were able to revive him and he was
still able to go up on stage. Edison upon accepting
the award simply said, 'I am tired of all this glory.
I want to get back to work.' Eighty-two years old,
and all he can think of is going back to work. That is
work ethic. That is discipline,'" Jimenez said.
But are Filipinos disciplined people? Let me give you
an idea. In 2000, when I went to the United States
for the first time, I was surprised to see people
forming a queue when the attendant told us that they
were already boarding passengers from numbers 51 to
65. Sure enough, only those with seats being called
were in the line. The same thing happened when other
numbers were called. I observed that most of the
passengers were foreigners - either Japanese or
Americans. There were some few Filipinos, too.
It was a different story when I returned home. I was
at the airport in Detroit and there were many
passengers. Most of us were bound for Manila. When
one of the attendants announced that boarding would be
started - most of the passengers rushed toward the two
assigned attendants. "Sir, we are boarding only those
from 51 to 65," the attendant explained. "And yours is
24C." The male passenger replied, "I am first here.
So, allow me to board first!"
The scene looked like I was in Davao boarding a flight
going to Manila. To think of, we were still in the
United States and those Filipinos who rushed thought
they were already in the Philippines. How rude and
how uneducated of them. And the foreigners? Well,
they were at the far back, waiting for their numbers
to be called!
I learned later on that Filipinos wanted to go first
because they had so many hand carries. Instead of the
accepted two hand carries per person, they had four or
more. If they went first, they could put them in the
compartment allowed for hand carries. With such kind
of traits, do you think Filipinos are disciplined
people?
If you drive, don't drink. If you drink, don't drive.
So goes a familiar adage. But I know a lot of
Filipinos who do both. If they are caught, they don't
give their driver's license. Instead, they pay the
cops money. That's bribery but I know also of some
policemen who want to be bribed. Except for a few of
them, though.
Why Filipinos are not disciplined people? The reason
is that most parents don't teach their children this
trait. The Bible urged: "Chasten thy son while there
is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying"
(Proverb 19:18). Here's another: "Do no withhold
discipline from a child; if you punish him with the
rod, he will not die" (Proverb 23:13).
A Chinese philosopher said, "Parents who are afraid to
put their foot down usually have children who step on
toes."
And yes, if we want to move as a country to greater
heights, we have to have discipline. We lack
discipline and that's what we need.
President Ferdinand Marcos, one of the most
often-quoted lines is: "Sa ikauunlad ng bayan,
disiplina ang kailangan." Literally, it means that if
we want this country to improve, we need discipline.
If only, at that time, Filipinos followed this mantra,
the Philippines would have been out there already!
Look at Singapore now! In a speech delivered during a
recent graduation at Silliman University in Dumaguete,
Menardo G. Jimenez Jr. informed that during a
leadership conference in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee
Kuan Yew shared how he built Singapore from nothing to
where it is today.
Right now, Singapore is a showcase of Asia without
poverty, without the overcrowding, or space. It is
certainly Asia without dirt. "In many ways, Singapore
is the perfect place for the newcomer to Asia," wrote
one travel author. "It is like an Asian showhouse."
In his speech, Jimenez said: "He shared that
Singapore, barely a generation ago, was far worse than
many of its peers. But today, it is an economic
superpower. When he first started to lead Singapore,
he asked his think tank to visit neighboring (Asian)
countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam,
Laos, and Cambodia, and figure out what they don't
have. He said they all came back with one conclusion:
These countries lacked discipline. So to differentiate
Singapore from its neighbors, he decided to build his
country on discipline."
Jimenez, senior vice-president of the retail business
group of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone,
explained what discipline really meant: "This meant
that if Singapore promised something to its people, to
its foreign investors, and to other countries, it will
be fulfilled. A disciplined country and a disciplined
people-that's what he built Singapore on."
"He who lives without discipline dies without honor,"
said an Icelandic proverb. George Washington, the
first American president, noted: "Discipline is the
soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable,
procures success to the weak, and esteem to all."
David Campbell pointed out: "Discipline is remembering
what you want."
"Nothing of importance is ever achieved without
discipline," comments Bertrand Russell. "I feel
myself sometimes not wholly in sympathy with some
modern educational theorists, because I think that
they underestimate the part that discipline plays. But
the discipline you have in your life should be one
determined by your own desires and your own needs, not
put upon you by society or authority."
Film actor Clint Eastwood knows to well: "It takes
tremendous discipline to control the influence, the
power you have over other people's lives." Immanuel
Kant believes: "Man must be disciplined, for he is by
nature raw and wild."
An unknown author once penned: "Discipline, like the
bridle in the hand of a good rider, should exercise
its influence without appearing, to do so; should be
ever active, both as a support and as a restraint, yet
seem to lie easily in hand. It must always be ready to
check or to pull up, as occasion may require; and only
when the horse is a runaway should the action of the
curb be perceptible."
If you want to be successful in life, practice
discipline. "If you want to reach your goals and
dreams, you cannot do it without discipline," Jimenez
said in his speech. He cited the case of one of his
god friends, Fred Uytengsu, president of Alaska milk.
"I used to see him on the baseball field when he used
to coach his son's team and I was an assistant for my
son's team. One day, I saw him wearing a shirt that
said, 'If you don't have discipline, you don't deserve
to dream.' No matter how harsh it may seem, the point
is true.
"If you're 350 pounds overweight and you're dreaming
to become the next big hunk, but you don't have the
discipline to watch what you eat, to exercise, and to
make it happen, it isn't going to happen. Don't even
bother dreaming, if you don't have the discipline to
make it a reality. You'll just get frustrated. That's
how important discipline is in achieving success."
Discipline is defined in the world of business as
"work ethic." To drive his point, Jimenez shared an
anecdote from Thomas Alva Edison, a great man who
epitomized what work ethic is all about. "At the age
of 82, the President of the United States said it was
about time he was honored with an award for his
lifetime work. So they put together a huge event in
honor of the inventor.
"Being 82, he felt a bit sick that night and fainted.
