It was just a common day where I go to my preferred computer shop to surf the internet. Of course, who else in the information superhighway would forget to pay a visit at their Facebook accounts? I dropped by, checked my status, commented on someone's wall post, and laughed at the tagged pictures by my friends. I didn't know that one of my friends then was online and he started to have his presence felt by me by sending a message via FB chat. As a friend whom I've missed for quite some time, I entertained him with eagerness and got a long with any thing to talk about. Our chit-chat jumped from one topic to another until the crazy roller coaster suddenly went to a halt and we talked about the DVDs that he recently purchased. Among those that he'd bought there was this one that he talked about the most; though not compromising the entirety of the story. He was referring to a movie called "Hachiko".

I thought at first that it was some sort of a Memoirs of a Geisha movie but the fact is it was an Americanized pet movie based on a Japanese story between a dog and his deceased master. Intrigued, I asked him if this is as tear jerking as Marley and me. He just put so many hahahahahas on the chat box and he warned me to prepare a towel as Marley and Me is nothing compared to Hachiko when it comes to tear jerking.

I went to Youtube and watched some clips. All comments were the same; touching, heartwarming, will surely make you cry. Anxious, I hurriedly visited the Quiapo Market to purchase one copy. I watched it that night. At first, I got bored because the subtitles are inaccurate. There was nothing to cry about, I thought. However, upon the final episodes I noticed myself not just crying but I was bursting into tears! The funny thing is that every time I press the rewind button for the heart breaking scenes, I cry again. I finished the movie and I was still crying!

Hachiko by the way is a true story where an Akita Inu breed named Hachiko waited for 9 years at the train station for his deceased master. His master is a Japanese professor in agriculture whom Hachiko escorts at the train station, waits for him, and escorts him home.

Never had I witnessed or known in my entire life such kind of loyalty especially for someone who does not own a pet like me. Another funny thing though, I kept telling my friends who've watched the movie as well is that I'd rather wait for my Akita Inu to die first as I don't want to have him wait for me if I'm already dead. This is a very wonderful movie, recommended to all.

The Philippines is mourning again as another truthful and dedicated public servant has passed away.

Former Budget Secratary Emilia Boncodin died on Monday afternoon. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), in a medical bulletin, said Boncodin died at 2:05 p.m. due to cardiac arrest. She was 55. She was tried to be revived for two hours but her frail body gave up.

She was admitted to the said hospital on March 10 due to difficulty in breathing. Her diagnosis was anemia and end stage renal disease or what we call Nephropathy. She has a history of congenital kidney cyst. Her sister was chosen as a potential donor after it was determined that she was a perfect match but Sec. Boncodin requested to have it postponed until the Philippine Congress has passed the budget that year.

Boncondin has been a consistent valedictorian from elementary up to high school. She became then a scholar of the University of the Philippines in which she Majored in Business Administration and Accountancy. After graduation, she took the CPA Board Examination and was included among the top 20, placing in the 15th spot.

She also taught as a professorial lecturer at the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) at the University of the Philippines and the Lyceum of the Philippines.

She was awarded the degree of Master in Public Administration at Harvard University as an Edward S. Mason Fellow.

She is known as a professional and hard working public servant. She initially joined the department as a senior fiscal planning specialist. In 1978, she quickly rose to become division chief at the age of 27, then Director of the Office of Budget and Management, and then Officer-in-Charge of the Government Corporations Budget Bureau of the reorganized DBM.

In 2005, she halted her post at the government as she joined the other cabinet members who called for the resignation of President Macapagal Arroyo. Their group was popularly known as the "Hyatt 10". In 2009, she joined the board of directors of Petron as an independent director.

I really do have high respects for CPAs like Boncodin as I myself, is an Accounting graduate and I know how hard the course is. I admired her for her intellect and dedication as I always hear her on interviews being held by a Christian radio show where my mother always listens to. For a very brilliant and skilled mind like hers, a better opportunity privately or even outside the Philippines could have made her life better and even prosperous. However, she humbly stayed and opted to serve her countrymen.

We do hope that another wonderful person just like her would emerge someday. Transparent, patriotic, and truly dedicated to serve the people.

Farewell Sec!

It was a usual morning where I go to the rest room to unload my stuff and the radio was on, tuned to my mom's favorite Christian radio AM station. I remembered the past week when she was bugging me to vote for Efren Peñaflorida as the CNN hero of the year. I knew Efren, though not personally but I have seen his story on TV and wished for him to win such a prestigious competition. Much to my surprise as it was a coincidence and delight, that time the news anchors from the said radio station were reporting that HE did win! I hurried right away to a nearby computer shop and checked it myself. It is indeed true. The competition was stiff but he bested everyone on the scene. It really wasn't much of a competition though, what matters is that we make a difference and the difference that he made was through helping others in need. His road to success is glorious as the success he was able to achieve and will still try to improve is not only for personal gain but for the betterment of his countrymen. Manny Pacquiao (though currently involved in a love affair controversy), Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, Apl D Ap form Blackeyed Peas, Efren and the countless others make Filipinos known all over the world and I am sure every Filipino, not only in the Philippines but around the world are really proud. Mabuhay tayo! :P

Here is the video of Efren's speech and its transcript.

I just made a transition again to become a voice agent. The GLORIOUS months of just answering emails has been over and my DREADED event has come again. I actually made my come back again just a while ago as a call back representative. The customer is nice however my heart doesn't stop racing because of the previous trauma I had experience from the irate American customers. However, just as my friend had advised, it's only a matter of perception. No wonder a few still survives. I can do this! I'll show them the numbers!