SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FROM A VERY SPECIAL FRIEND

I got birthday greetings from a special friend who is outside the country at about 12:03AM December 25, 2010, she forwarded her message to her sister and her sister forwarded it to me.

Specially Composed for twitart

Today is your natal day, the day were God gave you the gift of life. The time your parents experiences NIRVANA of your existence. This is the day your relatives and siblings rejoiced. Always remember you are so special, not only to your love ones but for all the people who love you for who you are. You are indeed a gift, a blessing, the masterpiece of the heavenly father.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Ornamental Flowers can not be eaten

Last December 6, 2009 I went to Tagbilaran City, Bohol, I was invited for dinner by our Area Manager in the Mall in a nice simple pastry and restaurant. They have different native products out from Honey Bees. They bake bread, cakes with honey, bee pollens and all honey bee product. It is really nice and cool place.

So I ordered food with salad, what amazed me so much was the salad was very nice presentation with decorations of Vagounvilla and cosmos flowers. After all these years I used to play and make some arts in school with those flowers where it grows everywhere in my province. It’s my first time to eat those flowers and it’s good.

According to them they explained that all plants and flowers where honey bees gather nectar's & flower pollens can be eaten and safe. God really make so many mysterious ways.

Is 2010 A Challenging Year ?

Whowwwwwwww!!! It's 2010 another new beginning, there so many plans and dreams that were not achieve, wondering if it would be the right time to pus true.

There are so many apprehensions in my mind thinking those opportunities that are in vain. I made up my mind to set focus on those things that are deliverable and realistic.

Hope I would be able to reach these quests.

Sound silly but amazing!

August 7, 2009

Around 9:45 this morning, I went to the comfort room to relieve myself. I noticed the door was not lock and not completely closed, I just knocked and somebody responded from the inside. So later I followed and got in, closed the door properly and locked it so that I won’t be disturbed.

When I’m done, I unlock and opened the door but I can’t, I was stuck inside. I said this some kind of a joke in me today. I don’t want to let everybody know that I was trapped inside the comfort room. What I did was:

First Attempt: I tried to pull it out with all my strength but not even a single millimeter moved. I planned to climb up just to get out on the next door but I’m sure it is very dusty.

Second Attempt: Another attempt were made to open it anchored my one leg to the concrete walling but nothing happen.

Third Attempt: I used to leave my cell phone on my desk when I’m in the office; But I brought with me the two cell phones. So I tried to text for help sent many messages to my Cambodian friend Rada, (who has special mission project, because he is around in the office that time) good for me that there was signal because before there was none. But its about 10 minutes passed no one came.

Fourth Attempt: I really don’t want to yell outside because everybody will know. But no choice so I shouted out to those in the kitchen nearby so that I will be heard, but still no one heard me. No one really knows I’m stuck in there.

Fifth Attempt: Started to removing one pin of “bisagra” which hold the door and door jam in that swings the door, but I was reluctant to remove everything because I will be spending more time returning it back after.

Sixth Attempt: I tried texting to my co-employee Allen Krystel (our admin staff in I.T. Department), using my suncel but I got no signal, I can’t text her with my globe either because it is registered only to unlitext globe.

Seventh Attempt: Wow! Seven (7) my favorite and perfect number. I just raised a short prayer, and said “Lord please help me to open this door”. Indeed when I pulled it out again for the last time the door were open smoothly, it seemed somebody pushing outside I did not even exerted more effort to open it and God does pushed it for me. (Thank you Lord!!!). Silly but amazing, God is always there even you are stuck in comfort room.

Internet Connection

Last Monday when I went to the office for work I supposed to take my rest after our General Assembly in Boracay Island. But I was thinking of my work to be done in the field.

Our internet connection was down, one foreigner guest asked me if he could have the wifi access, I told him that the internet connection was down, later one by one my co-employees were asking what happen to the internet connection.

I realized that, on this digital age people seem could live without internet. What will happen if one day or two internet is down? I guess it has a big impact on economic crisis.

LAND OF PROMISE … MISSION ACCOMPLISHED . . .

Mindanao once has been called land of promise in early 1050’s. Places were a fertile ground for farming and fertile ground for mission.

