Corporate Pinoy

CorporatePinoy is now a Wolverine!

I’ve kept myself from blogging these past few months about this subject mainly because I was limiting the number of people that I was sharing my plans with. But now, I am breaking my silence.  One of the reasons that this blog is called CorporatePinoy is because of my quest for understanding the corporate world and sharing what I learn as I go through this pursuit of knowledge.  Part of this quest is pursuing an MBA (Masters of Business Administration). For the past 18 months I have been… So without any further delay, I share the news that:

¡Corporate Pinoy is now a Wolverine!

For those who do not understand, I have been admitted to the University of Michigan | Ross School of Business’ MBA program.  (Wolverines being U-M’s sports team)

I am really really happy to be admitted and have this opportunity to study with a top school. It has been a hard application season, some admissions officers even saying that it has been more competitive this year than previous years. I am just so blessed that I got in!  PTL!

In the next few days, I will start writing about two topics:

Application BLUEs – These posts will be about the whole MBA application process. I will be sharing my experiences, tips and pointers on various topics from reviewing for the GMAT, taking the TOEFL, choosing which schools to apply to, doing applications, writing essays, asking for recommendations, and other activities connected to the application process.

Expedition Ann Arbor –  I will be writing about the experiences leading up to starting the program in Ann Arbor.   These will be posts about the gazillion things happening from getting the news of getting the acceptance, to my meet-ups with other admitted students, alums, etc, to my paperwork process, relocating, orientations, trips, classes, clubs, events and the rest of the ROSS experience.

Of course I will start writing again about other stuff that is happening in my life and reflections…but this is for those who are thinking about going to b-school.

Go Blue!

From Maroon and Green to MAIZE and BLUE…

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*this is also posted at  http://52in27.com/

HAPPY VALENTINES and HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!

These are two poems that I wrote last year that spoke about my prayers and what I was going through last year.

Silence Me

If my words are nonsense, vanities and lies,
If my speech does not bring your truth
If my conversations do not give you glory,
Then let me not speak, utter a word or even open my mouth.

If my voice leave me but do not carry praises to you,
If my songs are empty and do not tell of your love
If the melodies from my lips do not contain worship to you,
Forbid me to sing and let no sound escape from me.

Silence me until my heart beats only praises to you.
Silence me until my spirit worships only you
Silence me until my mind is filled with your truth
Silence me until everything within me cannot contain Your majesty, glory and love
That I just have to sing, speak and shout!

(originally posted: July 2, 2009)

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Confessions

How many times have I said I do not know You,
When I chose to sin and turn the other way?
How many times have I stood and scoffed at You,
When I did not choose to obey?

How many more times will; I sing and cry,
And say how sorry I am for doing wrong?
Yet live my life as if You did not exist.
How many more times will I hide behind closed doors;
Afraid and ashamed to say that I am Yours?
As if you have not come and died and counquered the grave, conquered it all.

You have come and set me free.
You have given it all up for me
On that glorious day at Calvary
You suffered and died in my place
You have paid in full
to save a wretched and sinful man in need of Grace.

This I know, that you love me so,
And I pray in my life it will always show.
No more hiding, scoffing, denying,
No acting, doubting and self-preserving.
No more double life for me.
I have only this life and I want to live it, only for You.

(12 April/19 April 2009, Beijing)

Went to Hong Kong last January 1-4, 2010.  Was just amazed how HK is so different from how I knew it before. Awesome place to visit!

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.” -excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Thanksgiving (1863)

I am not American. But for the last 3 years, I have been celebrating Thanksgiving with friends here in Beijing. I used to think that it is a senseless holiday that overshadows Christmas and is just an excuse to eat turkey, stuffing, yams and pumpkin pies.  But after having celebrated it with friends, hearing the History of Thanksgiving each year and learning from my American friends what this holiday means to them, I realized that there is more to this holiday than just turkeys, football, black friday, and pumpkin.

It is about…well, giving thanks. In our busy world, we usually pummel through each day busy and at full speed that we do not have time to sit down, evaluate, and be thankful for anything, to anyone or just have that attitude of gratitude. We always think that we need and deserve this or that.

