Social Media Day

Photo c/o dekhnews.com

Who isn't on social media nowadays?  According to brandwatch.com as of July 2015 there were 2.3-billion active social media users out of the worldwide population of 7.3-billion.  I'm sure these numbers have increased tremendously, the last two years.

If Facebook was a state with 1.71-billion users, it will outrank China's 1.3-billion and India's 1.2-billion population.  The 4th placer would be YouTube with more than 1-billion users.  The United States of America (3rd rank in world population) with it's 312-million plus population would be no match to Instagram's more than 400-million users.  Such is the power and reach of social media.  Facebook, founded in February 2004, is just 13 years old, while YouTube is 12 years old, and Instagram is only 7 years old.

And I believe that there will be more and better applications coming soon in the near future.

End of June

Photo c/o owlfinancial.com.au

And just like that, we bid goodbye to the month of June.  We're six months into 2017 and a month of wintry weather here in Aotearoa New Zealand.  So much more to be done and time is running faster than my dreams.

The 1st six months of this year have been a hectic and toxic one for me.  I had to make the big move in terms of my career and physical self, to the big city, Auckland.  The 1st quarter was spent commuting from Hamilton to Auckland, weekdays in Auckland and weekends in Hamilton.  Until we finally decided as a family to all be together and made the final big push last weekend of May.

In the process of this big upheaval, most of my plans for 2017 had to be revisited and revised.  And it's only now that I'm beginning to have the time to bring them to life.  I guess some of them will have to be rescheduled to a later date, as in next year.  I'm now working on finalizing the top three priority for the rest of 2017.  I just can't divulge them at the moment but you will all know in time.

National Camera Day

Photo c/o nationaldaycalendar.com

It's National Camera Day today and at the same time it's a glorious and beautiful day too! I took my Supported Learning students to the Auckland CBD via train.  Our first stop was at the New Zealand Maritime Museum.  We were warmly and properly welcomed by staff and had a great time.  It is an awesome place to learn about the history of our country, especially how people traveled from all over the planet via ships, to come and settle here.

Everyone had a great time, of course we took heaps of photos using our mobile phones.  No one even brought a camera.  Our smartphones have replaced them. It was a very practical way to spend this national day.

Q&A: Maynard "Toots" Erece

Photo c/o Maynard's Facebook account

I've known Maynard "Toots" Erece for a couple of years since I moved to Aotearoa New Zealand. The first time I met him was in a basketball court while he was training Filipino youth on the rudiments of basketball.  I noticed how passionate he was about the sport.  And this became evident in one of the championship games in Auckland for a Labour Weekend tournament.  It was quite an intense game, with emotions going sky-high.  It was his sense of sportsmanship and fair play that kept in check his players and supporters from exploding into the basketball court to confront their opponents and supporters.

Toots was a teacher and dean at St. John's College in Hamilton for a number of years.  He was the mentor of the Filipino boys in the school and looked after their pastoral care.  I remember a time when he had to take one of the boys home since he was in an elevated mental state.  I guess it was his fatherly figure that calmed the boy and from then on, until now I've seen this boy grow into a responsible and happy young man.

With a heavy heart, Filipinos in Hamilton had to bid him farewell when he moved a couple of years ago.  As a devoted father, family man, and loving husband to his wife Dr. Joan (pictured above) he had to be with her in her new assignment, Australia.  I recently had a Q&A with him and this is what he shared:

Q: What's on your bucket list?
A: More travel. The world is a very big place. So much to see, so little time we all have in the world.

Q: Give your teenage self some advice.
A: It's OK to do what you want to do until it's time to do what you need to do. It's OK to do what you need to do until it's time to do what you must do.

Q:What motivates you?
A: Family and loved ones well being.

Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: The world's greatest dad!

Q: Name 3 people, living or dead, you'll like to have dinner?
A: 1. Jesus Christ to talk about God and the after life.
2. Mother Mary to seek advice on how to raise up children better and how to trust in God without boundary.
3. Pope Francis to talk about the current issues facing the Catholic church.

Q: Are you a cat or dog person?
A: Both. We have a cat and 2 German shepherd dogs that also came from NZ.

Q: Why are you doing, what you're doing?
A: It's Christ's teaching - the  parable of talents. We have to share our God given talents to the world. We owe it to our creator.

Q: Where in the Philippines is the place that is your sanctuary?
A: My sanctuary is where my family is.  Where the family lay their head, is where our heart lie too.

Q: How did you face failure?
A: Head on without flinching. Failure is just another way of God saying, there is a better alternative to this, dry your tears, heads up, eyes wide open then go and find it.

Q: The best thing about your age.
A: At this age, we look at most things in retrospect. We have experienced a lot, lived a lot, moved a lot, laughed a lot and cried a lot. We have earned our stripes to say, we made it this far.

Q: How do you chill out?
A: Movies. Lots of movies. It serves as an escape from the business of life.

Q: What's your comfort food?
A: Fruit Juices comfort me.

Q: Something not many people know about you.
A: Despite what many people think, I'm really an introvert.

Q: Which talent would you like to have?
A: At this point in my life, I have accepted enough about myself that I don't really crave too much. Maybe playing the piano.

