Pablo Francisco: A stand-up comedian

By: Sherwin V. Centeno

Have you ever been to a stand up bar before? Here in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines where I lived, have one but had been closed because nobody is so fond of going there and hearing those comedy acts they perform. In some places all over the world are very much hooked in stand-up comedies and seems enjoying stuff that makes them laugh. Oh, those comedians, they sure know what they’re doing to make you laugh. It helps you forget stress in work, at home, and elsewhere.
The comedy bar is simple, a stage where the performer will perform and couches where the audience would sit there comfortably drinking and eating and laughing their heart out of the jokes that the performer would say. Most of them do green jokes to make everyone laugh and some would sing and impersonate important people you might know of. Most performers here in the Philippines are gays because they are the one who most likely has the guts to do these things and has the talent of performing. It’s very hard to make a big crowd laugh. Little joke in a conversation in a small group would be fine. Inserting little green jokes during talks would simply keep a lively conversation. On a bigger crowd and on stage, oh boy, it would take a talent to fulfil that.

A friend of mine came across Pablo Francisco at youtube.com; a Hispanic- American who was born in Tucson, Arizona. Who grew up of Chilean origin performs live on stage as a stand-up comedian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Francisco). He loves to talk about “green stuff” (you know what I mean). He surely is good at it. He is been performing for quite a while now and has a lot of fans. He can do beat box, change his voice to a woman and a man in an instant and acts along with it. Oh yes, he is really good.
How about you, do you have the talent like this?

Tuggs…tuggs…tugss…boommmmboommmm…

Love is a many splendor things

By: Sherwin V. Centeno

Is love really An Splendor Things? Is there true and false love? Well firstly let me define love. When I was still in high school we define or associate love with a bubble gum. It says “Love is like a bubble gum, when it sticks on you, you’ll get crazy.” Grolier dictionary defines love as a) an intense affectionate concern to another person, b) a beloved person. Often used as a term for endearment.

Yes! Love can be a many splendor things because once in love you will do anything for that other person. You get excited when you are about to see him or her, or giving her or him a gift, or going on expensive date to impress you love which may be way out of your budget. Funny but it is true. We tend to buy or do things for someone we love because of the fact we care and love that person. You also sacrifice things for someone you love even if it is your own life. Me my self would do that for my special someone someday. Would you?

What if love fades, would you be the same person as you were once in love? Is this then false love? When we fall out of love, as per experience we also go crazy, you losses your appetite, stay in your room crying your heart out and some may tend to commit suicide, or would you move on with your life and find another love.

Some say that love is a trial and error thing; in which to find your love you have to try a few partners to find the perfect one for you. Some had found it the first time and the easy way. Some found it the long and hard way. Some had mistakenly fall, got married, but still lost that love and feeling.

The song LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDOR THING by Four Aces is one of my old time favorite which inspires me that there is true love.

For now, what I am feeling is A MANY SPLENDOR THING because I am in love and will to do everything for my love. How about you, would you do it, too?

The Moon

By: Sherwin Centeno

After the hard poured rain the last few months, those typhoons that had hit our country seem very stressful for us. Floods and land slides often occur during this time and disaster over certain areas of the country would suspend classes and evacuees are getting bigger each day. News in over the news paper, radios, and television are getting intense and people are getting tense about it.

For the past few days, have you ever tried to look up in the sky at night and gaze on the moon? Have you not notice that recently it had shine so bright as if it is shining on you? Well I have.

The moon is a natural satellite of the earth, visible by reflection of sunlight, having a slight elliptical orbit, approximately 221,600 miles distant at perigee and 252,950 miles at apogee. Its mean diameter is 2,160 miles, its mass approximately one-eightieth that of earth, and its average period of revolution around the earth 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes calculated with respect to the sun as Grolier dictionary defines it.

Riding my motorcycle coming home from a visit from a very charming and pretty lady I knew, I get to glance at the sky and notice the moon brightly shines over me. As I pass by the new bridge connecting Puntod and Kauswagan over the Cagayan de Oro River, I get to wonder and ask does this moon really shine’s over me? Then it hit my head of my old favorite songs MOON RIVER by Andy Williams and FLY ME TO THE MOON by Frank Sinatra. Oh how I wish I could fly to the moon.

The songs give meaning to the moon in relevance of love which you long for and worship and adore. So in others, I LOVE YOU…

So step out from your houses and feel what the moon it trying to say to you.

