The Blind Boy » Inspirational Story

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat..

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way."

I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."

Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story : Be thankful for what you have.. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.

Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling…
And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!

If after reading this and you really felt touched and you liked the story,
I suggest you share it.

The Flaw

There was once a learned scientist.. 

After a lot of practice and efforts, he developed a formula and learned the art of reproducing himself. He did it so perfectly that it was impossible to tell the reproduction from the original.

One day while doing his research, he realized that the Angel of Death was searching for him. In order to remain immortal he reproduced a dozen copies of himself.
The reproduction was so meticulous that all of them looked exactly like him. Now when this Angel of Death came down, he was at a loss to know which of the thirteen before him was the original scientist, and confused, he left them all alone and returned back to heaven.

But, not for long, for being an expert in human nature, the Angel came up with a clever idea. He said to the scientist addressing all thirteen of them, "Sir, you must be a genius to have succeeded in making such perfect reproduction formula of yourself. However, I have discovered a flaw in your work, just one tiny little flaw."

The scientist immediately jumped out and shouted, Impossible! where is the flaw?" "Right here" said the Angel, as he picked up the scientist from among the reproductions and carried him off.

The whole purpose of the scientist and his formula of reproduction failed as he could not control his pride and lost his life.

So while one's Knowledge and Skills takes one to the top of the ladder and makes one successful, however the three letter word "EGO" can pull one down immediately.

The Sound of One Hand Clapping

The master of Kennin temple was Mokurai, Silent Thunder. He had a little protégé named Toyo who was only twelve years old. Toyo saw the older disciples visit the master's room each morning and evening to receive instruction in sanzen or personal guidence in which they were given koans to stop mind-wandering.

Toyo wished to do sanzen also.

"Wait a while," said Mokurai. "You are too young."

But the child insisted, so the teacher finally consented.

In the evening little Toyo went at the proper time to the threshold of Mokurai's sanzen room. He struck the gong to announce his presence, bowed respectfully three times outside the door, and went to sit before the master in respectful silence.

"You can hear the sound of two hands when they clap together," said Mokurai. "Now show me the sound of one hand."

Toyo bowed and went to his room to consider this problem. From his window he could hear the music of the geishas. "Ah, I have it!" he proclaimed.

The next evening, when his teacher asked him to illustrate the sound of one hand, Toyo began to play the music of the geishas.

"No, no," said Mokurai. "That will never do. That is not the sound of one hand. You've not got it at all."

Thinking that such music might interrupt, Toyo moved his abode to a quiet place. He meditated again. "What can the sound of one hand be?" He happened to hear some water dripping. "I have it," imagined Toyo.

When he next appeared before his teacher, he imitated dripping water.

"What is that?" asked Mokurai. "That is the sound of dripping water, but not the sound of one hand. Try again."

In vain Toyo meditated to hear the sound of one hand. He heard the sighing of the wind. But the sound was rejected.

He heard the cry of an owl. This was also refused.

The sound of one hand was not the locusts.

For more than ten times Toyo visited Mokurai with different sounds. All were wrong. For almost a year he pondered what the sound of one hand might be.

At last Toyo entered true meditation and transcended all sounds. "I could collect no more," he explained later, "so I reached the soundless sound."

Toyo had realized the sound of one hand.

Mind Mapping » How It Can Sort Mental Clutter

Part of my job is taking notes during Executive Meetings and writing meeting minutes afterwards. The problem was, I have trouble keeping up because I can’t take notes as fast as the managers talk. Moreover, during classes in the graduate school, I used to jot down some technical ideas and lecture notes, but by the time I re-read my notes, they make no sense – thus I always keep my USB flash drive handy to copy the presentations, but some professors are not that generous in distributing soft copies.

Similarly, developing an organized blog post was my biggest obstacle. I had my blog post ideas and article snippets scattered into different pages of my organizer with just a few phrases and keywords and nothing else.

My former boss [during my first job in an e-commerce company] suggested that I use Mind Mapping. I was intrigued by his claims that it is effective for easier organization, remembering ideas and increasing productivity and decided to give it a try. I fell in love with it and even downloaded and install FreeMind mind mapping freeware. [FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java.]

What is Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping is a useful technique that improves the way you take notes. You start with a central topic or bubble and branch out accordingly to categories and sub-categories. Mind Map have a natural organizational structure that radiates from center and use lines, symbols, words, colors and images according to your own concept. [Related variants: Spray Diagrams, Spider Diagrams, Spidograms, Spidergrams and Mindmaps]

Mind Map abandons the list format of conventional notes and topics like the table of contents of a book. This helps you make associations easily and is highly effective in getting information in and out of your brain because it literally “maps out” your ideas.

My favorite personal effectiveness Mind Maps

Although there are lots of sample Mind Maps you can find in the internet, I choose the following because the visual impact of these Mind Maps are strikingly creative and unique [click to enlarge.]