Q: If you could time travel, where and when would it be?
A: At the start of everything - the big bang, Genesis and at the end of everything.

Q: What superpower do you wish you had?
A: Teleportation and time travel. I guess it's obvious why.

Q: What job would you do other than your own?
A: I love my job. Don't want to do anything else.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Retire, travel and go home so I can finally help Gilas Pilipinas hopefully with Jozef.

Free courses from MSL Training

Photo c/o msltraining.co.nz

I'm a Tutor at MSL Training and I teach Foundation and Life Skills (Levels 1 and 2) to youth and adults with learning and intellectual disabilities.  It has been an awesome experience to guide and mentor my students, who are like sponges, ready and willing to absorb knowledge.

We are a New Zealand government endorsed Category 1 education provider.  We have other courses like: hospitality, retail and customer service, event planning, English, youth courses on retail and hospitality, and of course our newest programme on supported learning. Most of our courses, especially the Levels 1 and 2, are free, with small class sizes and competent tutors ready to mentor and guide.  Our main campus is in Manukau and we have two other campuses in Botany and Takapuna.

We have a couple of short-term free courses coming up soon:
Table Setting Inspo Workshop (July 6), Wedding Planner Seminar (July 11), Concert Planning Seminar (July 12), Fundraising Event Seminar (July 13).  The classes will be held in the Manukau campus and it starts at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m.  For more information please click on this link.  Many thanks for your time and see you soon!

National Beautician's Day

Photo c/o nationaldaycalendar.com

Mga besh atin ang araw na 'to, National Beautician's Day.  Carry na natin 'to---naalala ko tuloy si Aldrin, at si Manay Fely kumusta na kayo mga ateng?  I also remember Ricky Reyes aka Mother Ricky who was instrumental in educating and inspiring a whole generation of beauticians with his "Isang Gunting, Isang Suklay (IGIS)" programme, plus the pioneering and award-winning TV shows Beauty Secrets (IBC-13) and Beauty School (RPN-9) wherein he was the producer/host.

I've been trying to get some statistics for this post: how many beauticians are there in the planet, what qualifications must they possess, etc.  But so far, I haven't gotten any.  What I do know is that back home, there seems to be a beauty parlor or beauty salon in every barangay, and it doesn't include yet the beautician who does home service.

Thank you everyone for your artistry, thank you for your craftsmanship, thank you for making the planet a beautiful and gay one!

Ramadan 2017

Photo c/o aljazeera.com

There is an estimated 1.8-billion Muslims in the world as of 2015.  This is according to research done by the Pew Research Center.  Muslims have been fasting for a month, it is called Ramadan and today marks the end with a celebration called Eid al-Fitr (the festival of breaking the fast).

In the same research it states that the Muslims are expected to outnumber Christians by 2050. They are the fastest growing religious group in the planet.  And I've personally seen, Muslim friends, acquaintances, and colleagues, how they are very devoted in practicing their faith.

Friends and family from the homeland have shown photos and videos on social media, how they've been celebrating the end of Ramadan with heaps of food and merriment.  I can see from their faces how happy they all are, in-spite of the difficulties and challenges they are facing everyday.  I'm not talking about the basic things like food, clothing and shelter.  But the more challenging ones of being safe from terrorists, fugitives, and racists.

I am happy that I've had only generally pleasant experiences with Muslims during my younger years.  Back in the day, being a Muslim was not a discriminatory factor, in fact they even got funding and resources when it came to education.  Some of my close friends are Muslims and I am, I think 1/5 Muslim in terms of family relations.  During my younger days, whenever I accompanied my mother to the wet market, there were almost always a distant Muslim family relation giving my mom something more an extra fish or two in the basket.

Happy Eid Mubarak!

Parada ng Lechon

Photo c/o kabatang.com

In Balayan, Batangas, they have this unique way of celebrating their feast day in honor of St. John the Baptist---they have a roasted pig parade (Parada ng Lechon).  While the parade is on-going, people lining the streets will drench the lechon and those who are participating in the parade.  And not only that, everyone gets a chance to get a piece of the roast pig.  It may have lost it's crispiness but what is important is that everyone gets to have fun.  Eating lechon may be hazardous to your health but a small piece once in awhile will be alright I guess.  I also found out recently from a new workmate who is from Argentina, that the word lechon is also used in his place.  It must have a Spanish orientation then.

Araw ng Maynila

Photo c/o expatch.org

Today is the 446th anniversary of Manila.  It was the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who is acknowledged as the founding father of the city which eventually became the seat of the Spanish colonial government.  But prior to his arrival, the place was already a thriving trading place on the shores of the Pasig River.  There was constant interaction between the local inhabitants and traders from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and China.  Perhaps this was what attracted the Spanish colonizers to come and settle in the area; not only was it the seat of government, it was also the seat of the Catholic clergy who came with the conquerors.  It is now a highly urbanized city with nearly 2-million people.

National Pink Day

Photo c/o pinterest.com

It's my day today!  I love pink in all it's colors and shades.  I've also read somewhere: that real men wear pink, are not afraid to wear pink, and have pink as their go-to color.

You might say, but it's only color, what's the big deal?  What does color do to your life?  Each and everyone, has his or her favorite color anyway.