That thing called TAGGED

You might be confused why this article seemed to have a different author. Well, yes it is. He wrote this blog for me and he asked me to post this on my blog. Here it goes:

By: Sherwin Centeno

Are you familiar about TAGGED? Have you joined TAGGED? Well for those who have not joined or not familiar with TAGGED, it is a website of finding and hooking with old and new friends. It is like Friendster, Facebook, or Multiply. I have been a member of TAGGED for quite a while now and was quite hooked in because of different and interesting people you get to know and might meet.

Well honestly speaking, I have known and met some of them. It started when I sent messages to them that I am interested to know them. One of them who I was so interested because of her charm and beauty responded and gave me her number. I started to call her and talked over the phone more than an hour. I was uneasy unless I get to see her personally. She agreed to see me and right there and then she had swept me off my feet.

We talked for hours and felt comfortable with each other. The talked was to know each other and then I found out she was married but separated and has 2 great and loving kids. I was hesitant then but she really swept me off my feet. The next day I ask her if I could visit her again and she agreed. Oh we really love each others company, it is like a chemistry of two compound elements when mix it gives a great pair.

As time went by, a constant visit and a few dates I felt love. A feeling lost more than five years. I know that she also has the same feeling for me but the problem was she was still married and a lot might turn against our relationship.

Two weeks, we ended this and said our goodbyes for we both know it is the best for us. I still love her and have a place in my heart and will stay as a true and trusted friend to her for ever.

And this is all because of “That thing called TAGGED.”

My Heart has a Mind of Its Own

Have you ever heard of the song titled “Mind of its Own” by Christian Bautista? Hummmm… This song was not yet released here in the Philippine but was already been sang in Singapore. I heard it in one of his concerts here in Cagayan de Oro and since then I fell in love with it.

A part of the song says in the chorus part:
My heart has a mind of its own
Right or wrong it’s gonna do
Only what it feel is true
I’ll follow it where ever it goes
Anywhere it leads me to
My heart has a mind, mind of its own.

It had touched my life since I heard it. It gave me a turning point in which I consider it a jump start of a new beginning, a new chapter of my life.

Medically, though some would say that the heart dictates the emotions you are feeling right now but anatomically, your hypothalamus (found in the brain) is the one controlling your heart to feel these emotions now, it may be a lost from a loved one, a separation from a family, a death of a best friend. All may be felt, be happy, sad, despair or most of all love which we consider the most common used emotion all over the world, I, my self will say that.

Love! I have lost it, found it and lost it again. Now, I am very much afraid of falling in love again. It hurts a lot to loose the love you thought would last a life time. God had made plans for us but we are the one to decide whether to take it as it is or venture to a path which we knew we might fall down to. Thus hardship and trials will come our way but who knows, we might learn from our mistakes. I have learned some, have you?

The heart is the center of attraction of all because love is being felt by it. Also our life depends on it to live in this world. Blood passes through it and travels to our entire system thus giving it a very important role of every person’s life. Our action of love comes from it though controlled by the brain. For me, the heart gives love a deeper meaning in us all. As another song goes, “love will keep us alive”. Do you agree?

Way of communication changed over the years

The digital age is taking the lead in communicating with one another and with today’s latest technology and innovation perhaps there is no reason why we can’t break the barriers of communication. In just a matter of seconds we can close a deal right away without exerting much effort in traveling and spending money for a trip just to settle something with a client or a business partner.

I became an internet savvy person when I entered into the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) world. My knowledge in using the computer had expanded. Also, the time spent in front of the PC had increased- thanks to my brother-in-law- provided me with internet connection that had proved to be very useful.

One thing I missed is the old fashion way of communicating. A long conversation on the telephone until your ears burn from the pressure of the handset or simply seeing the person you are talking to. Snail mails, that would take a month or so to arrive to friends or relatives from distant places, were being replaced by the digital-age way of communication.

Webcams and cellular phones are the trend nowadays. Even mobile phone models were upgraded every month to catch up with people’s lifestyle. You can send messages, do unlimited calls 24/7, regardless what network you are hooked to attempt to outdo the competition. Of course, there is also the popular and widely used Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Eyeball and among others as ways of communicating using the World Wide Web. You just add the email address of your contacts and there you can instantly chat, talk and even simultaneously see them online. The electronic mail (e-mail) is one of the services that the internet can provide to people who have no time of snail mails. All you need is just an e-mail account from the various websites such as Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, Facebook, Friendster, and a lot more to send and receive electronic letters with just a snap of your finger.

