Fifty Shades Trilogy

I was influenced by a friend to read the trilogy. So I did. Surprisingly, I liked it.
I'm not drawn at how detailed and erotic the sex part in the novel was but it's more of the excitement of the female character being chased by a multi-billionaire, handsome, too-good-to-be-true, prince charming, knight in shining armor, dude which most of the girls dream about like a fairy tale. The feeling of being too lucky and the envy of all girls but yet so clueless and challenged to learn his mystery. The author was able to capture and relate what a woman will think if she is in that situation.
I am in the book two of he trilogy and I can't wait to read more and find out if the female character, Anna Steele, will be able to make the male character, Christian Grey, LOVE her.

Now I've heard that they are going to make this a movie and rumor has it that that the film makers are choosing between Matt Bomer and Ian Somerhald. Well, my vote goes to Ian Somerhald. I've seen him in an interview with Ryan Seacrest in Youtube and he is exactly how I have Christian Grey in my mind.

Ian Somerhald

Matt Bomber

Places I Want to Go

I consider everything in my life as an adventure and I would love to fill my memory bank with my adventures while exploring the Philippines. Here are some places I have been and would like to go.

1. Coron, Palawan

2. Grande Island, Subic Zambales

3. Calaguas, Daet

4. Pagudpod, Ilocos

5. Baguio City

6. Vigan, Ilocos

7. Windmills, Bangui

8. Patapat, Pagudpod, Ilocos

9. Bantayan Island, Cebu

10. Cebu City

11. Camiguin

12. Thunderbird Poro Point

13. Baler, Quezon

14. Balesin Island, Quezon

15. Bolinao, Pangasinan

16. Corregidor Island

17. Cagayan de Oro

18. Bohol

19. Bicol

20. BATANES!!! MY ULTIMATE DREAM DESTINATION!!!!

Freshwater Fishing Village

I've been ranting all week! I was forcing Kiko to bring me to out of Manila. And as expected, Kiko picked a destination with a swimming pool and play pond. We contacted a resort we found over the internet and spoke to a nice Woman named "Bing". Judging by the photos, the resort seems like a good place.

That weekend, we traverse the path going to Angeles City exit in North Luzon Expressway. We left a bit late than planned. I was travelling this time with my brother-from-another-mother, Chubby and my husband, Kiko. As always, I awed at the sight of the ricefields and the magnificent view of Mt. Arayat. I grew up travelling this road but it always seems a new adventure for me.

We exited Angeles and found the route to Magalang. With all the new developments in that part of the city, I lost all my memory about the place which I was once so familiar with. Angeles Exit has always been a small road, undeveloped but now I behold at the sight of the newly-built Marquee Mall, the roads to SCTEX and the roundabouts. It's confusing.

We found our way to Magalang Road. It was a narrow one and the traffic is bearable. We drove straight ahead and make a few stops to ask for directions. We were led to the town's Municipal Hall where we need to make a few turns before reaching the road to the resort. It was a pretty long drive, but comfortable one. We passed by Pampanga Agricultural Colleges. The University reminds me of my tertiary years in UP. Gigantic trees envelops the road.

We traveled a few kilometers more until we found a small road with the "Freshwater Fishing Village" Sign boasts by the entrance. We are in a town called Ayala. We took the turn and traversed a long path of rough road. We're riding a Lowered Honda Civic so we've encountered a few ramps and the car literally drags underneath. I feel sorry for "Carla" (what we named the car).

I celebrated as we finally reached our destination. It was a loooong, rough and painful way. I feel sorry for the car. We were welcomed by the property owner and toured us around the place. We entered a small gate which led to the property's unutilized pool and a treehouse. The place is nice. It's more like a resthouse rather a resort. There's a big open dining area, a pool slide and garden set. Mount Arayat also appears closer in this side of the province. We were their only guests as the owner prefers small groups and bookings rather than opening it to the public. I doubt too that the place can hold large groups. It wasn't that huge.

The boys were eager to go fishing so after a few intros, we were led to the fish ponds. the true purpose of the visit. They have several ponds divided into five big ones, about half a hectare each and a few small ones. Their most priced ponds lies at the center of the property. It was a floating hut and the pond is filled with big red tilapias. I am went to trance watching baby red tilapia swimming by the hut.

Kiko and Chubby set-up their  fishing gears and immediately cast their lures around, hoping to catch snakehead.

How to be a Good Leader

• Remember: leadership skills and techniques can be learned. You don't have to be a natural leader. Very few people are.


• Care for your team. That means knowing what matters to each member: their health, their partner, their children, their relatives, their interests, their hopes, their fears.


• Stay close to your team. At some point, every day, walk around the office and say "Hi" to everyone who works for you. If you're not in the office that day, call and see how people are. This gives you a chance to enquire or encourage and gives them an opportunity to raise issues or make suggestions.


• Meet your team. Regularly - daily, weekly or monthly, depending on your place and type of work - have meetings of all the members of the team. Keep these meetings short, focused and action-orientated. Make sure every member of the team contributes in some way and acknowledge that.


