Last Tuesday, a bus exploded in the middle of EDSA. People were killed and injured. Could this be a destabilization attempt under the PNoy administration? This administration has brought renewed confidence among the Filipino people in its quest to fight poverty. We hope that this tragedy or any other attempts, if any, will not weaken that confidence.

While I was on my way back home from the office, I chanced seeing the PNoy convoy headed to The Fort. They were quiet, with no wang wang and no flashing lights. This practice is clearly a statement being made by this new leader. I was also able to catch the end of his speech on TV. It was about his parents and how he misses them. In fact, it was former President Cory’s birthday last Tuesday. I guess we really do value most the people we love especially when they are gone. (more…)

Aside from five years in Go Negosyo, I also have my work in RFM Corporation — a food and beverage company. My grandfather started it in 1958. He passed it on to my father Joecon — the man who lit the first candle as the NAMFREL Chair during the Marcos years.

While he worked as the CEO of RFM, Joecon spent almost half of his time as a crusader and risked his life. NAMFREL was his creation, together with Ting Paterno, Vicente Jaime, Isabel Wilson, among others. My father started NAMFREL during his 50s. Fighting a battle for years instilled hope in the Filipino to guard the ballot. This paved the way for the people power revolution. (more…)

Many of us have been so busy with preparations and cleanups for the holidays. Before you know it, all the celebrations have come and gone so fast. Many of us who have approached our 40s and 50s somehow see time moving faster than those who are in their teens and 20s. Our Isabella, who is three years old, does not want to be called a baby, but rather an “ager”. She wants to look older, putting on make up at a very early age because her sisters and mother treat her like a baby doll. She also prefers conversing with older people.

Many of the young people also can’t wait to get older. They are happy to see their birthdays come and go fast. On the other hand, we want to delay the aging process. Occasions like birthdays and Christmases are those that remind us of our mortality. (more…)

As we look back at the year 2010, one cannot complain. It was a great year for those who participated in the Philippine economy, either as an entrepreneur or as an investor in the stock market or property market or those who kept their money in peso. In doing so, by investing in Philippine issued debt instruments or managed funds by reliable institutions, many enjoyed the fantastic returns.

The year 2010 saw the Philippines improve its image, with a peaceful and credible election, from the PGMA administration to the PNOY administration. We now have a new style of leadership, with PNOY’s simplicity and push for greater transparency and good governance. The awareness on the Philippines went higher, as Pacman’s victory in boxing showed Filipinos’ excellence in attitude and skills, passion and persistence. Charice’s Glee stint and Miss Universe Runner-Up Venus Raj’s “Major Major” all turned positive for us. The barometer on confidence, I am sure, hit an all time high, as we now see more optimists that pessimists. The perennial pessimists sadly did not benefit from any of these gains. (more…)