Saturday Photo

A humbling experience... I wish to be worthy
of this at some point in my life.

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Photo credit:  I took the photo at the APEC Meeting, held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

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Saturday photo

Moody skies, highly reactive seas, confused atmosphere... 
...and we get ready whenever they feel pissed off - by us! 

I spent the transition from July to August 'on air'... and serving my professional community, too, in another part of the country.  On my way to my destination, my plane 'bumped' into a think air pocket, which made it almost roll over!  It made all of us in the plane felt like we landed extremely badly or something... and were terrified when we realized that we were still actually on air!  Man, scary!  

Apart from the on-air scare, the trip was fantastic, in terms of how much our group has accomplished, and how much we, as a group, grew closer with one another.  It was a fulfilling few days... and I expect more great things to happen today as we finally take a few hours free before heading home.  

So, let's do this! :)

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Saturday photo

Singapore, the Bay Area... five years later.

Yeah, the last time I was in Singapore was in 2010... I was being a 'big tourist' that time with a few friends, and working a little bit.  This time, I was working more... and traveling with more people, too... and 'playing' a bit.  But none of the busyness distracted me from seeing how much S'pore changed from an impressive new 'first world' country to a true benchmark of what progress is about!  It's absolutely incredible.

If how fast internet flies was any indication of progress, then Singapore is flyin' on supersonic speed, man!  And yet, they are not investing on nuclear weapons to be called a 'super country'... and they are being good stewards of the environment as well.  To me, that's the new norm of true progress... when people understand that power is not about lording over nature to lord over humanity, but it's about being in-sync with nature as it breathes... in fact, as it breathes life.  It's all about sustainable living.

S'pore is a concrete jungle...
...and yet, it is the epitome of a 'green city'.

At the rate Singapore is going, it's probably a good idea to go there every quarter of a year to keep track of how it is evolving into a 'super country'... in a way that's never been seen before!  

Dis I experience anything that's unfavorable?  Hmmm... yeah, I didn't get to visit a church while there.  It's either my schedule was horrendous, or the urban planning did not consider spiritual health as a priority?  Come to think of it, back in 2010, I didn't get to visit a church either.  But, I choose to keep an open mind... and plan to visit more frequently.

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Saturday photo

Birthday celebration is a 'family thing'... at least, for me.

Or, 'foodie-ing' all day long with a fave foodie buddy.

Whatever it is, it always begins with a prayer... a thanksgiving, a celebration of a year's worth of wonderful gifts from God... gifts that begin with a wonderful family, gifts shared with and by loved ones, gifts that fill the year with beautiful memories... gifts to treasure and hold dear in our hearts for many years to come.  

And, I thank God for all of them!  

Amen.

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Hello, July!

Nice to see ya again, old friend!  I've been dyin' to see ya... aah, ya have no idea!  

So... let's start with a vacation, shall we?  Let's!

'Staycation'... a matter of figurin' out priorities.

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Photo credit:  I took the photo by the patio of the lounge of a hotel in Quezon City, Philippines.

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More than 'just teaching'...

...it's about preparing young people to commit to the "art of living in a sustainable world'.
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by PAM

A month ago, I was reading an article on one of my favorite news sites entitled, "What to Learn in College to Stay One Step Ahead of Computers".  Yes, I know, that sounds odd!  The article seems to imply that there is a need to prepare our students for a future that pits them with computers!  Anyway, among many others, my attention was caught by a statement that goes, "a college education needs to be broad and general, and not defined primarily by the traditional structure of separate departments staffed by professors who want, most of all, to be at the forefront of their own narrow disciplines."

These days, just being at the forefront of your own discipline has seized to be important and "fashionable" in the field of higher education.  Today, it is more important to stand side-by-side with colleagues in a multi-disciplinary team assembled to craft multi-faceted projects that integrate theoretical concepts with the "art of living in a sustainable world".  In Engineering, we go one step further... with a blend of technical and practical lessons that motivate our students to assume personal responsibility in being the steward of our environment, taking care of the world we live in.  Today, what is more important is

Lush... it would be nice if this beauty is maintained for many
generations to enjoy.

making sure that the kind of education we offer allows our students to function well in the society; to respond appropriately and sufficiently to issues that ensure a sustainable future.  And this is especially of great importance in countries like ours, which are not only rich in natural resources, but have been joked about as also being rich in natural disasters.  While the joke can be hilarious, the real effects of these disasters are absolutely not!  Perhaps, disasters would not be as "natural" if we become more conscious of the impact of our activities on the environment; the impact of the technologies we develop and use on our natural environment.

