A worldwide campaign for saving mother nature pertaining to climate change is going full blast on March 29, 2008, everyone is invited to show their support for EarthHour.org by turning our lights off for just one hour, 8pm-9pm local time and save energy to help save our emission by 5%.
Just sign up at www.earthhour.org and tell your friends and make a difference for our planet
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Catalyst Changer
"To change one’s life, start immediately,
do it flamboyantly,
no exceptions."
- William James
We have heard of the saying, "Change is the only constant in the universe". A lot of going ons in our daily life that we sometime tend to be stagnant or stay on routine in our everyday activities. But pondering on, I realize that we have to come to a pause and make a self reflection of what we do, how we should do things, are there things we have done well, are there room for improvements and what are we willing to discard, be it our attitude, personality to make us a better and effective citizen of the universe.
We want to set good social examples for our family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and those we interact each and every single day of our life. We want to set an inspirational mood, a life that others would want to emulate. We want to be the motivating others with our life, our work, our words and deeds.
Why we do what we do, for example in our workplace, we try to meet deadlines, exceed our bosses expectations, reach our target sales, showing punctuality in reporting for work and even not going beyond our lunch breaks and coffee breaks. It is because we have the innate persona of being obedient, wanting to stand pleasing before others and show our good conduct and exceptional self. We are shy of asking for it, the praise and esteem of other people who are around us that is why we end up in self-acclamation by doing what is right and natural good in everything we do.
In the eyes of the law, we are obedient citizens not getting ourselves into trouble, we don't want to counter the set rules in our streets, we drive with caution, we don't steal, we don't do indecent and scandalous actions in public place inorder to preserve our own dignity and be called good law abiding citizens.
Steadfastly, it is our constant aim and journey to reach that goal of continually learning, changing, evolving to have the power to set a positive and harmony in our family and community. In later years, as we look back and see how we have gained much wisdom, building our own character, social grace, honor and respect as people would have known as through the years of our evolution. It is because of our self evolving nature to constantly find ways to improve ourselves, our social status.
But there are some who are just reluctant to make their own changes, to flow with the changing times and technology but they are well aware of it, yet they are doing nothing because they got used to the "normalcy" of their life. They aim not for anything but the sheer living in the present status quo. Soon they may have to catch up.
As for me, I want to be a catalyst, a constant evolution of myself, to be a life force of life change. I believe with this I can be a successful game changer in my own life, in the life of those I touch and inspire and will always be inspiring. We always try to criticize everyone else but its now time to first look within and see how we can impact our immediate family and community first with our evolution, being that catalyst change that the world badly needs and perhaps we can inspire others to be the same, ever changing for improving our social order and make that positive difference in this universe.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Dying Inside
The Bible says: "Humility is one of the best ways against humiliation. "
Oftentimes we tend to envy others when they outdo us, when someone has bought or receive some new things like a far bigger house, a much grander car, wearing a rolex watch, signature clothing, a nice leather shoes, an ipod, a cellphone, computer, laptap, digicam.
Even to a certain extent of the workplace, when someone sees that his peers are getting ahead of the pack, promoted sooner than expected, someone younger is better at task and your boss is noticing the new kids passion at work unlike you.
We tend to hate them, sometimes we tend to hate ourselves and we turned sour on what others has accomplished. This should not be, we ought to appreciate and thank those people for inspiring us rather than thinking we should be bitter because we don't have they have.
Life may seemed unfair at times, others leisurely spend even though they seem not to have worked hard enough in life, others are working to death inorder to make ends meet and put food on the family table. Others seem to have luck smiling at them while fortune seem to be blinded by your own meager quest.
Life isn't unfair, infact it has been so fair that we tend not to notice our own growth, our own strength because we get blinded by personal desires, wants and ambition to the point of wanting to pull others down rather than lifting them up.
Personally, I would have wondered years back as to the kind of journey I have taken, such an uphill climb, a rough rocky mountain and at times thorny. I've fell many times, sometimes having to go hungry and thirsty, losing a job several times, worrying where my next meal would come, how to repay debts, oftentimes I asked God and at one point cursed God for making life too hard for me. Though later on I repented for putting the blame on God when I should be the one seeing the magnificent beauty that He brought into my life.
In those thorny struggling moment of my life, I had several occasions to ponder upon my existence, my walk, my faith, my belief, the people I encountered and failed to thank them, and those that have brought me so much anguish and pain that I need to forgive, it taught me a very wonderful lesson in all those years of struggles, Humility.
I have to rise up again, humbled, forgiving, loving and with high hopes that the next journey would be far bigger and better. The best is yet to come I'd always say.... so I never fet any remorse nor bitterness for those I know have more in life, because I know, I have far greater than what they have materially and that is I learned to manage my emotions and spiritually I am at peace with my world and those surrounding me.
Oftentimes we tend to envy others when they outdo us, when someone has bought or receive some new things like a far bigger house, a much grander car, wearing a rolex watch, signature clothing, a nice leather shoes, an ipod, a cellphone, computer, laptap, digicam.
Even to a certain extent of the workplace, when someone sees that his peers are getting ahead of the pack, promoted sooner than expected, someone younger is better at task and your boss is noticing the new kids passion at work unlike you.
We tend to hate them, sometimes we tend to hate ourselves and we turned sour on what others has accomplished. This should not be, we ought to appreciate and thank those people for inspiring us rather than thinking we should be bitter because we don't have they have.
