Jonathan Yabut, Philippines: First Apprentice Asia Winner

Missed the first 15 minutes of the show's 2nd finale episode.  Up to the end, was really thinking that Tony Fernandes will choose Singapore's Andrea.  But when he said that he changed his mind from his initial choice, I became sure that Jonathan is the WINNER.  

Not really a fan of the series because of the "survival of the fittest" reality-game concept but I got to appreciate the spectrum of differences and similarities in corporate values among young Asian professionals are.  As a viewer of the series, I got to contemplate on my leadership values and attitudes as well as re-think those of my bosses.  

As the winner, Jonathan said a lot about equating leadership with passion.  However, the one where he said that leadership means taking a back seat and letting members of your team shine and making sure that they are passionate too about what you all are doing is the one that I will ALWAYS remember and STRIVE to do.    

  

thoughts to remember

We always have to make choices 
No matter what the results maybe

But even if we made the wrong choices 
Even if the path we chose can't seem to be right
Even so, we have no choice but to walk on

Whatever awaits us at the end of that road
What's important is not making that choice 
No matter how it will end up

What's important is being able to accept your choice
The strength to accept whatever reality that comes our way.
                         - Resident 5-nin no Kenshui 

Bookmarks from my Girlfriend

Was cleaning up my stuff to prepare for the new year and realized that I have all these "omiyage" from Melissa's travels and field work.  The Istanbul bookmark (made of parchment paper) is currently between the pages of Murakami's IQ84, (:

Why do you like me?

"Why do you like me?" i a question posed by the characters from one of the episodes in Reply 1997 (a coming of age kdrama from tvN).  It's interesting that while most of the male characters answered this question with these lines:  "... because you're cute and pretty," "you're pretty to me, although you may not be with others" and "she's pretty to me."  

Kang Joon Hee (Hoya) harboring a crush and unrequited love to Yoon Yoon Jae (Seo In Gook) answered with these thoughts:

"The reason I like you?  
Because it's you. Just you.
That's the only reason.
I wish I knew.  Then I could figure out 
how to stop liking you.  
If I can't avoid it, then I only want one thing -
To stay as a friend who doesn't change...
For heartache,
For love."
  

Happy birthday, Rizza Mae!

Flower by Na Tae Joo

Go Nam Soon recited this poem at the second episode of School 2013

Flower

You have to look closely 

To see that it is pretty 
You have to look long 
To see that it is lovable
You are the same 
                    - Na Tae Joo

Sayonara Multiply, Yokoso Blogger

Finally a blogger account.  Hope my five-year entries from multiply would have their new home here.  I'm bracing myself that I won't recover the photos and the music.....

I think I'll lose some pictures permanently .  This means - having to really get my old notebooks working.  Two of them conked out (spanning 7 years of my life).  

Feels like leaving your home without packing your stuff.  I depended on good old multiply since I've not really warm up to FB.  Shows what a bad investor I am.  

Hopefully blogger can be a keeper.