Brigada Eskwela : A Successful One

I just got home from a whole day downtown stay. I tied myself a week ago to a commitment of today's event,the BRIGADA ESKWELA, a company's activity. The activity's highlight was the painting of a 15-room school building of the Davao City National Highschool.

As a voluteering individual, I woke up early just like a working day. I stepped off from home with my comfortable ragged attire and went to the site. I was so excited this morning because it has been years since I painted my own room and that was the last time that I have an encounter with the paintbrush plus our SVP told us that he wanted the activity to be a festive one. It was indeed a fun!

We, the company volunteers were grouped according to our sportsfest color as our work will be rated to make it a contest. The areas of responsibility were drawn and unfortunately, my group was assigned to the other end of the building where the area was big. My group then did not waste the time given. We immediately started working. I was the first one to roll the paint roller on the wall. Others were cleaning the grills and doing some improvements infront of our area of responsibility. My group was the last group to finish.

We had our lunch at almost 12:00nn then the result for the contest was announced. Btw, the judges were all personnels of that school that we were painting. The criteria includes the ground improvement(area of responsibility), cleanliness of the painted walls or say the quality and etc.

Guess who's team was winner? Hahahahaha... I was just surprised because my team won! Everybody in my team was surprised! We no longer expected to win because as I've told you, we were the last to finish. Now, I believe in what the elder say,Slowy, but surely." Hahahahaha... Cheers!

Busy Days are Coming....

Busy days are coming that I have to freeze my gym membership. Just last night, I was trying to see what I have in store next week. Oh well, busy days started just this week. I was from a week vacation last week and when I came back to work, what I did first was I checked my mailbox and send off response to mails that need my reply. Then I was busy preparing my template for the revision of the department's budget.

Today, I was busy linking the sheets on the template. My eyes surrendered so I stopped and prepared the program(showing off my artistic design) that I have to use for the Sunday's activity which is the CSR-Orientation (I was asked to host the program). I prepared everything. Just tonight, I was out with my friends to watch a movie and actually, I just arrived :). I have to sleep now because another community service is going to be successful tomorrow. I will be joining a company's Corporate Social Responsibility Activity which is the BRIGADA ESKWELA. We will be painting a school! Yes, I love to paint hehehehehe... So, have to go ahead friends... Ciao!

Here I Am Again

A friend of mine shared this song to me and I kind of like it too. And I want to share this song to you, my friends. Please check the lyrics below :)





Here I am again
Trying to take my chance
I'm looking for your touch
Longing for your warm embrace
Oh how I miss you baby

Here I am again
Trying to say the words
I failed to say before
I wish I've said it all to you
Oh how I miss you baby

Here I am again
Trying to say the words
I failed to say before
I wish I've said it all to you
Oh how I love you baby

REFRAIN:
You're the only one
Who can make my life complete
Oh baby your love is all I need
You're the only one
Who can bring a smile to me
The only one that I wanna be with

Here I am again
Waitin' for the time
When you will say the words
That made us to become one
Oh how, I long for your love

(Instrumental)

You're the only one
Who can bring a smile to me
The only one that I wanna be with

Here I am again
Trying to say the words
I failed to say before
Oh how I love you so

The Truth Is : ASPARTAME is Absolutely Safe!

Last year, I received an email about aspartame, as a silent killer. Sad to say, I no longer have a copy of that article.

Just yesterday, while I was browsing on the internet, I've read this article that really confused me, "The Truth Is : ASPARTAME is Absolutely Safe!" I don't know which article is true. Anyways, I want to share this article with you.

From the press center:

The truth is this: Aspartame is absolutely safe.

It is an artificial sweetener which has been in use for more than two decades, in over 6,000 products and in more than 100 countries all over the world, by over 2 million people. It has been proven safe by many international health agencies all over the world, including the US Food and Drug Administration.

Aspartame is not only found in sodas but also in common everyday things like breath mints, cereals, chewing gum, syrups, ice cream, iced tea, gelatins, jams and jellies, maple syrup and soft candy.

According to the website, http://www.aspartame.org "Aspartame has been extensively studied in animals and humans for more than two decades.

In 1981, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved aspartame, it noted: "Few compounds have withstood such detailed testing and repeated, close scrutiny, and the process through which aspartame has gone should provide the public with additional confidence of its safety." FDA has affirmed the safety of aspartame 26 times over a period of 23 years (www.aspartame.org. 2006)."

Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly studied food ingredients, with more than 200 scientific studies confirming its safety.