The digital age had improved the way of communication in the workplace, businesses and to people from different walks of life in any part of the globe and has definitely made the world’s way smaller than it used to be.

But sad to say I, myself is not a techie person. The world of technology may evolve around me but I cannot adapt to its fast pace of growth. Hehehehe…

“Till Debt Do Us Part: Practical Tips to Financial Freedom”

I came across an article in The Philippine Star newspaper written by Butch Francisco, a showbiz talk show host of ABS-CBN’s Showbiz Linggo. He had a one on one interview with Chinkee Tan. As far as I could remember, his funny facial expressions on television made me laugh way back in the late 80’s. I even researched on the internet for some important information about him. His real name is Ferdinand Tan, also known as Chinkee Tan in show business. He was one of the members of Randy Santiago’s Hawi Boys, (the cowboy outlaws spoof of Philippine television) who also gave him the screen name, ”Chinkee” because of his chinito eyes. Honestly speaking, I am not a big fan of him and neither watches his shows regularly when he was still active in show business world. What brought me to write this “blog” is that he caught my attention of the book that he had written “Till Debt Do Us Part”, which I think is a very useful guide to financial management. Today, he as a successful entrepreneur, shares his practical tips on how to be debt free. Here are 11 ways taken from the book he wrote:

1. Love your profession. Be a professional. Be excellent in what you are doing. Never be late for work. Do your best. Never take things for granted. What you do not value you lose. You will never know how important it is until you lose it.
2. Save! Save! Save! Remember it is not how much you make that is important but how much money you save. Even if you make P100, 000 a month but if your lifestyle is at P120,000 a month you will be in debt. Even if you make only 20,000 a month but if you live below it you will be far of richer than the one who is making P100,000.
3. Be secure! Never compare yourself with other people. Being envious with other is not healthy. Two negative things happen, it is either you become proud that you are ahead of others or you become sad because others are ahead of you. They are both negative. The question we need to ask ourselves is that “Did you do your best and exert all effort?” If nothing happens it is not God’s will. Wait patiently for your time will come.
4. Invest! Invest! Invest! As you accumulate wealth make sure that invest it in the right places. I personally have invested some of my earnings in real estate and now I am having it leased and it is bringing me income even if I stop working. Questions you need to ask yourself “What if I stop working right now, will I still earn the money I need to support my lifestyle?” Let money work for you and do not work for money.
5. Learn before investing. People often complain about the high cost of learning. Allow me to reason with you about the high cost of ignorance. It is so difficult to earn and save money. But it is so easy to spend it. One wrong decision can cost you lifetime savings. Make sure before you invest ask, study and invest in something you understand. Learn before you earn. Read books, attend seminars and trainings that will enhance you.
6. One caution in investment. Avoid high risk investment. The higher the interest the higher the risk.
7. Diversify. Never put your eggs in one basket. You are only good as your last project. Reinvent yourself. You cannot be popular and stay in demand forever. So use your popularity as leverage in order to create more opportunities for yourself. Get involved in business, as much as possible start something you love to do. If you have no experience in running a business partner with someone who has the experience.
8. Be a wise spender. Avoid overspending and out of control spending. If money comes in too quick there is a tendency for you to spend it also too fast. Since you will have the mindset that more money will come in later. You exposed yourself by buying jewellery, a condo, lot or a car through mortgage or monthly payments. My question is “What if the money making machine stops?” What will happen to things you acquired? It will all be taken away.
9. Buy in cash stay away from debt. When you buy it in cash it is yours. Statistics shows that you tend to spend more if you buy things in credit especially if you use your credit card. Do not fall into the 12 months zero interest scheme. Credit card is the most emotionless and painless way of spending money. But once the billing statement comes “Ouch!” the pain sets in.
10. Be humble and considerate. Keep your feet planted on the ground. Make friends while you are on your way up. Never be arrogant and insensitive. Be careful of what you become in what you pursue in life. The question you need to ask yourself in pursuing your dreams and aspirations in life is, “Is it bringing out the best in me or the worst in me?”
11. Remember money is very relative. The more money you have the more relatives you have. Just like in life, if you are rich and famous you have many friends and people like to hang out with you. But you will only know who your true friends are when you lose everything. Ask those who had been there, done that.