Where I teach, an important part of the students' education is learning how to handle sensibly the issues that may adversely affect a sustainable future.  Part of it is in our core values of competence, commitment and compassion.  In the case of Engineering students, the competence in developing "green" technologies and structures; the commitment to the Engineer's oath of being steward of the environment rather than being disruptors of the ecological processes in our natural environment; and compassion in putting the interest of a whole generation that thrives on a healthy environment above wealth and fame.  We hope that with this, we can enjoy a future that is not filled with hazards and occurrences that do not necessitate constant and resource-intensive mitigation... keep mother nature happy, so she could continue taking care of all of us sufficiently.

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Photo credit:  I took the photo in the Underground River of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines.

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Saturday photo

Or, perhaps, 'photos'?

Seeing others realize their dreams...
...as you did a while back.

I know, I complain about busy schedule and all that... and yet, when 'connections' on the other side of the Pacific howler for assistance on something, I (almost) automatically move things around in my calendar to do my best to accommodate.  Sometimes, admittedly, I try to ignore... but, at the end of the day, I feel absolutely rotten for not trying.  So, I try... I always do.  And, I know why, too.  

These guys helped me fulfill a dream I didn't even fully realized I can be so passionate about... until very recently.  I just wanted to be of service to my country.  I did 'this and that' to try to do that... but I've never gone close to feeling like I've done something remotely related to 'service'.  And then, they gave me this opportunity to study in an Ivy League Institution on that lovely, lovely hill somewhere full of beautiful lakes... I was actually opting for something else before that, just because I didn't know better.  I thought I just wanted to get away from all the overwhelming boredom I was feeling then... to find a 're-start' of sorts, 'sprint' from there... and then slow down to run a 'marathon'... all the hopes of "service" all gone. 

The 're-start' at the hill was splendid!  So awesomely splendid!  And, the 'sprint' was the most exhilarating thing I've ever known.  All the wonderful experience even made me think that, perhaps, I didn't need to run a boring marathon and actually go on a real 'journey'.  I found much encouragement from my 'connections' that that is actually doable.

And then, as I slowed down for the final inhale-exhale to run that 'marathon'... something shone in the horizon, and it says "service".  Through it all, my 'connections' have been there for me... in a way, making sure that I see how that thing in the horizon shone as beautifully as I've always imagined it would.  And it really is breathtaking, too!

Now, whenever I get an invitation, I try to make time... 'cause, ya know, it's nice to have people around you who also see the beauty of that 'thing' shining in the horizon.  Those moments are priceless... and they get you focused on the journey.

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Photo credit: I took most of the photos; two were taken by other guests at the USAID STRIDE reception for scholars and grantees at the Makati Diamond Residences on 18 June 2015.

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Stan-ning...

...for the love of clay!
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by PAM


Yep, I've been paying attention - I swear! :) 

Uh-huh, of course, the allure of the beautiful red clay distracted me some from my deadlines, what d'ya think!  I did see a little of that Roger Federer-Gael Monfils fourth round bit before passing out from exhaustion, working on something... and, of course, that Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray semi-final bit, too.  Before that, I was admiring the courage of David Ferrer as he battled Murray for a place in the semis, and how great it was to witness that muscled battle for a place in the semis between the King of Clay', Rafael Nadal, and the king of... uh, 'everything'?  As in, everything - now - Djoker, of course.  I remember being a bit shock as I watched Djoker unseat the King of Clay... whew!  I know that Nole has beaten Rafa a few times... but never in Paris, well, not until this year anyway.  And, the minute Stanislas Wawrinka secured a place in the semifinal, at the expense of RF, I knew he had a chance in conquering Paris... notwithstanding Djoker or Rafa and Murray.  The pounding of Jo-Wilfred Tsonga by 'the other Swiss' in their semifinal duel was a clear warning to Djoker that capturing Paris was not going to be a walk in the Park.  What with Stan's canon backhand?  

