Life is a cup of coffee

Too simplistic but true. I love coffee. Who doesn’t, anyways? I started loving it in my late thirties though. Talk about late bloomers. But naturally when it affects my sleeping pattern, I reduce the consumption and when insomniac, ban it for awhile. Yes, ban it. It requires discipline to do that, but do that we must if it worsens insomnia.

Then decaffeinated coffee came. Ahh wonderful, now I switched to decaf at home. But even with decaf, I have reduced my consumption compared to my Visayas days.

At Robinson’s, I have tasted the coffee concoctions promoted by the high-end coffee shops there alongside the regular fare offered by the affordable coffee nooks. And I have brought two good friends with me to the affordable coffee nooks recently. In fact, Jet Reyes and hubby, and Sandra Haw have seen me having coffee there with a friend on separate occasions.

But it really doesn’t matter whether it’s expensive or not. Coffee is best shared with a friend, over good conversation. It’s one of the little joys in life just like body massage and facials haha. But the difference with coffee is it is shared with someone. It could be with great friends; clients; or someone you fancy. Ah that’s the trick.

Two weekends past when I wanted to read the news, I went to Cafe Firenzo at SunCity Complex. Since it was a Sunday, it was kinda laidback and not many people were around. It was quiet and I liked it. I read the coffee shop’s provision of national newspaper from beginning to end in total concentration. These are also the times when I want to have coffee alone, most especially when I just need to relax and read. And wonderful thing, I met one of the complex’s incorporators. We had a little chat. That was my first time at Café Firenzo and I enjoyed it.

What’s the bottom line of this short story? There is no bottom line. Coffee is simply enjoyed any which way you like: with friends over stimulating conversation, or by your lonesome digesting the news. It’s as simple as that. After all, life in its simplest terms is just a cup of coffee.

o O o

For the past three Wednesdays, I have attended the fellowship meetings of the Rotary Club of Greater General Santos. I want to thank my good friend Jet Reyes for the patience to invite me.

Actually, she first invited me in 2007 yet but I only attended once then. Hmmm 2007 seemed like ages ago. What do I remember about 2007 the most? Ahh… Never mind. But I remember I had frequent asthma attacks then. It must be a stressful year huh!

Finally this month, after she has patiently invited me since June this year, I came to the fellowship meeting. Her patience really paid off.

I have always believed that there is a right season and perfect timing for everything. Perhaps now is the right season, and the perfect timing.

I want to thank the Greater ladies for the warm welcome each one has extended to me. I appreciate it.

Ms. Petite Veneracion is the club President. The club is open for membership.

o O o

Professor Tony Nacional of the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, this city, my former MBA classmate invited me to sit as judge in the Mr. & Miss Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators and Philippine Society of Information Technology Students (PSITS)-12 at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Covered Court on September 25, 2010.

Tony and I go a long way back to our Masteral days at the then Notre Dame of Dadiangas College (NDDC), now the NDDU. We also served then as Officers of the NDDC Graduate School Student Organization (GSSO). Boy those were fun times! We had lots of activities and amusement while in school. It felt like college life for all of us back then.

I accepted the invitation. Thanks Tony. Mabuhay ka!

o O o

Ms. Carms Laus of the Philippine Public Safety College-Regional Training School (RTS) 12 sent messages last week about my scheduled lecture on Gender and Development (GAD) for Police Officers at RTS 12 this week. The subject is part and parcel of the Junior Leadership Course for Police Officers. It is my time to inspire.

Incidentally, I have also prepared my lecture material for Leadership which is also a subject in the Junior Leadership Course.

In July this year, I applied for accreditation with the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC)-Police Regional Training School (RTS) 12 and starting August; I have provided lectures on Public Speaking and Gender Sensitivity to Police Trainees. This month, I have been officially accredited by PPSC.

I want to thank the PPSC family for maximizing my life in the areas where I could serve the community best.

o O o

Thursday last week was bonding time with both Engineer Nino who was on day off from his engineering duties at a transmission company in Tacurong City and Melody also of the same company but based in Gen. Santos City.

Like most of our bonding moments, we ate heartily. Whatever shall we do without eating? Melody says Penong has opened in Gen. Santos City. So we drove to locate it. We found it and ate with gusto.

Nino’s visit was timely and very productive as well. He was able to work on my wordpress blog site http://shilohruthie.wordpress.com. When I say “work”, it means he enhanced its appearance; polished the contents; and added features. It really looks very sleek and professional now. He promised to work on my http://simplybelinda.blogspot.com as well.

Thank you Nino. Needless to say, you are the greatest!

o O o

Food for thought: Count your blessings. Once you realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence. >Og Mandino

What were you thinking?

Were you able to watch the television interview of Ms. Gloria Diaz where she mentioned about “Cebuanos not able to speak in English and Tagalog”? Wow! I was totally aghast! Of course the context was beauty pageants where contestants can’t articulate themselves very well in the English language.

Oh boy, what was she thinking? Does she even know that majority of Cebuanos speak good, if not fluent English? What a major blunder on her part.