Good thing they were able to revive him and he was
still able to go up on stage. Edison upon accepting
the award simply said, 'I am tired of all this glory.
I want to get back to work.' Eighty-two years old,
and all he can think of is going back to work. That is
work ethic. That is discipline,'" Jimenez said.
But are Filipinos disciplined people? Let me give you
an idea. In 2000, when I went to the United States
for the first time, I was surprised to see people
forming a queue when the attendant told us that they
were already boarding passengers from numbers 51 to
65. Sure enough, only those with seats being called
were in the line. The same thing happened when other
numbers were called. I observed that most of the
passengers were foreigners - either Japanese or
Americans. There were some few Filipinos, too.
It was a different story when I returned home. I was
at the airport in Detroit and there were many
passengers. Most of us were bound for Manila. When
one of the attendants announced that boarding would be
started - most of the passengers rushed toward the two
assigned attendants. "Sir, we are boarding only those
from 51 to 65," the attendant explained. "And yours is
24C." The male passenger replied, "I am first here.
So, allow me to board first!"
The scene looked like I was in Davao boarding a flight
going to Manila. To think of, we were still in the
United States and those Filipinos who rushed thought
they were already in the Philippines. How rude and
how uneducated of them. And the foreigners? Well,
they were at the far back, waiting for their numbers
to be called!
I learned later on that Filipinos wanted to go first
because they had so many hand carries. Instead of the
accepted two hand carries per person, they had four or
more. If they went first, they could put them in the
compartment allowed for hand carries. With such kind
of traits, do you think Filipinos are disciplined
people?
If you drive, don't drink. If you drink, don't drive.
So goes a familiar adage. But I know a lot of
Filipinos who do both. If they are caught, they don't
give their driver's license. Instead, they pay the
cops money. That's bribery but I know also of some
policemen who want to be bribed. Except for a few of
them, though.
Why Filipinos are not disciplined people? The reason
is that most parents don't teach their children this
trait. The Bible urged: "Chasten thy son while there
is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying"
(Proverb 19:18). Here's another: "Do no withhold
discipline from a child; if you punish him with the
rod, he will not die" (Proverb 23:13).
A Chinese philosopher said, "Parents who are afraid to
put their foot down usually have children who step on
toes."
And yes, if we want to move as a country to greater
heights, we have to have discipline. We lack
discipline and that's what we need.
Monday, December 1, 2008
proud to be a "filipino".
A Filipino, a German and a Pakistani got arrested
consuming alcohol which is a severe offense in Saudi
Arabia , so for the terrible crime they are all
sentenced 20 lashes each of the whip.
As they were preparing for their punishment, the Sheik
announced: "It's my first wife's birthday today, and
she has asked me to allow each of you one wish before
your whipping."
The German was first in line, he thought for a while
and then said:"Please tie a pillow to my back."
This was done, but the pillow only lasted 10 lashes
& the German had to be carried away bleeding and
crying with pain.
The Pakistani was next up. After watching the German
in horror he said smugly: "Please fix two pillows to
my back."
But even two pillows could only take 15 lashes & the
Pakistani was also led away whimpering loudly.
The Filipino was the last one up, but before he
could say anything, the Sheikh turned to him and said:
"You are from one of most beautiful part of the world
and your culture is one of the finest in the world.
For this, you may have two wishes!"
"Thank you, your Most Royal and Merciful highness,"
the Filipino replied.
"In recognition of your kindness, my first wish is
that you give me not 20, but 100 lashes."
"Not only are you an honorable, handsome and powerful
man, you are also very brave." The Sheik said with an
admiring look on his face.
"If 100 lashes is what you desire, then so be it. "And
what is your second wish, ?" the Sheik asked. Filipino
smiled and said, "Tie the Pakistani to my back" !!!
consuming alcohol which is a severe offense in Saudi
Arabia , so for the terrible crime they are all
sentenced 20 lashes each of the whip.
As they were preparing for their punishment, the Sheik
announced: "It's my first wife's birthday today, and
she has asked me to allow each of you one wish before
your whipping."
The German was first in line, he thought for a while
and then said:"Please tie a pillow to my back."
This was done, but the pillow only lasted 10 lashes
& the German had to be carried away bleeding and
crying with pain.
The Pakistani was next up. After watching the German
in horror he said smugly: "Please fix two pillows to
my back."
But even two pillows could only take 15 lashes & the
Pakistani was also led away whimpering loudly.
The Filipino was the last one up, but before he
could say anything, the Sheikh turned to him and said:
"You are from one of most beautiful part of the world
and your culture is one of the finest in the world.
For this, you may have two wishes!"
"Thank you, your Most Royal and Merciful highness,"
the Filipino replied.
"In recognition of your kindness, my first wish is
that you give me not 20, but 100 lashes."
"Not only are you an honorable, handsome and powerful
man, you are also very brave." The Sheik said with an
admiring look on his face.
"If 100 lashes is what you desire, then so be it. "And
what is your second wish, ?" the Sheik asked. Filipino
smiled and said, "Tie the Pakistani to my back" !!!
men get even..
A husband and wife are getting all snugly in bed. The passion is heating up as it sometimes does.
But then the wife suddenly stops and says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me." "WHAT!?" says her husband. The wife explains that he must be in tune with her emotional needs as a Woman. He realizes that nothing is going to happen tonight and he might as well deal with it.
The next day the husband takes her shopping at a big department store. He walks around and has her try on three very expensive outfits. She can't decide.He tells his wife to take all three of them. They head to the shoe department and pick up matching shoes worth $200 each.
The pair go to the jewelry department where she finds a set of diamond earrings that her husband agrees to buy for her. The wife is so excited. She thinks her husband has flipped out - but she doesn't care. She goes for the matching tennis bracelet. The husband says "You don't even play tennis, but if you like it then let's get it."
The wife is jumping up and down so excited she cannot even believe what is going on. She says to her husband, "I'm ready to go, let's go to the cashier."
The husband stops and says, "No, honey I don't feel like buying all this stuff now." The wife's face goes blank. "Honey - I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while."
