Music runs deep within our blood (hehehe)

Last week when we went to the mall, my sister lead us to a certain store. No it was not a women's singlets store, but it surprised us nonetheless. We found ourselves inside a guitar store. And she says she was not really looking for a guitar.

"The guitar called me."

My sister bought a violin a year ago, and it was my brother who got more interested -- he can now play some nice songs. :-) And now, my sister wants to buy a guitar. She says she can feel it -- that this is going to be her "thing", her calling.

Wow. Hehehe. I told her she should try Air Guitar first. But she says she really wants to reignite her passion in music (c/o Johnoy Danao). Oh well. At least I won't have a hard time looking for a gift for her come this Christmas. I will buy her this Air Guitar on sale.

Could music be OUR passion? I should rethink my ambition of being in competition with Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

I rock!

This Sunday, I will be going to the baptism ceremony of my cousin's first-born. This cousin of mine is a close friend from high school. I made his first love letter, gave him advice that resulted to him having his first girlfriend, and told him what to do so his first girlfriend will initiate the breakup (I know!). We've been through a lot of things together. Oh, we were together in our first (wannabe) rockband. He played bass and lead the vocals. I did background vocals and lead guitar. (Beat that, Mordsith! hehehe.)

He, and another cousin and friend of ours, had a bet -- whoever among the three of us will have a child last will win that bet. And the bet is that the losers will sponsor one lechon baboy (and some more) each when the winner's child gets baptized. The other cousin of ours involved in the bet already has a baby as well.

This Sunday, the three of us will have a drink -- not to plan the baby 1st birthday.* We will officially celebrate my being a winner. :-)

*sorry grammar nazis! Tawag ng pangangailangan.

What is 30% of USD 5.6 million?

I asked because that is how much I'd received soon. :-) This is the third or fourth time this year that I became (almost) a multi-millionaire. Hayyy... For your reading pleasure, fellow bloggers and accidental visitors.

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My Dearest one,

Hi, My name is Sofia Justin Yak, 23years old originated from Sudan. I decide to contact you after my prayers, I really want to have a good relationship with you. My father Dr. Justin Yak was the former Minister for SPLA Affairs and Special Adviser to President Salva Kiir of South Sudan for Decentralization. My father Dr.Justin Yak and my mother including other top Military officers and top government officials had been on board when the plane crashed on Friday May 02, 2008.

You can read more about the crash through the below site:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ africa/7380412.stm

After the burial of my father, my uncle conspired and sold my father's properties to a Chinese Expatriate and left nothing for me. On a faithful morning, I opened my father's briefcase and found out the documents which he have deposited huge amount of money in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin. I traveled to Burkina Faso to withdraw the money so that I can start a better life and take care of myself. On my arrival, the Branch manager of the Bank whom I met in person told me that my father's instruction to the bank was the money be release to me only when I am married or present a trustee who will help me and invest the money overseas.

I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my trust. But rather take me as your own sister. Though you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well, I will say that my mind convinced me that you are the true person to help me. More so, I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate to your country because my uncle have threaten to assassinate me. The amount is $5.6 Million and I have confirmed from the bank in Burkina Faso. You will also help me to place the money in a more profitable business venture in your Country.

However, you will help by recommending a nice University in your country so that I can complete my studies. It is my intention to compensate you with 30% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment. As soon as I receive your interest in helping me, I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. Please do keep this only to your self. I beg you not to disclose it till i come over because I am afraid of my wicked uncle who has threatened to kill me.

Sincerely yours,
Miss Sofia Justin Yak

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Just to be safe, I guess I can ask her to buy a megameeting web conferencing software so I can be sure I'll have that 50%. Hehehe. Sineryoso? :-)

You think you've got balls?

Wanna know what "having balls" means in real life? Well, research Walden Bello (that's double "l", else, you might find someone involved in the cosmetics/beauty industry). The guy has balls! He, and some other congressmen, landed in a contested island in the Kalayaan Group of Islands, declared the place as a Philippine territory, and uttered these words:

We come in peace, we support a diplomatic solution. But let there be no doubt in any foreign power's mind that if they dare to eject us from Pagasa... Filipinos will not take that sitting down.

Oh yeah, this is The Man!

At first I thought that was too irresponsible of him. I mean, other parties claiming the islands are China and Vietnam. But after seeing the map below, I think Walden Bello should be declared a national hero.

Is China even serious with its claims?! They probably took a bluetooth barcode scanner, and proclaimed:
"Hey, we used  state-of-the-art technology, and we have rights on these shores." Argh!

Check the story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14212130.

Google Country Manager (Philippines)

As I've said before, Google is the best company in the world (next to being in the company of Solenn -- wahahaha!). Yeah, sorry Facebook, you're just second. They are now looking for a country manager here in the Philippines. Now, am I Interested? Of course I am! But I'm am not qualified. Sayang! Imagine these perks*.

Anyway, in case you guys are interested, here's a peak on their requirements:

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Country Manager (Philippines) - Singapore

You will manage Google's sales and business development operations within Philippines. You have deep sales experience, demonstrated general management capability, and a proven ability to build a team. You will be responsible for developing and executing on the overall market strategy within the country. This includes determining the appropriate channel strategy, support model, staffing requirements, partners, target advertisers, and coordinating with functional teams to achieve desired goals. The primary focus will be on top tier client and agency opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Manage Philippines operations, including the development and execution of the overall country strategy.
• Build a sales organization to call upon leading advertisers within Philippines, driving revenue growth across different verticals.
• Build and maintain relations with key agencies and Search Engine Marketers (SEMs).
• Build and develop partnerships that will grow the online marketplace in Philippines.
• Coordinate closely with centralized teams to meet the needs of the market.

