Sunday, February 24, 2019

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. 👍👏

Friday, February 22, 2019




"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.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

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.




4:100 People I meet "ANTOINETTE "TONI" LEVISTE (knowns/unknowns) An athlete, pinoy's pride, Ms. Toni Leviste is known for...