Cebuano-speaking people have a hard time learning Tagalog because that’s not their mother tongue, however, they are more interested to learn and speak the English language.

I was expecting a torrent of complaint after she uttered her now infamous line. And it’s now happening. A Congress representative from Cebu has spoken about it. And more Cebu leaders are coming up with Resolutions decrying what she said.

I expect that. That was a very insensitive statement. Stereotyping is the word. It is ironic coming from an international beauty winner like her.

She should have been more careful and circumspect; more tactful. Tact, tact, tact, where art thou?
I speak Cebuano or Bisaya if you prefer that. I was born, raised and educated up to college in Bohol; I knew that Cebuanos love their language so much. Their Cebuano (Bisaya) music is very rich in poetry and prose; their Bisaya poetry is very prolific. I know this for a fact. I have met some Cebuano poets. My sister Delora dabbles in both Cebuano and English poetry and she has introduced me to some of her Cebuano poet-friends. They preserve and cultivate their language and yet they speak good English.

Here, let me share a trivia from Wikipedia:

The Visayan languages (or Bisayan languages) of the Philippines, along with Tagalog and Bikol, are part of the Central Philippine languages. Most Visayan languages are spoken in the Visayas region but they are also spoken in the Bicol Region (particularly in Sorsogon and Masbate), islands south of Luzon such as those that make up Romblon, most of the areas of Mindanao, and the province of Sulu located southwest of Mindanao. Some residents of Metro Manila also speak Visayan.

Over thirty languages constitute the Visayan language family. The Visayan language with the most speakers is Cebuano, spoken by 20 million people as a native language in Central Visayas, northern and eastern parts of Mindanao. Two other well-known Visayan languages are Hiligaynon, spoken by 7 million in western Visayas and Waray-Waray spoken by 3 million in eastern Visayas.

o O o

Have you seen on television how government officials are passing the buck about the bungled hostage crisis?
A mayor was identified by a police general as the person calling the shots; the mayor in turn, pointed his finger at the police as the over-all in-charge of operation.

Hello! We can see who’s lying through his teeth? It’s a shame that when one can’t take the heat, he casts the blame on another person (or organization).

Men, show us some backbone. Prove the stuff that you are truly made of.

If you messed up, just have the gumption to accept it. Leadership calls for the highest form of courage. If you don’t have the courage to face the consequence of your action, resign and save your dignity.

o O o

Three communications secretaries and no one was speaking during the day-long hostage crisis until its bloody end? To borrow the British expression: “bloody ineptitude”! Where in the world were the experts? A crisis situation requires crisis communication. The government has three communications secretaries for crying out loud but nobody even dared use crisis communication when it was needed.
The failure is appalling.

Our training in crisis communication teaches us that in times of crisis, the crisis management committee convenes with utmost urgency and appoints the official spokesperson whose personality will represent the company (or the government in this particular instance) for the duration of the crisis. The spokesperson can use any medium available to update the public about the on-going situation. In the case of the hostage crisis, television was the most effective medium. The spokesperson gives the rightful information without exaggerating and causing panic. She serves as the major link between the company (or the government) and the public most especially the affected sectors – maintain connectivity. She must be visible for the duration of the crisis situation. She assures the public that the company (the government) is working on the resolution of the crisis at hand. And when it is over, she wraps up the entire situation with an official statement or press briefing, whichever serves the purpose best. Needless to say, she has to be supported by a team which will facilitate her communication requirements like direct link with the company head (government leader); processing of updated information; crafting of the right messages to deliver to an anxious public and the like.
What a shame that with three cabinet communications secretaries, nobody was there to speak on behalf government.

Well, I’m only presenting this information since I have served as Corporate Communications Officer for three power companies for the past fourteen years. Our crisis situations were always the toppling of our towers by lawless elements; partial power system collapse or full power system collapse. We knew what we ought to do when these situations arise.

Personally, my commitment as a communications person is to prevent a communication vacuum. Why? Because the absence of information creates confusion and panic. When confusion and panic set in, speculations arise. You can only imagine what people will think given a prolonged blackout. So before people start speculating about the absence of power, give them the needed correct information right away (or as soon as available). In this manner, only the right information comes out.

If information is not readily available which happens all the time, come out with an initial statement and follow through. Like I said, never allow a communication vacuum to happen. An information vacuum encourages speculations. Absence of information itself is a crisis waiting to happen.

o O o

Food for thought:

Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takes responsibility for it, makes it his own.
- Charles de Gaulle

The real thing

I chanced upon two men having conversation in a hotel coffee shop two weekends past. I joined them. Interesting talk. One inspired moment.

The most inspiring thing about it was I only proceeded to the coffee shop to drink water or juice while waiting for my former colleagues who were supposed to fetch me on their way to Davao.

The chance encounter was a weekend surprise considering the amount of information I gathered and the satisfying animated conversation that transpired. Indeed we don’t lack for inspiration in everyday life as long as we let life surprise us.

That same weekend, my former colleagues brought me to Davao City to attend a birthday affair. I gladly obliged. I needed a new environment. Let us just say I needed inspiration.