After spending time with her, I went ahead since I was scheduled to present in a seminar.

That’s how I feel today. From waking up to before sleep, I was busy working on different things. It feels like this day was meaningful.

I remember listening to an audiobook about Leonardo da Vinci, in which it was stated that he often repeated the words “I shall never tire of being useful”, vocally or in writing. This urged him to accomplish his goals and do a lot each day.

Anyway, that’s it for today. Good night~

Capture this moment and hold it still forever… So that it will last and go on.

I can only sigh–a sigh of contentment.

Today, we ate at a restaurant called Zakoya, by Torres Street in Davao City. There was no sign whatsoever of “Zakoya” on the outside of the restaurant; the only thing that distinguished it was the giant picture of a cat atop the roof. Upon enterring, the ambience was good.

We were a team of Anime lovers, and I think that much of what we knew about Japanese food was influenced by the Animes we watched. I guess Animes had a big part in influencing us to try and eat at that place.

We selected the area where you sit on pillows, and where the tables are low on the floor. I forgot what that was called, but anyway.

We helped ourselves to the generous selection of delicacies. All in all, it was fun and weird to taste different types Japanese food. Half the time, I didn’t know what it was that I was eating. Their rice was particularly good though. And their fish steak. And the tempura.

We were so full by the time we left Zakoya.

After that…

We walked several blocks before riding home to allow for some digestion. I deeply enjoyed talking and listening to conversations. I enjoyed the time I spent with my friends.

I was with people that I really treasured. They were, to me, my nakama, used in the same context that Luffy and his crew (One Piece, the anime) do for their companions. That is, nakama, meaning friends or comrades, but with a very strong bond. That may appear to be a childish way to put it, comparing friendship with one from an anime, but it’s actually quite serious.

The night ended with talk with one of my friends as we went home.

I ate lunch with my cousins and parents. After that, we spent some time at the office. And then watched The Day the Earth Stood Still, which I found quite interesting. Before I went home with my parents, I decided to take a walk a few blocks around in the city.

When I got home, I found myself laughing to what one person did to “advertise” me to someone. Another friend drew a chibi portrait of myself. I was touched, and it meant much to me for that person to do that.

Thank you for the chibi portrait of myself! hahaha. Thanks for the one who did some ‘advertising’ of me… It really made me laugh. Thanks! I really appreciate all those people who greeted me today, and who did stuff that really made my day.

Two days later, Malene, Raisa, Kuya So, Aizee, and me spent our time together over dinner. I was glad that Malene and I were able to meet in the Mall despite the fact that the messages on our phone were delayed, and despite the fact that my phone turned off because the battery ran out of power.

After that, we went to MaryLand, a small carnival beside NCCC Mall. We tried the “Roller Coaster”, which wasn’t really a real roller coaster, more like a much smaller version. Despite the fact that it was smaller and wasn’t as high as a real roller coaster (though I’ve never ridden an actual roller coaster before), it was still scary! I felt relieved when it was over.

I thought I lost my cell phone that time, it turned out that it got dislodged on the cart of the roller coaster. I was thankful that the carnival staff who found it was honest.

Work is probably one of the best things that a person goes through in life. Decent work gives a sense of purpose and direction, and this is very important to humans. A person living life with no sense of purpose… That would really be frustrating. Of course, not that work is the sole purpose for living, as there are also other worthwhile causes.

Anyway, I’m grateful to be able to work freelance instead of being on a regular basis because I am more in control of my time. Aside from earning today, I was also able to finish A Spell for Chameleon, a fantasy novel by one of my earliest favorite authors. Before I sleep, I’m planning to read a few chapters of Stephen R. Donaldson’s The Illearth War, the second book of the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Because of the nature of my work too, I was able to enjoy a few games of DotA today, while listening to the second volume of Napoleon Hill’s audio series.

