4:100 People I meet "ANTOINETTE "TONI" LEVISTE (knowns/unknowns)

An athlete, pinoy's pride, Ms. Toni Leviste is known for her equestrian sport. Toni is the daughter of the former Governor of Batangas, Jose Antonio "Tony" Leviste and Celia Sarangaya Leviste. Many of us are not that informed on this sport since we often see this specially here in the Philippines. Just a bit knowledge about equestrian, it is more often known as horse riding or horseback riding which refers to the skill of riding,  driving, steeple chasing or vaulting with horses and sometimes played with obstacles. This sport is most popular in Sweden, also in the US, Asia, and Australia.

Toni Leviste is one of the Filipino's pride in equestrian sports. She started her love for horseback riding  at an early age and got her first award at year 1999 when she won a third-place award in the little-known Sunshine tour grand prix which was held in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. She was the first equestrian to represent a country within the Southeast Asian Region in the World Cup Show Jumping Finals held at Goteborg, Sweden. In 2002 Asian Games, Leviste won the  team silver along with Mikee Cojuanco-Jaworski in the team jumping event. She also joined several regional tournaments. Now she already owns a 5-hectare Equestrian park in the outskirts of Lipa, City, Batangas, Philippines. You might be asking how did she felt affection for this sport. 

She began to fall in love with horses as she narrate, at a young age. Morethan the medals, it is more important for her to represent the country for the said sports. That is how dedicated she is and joining equestrian competitions seems like her fairy tale. One thing I also admire from her is how she dedicate her every competition for her country. 

Being on this sport takes much courage and  requires much training, concentration/focus, and self discipline, not to mention the costs to maintain and have your own horse. You would not believe how many times did she had bone fractures due to falling from the horses but nothing would stop her in reaching her goals.  Indeed it is always our passion that will keep us going no matter how hard our roads will be. Aside from joining several competitions, she is now training young ones on this field as she desire to pass on her passion to them. Most of the time Toni spends time in her equestrian farm in Lipa City, Batangas province to practice and train young athletes. 

No copy right infringement intended. Credits to the owner of these photos. 

The Continuity of 2020

Everyone welcomes this year with new hopes and full of positivity. They thought of planning to do new things. Starting their own business, opening their savings accounts, buying their own houses/cars etc. but all of these plans had changed. After the volcanic eruption happened in Taal Volcano located at the Province of Batangas last January 2020 which affects most of the residents of Batangas and their nearby cities followed by the death of the famous Kobe Bryant due to Helicopter Crash on January 26, 2020, an unexpected visitor that no body wants to welcome enter the country. COVID 19 with its different variants Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and still mutating made a big change to this world. Empty streets, closed businesses, jobless people, DEATHS and many more effects had been recorded. Even the considered large businesses had fired many employees and worst is they've already closed. Many had developed anxiety and  mental problems. Roads are closed, no public vehicles, no more medical facilities and many more had been the picture of these year. 

It was during the first month of the year
( January 2020 ) when the famous 
Taal Volcano at Batangas Province erupted.

This leaves damages to every house, farms, animals and business 
near the area. Its ashfall even hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

On the first month of the year also, the basketball favorite across all countries 
shocked the whole world of his death from a helicopter crash with his daughter
at Calbasas, California, Estados Unidos.

The Most terrifying news Philippines and the whole world
received on the year 2020 was the start of the pandemic.

The famous and most busy road in the Philippines before lock down
and during lockdown due to COVID 19

   

Roads where closed and Militaries took over every roads of each city.
Nobody can cross unless for emergency reasons. 

Closure of business, reduction of employees, minimal operations of different establishments and many more instances been a great impact on the economy.

Many hospitals lack enough facilities to accommodate 
COVID patients. Many health worker's life are at risk due to exposure
and some result to death.

Many had developed anxiety and mental disorders
due the different effects of this pandemic to their lives. 

Many unexpected deaths including known people are due to COVID 19

Until this time, many are still suffering from this pandemic and 2021 calamities. We are still unsure of what will happen next including the effect of the new vaccines that where being injected to people. We still cannot say that we are already safe and we still do not know when will we recover from all the things that are happening. As of now, year 2021 the COVID virus is still mutating and getting worse. There are countries which are not safe at all due to war. There where still people that are sick and dying. From the year 2020 until now 2021, we are still uncertain about many things and all we can do is to be vigilant and to keep on praying that this things would end. 

Disclaimer: 

Photos not mine. Credit to the owners of this photo.