Pastor Enrique Litao-Almera a graduate in the School of Theology has the heart of mission, his wife Valentina, children Prescilla, Deborah, Tadeo and granddaughter Flordeliza. In early 1951 they migrated to Mindanao and settled in Barungkot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon. (Not in photo Prescila & Liza)

He started his ministry and began to have a group of his own. He acquainted many church leaders and joined the churches. He met also Ptr Juanito Gapul, Sr. and family in Barungkot. In 1956 he was able to meet a leader who migrated from Negros with so many followers named Mr. Fidel Cambare. The name of his group was Economic Brotherhood Production - EPB. They observed the 7 Gods Plan of Salvation in the Old Testament. Ptr Eking and Mr. Fidel Cambare agreed that they will merge their groups in serving God.

In 1957 the church building was built (the roof was made out of cogon grass) on Mr. Cambare’s personal lot in Kiara, Maramag Bukidnon. (Barrio Kiara, were belonged in the Municipality of Maramag in that year). It’s not easy doing with such ministry when they have to walk around 40 kilometers every week when they go to Barrio Kiara for Worship service. Their faith in serving God is immeasurable, members would have to travel Friday night from different places such as Maramag and Dangcagan just walking bringing all their foods carried by “balsa” (a cart without a wheel) pulled by a carabao / buffalo or a cow and walk again Saturday night going back home. When rains come they have to wait for the rivers of Moleta and Masimag waters to subside for them to cross.

A first Pastor of Radio Church of God founded by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was Ptr. Pedro Ortiguero who happened to be a friend and co-pastor of Ptr Eking Almera in Luzon went to Mindanao in 1962 for the purpose of joining the group of Ptr. Almera, the church eventually converted to Radio Church of God and later years it became Worldwide Church of God - WCG and in the year 2008 the name was changed officially to Grace Communion Internation - GCI.

In the late 1960’s it’s the persecution and excruciating trials of Ptr Eking Almera and family when there was a Pastor who joined the group and started to overpower him and ruined his reputation and even in front of the worship service, he used his power to destroy him. There was even a time during the service the said pastor said to the congregation that he will throw Ptr. Almera out of the window. He said that Ptr Almera is incapable of handling the church. In 1969 Ptr Almera was totally dropped down from the ministry together with Ptr Juanito Gapul and never received any single cents as retirement benefit. Such incident was never reported in the head office of WCG in Manila, in spite of that Ptr Almera and family still remain in the church.

June 1970 Ptr. Almera was seriously ill his family doesn’t have any finances for such a surgical operation and to buy all the necessary needs in the hospital. In the late afternoon of June 19, 1970 Ptr. Almera breathed his last at Bethel Hospital, Malaybalay, Bukidnon. That very day his remains transported to Don Carlos, Bukidnon arrived at 7:00 in the evening. It was Friday eve the church believed that it’s already a Sabbath. The incumbent pastor ordered the family to burry Ptr. Almera at once because it’s already Sabbath and no one would help. He never allows Mrs. Almera and children to view his remains and even he never allowed bringing the remains to the house, 11:30 in the evening where the strong rains poured it seems the cry of heaven his servant was buried without any burial services rendered in his peaceful rest. Ptr. Juanito Gapul, Sr. was even scolded by that Pastor because he helped to facilitate the remains of Ptr. Eking. Sometimes words are un-expressible knowing with this inhuman treatment may lead to bitterness and envy. Thanks for those few good men who sacrificed for giving the humble servant a peaceful rest (The Zapanta’s, Canogigos’ Carmelotes’ and others).

Neighbors who are unbelievers were so mad to the Almera family why they never bring the remains of Ptr Almera in the house and why they listened to that pastor, where they said they will help for the burial just for them to see the remains of Ptr. Eking who been so kind to them.

When the regional Director of WCG Mr. Arthur Docken heard the news, he rushed to Cagayan de Oro City why he never knew about Ptr. Almera was ill, sad to say, it’s all done. It was not reported with that pastor.

