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to My
CHILDREN
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Love,
Dad
10
I already miss you in the Philippines, but we talk on Skype every day.
I hope my visa will be there soon so I can go to you and see all the people
in Denmark. You are both very kind to me. I love you very much.
Love,
Ma. Divina Formentera
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Daddy
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Love,
Mama
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Forever yours,
Mama (and Dada)
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Love,
Dad
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“But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the
wonderful things he has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:24)
Tight hugs,
Mommy
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Mommy
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388
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Dad
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Love,
Mommy Camille
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Mom
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Love,
Mommy
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Love,
Dad
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6699
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733
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Love,
Mommy
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Love,
Mom
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I love you,
Mom
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Talk to me soon?
Mom
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9922
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Dad
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Directions:
1. Uncover talent.
Starting at a young age, do what you love doing, whatever
it is that makes you happy. You will discover that those things are
actually talents that you can develop. Top the talent with passion
and perseverance, and you will eventually be very good and very
skilled that it would be like second nature. We were lucky that we
discovered the joy of cooking and baking at an early age, so we just
kept doing them and somehow never got tired of them. We still
have fun cooking and baking to this day.
2. Add uniqueness.
Always be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be unique and different.
Sometimes it’s hard to fit in and be accepted by your friends and
classmates, so you try so hard to be part of a group and just belong.
True friends will accept you for who you are; great friends would
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Love,
Papa and Mama
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Love,
Mommy
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Gotta run,
Mama
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Love,
Dad
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Mommy
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i
Payments made by companies to investors resulting from earnings.
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ii
Investment value increase due to capital gain and interest earned over time.
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iii
Total value of an entity’s assets minus its liabilities.
iv
Short for Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth, this annual document
must be completed and submitted by all government workers. It contains their
total assets and liabilities.
v
Amount and type of risk (of losing money) an organization is prepared to accept
in order to meet their strategic objectives.
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♥ Mama
vi
A careful design of environments that influences the way people
make decisions.
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Pia
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Don’t cry
This is not the end, nor goodbye
But begin
To know I’m with you till the end
And when you pray
I will hear every word you say
And so with all my promises made
For one like you
Someone who’s especially made
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Hi Aiks,
I was trying to call. Baka nasa class ka na. There is a paid
lounge here. Matagal pa hintay so I took time out kahit na P560
ang bayad.
You have not written for quite awhile kaya ako na lang. While
we are worried that you might lose your momentum if you join
Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (or if you do not immediately work
after you graduate), do not worry. Palagay ko, you have earned the
right to decide for yourself. Okay ka naman.
Pops
Hi Aiks,
I was waiting for your letter but it never came. Hahaha!
Anyway, I got to go. Pahabol pa rin. We are very, very proud of you.
I am sure you can be much, much better than us. Konting pasensiya
at konting pagbibigay sa iba. You will surely go a long way.
Labs,
Pops
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Hi Aiks,
We did not have the chance to talk. I am glad we were able
to go to University of Pennsylvania. That is the kind of exposure
that might help you work on what you want to do. Do not worry,
ipapang-utang ko naman ang pang-aral. Mag-umpisa tayo doon sa
nakuha ko sa Ramon Magsaysay award ko.
You are fortunate because you have the option to choose what
you want to do so plan it well. Excel. Work hard. Kahit hindi mo
gusto yung ginagawa mo, you are still expected to work hard and
excel. I just hope that when you work, you will be more enabling.
There is little future in production, Aiks, unless you discover
and produce the product yourself or you are the brains of the idea
like Apple and Microsoft. The safer way is marketing and finance.
As they say, the best business is money. You might not have liked it
so much when you were still in school, but anyway, that is a must-
learn in MBA.
As I have told you, you might want to look at Singapore.
In fact, you might want to look at schools where your current
employer has a nearby office or division so you can establish
contacts and work from there. While I believe you owe it to where
you came from to make a contribution, you will get there more
comfortably if you succeed in your own career first. You cannot give
what you do not have (unless you want to run for mayor. Hehehe!).
