House & Lot For Sale, Sta Rosa Laguna, Garden Villas 3, And to take Over Pagibig

Hi! I am selling my house and lot in Garden Villas Phase 3 Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Duplex Type and Corner Lot.
Core type / Bare type Unit (bedrooms is for owner's configuration and house can be configured for 3rd floor (Attic) for 2 more rooms)

Reason for selling: Bought the house while still working in Laguna Technopark. But with current work location in Taguig, the house is far from work and planning to sell it

Total cash out is at Php 700,694.25 As of March 2013  And need to pay Pag-ibig of Php 7,416.91 for 11 Years

As agreed upon, we need agreement form and inform Pag-ibig that you the buyer and will be assuming the Php 7,416.91 for 11 years. (Why 11 years, 15 years is total agreement with pag-ibig, since 4 years is already covered by me, remaining is 11 years)

Call/Text me for details: 0917-9476316 or email me at jojopiob@yahoo.com

My Dad

“And the father becomes son and son becomes the father…”

This quote lingers in my thought for some time now. I get the full understanding of this quote when I knew the son become the father… From me transitioning to being a parent and father to two lovely kids… I heard this from Jesus Seven Last Words and also from the movie Superman Returns in the ending scene. And I’m not sure if I heard it correct in the cartoon series Voltes V, where Steve, Big Bert and Little John used to talked to their father, Dr. Armstrong…huh!

Well, I grew up to loving parents, Tatay Manding, my dad and Nanay Elvie, my mom. My dad is a world war two veteran. I grew up at the age my father is already above 50 years of age. From my “kiddie” years to my teenage years, my dad is always with me from school and in going in our house in Cavite. I’ll tell about my mom in my later blogs.

My dad is a different kind of dad. My dad used to tells me stories about the peace time of 1930s, the war times of 1940s, the American’s support for 1945 liberation and from 1946s till Marcos regime. How he became a church servant or “sakristan” in Tagalog and used to see beautiful nuns or “madre” in church back in his teen years…  I know that my dad is a much older than my classmates’ dad but I am proud of my dad and from what he used to tell me, I share it with my friends.

My dad was very caring of me; never allowing me to play games with much physical contact like basketball, “ tumbang preso”and “luksong baka” so I will not get hurt. I think that is the reason why my cousins Cavite usually call me “lampa”.

Until my 2^nd year high school, my dad will always pamper me. Applying Johnson’s baby powder on my back so that I will not perspire a lot during my school activities, assisting me wearing my school polo. My mom would tell my dad, why he always pampers me when he knows I am already in my teenage year and I get shy. Well, I later learned this from my mom, that my dad wanted to show me the same care he gave my brothers and sisters when they are still young.” By the way, I have 4 siblings in my father’s family with me being the youngest.

During weekdays, my mom stays in our lola’s house in Cavite because of her teaching job in Dasmarinas Cavite while dad and I are staying in Paranaque reason is we don’t want the trouble and hassle of commuting everyday in going to and from school because during those times, public utility jeep is very seldom to and from Cavite. Since we are in dad’s house in Paranaque, Dad and I would eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together, watch TV news program together and sleep before 9 in the evening.  Lunch is included in our together since my dad’s house is 5 minutes walk to school. Though I know after night, he seldom sleeps early for he listens to his radio for news. When there is a boxing and basketball games, he will not miss a thing. Though I watch and play basketball and boxing, I prefer more watching cartoons s… hahaha…

Every Friday after my class, we would go home to my mom in Cavite. Before we go home, we buy “pasalubong” for mom and “lola” in Paranaque Public Market. From La Huerta, we would wait for a jeepney with signboard of Imus. And I am always glad because it reminds me that for the next two days, I am on the field play with my cousins in Cavite. When childhood, I remember more when I tease my cousin till they cry, that I would heard my dad calling me and asking me to lay on my stomach in a bench and hit me with his belt that I would cry aloud and I will hear my cousin laughing (just kidding), worried about me also. And when I am crying in pain, my mom would tell my dad to stop and comfort me (alas, for being an only son..hehehe…no im not a brat kid). Later, in my teenage year, did I realize my mistake and learn from it.

