Sembreak has officially begun. Its about time that I do the business full time again. I also have a lot of things to deal with and finish. I have several goals to achieve. I have a book to finish. I have to work my ass again in the business. I have to deal with certain situations as well. Please help me God on the BE-DO-HAVE to achieve better, greater things, and positive greatness on all of those. Please help me deal with them rightly and greatly. I ask for enlightenment and Divine Light to help me in dealing with my sitiuations and endeavors.

I need to finish the book by Dale Carnegie, its called How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Its really a great book, and Im thankful to the friend who lend me that book in this timely situation. Don't worry, I will treat you naman for dinner bilang birthday treat =)

Im gonna be back to being busy and productive again. In fact my aim is to be busier and more productive than I was during the 1st semester. Its just about knowing and doing your priorities and achieving your goals.

Have a great one!

I went to my alma mater, Manila Science High School, to attend the Alumni Homecoming. It is great to visit my high school again and relive the old memories. Masci always has a place in both my mind and my heart. Its great to see my schoolmates, batchmates, teachers and co-Mascians. Its also great to have a reunion with SGW.

I treated my friends in KFC, because they decided to use the Alumni Homecoming occasion to celebrate my birthday as well. After visiting Masci, we, SGW, decided to play DOTA and other computer games near SM Manila. We played for almost 5 hours. Then we went to the place of Ross in Buendia to have a drinking session. 

I left earlier than them and its a good thing I was able to drive home safely despite the influence of alcohol. I know thats bad, and I will try not to do that again, hehe =)

A DRIVING FORCE

Finding a contemporary counterpart of Rama is a tall order. Rama is an ideal figure - loyal, devoted, even-tempered, trained in all the arts of peace and war, and kind to all (Rosenberg 1996, p. 302). Such is the greatness and the excellence of Rama. There are many great figures in the contemporary world, but only few can match the magnitude of Rama's greatness. These personalities are one in a million. Out of these one in a million personalities, I choose Michael Schumacher.

Michael Schumacher is a seven times Formula One world champion. Like all the great drivers Schumacher has exceptional ambition, confidence, intelligence, motivation, dedication and determination. But few have combined these qualities to create such excellence and even fewer have been so excellent for so long. For Schumacher, his sheer enthusiasm for driving (he still goes karting for fun) is like a fountain of youth, his search for improvement never ends and his racing success drives him on (http://www.formula1.com/archive/halloffame/driver/7.html). He is considered by many as the greatest driver of all time (Kehm 2003, p 13).

Rama is considered to be the best of men (Rosenberg 1996, p. 301). Schumacher is considered by many to be the best in his generation. Rama possesses superior combat skills and fighting abilities while Schumacher possess shrewd racecraft and untouchable driving skills. Both men are not only prodigiously talented, but they also have  great attitude and character as well.

Michael Schumacher can be compared to Rama not only because he has similar characteristics with Rama, but also because he has the characteristics of a Hindu hero. He can be considered as a modern day Hindu hero, and as a modern day Rama.

The Hindu hero should be loyal to the righteous behavior or dharma (Rosenberg 1996, p. 297). Rama is loyal to his dharma. He obeyed his father even if it meant relinquishing the throne and being a hermit (Rosenberg 1996, p. 305). Michael is loyal to his duty as a driver for the Scuderia Ferrari team and as the president of the Grand Prix Driver's Association. As a driver for his team, Michael works very hard to contribute to the team's success. He is very professional in the way he works with his mechanics and engineers (Kehm 2003, p. 43). He is also very professional in doing things that are not related to driving, such as promoting the products of the team's sponsors as well as doing public relations work for the team and its sponsors. As the president of the GPDA, he has religiously campaigned for safety improvement for the sake of his colleagues. As a Formula One world champion, he has used his influence to encourage and promote safe driving to motorists.

The Hindu hero is expected to remain devoted to duty (Rosenberg 1996, p. 297). Rama is devoted to his duty by staying as a hermit for 14 years and enduring the sufferings and endeavors that come. Michael is very much devoted to his duty. He is usually the first in the team to arrive at the race track (he arrives even before the car), and is the last to leave the race track (Kehm 1996, p. 45). He is known for "giving 110% at 100% of the time"(Kehm 1996, p. 43). He is known for his commitment in winning as well as for his work ethics. There was never an occassion where he complains about the work to be done (Kehm 1996. p. 43). Michael does more than driving the car fast, he also tests the car, he helps his engineers develop the car, he motivates his mechanics to do their best, he does public relations work for the team, and he sees to it that the team is united in one direction.

