Family Prayer

I was really stunned to hear the prayer request of my daughter Helena yesterday. Know what? She petitioned for the approval of my scholarship to Japan, new house, etc. For her age I really couldn't believe she would say that.

Words of Encouragement

I received a text from someone regarding my application for scholarship in Japan. Her help was kind of moving me to another level. Imagine, I don't even know her yet she gave me some tips and encouragement.

Though I knew my success is no longer in my hands am so happy to receive such gesture.


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For the past weeks I have been working on my office database but wasn't able to finish it due to Ondoy and Pepeng's wrath. Classes were canceled and suspended most of the time.

Grand Prix Executive Chess

I participated in the 2009 Grand Prix Executive Chess at the Department of Agrarian Reform for the month of October and sad to note that I was totally outclassed by my opponents. It seemed that my line for King's Indian (Saemich Variation) was outdated as I was beaten blue on the opening stage of my Game 1. Game 2 was a drawn game but I pushed harder to win then ended up losing. I won both Games 3 & 4 and I was so happy to show the real me by providing by-the-book moves. Unfortunately, Game 5 was so frustrating. I used Caro Kann but my opponent knew this variation better. I ended up going home empty-handed but full of lessons learned due to experience.

I Will Persist Until I Succeed (by Og Mandino)

I was not delivered unto this World in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner.

I will be likened to the rain drop which washes away the mountain, the ant who devours a tiger, the star which brightens the earth, the slave who builds a pyramid. I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking. I will persist until I succeed.

I will never consider defeat and I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as quit, cannot, unable, impossible, out of the question, improbable, failure, unworkable, hopeless, and retreat. I will avoid despair but if this disease of the mind should infect me then I will work on in despair. I will toil and I will endure.

I will remember, the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. Each frown I meet only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter I will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once. I will persist until I succeed.

Never will I allow any day to end with a failure. Thus I will plant the seed of tomorrow's success and gain an insurmountable advance over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time. When others cease their struggle, then mine will begin, and my harvest will be full.

Nor will I allow yesterday's success to lull me into today's complacency, for this is the greatest foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life.

So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist. For I know one of the principles of success - if I persist long enough I will win.

I will persist! I will win!

Wishful Thinking...

Barely three days to go and my application for JICE scholarship will be forfeited. I have been waiting, longing, and praying that my request for a nomination from my Director be granted. Time was against me. Two weeks were wasted by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng now I have nothing to blame but my self. How I wished I prepared my papers long time ago. How I wish I talked to my superiors before. How...

Letter to a Friend

I have been consistently writing a letter to my friend for almost 4 years now and I haven't got a response. It seems that I was forgotten. Yesterday I sent her my last mail.

Missing Japan

I been missing Japan. I hope I could still study there.

New Computer Course for Me

Whew!

I stopped, one day, at the Strata Building near Ortigas and watched the courses offered for IT enthusiasts. I noted that it was free once you passed the examination they would give. I looked at my watch to see if there was still time left for me to take the test. It was 5 p.m. I immediately went to the 18th floor and talked to the one in-charge of Software Development class. She asked some personal information and hastily gave an oral examination. I won't discussed it here so that others wouldn't know the answers. It was about logic dude! Maybe I don't have it that time hahaha. To make the long story short, I was given a chance to be included in the shortlist of wannabe students.

The subjects that were given include: "Java, HTML, Dreamweaver, MySQL, etc. I have had knowledge on HTML and Dreamweaver because I studied it in one of my trainings in Japan but I don't have idea with the rest of the subjects. So I felt very excited to know more programming languages. As the course progressed the degree of difficulty have continuously bothered me. Hmmmp... Why didn't I learn these stuffs when I was younger.

2009 Sportsfest at DepEd

Whattaday!

I had the chance to witness the wonderful activities this morning. However, I wasn't able to participate actively due to various assignments at the office. The employees at DepEd have had their talents and skills exerted during the event. I'm so happy to be able to have a photo opportunity with the future Senator of the Philippines, DepEd Secretary, Jesli A. Lapus.




To see more pics please click this >>>link<<<

A Creed to Live By

"Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special."

"Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you."

"Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless."

"Don't let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life."

"Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

"Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave."

"Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love, the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly and the best way to keep love is to give it wings."

"Don't dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope, and to be without hope is to be without purpose."

"Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been but also where you are going. Life is not a race but a journey to be savored each step of the way."

- author unknown

Dismal Performance on My Chess Tournament Competitions

After a long layoff on over the board (OTB) chess competition I found this signage at Hulong Duhat Court in Malabon that says "There will be a chess tournament on August 30, 2009." So I immediately joined the competition without preparation (again). The good thing about this tournament was that my twin brother (who's in Makati for a training) joined me. You must know how it felt to play with someone who's giving some motivation. I was also appeased with the support I got from my wife and kids who stayed in the tournament hall to give me some energy and needs.

The first challenge was the simultaneous event that fitted IM Barlow Nadera against 22 players. I joined that event. I had a good position and had been thinking that I could at least salvage a draw. But I missed strong lines after I succumb to follow his fast moves (I suffered that sad fate also in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur when I found out that my opponent [Basilio Pandan] had 1 minute left on his time clock. A lesson I didn't learn, err...

The next challenge was the tournament. My first game ended in a draw, though I could have won it, rustiness took its toll against me. I felt my old form during the 2nd and 3rd games, I demolished my opponents convincingly. It was unfortunate to lose a drawish position on my 4th game, I'm so sad to experience that (but I felt the joy in losing, that I always wanted to come back and win). I won the 5th game in a controversial manner. I was about to move when a sudden push at my back got me conscious. I didn't know that my opponent left his Queen en prise, so I immediately took it and my opponent hastily resigned after saying words that I got help from my colleague. But the truth, I was just galloping for moves and my first choice was the rook move and not the Queen takes. Games 6 and 7 ended in fighting draws. Though in game 6 I could have won had not I hesitated to dare in making a very simple but effective move. Game 7 was a very difficult game, at stake on this game was the "Top Navotas Player" award. My opponent kept seeing good move after good move. We were down to the last 1 1/2 minutes of time control and I spotted a drawing chances and I grabbed it. What a relief! A very nice feeling, really. Though, I missed the award I obtained a personal victory of not stumbling during tough games.

My score was a modest 4.5/7 on 2 wins, 3 draws, and a solitary loss.

Travel to Iloilo City

Had my trip to Iloilo City and stayed there for 3 long days. I worked with my colleagues from DepEd and had a great time dealing with teachers, principals, and supervisors. Our group was tasked to search for potential textbook evaluators on MSEP, EPP, TLE, Filipino, and Values Education subjects.

I returned to Manila at about 4:30 this afternoon and after taking my things at the baggage carousel I immediately went out of the NAIA Airport only to be stalled by long lines at the gate. So, I fall in line using the first queue but this certain group (with some tools) from the 2nd line encroached on our path so I told myself "why the guard inspected their baggage(s) first" which one of them overheard. So a little confrontation ensued and of course I stood firm and told this guy who confronted me that they came from the 2nd line, etc. Hmnn...I wasted my 10 precious minutes there.

Please press this link for the pictures...

Travel to DepEd RELC-San Fernando, La Union

I had a worthy experiences at San Fernando City. I met so many interesting people. La Union was a very important place for me. I will not forget that special incident some years ago. The people at DepEd regional office had been very helpful in transmitting some important documents to JICA Office that helped me in getting an international scholarship.

This week's visit wasn't different I really felt that I have never been away from home and I enjoyed every minute of my stay here.

To see some highlights of the activities please press this link >>>