Age took toll of my father. Emphysema was the main cause of his sudden weakness. I was not been able to help take good care of my dad because of my school that time… Now, I was thinking of “if only” again… I have already learned and adjusted to that… That time, I dreamed that someday I will be a medical doctor with specialization in medical robots that can heal and treat elderly diseases like that of my dad.

From his death in 1995, for about a week, he would be visit me in my dreams and when I woke up, tears are present in my eyes. I never had the chance to talk to him and tell him how much I love him and how much he means to me. How much I’ve learned from him for being my father.

When I was browsing his stuff stored in my mom’s closet, I came to his wallet where the picture Michelle, my dad’s granddaughter is kept. It didn’t occur to me to felt different think because the way my dad shows his love for me and the love my dad for his grand children. I know he met Michelle and being Bernabe’s baby, he loved his apo during his stay with my brother in Honolulu, Hawaii when my brother was assigned there.

Later also I thought that I do not have much printed pictures of my dad. He only has 2 with 1 picture with a girl in her office attire. Eventhough he do not have lots of pictures with me, the face of him is clearly painted in my heart.

I love my dad and I miss him so much… I am proud that he is my father, for the time took good care of me and my mom and for the values he instill in me… Now that I am a father to a two loving kids, I know, my dad, is very proud of me... I will give all the best that is to offer to my family - my wife and our 2 kids and also our families…

Jojo Bernabe

Nice working, Toshiba Philippines!!!

For more than 10 years, Toshiba Philippines had been my second home. Thanks to the goodness of the Japanese expats and my local managers. Forget about the salary and the politics, focus on the training and work, Toshiba Philippines is a good place to start, a good stepping stone. For the more than 10 years I stayed with the company, I had seen it transform from just a start-up to a world-class manufacturing firm, from being the one who benchmark other plant or factory to the one being benchmarked by a local firm here or an international one. I have seen also the enhancement in training program both technical and professional. Well I could say is that Toshiba Philippines had a great training plan for its employees – from overseas technical training to in-house work-and-balance life. Toshiba Philippines got it. When I list down all the trainings I had attended when I left Toshiba, I almost filled up the entire A4 sheet of paper. If I stayed more, I could have had completed a two pages of A4 for the brief of 2 more years. (My advice to applicants who want to impress their interviewers for the training they had attended is that to be sure that you have learned by heart. The interviewer might be the subject expert on the training you have listed, and you might not be able to answer (‘wag naman sana”) the question he/she had for you. Learn by heart and mind so matter where you go, you can apply it always as needed.)

Toshiba Philippines’ culture is about training – both technical and professional life. In technical training, you have the mother company in Toshiba OME Japan wherein you can stay for the shortest period of 5 days to almost 2 years. And professional life training, you can have the how to operated the SLR to listening to the likes of our Philippine’s best inspiration speakers in Bo Sanchez and Francis Kong discussing about values formation.

Toshiba Philippines’ culture is about the day-to-day job, just like the other firms in the world. Being an employee, in our day-to-day job, bring out the best in you. Remember that in our work/job, it is love put into action and we are building or putting our love to God (“I not being too religious here”). Just want to emphasize that in the work we do, put some extra effort to it. It is with the job that we do that we glorify God. And with that good thing we have done, our management sees our effort and in a matter of a year and two, there will be line-up for promotion. In my stay with Toshiba Philippines for more than 10 years in two division (5 years + each) – Optical Disc Drive Department (ODD) and the Hard Disk Drive Department (HDD) - Quality Assurance Engineer of ODD to Supervisor of the HDD Design Support Center with the Design word being dropped out, they awarded me the best engineer and most outstanding engineer for Optical Disc Drive; and for HDD, I led (of course with the support of the management) in establishing the Design Support Center in the Philippines (Remember to drop the word “Design”).

Toshiba Philippines’ culture is about the politics. We all know that if there will be a second extension of the government, that will be the company we are working for. Is it either you make your way to the politics in the company by being a “sip-sip” (sycophant), or being a silent protester or worst is anti-management - “Trillanes group” or just a silent type doing the assigned task or the worst thing is doing nothing at all (too bad). I had seen those kind of people. I do nothing about the politics but I do things in relation to the work/job (remember that we bring glory to God in the work we do, just not to mention that I being too much religious…=) ). Well, Toshiba Philippines is not spared from politics. I’ve heard and learned a lot but do not let it affect you and the work you do, remember the karma, bad brings bad and good brings good and it is the timing went it will be back.