1. Blueprint to Success Mind Map by Adam Sicinski
The Blueprint to Success Mind Map by Adam Sicinski is a brilliant example of using Mind Mapping to inspire and make positive change; this is a Mind Map that instantly brings you back to being on purpose.

2. The Pursuit of Happiness Mind Map by Adam Sicinski
The Pursuit of Happiness Mind Map by Adam Sicinski is another great example of using mindmapping to share knowledge, inspire others and help make positive change.

3. Getting it Done Mind Map by Dan Porter & James Baylay
The Getting it Done Mind Map by Dan Porter & James Baylay is a highly artistic presentation of information. Wonderful illustrations.

Personal Note: 

If you do any form of research, note-taking or organizing blog post ideas, try experimenting with simple Mind Maps. I’m sure you will also find it incredibly useful. 

DO NOT CLICK THE RED BUTTON!

OK, did I somehow solve your boredom? After you make it till the end, give me your thoughts on the comments section below.

Sabi ko na nga ba, Masarap at nakakaaliw talaga ang bawal!

The Only Writing Rules You Will Ever Need

Yes, There are Dumb Managers

Once during a Management training program, a team of Managers were given an assignment to measure the height of a flagpole. So these Managers went out to the flagpole with ladders and tape.

They're falling off the ladders, dropping the measuring tape - the whole thing is just a mess.

An Engineer comes along and sees what they're trying to do, walks over, pulls the flagpole out of the ground, lays it flat, measures it from end to end, gives the measurement to one of the managers,
Re-erects the flagpole and walks straight-away.

After the Engineer has gone, one Manager turns to another and laughs …

"Isn't that just like an engineer? We're looking for height and he gives the length!"

Moral : No matter what good you do, Some managers can always find fault in you.

Is your manager or boss a fault-finder (and dumb)? You can [anonymously] curse him/her on the comments section below.

What Men Should Never Say After Sex

1) "I was kidding about being sterile, you know."

2) "Do you always fart like that when someone shoves it in?"

3) "How come it's so BIG in there?"

4) "You've done this with a lotta guys before---right?"

5) "Next time I come over, don't bother with the underwear, OK?"

6) (Sniff, sniff) "Is that sea-foods?"

7) (Yelling) "OK guys, it's a wrap, cut, and print it!!"

8) "You are great in bed, but your sister gives better head!"

9) "My first wife was prettier, but you can screw a lot better."

10) "Do you know what a 'douche' is ?"

11) "Maybe if you did some pushups, your boobs would grow.

12) "I want you to try some of MY deodorant."

13) "I'm not into relationships. Can't we just screw, like every Tuesday night or something?"

14) "Maybe if you lost some weight, I could get it all the way in!"

15) "I never saw a girl with hairy tits before !"

16) "I've been getting these little blisters lately-------"

17) "You wanna do those dishes before you leave ?"

18) "You should go wash that, the cabbie will think something DIED in there.

Forrest Gump at the Gates of Heaven

I admit I only got to watch this movie last week (via pirated DVD - shucks, sorry OMB). The movie is really moving. I'm sure you already know the whole Forrest Gump story . 

I'm deleting my old e-mails and by chance I came across this old joke about Forrest Gump. It lighten my boring Saturday so I want to share it with you guys.

Here's the story:

Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself.

However, the gates are closed and Forrest approaches the Gatekeeper.


St. Peter says, "Well, Forrest, it's certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you, though, that the place is filling up fast, and we've been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven."

Forrest responds, "It shor is good to be here St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever tolt me about any entrance exam. Shor hope the test ain't too hard; life was a big enough test as it was."

St. Peter goes on, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.

First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T?
Second: How many seconds are there in a year?
Third: What is God's first name?"

Forrest leaves to think the questions over.

He returns the next day and sees St. Peter who waves him up and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers."

Forrest says, "Well, the first one- which two days in the week begin With the letter "T"? Shucks, that one's easy. That'd be Today and Tomorrow."

The Saint's eyes open wide and he exclaims, "Forrest, that's not what I was thinking, but .....you do have a point, and I guess I didn't specify, so I'll give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?" asks St.Peter. "How many seconds in a year?"

"Now that one's harder," says Forrest, "but I thunk and thunk about that and I guess the only answer can be twelve."

Astounded, St. Peter says, "Twelve? Twelve!? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?"

Forest says "Shucks, there's gotta be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd. . ." "Hold it," interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you're going with this, and see your point, though that wasn't quite what I had in mind..... but I'll have to give you credit for that one, too. Let's go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name"?

"Sure" Forrest replied, "its Andy."

"Andy?!" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St. Peter. "Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?"

"Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Forrest replied. "I learnt it from school. . . . ANDY NAME OF THE FATHER, OF THE SON?.."

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates and said: "Run Forrest, run!"

Braving the Waves of Bolinao Beach » One Last Summer Escape

We had the first rain of May last Friday that signaled the end of summer. It also reminds us of the few remaining weeks to enjoy the sun before the gloomy rainy season arrives. I’m scheduled to attend our town’s 100th anniversary celebration but cancelled it in the last minute to join my officemates on a trip to Pangasinan to attend the Pugo Barangay fiesta and enjoy Bolinao’s famous beaches.

