Learning Corporate Finance

After a 3-day seminar at Garden Oases, Davao.

Here I am again, updating my blog to share some fresh experiences with you my friend. Actually the topic was originally for supervisors and managers only, but because of my team leader's persistence, I was able to join with the rest of my teammates. Unknown to him, I like it really. More than enjoying the food and the place. Believe me when you doubt. I mean it.
This is not the first time I joined one. July last year (2007), I registered and attended a "Seminar-Workshop on Biblical Principles of Finance" though it costs significantly. Some seminars I attended were outside Davao like Cebu, Iloilo, Manila atbp.
This time, I appreciate how finance officers' work on a corporation's capital, budget, risks, shareholders' dividends and more. Time-Value of money were also discussed and computed to determine the profitability of a business. Things that only executives, accountants, and financial consultants usually use. Others just know the subject slightly including me. But I still appreciate it and willing to learn more for future use.
Have a pleasant evening. Good night.

Extending Lives

Every blood donation is a new excitement to me. Knowing that I will help extend another life or more, I would rush to a company sponsored activity and voluntarily surrender myself for blood donation. After an hour, presto, it's done.

Today's donation is my 9th time. I started doing this way back in 2002 when I attended the last Reserve Officer Training Corpse year. After that, I was able to invite my roommates and board mates to do too, giving them the opportunity to help and after a task they are very excited to make another donation after 3 months. I remember a time when the physician was surprised after learning that it's February 2, 2005 and the last time we donated was November 2, 2004. It means exactly 3 months.
I was even granted a medal of efficiency for doing such an act from my ROTC unit but it was just a bonus, what matters most in that endeavor is to help extend a life in cancer, accident, operation and more.
I encourage everyone to help too, let's grab every opportunity possible to help extend lives not only through donating your precious blood but in other ways. I know there's a lot of ways and they are just everywhere around us. Extend your help.

Giving-up my Rights

One of my dream careers is becoming a lawyer, protecting the rights of the poor and oppressed (dili ko magdagan president karong 2010 ha) and make sure that justice prevails.
Though I pursue my engineering instead, I am still passionate and willing to exercise my dream of defending your rights. You have the right to remain silent, ano pa ba, yun lang alam ko eh. Just joking.
But seriously in another point of view, as we give up our rights, God releases power and to convince you further read 1 Corinthians 9:4-19, written there is how the Apostle Paul gave in his rights to win people to God. v19 states "I am not anyone's slave. But I have become a slave to everyone, so that I can win as many people as possible." See? We should not defend our rights all the time.
In our cellgroup, we had discussed these things and found out many circumstances where we choose to give up our rights for our loveones, family, friends, atbp. Depriving ourselves of a time to rest just to serve a friend in times of needs. Playing with your child after work instead of directly going to bed and sleep. Fetching your wife from work eventhough you are tired, not my experience just an observation. A company manager told me he can't join the cellgroup because his wife is waiting for him to take her from the office, manager turned driver. Serve first.
Tonight is our second cell meeting, present beside me are Bong, Mark, Hanford, and Arvin.

Moving the Scorecard

My fellow toastmaster started his speech by allowing us to picture out a basketball player. Dribbling, running, passing the ball, stealing. But the most important move of all is ofcourse shooting the ball on the right goal. "That's the one moving the score card." he pointed out.

Just like playing in any sport, in life we make the same points by doing the things that matters most. By helping others to find the goal and make a shot, we are doing the assist. We are becoming a most valuable player in sports as we do this. Teamwork matters, one cannot win a game alone. We collaborate, we help each other to reach the ring and dunk the ball for a sure point.
If you found the right goal, your task is to guide others to get hold of it too.
Have a pleasant evening to everyone.. Good night and God bless.
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!

Servant Leadership

My mother loves me so much. Not because she didn't scold me (actually she's doing it always when I commit mistakes during my childhood days). I remember her chating with me every time I'm home from my elementary and high school class. When I have problems she listens to me and congratulates me through a silent smile when I accomplished something in school ( I always do hehe).
She is a great example of servant leadership to me, a mother that will do everything for me and my brothers' and sisters' right wellbeing.
But Jesus is the perfect example of servant leadership, he even laid down his life for everyone of us. He who is willing to give everything for his people. I want to imitate him on his servanthood. Let me quote what Napoleon has said, "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and myself founded vast empires, our achievements relied on force, while Jesus founded his empire on Love; and at this hour millions would die for him."
Note: Tonight is the start of my cellgroup in the office, the first attendees were Bong, Boyet, and Caren (all are lineman of Davao Light).

Going Out the Comfort Zone

5:00 o'clock this morning, I got up from my bed and set up my things to join the Shrine Hills Challenge. "I'll gonna run 5 kilometers today."
I used to do these stuffs, defying what my nature wants frequently. I call this going out of the comfort zone. Instead of running early, i can sleep deeply until 8 and watch my favorite cartoon characters on Dragon Ball Z. But I found joining fun runs more exciting and rewarding, I even run 10k on difficult route contours and suffer muscle pains for 3 days, and still want to do it again next month. Amazing, isn't it? But there is joy after the sufferings or you can cash advance the joy during the execution, just enjoy what you are doing at the moment.
Tonight, I want to have a deep sleep and wake up renewed the next morning. And again, conquer another challenger, the opposition that stops me in reading my bible first hour in the morning after waking up.
"Our greatest enemy is ourselves. Conquer it."

An Opportunity to Share

While waiting for the product demo to start, I sat beside a fellow engineer who is a little older than I am in the company. He asked me if my wristwatch is still okey and functions well, so I looked at it and told him it is doing well. We both have a common watch given by the company as a gift from last year's recognition night.
Then, he remarked "Our life turns like a watch, a daily routine." I answered, "Yes, it is. Just like everyone here, we were born, go to school, work, later have a family, children, and so on.. and die." Amazing, isn't it? Most of us follow the same patern.
But, I got a chance to tell him about what I read from the book "Purpose Driven Life" by Rev. Rick Warren. Words just came out from me spontaneously about the adventures I have when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I told him that I thought Christianity is a boring experience but I was completely wrong. There's a lot of things to discover and obstacles to overcome. But there's always a God that will help you and guide you along the way. Life is not easy there but the joy inside is overwhelming. I think life doesn't follow the same pattern again.
It is for you to discover. I want you to sincerely receive what I also received.
Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Good night.