NBA Asia Challenge: Preview

The long wait has finally arrived. And it was also a challenging task to purchase the ticket for the historic battle between the NBA legends and the PBA greats. I was lucky because we were able to get good seats and my cousin was also able to get full access pass and so we were able to go inside the court before and after the game.

Though our local PBA team lost, it was still a great match. I will post more pictures and more details about it soon….

What's in the bag?

Are you wondering why I am all smiles in this picture?


It is because this is what is inside the bag:


I wanted to buy this here in Manila for the longest time now but I find it so expensive. That is why when I saw the Ferrari store in Venice, I did not miss the opportunity of checking out what I can bring home to Manila.

I just want to buy something cheap really but my wife convinced me that I should get what I really want as we never know when we can go back in Italy. And since Ferrari is from Italy, prices here are definitely much cheaper (half of the price if I will buy it here in Manila).

And I am glad I decided to bring this precious home (even if I paid Euro 22 in excess baggage when we took a domestic flight from Rome to Paris. LOL) as it is all worth it.

Venetian Macao 2009 Tennis Showdown

On October 25, 2009, a history will be made in the Cotai Arena as two of tennis’ legendary rivals, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi plays a tennis showdown match. This is the first time that the two will play again against each other since Sampras defeated Agassi in the US Open 2002.

Junior World No. 1 Yuki Bhambri will also play in this showdown against the American Ryan Harrison.

Tickets are now available and can be purchased online. Ticket prices are:

A Reserve Lower: MOP $ 980
B Reserve Lower: MOP $ 780
C Reserve Upper: MOP $ 480
D Reserve Upper: MOP $ 280

My wife and I really wanted to join our friends in watching this game in October but since we just got back from vacation, we have no leaves left and more importantly, we have no more budget for this trip.

But being a sports enthusiast, I am glad that famous sports personalities are now going to Asia so people from Asia will have a bigger chance to watch their idols play live.

Pretzzy Saturday

After giving a short inspirational message yesterday to graduating 13-year old kids, I’ve gotten a very warm reception from the audience including the Mayor of Manila. I couldn’t be happier than seeing those kids responding to me and my exploration of their energetic and full of fun lives.

But today my daughter surprises me most; I guess it’s one of the best rewards after motivating a number of young minds on how to be successful and how do you really measure it. We’re at the sala and I’m browsing the Internet in our laptop and she’s watching Playhouse Disney when she asks for her pretzel’s merienda.

So I ask our new yaya to get it from her stocks and ask her to go have her lunch and I’ll take care of Bela for now. Mom is in the office so my daughter and I have a little bonding time. Then she walks beside and told me that she wants to share the pretzels with me. So I get one stick and bite some but she stops me and told me, “No, no, not that way, dad.” And she gets another stick and put the tip of the stick in her mouth and the other end in mine. I’ve seen this before when she and her mom eats spaghetti, but never tried with me.



So I got exited and brought down my camera to get some snapshots…

Write-Out-Loud.Com - Public Speaking Guide

A few days ago, I was invited by my grade school Alma Mater to be the guest speaker for this year’s graduating class in April.

It’s going to be an exciting activity for me delivering a speech in front of young audiences which I haven’t done for quite a while now. It’ll be my second time to grace my school with my new experiences or thoughts to share.

Eager to obtain their attention, I’m doing a little research of this generation, of what are their favorite games, activities, boy bands, dance moves, movies, superheroes and etc. Looking for better ideas and ways to be effective to my audiences, I also came across a website called write-out-loud.com and the tips are easy to learn, concise and very helpful.

I want it this time be delivered in Tagalog to better inject some humor and great stories because I planned to share my personal stories when I was at their age and at present. I’ll also impart the lives of some personalities to uplift their soul with encouragement and inspirations.

Right now, I’m making my draft while my daughter is playing around as "Bela the Pretty Mouse Not the Eewie Eewie One" and her mom is the "Neigh Neigh Horse" and I'm the "Christmas Deer"...

Passing CSP - A Second Shot

“Failure inspires winners. And failures defeats losers.” This line I read from a book of Robert Kiyosaki which is one of my inspirations this year.

I was pleased to know that I have passed my exam and now a CSP but it will have no meaning if I cannot uphold the standards of this great institution I am part of. So in accepting this title, I hope to be able to contribute in my own way to the advocacy of PSIS in making security awareness and education a responsibility of all of us in different fields of businesses or line of work.

Passing the exam on my second shot is always a good experience. It teaches me to be humble as Mr. Ramon Bergado, one of our best instructor used to say, “The key to my success in life is humility and I'm sharing it to you so you'll also be successful in all of your endeavors."

CSP Retake - Study Before Leisure

It's been a very busy month for me working in the office while others are enjoying the holidays but I’ll be having my vacation with my family in a couple of days in the Island of Samal, so I don’t feel bad.

I just feel exhausted.

And when we return next week, I got to retake my CSP exam of PSIS because I flanked my first try last June and never got the chance to take it with so many projects and activities. I’m busy right now reviewing my old notes and reading a book by one of my mentor, Eduardo Fulgencio - CPP/CFE/CSP/CSMS. His book is “Security Management – Principles, Techniques and Applications” which he published in 2005.

Hope to pass it this time.

If you want to know more about CSP and PSIS, visit our website at http://www.psisonline.org/ for more info.

Birthday Surprise - From Mom and Bela

Another year had passed and another one is coming but I’m always thankful for having a wonderful and loving family. Thank you Mom and Bela for a surprise birthday party! I’m so excited!

This year we have both our families in one roof to celebrate my birthday and it feels great and I hope to have it every year in our house.

Thank you for understanding my short comings and I love you Mom and Bela! You're my greatest gift!

About Me After Two Years

This subject used to be in my "About Me" tab but after two years, I felt like it's no longer more about me, it's more of my past so I've made an updated one...

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Dec 1, 2007 9:41 AM

About Me

My childhood revolves in a small town in Sorsogon where I spent most of my time in an adventure phase from morning till dark until my family moved to Manila when I was 9 but always went back during summer and Christmas until my college years.

Aside from managing more than 20 servers, supporting a thousand users and maintaining more than 800 machines, I work in an International Organization where diverse personalities are ordinary and service is the soul of its existence.

My wife Abie and daughter Ysabela loves to travel so I always carry my camera making sure I captured those precious moments...

I feel that my passion for photography is innate because I see myself as an artist with an eye for extraordinary moment. I provide photography services for any event when I’m free on weekends.

I love collecting all sorts of things which I find unusual and significant to my life and to my family…

Keep on reading!

-Howie-