Yes, we all have our favorite colors, and mine is pink.  What do colors do to our lives, aside from well, adding and putting on some color?  Well, isn't it better to have a life in color rather than just black and white?  There are times when black and white would be alright.  But there are also times when a technicolor scene adds to the character of the moment.

Do I make sense?

Auckland CBD

Photo c/o wikipedia.org

Next time I'll go to the Auckland CBD, I'm going to ride the train or take the bus.  I drove more than an hour from Manukau to Queen Street, going via the Great South Road.  I don't know which was worse that road or State Highway 1.  The constant drizzle contributed to the traffic.  Be that as it may, I'll just take my chances on the Auckland public transport, which seems to run on schedule and quite reliable.  Besides, I'll get the chance to read my books and magazines.

I normally listen to radio stations that either give out good and useful information, plus those who play inspiring songs of today and yesteryear's.  I was getting used to listening to the music of this particular radio station, when the DJ's started trying hard to be cute, coming up with all kinds of useless information (trivial in nature that they found to be deep).  I then went to the AM band which unfortunately wasn't clearly received in my car.  Eventually I just switched off and just spent time observing the rudeness of drivers during rush hour.  These drivers should be thankful that they don't live and drive in Metro Manila.  Chances are they will become victims of road rage with the way they drive.

International Day of Yoga

Photo c/o idayofyoga.org 

The theme for this year is "Yoga for Health."  This is a United Nations initiative that started the 1st celebration on 11 December 2014.  They say that practicing yoga on a regular basis will bring profound effects on your mind, body and soul, which in turn greatly benefits your mental, physical and emotional well-being.

Madonna, a recent New Zealand visitor, is just one of many celebrities who practice yoga.  Perhaps that is the secret of her success in the music business and her being energetic on stage, at her age.  Some of the other celebrity practitioners inlcude Charlize Theron, Demi Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Watts, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Renee Zellweger, Melanie Griffith, Kate Hudson, Drew Barrymore, Nicole Kidman, among many others.

But it's not only woman that are avid practitioners of yoga.  They also include male celebrities like Robert Downey Jr., Colin Farrell, Russell Brand, Orlando Bloom, plus many more.

World Refugee Day

Photo c/o unhcr.org

43 years ago, I had my first encounter with refugees.  It was 1974, when Jolo was attacked and burned.  Joloanos fled the town and some were housed in the school buildings at the Zamboanga State College campus, where I was a freshman.  I remember it was the 2nd semester, around February, when helicopters started flying in the dead and wounded.  When the chopper doors were closed they were ferrying the dead and when it was open, it was the wounded.  Back then it was a fight between the Philippine military and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

It was Commodore Romulo Espaldon, commandant of the Southwest Command (Sowescom) who was instrumental in ferrying the refugees via the Philippine Navy ships to Zamboanga City.  Although he was from Bicol, in Sorsogon, he truly loved Mindanao, it's people and land.  This became more evident years later, when he retired from military service and started to serve in the civilian government.

I can't recall the name of the ships nor what time they started to arrive.  But I can vaguely recall that I went to the pier in the city to see the arrival of the refugees from the conflict in Jolo.  Some of them came on board the huge, grey colored LST's, landing ship tanks, that perhaps were donated or purchased from the U.S. Navy.  They were the ones wherein the bow (front) part of the ship will open up for people and vehicles to alight.

I see heaps of parallelisms between the burning of Jolo in 1974 and to what is happening in Marawi in 2017---the actors, the people, Mindanao, Islam, Christianity.  In both conflicts, it's always the civilians---men, women and children, who get caught in the middle.  Nothing has changed though.  It's still a fight for the land, only this time, there is an element of ruthlessness by the Maute group who are identified with the planet's newest bad guy ISIS.

I can only offer my prayers and hope that this too shall pass.  And that those who have lost love ones, will find peace and serenity as they struggle and cope to live another day without the love of their life.

P.S. please click this link if you want to read a 1st hand account of the Jolo-caust.

Rizal's 1st Birthday

Photo c/o emaze.com

If he was alive, Dr. Jose P. Rizal would be 156 years old today.  No one in recent history has lived up to that age, but in the hearts and minds of many Filipinos---JPR's ideals, dreams, convictions, love, purpose, desire, and hope for the Philippines lives on.  There have been many books, articles, essays, and stories written about him.  His life has been brought to life in the silver screen with movies and documentaries.  I believe, plays have been written and dramatized on stage about his life.  But this post is not about his being a hero, it's about his very 1st birthday.

In today's standard, he would have come from an upper middle class family, not too rich though, but still having a comfortable life.  His parents are leaseholders of a hacienda and a nearby rice farm owned by the Dominican Order.  Good business, yes, but could be threatened when a senator is contemplating to file a bill on "unlimited rice."  And that is on top of the encroachment of subdivision developers to the rice-fields in Calamba.

Since everyone has a nickname, his could be JP.  And what do Filipino families normally do when a child is one year old?  They'll have a children's party, either at home or in one of those fast-food joints that offers a venue, mascots, and food to celebrate a child's birthday.  His birthday party won't be as lavish as Al's (Paciano) his older brother which was held in the ancestral home.  Al (his dad adored Al Pacino, the actor and so it was decided that his 1st born son will be named Al, near enough to Paciano) had more than a hundred guests, with heaps of food that included three lechons.