“Hope this information will help and save you from pain and heartaches. As for me I do not believe in the saying “Experience is the best teacher.” Allow me to rephrase it by saying; learning from other people’s mistakes and experiences is the best teacher.” By Chinkee Tan

I thought of buying a copy of this book aside from the “Purpose Driven Life”. Maybe I should save to buy these two useful reading materials which are very good to ponder on.

Farewell to the King of Pop

When my brother-in-law told me that Michael Jackson died I did not believe him right away.  I had to read the morning paper to confirm the news. It was true. The King of Pop died of cardiac arrest around 4am (Philippine time) on June 6, 2009. He was 50 years old. He was brought to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles where doctors tried to revive him but it was believed that he suffered cardiac arrest in his home in Holby Hills.

Before he suffered a cardiac arrest, Michael Jackson was rehearsing for his supposed greatest comeback. Sad to say there were issues that came out recently that he faked his own death or he could have overdosed drugs.

Resignation from adulthood: Is there such a thing?

Have you ever thought of resigning from adulthood or adult responsibilities? If it was as easy as quitting a job then I would probably say yes to this. However, it is more than just a job. The fact that life is really heading towards growing up and facing responsibilities, it is very impossible to tender such resignation. Every stage of life is a learning process and we must be aware of the things that are happening around us each day. Responsibilities are there whether we like them or not. Responsibilities come along when we are old enough to handle them. We can only pass on our responsibilities when we can’t handle them anymore because of old age.

If it is only possible, it would be nice to return to a time when life was simple…like going back to being 5 years old again…hanging out at Mc Donald’s…eating hamburgers, fries and M&Ms…taking a nap under the shade of a tree on a hot summer day…making paper boats and letting them float on the muddy waters during rainy days…thinking that life’s so colourful and sweet…and many more. Those were the days when our set of responsibilities was just to eat, sleep and play. Aside from this easy set of responsibilities, we’re also given some more easy responsibilities. We would try to be good sons and daughters to our parents. We would obey and be responsible enough in doing what was asked of us. We would be happy of small things given to us. We would believe that everyone was honest and good.

As we grow older from being kids, we would try to stay good and responsible. But what if the people around us are not that good or responsible anymore? What if they’ve changed somehow over the years? If so, then life’s getting a bit harder as we grow older because they affect us each day of our lives. Sometimes we tend to be pessimists too if there are people around us who are pessimists. Sometimes we get hurt if people around us are dishonest or they spread lies and gossips about us. We would also get mad if people around us are insensitive and selfish. Same is true if they expect too much from us. Sometimes we get sad when some people fool or use us or they make empty promises. Somehow, some grown-ups have forgotten already how to be children who believed in goodness and love. Maybe at this point, some of us may have the urge to shout “how can I continue providing for my children if my husband ran away with another woman?” or “how could my partner be so insensitive with my needs?” or “how can I work in this company if some people are spreading dirty lies about me?” We can go on and on shouting different things and let us be drowned with our own misery or we can just say “I won’t be affected by the people around me. I will be responsible enough to face life with all its challenges with goodness and love still in my heart like a little child.”

Cagayan de Oro, The City Where I Want To Be

I’ve been thinking about leaving this city after all the ugly things that happened to me. Everywhere I go there is either a good or a bad memory to remember. One of the reasons why I want to leave the city and find my future somewhere else is my very bad breakup with my ex. This is one of the bad things I’ve always hope to forget.

When I was still working at StickyMedia Solutions, Inc., I joined our team building event at Mapawa Adventure Park. During that time, I remembered an officemate asked me what do I really want to do at that very moment. I answered I would like to leave Cagayan de Oro and just ran away from my past but I know the past will always haunt me wherever I go. Since I couldn’t ran away, I guess it would be good to just stay for a while and face all the hurt and let my heart heal in time. This part of my life was an open book and he knew what I had been through. He then told me that I was brave enough to endure everything. With that, tears just fell down from my eyes. Maybe I’m not prepared for my departure after all. I will certainly miss my friends and all the people I got involved with in my life. Maybe opportunities to go abroad can wait.

I remembered a part of a song from the TLC girl band which goes like “Don’t go chasing waterfalls… Please stick to the rivers and lakes that you’re used to…” Somehow these lines serve as my guiding lines telling me that I should just stay for a while in this place and maybe someday I’ll find myself on the right track again. life is full of surprises. I also believe someday God will give me a special gift or a special surprise that can make me smile this time.