#2020 #pandemic #COVID19 #philippines

4:100 People I meet "RAEL BALLESTEROS" (knowns/Unknowns)

4:100 People I meet "RAEL BALLESTEROS" (knowns/Unknowns)

Where can your dreams take you? Let's hear it from this person whom I've known since college. We're Both in Office Management Technology Major in Legal Office Management Technology course at Polytechnic University of the Philippines that was year 2010. He was just a simple student then. I can tell that this man really has a goal for his life, but I can see it is not in our course. Yes he tried hard on his studies as I remember, he even become a working student.
 

Sa totoo lang pag dating sa klase hindi siya kasipagan. Yes I know kasi classmate ko nga. Bakit siya? I'll tell you why. You will know why when you know him.

Una sa lahat hindi ito yung gusto niya. Hindi ito yung passion niya. And if it is not your passion you will really have a hard time doing it. Sabi nga this world is heaven and hell and you will decide whether you'll be in heaven or in hell. As time goes by we are starting to know more about our classmates. So ito nga. He is Rael Ballesteros. Rael is a dancer by profession. For now you can see him on different GMA segments like eat bulaga, studio 7, and soon he will also be on starstruck. But it is not that easy on how he get there. Syempre in reaching our dreams wala namang instant. He joined many competitions, experienced failures, felt frustrated, but see where he is now. Kung sa Dancers kasi, where he is now is already an achievement.

He started dancing at the age of 12. Then at the age of 16 he started joining different Groups. On 2011 him with his group (B-Boyz Dance Crew), joined a popular noon time show in ABS-CBN, It's Showtime, and become one of the Finalist. Sad to say they were not able to win the competition but these opened doors to him and his group.

 

He was then a member of a Varsity Pep Squad  for two years. He started at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, on the 2nd year he transferred to Taguig City University (TCU)   and also continued his Pep Squad there. As a Pep squad they won NCC rank 4 2014, ALCU 2014 Champion and other minor awards. 

For now his present Dance Group is Philippine Island Assassin where they won 1st Runner up at Its Showtime Finals Season 1, Diz Is It 2010, and Grand Champion in The Will to Win (Wowowin) year 2018.

I asked him what is the memorable experience he had on his profession and he said "yung memorable sa akin is yung nagagawa ko yung hilig ko at the same time nagtatrabaho din ako , nakakatrabaho at nagiging kaibigan ko yung different artists at mas nakikilala ko kung sino sila off cam."

 

But like most of us syempre may mga times din na panghihinaan siya ng loob as he said "Nung umpisa gusto ko na mag quit kasi hindi ko alam kung saan ba pupunta yung ginagawa ko but when I add love to my passion, unti unti kong na appreciate na masaya siya" from that statement talagang masasabi ko na our profession should be what we love doing and not just doing it for profit or for other reasons. Your job becomes your profession, your profession should also be your passion, simple as that diba. As what Rael wants to tell the aspirants "Gawin  mo yung bagay na nagpapasaya sayo at hindi ka mapapagod. Like me, I pursue what I love." 

And now, aside from being a dancer  he is also trying to do other new things para naman daw hindi mahinto yung knowledge niya. Pag wala siyang sayaw and choreo he do vloging. You may check his channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ciqssj7IFWRaEdAzQx3xA.

Truly he is an achiever now as a dancer. We really won't know where will we be until we're there. Sino bang mag aakala na from dancing kung saan saan he is now seen on TV. Kaya sa mga aspirants not only in dancing but also in other profession keep on doing what you like. Pursue your dreams, who knows where will your passion take you. And to this man,Lodi ko to in dancing eh, to you Katorta 😉 you are really doing a great job, you are an inspiration to those that are still starting and we'll be looking forward to more of your achievements. Dreams do really come true if we pursue and work hard. 

 May I also add on this blog the video we made on our college days. 👇😉

This world is Heaven and Hell. It's up to us where we'll be. 

To heaven or to hell. Do what you want,  Love who you want, Eat what you like, 
Avoid Stress, Avoid Negativity, Avoid Sadness, 

then you're in Heaven. 

Life is easy. 

Let's make life easy. 

-jovzoeuvre

3:100 People I meet "Manong Taxi Driver" (knowns/unknowns)

Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko naisip kunin yung number niya, pangalan niya or plate number niya on the time na kausap ko siya but this man's thoughts are inspiring. He is I think on his 40th year. Una sa lahat I wanted to thank him kasi above all taxi drivers siya lang ang tumigil sa akin at nag sakay kasi daw mukhang ang tagal ko na nag papara ng taxi kasi nasa gitna na daw ako ng kalsada pumapara. Well hindi siya nag kamali 😥.