His parents can choose from many venues, but most parents often go for either Jollibee or McDonald's.  It would be safe to say that his parents will choose Jollibee.  It will be their 7th time to celebrate a child's 1st birthday party, of course it won't be as huge and lavish but still important enough to justify celebrating.  Because his parents lead a very busy life, running a business and having seven kids, they'll opt to just get the Jollibee birthday food package that comes in various price ranges.  Of course the meal should always have spaghetti, chicken joy, Yum Burger, regular fries, soft-drinks, sundae.  Little JP will not eat these food because he is still fed mama's healthy breast milk.  That is the only sustenance that keeps him from being too sickly.  But he will have a very tiny bit of his birthday cake, homemade by an aunt.

Mind you, the food is not really for the kids, it's for the family, friends and guests, including a big group of ninangs and ninongs (most often the list is too long, the church seems to frown on these practice). There's something about a child's 1st birthday that draws, the ninongs and ninangs to come out and join (normally they'll only be present during baptism and the 1st birthday).  After that, it would be rare to see all of them in one place, and for some, even rarer to see them at all.  They'll be bringing all sorts of gifts (baby clothes, books, toys, etc.).  Some of his parent's business associates might get invited (to reinforce the business relationship), well some of them will even be ninongs and ninangs.

Little JP will be wearing his special 1st birthday party attire of a shirt and a jumper bought by his sisters, matched with white socks and tiny white rubber shoes bought by his brother.  They were purchased by his siblings from the shops inside SM City Calamba which is a couple of kilometers from their house and on his jumper will be his Jollibee name-tag of a smiling Jollibee that says "Hi I'm JP" plus the obligatory Jollibee party hat.

The party host together with Jollibee the mascot will then make sure that everything flows as smoothly as possible, from the food, party games, balloons, dressing up the venue, etc.  Everything is easily recorded by everyone's smartphones, there is no need to get an official photographer/videographer.  In fact, JP's life at this point, has already been well documented with photos and videos shared on Facebook.

JP carried by his mom blows the candle on the birthday cake and all the kids have a piece.  Towards the end of the party, all the kids will line-up to receive their loot-bags from JP.  By then, JP who has been watching all of these proceedings (perhaps with amusement and awe), bounced from one lap to another (sisters, relatives, ninangs) is already so tired and sleepy.

He may not remember all or any of these, but he just might, 32 years later when he's facing the firing squad in Luneta, when his life story comes in a quick flashback.  His 1st Jollibee birthday party might just be one of them.

Happy Father's Day

Photo c/o techuloid.com

I'd like to greet and wish all the dad's in the world, a very Happy Father's Day, inclusive of those:

.....hoping to be fathers
.....expecting to be fathers
.....surprised to be fathers

I wonder how the 3rd one will celebrate the day.  That would be really interesting to find out.

Although, in this part of the world, our day is still in September.  That means, I get to have two celebrations in a year.  What do you call your dad?  Mine was Papang.  Our dad's have many names: Daddy, Papa, Itay, Papsi, Amang, Tatay, Daddy-O, The Man, Dada, and many others.  Whatever name we may call and give him, we should always include respect and love.  He's the only one we've got!

The Islamic City of Marawi

Photo c/o philstar.com

It was summer of 1969 when I got to visit Marawi City, specifically the campus of the Mindanao State University.  We were spending our annual summer vacation with relatives in Iligan City when it was decided that we take a day trip up.  We made the obligatory stop at the Maria Cristina Falls before we finally made it to the MSU flagship campus.

I was in my early teens then and what was very distinct and memorable about that trip was the cool breeze coming from the nearby mountains and the majesty of Lake Lanao from a distance.  I know we took a family photo, in black and white, on a sign post in the campus, unfortunately that has been lost.  I also could recall the fear and apprehension as we traveled up because it was a place of notoriety.

Our misplaced fear and apprehension dissipated when we reached our destination. The people we met were the friendliest, with warm and sincere smiles.  I know it was just a very short trip, not really enough to come up with a credible conclusion.  But I will always cherish that moment when I first set eyes on Marawi and most specially Lake Lanao.

I offer my prayers to the people of Marawi, that they may have peace in their lives soon.  And for our soldiers, I pray that they may be freed from harm, as they do their solemn duty to defend the republic.

It's More Fun in the Philippines

Photo c/o tourism.gov.ph

A few weeks ago I featured in my Q&A, Kat de Castro, my former student at Miriam College, who is now an Undersecretary (Usec) at the Department of Tourism (DOT).  Her portfolio includes Tourism Advocacy and Public Affairs.  I think the new DOT ad campaign which has been recently the subject of negative publicity is part of her portfolio.  The ad had some very glaring similarities with a tourism campaign for the Republic of South Africa.  A tourism campaign is a matter of national pride, and it must showcase the best that the country can offer.