In the Philippines, when you go from one place to another, you usually have to ride public jeepneys. Public jeepneys are generally made in a way such that there are two long seats, one on each side. Each side can accommodate a dozen or more people, placed so that each side is facing the other. When a person rides a jeepney, before he can sit, the people already on the jeepney should move aside to provide space. Sometimes, you have to walk further into the jeepney, which can be pretty inconvenient.

My friend would usually speak up when people are inconsiderate, moving closer to the exit, but in doing so the person alighting will have more trouble finding a seat. She would call the attention of such inconsiderate people much older than her, especially if the person alighting and having trouble is a senior citizen.

I really appreciate that side of her that can speak up for others.

I’m really lucky that we have money right now so that we can go to the doctor and buy the necessary medicine. I’m thankful that I am able to enjoy the privilege of being healed.

November 14, 2008. Garden Oasis, Davao City. Today, I’m thankful for being able to attend a seminar, for the several things I learned about being an employer, and for being given the opportunity to develop my skills in public communication by presenting to many people. We were invited in this seminar entitled “Conference Forum on Self-Assessment Approach in Order to Create a Culture of Voluntary Compliance and Advocacy on DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program” to speak about opportunities on the internet that can help augment family income, as well as to present the project that we proposed to the Department of Labor and Employment, Region XI.

Sitting at the back–since I came a bit late–I studied my audience, assessing their age, asking the hosts of the seminar regarding who they were, and planning how best to present our topic to them. I realized that I was going to speak to an audience that would be older, and much more experienced than me. Previously, I had several opportunities where I presented the same topics I would be covering now, and yet this was the first time that all of listeners would be older. So I guess, this made me feel a bit nervous.

But I was in a good mood.

Although I felt a bit nervous, I was also excited. To be able to present in this kind of setting was an opportunity I wanted to take. I was also in such a mood, because I was able to wake up so early in the morning–usually, morning is the time that I would be going to sleep.

Ah, I thought to myself, I have successfully restored my biological clock.

The first topics of the seminar covered laws and regulations regarding employment. I was a bit interested in the topic because I wanted to learn a few basic things before we would start putting the employment project we proposed into action. We would be employing people by then, so it was best to listen to some of those laws and regulations now. I wasn’t really the type who would be interested in such, I found the words too formal, but that’s just the way laws are made to sound. But I knew that this knowledge would be useful, so I half-listened.

My mind would shift focus from taking a few mental notes about the topic, and then scanning and reassessing the audience based on their reactions from the topic. For a moment, I imagined myself presenting such a boring topic as laws and regulations, and pondered how, if I had the chance, I could turn it into something that would capture their attention. Quirk them into a more awakened state. A few solutions came to mind.

The first half of the day passed, with my thoughts wandering. I jotted down a few notes for the 8th chapter of a fantasy novel I’m working on. Occassionally I would look up at the powerpoint slides to keep track of what the speaker was talking about.

In the afternoon, we were first in line of the project presentors. I was able to present the topic as I had planned, and I was quite proud of myself for being able to do it. Speak slowly, you will never run out of words or ideas this way. Pause at regular intervals for them to be able to take things in, and use proper stressing of words so you can pull back their focus to you. These were some of the guidelines I followed, some things that I learned from listening to audio seminars. No matter how good your ideas are, people in general never listened if you spoke too fast. Speaking without stress and good tonality would bore the audience. And finally, never read from the powerpoint presentation unless you have to. Something I learned from a teacher in college. That teacher said, “It’s so easy to read. A 6 year old can do it.”

Instead of reading, a more intelligent way would be to just use the powerpoint presentation as a guide. Place the heading of the topic, one slide each. Then discuss. It’s pretty much a waste of time to have someone present and just read right off from the presentation. Unless you’re quoting something long, or presenting some facts–like laws and regulations.

Our presentation ended well. The seminar proceeded to a topic that I found quite of interest.

The speaker talked of the advantages and disadvantages of growing rubber trees. I was interested in the way this man presented his topics. He followed the guidelines I mentioned beforehand. The facts he presented were also quite interesting. By the end of his lecture, I was convinced I would buy a few hectares of land and plant rubber trees in it, if I had the capital.