Anyway, our convo goes like this. As per kuya, he was then working at MTC Branch 43 of Quezon City. His parents are also working there. His father is a sheriff and his mother as I remember is an office staff also at Hall of Justice of Quezon City and his grandfather is a judge. So bakit siya naging taxi driver? As I said, I am writing about people who caught my interest, and he did. Si kuya pinag palit yung pagiging office worker niya sa pagiging taxi driver kasi sabi niya kung hindi daw dahil dito malamang wala pa siyang sariling bahay at lupa. Imagine he now have 3 houses. Kumikita daw siya ng halos Three Thousand Pesos sa isang byahe and take note, nag baboundary pa siya. And here's what he said. "Kung mananatili kang empleyado kung ano lang kikitain mo yun lang yon, eh hindi naman ako tulad ng iba na tumatanggap ng under the table dahil may pinang hahawakan akong apelyido" (which is diko manlang natanong). Come to think of it tama nga naman. So on that statement naging interested na ako.

He added, "Kaya ko nagawa yon kasi sa pag tataxi ko ang inspirasyon ko pamilya ko. Mahal ko ang asawa ko at ang mga anak ko, so pag hindi ako nag tino sila ang kawawa eh sa ganito panaman na trabaho madaming temptation. Pag nag pa dala ka dika din aasenso. Uunahin ko ang bisyo sino ang kawawa edi pamilya ko." What he said is so inspiring and how he thinks caught my attention. Sabi ni kuya kung ang inspirasyon mo ay pamilya mo aasenso ka kasi mag sisikap ka (Diba sana all). Nag simula lang daw siya sa pa try try pag weekend kasi iniisip niya wala naman daw siyang gagawin and hindi siya makapaniwala sa kinita niya.

Why I wanted to make blog about him is because nakaka amaze yung way niya mag isip. Very straight yung road na tinatahak niya and he is unshakable. Hindi ko din naman sinasabing mag taxi na tayong lahat pero what I learned based on his story is wag tayong matakot na umalis sa comfort zone natin. Mag isip tayo at wag makuntento. Sabi nga ni kuya "may kanya kanya tayong panahon pero hindi ko sinasabing mag hintay ka lang syempre dapat samahan mo ng sipag at tiyaga."

Sa sobrang aliw ko sa pakikipag usap sa kanya hindi ko manlang natanong kahit palayaw niya pero a big tumbs up sayo kuya. You are an insparation. Lawakan natin ang mundo natin. Basta nasa tama ang daan makakarating tayo sa patutunguhan. 👍👏

"IKAW"

Bakit nga ba ang title nito ay ikaw. Ikaw kasi sana pag natapos mo tong basahin makilala mo si IKAW. Sino ba si IKAW? Edi IKAW. 

Minsan nahihirapan tayong kilalanin ang sarili natin. Nahihirapan tayong alamin ano nga ba ang gusto natin. Mas kilala mo pa ata si crush kaisa sa sarili mo. Malulungkot tayo dahil hindi tayo masaya (ang gulo diba?) Kasing gulo ng isip natin.

"Walk that door, don't be afraid,
There's light in there"...

Bakit ka nasa sitwasyon mo ngayon. Dahil ba dito ka masaya? O dahil dito ka kikita? Dahil ba ito ang gusto mo? O dahil ito ang gusto ng karamihan para sayo? Hindi ka sasaya kung hindi mo kikilalanin ang sarili mo. Kung hindi mo alam kung anong mag papasaya sayo o kaya naman alam mo pero ginagawa mo ba? Hindi? Kasi natatakot ka. Hindi kasi baka hindi mo kaya. Madalas ito kasi yung ding ding na hindi natin matibag. Minsan ito yung pintuan na hindi natin mabuksan. Nakukulong tayo sa puna at salita ng iba. Nakukulong tayo sa salitang "hanggang dito nalang ako", "natatakot ako", "baka hindi ko kaya". Edi hindi ka sasaya. Edi hindi ka magiging malaya. 

Isipin mo kaibigan. Kung susubukan mo ba may mawawala? Kung may puna ba ang isa ibig sabihin lahat na sila? Sa madaling salita wag sila ang isipin mo. Wag ka mag pakulong sa takot mo. Ngayon ang tanong ko sayo, ano ba ang gusto mo? Saan ka ba masaya? Gawin mo kaibigan. Dahil hindi mo mararamdaman ang saya hangga't hindi ka lumalabas sa mundo mo. IKAW ang kilalanin mo. IKAW ang isipin mo dahil IKAW lang ang makakapagpasayang tunay sa sarili mo.

