Resolution for the New Year

Most of us, if not all, are now ready or just about ready to come up with their New Year's Resolution. As we welcome the year 2009 our hope to formulate our resolution to keep for the entire year bothers us, if you may. We somehow find it difficult to finalize our New Year's resolution and it worries us, at least I do.

Thinking of goals to set and to religiously follow for the rest of the year give us a kind of fear of not being able to even fulfill one after the 12th month. In theory, the whole shebang is not at all Herculean in nature. But the same can't be said in real life.

But who started all these trouble of coming up with a New Year's Resolution? Do we really have to do this?

Suprisingly, there is a history behind it all. Whether it make sense or not, I would still enthusiastically make my resolution and call out all the willingness in me to fulfill it. Now, let me share to you what I read:

The History of New Year's Resolutions

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.
The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.

There's nothing to loose and much to gain if you can make a resolution for this year and keep it. After all, the resolution is all about you. So no one will gain from it but you. Who knows, you might find yourself a better person at the end of the year.

Find yourself something or somewhere to write your resolution for this year now. I am making mine now. Goodluck!

The New Year is Here

It's two hours before the New Year starts. I just found myself a moment to do some blogging inside my girlfriend's room while she was busy preparing one of her fave food -- pasta in tuna and garlic showered with basil. Everyone in the house seemed busy doing their own stuff while we waited for midnight to strike. Anticipation filled me up since it was the first time I'll be spending the New Year with my girlfriend's family. I was hoping for more new years to be spent here.

We've been together for more than five years now; me and my girlfriend. But for some reasons, late this year is when I was "officially" accepted by the family -- specifically, her dad. To give you a background, her dad was not really that okay with the idea of me as her unica hija's boyfriend. I would like to believe it wasn't because of my looks since I don't look that awful. In some instance I would even pathetically consider myself a celebrity material...someone who Angel Locsin would give a second glance at. Well, so much for lifting my own chair. That was me dreaming again. But I'm pretty sure my face got nothing to do with why her dad was not all for me as the boyfriend. Bluntly put, her dad thinks I'm too short for his daughter. She's a towering 5'7 lady and I'm hobbit-ing 5'2.

But that's all in the past now. Her dad still thinks I'm not tall enough for her, I guess. But her dad seems glad with the fact that I loved, and will continue to love, his daughter for the past five years. Like any other couple, we had our ups and downs, even some shortcomings on the side. But I am hopeful that things will be smoother now that we have her family's acknowledgement. I must say getting her dad's nod felt like a big thorn off my behind.

I know this won't end here. We are still young as a couple and I'm looking forward to more challenges this coming year. Somehow I believe it's gonna be alright at the end of the day.

Fallen or Not

This is one of the things I learned from the sequel Fallen, which I watched last night. The idea really got me interested and so I watched it to its end. I only got the season one copy and am not sure if season two is already out. Well, I'm not really that eager to watch the second season since I believe I had my fill of it.

As implied in the movie, it was believed that after the Great Battle in heaven, when Lucifer and his army of angels got defeated by the Creator's Army of Angels, they were banned from paradise. Most of the banned angels left Lucifer and dwelled on earth with the humans. They were tagged as the Fallens. Then for some reason, a group of angels from heaven are sent to earth to hunt down these Fallens. But strangely enough, a prophecy has it that an offspring of a fallen and a human being will redeem the fallen and bring them back to paradise. This Redeemer will have the power to absolve every sin as long as it sees that soul, angel or not, worthy of redemption. money

I don't want to spoil the fun for those who haven't seen this movie yet so I'll just tell you what I picked up from it. The idea of an angel amongst us already got me glued to the movie. I wanted to know how they would portray angels in our world. I wanted to know how they would show who envies who. I have this idea that though we all wanted to be angels in some occasions, angels strangely would give up their "angelhood" to be like us.

I strongly believe angels are curious how we manage to still stand after every fall. How we pick up ourselves and move on. How, at one point, we love like there's no tomorrow and suddenly get hurt, cry and morn over our lost love, and then eventually love again. I believe they want to know how it is to do something you want badly and yet be given forgiveness if we screw up big time if we are sorry of it. Or simply on how we work hard for something we want in spite of the struggles.

Still I believe there are angels amongst usâ?¦no, let me rephrase it. I believe we are Nephilims.

E-Commerce for Entrepreneurs Series- Internet User's Guide to E-Commerce Policies

The first time I pictured myself blogging, earning wasn't really part of it. I used to see blogging as a way to share my thoughts to the world and what's the best way to do it but to post them on the internet.

It seemed to work since people I know, and even those I don't, get to read my blogs. I even received nice comments from some of these individuals. But it's a known fact that one can't really please everybody. So I know those unpleasant comment are just lurking somewhere. Well, I guess I'm ready for them. It's part of being unique.

But while I brace myself for unlikely comments, I plan to make the most out of blogging. I've already seen how this works when it comes to sharing my thoughts to others to hopefully make a difference. I believe it's about time to try to make some dough out of it.

So I'm now doing some research on how I can properly use the web to earn. I read blogs from those who have been into blogging for sometime now and somehow get some tips from the blogs. I also read some magazines and books on how to achieve the goal I set for myself. And I just read from Fitz Villafuerte about this helpful book which is expected to be out by February of next year.

The book is by Janette Toral. I learned that this is actually an updated edition which include new and more comprehensive information. This new edition of E-Commerce For Entrepreneurs and the first volume of the series is entitled Internet Userâ??s Guide to E-Commerce Policies.