Life may seemed unfair at times, others leisurely spend even though they seem not to have worked hard enough in life, others are working to death inorder to make ends meet and put food on the family table. Others seem to have luck smiling at them while fortune seem to be blinded by your own meager quest.
Life isn't unfair, infact it has been so fair that we tend not to notice our own growth, our own strength because we get blinded by personal desires, wants and ambition to the point of wanting to pull others down rather than lifting them up.
Personally, I would have wondered years back as to the kind of journey I have taken, such an uphill climb, a rough rocky mountain and at times thorny. I've fell many times, sometimes having to go hungry and thirsty, losing a job several times, worrying where my next meal would come, how to repay debts, oftentimes I asked God and at one point cursed God for making life too hard for me. Though later on I repented for putting the blame on God when I should be the one seeing the magnificent beauty that He brought into my life.
In those thorny struggling moment of my life, I had several occasions to ponder upon my existence, my walk, my faith, my belief, the people I encountered and failed to thank them, and those that have brought me so much anguish and pain that I need to forgive, it taught me a very wonderful lesson in all those years of struggles, Humility.
I have to rise up again, humbled, forgiving, loving and with high hopes that the next journey would be far bigger and better. The best is yet to come I'd always say.... so I never fet any remorse nor bitterness for those I know have more in life, because I know, I have far greater than what they have materially and that is I learned to manage my emotions and spiritually I am at peace with my world and those surrounding me.
Education and Environment can make a difference
Yesterday was a very enthusiastic day for me as I attended a lecture of Mr. James D. Wolfensohn on "Beyond East-West, North-South–Peace and Prosperity in a four speed world" at the De La Salle University Manila.
Prior to the lecture by Mr. Wolfensohn, he was conferred Doctorate in Humanities Honoris Causa by the President of DLSU Manila and the Chairman of the Board of the same university. Mr. Wolfensohn's credential is so outstanding, besides having served as World Bank President for two consecutive terms, He is also active in many social, and Philantropic institutions such as The Kennedy Foundation and the Carnegie Hall for the Perfoming Arts.
Mr. Wolfensohn discussed about the need to alleviate poverty through government's need to allocate more funds towards education, caring for the environment, institutional support for the community. He cited the statistics of world GDP, where currently Asia in 2007 has 15% of the world GDP, in he predicted that either by 2050, this would jumped to 60% mainly because of India and China's growing economies. But the current GDP of Asia is considered small as compared to the 16th and 18th century statistics which has India and China already having 15% of World GDP back then.
The difference between the two economies, the Developed economies and the developing economies worldwide is at a shifting mode where we are currently creating more middle class due to migration and service export such as our own OFW's.
He also cited the growing population who are also on the poverty level despite the growing numbers of middle class as the Rich countries are getting richer, so does the poor are doubling in numbers. That is why Education plays a key role in managing the exponential growth of those in the poverty level. Educating the majority of the social masses gives a clearer and more profound character and views for them to manage family welfare and income growth on the otherhand.
The environment should also be focus upon especially by highly industrialized nations as well as those emerging economies like China and India that has to balance environmental care and corporate growth, else there would arise far more bigger problems if mother nature isn't cared well.
During the open forum, he talked about some of his frustrations of not being listened upon often by world leaders on his take regarding environment, education and social justice issues and he appreciates that there are new breed of leaders being groomed from educational institutions that listens to his lecture and perhaps when the ripe moments comes in the future that these new leaders may somehow affect the change he so eagerly desired to accomplished in order to sustain peace.
The lecture was a very uplifting, inspiring and moving talk on what each individuals among us who may cause these growth and future developments to happen in bridging poverty through support on environmental, educational, cultural and mutual understanding to have a lasting peace and growing abundance for every individuals.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
China Economics
The rate of a dollar to Renminbi is 7.09, temperature is between 8 C - 18 C.
My recent trip to Shantou and Chenghai of the Guangdong province in China last week to source new Toys has been a bit tougher than it used to be, there have been fewer new toy designs being made in these industrial region these days, comparing the old samples in storage at the showroom, it just seems like they're more attractive than the new ones being brought by manufacturers.
The scarcity of factory workers has been one reason why there's been fewer stocks being produced for international buyers, as most of the local people preferred migrating to other provinces working for hotels, karaoke bars and other less straining jobs. There's one particular factory I used to visit some 3 yrs ago and they have been a major manufacturer of Robots, they exports these robotic toys worldwide but due to the scarcity of workers, they couldn't fill all their orders, and all they do is try to fill the orders of major buyers that buys in tons of containers.
The scarcity of factory workers has been one reason why there's been fewer stocks being produced for international buyers, as most of the local people preferred migrating to other provinces working for hotels, karaoke bars and other less straining jobs. There's one particular factory I used to visit some 3 yrs ago and they have been a major manufacturer of Robots, they exports these robotic toys worldwide but due to the scarcity of workers, they couldn't fill all their orders, and all they do is try to fill the orders of major buyers that buys in tons of containers.
Another hurdle in doing business lately is higher cost to produce new designs of toys and its packaging which would estimatedly cost the manufacturers to spend between RMB 5,000 to 10,000. So for most factories, it would seem economical and practically cost saving to just continue selling the old designs they used to have rather than come up with new designs and packaging.
Social security and witholding taxes of local workers could add another cost for manufacturers in Shantou as the government has strictly implemented new rules regarding social security and taxation, this will definitely affect the profit margins of factory manufacturers and will then have to increase 25% of their product cost once this is implemented.
The industrial landscape and current local employment rules has drastically change the way industrialist does business.
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