Toshiba Philippines’ culture is about the boss’ character. And for the Toshiba’s upper management where I reported to for the past 10 years +, I experienced having a strict Japanese boss to the talented boss and from having a local manager with other personality to the supportive one. Each one has their one character and with that we have our own unique way of dealing with them. For me, I had the great time with the strict Japanese boss and the local with other personality but I explored my potential with the talented and supportive one. So it is up to us on how we can adapt and deal with our boss personality.

I think the above culture best describe Toshiba Philippines. Well lastly before I end up, I just want to bring up the with the saying, love your job and not your company. But there is more into it, never speak bad of the company you are working for, you might not know when it will get back into you. Just always remember that in our work it is love put into action and we glorify God in the work that we do.

Newpaper vs eReader (Comparison of Newpaper with an e-book Reader)

On using a newspaper or using an eReader for getting everyday’s news information is somewhat like comparing an apple to a pineapple. The two sources of news can aid us on the latest current events but are prepared differently and are taken just the same. Each of the items do have their own advantage and disadvantage. Nowadays, delivery of news evolved from the prints, to newspapers, to radio, to TV, to internet, to PC and to eReader (or the much more sophisticated the tablet PC).

The Newpaper

Early morning at breakfast before we start our work and sipping on the hot brewed coffee, we usually browse the newspaper and read the portion of current affairs that interest us, flipping thru the pages finding the right news to begin with. The smell of the paper, which come the publishing office, fills our nostril as we browse to the pages and read the articles that interest us. With the way we move our hands and arms while browsing the news in the newspaper does need a much more effort to flex our muscles (both arm and hand). After we finish reading the newspaper, it is in us that we tend to fold it place it at the corner be it at the kitchen or at the bathroom without worrying if it gets wet. There are some of us that after flipping to the pages tends to check our fingertips for some smudges that comes from the black prints on the newspaper that we wash our hands to remove the smudges on our fingertips. With the newspaper, we do not need to worry if we fold it, gets wet or we throw it to the sofa or corner table. Can we do that to the eReader.

The eReader

And with the new technology at the palm of our hands, reading the news will just be with the movement of our fingers (be sure that you have connections to the internet by WiFi). eReaders are trying to simulate the flipping page of the book (or a small magazine) as to let users experience that they are still at the realms of the newpapers. With eReader, you don’t have to flex your arms but you still need to use it to carry it wherever you will inside your house or going out (connection by 3G or WiMax is required). You can save e-books (electronic books) on your e-Reader and read it while waiting on your time for your next activity. eReaders can last up to 10 hours and be sure to charge it when it is already low. The point of using the eReader is with our comfort and flexibility but it takes with the responsibility of it being used with care – of not being soaked to water while we are in the comfort room, of not letting it drop to the floor or of it being sat upon if it is on the sofa.

Summary

The two items – Newspaper and eReader, can co-exist together.Both serves their purposes but at both levels of the society. The eReader serves the middle to upper income families while those with meager income prefers the newspaper. And it will be difficult to tell when the newspaper will be out of this world. There are a lot of things to consider like the lowering cost of producing the components of the eReader, if in near future that the cost of manufacturing the eReader is the same with the newspaper then so long newspaper. In the meantime, newspaper and eReader caters to the wider audience and serves its purpose well. With the improvement in the levels of our society, we can see the shift in usage of the two items. So for now, let’s enjoy the two things together wherever and whenever appropriate. Newspaper or eReader.

Pinoy's Tokyo Disneyland Adventure

Even though it was my second time to visit (first visit was last November 2000) with the 4 years that passed (second visit was on October 7, 2007), Tokyo Disneyland never fail to surprise me with the thrill, adventure and fun while on the journey in the park. My second visit was special since I am with my girlfriend, now my wife. It is a date-adventure between me and my girlfriend before we got married. Together in our trip are our Pinoy and Japanese friends.