Requirements:

• BA/BS degree perferred, MBA a plus.
• At least 10 years experience with strong sales management experience in technology and/or advertising and/or Internet as well as general management experience.
• Experience in building strategic partnerships and track record of growing a market is preferred.
• Fluent in English, with fluency in Filipino strongly preferred.
• Ability to focus and prioritize in a fast growing business environment.
• Strong relationships within the advertising and technology spaces in the region.
• Proven record of strategic development of Fortune 1000 client base.

http://www.google.com.sg/intl/en/jobs/singapore/adsales/manage/country-manager-philippines-singapore/index.html

Goodluck!

*I won't be surprised if they allow garden gnomes to be placed in their office areas. :-)

How to get to Taiwan from China without a passport (and vice versa)

I saw a post in Facebook just a while ago and it gives a detailed instruction how one can go to Taiwan from China (or I guess from any part of the world to anywhere at all for that matter) without a Passport/Visa. And the funny thing here is, this is actually from Google.

Are you familiar with Google Maps? Well, that is where you need to go to see the directions. Follow these carefully and you'll be to different places of the world in a matter of days.

1. Open Google Maps (directions)
2. Type in China as starting point
3. Type in Taiwan as destination
4. Read Step 48.

If you want to see what's in Step 48, see screenshot below.

Hide-and-seek: Newton-Pascal-Einstein style!

Up in heaven, three great physicists were playing hide and go seek: Newton, Pascal, and Einstein.

It was Einstein's turn to seek, so Einstein closed his eyes and counted to 10 while Pascal and Newton went to hide. Pascal hid behind a tree, Newton just stood there and drew a 1 meter by 1 meter box around him on the ground.

When Einstein was done counting, he opened his eyes (probably cleaned his heavy-duty goggles first) and said, "Newton, what are you doing? You're supposed to hide! You're out!" And Newton replied, "No, you're wrong, I'm not Newton, I'm Pascal! See, I'm one Newton per square meter! Pascal is out!"

Blogger's new dashboard design/interface

Have you guys noticed the new design of blogger interface/dashboard? It's neat and I like it. I think Google is really making a lot of changes and innovations lately -- this one, Google+ (which I am not yet trying, but have an account already), new stuff in Gmail Labs, etc. I don't know if this is in response to their biggest threat so far (Facebook). Whatever the reason is, I like it!

Here's the screenshot of the new design:

...and she accepted the challenge!

I had an interesting chat with an old friend yesterday. She's a headhunter based in Makati. She was very curious why I did not pursue one and rejected another job offer that she arranged herself for me. They both have decent offers -- so she says. So, she was wondering how rich I am right now (I wish!!!) because I have that conviction to stay self-employed here in the province instead of working back again in Manila.

Of course it's not true; I am not rich (yet! hehehe). With the work I have now, I can say I am just OK -- nothing more, nothing less (actually, it's more "nothing more" than "nothing less").

So, she asked me: What will it take me to accept a job offer back in Manila?

I replied:

1. They have to offer me a just and fair salary (negotiable).
2. They have to promise I'll end my working day watching the sunset. Everyday.
3. They have to provide me with an environment of fresh air all the time.
4. And they need to give me a walking-distance-from-home workplace (so I won't have to buy fat burners anymore).

Items 2-4 are non-negotiable.

Aba! She replied: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

:-D

Juan, Pedro, at Noynoy

Isang araw, habang kumakain ang magkakaibigang Juan, Pedro, at Kulas sa pinakataas ng 50 palapag na gusali.

JUAN: Anak ng! Tinapa na naman? Kakasawa na. Kapag tinapa pa rin ang ulam ko bukas, magpapakamatay na talaga ako.
PEDRO: Put--! Pritong itlog na naman! Kakasawa na ang ulam na ito. Kapag pritong itlog pa rin ang ulam ko bukas, tatalon na ako sa gusaling ito.
KULAS: Lagi na lang ham! Kapag bukas ham pa rin ang ulam ko, magpapakamatay na din ako!

Kinabukasan...

JUAN: Tinapa na naman? (Tumalon sa gusali. Patay.)
PEDRO: Pritong itlog?  (Tumalon sa gusali. Patay.)
KULAS: Ham na naman?!  (Tumalon sa gusali. Patay.)

Habang kinakausap ng mga reporters ang mga asawa ng mga nasawi, tinanong nila kung nagbabala ba ang mga ito.

Asawa ni JUAN: (Umiiyak.) Wala man lang po siyang sinabi na ayaw niya ng tinapa. Kung sinabi niya na nagsasawa na siya, e di sana iba na lang ang hinanda ko sa kanya.
Asawa ni PEDRO: (Umiiyak.) Wala din po siyang sinasabi na ayaw niya ng pritong itlog. Kung sinabi niya na nagsasawa na siya, e di sana iba na lang ang hinanda ko sa kanya.
Asawa ni KULAS: (Umiiyak.) E hindi ko po alam kung bakit siya nagpakamatay, siya naman ang naghahanda ng baon niya sa tanghalian.

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Quote from a TOTALLY UNRELATED  news (http://www.manilatimes.net/news/topstories/3-in-cabinet-aquino%E2%80%99s-curse/):

"Sa totoo lang ho, mayroon kasing mga miyembro ng Gabinete—mga dalawa o tatlo—kada makita ko, agad iniisip ko, 'Ano kaya ang bad news ang dala-dala nito?' ... Iyong iba ho, ipinipilit ko na lang po na harapin, dahil talagang, kako itong taong ito, talagang penitensya ko na yata sa mundong ito, kaya ok na lang."

- President Noynoy Aquino