LABOR DAY

MAY 1 is a red letter day in the calendar in the PHILIPPINES and many other countries.

LABOR DAY is a REGULAR HOLIDAY.

"ARAW NG MANGGAGAWA" in TAGALOG

(TAKE NOTE: hindi po MANGANGAWA, kaya huwag po tayong "NGAWA NG NGAWA" 

o magtsismisan sa oras ng trabaho)

According to several references, the first celebration of the LABOR DAY in the PHILIPPINES happened 

on May 1, 1903. 

For this year, MAY 1 falls on FRIDAY. So it is a long weekend once again for us. Actually, it was two consecutive months with first week as long weekend. In April, the first week was HOLY WEEK. 

The long weekend for the first week of MAY is actually a welcome opportunity for the WORKERS, EMPLOYEES and LABORERS to rest. It is actually OUR DAY. And coincidentally, this long weekend is a special one for us because the GREATEST FIGHT in BOXING HISTORY in the PHILIPPINES if not in the whole world will be happening on Sunday.

It is certainly a big treat for us to have that long weekend to rest and witness the RED date in history not only in boxing but also for our country.

LABOR DAY is celebrating the Filipino workers, the workers' union, and is a chance to remember the hard fought workers' rights.

This day should be celebrated with REFLECTION from everyone. From the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR and other concerned agencies to reflect if there are laws or policies protecting the rights of our workers and uplifting their living condition. For the COMPANY OWNERS to reflect if there is a correct balance between the sustainability of the company and providing what is due to their employees. For the GOVERNMENT AGENCIES to reflect if they are successfully accomplishing their mission and looking welfare for their people. For the employees, workers and laborers, let us continuously commit ourselves to our duties and responsibilities, contribute something, and leave lasting legacy for our family, organization, community, and country.

There is a need to reflect and evaluate to pave the way for continuous improvement.

Let us ENJOY the long weekend, REST for awhile, REJUVENATE to have optimum energy and attention to our respective duties and responsibilities come Monday, to REFLECT for the good of our country, our organization, our family, our environment, and humanity.

Let us also PRAY for the success and safety of MANNY PACQUIAO.

Let us follow the perfect example of MANNY PACQUIAO and the LESSON that SUCCESS will come to those who are committed in improving themselves. 

MANNY PACQUIAO displays amazing LABOR OF LOVE for his PROFESSION.

MANNY vs. MONEY

Considered the "BATTLE FOR GREATNESS" 

and "THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY"

The nicknames MANNY and MONEY of the two fighters are actually perfectly fitted since they will be earning great MONEY for this event. The event can be called "BATTLE FOR GREAT MONEY" or "FIGHT FOR THE MONEY".

EMMANUEL "MANNY" PACQUIAO 

versus 

FLOYD "MONEY" MAYWEATHER, JR

Shown below is the table of the KEY STATISTICS comparing the fighters:

From the key statistics, MANNY is the underdog except for the age since MONEY is older by 2 years. However, MONEY is taller by 1 and a half inches, has longer reach of 5 inches and undefeated in 47 fights with 26 knockouts or 55% knockout percentage. 

On the other hand, the 5 defeats of MANNY should already taught him a hard LESSON or LESSONS and carry those realizations that will help him to correct his mistakes or shortcomings during those 5 defeats and even in the 2 draws. The previous defeats can either be an advantage or a disadvantage as he climbs the ring against the undefeated fighter. It will entirely defend on MANNY and his mindset. Just like with FLOYD, his clean slate can also be an advantage or a disadvantage. It will certainly provide him great confidence being the number 1 "POUND FOR POUND" and being undefeated, but it can also be the source of complacency since he will be fighting a boxer with 5 defeats. The outcome of the fight will determine who will come to the ring totally prepared, whether PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY or even SPIRITUALLY.  

MANNY defeated the following great boxing champions that made him extremely popular: OSCAR DE LA HOYA, RICKY HATTON, SHANE MOSLEY, ERIK MORALES, MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA, ANTONIO MARGARITO, BRANDON RIOS, JOSHUA CLOTTEY, MIGUEL COTTO, DAVID DIAZ, TIMOTHY BRADLEY and CHRIS ALGIERI. His five defeats came from the following: RUSTICO TORRECAMPO (a FILIPINO), MEDGOEN SINGSURAT (from THAILAND), ERIK MORALES (from MEXICO), JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ and TIMOTHY BRADLEY.

On the other hand, MONEY defeated the following champions: OSCAR DE LA HOYA, RICKY HATTON, SHANE MOSLEY, JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ, MIGUEL COTTO, MARCOS RENE MAIDANA, SAUL ALVAREZ, ROBERT GUERRERO, ZAB JUDAH, and VICTOR ORTIZ.

There are 5 names common in the list: DE LA HOYA, HATTON, MOSLEY, MARQUEZ and COTTO. 