Aspartame was approved in 1981 for use in tabletop sweeteners, various foods and dry beverage mixes, making it the first low-calorie sweetener approved by the FDA in more than 25 years. In 1983, the FDA approved aspartame for use in carbonated beverages. This was followed by a number of other product category approvals over the next 13 years, leading to a general use approval in foods and beverages in 1996.

In addition to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (JECFA) and the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Union (SCF) have reviewed the research on aspartame and determined it to be safe. Aspartame is approved for use in food and beverage products in more than 100 countries.

The bottom line is this: Aspartame is safe.

As for the malicious text messages of people who aim to put the "quoted products" down, the manufacturers have this to say: We here at Coca-Cola know that to truly create a lasting brand, there must be integrity in everything that we do. Because at the end of the day success smiles not on those who seek the easy way, but those who take the long road and walk it.

Bad News

Just during the outreach, a news was delivered - our company's beloved president died. I felt deeply sad and very very sad because all of us, his employees have not seen him for a long time not knowing we could never see him again.

I will be preparing for my trip. In a few hours I will be leaving Davao City for a week vacation at my hometown. When I get back, I will be writing something about my ever dearest boss whom I and my officemates missed so much....

The Successful Marahan Outreach

Today, May 18,2008, another outreach was successfully done in Barangay Marahan, Marilog District, participated by different young professionals from Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu; nurses; doctors, businessmen and volunteers.

Some young professionals were already there since last week doing some community services to the residents of the place. They did some paintings to some buildings and also did some teaching to the kids and the parents. I guess they really had fun during their stay.

I was invited by a friend to join them in the activity. I invited some friends and we were tasked to do storytelling and parlor games for the children.


We started our tasks with the coloring book, then storytelling. After the storytelling, some dentists gave a lecture to the kids on how to do proper brushing of teeth then they handed out some giveaways of toothpastes and tootbrushes. Then we continued entertaining the kids with some parlor games.

We had fun. The outreach was something different from the previous outreach programs I have joined. That was more of creating a bond with the kids. I enjoyed a lot.

Human as I Am....

Today is a day I won't forget. For the first time after few weeks, I remembered a dream... Guess what it's all about... dugh! It's about an unresolved problem of yesterday. I just don't know why when I worry so much about something, I always have them in my dreams.

Yesterday, at work, I received an email from my boss asking me to comment on to something which, for me, is very important. And I asked myself what happened. Did that happened because I'm stupid? Well, I'm just a human - I commit mistakes. The thought about that thing never left my min until it became a part of my dream.

Just this morning, I gave enough time to analyze the possible ways why it happened or how? I went to the big storage room alone trying to find the document I needed. I spent more than an hour there but I found none. I went out of idea except asking help from my boss about what to do and how to explain. The my boss and I shared ideas on how to prevent such case to happen again.

I made an email draft as a reply to the email (to send it before I violate an email etiquette) I received yesterday. Then made sure its really what I want to say.

Of course, I asked sorry about what happened because I admit I really made a mistake. I could not really recall if somebody took the document from my table that I have not included it in the list for maintenance....

At least now, I could sleep well... hehehehehe... Thanks to God!

Making a Sense of Purpose

When I was still a kid, I have always been asking why I am here? What am I here for? What's my purpose? I just live my life leaving those questions unanswered.

When I was in highschool, I was in an organization where we do outreach programs and at the same time serve the church. The feeling was really good knowing and discovering bit by bit that my life has a purpose - serving the people.

College made me missed that feeling though I joined an organization that is serving in Liturgical activities.

And I missed everything when I had my first job. No connection to what I thought was my purpose. All I did was work, work and work.

3 years ago, I joined in a company which drove me closer to my purpose. It gave me opportunities to communicate and interact with different kinds of people. Yes, am closer to my purpose. I have put additional length to my patience and I've become more close to people. And that made me love my work now, as a part of the customer service group still, in the same company.

Last year, I have never imagined I could do something for those innocent children of God. I organized a simple gift-giving with some office friends and yes, we made those kids happy. It's a good feeling to let people know that someone who, they don't know cares for them.

Just last April 26,2008, together with other big companies, my company sponsored a medical outreach program and gift-giving at the very far Megkawayan, Calinan. Again, I was given the opportunity to be a part of it. The event was filled with voulteers. I was there the whole day. I was serving those less fortunates and you know what, I couldn't explain the looks in their faces. But for sure, they're very happy to know that a lot of people cared for them.

My heart was filled with gladness. The feeling of having a purpose is very very good. I don't know how to describe it but it just made me feel a dream come true. It was just a start and I am very much looking forward to join the company's upcoming outreach events.