Labs,
Papa
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Hi Aiks,
I have around 21 months left before I end my term as mayor.
I need to find something to do. Parang ikaw but in a different and
limited way. If I can find work in Manila, palagay ko mas mabuti
siguro. Magkakasama uli tayo. Tricia will be in college by then.
I need to be able to move on from Naga and sort of put it behind
me—lahat ng bagay, problema, sama ng loob, kasiyahan, tsaka
intriga na rin. I’ve always loved Naga pero parang mahirap na
nandito right after I finish my term. Baka lumabas na ang
natural (hahaha!).
Seriously, I do not think I will be happy with that setup (kahit
temporary). I am even considering leaving the country. Of course
together with all of you. Kapag mag-aaral ka na, it would be the
best time to do so. Medyo mahirap lang maghanap ng gagawin, but
at least tahimik na buhay at tahimik na isip na rin.
Looking back, mahirap din pala na naitulak ka lang ng unos sa
ginagawa mo. In a way, you are fortunate that you are seeking what
you want to be this early. Mahirap iyong walang benefit ang talent
mo. Not so many choices, so you take what is given you. Yan ang
buhay ko. Masuwerte na rin. Overachieving (depending on who is
giving the assessment) pero parang may kulang.
I intend to write something on what would have been para
huwag mong gayahin, pero actually kumpleto na rin naman lahat.
It is 11:59 PM. Lahat tulog na. Magpapagising daw si Jillian ng
6 AM. Bye na ako. Baka mapagalitan ako kapag ’di ko siya nagising.
Do not read between the lines. I just whiled away the time
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Labs parati!
Pops
Subject: Gising na
Date: September 30, 2008, 7:38 AM
Aiks,
Office na ako. Woke Jill at 6 AM. Getting old na.
I hope you get accepted sa Chevron. Do not worry. Wala
namang nag-uumpisa na alam talaga ang gusto. Ang iba, sweldo
lang. Ang iba, significance. Ang iba, bahala na. Ako, I just took the
first opportunity that was made available. Kaya eto, matanda na.
Still looking for what is right. I look forward to the day I will be
stepping out of office. I dread it at the same time, kasi maghahanap
na ako ng gagawin. Sometimes, work allows you to keep your sanity
(of course the children always do), pero pagod na rin. No more big
mountains to conquer, only molehills that seem like mountains.
Have to go. Will be there on Thursday. Speaking at Adamson
and AIM. We can have late dinner.
Labs na labs,
Pops
141
Hi Aiks,
Mama left a few hours ago for the airport. Paalis na. Tapos na
vacation namin. Thanks for coming home to babysit. I hope you
can do it more often.
Last week, Mama submitted our résumé to test if we can
qualify to move to Canada. It seems that we do. Just one of the
things I am considering for my retirement. Anyway, I am no Barat
Obaba. I am just like most na naghahanap ng tahimik na buhay.
This is not why I wrote you. I was reading an article in Fortune
magazine on the most critical element for success. First, it is not
talent. Many people who have more talent than others did not
succeed. Your father did not have much (hahaha!). Second, it is not
education. Sample niya yung dalawang regular students from
Harvard and Dartmouth who became COO of Microsoft and GE.
Ordinary students lang sila like Obama and Bush (kagaya ng tatay
mo). Ang sagot niya, it is desire and perseverance and being good
at things that you do not want to do. The article coined the term
“deliberate practice,” meaning working to be skillful at things that
are difficult and unpleasant to do. Deliberate practice on things
you do not want to do before doing what you want to do. This is
what distinguishes the ordinary from the extraordinary. Anyway,
my Christmas gift to you is a one-year subscription to Fortune
magazine. Malay natin, it might inspire you to build
your own fortune. Hahaha! Barat nga! Tulog na ako!
Labs,
Pops
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