Tokyo Disneyland is actually not located in Tokyo but in its nearby City which is Chiba. Tokyo is used as its first name for it signifies the capital of Japan and denotes Japan itself. Using Chiba Disneyland sounds okay too but other folks who will googled in Disneyland will find it strange to view it as Chiba Disneyland. Tokyo Disneyland carries with it the distinct name of being the capital of Japan and a brand name known worldwide.



The size of Tokyo Disneyland is about 3 times the size of Enchanted Kingdom, Philippine’s theme park. At 115 acres, it took me around 10 hours to complete all of the seven themed areas in the park, each complementing one another yet unique in their style. The themed areas are the World Bazaar, the four classic Disney lands: Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, and two mini lands, Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown.

Our Japanese friend picked us up in our dormitory by around 4:30 in the morning. From dorm to Disneyland took a 1 hour drive. We arrived in Disneyland at around 5:30 AM. Many Japanese visitors were already in line for the entrance.

Disneyland before the opening

Disney Train



  

The author (pink shirt) 2nd from left
with his wife, left side
and Pinoy friends, right side



From 7:30 AM, we were able to get the ticket bought by one of our Japanese friend. And we made a remembrance shot before surrendering upon entry to the park. The Tokyo Disneyland Ticket picture is below with price of 5400 yen (or about 2700 pesos, just for convenience at 0.50 yen to pesos exchange rate; but it is not advisable).

Tokyo Disneyland opens by 8:00 AM. From the time we arrived by 5:30 in the morning, we already fell in line until the opening for a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Ten minutes before the opening, we have spotted Mickey and Minney Mouse at the gate to welcome the visitors. At exactly 8:00 AM, the gates of Disneyland opened and we had our first encounter with Mickey Mouse. The entrance corridor of the Disneyland is the World Bazaar. World Bazaar also is the primary shopping area of Tokyo Disneyland.

Mickey & Minney Mouse welcoming

visitors 10 min before the opening

Entry point, World Bazaar’s corridor





Since we were with our Japanese friends, our first stop is the Adventure Land and the first place we visited is the Pirates of the Carribean. Our Japanese friends already studied the map and knew how we can maximize our time to visit all of the themed areas of the park.

On our way to Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean themed area comes from a movie series which Disney also produced which starred Johnny Depp. With the success of the Pirates movie, why not placed it in a theme park? And during our visit, it made its way to Tokyo Disneyland. It was not around when I first visited Disneyland back in year 2000. 

We rode a boat, cruise inside a path like cave. It tells a story somewhat similar to the first sequel of the movie, the curse of the black pearl… here are some of the pictures taken inside…

Next stop is the Jungle Cruise. This time it’s an outdoor adventure. You will be in a riverboat cruise down on several rivers on voyage passing on different animatronic jungle animals and there are some humorous scripted narrations in some scene along the voyage. Pictures below were taken from the Jungle Cruise adventure.

 

Afterwards, we proceeded to the Enchanted Tiki Room, we were serenaded by the talking, singing and dancing birds, flowers and tiki drummers and tiki totem poles. Camera is not allowed and we only had our souvenir picture of the main entrance (^_^)…

At around 8:30 AM, we were able to complete our tour of our first themed areas of Tokyo Disneyland. As we were heading on our next themed park, here is the author together with his wife on one of the area inside Tokyo Disneyland.



Pictures taken on our way to the next stop – the Westernland





 

Pictures taken on our way to the next stop – the Westernland (“no space in between Western and land”)

Second Theme Area to visit – Westernland. Westernland is an "old west" themed area. And our first adventure is on Mark Twain Riverboat. Pictures below is the riverboat where we boarded.





The author with his wife aboard Mark Twain Riverboat

It is 12 minute voyage and featured a pre-recorded narration of Mark Twain’s piloting a riverboat as we visited the following sights: Splash Mountain, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes landing, Settler’s cabin, Indian Chief, raising hand in welcome, Indian Village, Big Thunder Mountain, Animals and Big Thunder Falls.

Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes landing



Settler's cabin

 

Splash Mountain



Indian Chief, raising hand in welcome

 



 




Big Thunder Mountain

 







Indian Village

Animals





Big Thunder Falls

  

After Mark Twain Riverboat, we made a short break and took pictures of the place going back to World Bazaar, entrance and shopping theme area of the park.

