I - The Opportunity

“Accept the inevitable”

2008. While working in PNG, my eyes are wide open for opportunities. Most people complain about the security condition and getting sad about being far away from their family, instead of doing thing like they do, I searched for chances where I can grow and/or gain something – but not limited to them. ()()

“Seek and you will find”

Having growth in mind, on every occasion I have attended, aside from the good chit chats, I more often listen to stories where a person either gets something big thru luck or by working hard.

There were people who started from scratch and now are successful business people. There are also people who get hired (pirated) by other company with better package. Another big positive the PNG offers is the chance to get a tourist visa to, as I have heard, anywhere in the world and this is something that even some rich Filipinos are getting hard time with.

I used a great number of hours on my first year reading self help books which gave me more confidence and courage in bringing to reality whatever opportunity that I may hear that created a positive result.
After only a year working abroad, one of my Filipino co-workers resigned and migrated to Australia. Hearing that it is possible, I wasted no time and did a research on the requirements.

Continued on Initial Preparations

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Don't go home

During the early years in college, I collected comic books as an investment when I learned that like other form of arts, its price appreciates. I bought some of it and saw other investing materials from the shop where I bought those comic books. As time went by, my collection evolved and I later collected Sports card - basketball to be exact.

Usually they are bought in packs of 5 to 10 and it is not easy to get good ones and the better players are sold at higher price.

It was a hit and many people in Manila spend fortune to get rare cards of their favorite players. I tried to sell some, earned instantly and I got more interested in it. My collection grew and sold more cards.

When I had a binder full of cards, it just came out of my mind that I haven't seen any shops in our province (Bulacan) that sells cards as such. My mother's owns a store and she agreed on helping me sell them. I was a working student then and I showed my collection and plan to my co-workers and they wished me luck.

It was a Sunday then when I was about to go to the store. I happily left the house and on the other side I saw my uncle. He is a famous in our place as he is a good basketball coach and an influential person. I excitedly showed my collection and told him my plans. After listening to my story, without emotion on his face, he said "No body will buy those".

My excitement turned into sadness and I felt devastated with his words. I just smiled then waved good bye to him and walked… slowly... going to the store. After some paces, I ended up standing in the corner where I can see the store or and our house. My mind went blank for a while.

When I came back to life, I just smiled and told to myself "I'm selling cards". So I went off to the store, posted 2 banners with the words "NBA cards for sale".

After only a month of trading cards, form my profit, I can already often eat at nice restaurant and fast foods chains. That was "cool". Every Sunday, kids and teenagers would ask me for new items. I actually became famous. After 3 months, I was already paying for my monthly lodging fee in Manila. The following semester, I paid for my school fee and I made my mother very happy. I also saved some money in the bank.

My trading in the province ended after only a year when competition came in and more serious businessmen erected shops like the ones in Manila.

Fortunately, I did not dwell on the worldly things that I gained. What I considered to be of highest value is the decision that I made. Without that decision, I would have never earned those.

I can still remember that day when I went on even if there was resistance from a known person. After that, every time I want to do something good and fair and people will say I cannot do it, or if any other resistance comes in, I would tell myself "Glenn, don't go home".

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Book: Fish!

This thin book is a fable about a demotivated and weary people and area in a company and how it was transformed into a happy and inciting one. This is a simple leadership book that can help not only leaders in offices but also in any type of workplace -  and outside of it too!.

The ingredients based from it are:
1. Choose your Attitude.
2. Be present
3. Play.
4. Make their day.

The said ingredients to a better workplace are basic and inside the book are explication of them. On our Toastmasters meeting, "Attitude" was used as a word for the day and what is catchy is when he said that "it is contagious so be careful what you catch". The author made is easy for us to understand the importance of it and that the other 3 are nothing without it.

The first book about leadership that I have read is also a fable - "The Monk who sold his Ferrari" by  Robin Sharma and I will follow other coming fables that is about self help and leadership.

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Dan Brown - Lost Symbol

With 2 hours on the waiting line in Ninoy Aquino International Airport, 5 hour trip from Philippines to Port Moresby (PNG) and more than 8 hours of waiting and transport from Port Moresby to Lae, this book kept me from sleeping. The book hardly left my hands. For me Dan Brown did it again. The pacing was well done that I did not want to miss what happens next.()

Jeffrey Deaver's "Twisted" is the book that triggered me to look for more of its type and this one has twist up to almost the last chapters. In this story, Robert Langdon had problem with deciphering a lot which is quite different from the other 2 bestsellers he had which I believe is good. I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes and he also has his downs meaning he is only human and it bores me if all the time, the protagonist doesn't make mistakes. There are things to be learned which are very true.