The look on her face is indescribable and she is about to explode as her husband says, "You must be in tune with my financial needs as a Man."
But then the wife suddenly stops and says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me." "WHAT!?" says her husband. The wife explains that he must be in tune with her emotional needs as a Woman. He realizes that nothing is going to happen tonight and he might as well deal with it.
The next day the husband takes her shopping at a big department store. He walks around and has her try on three very expensive outfits. She can't decide.He tells his wife to take all three of them. They head to the shoe department and pick up matching shoes worth $200 each.
The pair go to the jewelry department where she finds a set of diamond earrings that her husband agrees to buy for her. The wife is so excited. She thinks her husband has flipped out - but she doesn't care. She goes for the matching tennis bracelet. The husband says "You don't even play tennis, but if you like it then let's get it."
The wife is jumping up and down so excited she cannot even believe what is going on. She says to her husband, "I'm ready to go, let's go to the cashier."
The husband stops and says, "No, honey I don't feel like buying all this stuff now." The wife's face goes blank. "Honey - I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while."
The look on her face is indescribable and she is about to explode as her husband says, "You must be in tune with my financial needs as a Man."
Sunday, November 23, 2008
guess my age
A woman decided to have a face lift for her birthday. She spent Php5000 and felt really good about the results. On her way home she stopped at a dress shop to look around. As she was leaving, she said to the sales clerk, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but how old do you think I am?"
"About 35," was the reply.
"I'm actually 47," the woman said, feeling really happy.
After that she went into McDonalds for lunch and asked the order taker the same question. He replied, "Oh, you look about 29."
"I am actually 47!" she said, feeling really good.
While standing at the bus stop she asked an old man the same question. He replied, "I am 85 years old and my eyesight is going. But when I was young there was a sure way of telling a woman's age. If I put my hand up your skirt I will be able to tell your exact age."
There was no one around, so the woman said, "What the hell?" and let him slip his hand up her skirt.
After feeling around for a while, the old man said, "OK, You are 47."
Stunned, the woman said, "That was brilliant! How did you do that?"
The old man replied, "I was behind you in line at McDonalds.
"About 35," was the reply.
"I'm actually 47," the woman said, feeling really happy.
After that she went into McDonalds for lunch and asked the order taker the same question. He replied, "Oh, you look about 29."
"I am actually 47!" she said, feeling really good.
While standing at the bus stop she asked an old man the same question. He replied, "I am 85 years old and my eyesight is going. But when I was young there was a sure way of telling a woman's age. If I put my hand up your skirt I will be able to tell your exact age."
There was no one around, so the woman said, "What the hell?" and let him slip his hand up her skirt.
After feeling around for a while, the old man said, "OK, You are 47."
Stunned, the woman said, "That was brilliant! How did you do that?"
The old man replied, "I was behind you in line at McDonalds.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Dating Process
Dating process:
6 weeks : I love U, I love U, I love U.
6 months : Of course I love U.
6 years : GOD, if I didn't love U, then why the hell did I propose?
Back from Work:
6 weeks : Honey, I'm home.
6 months : BACK!!
6 years : What did your mom cook for us today??
Gifts:
6 weeks : Honey, I really hope you liked the ring.
6 months : I bought you a painting; it would fit the motif in the living room.
6 years : Here's the money. Buy yourself something.
Phone Ringing:
6 weeks : Baby, somebody wants you on the phone.
6 months : Here, for you.
6 years : PHONE RINGING.
Cooking:
6 weeks : I never knew food could taste so good!
6 months : What are we having for dinner tonight?
6 years : AGAIN!!!!
Apology:
6 weeks : Honey muffin, don't you worry, Ill never hold this against you.
6 months : Watch out! Don't do it again.
6 years : What's not to understand about what I just said??
New Dress:
6 weeks : Oh my God, you look like an angel in that dress.
6 months : You bought a new dress again???
6 years : How much did THAT cost me?
Planning for Vacations:
6 weeks : How do 2 weeks in Vienna or anywhere you please sound??
6 months : What's so bad about going to Istanbul on a charter plane?
6 years : Travel? What's so bad about staying home???
TV:
6 weeks : Baby, what would you like us to watch tonight?
6 months : I like this movie.
6 years : I'm going to watch ESPN, if you're not in the mood, go to bed, I can stay up by myself hehehe...
6 weeks : I love U, I love U, I love U.
6 months : Of course I love U.
6 years : GOD, if I didn't love U, then why the hell did I propose?
Back from Work:
6 weeks : Honey, I'm home.
6 months : BACK!!
6 years : What did your mom cook for us today??
Gifts:
6 weeks : Honey, I really hope you liked the ring.
6 months : I bought you a painting; it would fit the motif in the living room.
6 years : Here's the money. Buy yourself something.
Phone Ringing:
6 weeks : Baby, somebody wants you on the phone.
6 months : Here, for you.
6 years : PHONE RINGING.
Cooking:
6 weeks : I never knew food could taste so good!
6 months : What are we having for dinner tonight?
6 years : AGAIN!!!!
Apology:
6 weeks : Honey muffin, don't you worry, Ill never hold this against you.
6 months : Watch out! Don't do it again.
6 years : What's not to understand about what I just said??
New Dress:
6 weeks : Oh my God, you look like an angel in that dress.
6 months : You bought a new dress again???
6 years : How much did THAT cost me?
Planning for Vacations:
6 weeks : How do 2 weeks in Vienna or anywhere you please sound??
6 months : What's so bad about going to Istanbul on a charter plane?
6 years : Travel? What's so bad about staying home???
TV:
6 weeks : Baby, what would you like us to watch tonight?
6 months : I like this movie.
6 years : I'm going to watch ESPN, if you're not in the mood, go to bed, I can stay up by myself hehehe...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Yellow Cab
We ate pizza at a newly opened pizza place called Yellow Cab at a mall in Davao City. I had no idea that it was my idea that bought all eight of us to that place. By eight, I mean, my brother, my cousin, my sister and four of my sister’s colleagues. I just read on the newspaper that Yellow Cab had opened. It sounded like a great idea to visit the place. I just sent a text message to my sister. She sent a text message to one of her colleagues. Her colleague probably sent a text message to another colleague and there we were. We were eating pizza al fresco in a secluded mall.