Mrs. Valentina F. Almera in spite of what happen continue to serve the Lord faithfully, without any grudges at all. She taught her grandchildren the way giving, praying without ceasing and God fearing children. It has been a prayer of her grandson and I quote “Lord my Lola Tina is old now, if you are going to take her, don’t let her suffer with illness”. December 21, 1999 at 5 o’clock in the morning her daughter Deborah usually wake her up for a coffee but that moment she never responded and never wake up from her sleep, in her deep sleep she went back to her creator. It was an answered prayer to God be all the glory.

It’s been a heart crushing story; but it is still a greatest battle of Victory I may say “Land of Promise, Mission Accomplished”. The church has been following the Old Testament laws have been spiritually transformed into full Gospel Church. Kiara Church still remains, before Mr. Fidel Cambare died he finally donated the one hectare lot where the Church was built. The Church grows in Bukidnon with her daughter churches.

Ptr. Enrique Almera’s family still remain in the Church serving faithfully to Jesus Christ. There will be human defeat in his lifetime but the victory to the kingdom of heaven has the greatest reward.

A text message would never be the same again....

Couple years ago I was so bored, I entered in MIRC chat room just parking then. A young lady sent me a private message she was 17 years young. We just had a chit chat sharing any ideas and question and answers. She shared her yahoo messenger and added her in my list. After that little time we talked everything has been forgotten.

Years gone by early 2008, when I opened my email I received an invitation to friendster it came from Ashley Fernandez. I just added her quick and send her my gratitude for the invitation and asked her yahoo messenger again. What I did was to send her an offline messages. We were able to talk again in ym and often times we communicated only thru offline messages then I ask her cellphone number. When I had the opportunity to text her I send her some quotes. She tells me what is doing, doing their assignments and projects and hanging out with her friends.

My phone beeped, that was November 5, 2008 and the message was and I quote “Kuya I am leaving for New York Next Month” I thought it was just a joke text because I used to received some jokes like that. I asked her for what reason? She told me that she is going to have her medication, Leukemia Stage 4 Cancer. That moment it seems my world was crushed down knowing a young woman who is very lively but beneath that manifestation she has been suffering tremendously.

I asked her if I could make a call, but she is in the hospital and not allowed to have phone calls. I am so bothered for her, so I just text her if she do believe that Jesus Christ is her Great Doctor, Mighty Physician and Powerful Healer; and asked her if she will accept Jesus Christ as her personal savior her Lord and Master. She replied “with all my heart I will accept Him”. I just send a prayer request all throughout the Philippines for her healing. After that I never received any text from her she left for New York.

One night when I opened my friendster account and it struck me in her account was that “goodbye Manhattan, New York and Farewell”. It was her cousin who posted on that shout out, she rested peacefully with the Lord December 8, 2008.

I just can’t hold back the tears that falls from my eyes, ASHLEY FERNANDEZ (21 years old) that I met had been part of my life’s journey. Although I am so sad of her lost, for me she is victorious in her life with the Lord. Because she surrender her life to God in spite of all the pain that she been through.


Ashley, you are so precious in the Lords heart, God be with you till we meet again.

it at coops takes a big lift

It’s been two years it@coops culminated 100 days training participated with Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines. Promotions to replicate the skills and knowledge acquired with the IT Specialist.

When we first organized training the impressions of the co-op managers is that, their staff knows already about Microsoft Office Operations and other computer applications. We were able to have first training in the North Luzon on Microsoft Office Excel. One General Manager sent her staff to the training and re-echo of what she had learned, she commented that she regretted for not attended herself on the training. From then on when we invite their co-ops for it@coops training she always send 2 or 3 participants.

It@coops dreams take a big lift and have come to reality. As of today a lot of managers and Board of Directors are requesting to conduct it@coops training in their respective cooperative. We are looking forward for next years plans and strategies to share the skills and knowledge imparted to us as IT Specialist.

I have 4 years old niece, who always disturbs me when am working on my computer; she holds the mouse, press the keyboard and even the power button. What I did was to give her a time for herself to play on the computer. I taught her in paint and draw in it, when am home she always ask me that she will draw in the PC and we taught here determining the letters on the keys. To my surprised when I went home from manila, she already knows how to start the computer and log-in her password and shutdown and she knows to play her puzzle game.