So, although this is 2 days late,  in keeping with the holiday…here is my thanksgiving list:

I am thankful for:

my life, family, Nanay, Ate, friends, work, health, relationships,  BICF, The Embassy, small group, colleagues, people who serve, taxi drivers, ayi, people in my neighborhood, food, coffee, warm cinamon rolls, ginger tea, instant noodles, hot rice, soy milk, Peter’s Texmex, Jenny’s shop, chuanr, gummy bears, clothes, water, air, sleep, soft pillows, paint, music, ipod, snow, sun, moon, stars, clouds,mountains, trees, street lights, technology, science, microwave ovens, bicycles, television, computers,   yikatong, camera, airplaines, ziplock bags, cling wrap, notebooks, ballpens, random acquaintances, jokes, inspirational stuff … this list goes on…bible, salvation, sanctification, justification, grace, mercy, justice, hope, faith, love, joy, Jesus Christ.

I am fidgeting.  Staying sill in this narrow seat is almost impossible. The whole time, I’ve been moving, trying to get the best position that gives comfort and stability. I cannot stop doing it. I am nervous. My heart is racing like an Energizer bunny on steroids.  It’s that kind of feeling that you get right before going on stage in front of thousands of people. In my case, it’s only being in front of 1 person.  Maybe, it’s because I haven’t seen her for 7 years.  A lot has changed since then…or at least that’s what I think.  I’m older. She’s older. That’s obvious, right? Will she smile when she sees me?  I hope so. I remember her smile like it was just a few minutes ago that I last saw it. It was the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. Seeing it was like seeing the sun rise for the first time in your life. It was like an antidote to sadness and all the terrible things the world can throw at you. It was perfect.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are now starting our final approach to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. We’ll be landing in approximately 20 minutes. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts. It was a pleasure having you on our flight and we hope to see you soon in the future. Have a good day.”

Landing. This always gets me tense.  We have flown all the way and what if something goes wrong at this time?  I heard that 51 percent of airplane accidents happen during landing.  This is not helping me calm my nerves. The book I am holding right now still looks brand new and untouched which is not surprising as I have not been able to read it this whole time. The 7 cups of coffee is making me very jittery right now. What could I tell her?  What should I say? What will she say? Should I …. No! That will not help.

“Sir, could you please return your seatback to its full upright position….Sir?…Sir?”

“Sir?”

Oh…the flight attendant was talking to me.

“Uh…OK! Sorry about that”

This awkward smile should show my sincere apologies to this kind lady. What is this that is coming over me?  I’ve never been this crazy. I have to think. I still remember the last day we saw each other.  We were sitting at the slopes of the Sunken garden. It was a December afternoon…the sun was setting, the air was cool and she…she was.. beautiful. Her long black hair, her sparkling eyes, her beautiful lips, everything about her was just lovely. There was no doubt in my mind that she is girl I am going to spend the rest of my life with. The one I will marry…but…But all of that changed.

Unknown to him, she was hurting inside. She didn’t know how to break the news. It would devastate him.

We parted ways that day and never saw each other again. I thought everything was good between the two of us.  That night, I was even planning for our next date… dinner at the Chocolate Kiss after watching the annual lantern parade. But I never saw her again after that day.  She did not call. I didn’t know what happened…if it was something I did or said. I did not get to talk to her… not until after a few months. The next morning after that day did bring light to my questions.  There on the floor, just outside my bedroom door was a letter. I still remember picking it up, reading my name on the envelope, walking to the kitchen, opening the letter and reading it while the rays of the sun flooded the room with morning light.

The sun rose that day as my heart sunk…

I pray for peace.

I pray for comfort for the families.

I pray for justice.

I pray for the people to be awakened.

I pray for healing.

I pray for love to abound.

I thank God…because I know He is still sovereign and in control. He is faithful.

Let us continue to pray….

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This was just too much to bear and to keep. This is the link to the statement from GMA Network:

Statement of GMA Network on the Maguindanao massacre – Nation – GMANews.TV – Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs – Latest Philippine News.

I saw this kid selling bamboo crickets in Ayuthaya near a temple. I do not know why I took the picture in the first place. But as I reviewing the photos of that day, I just saw how this kid was really young and selling anything he can to be able to eat. His face says it all: the hardship of life that he is going through. I realized that I have a cushy and comfortable life here in the Jing. Sometimes, it is too comfortable that I forget that there is another world out there. It’s always good to have a reminder that urges us to think, evaluate our lives and find a way to help. In this case, I wish I had done something more for this kid than just take his picture.