I’ve tasted the Yellow Cab pizza in Manila a couple of months ago. The pizza wasn’t that greasy and it was rather tasty. But as far as pizzas go, it still tastes like a pizza although it is slighty more expensive than the other pizzas that we like to order. But in terms of satiety, I give it an eight or a nine. Other pizzas leave you with a feeling of wanting more. This pizza makes you so full that you’ll feel like crawling back to your car afterwards. In terms of taste, I give it a seven or a six depending on the flavor.
We had orderd one 14-inch New York special and one 14-inch sampler. We paired it with canned Coca Cola. I sampled three or four pizza flavors in one evening. I can’t say I remember the distinct taste of each. All I can remember is the texture ( it was slightly crunch ), the taste ( it was salty and spicy ) and the smell ( it had garlicky cheesy smell ).
The conversations that we had was rather sparse. I think people were too busy to slice through their pizza and put it in their mouths to talk about politics or the recent Newsweek debacle. Few words were exchanged.
I passed around breath mints afterwards. For some odd reason, my sister’s colleagues didn’t want one. We all needed it since the pizza left a strong smell of anchovies, cheese and garlic in our mouths. I took a couple of breathmints although I’m sure it only had a temporary effect of masking the stench.
People were probably distracted or what, but we all left silently afterwards. After we vacated our seats, some eager customers took our place.
I’m so full right now that all I want to do is sleep. But since I’m a certified insomniac, I’ll probably be sleeping much later.
I’ve tasted the Yellow Cab pizza in Manila a couple of months ago. The pizza wasn’t that greasy and it was rather tasty. But as far as pizzas go, it still tastes like a pizza although it is slighty more expensive than the other pizzas that we like to order. But in terms of satiety, I give it an eight or a nine. Other pizzas leave you with a feeling of wanting more. This pizza makes you so full that you’ll feel like crawling back to your car afterwards. In terms of taste, I give it a seven or a six depending on the flavor.
We had orderd one 14-inch New York special and one 14-inch sampler. We paired it with canned Coca Cola. I sampled three or four pizza flavors in one evening. I can’t say I remember the distinct taste of each. All I can remember is the texture ( it was slightly crunch ), the taste ( it was salty and spicy ) and the smell ( it had garlicky cheesy smell ).
The conversations that we had was rather sparse. I think people were too busy to slice through their pizza and put it in their mouths to talk about politics or the recent Newsweek debacle. Few words were exchanged.
I passed around breath mints afterwards. For some odd reason, my sister’s colleagues didn’t want one. We all needed it since the pizza left a strong smell of anchovies, cheese and garlic in our mouths. I took a couple of breathmints although I’m sure it only had a temporary effect of masking the stench.
People were probably distracted or what, but we all left silently afterwards. After we vacated our seats, some eager customers took our place.
I’m so full right now that all I want to do is sleep. But since I’m a certified insomniac, I’ll probably be sleeping much later.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Be Serious!
You will notice something about weak people.
They use weak language!
They use certain words a lot … like "TRY" …
"I'll TRY to lose weight."
"I'll TRY to get out of debt."
The minute someone says, "I'll TRY",
you know that they are only half serious.
When friends say, "I'll TRY to be there",
you know they won't show up!
Our words tell people how determined we are.
Parents who tell their children,
"TRY to be quiet!"
"TRY to behave!"
aren’t serious!
So what do their kids do?
Whatever they want!
Instead of telling your children - or your staff -
"You must TRY ...", say "You must DO IT!"
Instead of telling yourself "I'LL TRY", tell yourself "I WILL!"
It is challenging - and it will get you much better results …
"I WILL finish this."
"I WILL be happy!"
"I’LL TRY" says, "I'll do this thing if it isn’t too hard."
"I WILL" says, "I’ll do this thing whatever it takes."
This is not a detail.
It's the difference between "casual" and "committed".
Often, it's the difference between success and failure.
If you want people to believe in you -
and if you want to believe in yourself -
you have to sound serious!
Your words shape your future.
They use weak language!
They use certain words a lot … like "TRY" …
"I'll TRY to lose weight."
"I'll TRY to get out of debt."
The minute someone says, "I'll TRY",
you know that they are only half serious.
When friends say, "I'll TRY to be there",
you know they won't show up!
Our words tell people how determined we are.
Parents who tell their children,
"TRY to be quiet!"
"TRY to behave!"
aren’t serious!
So what do their kids do?
Whatever they want!
Instead of telling your children - or your staff -
"You must TRY ...", say "You must DO IT!"
Instead of telling yourself "I'LL TRY", tell yourself "I WILL!"
It is challenging - and it will get you much better results …
"I WILL finish this."
"I WILL be happy!"
"I’LL TRY" says, "I'll do this thing if it isn’t too hard."
"I WILL" says, "I’ll do this thing whatever it takes."
This is not a detail.
It's the difference between "casual" and "committed".
Often, it's the difference between success and failure.
If you want people to believe in you -
and if you want to believe in yourself -
you have to sound serious!
Your words shape your future.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Gay Lingo (made in the philippines)
Gay A : “Hoy, Bakla, me That’s Entertainment ka ba?”
Gay B : “Naku, Washington Sycip. Purita Kalaw ang lolah mo ngayon”
Gay A : “Rampa sana aketch. Go Bingo ka, ate?”
Gay B : “ Ayyyy, Wishing, Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion ako.”
Everyone who got what they were saying, raise your hands!
It is true. The propagation of this form of communication is unstoppable. Once the not-so-secret language of homosexuals; gay lingo is no longer exclusive to gays much to our divas dismay. From its grassroots beginnings in obscure parlors around the city it has infiltrated the tri-media and is now being spoken or understood or both by every Juan, Juana, Nene and Boy in the Philippines.