Profile 2: 100 People I meet "TONY LEVISTE"( Knowns/unknowns)

     It was then while I was having difficulty looking for a job for internship that I came across a telephone number of a company.  Not having any idea what company it is, I took the courage to call the number. Luckily I was entertained and invited for an interview.  To make a long story short, I become an intern to this company.  It was engaged in real estate business owned by former Batangas Governor Tony Leviste.  Frankly, I know very little about him then.  As time went by, however, I had the opportunity to work closer with him. I was hired and become his secretary.  Thus I got to know more about Gov. Leviste.

       Gov. Leviste is very well known to many.  A politician, businessman,  environmentalist.  But who is the real Tony Leviste?  

       At  the age of 31, he became Governor of Batangas.  He is a good speaker, being a successful politician.  During his term, he accomplished many things.  One of his major accomplishments is the establishment of the Batangas International Seaport which is serving as the engine of economic growth of CALABARZON and which he considers the legacy of his public service career. 

The Pansipit River is a short river located in the Batangas province of the Philippines. The river is the sole drainage outlet of Taal Lake, which empties to Balayan Bay. The river stretches about 9 kilometres passing along the towns of Agoncillo, Lemery, San Nicolas and Taal serving as border between the communities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansipit_River

He pursued his programs with passion.  These include the Barangay Waterworks, the Rural Electrification Program, the Bayanihan School Buildings Program, the Batangas Motor Pool, the Capitol Park with an Eduardo Castrillo monumental sculpture as its centerpiece, Project Compassion, the Batangas Green Revolution, Palayan ng Bayan (Masagana 99), Saknungan sa Bagong Lipunan (the dredging of Pansipit River by volunteers), Batangas Barangay Brigades  (the training of 6,000 Barangay officials for 7 days and nights in the fastness of Mount Batulao where Huk Supremo Luis Taruc was a resource speaker and the graduation was attended by President Ferdinand E. Marcos), Hukbong Bagong lipunan, Handog sa Pangulo the Batangas Love Revolution, the Alternative Medical Center (where acupuncture, faith healing and hilot were offered), the celebration of the Batangas Foundation Day highlighted by the selection of “Princisesa ng Kumintang”, and the Mobile Library, Barangayan.

As an environmentalist, he planted the trees now giving shade and comfort to motorists along SLEX.  Under his “Billion Trees Program he planted thousands more trees in many parts of Batangas.

SLEX where most of us pass by surrounded by Tree

     

During his tenure, he was awarded the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines for public administration (featuring the “Concentric Circle of Governance” which promotes “Participator Democracy”) by the Philippine Jaycees, elected as Regional Development Council (RDC) Chairman for Southern Tagalog, appointed by President Marcos as chairman of the  Management for Forest Ecosystem (PROFEM) and the Batasang Bayan (forerunner of the Batasang Pambansa).   

The very known attraction at Fortune Island for its Greek Inspired Land scapes

Matabungkay Beach Resort and Hotel famous at Matabungkay Batangas

C-Boutique Hotel at Baguio City

As a businessman, he owns the Matabungkay Beach Resort and Hotel, Fortune Island (famous for its Greek inspired landscapes), C-Boutique Hotel in Baguio and the LPL Suites in Makati. He has also built several condominium buildings which are ubiquitous in Makati City all bearing the “LPL” trademark. In recognition of his contribution to tourism he was appointed Director of the Philippine Tourism Authority and elected Chairman/Director of the Tourism Organization of the Philippines (later replaced by the Tourism Council of the Philippines ), Resorts Association of the Philippines and Realtor of the Year by the Business Writers Association of the Philippines.

In the peak of his fame, trial in life beset him.  He was accused of homicide and went to jail in 2007.  By God’s grace, he was released on 2013.  Even while in the NBP, he continued his public service and served the interest of his fellow inmates.  He was a mentor, teacher and adviser to the inmates all the while.  

"Perfect Practice Makes Perfect"

Billy goat was known at Greenbelt 5 in Makati walking every morning

 

I also witnessed the personal side of Tony Leviste.  A loving man.  A man who would do anything for his family.  People who know him say he is a taskmaster, but a soft-hearted person.  He has compassion for those in need.  He is happy with simple things.  A pet lover.  A good husband and father.  He is a mentor to many.  You would always hear him say, “Love your work and get the job done”.  He really does. 

       Gov. Leviste is an amazing man able to make the impossible possible.  He helped his young son, who is another awesome personality, build the 63 MW Solar Power plant in Calatagan, Batangas in only 4 months.

The 63MW Solar Power Plant in Calatagan Batangas

     These are just a few of the traits of Gov. Leviste.  Now pushing 80 years old, he isn’t finished getting things done. You wouldn’t believe it until you meet him.  More projects and achievements are still in the offing. His mind is amazing and his thoughts are fantastic.  He could get the job done that no one else can.  Hats off to you Gov!  You are one of a kind.