• Train your team. Every team member should have at least two days training a year. Newer and more senior colleagues should have more. If they don't ask to go on training sessions, suggest some suitable courses.


• Grow your team. Through varied experience and regular training, you should be developing each team member to be more and more confident and more skilled.


• Inspire your team. Consider making available a motivational quote or story every week or month [for lots of good quotes click here].


• Celebrate with your team. This might be a personal event, such as a member's birthday or anniversary, or a professional occasion, such as completing a project or winning oa contract.


• Socialise with your team. Have lunch or an after-work drink with them, especially when a member has a birthday or there's another reason to celebrate.


• Set objectives for each team member. As far as possible, these objective such be SMART -Specific Measurable Achievable Resourced Timed.


• Review the performance of each team member. At least once a year - at least quarterly for the first year of a new team member - have a review session where you assess performance, give feed-back and agree future objectives and training.


• Thank constantly. The words "Thank you" take seconds to say, but mean so much.


• Praise constantly. The words "Well done" take seconds to say, but will be long remembered and appreciated.


• Communicate constantly. Don't assume that people know what you're doing, still less what you are planning or thinking. Tell them, using all the communication tools to hand: team briefings, electronic newsletters, organisational newspapers.


• Eliminate. Too often we do things because they've always been done. Life changes. Consider whether you could stop doing certain things altogether.


• Delegate. You don't have to do everything. Develop your team members by training them to do more and trusting them to take over some of the things you've been doing.


• Empower. A really effective leader sets clear objectives for his team members, but leaves detailed implementation of these objectives to the discretion and judgement of individual members of the team. As Second World War U.S. General George S. Patton put it: "Don't tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results”.


• Facilitate. A confident leader does not try to micro-manage his team, but makes it clear that, if team members need advice or assistance, he is always there to facilitate and support.


• Be on time. Always start meetings on time and finish them on time. Natural breaks keep people fresh. Short meetings concentrate the mind.


• Be seen. Don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. So visit each unit or department for which you are responsible on a regular basis. Don't do this unannounced - you are not out to undermine other leaders or catch out staff. So arrange with the unit leader or departmental head when you'll visit and ask him or her to walk round with you.


• Make time. Managers are often very busy and this can deter people from approaching you, so make time for people and be approachable. People will appreciate you taking five minutes out of your busy schedule, especially if you act on/listen to what they say.


• Really listen. Many of us - especially those who think they are important - don't really listen, but instead think about what they're going to say next. Give the person speaking to you your full attention and really take on board what they are saying. [For more detailed advice on listening click here]


• Accept honest criticism. Criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger - but it's a powerful tool of learning. Above all, assess criticism on merit, without regard to its originator.


• Think strategically. The doers cut a path through the jungle; the managers are behind them sharpening the machetes; the leaders find time to think, climb the nearest tree, and shout"Wrong jungle!" Find time to climb the trees.


• Have a mentor or buddy, someone doing similar work in the same or a similar organisation with whom you can regularly and frankly discuss your progress and your problems as a leader.


• Have a role model, someone who can inspire you to be a truly great leader. If you can't find one, study Jed Bartlet as the American President in any episode of the television series "The West Wing".


• Constantly revisit and review these tips. In his seminal work, "The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People", Stephen Covey puts it this way: "Sharpen the saw".


• Plan your succession. You won't be there forever and you may not be in control of the timing and circumstances of your departure. So start now to mentor and train at least one colleague who could take over from you

My Destinations

I consider everything in my life as an adventure and I would love to fill my memory bank with my adventures while exploring the Philippines. Here are some places I have been and would like to go.

1. Coron, Palawan



2. Grande Island, Subic Zambales



3. Calaguas, Daet



4. Pagudpod, Ilocos



5. Baguio City



6. Vigan, Ilocos



7. Windmills, Bangui



8. Patapat, Pagudpod, Ilocos



9. Bantayan Island, Cebu



10. Cebu City



11. Camiguin



12. Thunderbird Poro Point



13. Baler, Quezon



14. Balesin Island, Quezon



15. Bolinao, Pangasinan



16. Corregidor Island



17. Cagayan de Oro



18. Bohol



19. Bicol



20. BATANES!!! MY ULTIMATE DREAM DESTINATION!!!!

How to Start Fish Farming

My parents bought a Fish Pond property in Pampanga years back but just had the farm rented for 10 years. This year, 2012, my parents ended the contract for the pond and now it is just there, unutilized.

I am on the look out for great business opportunities for this property and I need help! My parents and relatives were not that risky and most are in the corporate world or are employees so they do not want to explore business and farming. I have a little budget to work around with.

Our property is a 7-hectare land which was dug out into one whole pond. It is big and wide as a river and was used before for tilapia culture. Source of water will be from the irrigation and it is surrounded with other ponds and rice fields.

If you can share your ideas and somehow help me find financial/developmental support to do this venture, please let me know. I am looking at Hito, Pangacius or Tilapia farming.

Thanks!