I'm sure there are other more capable and creative ad agencies who will be able to give out the best ad campaign.  Why don't they hire the services of homegrown Pinoy companies?  I'm sure magagaling ang mga 'yan! Wag na 'yang mga multinationals, mukhang nauubusan na ng talento at ang ginagawa eh ni rerehash na lang ang mga ginawa sa ibang bansa at panahon. Akala n'yo di kayo mabubuking ha!  Talaga namang "It's really more fun in the Philippines!"

I'm really happy that DOT will carry on with the "It's More Fun in the Philippines" theme, tag-line, etc.  For me, it is catchy, has a positive vibe, and is really what our homeland is all about.  The disastrous "Sights" campaign is now laid to rest and here's the final word on that issue:

Official Statement of

The Department of Tourism

After a diligent review of the ad materials in question, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has decided to discontinue it's partnership with McCann Worldgroup Philippines.

In the midst of this controversy, the DOT expects a public apology from McCann over the negative feedback that the department has been receiving, owing to the glaring similarities between McCann's "Sights" ad and South Africa's ad released in 2014.

We also wish to announce that we will reopen the procurement process for the production of a new advertising material which will be consistent with the current slogan... "It's More Fun in the Philippines."

Thus, we encourage those with fresh and original ideas that will showcase our diversely-rich tourist destinations and the unique Filipino hospitality to join this venture.

Living in Auckland

I've been warned on how it is living in Auckland: the horrendous traffic, outrageous housing prices, water is not free, rude people on and off the road---that it's a rat race.  After living for nearly 9 blissful years in Hamilton, I had to relocate to the biggest city in Aotearoa New Zealand because of work commitments.  And it has been such an eye-opener, well just a little bit.  Having spent most of my adult life in Metro Manila, Philippines (population 12-million plus), this big city doesn't seem daunting.  The traffic is quite heavy but manageable.  And I've began to discover small and simple things to do while in traffic.

119th Philippine Independence Day, Part-2

I'm reposting the complete, official message of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, on the occasion of our 119th Philippine Independence Day.  The English version is first followed by the Filipino one.  Please don't read anything between the lines, the order was made as I downloaded and pasted them, no other reason.

Note: The messages are c/o the OFW Media Group from which I regularly receive media updates.

119th Philippine Independence Day, Part-1

Photo c/o dilg.gov.ph

We join hands with all Filipinos, all over the planet and most especially those in our homeland, in honoring our fallen heroes, so that we can enjoy and celebrate the freedom we now have.  We have had more than a 100 years, a century of being independent.  Now is not the time to make a list of what we have and don't have.  Rather, now is the time that we continue what our forefathers have done and accomplished, and to finish the work that was delayed, stopped, hindered, denied, and objected.  We can do it, even with our own simple ways, it can be done.  Mabuhay ang sambayanan Pilipino!

Donna Faye Reyes, Producer/Host, Fil-Am Now on GMA Pinoy TV

Photo c/o Donna's Facebook account

The University of Southern California (USC) is ranked 60th among the World University Rankings.  It also houses the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. When I was in graduate school, we always looked at this school as the one that is above the rest when it comes to communication and journalism.  I've always dreamed that someday I'll study or visit it. And now it's coming true!  But that is not my story.

I've known her for nearly 20 years, first as a student in my Miriam College radio-TV production class and later on as a colleague and advocate in environmental issues.  For awhile, we lost track of each other, and then got reconnected through social media.  By then, she was married and living in Chicago.  She is the producer/host of Fil-Am NOW aired on GMA Pinoy TV.  It was gratifying for me as a teacher, to find out, that she has bloomed into a responsible media-person and that her love for the motherland has even flourished and deepen.

A few months ago, she requested that I write a letter of recommendation for her application to the Masters in Communication Management at the University of Southern California (USC).  She said is was delivered through distance-mode, and that the programme had a strong emphasis on social media.  I said it was a very timely study and that she would be able to ace it.  Again, I was so humbled when Donna said that her application is actually in God's hands.  This woman who has seen the world, in all it's many facets, still believes in Divine Providence!

A month ago, she informed me that she got accepted at USC.  Here's a short Q&A we did many months ago, way before she decided to enroll for her Master's.

Q: Name 3 people living or dead, you'd like to have dinner with, why?
A: Cheche Lazaro, Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres.  They all broke norms and taboos in media, became very successful in what they did and have changed and continue to change people's lives.

Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, why?
A: I would travel into the future---when I'm 50 to see if I became successful in what my college professor believed I could do.

Q: What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
A: There are many challenges---limited resources is a big one (shameless plug: We accept donations for Fil-Am NOW!)  But I realize that there is one challenge that is even bigger than this: ME and my view of my own limitations.  Somebody said, "If you think, you can't, you're right.  If you think you can, you're right too."  There are obviously practical ways to overcome challenges but it all starts with what we believe in.

I just launched a TV show that I am co-producing and co-hosting, literally two days ago.  I want to see where it takes me.  I'm too excvited to wait. Haha.

Kiwi Slang

Photo c/o absolutebus.co.nz

My first few days in Aotearoa New Zealand, many years ago, was a challenging one. Specially when it came to understanding what Kiwis were talking about or saying to me.  Most often, when I could not decipher what they were saying, I would just give a knowing smile to pass their test.

