‘Of Cabbages & Kings…’ Archives
The Fading Benefactor
Benefactors, donors, supporters, backers, allies, champions, patrons – mean the same thing – they are all philanthropist in their own way. The word philanthropist is vanishing. I grew up in a village within the shadow of generous people and institutions which has long been a symbol of benevolence, and maybe, from time to time of bitter controversy. Right now, my church sits on private ground and we need roughly two million pesos to pay the owners. It has been three years that the [...]
The Home sets the atmosphere for achievement
Our Filipino homes has always been founded on the grand scheme of human freedom, independence and autonomy. This is based on the thesis that man’s potentials can be optimized and homes can flourish more through the liberation of all forms of power – social, political, economic – which impose unnatural restraints against his full development. I am consolidating all my energies and rage over a cruel neighbor who terrorized a vulnerable girl to wade into the dirty creek just to [...]
The Cult of Efficiency
Generations have passed, and, like the woods and hedges that sheltered it, the rich local life centered on villages, towns, parishes has been uprooted and blown away by the winds of change. Today no refuge remains from the desperate clamor for more efficiency, more passion, more innovation, more competitions and more destruction. Lately, my class was fortunate to have APAC, the local business processing outsourcing (BPO) center shared to us the rudiments of the trade. Thomas Friedman [...]
Guess what?
I am a Guess patroness. I love Guess ladies’ belts. Last June, I bought one full sleeved chemise and kept it for a while waiting for the right time to wear it. After six months, I found the right occasion, and there was no trouble retrieving it. When the evening ended, before retiring to bed, I examined the item and found out to my dismay a three inch tear right beside the button hole. So cleverly hidden that a scrupulous like me failed to spot it. I reviewed the night. Did I dance [...]
A hint of fine dining
Gentle music, impeccably polite maitre d’ in white and black coats, wide array of choices: the salad bar, read meat corner, soup as aperitif, pastas with seasoning of your choice, sweet and sour fish and its allied sea foods menu, delightful chocolate fountain, fruit shakes and beverages, and coffee or tea to end your meals. Ahh, just the things for the jaded diner and traveler. Without hopping to the metropolitan settings with hotels and restaurants for class fine dining, we can have [...]
No Shortcuts, please…
Webster defines shortcut - the absence of panacea(s) to peace and stability. It is a method of doing or achieving something more directly and more quickly. In life, in order to maximize benefits and reduce cost in terms of money, men, procedures, time, and stress - we conveniently resort to shortcuts. Shortcuts in itself aims to make life easy and quick. I love shortcuts, and who does not? The moment I wake up, I proceed to my number one routine – instruct co-members of the family [...]
Care for a narcissistic inventory?
I remember that morning. I remember my supervisor, ...I didn’t understand what she meant but I was listening. “ I will designate you as chair of the regional inventory committee. Then, I swallowed a few air, and told her, “ I may not be the director’s choice.” And she continued, “let u see.” In no time, my order was signed. I am a non-accountant, but here I am trapped sweetly in a golden cage of risk managers. Doing fixed assets accountability inventory, paradoxical it may [...]
Managed fights, managed marriages
Fifty -four percent of married couples in my neighborhood agree that managing fights lead to managed marriages. Isabel, the seaman’s chief executive officer, says that “fights help couples come closer and often clear misunderstandings. Fights make the bond stronger.” It develops sensitivity and sensibility on the other’s preferences through adversity. Vicenta, boutique manager points out that arguments help as the differences get sorted out. This also helps in not taking [...]
The “Lamb” is in town
If there is any nursery song that hangs on my heart, it is Mary Had a Little Lamb. Remember the line, “its fleece was white as snow.” I know that every one of us has a song written on our heart that needs to be sung! The joy-filled music and lyrics will encourage one to sing out unique songs! But this time, I am singing this tune not as a child but as an adult. Not because our home-grown gorgeous and dazzling Ms. Ruth Taon Lamb is in town and will be leaving soon. In the brief [...]
Active kids do well in studies
Stage moms and grandmoms may calm down. Langlang can leave Christian alone on his daily antics, Ella can stop worrying when Erik sings in the rain, Sayek can just allow little Matthew to read and write on the wall, and all other fussy nannies can now rest and seek the brilliant side of children. According to researchers of the Vrije Universiteit University Medical Center, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands found strong evidence of a significant positive [...]
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