That dazzling 'dirt' in the City of Light...
...and the men that make it special.

I gotta admit though, great as tennis's big men were, and magnificent as they were on clay, they didn't have my full attention.  I was quite distracted by my-- well, ya know what - my work, what else. :(  Old news, old excuse... and, just what do we do about it?  We'll know in a few months... but that is not the point of this post. :)

Goin' back to tennis... I'm really glad to see 'Stan the Man' triumph in Paris, congrats to him!  He may have reduced RF to a mere QF-er, but the same feat kind of crowned him as the next victor of Paris... for it has become a pattern, whoever beats Federer in the QF or Semis, goes on  to win the final.  It's like an anointment to become a champion... the way Djoker rose to being the Number One player in the World, the way Nadal became another legend of tennis, the way Murray found and embraced his own greatness, the way Juan Martin Del Potro found the Champion's way.  They all had to go through the Swiss Maestro.  I know, I'm biased... too much of an RF fan, I am, admittedly. :)

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Photo credit:  I took all the photos from the live coverage of the French Open 2015 by Balls, Channel 34 on Skycable.  

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Second treble on the table... and, they took it!

And, I saw them do it - live!  Visca, el Barça! 
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by PAM


I have been feeling really frustrated to have kept missing the UEFA Champions League matches this season.  In fact, my last post here on the Champions League was published on August 2013!  It's that bad.  

I know that there are trade-offs in the choices we make in our lives, but two years of not being able to watch a full match in the Champions League has been gnawing on my sanity!  Too much work... just too-too much!  It used to be worth it... but, without time to refresh my mind by indulging my (justified) hunger for great fun, adrenaline rush and tactical thinking through a healthy dose of the 'beautiful game' is 'killing me'... seriously!  OK, perhaps following the Spanish La Liga and the English Premier League, too, is a luxury, considering the choice I made two-and-a-half years ago... but missing the Champions League for two years??  OK, that's like sacrilege for a football fan!  

Football fan or not, I think we all deserve some time to have a little fun - even if only for health and sanity's sake.   


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Putting my foot down... gotta watch the final!

Sooo, before losing it, I put my foot down and decided to mark my calendar and cancel anything else that coincided with the Champions League final in Berlin... especially that the final is between my favorite Club, FC Barcelona (o, yeah!), and Juventus FC!  As it turned out, I didn't have to cancel anything because the match airs live via cable on a Sunday at 2:30 a.m., Manila time.  So, I had to sleep early Saturday night to wake up in time for the game.  And, oh, boy!  What a treat it was!

What a reunion between Barça... and I! :)

The match was a fast-paced one, with the men from both sides starting with spirited sprint on that beautiful green turf of Berlin.  Everyone watching knew right off the bat that both sides were gunning for the cup with powerful artillery - no compromise!  Both sides have a worthy mission.  Both sides won their local Leagues and local Cups going into the Champions League final.  Juve was gunning for their first treble - the 8th Club to do so if they managed to get Lady Luck smile their way; and Barça was aiming to make history to become the first Club to achieve the treble twice.  Juve's manager/head coach, Max Allegri, was a worthy victor... but so was Barça's freshman head coach/manager, Luis Enrique, relatively young as he may be!  

Champions League followers were expecting the final match to be a battle of midfields, Juve's was led by the veteran, Andrea Pirlo, and Barça's was led by the brilliant Andres Iniesta.  Everyone was also picturing a duel between Barça's "magician", Lionel Messi, and the Italian side's seasoned goal keeper, Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, in front of the Italian Serie A champs' goal.  Naturally, a swarm of defenders were about Messi early on; and naturally, Lucho Enrique and Don Andres expected this, and so did Neymar Jr., who pressed the Juve defense early on.  It was a battle of midfield tactics alright.  In fact, duirng the first four minutes or so of the match, the quick-witted Don Andres Iniesta orchestrated the attack for Barça, getting his men touch the ball, once, twice on the turf as they gather towards the Juve goal.  Don Andres found a little opening, slipped the ball through to Ivan Rakitić, who acted quickly and decisively, and sent the ball past the surprised Buffon (and he's rarely surprised!) to hit the back of the net!  The Catalan side took the driver seat, 1-0, merely four minutes into the match!  And the sprinting and tactical battle intensified.  Whew, beautiful!