They have this unique usage of the English language.  Some are even Maori words or terms.  If you get to hear or listen in to a Kiwi conversation, you'll be amazed that such words are used or does exist. Here are some examples:

Sweet as: That's awesome, or cool
Takka: Food
Bloke: A man
Gruts: Underwear
Scodey: Something that's rotten or gross
Lolly: Candy or sweets
Mean: That's awesome!
Skux: Ladies man, or someone who is well dressed
Maccas: Commonly used in Australia too, another name for McDonald's
Smoko: A break, morning or afternoon tea

And of course the top gun is Yeah, nah: Could be yes, could be no.  If spoken, be wary of this one, nobody really knows the answer to this one.

Please click this link for The Top Kiwi Slang Words That Confuse The Entire World.

Philippine National Day Reception Speech 2017

Photo c/o Amba Gary's Facebook account

I sought permission for reposting the speech of His Excellency Mr. Jesus S. Domingo Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to New Zealand, Tuesday, 06 June 2017 at 6:30 p.m., Lambton Room, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts in connection with the 119th anniversary of the country's independence.

He has raised heaps of valid and good points, which will be explained further in future blog posts.  I believe in this man and these are not just mere words of a diplomat, but sincere and some of them are already concrete examples of what has been accomplished.  Here then is his speech:

The Rt. Hon. David Carter MP, Speaker of the Parliament, Our Guest-of-Honour, the Hon. David Bennett MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Food Safety, and Racing, Excellencies and Colleagues in the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament, Friends from the Government of New Zealand, Our Partners from the Academic, Business, and Civil Society Sectors, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Filipinos, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Magandang Gabi Po, Tena Koutou, Tena Koutou, Tena Tatou Kotoa,

First, let me thank you all for joining us as we celebrate the 119th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, with the theme “Kalayaan 2017: Pagbabagong Sama-samang Balikatin” – meaning Freedom 2017: Let us all work for change together.

I thank all of you for your messages of solidarity of support with regard to the situation in Mindanao, and the recent incident in Metro Manila. Likewise, we express our support for the victims of crime and terror, and their loved ones, around the world.

2016 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of NZ-Philippines Diplomatic Relations. In 2017, we begin the next fifty years. We have built a solid partnership with multilateral, regional and bilateral dimensions, and close people-to-people relations.

Bilateral: Our President, His Excellency Rodrigo R. Duterte, met with Prime Minister emeritus The Rt. Hon. (and now Sir) John Key last September during the ASEAN Summit in Laos. President Duterte visited Auckland last November, and had the chance to exchange views with the former Foreign Minister the Hon. Murray McCully. Our President remarked to us that there is much scope for the further enhancement of our already excellent relationship, particularly as both our countries champion an Independent Foreign Policy, and have scope for further cooperation in the dairy industry and geothermal energy sectors, among others.

We are grateful to the Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Bill English for inviting our Cabinet Secretary, the Hon. Leoncio Evasco, Jr., and his Deputy, Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil-Mercado, for the Prime Minister’s Fellowship last month, giving him the much-appreciated and invaluable opportunity to visit and interact with a range of sectors, including the Maori Community, G2G connectivity, education & training, geothermal energy, food, dairy, primary industry, and disaster risk reduction and management.

Our bilateral relationship with New Zealand is maturing and blossoming – after all we celebrated our golden anniversary last year, with great prospects for expansion in all key areas particularly in trade, investment, education, culture and defence. We are most grateful for the range of assistance provided by the Government of New Zealand, encompassing academic scholarships and training, policy development and capacity building. The G2G Ease of Doing Business, ASEAN Young Diplomats Study Tour, New Zealand-ASEAN Scholarship, ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) schemes have greatly benefitted us.

This year we’ve had a fruitful exchange of visits of senior defense officials, as we held our 3rd Bilateral Defence talks in Manila in March, the Kiwi side led by Defense Secretary Helen Quilter. Last month our Defence Undersecretary Raymundo Elefante, Jr. visited New Zealand for defence industry cooperation. The Philippines is privileged to Co-Chair the new ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Cybersecurity with New Zealand. We are also gearing up for our senior-level engagements with our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade counterparts.

With the new and bold infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and other initiatives launched by President Duterte, our overall indicators as one of Asia’s most resilient and dynamic economies, plus the synergies unleashed in the region by the ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN Australia New Zealand FTA, APEC, and the prospective RCEP – this is the perfect time for Kiwi Business to jump into the Philippines.

Over the past fourteen months I’ve had the great privilege of working with new friends and partners across the country in all sectors – it would take me literally all night to name them all – but may I highlight our partnerships at the local level with Regional and City Councils, and their local Business and Filipino Communities, Multi-Cultural Councils, Universities (I am glad to see Victoria, Massey and IPU), Colleges and Schools through our #UniversalDiplomacy and #DiplomaticChamber Programs. I am honoured to succeed our colleague Singapore High Commissioner Bernard Baker as Patron of the Wellington Multi-Cultural Council. I will have very big shoes to fill. (Sorry I won’t be able to play the Cello as he does masterfully, but I can do Karaoke and DJ). I also thank the NZ Asia Foundation, New Zealand ASEAN Business Council, Asia Forum, among others, for their continuous support.

