Christmas Time Blues
647 views
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… Jack Frost nibbling at the snow.
One Christmas, a parent decreed that she was no longer going to remind her children of their thank-you note duties. As a result their grandmother never received acknowledgments of the generous checks she had given. The next year things were different, however. "The children came over in person to thank me," the grandparent told a friend triumphantly. "How wonderful!" the friend exclaimed. "What do you think caused the change in behavior?" "Oh, that's easy," the grandmother replied. "This year I didn't sign the checks."
The Poison Plot
1,068 views
Think about this. No matter how successful a man is in business, he is seldom as smart as his mother thinks, or as dumb as his mother in law says he is.
Somebody asks this question: “What is the difference between outlaws and in-laws?” And here is the answer: Outlaws are wanted.
We lovingly call her “Auntie Carmen.” If you want to talk about being a “people person” then Auntie Carmen surely qualifies as one of them. We met in church a couple of years ago and have become friends. She sent me this beautiful story that is credited to anonymity.
Congratulations Efren! You make every Filipino proud and you give God the glory!
339 views
Pushcart educator named CNN Hero of the Year
Are You Investing
1,472 views
How is your investment portfolio? Not finances but in personal growth and development?
Mr. Santos was the oldest of 7 children, so he had to quit school and work to help support his younger brothers and sisters. He never learned to read, so when he married and started a checking account, he signed his checks simply "XX". Eventually he started his own business, which immediately prospered.
He soon was a very rich man. One day, he got a call from his bank. "Mr. Santos," said the banker, "I need to ask you about this check. We weren't sure you had really signed it. All these years you've been signing your checks 'XX', but we just got one that was signed with three XXX's..."
Simplify All You Can
967 views
Even the experts could not agree. So-called financial experts all have their own opinions and analysis on whom and what caused the great financial crisis the world is experiencing and all you need to do is so surf the channels and you will know what I mean. Some blame Wall Street, others the financial institutions. But the most popular question to date is what will happen to Maine Street? Will it recover? How soon and when?
Our country has been heavily affected. My friends in the jewelry, home décor and furniture businesses and a great many of them have felt the crunch. And just when we all thought that we have not been hit so hard Ondoy and Pepeng came. Life will no longer be the same. There will have to be adjustments as we face the New Normal.
Finding Ways
1,818 views
I had a scheduled talk in Tagaytay.
It was a stormy day. But a commitment is a commitment.
And so early 6:30 morning, My wife Lilia, Pam my assistant and I left Manila and took the South Luzon Expressway. We arrived early. We haven’t had our breakfast. I know a very nice place called Santis; tried it before and fell in love with a dish they made called Tuna Sashimi salad. I’ve always wanted to go back and taste that dish again and now the moment is here.
The store opened at 8AM and we entered the place 2 minutes before eight. Judith the manager welcomed us. And when I told her I would love to taste their famous Tuna Sashimi Salad she said, “Sir, I am sorry but the chef will come in at 8:30AM but please do make yourself comfortable and I can bring you anything else you like.”
Almost as Good as Your Dog
1,048 views
If you can start the day without caffeine, if you can get along without pep pills, if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, though no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, if you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him/her, if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
CNN Hero of the Year Finalist – Efren Penaflorida
959 views
Each year, CNN gives $100,000 to the winner (from a field of ten finalists - winnowed from 9,000 nominees from all over the world) of its "Hero of the Year" award. This year, a 28-year-old Filipino, Efren Peñaflorida, made it to the top ten.
Once in a while comes an excellent opportunity to showcase to the world the dignity of Filipinos able to turn tragedy into triumph, from adversity to opportunity.
I have voted for Efren Peñaflorida. And I will vote for him again... and again...
Maybe you would or should too.
Click here to visit the voting page for Efren.
Here's the link to Efren's story and his Dynamic Teen Company (the organization he founded).
When Tragedy Strikes
1,518 views
There are questions that are hard to answer.
In the wake of the recent calamity many people are asking questions.
- Why did the calamity occur?
- Who is responsible for this?
- Why does this have to happen to me at a time like this?
- Where is God in all of these?
- Why do I feel so angry?
- Is this the end times?
- Is God judging our country?
- What will happen to me now?
- Will I still be able to recover?
A Stronger Storm Headed Our Way
675 views
The flood waters have not yet subsided and a stronger storm is headed our way.
In times like these, when logic and reason do not work, prayer does!
Speakers like me can encourage people to stay strong in the midst of the storm. Scientists can provide helpful info on how to act during a storm but only Jesus can still the storm.