A Hindu hero is known for putting responsibilities to his subjects ahead of his personal life (Rosenberg 1996, p. 297). Rama displayed that when he left his wife because people in his kingdom doubted her virtues (Rosenberg 1996, p. 316). Michael sacrifices time for his family by performing his obligations for the team.  Usually, the summer three week break is the time where Formula One drivers take a break and have a relaxation, but not Michael. Instead of spending quality time with his wife and children, Michael spends it by helping the team develop a winning car. There was even an occassion where Michael slept on the track garage because he was testing the car until night time (Kehm 2003, p. 57).

The Hindu hero is model for proper behavior among his subjects (Rosenberg 1996, p. 297). Rama was a model because of his devotion to his dharma. Michael is a model for proper behavior among his team. He is more than a driver for Ferrari, he is the leader as well. He is the heart and soul of Ferrari. He is known for his leadership by example. Because of his positive energy when performing the job at hand, the rest of the team gets to acquire that positive energy as well. His optimism, exuberance and work ethics are infectious. (Kehm 2003, p. 45). He does his job with such commitment and dedication. Because he gives full effort and focus in doing his job, his teammates get motivated to give full effort and focus to their job as well.

No Ferrari driver has worked harder for the team, nor has any been more appreciated than the man who has led the team to six successive Constructors' Championships. He leads by example, frequently visiting the factory at Maranello, talking to the personnel, thanking them, encouraging them, never criticising and inspiring everyone with his optimism, high energy level and huge work ethic. The team is devoted to the driver who often says he "loves" the Ferrari "family." (http://www.formula1.com/archive/halloffame/driver/7.html)

The Hindu hero honors the attitudes of his subjects and obey their wishes (Rosenberg 1996, p. 297). Rama did just that when he left his wife because people in his kingdom doubted her virtues. Michael honors the attitudes of his mechanics and engineers by being open to their suggestions, and by not putting the blaming finger on them when things go wrong. (Kehm 2003, p. 51). He obeys their wishes when he tries their suggestions about his driving technique and approach. He is open-minded enought and does not force his will on the team.

Both Michael Schumacher and Rama are exceptional figures. They are persons whom we witness once in a lifetime, at least in the case of Michael Schumacher. Excellence and greatness are bestowed upon them. Rama's legend will be told from generation to generation on how he defeated the evils of the world. Schumi, as Michael is called popularly, will be missed by many racing fans when the day comes that he would have to hang up his helmet. People will remember Schumi on how he ended Ferrari's 21 years of championship drought, and on how he led Ferrari to dominance that the sport has never seen - 5 consecutive driver titles, and 6 consecutve team titles. People will remember Michael Schumacher as the driver who dominated the sport like no other - 7 world championships, 91 races wins, and 68 poles and counting are almost improbable to be surpassed. Like the legend of Rama, the legend of Schumi will be told from generation to generation.

REFERENCES

Rosenberg, Donna. World Mythology: An Anthology of Great Myths and Epics Second Edition. National Textook Company: Illinois, 1996.

Kehm, Sabine. Michael Schumacher: Driving Force. Edsbury Press: London, 2003.

http://www.formula1.com/archive/halloffame/driver/7.html

It was not a typical birthday were I celebrate it the whole day. I had exams for Political Dynamics and Spanish. I had to study and fully understand a 300+ page reader for the Political Dynamics exam. But still, for me its not about the celebration and those stuff, but rather the positive greatness of the day.

I went to UST at around 1030AM and went to the church to pray and talk to God because its my birthday, and I want to celebrate and share my birthday with Him. I prayed that this birthday would be positively great and would lead for better and greater things for me and my life as well as my situations in life. I also prayed for guidance and enlightenment as I deal with the challenges in life as well as in different situations that I am experiencing. I asked for HIS help on my BE-DO-HAVE to achieve better, greater things, positive greatness, happiness, goals, and His Will and Glory on my birthday as well as for the rest of the days to come. I also prayed for help in my endeavors to turn the negatives into positives, the worse and bad things into good and better things.

I did pretty well in both exams. I finished it quite quickly. I was confident of my performance and I hope and pray it would lead to a great result.

Now I am studying for my exam tomorrow as well as waiting for my family because we are gonna have a family dinner.

Thank you God for all the good and the bad, and for the blesssings and sufferings , and for the help and guidance that You gave me in my 20 years of existence. Thank You for living my life with me.  Thanks to my family, my friends, my mates, and to everyone who made my day happy and positively great.

Things havent been really good for me for a while. Its been a month long stress and worry. Things are quite negative for me this past month. I hope and pray that I will be able to turn these negatives into positives. It seems that its going downward spiral. I would want to stop that and start working and achieving better and greater things. Please help me God in this challenging and stressed situation that I am experiencing. Please help me turn the negatives into positives, turn things around, prevent things from getting worse and out of hand and start working and achieving betterment and greaterment. Lets achieve positive greatness together. Please help me focus on achieving Your Will and not be distracted by unimportant things not worth being worried about. Please help me become an IceMan again and be calm and collected despite the tough situation. Lets do this together and pull this off together. Please help me deal with the situation with the people involved rightly, greatly, and in accordance to Your Will.