If the outcome of the MEGAFIGHT will be based on this, MONEY will win because MANNY lost to MARQUEZ via a devastating knockout while MONEY won convincingly against MARQUEZ.

On Saturday evening in the United States while Sunday morning in the Philippines, the WORLD will certainly stop to witness the biggest fight in boxing history in the recent time.

Both fighters have their own long list of famous supporters. 

The long list of supporters of MANNY includes actor Keanu Reeves, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, UFC Champion Ronda Rousey among others.

On the other hand, the supporters of MONEY are Justin Beiber, Oscar De La Hoya among others.

There is so much money involve in the MEGAFIGHT, from the earnings of the fighters and the promoters, to the payment for pay per view and cost of ticket to be able to watch at the venue.

Mark Wahlberg and Rap Mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs are even betting $250,000 for the fight with Mark for MANNY while Diddy for MONEY.

This MEGAFIGHT or the MANNY - MONEY FIGHT is certain to make the whole WORLD stops on May 2 (in the USA) or May 3 (in the PHILIPPINES) to witness a significant event in BOXING HISTORY!

TOP 10 BOXERS TODAY

The list will be updated regularly to conform with the current rankings:

Based on several references online, 
the top 10 "POUND FOR POUND" KINGS for today:

1. FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR (USA)
          47 WINS, NO DEFEAT (26 KNOCKOUTS)

2.  WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO (UKRAINE)
            64 WINS, 3 DEFEATS ( 53 KNOCKOUTS)

3.  MANNY PACQUIAO (PHILIPPINES)
              57 WINS, 5 DEFEATS, 2 DRAWS ( 38 KNOCKOUTS)

4. ROMAN GONZALES (NICARAGUA)
          42 WINS, NO DEFEAT ( 36 KNOCKOUTS)

5. GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX (CUBA)
         15 WINS, NO DEFEAT ( 10 KNOCKOUTS)

6.  CARL FROCH (UNITED KINGDOM)
         32 WINS, 2 DEFEATS (23 KNOCKOUTS)

7.  GENNADY GOLOVKIN (KAZAKHSTAN)
          32 WINS, NO DEFEAT (29 KNOCKOUTS)

8.  SERGEY KOVALEV (RUSSIA)
           27 WINS, NO DEFEAT, 1 DRAW

9.  TIMOTHY BRADLEY (USA)
        31 WINS, 1 DEFEAT, 1 DRAW (12 KNOCKOUTS)

10. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ (MEXICO)
         56 WINS, 7 DEFEATS, 1 DRAW ( 40 KNOCKOUTS)

19 DAYS WITH NEPALESE AND SRI LANKAN

Certainly, we cannot travel the whole world within our lifetime. 

Unless, we will spend every second of our life

 traveling.

But we can maximize our time by reading stories about places and the best way is to have friends from everywhere...

In the profession of arms, there are numerous opportunities to travel within and outside the country.

ASSIGNMENT, DEPLOYMENT, SCHOOLING and other DUTIES that require us to constantly move around.

It was in 2014 when I was finally given the great privilege to move outside the country...after having been deployed nationwide as a HELICOPTER PILOT.

I attended a schooling in MALAYSIA in 2014 for 19 days...

It was also during that time when I met classmates from different countries such as MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, BANGLADESH, MONGOLIA, SRI LANKA, NEPAL, TONGA, and CAMBODIA with instructors from MALAYSIA, NORWAY and THAILAND...

But we were acquainted more with our classmates 

who were also staying in the fourth floor...

We were six students billeted at the fourth floor, 3 NEPALESE, 2 FILIPINOS and 1 from SRI LANKA...

We were together during night outs, while exploring PORT DICKSON by either biking or jogging...

We were also together during "WEEKEND" backpacking adventures especially in MELAKA...

We learned pieces and tidbits about NEPAL and SRI LANKA,

they are NICE PEOPLE...

Together with 3 classmates from NEPAL and another classmate from SRI LANKA in one of our drinking sessions in MALAYSIA...

DINING OUT WITH 3 NEPALESE and a SRI LANKAN...

3 NEPALESE, 2 FILIPINOS and a SRI LANKAN...

together with a NEPALESE and a SRI LANKAN

3 NEPALESE, 2 FILIPINOS
in PORT DICKSON downtown 

Enjoying the environs of MELAKA CITY together with classmates from TONGA, NEPAL, CAMBODIA
and the instructor from THAILAND

Together with classmates from NEPAL and SRI LANKA at the footbridge near the MELAKA CENTRAL BUS TERMINAL

DRINKING and ENJOYING while in MELAKA together with BACKPACKING adventure mates 

BIKING within PORT DICKSON together with 3 classmates from NEPAL
and 1 from SRI LANKA...