Here's an outline of this book:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Becoming an I.T. Policy Advocate & Lobbyist
The E-Commerce Law
Chapter 3: E-Commerce Law
Chapter 4: E-Commerce Law IRR
Chapter 5: Rules on Electronic Evidence
SME Policies
Chapter 6: Financing for Information Technology Build-Up (SME-FIT)
Chapter 7: Government Procurement Policy Board Resolution No. 07-2006
Consumer Protection
Chapter 8: Data Log Retention of Telecommunications Traffic (NTC)
Chapter 9: DTI Administrative Order #8: Prescribing Guidelines for the Protection of Personal Data in Information and Communication Systems in the Private Sector
Chapter 10: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 542: Consumer Protection for Electronic Banking
Chapter 11: Consumer Protection Guidelines (NTC)
Chapter 12: Advertising Standards Code
Chapter 13: Internet and Mobile Advertising Code of Ethics
E-Government
Chapter 14: DTI-DOF Joint Administrative Order #2: Guidelines Implementing R.A. 8792 on Electronic Payment and Collection System (EPCS) in Government
Chapter 15: Copyright
Chapter 16: Cybercrime
Chapter 17: E-Commerce Policy Implementation Challenges
Chapter 18: Moving Forward

Whether I'll get the chance to own one from the auther herself, for sure I will grab a copy for myself. This book can really guide the pros and amateurs alike. Now I'm looking forward to finding a niche in blogging and books like the E-Commerce for Entrepreneurs series will help me get there.

Another Memorable Christmas

December 24 and 25 were declared no-work day by the company I'm working at. For most of the people, it might not be a surprise but to us call center guys, it's double the fun and celebration. Not everyone gets to celebrate and spend Christmas with their loved ones at home if he belongs to the used-to-be elite group of nocturnal professional rats. Since starting a career in this field-- which is by the way, growing like mushrooms-- this is the very first time I spent it not to talking to strangers over the phone. Most of these callers don't know that its already Christmas on the other side of the line. So what a nice way of spend the day with people that matter. Wishfully with the family. And so I did. But not quite.

I spent the days with my girlfriend's family and relatives. The occasion was realized thanks to the relatives who wanted to make this Christmas memorable to our Lola Tele who has not been feeling well. Originally, we were supposed to spend it in Jordan Springs in Laguna. Lola Tele actually liked the place, or probably what the placed made her feel, when we spent my girlfriend's mother's birthday there. But after al the preparation, we had to cancel the reservation at Jordan Springs for the beloved Lola can't take the long travel. But that didn't stop Christmas for this family.

My girlfriend's family were kind enough to share their house with the rest of the relatives for the event. And so all came to the place and everyone had fun. Lola Tele, I believe, had fun as well. Although she wasn't feeling fine when she arrived and spent almost most of the time in bed, she made sure she got up and spend time with her family. From the tito's and tita's to the children, everyone felt Christmas as it supposed to be-- full of love and happiness.

Deep inside, I missed my own family back home. I even wished I could have spent it with them too. But I am sure they are happy for me too to feel part of a family aside from my own.

It was a memorable Christmas spent with family-- though not my own.

JUST A THOUGHT, REALLY

Staring perplexedly at the laptop and almost piercing
Words searched to depict the thoughts and emotions in play
Not knowing which to bring into the world
Yield them vulnerable to ridicule
Surely it will face the same faith as the others
Taken for everything else but its own gist
Stripped and beaten in a crowd
Confused how they could have taken them differently
Or are they really what they utter they are?
Is it perspective which gave birth to confusion?
How would I know?
Or should I care?
I can spare some exceptions
But I am not really feeling good about this
Worry is something I just can't take no notice of
So worried shall I be then
A lot of things to say now but will rather not
Keep these for myself is what I'll do
Just let time unfold what needs be
Or perhaps what needs be might never be

Charge !!!!

It's Saturday night and I'm alone in the apartment. Not to mention it's All Saint's Day. So I tried to find ways to keep myself busy to pass time. I tried to key in my thoughts at the moment. They have been trying to get my attention as if they wish to be set free. They are clamoring for freedom. Freedom from the mind that's filled with concepts and opinions not put into use.

Recently, I made a trifling progress. Blogging let loose these thoughts and fulfilled their destiny to be shared. I know I still have to open the cage more often for these poor guys that are trapped in the corners of my mind.

My emotions are no different. They've helped me make decisions too. Decisions those were significant to develop maturity. They made me stronger after every hurdle, regardless if I pass with flying colors or just got lucky to withstand the torture. They kept me afloat. Never let me drown in whatever depression or disappointments, or at least, not always.

I had my share of waterloos and I know that still more will come to challenge me. But I believe I am standing on solid ground. Snags are out there to shake and beat me to a pulp but I'm sure I'll find myself looking at it in the eye. Turning my face away from it should be last thing I'll consider, the stress is in the "should be". Though I know I can but apparently there are instances that I tend to forget about facing them and attempts to turn around instead…or worst, turn away from them. The scare gets me sometimes.

The world is not fair most of the time (for most of us). I know you'll agree with me on this; whether you're on the favored side or on the I-wish-the-world-would-devour-me-now side. Even if we are on the later, we know that it will just pass, or we wish it would soon. We want it to end and leave us be even with the thought that another battle will come after the other. They will continue to challenge us, whether we charge or step back.

But every battle fought is a scar left in us...the scar that reminds us how we fought the scuffle. Best fought battle or not, one thing can be said, we can learn from them on how we want the next will turn out.

I don't know about you but I believe I should be in touch with my thoughts and emotions to guide me thru my own little battles. For the past few years, I've armed myself with them. I lost some of them and also just got lucky surviving a few.

At least, I am charging on.