Almost everyone can now speak this once hard to break “gay code of communication”. Well, at least those who will shamelessly and unabashedly admit to it. No one it seems is excluded from the allure of this lingo that is funny and irreverent at the same time. It has become some kind of a secret guilty pleasure.
The first time I heard a gay lingo infused conversation back in 1996, I was confused. I couldn’t get the drift. I was clueless. I was then working in a gay dominated business - entertainment what else - but everyone else seemed to be speaking in this queer tongue; straight men included. To be “in”, one with the family, with the group, you have to speak like one of them. So, I did my part and learned the lessons. In that world, you have to be sharp, witty and fast-thinking. Gay words and terms are being born every minute and thrown from every corner of the room that you have to catch up quickly or forever be lost in the labyrinth. With the right attitude and perseverance, I was gay speaking my way to work in just a few months.
“Pakia-abot ng chuva.”
“Ay, redo the lay-out, Chaka Khan!”
“Josko, ang CR hindi na-flush ha ma-Panjee Gonzales.”
“Hoy, i-ready na ang pang-Janno Gibbs sa press ha”
“Anong oras na ba, Tom Jones na ako e”
If you think about it, gay lingo is nothing but a hilarious play of words. They just add something to the Filipino root word like “Gu”-Tom Jones to mean hungry. Others are just twisted to fit a new meaning like Chaka Khan to mean ugly. Most are just spur of the moment word inventions they decided could be good enough to fill a gap in conversation like chuva and chenes or maybe to define an indescribable event or happening such as ek-ek.
But if you REALLY think about it, it takes intelligence, wit, creativity and a vast knowledge of important and trivial things alike to be able to come up with such terms. Do you know who Menchu Menchaca is? Or Carmen Patena? Do you know where Dakota Harrison is? It takes talent I may say to coin new words that will not only make you laugh but think very hard. Words that are fresh and original. Thought of not in days but in a heartbeat.
To the divas of the lingo, I am but a beginner too, like you. I have much to learn. But my priceless association and friendships with the queer folks and with the help of the internet, I have a vocabulary every newbie would want to have.
Anik / Anetch — ano (what) / which
Balaj — balahura (shameless)
Bitter Ocampo — malungkot (sad) / nagngingitngit (fuming mad) / bitter
Baklah / Baklush — used instead of one’s name, may refer to any gender
Givency / Janno Gibbs / Debbie Gibson — bigay (to give)
That’s Entertainment / Anda / Andalucia / Anju / Anjo Yllaña — datung (money)
Fatale — sobra (excessive) / to the max
Feel / Fillet o’ Fish — type / gusto / natipuhan (like)
Fly — alis (leave)
Forever — palagi (always) / matagal / mabagal (slow)
Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion — pagod (tired)
Washington / Wishing / Wish — wala (nothing or none)
Chanda Romero — tiyan (tummy)
Mahalia Jackson — mahal (expensive)
Kuya Germs — madumi (dirty) / bearer of germs
Lucresia Kasilag — lukaret / baliw (crazy)
Lucita Soriano — loser na sorry pa
Luz Valdez — matalo (to lose)
Winnie Santos — manalo (to win)
Award — pinagalitan / pinagsabihan (reprimanded)
Freestyle — slow makagets (to understand) / slow
Imbey / Im — imbyerna (irritation)
Jowa / Jowabelles / Jowabella — karelasyon / BF or GF
Kape / Capuccino / Coffeemate — magising ka sa katotohanan (be realistic)
Lupita Kashiwahara — malupit (cruel)
Rita Gomez — nakaka-irita (irritating personality)
Enter the Dragon / Entourage — pasok (to enter) / come in
Julie Andrew / Jolina Magdangal — mahuli (caught in the act)
Antibiotic — antipatika (bitch)
48 Years / 50 Golden Years / 10,000 — matagal (after a long time)
Crayola — iyak (to cry)
Thundercats / Chandeliers / Masyonda — matanda (old people)
Wrangler — gurang (also means old)
Jubis / Juba — taba (fatso)
Jutay / Jutes — maliit (small)
Kangkang — sex
Reyna Elena — ulan (to rain)
X-Men — dating lalaki (formerly a man) now gay
Morayta / Murriah Carrey — mura (cheap)
Pamintang Durog / Pamenthols — closet gays / acting as men
Backstreet Boys — cute boys at the back
Chiminey Cricket — chimay (maid)
Goodbye Suklay — goodbye
Fayatollah Kumenis — payat (skinny)
Anaconda — ahas (a snake) / traitor
Anong petsa na? — asked when someone is taking too long to dress up, etc.
Charing/Tienes — jest / a joke / not serious
Kaplang — mali (error) / mistake
Barbra Streisand / Barbara Perez — bara / binara (bluntly rejected)
Regal Drama Hour / Maalala Mo Kaya — when someone tells a sob story
_______, ikaw ba yan? — when someone acts like another
person, maybe a showbiz personality or not. (example: Vilma Santos, Ikaw Ba yan?)
Purita Kalaw — walang pera (broke) / mahirap (poor)
Rica Peralejo — mayaman (rich, from the Spanish word rica)
Chova / Chovaline Kyle — chika lang (small talk)
Cookie Chua / Cookie Monster — magluto (to cook)
Clasmarurut / Klasmarurut — classmate
Cynthia Luster — hindi kilalang babae o lalake (unknown she or he)
Daot — insulto (insult)
Eksena / Eksenadora — mahilig pumapel / mahilig sumabat (someone who always likes to figure in a scene)
Emote — mag-inarte pa rin (one who is over-acting)
Karir/Career — sineryoso ang isang bagay like BF or work (to be seriously involved)
Lafang — kain (eat)
Lapel — malakas ang boses (someone with a loud voice)
Carry / Keri / Cash & Carry — sige (OK or alright)
Cathy Dennis — “makati” (frisky) or promiscuous
Char / Charot / Charing / Charbroiled — not ok
Liberty / Statue of Liberty — libre (free)
Okray — paninirang puri (criticize)
Lucky Home Partner — live-in partner
In Fairness — pampalubag loob (to console)
Compared to Lugaw — kesa wala (better than nothing)
Blame it on the ‘Parlor-ista gays”. Blame it on those showbiz writers. Blame it on those rampant showbiz talk shows. Blame it on the bar girls of Manila even. But truth be told, gay lingo/swardspeak/gayspeak is now in the mainstream of Filipino consciousness and communication and shows no sign of fading. As every day, a new term is coined, the vocabulary expands and may one day grow into a language on its own.