It’s a big challenge to all of us IT specialists "we can do it", with due respect of Cong. Guillermo Cua said ARISE, I may translate it Achieve, Regional, IT@coops, Soar for Excellence.

Thank you very AWCF, Invent Germany, One World, NATCCO, C.U.L.T., FORMASI and to the co-operatives who have full support with this endeavor you made a great move.

Death is at Hand!

It was early August 2007 when I received late call from my sister Jene Ann requesting for a prayer for Ptr. Jerome V. Manriquez is admitted in hospital and in critical condition at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and last August 20, 2007 I received a text from Diane my friend Shayne Cloie is admitted also in the Heart Center the same condition they both suffer heart problem. Those incidents crumpled my heart in deep sorrows knowing them they suffer so much struggling taking their breath. Two lives at stake with those gadgets installed to their bodies.

Since I could not do anything but to cry out the Lord, it’s not yet their time. And it seems I could not accept it. Faith and strong feelings that the Lord is listening, prayer request was sent to the Prayer Warriors and Intercessors all throughout the country to intercede before God for the two beings whose life is in the Valley of Death.

They had been discharged from the hospital knowing that they are well enough but just in few days their heart illness strikes them again and back to the hospital. Interceding to the Lord, for He is the great Doctor, the mighty Physician and the powerful Healer of all.

A miracle happens day after day in our lives, Ptr. Jeng Manriquez and Shayne Cloie were both out from the hospital rejoicing in God’s intervening miracles in the lives not just to them but to the brothers and sisters who interceded and prayed.

I was able to attend Ptr. Jeng’s 45th birthday Last August 10, 2007 he shared his testimony during his struggles; he dreamed that he is in journey in a very dark place walking through a path leading to a very tiny light, as he continue to move forward somebody pulled him back and he was awaken. He was inspired and fought to get well when he knew a lot of brothers and sister praying for him.

Shayne Cloie celebrated her victory over death. Her family so glad that she revived with her health she extends her appreciation to everybody who cared in praying for her, I caught her text message “Touched! Please extend my trillions of thanks, thank you to them; thanks could not be enough to appreciate their concern”.

The Lord promised us wherever we are, whatever we do, even we walk to the Shadow and the Valley of death he is there for us and let us not be afraid for he is with us and he is in us. Victorious battle for the two Children of the Lord, all glory, praise and honor belongs to Him. Death has been defeated! Let’s be sure that Christ is in our lives to conquer the spiritual death that we will see each other for eternity.

The Trainee, Graduates, Specialists

One hundred thirty eight (138) days ICT Training culminated last May 31, 2006 at PLDT CTC Building Ateneo de Manila University. There were 23 Trainees but only 20 were able to graduate.
After the graduation the trainees, the graduates are now the new specialist of IT to the different cooperatives all throughout the Philippines. The 14 cooperatives will establish Business Development Center and the specialist will replicate the trainings to the cooperatives Management and Staff, Board of Directors and Officers and also to the cooperative members.

Change Higher Gear E-commerce Perspective

Due to massive advance turn around of information technology nowadays it is the main objective of ICT@COOP training is E-commerce.

For the last 4 days of our E-commerce class, this has been handled by Ms. Janette Toral an expert of E-commerce industry and a consultant. I never thought that E-commerce plays a major role in business industry worldwide. It really helps individual business men and corporations for easy and faster transactions.

I learned that it is high time to change higher gear E-commerce perspective in cooperative business organizations. Since coops now are aiming to link with commercial banks in the future this will be a gateway in cooperative journey.

Cooperative Not Possible online Marketing and Social Networking

Discussions on marketing, traditional way of doing always in my mindset, to my surprised I was able to learn on the easiest way through online marketing and social networking which is one of the module in ICT@COOP training, conducted by Ms. Janette Toral, owner of Digitalfilipino.com website.

I could hardly believe in just a matter of 2 days creating my blogspot I noticed that somebody had access my account from other countries. Now I realized that the fast money earning in today’s era is through online marketing and social networking.