Same as with other novels, Dan Brown puts all the trivia he can put and he never ceased to amaze me. And same with the other novels, there are a lot of things that the author considered to be facts so I believe I have to check some of the things that are quite sensitive.

This is his 5th book and I have read all of his novels. This one plus the last 2 - Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code are my favorites. From "The Da Vinci Code" which had a lot of opposition because of what he wrote about the Bible, in this novel, it is the hero.

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Puerto Galera

I have been in Philippines for 2 weeks up to October 3 and at last, me and family had a chance to go to the beach. Puerto Galera is a famous destination for tourist due to its white sand. It is popular especially during summer and Holy week where charges on accommodation goes up to 3 times its normal price. Gio and Gideon did not want to go at first, not until they heard that they can play in the sands. ()

To go to Puerto Galera, we rode a bus going to Batangas Pier. In the Port is a terminal for boats which goes to Puerto Galera and other parts of Mindoro (I am not sure where else the other lines go to). The boat ride is just a bit more than an hour to White Beach Resort. We rode the last trip (5pm) so we were disembarked at Muelle and we were sent to White Beach after.

Muelle Port

We only stayed at Sea Jewel Resort for 2 nights as Gio and Gideon cannot afford to absent in their classes. We used all the time we had to enjoy. We went out on Friday night but there wasn't much shows as there aren't much guests. We hired a boat on Saturday and we are almost out the whole day doing island hopping on the area where corals are. It was the first time that we did snorkeling with nice coral views. They enjoyed our stay and that made my holidays.

I of course have my camera with me and took photos of my family and the beautiful views and below is my favorite of all shots.

For other pictures of Puerto Galera click 1 and 2.

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Toastmasters

I am fortunate to be a part of the Toastmasters International Club as part of training provided by K. K. Kingston Ltd. I was not a first choice but I really wanted to have training on public speaking that I made my way to become a member of this club.

The Toastmasters International is a company sponsored club which carries the goal of improving communication and leadership skills thru public speaking. Here in Papua New Guinea, it is currently the only group as the first one has just been dissolved. It is listed in District 69 together with Australia and New Zealand.

I have read Dale Carnegie's public speaking book and other communication books. I have also tried most of the things that are written in them and have made good progress in communicating with my subordinates and to my superiors as well. I know that I have a lot more to learn when it comes to communication and needs more confidence in speaking in front of other people.

When I learned that there was a club formed for such, I told myself that I have to become a part of it. I just saw that getting there will already be a challenge and I made my way by asking the president on how to become a member. Though I was not given attention, it did not stop me from trying more and my eagerness prevailed.

I seek for other way such as asking the members. Experiencing my enthusiasm, a close friend of mine, Leah, invited me to be her guest. I was her guest for 2 sessions and I can only observe. From their meeting agendas, I already saw how it can build confidence in people that I told them that I want to become a member. Fortunately, most of the people in that group are my friends so they voted me to become a member.

On August 28, 2010, I had my first day as a Toastmaster and I had fun while learning. I had my opportunities to speak and with the studies that I already made on communication, I performed a step ahead from the beginners. I knew that this club will be my way to more development. Their website is: www.toastmastersd69.org.

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Bruce

While driving on our way to Snake Valley River last 14 June 10, I just can’t stop but ask my friend Bruce if he is very calm. I admire him because he is the type that no problem can make him speak a note higher than his usual tone. While he teaches me how to run off-road, he bravely narrated his story. As I expected, he was not like that before. In his terms, it is because of tragedies and very valuable lessons he learned in life.()

He was an impatient person before and observing what is happening in his life… he made his change. Same with me, his kids are also factors for the change he made. We would not do things that our kids would copy. These are the start of our 4 hour chat, that is, we drove for 4 hours which was supposed to be only 2 hours if not for the muddy road on the cliff of the mountain.

Nelson Mandela which is one of my current subjects and I am trying to learn more of him. I did not realize that he is a South African and that Mr. Mandela was a President of his before. I learned a summary of Mandela’s life and some insight from a person that was led by him.

He is also a good reader and I asked his favorites. He said two books that I would like are “The Key” and “1423” which he said is a Chinese story of how they sailed around the world… approximately 75 years before Columbus did. I have yet to read those. Another thing in common to us is personal development that is why he said “the Key” would be a great read for me. Aside from off-road driving, talking to him throughout the journey is very enlightening. I really had fun with that very long journey.

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