Day 1 : Pugo 17th Barangay Fiesta 2010

We took a 3-hour bus ride from Manila to Brgy. Pugo Pangasinan last Friday after work.  Barangay Pugo is geographically situated in the Southeastern side of the municipality of Bayambang, Pangasinan. It is bounded on the North by Barangay San Gabriel 1st, on the East by the Agno River, on the West by Barangay Wawa, and on the south again by the bank and stream of the Agno River.

[Killing time at the desert-like Agno River]

The first ever Pugo Barangay Fiesta was celebrated in May 20-22, 1994. However, due to the upsurge of rainfall during these dates, they adjusted the annual festivities on May 1st and 2nd every year. The festivities was very organized, complete with local peryahan, marching bands, orchestras, processions and ballroom nights, and of course – lots of foods in every house. Local residents are very hospitable and friendly especially our host, the Abagat family – thank you for accommodating noisy and makukulit guests like us. Salamat po!

Day 2: Bing’s Beach Resort at Brgy. Patar, Bolinao Pangasinan

We hired a local jeepney to take us to Bolinao which is another butt-aching 3-hour ride from Brgy. Pugo – this means that the place is a tiring 6-hour drive from Manila. Bolinao is a 7km stretch of not-so-white sand beach located in Barangay Patar, Bolinao, Pangasinan. What do I mean, “not-so-white?” Well, that’s the problem when you’ve been to other white sand beaches like Boracay and Tingloy – although each beach has their own unique features, you can’t help but compare those places.

The Resort

[Main Reception Building (with blue roof), family size cottages (left), the jeepney we rented and our cottages (right)]

We checked-in at Bing’s Beach Resort which is situated at the end part of Patar. It is far from public market and other restaurants so it’s better if you will bring your own food and water [and extra alcoholic drinks] during your whole stay, besides the resort doesn't charge corkages. The place is near the Cape Bolinao, where the majestic Bolinao lighthouse is located. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to visit that place. The resort is not like your usual 4-star resort but the rooms are clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. You can choose if you want nipa hut rooms or the beach-front rooms. They also have a big rest house for family reunions.

Although the waves are ok for surfing, the resort doesn't have surfing boards, goggles or any snorkeling paraphernalia for rent or for sale – you need to bring your own swimming gadgets.

You also have to entertain yourself because there’s no television, no bars to hang out, no girls in bikini, no activity centers or any sports facilities such billiards, kayak etc. 

[emo shots]

All you can do there is admire the beach, stare at the waves if you are the sentimental type. You have no choice there but to enjoy the company of your friends - so don't forget to bring cowboy friends with sense of humor (and just leave behind  those sosyalera-kuno types). We are lucky because with us are cool people from Pugo who join us in our crazy gigs, drinking sessions at the beach and the never-ending camwhoring.   

The resort doesn’t have a website, so if you want to check it out here’s a quick resort info:

BING'S BEACH RESORT

Address: Brgy. Patar, Bolinao Pangasinan Philippines

Tel. No. (+63912) 856-1585 or  (+63912) 691-0082

Mobile No. 09282477501 or 09212807142

Contact Person : Bing dePerio Dodson

Accommodation:

Beach-Front Rooms: P 3,000 per room good for 4-5 person

Nipa Hut Rooms       P 2,500 per room good for 4-5 person

My tip, if you really want to enjoy Bolinao beaches, is that never satisfy yourself with a stay in only one resort. The most convenient thing to do is spend some time surveying other resort areas for amenities and services not present in the resort you have selected. I’m sure there are resorts there that offer kayak, scuba diving, and even indoor sporting facilities like pool table and table tennis.

Braving the Waves of Bolinao

The beach is notable for its clear water and cool waves -- beautiful against the blue sky and a great place to relax and unwind -- but unlike other white sand beaches, it’s not advisable for barefoot swimming. 

[My random beach shots]

It is a low tide terrace beach type composed of fine to medium sand on the coast and have a moderately steep beach with shallow terrace and beds of seagrass and corals that is exposed at low tide. 

When we tried to play with the waves, most of us got bruises and cuts on the feet and legs because of the sharp corals, shells and uneven rock formations. (Yeye even got "love bruises" at his back? LOL)

Eastgate Lakwatseros [joanna.bar.aldan.anjho.gara.yodz]

Camwhoring with Joanna's friends from Pugo

We got tired of the waves so we decided to just spend the day drinking vodka right there on the shallow beach while playing truth-or-dare.

 [Our coolest idea: drinking "the Bar Vodka" right at the beach while waiting for the sunset]

[Breathtaking sunset of Bolinao]

It was truly a memorable one last summer escape. I'm now ready for the rainy season.

More pictures Click Here

Bolinao Trip - May 1-3, 2010