Since the cooperative organization’s aiming high to maximize the use of Information Technology and build Business Development Centers (BDC) as part of advancing its technology from day to day operations. I’ve thinking that it’s not possible, cooperative e-commerce is now at hand.

Cooperatives have been gaze down to many individuals that it’s a dole out system. Cooperative teaches its member to be thrift and a habit of savings. Many individual members, who were able to expand their businesses through the cooperative support by availing loans.

The NATCCO Network is one of the biggest cooperative federations in the entire Philippines which its affiliate’s primary coops having an asset raging from 5 Millions to 300 Millions and majority are serving Savings and Credit operations.

With these online marketing and social networking 3 to 5 years from now, cooperatives will be able to be in partners with commercials banks through ATM online payments and online transactions local and international.

Online Remittances

According to the results of the researched made with the ICT@COOP trainee yesterday regarding e-commerce payment, I found out that Western Union is most efficient in sending payment worldwide, it has been established since 1871 in just a matter of 1 minute the payment will reach to the payee, however using it for local remittances it has an expensive cost P65.00 per send P500.00. But on the other hand Globe GCash and SMART padala they have lesser charges at P10.00 per P1,000.00 in just a matter of one minute also the money is sent. With these services you can use your own cell phone as your wallet. The problem with GCash and SMART padala if the payee doesn’t know how to use it or how register, or doesn’t have any cell phone they could not avail those type of payment.

E-commerce online shopping

I visited www.amazon.com was a type of ecommerce a one stop shop, anything you need you can have it online. E.g. RTW, PC’s, Sportswear, household items and more, you can have it just doing shopping in your own home and using your credit card.

One thing I noticed in amazon their text in upper menu is very small but in fairness they have good tab on other product categories will puff up when you point the mouse on it.

It seems the webpage is very congested some of the product maybe bypass, by the customers.

The other website that I visited was www.shopping.yahoo.com it is also ecommerce one stop shop, but they have also other services other than things can be bought from the malls they have also Credit Cards, Long Distance, Mortgage, Real Estate, Tickets and Travels. So if you only need those services you can just have it online.

The webpage is good not cluttered well balance.

EON Unionbankph

I registered online EON Union Bank went to the process, they have a good application form that is user friendly, they have balance form not heavy to the eyes of the users, very simple you can just fill up your name and the other data you can have an options.

It is so quick in just a matter of 3 to 5 minutes you can have your EON Cyber Account.

NSO website accessability

I login the online at www.E-census.com.ph to get a copy of birth certificate of my father, one problem I encountered was I am using Mozilla firefox browser and the engine being use of the website is internet explorer and they are requiring me to download an installer. If the user has limited access in the computer he/she cannot install, then they could not access the site therefore they cannot also avail online services.

ICT@COOP Train the Trainors

ICT@COOP Train the Trainors’ was a very challenging experience that I encountered, indeed I never expect among the many who aspired at eleventh hour I was chosen to be one of the participant among the 60 participants in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. The training has a great demand for trainors’ in the field of Information Technology in the cooperatives.
There can be no words to express my appreciation and proud to be trained in ICT@COOP, that was the greatest opportunity in my life and my career. I learned a lot, I learned also simple things that I never noticed from day to day usage in computer applications.
Learning’s achieved not only from the discussions but, through sharing of my co-participants.
ICT@COOP training my dreams has been fulfilled to acquire knowledge and skills about Information Technology.
Learning will not end in the training room but, will continue through our personal studies to gain and enhance our knowledge.
I would like to acknowledge those who made ICT@COOP training been successful; INWENT, NATCCO, AWCF, PBSP, ITS, ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY and My Supervisor and Boss. Most of all, to God be the glory because He never fails to protect, to guide, give all the participants and instructors good health, strength, knowledge and wisdoms. To the silent people behind the scene the NATCCO Hostel staff who prepared our daily provisions and lodging.
To my co-participants thank you very much I learned a lot everyone of you in many simple way.
May our cooperative endeavors be bless and succeed.
Since the 4 months and a half training inevitably have come to an end, the battle of the trainors’ to face new challenges to replicate to the cooperatives, we had not concluded yet, but we had only just begun.