On that note, I suggest you print this article and keep it in your pocket. The next time you’re in the Philippines, bring it out with your English-Filipino Translation booklet. Believe me, you will thank me later.
Gay B : “Naku, Washington Sycip. Purita Kalaw ang lolah mo ngayon”
Gay A : “Rampa sana aketch. Go Bingo ka, ate?”
Gay B : “ Ayyyy, Wishing, Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion ako.”
Everyone who got what they were saying, raise your hands!
It is true. The propagation of this form of communication is unstoppable. Once the not-so-secret language of homosexuals; gay lingo is no longer exclusive to gays much to our divas dismay. From its grassroots beginnings in obscure parlors around the city it has infiltrated the tri-media and is now being spoken or understood or both by every Juan, Juana, Nene and Boy in the Philippines.
Almost everyone can now speak this once hard to break “gay code of communication”. Well, at least those who will shamelessly and unabashedly admit to it. No one it seems is excluded from the allure of this lingo that is funny and irreverent at the same time. It has become some kind of a secret guilty pleasure.
The first time I heard a gay lingo infused conversation back in 1996, I was confused. I couldn’t get the drift. I was clueless. I was then working in a gay dominated business - entertainment what else - but everyone else seemed to be speaking in this queer tongue; straight men included. To be “in”, one with the family, with the group, you have to speak like one of them. So, I did my part and learned the lessons. In that world, you have to be sharp, witty and fast-thinking. Gay words and terms are being born every minute and thrown from every corner of the room that you have to catch up quickly or forever be lost in the labyrinth. With the right attitude and perseverance, I was gay speaking my way to work in just a few months.
“Pakia-abot ng chuva.”
“Ay, redo the lay-out, Chaka Khan!”
“Josko, ang CR hindi na-flush ha ma-Panjee Gonzales.”
“Hoy, i-ready na ang pang-Janno Gibbs sa press ha”
“Anong oras na ba, Tom Jones na ako e”
If you think about it, gay lingo is nothing but a hilarious play of words. They just add something to the Filipino root word like “Gu”-Tom Jones to mean hungry. Others are just twisted to fit a new meaning like Chaka Khan to mean ugly. Most are just spur of the moment word inventions they decided could be good enough to fill a gap in conversation like chuva and chenes or maybe to define an indescribable event or happening such as ek-ek.
But if you REALLY think about it, it takes intelligence, wit, creativity and a vast knowledge of important and trivial things alike to be able to come up with such terms. Do you know who Menchu Menchaca is? Or Carmen Patena? Do you know where Dakota Harrison is? It takes talent I may say to coin new words that will not only make you laugh but think very hard. Words that are fresh and original. Thought of not in days but in a heartbeat.
To the divas of the lingo, I am but a beginner too, like you. I have much to learn. But my priceless association and friendships with the queer folks and with the help of the internet, I have a vocabulary every newbie would want to have.
Anik / Anetch — ano (what) / which
Balaj — balahura (shameless)
Bitter Ocampo — malungkot (sad) / nagngingitngit (fuming mad) / bitter
Baklah / Baklush — used instead of one’s name, may refer to any gender
Givency / Janno Gibbs / Debbie Gibson — bigay (to give)
That’s Entertainment / Anda / Andalucia / Anju / Anjo Yllaña — datung (money)
Fatale — sobra (excessive) / to the max
Feel / Fillet o’ Fish — type / gusto / natipuhan (like)
Fly — alis (leave)
Forever — palagi (always) / matagal / mabagal (slow)
Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion — pagod (tired)
Washington / Wishing / Wish — wala (nothing or none)
Chanda Romero — tiyan (tummy)
Mahalia Jackson — mahal (expensive)
Kuya Germs — madumi (dirty) / bearer of germs
Lucresia Kasilag — lukaret / baliw (crazy)
Lucita Soriano — loser na sorry pa
Luz Valdez — matalo (to lose)
Winnie Santos — manalo (to win)
Award — pinagalitan / pinagsabihan (reprimanded)
Freestyle — slow makagets (to understand) / slow
Imbey / Im — imbyerna (irritation)
Jowa / Jowabelles / Jowabella — karelasyon / BF or GF
Kape / Capuccino / Coffeemate — magising ka sa katotohanan (be realistic)
Lupita Kashiwahara — malupit (cruel)
Rita Gomez — nakaka-irita (irritating personality)
Enter the Dragon / Entourage — pasok (to enter) / come in
Julie Andrew / Jolina Magdangal — mahuli (caught in the act)
Antibiotic — antipatika (bitch)
48 Years / 50 Golden Years / 10,000 — matagal (after a long time)
Crayola — iyak (to cry)
Thundercats / Chandeliers / Masyonda — matanda (old people)
Wrangler — gurang (also means old)
Jubis / Juba — taba (fatso)
Jutay / Jutes — maliit (small)
Kangkang — sex
Reyna Elena — ulan (to rain)
X-Men — dating lalaki (formerly a man) now gay
Morayta / Murriah Carrey — mura (cheap)
Pamintang Durog / Pamenthols — closet gays / acting as men
Backstreet Boys — cute boys at the back
Chiminey Cricket — chimay (maid)
Goodbye Suklay — goodbye
Fayatollah Kumenis — payat (skinny)
Anaconda — ahas (a snake) / traitor
Anong petsa na? — asked when someone is taking too long to dress up, etc.