Together with 3 CLASSMATES from NEPAL
and 1 from SRI LANKA...

Together with my GROUP MATES from NEPAL and MALAYSIA (in the picture), MONGOLIA (at my back) and BANGLADESH (not in the picture)

Together with classmates from NEPAL and SRI LANKA while inside the MENARA SARING TOWER 
in MELAKA CITY

Malaysian Peacekeeping Center Accommodation Room: An Ideal "Home"

SHELTER is one of the basic needs of man...

Indeed a highly significant need...

Whatever is the status of an individual, SHELTER should be properly provided. BEDROOM is one of the most important portions of that SHELTER (house) because it is where we devote at least one third of our life... 

That is we consume at least 8 hours 

a day for sleeping...

But for some, sleeping is even more than 8 hours a day, 

A good night sleep paves for positive things, 

whether we are still studying or already working...

SLEEP is an important activity for our health, 

and in preparation 

to deliver the best PERFORMANCE the following day...

So it is a must that nice environment 

should be provided for our sleep...

If we are deprived of at least a good sleep, 

then everything in our LIFE will be negatively affected!

The rooms at the ACCOMMODATION BUILDING of the MALAYSIAN PEACEKEEPING CENTER in MALAYSIA are not only an excellent venue for SHELTER, 

but they are ideal place to stay 

for the most important human activities, 

RESTING, REJUVENATION, and

SLEEPING...

Activities that are essential to prepare for the challenges of the following day, 

for us not only to act in compliance, 

but to perform with commitment and passion...

not only to be AWAKE to come to office or classroom for attendance, but to come ALIVE, working or studying with PASSION and fully COMMITTED to bring out the BEST 

and perform at the highest LEVEL!

Excellent outputs that can be possibly provided if we are WELL-RESTED and HAD A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP...

Ideal condition that can only happen in an ENVIRONMENT like the rooms at the MPC ACCOMMODATION BUILDING...

Worthy to emulate to provide our greatest asset, the human resource for them to unload high quality performance...whether in the classrooms, in the offices, and especially in the battlefields...

The pictures of my room at the ACCOMMODATION BUILDING at the 

MALAYSIAN PEACEKEEPING CENTER

at PORT DICKSON, MALAYSIA

where I stayed for 18 remarkable nights...

to give an idea for all educational institutions to provide ADEQUATE and DESIRED billeting facilities!!!

My stay in Malaysia is a remarkable journey 

of 18 EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE nights!!!

I just do hope that CONCERNED offices and individuals will be creative and passionate enough to provide us with desired billeting requirements...

Not just to conform with the existing standards which are actually below or sub-standard but to include inputs and best practices in building suitable 
housing facilities...

In order for us to BUILD a lasting LEGACY, ready to perform effectively and to work with passion for NATION BUILDING...

BASIC NEEDS like HOUSING PROJECTS should be one of the significant priorities of any organization and country...

a PLACE that we can PROUDLY 
called "HOME"...

Insights from a Foreign Student in Malaysia!

The 13 days of the 19 days in MALAYSIA were actually consumed in the CLASSROOMS 

of the MALAYSIAN PEACEKEEPING CENTER...

Allow me to share with you the moments inside the classroom, syndicate room, and simulation room during those 13 challenging but remarkable days...

During our SIMULATION EXERCISES where I was designated as the SRSG at the UN Headquarters

The participants and instructors from different countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Tonga, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Norway, and Philippines provided more learning experiences as we shared each other our own systems, practices, and other things about our own country. The lessons learned are both within and outside the classrooms. 

In our syndicate room, together with my Groupmates.

Since we were staying in PORT DICKSON, a place about midway between MELAKA CITY and KUALA LUMPUR CITY,
we were also treated to two educational tours during our two weekends in Malaysia. The first one was in the UNESCO HERITAGE MELAKA CITY. The second weekend brought us to PUTRAJAYA City (The Heart of Malaysian Government) and KUALA LUMPUR CITY (The Capital of Malaysia). It was my first time also to see the amazing PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS, the WORLD'S TALLEST TWIN TOWERS.

Excited for another day in the classroom.

The stroll, biking, or jogging activities every after class in the afternoon together with classmates maximized the learning experiences as we explored and discovered the surroundings of our school while knowing each other.

The participants during the SIMULATION EXERCISES

TERIMA KASIH MALAYSIA for the remarkable learning experiences! 

NOTES ON CLEANLINESS AND MAINTENANCE

Majority of our buildings, facilities and establishments have dirty and out of order comfort rooms!

This is one major concern that I am going to talk about in this BLOG...

One of the common problems of sustaining the usability and functionality of a certain building or facility is the ABSENCE of system for CLEANLINESS and MAINTENANCE.