The rest of the first half was a great duel of wills between the two sides...  Barça pressing to provide a cushion to their lead, Juve was looking to equalize while resisting the advances of the opposite side.  Their horns were locked tightly, but I gotta say that the great tactician, Don Andres, and the South American demolition trio, Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, with the do-or-die hustle from Dani Alves, kept Juve mum, as they pressed relentlessly.  Barça's attack crew kept the ball with the Catalans, not giving the Juve attackers, led by Carlos Tevez, much chance to create damage.  

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Finishing the task

One would think that in the second half, Barça would be running to finish the match with another goal, but it was Juve's Alvaro Morata who picked up the remains of a saved attempt for a goal by Tevez, about ten minutes into the second half, to equalize. That scattered the Catalan men for a while, and the Barça defense was the first to appear like they were feeling the heat.  It did look like Juve was going for an all-out attack of the FCB goal manned by the 23-year old German keeper, Marc-André Ter Stergen.  However,

Neymar, securing the win with a third goal for FCB.

the young goal keeper, calm and serene in front of the goal, proved to be up to the task - very impressive!  I have to say that Barça's defense, which was usually suspect when things go wrong, proved to be equal to the task as well... well, after recovering from their "initial shock" caused by the Morata goal anyway.  Call it the Don Iniesta calming leadership effect... that man has that effect on his team.  He gets them back on attacking track - fast!  

The formidable South American attacking trio in front of the Barcelona crew kept pressing... they launched many attacks that would've shattered to pieces a goal keeper made of less finer stuff than Gigi Buffon was.  At some point though, something had to give.  In one of the blistering attempts by Messi to get FCB in front again, Buffon saved, but spilled the ball, which was apparently went too weighty after being walloped by Messi's left foot.  The hungry Suarez, without hesitation, sprinted to send the loose ball to the back of the net as Buffon was still sprawled on the turf recovering from Messi's assault, 2-1.  Such is the lethality of Barça's attack line.  Just as quickly as he scored though, Suarez picked up a yellow card as soon as the game re-started after Barça's celebration of his goal! :)  Oh, boy!  At least, the yellow card did not involve biting of someone's ear. ;)

The lead could have been stretched by Neymar to 3-1 about the 70th minute or so, but his header was ruled out as the ball accidentally touched the back of his right hand before flying to the goal. That little touch couldn't have changed the trajectory of the ball... but it was disallowed anyway, and it was fair enough.  Juve then continued to press for opportunity to equalize, as Barça's South American attack trio did the same relentlessly, propelled by the midfield, which was led by the great Xavi Hernandez in the last 15 minutes or so of the match. After a few rolling around by Suarez, whose wailing can be a bit embarrasing and/or irritating at times, Lucho decided to pull him out, and Pedro Rodriguez came on.  During the last minute of the five-minute stoppage time, Messi, Pedro and Neymar ran for a final attempt for a goal, which sent my heart all a-thump-thumping with crazy excitement!  And Neymar kicked the last goal in with such force uncaring about any sort of destruction that such force may cause - no chance for even the likes of Buffon to stop - claiming the 2015 Champions League trophy for good... and FCB's second treble!  And, into the history books they went!  Yowza!  

Awesomeness?  Ah, well... no other way to describe it!  I was glad that, at least, I watched the final - live!  If only for that, I resolve to avoid ranting (here) for the next... uhm, five (working) days, maybe? :)


***
P.S. Footie Beautie

I have to say, I love this Barça - Lucho Enrique's Barça, that is.  Their movement as a Team is very fluid.  They still play the "possession football" that was central in Pep Guardiola's Barça, and they still work wonderfully as a Team as in the "Pep era", but there's a bigger component of "no-excuse attack" that makes this current ensemble very exciting to watch.  There is a hint of "savagery" in their hunger to get those goals coming... there is a flavor of unabashed display of enjoyment as they make those goals after a relentless pursuit.  There is raw desire for the best result possible... it's honest, it's compelling, it makes one wants to celebrate with them, it's great! 