May I also take this opportunity to also thank the Government and People of Samoa for their welcome as I presented my credentials to His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi last year. I will be presenting my credentials this month in Tonga, and in Fiji, later this year. I also look forward to my visits to the Cook Islands and Niue, and closer engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Islands Development Forum and other dynamic groupings in the region.

ASEAN: In preparation for our Chairmanship of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2017 which the Philippines has the honour of holding, I, along with my fellow Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the ASEAN Committee in Wellington, worked to heighten the awareness of our region among the Kiwi public starting last year. Trade Minister the Hon. Todd McClay was kind enough to invite the Committee to visit his beautiful hometown of Rotorua. Among other highlights last year were engaging our fellow regional groupings, such as the Pacific and Latin American Communities. A well-attended Symposium was held at Victoria University of Wellington. The UN Youth of Dunedin and Otago University organized the first Model ASEAN conference in New Zealand.

The 6th Southeast Asian Night Market was successfully held in Wellington through the efforts of the New Zealand Asia Foundation in partnership with Mayor Justin Lester and the Wellington City Council. We congratulate Victoria University for winning the bid for leading the ambitious and timely Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPE) for Southeast Asia and Latin America, and look forward to close collaboration.

KIWINOYS: With now 50,000 strong Filipino New Zealander or “Kiwinoy” – the portmanteau of Kiwi and our equivalent moniker “Pinoy” – our Community already constitutes over one percent of New Zealand’s population. In fact, at times I feel more like a Mayor than an Ambassador, and spend most of my time visiting Kiwinoys all across the North and South Islands. We are most grateful to New Zealand for welcoming us here with open arms and hearts. Kiwinoys here work, study, play and worship together with fellow Kiwis, as IT Specialists, Nurses, Doctors, Farmers, Construction Workers, Caregivers, Students, Priests, and numerous other trades. Everywhere I go, I am so inspired to hear firsthand from both Kiwis and Pinoys how well Kiwinoys have been accepted in New Zealand society, and contributing to the success and well-being of the nation through hard work and good civic-mindedness. And, I’m proud to say that many of the top graduates – Duxes and Prefects – of Kiwi Colleges last year were Kiwinoys.

A most poignant and globally unprecedented acknowledgement of the Kiwinoy Community is the selection of Kiwinoys to stand as candidates for the upcoming Parliamentary Elections by both the administration and lead opposition political parties, National and Labour. I don’t think any other country has done this.

Accordingly, our Honorary Consuls in Auckland, will soon be leaving us. Our Consul General, Mr. Paulo Garcia, will be standing as candidate for New Lynn under the National Party. Our Vice Consul, Ms. Virginia Araneta-Russel is a founding member of the Filipino Labour Network and supporting the campaign of the Filipino Labour Candidate, Mr. Romy Udanga who is running in the North Shore. The Embassy and Filipino Community thank our Consuls for their years of distinguished and selfless service. A new Consulate team for Auckland will be appointed very soon. May I also thank our Consul General in Christchurch, Mr. Roger Bridge, for his continuing support.

I also appreciate the inclusion of Kiwinoys last year by the Greens and Labour to stand for the DHB and City Council. Our first elected City Councilwoman, Ms. Thelma Trono Bell, won last year in Ashburton. Youth Leaders of Labour, National, Greens and New Zealand First are engaging with Young Kiwinoys. They joined us in our Youth Leadership Workshop held during last weekend’s Philippine Festival in Hutt City, which was supported by His Worship Mayor Ray Wallace.

Next 50 Years: We look forward to the next 50 years of our relationship. For our common vision, let us take inspiration and guidance from the themes articulated by the Governor-General H.E. The Rt. Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy: creativity, innovation, leadership and diversity. Both Kiwis and Pinoys demonstrate great creativity and innovation, as with our No. 8 wire and Jeepney ways. With this, there is much we can collaborate on, particularly in the Digital Economy, the Dairy Industry and Geothermal Energy. The Embassy’s #UniversalDiplomacy and #DiplomaticChamber programs maximize engagement with New Zealand’s regions and cities.

We foresee Kiwinoys playing an even greater leadership role in this great and diverse nation, as Kiwinoys enter the political life of the country, move from dairy worker to farm manager and owner – the possibilities are endless. Both the Philippines and New Zealand are multi-cultural societies with common European and Pacific heritage. The Philippines, along with Mexico, Spain and Latin America are reviving the spirit of the Trans-Pacific Galleon Trade which was the historical forebear of today’s globalization. Filipinos are kindred Austronesians with the Maori and Polynesian peoples. We too have a great common maritime heritage. The Maori wakas or ocean-going canoes are the analogues of our balanghay vessels which conveyed us to our present island homes from a common Asian origin.

New Zealand, by virtue of her location and dynamism, is key, and is a great friend and partner to us all in the Asia-Pacific-Americas mega-region. New Zealand is an energetic partner of ASEAN and APEC. Let us work more closely together to be a bridge to Oceania and the Pacific, in engaging Latin America particularly through the Pacific Alliance, and with the Commonwealth of Nations. We look forward to #AltaAotearoa being the great mega-regional catalyst, wherein New Zealand is the synergizing midpoint between the Bosphorus and Brazil, Baghdad and Buenos Aires. We see Invercargill as the apex, not the nadir, of the planet…and after a hard day’s work for this advocacy, we all unwind for a night out in Cuba St. of our Wellington – recognized this year as the World’s Most Livable City!