To solve this problem, my proposed system is very simple. Assign specific PERSONNEL or EMPLOYEE for each facility. That person should be properly informed of his or her duties and responsibilities. If possible, that designated person for a certain facility should have the background, experience and training related to the facility and the equipment within that facility. This is to maximize not only the number of personnel but also their skills and knowledge. The main responsibility of that assigned personnel is to ensure that the facility is always clean and free from defects and malfunctioning equipment. There should be a checklist on what to inspect at least twice a day. The first one at the beginning of the day and another one at the end of the day. The inspection should be thoroughly conducted based on the checklist provided. The checklist should be regularly evaluated based on problems encountered, feedback from frequent users of the facilities and other inputs. Lacking items or things to do in the checklist should be added to come up with a comprehensive document that will make a certain facility and the totality of the building always CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL, and FREE FROM DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. Then there should be a designated SUPERVISOR who will monitor the compliance to the given tasks. That supervisor should inspect randomly and unexpectedly to provide QUALITY CONTROL. It is a significant waste of resources if we only plan for BUILDING or CREATING something, but there is no system for MAINTENANCE.

Let us BUILD, but let us also CLEAN, MAINTAIN and BEAUTIFY what we built...

How about you?
Do you have a system on how you can maintain the CLEANLINESS and the FUNCTIONALITY of equipment and facilities in your workplace?

PRAY FOR NEPAL

It was on April 14, 2014 when NEPAL was introduced to me through the stories from a NEPALESE classmate at the United Nation Staff Officer Course (UNSOC) at the MALAYSIAN PEACEKEEPING CENTER at PORT DICKSON, MALAYSIA. He is a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) in the Army in NEPAL. He, together with other two classmates, another Filipino and a SRI Lankan,  went us during a biking activity after our first day of class. We went around the vicinity of PORT DICKSON,  from the public market to the beautiful beaches. After a long bike ride of several kilometers, we stopped at a convenience store and bought some drinks. We shared stories about our own countries, the people, the economy, and many other things. That was the first time that I was able to be acquainted with people from NEPAL and my impression, they are KIND and EASY TO GO ALONG WITH. He was very respectful despite his rank. He was the most senior among the four of us. He was with us during our "backpacking" adventures in MELAKA, SEREMBAN and PORT DICKSON.

We had actually 3 classmates from NEPAL during the course. But the other two were very quiet. They just smiled back at us whenever we greeted them. But all of them became our friends because we were billeted at the same floor, fourth floor of the accommodation building.  They even invited us to come to NEPAL and provided us some souvenir items.

We had been together in the classroom, in the accommodation building, during the biking activities and other endeavors during those 19 days. Short but ample time that led me to know many good stories about NEPAL to pursue my dream to visit the mountainous country soon.

The earthquake with magnitude 7 that recently hit NEPAL greatly devastated the country. 

As of now, we are trying to contact our 3 classmates using our FACEBOOK group that I created when we were still in Malaysia for us to have continuous communication.

I just hope and pray that the three gentlemen from NEPAL who became our classmates and became our friends are all safe including their families and loved ones...

How about you?
What are your prayers for NEPAL?

DAY AT THE YUCHENGCO MUSEUM

Since it was still too early for my Saturday class and I had ample time to enjoy the weekend, I visited this MUSEUM, just a walking distance from the location of my "SCHOOL"...

Allow me to share with you the pictures and stories during my JOURNEY inside the YUCHENGCO MUSEUM in MAKATI CITY...

The captivating landmark of the MUSEUM

It is conveniently situated within the RCBC TOWER, located at the corner of AYALA AVE. and H.V. DELA COSTA st....

This signage is distinctly visible along AYALA AVENUE

The remarkable design of the lobby of the museum

various paintings display at the ground floor

overlooking view of the ground floor 

still at second floor

The entrance fee is 100 pesos for adults
and 50 pesos for students

stairway from the second floor to the third floor...elevator is also provided as option for the visitor

at the third floor of the museum...

But the greatest revelation for me during the visit was when I reached the fourth floor of the museum. I discovered that the owner of the museum has a great affinity with our national hero, DR. JOSE RIZAL. Majority of the collections at the fourth floor are the things associated with DR. JOSE RIZAL...Please enjoy the pictures and appreciate more DR. JOSE RIZAL and also the owner of the museum...

I also discovered that AMBASSADOR YUCHENGCO visited my ALMA MATER, the PMA, when I was a graduating cadet...January 1996

beautiful artworks and creations tied from the ceilings of the museums...

I am encouraging everyone to visit different museums in our country...we can learn something from history that are useful in the present set-up...lessons that can help us in our daily existence and even in the organizations we belong...they will unfold beautiful experiences and provides significant insights for life as we continue our JOURNEY in LIFE...

Do you have any suggestion of a MUSEUM to visit? I will be extremely glad if you can share with me nice museums that you visited that I can also visit in the future. Thank you.