Pep's Barça was all about tantalizing movement.  They moved beautifully and gracefully in a well-timed approach to the goal that they were just breathtaking to watch.  They seemed to be playing football on their own, without opponents!  The fantastic goals seemed like mere "icing on the cake", and the trophies are more of a payment to the display of beauty rather than a prize for winning the competition.  Lucho's Barça has more 'muscle', and they have no qualms about displaying it, and they do so as beautifully as possible, too.  They are not only beautiful to watch, they produce nail-biting excitement in their devil-may-care attacks, but in a well orchestrated moves that involve the whole Team nevertheless!  They keep you on the edge of your seat, they make their spectators gush adrenaline, and they challenge their opponents to match their pace.  Pep's 'delicately beautiful men' have been transformed to Lucho's 'exciting men's men'!  It felt different to watch this new Barça, and I love it! 

And, I love all the show of love among the 'beautiful men' of this 'beautiful game'... all the kissing and hugging without any hint of self-consciousness, all the good cheers after the match that show true sportsmanship, are just fantastic to watch.  I missed seeing all this for the longest time... it has been killing me!  But, I got good dose of my 'wonder drug' from the Berlin final of the Champions League.  Life is good!  It is, ya know! :)    

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Photo credit:  I took all the photos in the collage from the Balls Channel live feed via Skycable (Channel 34), except the center photo, which was obtained from the UEFA Champions League's twitter account - thanks.

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Philippines...

...is 'my' Philippines!
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by PAM


If there are things that I consider "worth it" in enduring this incredibly uneventful stretch in the personal 'satisfaction section' of this awfully boring "life" I'm living right now (there, I said it!), one of them would be the opportunity to serve this country that I love.  Since the time I was able to actually dream... I mean, really dream, serving my country has always been up there in my list.  Can you blame me?  I grew up reading books on our national hero, Jose Rizal. And, yeah, having studied in government-owned Elementary and High Schools, where the the daily recitation of Panatang Makabayan (or the Philippine Patriotic Oath) was the norm, did this to me as well! :)  It's almost like a 'romantic relationship'. Then again, what do I know about romantic relationships, especially with an uneventful personal life with no giddy-happy 'episodes' in the 'screenplay' for the rest of the foreseeable future of this boring 'production' I'm in at the moment?!  Man, I don't even see a simple vacation in the horizon - the relaxing kind, and no work connected to it in whatever way - even when I'm already panting with exhaustion here!  

Alright, love of country and rant should not be in the same post.  So, let's start again, shall we? :)        

We need to protect our sovereignty, we need to protect OUR seas!

Two days ago, I had a good opportunity to sit in a symposium on Maritime Security at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).  It was hosted by the Philippine Navy, in collaboration with the AIM.  I guess it was organized, amid all the issues the Philippines is facing regarding the West Philippine Sea, in order to gather as many representatives of different sectors in the society as possible to duly inform them... and later pitch in for the just and peaceful resolution of the issues.  

Prominent personalities in Philippine politics were there, such as Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Associate Justice Antonio Carpio,  and the former Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Rafael Alunan III.  Congressmen Roilo Golez and Francisco Ashley Acedillo are among the four speakers and four reactors who led the discussions, ably moderated by Prof. Mario Antonio Lopez.  The Symposium was more than what I expected... the discussion was relevant, cerebral, and brief but fierce!  Almost the kind of stuff that engineers enjoy participating in.  Nice to speak with soldiers, I guess, particularly the Navy... they go straight to the point, which was nice.  The lawyers in the group are mostly very sharp... more of public servants and social scientists, or business people, rather than 'hardcore' lawyers... so, the discussion went well, and didn't go round-and-round endlessly in a circle. :)  I feel we have accomplished something there... at least, I went home satisfied with my notebook brimming with useful info.  Some plans formed in my head, too, on what the role of engineers and Engineering Education Institutions might be in attaining Maritime Security.  So, yeah, I enjoyed that one.

It looks like I am blessed with another opportunity to serve my country.  Good!  :)  I'll deal with my life's boredom a little later... or, at the same time. :)  Optimism... we gotta have it if we were to survive this tightly 'scripted life'!  I prefer the more spontaneous and relaxed life any day... and I'm going to have it soon - it's happiness!  Optimism....  

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Photo credit:  I took all the photos.

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