I also pray for a great and happy birthday for me. May it be a positively great one and may it lead for better and greater things.

Im currently reading a book lend by Marnelle, its called How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie, its really been a great help for me. I havent  finished it yet, but so far it is helping me cope with the stress and pressure better as well as deal with worrying. This past month I have been stressed out because of not so good things happening and some negative situations. This has caused my contemplations and reflections turn into worries. I would want to focus on my goals and not be distracted by these unimportant situations that doesnt deserved to be worried about. Its a timely read. Thanks Marnelle for being a great help in this =)

There are some people who just do what they want to do, or whatever makes them happy. I have no problem with that. You can do whatever you do really, you have free will, and you have freedom to do it. You have the right to do it. Just make sure you dont step on someone's rights. You can do whatever you want to be happy, just dont step on someone's happiness just for that. You can do whatever you want really and act and live the way you want, but just be mindful of the others who might get affected with the consequences of that.

Our society has become too liberal. We live in an era where those people who have strong sense of values are often disadvantaged. We live in an era where ruthlessness is an issue to be admired. I admit that Im conservative when it comes to morals and ethics. I try my hardest to maintain my principles and maintain strong sense of values. I live my life achieving my goals, my dreams, and my happiness, but I make sure I dont step on someone, I dont hurt someone, or I dont harm someone when trying to achieve those. I just hope there will be more people like that.

You can do whatever you want, I dont really care, the fuck do I care! Its your life, not mine. Just do it right and keep it good and keep it to yourself, no need to show it off.

My Best Friend's Wedding
" If you love someone, you say it, you say it right then, out loud, or
the moment just...passes you by"

Phenomenom
George: "Hey, would you, uh, love me the rest of my life?"
Lace: "No. Im gonna love you for the rest of mine."

Indecent Proposal
"If you ever want some something badly, let it go. If it comes back to you, then it's yours
forever. If it doesnt, then it was never yours to begin with."

Notting Hill
William: "I live in Notting Hill. You live in Beverly Hills. Everyone
in the world knows who you are. My mother doesnt even know my name."

Anna: "Im also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

The Bridges of Madison County
"I dont want to need you, cause I cant have you."

Untamed Heart
Caroline: "You love with your mind and soul, not your heart."
Adam: [touching his chest] " Then how come I hurt here when you are not with
me?"

Jerry Maguire
Jerry: "I love you. You...complete me."
Dorothy: "Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at "hello".

Meet Joe Black
William Parrish: "Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live
 without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up
with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy
 and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him?
 Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart.
 Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth
is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the
 journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life
 at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't
lived."

Runaway Bride
"Look, I guarantee that we'll have tough times. And I guarantee that at some point,
one or both of us will want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee
that if I dont ask you to be min I'll regret it for the rest of my life.
Because I know in my heart, you are the only one for me."

Love Story
"Love means never having to say you're sorry."

The English Patient
Katharine: "Promise me you'll come back for me."
Almasy: "I promise, I'll come back for you. I promise, I'll never leave you."

Moulin Rouge
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

When Harry Met Sally
"It's not because I'm lonely, and its not because its New Year's Eve.
I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of
your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon
as possible."

Shadowlands
"We cant have the happiness of yesterday without the paind of today."

As Good as It Gets
Melvin: "You make me want to be a better man."
Carol; "That's maybe the best compliment of my life"

GO THE DISTANCE - HERCULES OST

I have often dreamed, of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome, would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer, when they see my face
And a voice keeps saying, this is where I'm meant to be
I'll be there someday, I can go the distance
I will find my way, if I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile, will be worth my while
When I go the distance, I'll be right where I belong
Down an unknown road, to embrace my fate
Though that road may wander, it will lead me to you
And a thousand years, would be worth the wait
It might take a lifetime, but somehow I'll see it through
And I won't look back, I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track, no, I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance, and my journey is complete
But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart
Like a shooting star, I will go the distance
I will search the world, I will face its' harms
I don't care how far, I can go the distance
Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms
I will search the world, I will face it's harms
Till I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms

108 reasons why its good to be a bloke!!!

1. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
2. Movie nudity is virtually always female.
3. You know stuff about tanks.
4. A week's holiday requires only one suitcase.
5. Match of the Day.
6. You don't have to monitor your friends' sex lives.
7. Queues for the toilet are 90% shorter.
8. You can open all your own jars.
9. Old friends don't give you crap if you've lost or gained weight.
10. Dry cleaners and haircutter's don't rob you blind.
11. When channel surfing, you don't have to stall on every shot of
someone crying.
12. Your arse is never a factor in a job interview.
13. All your orgasms are real.
14. A beer gut does not make you invisible to the opposite sex.
15. Guys in hockey masks don't attack you.
16. You don't have to lug a bag of useless stuff around everywhere
you go.
17. People expect you to masturbate.
18. You can go to the bathroom without a support group.
19. Your last name stays put.
20. You can leave a hotel bed unmade.
21. When your work is criticised, you don't have to panic that
everyone secretly hates you.
22. You can kill your own food.
23. The garage is all yours.
24. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
25. You can fart with impunity.
26. Nobody secretly wonders if you swallow.
27. You never have to clean the toilet. Or oven.
28. You can be showered and ready in 10 minutes.
29. Sex means never worrying about your reputation.
30. Wedding plans take care of themselves.
31. If someone forgets to invite you to something, he or she can
still be your friend.
32. Your underwear is £5 for a three pack.
33. You understand why Beavis and Butthead is funny.
34. tb, default of your co-workers have the power to make you cry.
35. You don't have to shave below your neck.
36. You don't have to curl up next to a hairy arse every night.
37. If you're 34 and single nobody gives a shit.
38. You can write your name in the snow.
39. You don't have to bother having a proper conversation with your
mates down the pub.
40. Everything on your face stays its original colour.
41. Chocolate is just another snack.
42. You can understand the offside rule in football.
43. You can quietly enjoy a car ride from the passenger seat.
44. Flowers fix everything.
45. You never have to worry about other people's feelings.
46. You get to think about sex 90% of your waking hours.
47. You can wear a white shirt in the rain.
48. Three pair of shoes are more than enough for most of your life.
49. You can boast about the number of people you've slept with.
50. You can say anything and not worry about what people think.
51. Foreplay is optional.
52. Michael Bolton doesn't live in your universe.
53. Nobody stops telling a good dirty joke when you walk into the
room.
54. You can whip your shirt off on a hot day.
55. You don't have to clean your flat if the metre reader is coming
by.
56. You never feel compelled to stop a pal from getting laid.
57. Car mechanics tell you the truth.
58. You don't give a toss if no one notices your new haircut.
59. You can watch a game in silence with your mate for hours without
even thinking "He must be mad at me"
60. The world is your urinal.
61. You never misconstrue innocuous statements to mean your lover is
about to leave you.
62. You can play and enjoy computer games other than Tetris.
63. Hot wax never comes near your pubic area.
64. One mood, all the time.
65. You can admire Tim Roth without starving yourself to look like
him.
66. You can remember the punchlines to jokes.
67. You know at least 20 ways to open a beer bottle.
68. You can sit with your knees apart no matter what you are wearing.
69. Same work....more pay.
70. Grey hair and wrinkles add character.
71. You don't have to leave the room to make an emergency crutch
adjustment.
72. Wedding Dress 1000; Morning suit hire 50.
73. You don't care if someone is talking about you behind your back.
74. With 400 million sperm per shot, you could double the Earth's
population in 15 tries, at least in theory.
75. You don't mooch off others' desserts.
76. If you retain water, it's in a canteen.
77. The remote is yours and yours alone.
78. People never glance at your chest when you're talking to them.
79. You can sit in a pub on your own without plonkers trying to cop
off with you.
80. You can drop by to see a friend without bringing a little gift.
81. Stag nights are much more fun than Hen nights.
82. You have a normal and healthy relationship with your mother.
83. You can buy condoms without the shopkeeper imagining you naked.
84. You needn't pretend you're "freshening up" to go to the bathroom.
85. If you don't call your buddy when you say you will, he won't
tell your friends you've changed.
86. Someday you'll be a dirty old man.
87. You can rationalise any behaviour with the handy phrase "Fuck
it!"
88. If an other bloke shows up at the party in the same outfit, you
might become lifelong buddies.
89. You can teach your friend's children swear words.
90. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
91. You never have to miss a sexual opportunity because you're not
in the mood.
92. You think the idea of punting a small dog is funny.
93. If something mechanical didn't work, you can bash it with a
hammer and throw it across the room.
94. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
95. Porn movies are designed with your mind in mind.
96. You don't have to remember everyone's birthdays and
anniversaries.
97. Not liking a person does not preclude having great sex with them.
98. Your pals can be trusted never to trap you with: "So... notice
anything different?"
99. Baywatch
100. You can't get pregnant.
101.You understand why Stripes is funny.
102.You see the humour in Terms of Endearment.
103.You can get into a non-trivial pissing contest.
104.You can be Prime Minister.
105.You can eat a banana in a hardware store.
106.You get to jump up and slap stuff.
107.You never have to drive to another petrol station, because this
ones too skivvy.
108.There is always a game on somewhere.