Charing/Tienes — jest / a joke / not serious
Kaplang — mali (error) / mistake
Barbra Streisand / Barbara Perez — bara / binara (bluntly rejected)
Regal Drama Hour / Maalala Mo Kaya — when someone tells a sob story
_______, ikaw ba yan? — when someone acts like another
person, maybe a showbiz personality or not. (example: Vilma Santos, Ikaw Ba yan?)
Purita Kalaw — walang pera (broke) / mahirap (poor)
Rica Peralejo — mayaman (rich, from the Spanish word rica)
Chova / Chovaline Kyle — chika lang (small talk)
Cookie Chua / Cookie Monster — magluto (to cook)
Clasmarurut / Klasmarurut — classmate
Cynthia Luster — hindi kilalang babae o lalake (unknown she or he)
Daot — insulto (insult)
Eksena / Eksenadora — mahilig pumapel / mahilig sumabat (someone who always likes to figure in a scene)
Emote — mag-inarte pa rin (one who is over-acting)
Karir/Career — sineryoso ang isang bagay like BF or work (to be seriously involved)
Lafang — kain (eat)
Lapel — malakas ang boses (someone with a loud voice)
Carry / Keri / Cash & Carry — sige (OK or alright)
Cathy Dennis — “makati” (frisky) or promiscuous
Char / Charot / Charing / Charbroiled — not ok
Liberty / Statue of Liberty — libre (free)
Okray — paninirang puri (criticize)
Lucky Home Partner — live-in partner
In Fairness — pampalubag loob (to console)
Compared to Lugaw — kesa wala (better than nothing)
Blame it on the ‘Parlor-ista gays”. Blame it on those showbiz writers. Blame it on those rampant showbiz talk shows. Blame it on the bar girls of Manila even. But truth be told, gay lingo/swardspeak/gayspeak is now in the mainstream of Filipino consciousness and communication and shows no sign of fading. As every day, a new term is coined, the vocabulary expands and may one day grow into a language on its own.
On that note, I suggest you print this article and keep it in your pocket. The next time you’re in the Philippines, bring it out with your English-Filipino Translation booklet. Believe me, you will thank me later.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
nice defination....... funny!
School: A place where Papa pays and Son plays.
Life Insurance: A contract that keeps you poor all your life so that you can die Rich.
Nurse: A person who wakes u up to give you sleeping pills.
Marriage: It's an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her masters.
Divorce: Future tense of Marriage.
Lecture: An art of transferring information from the notes of the Lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through "the minds of either"
Conference: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.
Compromise : The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.
Dictionary : A place where success comes before work.
Conference Room : A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on.
Father: A banker provided by nature.
Criminal: A guy no different from the rest....except that he got caught.
Boss: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.
Politician : One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence after.
Doctor : A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by bills.
Classic: Books, which people praise, but do not read.
Smile : A curve that can set a lot of things straight.
Office: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.
Yawn: The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.
Etc .: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.
Committee: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.
Experience: The name men give to their mistakes.
Atom Bomb : An invention to end all inventions.
Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead
Life Insurance: A contract that keeps you poor all your life so that you can die Rich.
Nurse: A person who wakes u up to give you sleeping pills.
Marriage: It's an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her masters.
Divorce: Future tense of Marriage.
Lecture: An art of transferring information from the notes of the Lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through "the minds of either"
Conference: The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.
Compromise : The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.
Dictionary : A place where success comes before work.
Conference Room : A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees later on.
Father: A banker provided by nature.
Criminal: A guy no different from the rest....except that he got caught.
Boss: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.
Politician : One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence after.
Doctor : A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you by bills.
Classic: Books, which people praise, but do not read.
Smile : A curve that can set a lot of things straight.
Office: A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.
Yawn: The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.
Etc .: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.
Committee: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.
Experience: The name men give to their mistakes.
Atom Bomb : An invention to end all inventions.
Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
tuyo, tinapa & galonggong
Let me tell you a story. Three construction workers were on top of theirhalf-finished skyscraper. Rrrrring!" the lunch bell sounded, and the threemen sat on a steel beam jutting out of the 56th flo or with their lunchboxes in hand.The first guy opens his and groans in exasperation, "Tuyo!" There is not aday that I don't get tuyo for lunch!" He turns to his buddies andannounces, "Mark my words. If I still get tuyo tomorrow, I'm going to throwmyself from this building."The second guy opens his lunch box and moans,
"Tinapa". Everyday, I gettinapa!" He looks at his friends and declares, "Believe me when I say this.If I get tinapa tomorrow, I'm going to jump and kil! l myself."The third guy opens his lunch box and it was his turn to despair."Galunggong" . All I get is galunggong!" I'm telling you, if I still getgalunggong tomorrow, I'm going to jump from this building and die."The next day, the lunch bell rings and all three men are again seated onthe 56th floor. The first guy opens his lunch box and starts crying,"Tuyoooooo!" And so he jumps and crashes on the ground.The second guy opens his lunch box
and wails loudly, "Tinapaaaa!" And healso hurls himself off the building and dies.The third guy opens his lunch box and screams, "Galunggonggggg! " And so hetoo jumps off the building and splatters on the ground.Days later, during the funeral of the three men, their three wives embraceand weep together. The first wife cries out, "I didn't know my husbanddidn't like tuyo anymore! Why didn't he tell me? If only he told me, Iwould have prepared something else."The second wife echoes her statement, "Yes! If only I knew, I would havecooked something else, not tinapa!"The third wife, between sobs, speaks up, "I don't know why my husbandkilled himself." The two wives look at her curiously."Why?"She went on, "Because ... my husband prepares his own lunch everyday..."I love this crazy story because it presents a very important truth: all ofus prepare our own lunch. If we don't like our jobs, if we don't like thestate of our relationships, if! we don't like what's happening to ourspiritual lives - we have no one to blame but ourselves. Because God hasgiven us free will. He has given us the power to prepare our own lunch.If you want to earn more and be free from debt, if you're sick
and tired ofyour bad habits, if we want to put more joy in our marriages, if we want togrow in our relationship with God - then go back to your kitchen andprepare yourself another dish. Because you design your own future. Youcreate your own destiny. Ask yourself what kind of future do you want tohave? What kind of life? What kind of eternity? You decide.
