Started the Year Right with Fun

Started the year right with Prayer and Fasting (“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5). I honestly say that I asked God’s provision for the year ahead. I primarily prayed for the continued guidance of our businesses, excellence in health, and wonderful relationships.

In as early as the 1st week of January, the event industry has been exciting and generous. Our digital projects are promising to step up to the next level — we expand into developing mobile apps for iPhone and Android.

I joined the MINI Car Club Philippines and met the cool and interesting members. It’s really fun and I’m proud to be a member of this elite club. I attended the EB in Gram’s Diner in Fort Bonifacio. Then, for the first time, I joined the Fun Run. I didn’t expect the run to Sierra Madre would be an adventure test, especially to Miaki (that’s my MINI’s name). MINI Cooper cars like the curves. I think I was driving at 80 kph from Sierra Madre down the curves to the town. I’m looking forward to more action in the succeeding months. But I’m more interested in to having more fellowship with the members. Hope to get to know all of them.

Sharing my blessing. The feeling of treating my parents to an out-of-the-country weekend is incomparable. This time we’re more joyful to have traveled with my nieces and nephew. My nephew Ram and Yannah asked me for a very unique Christmas gift — a passport. Wait, it’s a very unusual Christmas request by 12 year-old kids. Together with my two other nieces, Izella and Yovel (their 2nd time in Hong Kong), we stayed for 3 days and 2 nights in Disney Hollywood Hotel in Hong Kong. It’s their first winter experience and they were not prepared. Funny, we’re not even in Toronto or in North America and they would wear at least 3 shirts to keep themselves warm.

We met my brother King and his family in Hong Kong Disneyland. I can’t forget King’s youngest, Noelle, calling Goofie ” Hi, Goof” during the photo op. You know the feeling when you see your parents happy. In 2001, they wished their grandchildren would go with them when we visited Disneyland California. This year, their wish came true when they altogether took the “Small World” ride, which is my mother’s favorite.

This year’s San Beda Alumni Basketball League is unforgettable. We just wanted to play. No expectation. Ex-PBA and coach Dindo Pumaren didn’t play because of a more important priority. Ex-PBA, coach and Councilor Gerry Esplana missed the earlier games in the elimination due to injury. With 6 to 8 players from our batch including one of our best varsity players during our time, Mark Mañosca, we came in unprepared. And we thought that’s a miracle if could win. With no legitimate center on the bench, we were like the David in the group. The Jeremy Linsanity trend has reached the league and the opponents never had an idea that the best thing had yet to come. We, as individuals, gave our best. Our batch familiarity and consistency have become more significant in every game. I believe it is what made us win again. It’s a REDemption to our team. Our fifth championship (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2012) since the inception of the alumni basketball league.

Thanks to Kenneth Ang for the support, to Gerry and Mark for sharing the love and passion to play, to Joey Pontejos and Jon Gonzales for playing hard and dedication, to Jem Jerusalem for broadcasting the news to our Facebook group and to his magic basketball why I made 100 pct in the championship game, to Boyet Marcelo’s hidden defensive strategy, Rubyn Cura and Mike Abasolo for making time to complete and helped the team win, and to Chris Conwi for Magnum ice cream (the secret reason why we won) and for requesting his daughter RX93.1 junior jock to congratulate the team and greet me on air as “Fireman” (that’s embarrassing, I think). By the way, it was Gerry Esplana who gave me the monicker, “Fireman”.