On this note, may I invite everyone to join me and offer a toast: To the continued well-being of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of New Zealand; To the continued success of the Government and People of New Zealand; and To the enduring friendship between the Philippines and New Zealand.

Maraming Salamat Po! Whakawhetai Koe!

God bless us all! Mabuhay!

National Best Friends Day

Photo c/o nationaldaycalendar.com

Here's another fun-filled day to celebrate the day, National Best Friends Day.  We all have that special someone, who stood by us through thick and thin. He/she wasn't a family member but was oftentimes more loyal and loving.  There are friendships, those who started as friends who became lovers and eventually life-long partners as husband and wife.

Nowadays, with the advent of newer and better technologies, distance is no longer a concern, a problem, nor an issue, when it comes to maintaining and nurturing friendships.  One is never too far nor too out of touch for friends to communicate.  So, let us celebrate this day, a day that may have started many years ago, and hopefully is still going strong and getting better as the years roll by, while the memories keep on filling our hearts and minds!

Q&A: Jesus S. Domingo, Philippine Ambassador to NZ

Photo c/o AmbaGary's Facebook account

This post first appeared in my other blog Vortex NZ Foundation.  I decided to reprint it here because it is very apt for this blog and I would like to make this amiable fellow, much more closer to Filipinos in Aotearoa New Zealand.

I've met His Excellency Jesus S. Domingo, Philippine Ambassador to Aotearoa New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa and Tonga a couple of times but haven't really sat down for a real chat. He seems to be a man of deep insights. I'd like to someday have a real conversation on his Universal Diplomacy concept.

Kiwinoys fondly call him AmbaGary Domingo (it is also his Facebook account name).  But I'd rather call him DJAmbaGaryD (because he's the other Gary with a D) plus he used to be a DJ back in college.  When I interviewed him on radio last year, he accepted my open invitation to be a guest DJ in my radio show.  That would be a blast for sure.  I'd also like to know more about his fascination with sci-fi, the mysterious Diwata Diplomacy, and his being a Knight.

Thank you for accommodating this Q&A into your busy schedule.  I emailed him the questions late at night and in a matter of minutes he quickly came back with his answers.  Aksyon man talaga!

Q: What motivates you?
A: Being of service to God, Mankind and the Filipino People - as a Diplomat and Knight.

Q: What is your proudest achievement up to this moment?
A: Two actually, if you don't mind - becoming a Dad, and appointment as Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand.

Q: Who is your inspiration behind your role as ambassador?
A: My Dad, Ambassador Benjamin B. Domingo, and the things I've learned from him, the Overseas Filipinos I've met in the course of my careers, and other inspiring persons - which form the core of "Universal Diplomacy" - my approach to my work as Ambassador.

Q: What has been a challenge in being an ambassador and how did you manage it?
A: How to work with the Filipino Community - by coming to realize that our destiny is not just to make a stronger country for ourselves, but to create a better world for all through our Overseas Filipino Diaspora.  Our work in building a better New Zealand goes hand-in-hand with helping the Philippines.  Thus, I encourage "Kiwinoys" not to just focus their energies inward to the Filipino Community, but to look outside our comfort zone and work with Kiwis and NZ/Global Society as a whole.  For example, I am encouraging Kiwinoys to take up local sports such as Touch Rugby (and not to be too fixated with Basketball), and to be active in all-Kiwi groups such as the Multi-Cultural/Ethnic Councils of NZ Cities (and not to be too "hung up" on divisive FilCom internal politics).

Q: How did you face failure?
A: By realizing that it is natural, to learn from it, and to move on.

Q: Name 3 people, living or dead, you'll like to have dinner with, why?
A: Dr. Jose Rizal - to ask him for guidance in my work, Sir Peter Jackson and Mr. JJ Abrams - to discuss making movies in the Philippines, whether they be spin-offs of the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars or Star Trek franchises, and in furtherance of my "Diwata Diplomacy" project.

Q: Are you a cat or dog person, why?
A: I'm both, but more of a Cat Person.  I am convinced that Cats are an intelligent, sentient species monitoring us humans.

Q: Where in the world is the place you can call as your sanctuary, why?
A: As a diplomat I am always on the move, so I have to create "sanctuary" wherever I may be - it is more of a state of mind and spirit.

Q: Something not many people know about you?
A: I really didn't want to become a Diplomat - I only realized it was my true calling quite recently.  I really wanted to either go into the Military, or be a Producer/Director of Science Fiction Movies.

Q: Give your teenage self some advice?
A: That it is really true that God has a plan for everyone, and to have faith in yours - no matter how difficult things may be.

Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, why?
A: As with No. 6 - meet up with Dr. Jose Rizal when he was still in Europe, and discuss the future and destiny of the Filipino People - and perhaps even to warn him of what fate awaits him if he returns to the Philippines.  Chances are, he would not change anything ...

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: To continue being an Ambassador for the Philippines and Humanity until God calls me to the next life.