Monday, November 3, 2008
the philippines........
When I travel, people often ask me why I live in the Philippines ?
Well here it is...
It is the only place on earth where......
1. Every street has a basketball court.
2. Even doctors, lawyers and engineers are unemployed.
3. Doctors study to become nurses for employment abroad.
4. Students pay more money than they will earn afterwards.
5. School is considered the second home and the mall considered the third.
6. Call-center employees earn more money than teachers and nurses.
7. Everyone has his personal ghost story and superstition.
8. Mountains like Makiling and Banahaw are considered holy places.
9. Everything can be forged.
10. All kinds of animals are edible.
11. Starbucks coffee is more expensive than gas.
12. Driving 4 kms can take as much as four hours.
13. Flyovers bring you from the freeway to the side streets.
14. Crossing the street involves running for your dear life.
15. The personal computer is mainly used for games and Friendster.
16. Where colonial mentality is dishonestly denied!
17. Where 4 a.m. is not even considered bedtime yet.
18. People can pay to defy the law.
19. Everything and everyone is spoofed.
20. Where even the poverty-stricken get to wear Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger (peke)!
21. The honking of car horns is a way of life.
22. Being called a bum is never offensive.
23. Floodwaters take up more than 90 percent of the streets during the rainy season.
24. Where everyone has a relative abroad who keeps them alive.
25. Where wearing your national colors make you baduy.
26. Where even the poverty-stricken have the latest cell phones. (GSM-galing sa magnanakaw)27. Where insurance does not work.
28. Where water can only be classified as tap and dirty.
29. Clean water is for sale (35 pesos per gallon).
30. Where the government makes the people pray for miracles. (Amen to that!)
31. Where University of the Philippines where all the weird people go.
32. Ateneo is where all the nerds go.
33. La Salle is where all the Chinese go.
34. College of Saint Benilde is where all the stupid Chinese go and;
35. University of Asia and the Pacific is where all the irrelevantly rich people go.
36. Fast food is a diet meal.
37. Traffic signs are merely suggestions, not regulations.
38. Where being mugged is normal and It happens to everyone.
39. Rodents are normal house pets.
40. The definition of traffic is the 'non-movement' of vehicles.
41. Where the fighter planes of the 1940s are used for military engagements and;
42. The new fighter planes are displayed in museums.
43. Where cigarettes and alcohol are a necessity, and where the lottery is a commodity.
44. Where soap operas tell the realities of life and where the news provides the drama.
45. Where actors make the rules and where politicians provide the entertainment.
46. People can get away with stealing trillions of pesos but not a thousand.
47. Where being an hour late is still considered punctual (Grabe talaga 'to!)
48. Where the squatters have more to complain (even if they do not pay their tax) - than those employed and have their tax automatically deducted from their salaries.
49. And where everyone wants to leave the country!FILIPINO SIGNS OF WIT:
1. The sign in a flower shop in Diliman called Petal Attraction.
2. Anita Bakery
3. A 24-hour restaurant called Doris Day & Night
4. Barber shop called Felix The Cut;
5. A bakery named Bread Pitt
6. Fast-food place selling 'maruya' (banana fritters) called Maruya Carey.
7. Then, there are Christopher Plumbing
8. A boutique called The Way We Wear
9. A video rental shop called Leon King Video Rental
10. A restaurant in Cainta district of Rizal called Caintacky Fried Chicken
11. A local burger restaurant called Mang Donald's
12. A doughnut shop called MacDonuts
13. A shop selling 'lumpia' (egg roll) in Makati called Wrap and Roll
13. A shop selling 'lumpia' (egg roll) in Makati called Wrap and Roll
14. And two butcher shops called Meating Place and Meatropolis.
Smart travelers can decipher what may look like baffling signs to unaccustomed foreigners by simply sounding out the 'Taglish' (The Philippine version of English words spelled and pronounced with a heavy Filipino such as:
15. At a restaurant menu in Cebu "We hab sopdrink in can an in batol" [translation: We have soft drinks in can and in bottle].
16. Then, there is a sewing accessories shop called Bids And Pises - [translation: Beads and Pieces --or-- Bits and Pieces]
There are also many signs with either badly chosen or misspelled words but they are usually so entertaining that it would be a mistake to 'correct' them like.......
17. In a restaurant in Baguio City , the 'summer capital' of the Philippines : " Wanted: Boy Waitress"
18. On a highway in Pampanga: "We Make Modern Antique Furniture"
19. On the window of a photography shop in Cabanatuan : "We Shoot You While You Wait"
20. And on the glass front of a cafe in Panay Avenue in Manila : "Wanted: Waiter, Cashier, Washier".
Some of the notices can even give a wrong impression such as:
21. A shoe store in Pangasinan which has a sign saying: "We Sell Imported Robber Shoes" (these could be the 'sneakiest' sneakers);
22. A rental property sign in Jaro reads: "House For Rent, Fully Furnaced" (it must really be hot inside)!
23. Occasionally, one could come across signs that are truly unique - if not altogether odd. City in southern Philippines which said: "Adults: 1 peso; Child: 50 centavos; Cadavers: fare subject to negotiation".
24. European tourists may also be intrigued to discover two competing shops selling hopia (a Chinese pastry) called Holland Hopia and Poland Hopia - which are owned and operated by two local Chinese entrepreneurs, Mr. Ho and Mr. Po respectively - (believe it or not)!
25. Some folks also 'creatively' redesign English to be more efficient. "The creative confusion between language and culture leads to more than just simple unintentional errors in syntax, but in the adoption of new words, "says reader Robert Goodfellow who came across a sign .....House Fersallarend' (house for sale or rent). Why use five words when two will do?
26. According to Manila businessman, Tonyboy Ongsiako, there is so much wit in the Philippines because "We are a country where a good sense of humor is needed to survive". We have a 24-hour comedy show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors.
Now I ask you where else in the world would one want to live?
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