I am the Next Jophet Pedroso…!

I first heard about him last Novemeber 14, 2007 at the UNO Business Center, ATU Plaza, Gov. Duterte St., Davao City. Todate is November 14, 2008 and I am currently taking my vegetable breakfast with crab dip pair with prime juice at the Marco Polo Hotel, Hongkong. It is still vivid in my mind how I was so fond of him. He is one of the renowned workshop facilitator-speaker. He is said the master sculptor for those who want to develop their potential in business. He sounded so alive, so youthful (taking aside that life begins at 40). I was seated at the last row of the hall, but despite the position his voice reverberated to the walls. I don’t know if some of the listener had the same observation as myself. I am not a neophyte in the training business. I’ve been to number of trainings, from capacity building to advocacies down to legalities. But this one was different for it’s the first time I attended training that focused on how to develop ones potential in business. Since before, I kept telling myself I am a service oriented person. But because of the turned of events, I became interested to venture and explore new things not just to gaze at the star dazzle trophy.

It was early 7 o’clock in the evening when I got myself inside the Orchid Room of the Apo View Hotel last November 17, 2007, my second encounter with him. This time is a short workshop course on "Increasing Your Income Potential Wprkshop". When I entered the first part of the talk was almost done yet the meat of the workshop is not yet touched. I seated in the middle part of the room yet I need to adjust where I seated so that I could see him clearly. There were more than 200 listeners in the room. Although the first part of the lecture is a bit familiar because of my previous involvements but again, as a learner one should empty his cup so that you fill it with a new fresh brewed inputs. But listening to him gives me this important formula:

GOAL + PLAN + ACTION + RESULT = SUCCESS.

We always set goal for ourselves but it always turn out to be a goal alone for we didn’t had a plan on how to attain it.

When the plan is laid before us, it is the other who set it for us or simply our action was not focus on the plan. We kept on redirecting ourselves sometimes using some shortcuts which inevitably not focus to our destination and kept us roaming around.

And if we are then on the act, the result was not enough to satisfy our hunger for success. Something is lacking. Something has to fill it.

As a fallback, I assessed myself and that I am one of those who had set a goal but the plan is vague as is easily pulled due to being a multi taksed person. That is why still I am not contented of what I had. And that I started scribbling again.

Because of such inspiration, I declare, the next Jophet Pedroso of my generation. I hold a huge crowd of young hopefuls in UNO Hongkong on how to increase their potential by tapping the innermost desires of their hearts.

Panagtapok 2008

November 5, 2008

I open my yahoo messenger the usual lunch ritual that I have, type in my username and my password. An IM message from cancer2_6 pop up saying, “manang dinner daw sa balay nila Pakdat sa Matina.” I turned shocked with the message, although I had projected her coming but not this soon. Well, she one of my sisters way back grade school. We share same dance step and crushes in high school and same idealism in our college days. Now, we had our own life to lead. That night, with 4 other friends, Danes, Ella, Hershe and Jemma shared a delicious dinner at Shyk’s residence. We discussed about the past, the tears, the sorrow, the struggle, the kilig moments and the fun being together. We know we had a lot to patch up with each other. It’s been years since we had this get together. The spirit relive in each of us. Reminiscing our happy memories together that we all shared more than half of our lives. But sharing the same laughter enough to mend the pieces of the years we missed to be together.

Nothings change. We still laugh, tease and eat like there’s no other day. As if we race with the night sharing what had happen in the year 1998. If we will count to date, it’s still a decade of events that needs to be told.

But we need to stop for the night is over and its then early morning. We smile in our faces. Sure it was a night worth remembering.

November 6, 2008

I slept with a mouth filled with a dose of gladness. I woke up with a smile in my face. Another day is here, another day to be happy. My phone rings, I call from Ella, inviting me to attend to the birthday party of her niece. Not chance to miss, despite of a very packed schedules, deadlines and appointments. We didn’t miss to have a thing. Kids playing, singing and eating, the night is consumed, all in an evening of fun. We all settled in each of our houses yet still looking forward for another night to share.

November 7, 2008

I daze to the kitchen when I woke up the next day and checking all the things that I brought in yesterday. Pressures came rushing in. I only had few hours left. Need to confirm attendance, cook dinner and clean the house. What else?.. popping of different instant messages, slicing of vegetables, washing of soiled clothes and the pumping of my headache is the worst of all. I suddenly black out.

But the thought keeps me alive. The sky replies its greatest roar and water came pouring out. Text messages came one after another, confirmation, validation and additional instructions.

One person arrived. My heart pounded faster. Then all gathered in one. Dinner now is set in the table. Unlimited chikas, kumustahan, yakapan at tawanan. We are no longer the girls and boys once upon a time in May 12, 1993. But we are now women and men in bloom bringing in us the different versions of our life and love stories in our lips. Like the true and consequence game, one share after the other. The kulitan is still there while eating till the night is over. Just like our banquet our stories were unlimited, too. But we are still not over with one another. We went out by midnight. Searching for songs that our hearts will fill us like the friendship we shared. Songs help us express our desires and fill the emptiness we felt. Just being with one another, we know we found a family, a click and a lifetime friendship. We sealed our dreams and aspiration with a cup of delicious coffee. We know the moment is over now. We are still full of the rare friendship, the rare camaraderie, the rare caress of the Davao-4th batch friendship. Kami na jud ang gitagna. SOM graduate mi…. Taga-Dabaw pa jud.

Leah, Sheryl, Melanie, Emma, Maribeth, Ken, Ronie Boy and Daniel

Kami ang tatak nga sa langturay magpabilin…