Since our area is in Tomorrowland, we first dropped by Star Tours. It looks like a spaceship boarding terminal with posters advertise voyages to different planets, and a giant screen informs riders (“us visitors”). The area is stocked with Audio-Animatronic characters that seem to speak to the ride patrons which includes C-3PO and R2-D2 (Character from Star Wars) as well as a life-size mock-up of a StarSpeeder 3000, the fictional spacecraft which riders are about to board (also from the movie Star Wars).

Other stuffs inside space tours were alien and robots in some control center and in the aisles.

 

 

Main attraction of the Star Tour is when we boarded the spacecraft – StarSpeeder 3000. Once we were seated, we were actually on a sort of flight simulator in which we are on a flight with a robot named RX-24 (or Rex) and how we help in destroying the Star Death together with other space ships from The Rebellion. What a mission!!!… Sorry, camera is not allowed…

After the tour of the Star Tours, next stop is the Grand Circuit Raceway. Take a look for some of the shots





Next stop is the Haunted Mansion. Camera is not allowed. What I can say, very good effects and visitors will enjoy a lot.

With our next stop at “It’s a Small World”, there were already many visitors already coming in. On our way, we met Captain Hook.

In “It’s a Small World” theme area, we arrived there with a long line that I think we fell in line for about 30 to 45 minutes before we boarded the boat. Everything here is small except of course us, the visitors…=)…

The author with his wife

and together with our friends

on a boat ride in “It’s a Small World”

 

On our way out, we chanced upon the afternoon parade of Mickey Mouse, Stitch and some other Disney characters.

 

Since it was already lunch time and we have a long way to go on finishing our tour, we bought and ate mickey’s ice cream sandwich bar…delicious…

Next stop – Toontown, a themed area of the park that gives a feeling of being in Disney Character's neighborhood. Many visitors where already in the line because in Toontown you can personally meet Mickey Mouse and it is Mickey’s crib.

At Mickey's Living Room

And on the exit of Mickey’s movie barn house, there is Mickey and thanking the visitors/guests. Wow! We were able to meet Mickey Mouse in person… aha… Time we met Mickey is around 4:30 PM and we are almost complete with our tour of Disneyland.

Author with Wife

After Toontown, we stroll around the park and bought some light snacks... I didn’t join my wife when they go to Space Mountain for the roller coaster like ride… No, the author is not afraid. The author already had the chance to ride on Space Mountain during the 2000 visit. Okay, I’ll just tell you about Space Mountain. It is like a sci-fi futuristic look themed area with a futuristic space ship hanging from the ceiling. And the roller coaster ride includes a hyperspeed tunnel at the end.

We were able to complete our tour of the themed areas of Tokyo Disneyland from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. From 6:00 PM, we stayed and watch Disney’s Electrical Parade Dream Light. We had spotted the following characters from Mickey Mouse (Pluto, Chip and Dale), Snow White, Peter Pan, Monster Inc, Winnie the Pooh and friends, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and company, Donald and Daisy Duck and the 3 Piglets, and many more… The parade lasted for 2 and a half hours.

After the parade, a 30-minutes synchronized firework which comes from the Disney Castle started. And that signifies the closing the theme park.

Last look at the place on its closing (Tokyo Disneyland closes at 9:00 PM)

A tiring tour but it's a wonderful and amazing experience.

Summary:

What it is? Tokyo Disneyland which opens from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Fun filled tour of the themed areas of the Park (World Bazaar, the four classic Disney lands: Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, and two mini lands, Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown) with parades in the afternoon and evening and a 30 minutes fireworks in the evening.

Pros: Accessible by private and public transport. Tokyo Disneyland offers a very big space to park your vehicle and accommodate a very huge crowd. If you are on a 2 days trip to Disneyland and the nearby Disney Sea, there is a Disney Hotel; you can spend the night or two.

Cons: During weekends, huge crowds usually pack Disneyland with wait time from 45 minutes or over. Better take an absent from work to go there on weekdays as it is jammed pack. No English translation when you will be visiting the theme areas. Better you learn Japanese language in which the author do.

Over-all: Fun-filled adventure good for the family if you know Japanese language, of course.

Jojo Bernabe

PS. My wife and I are planning of brining our family in Disneyland, in Hong Kong perhaps. And I am for sure that our two kids will truly enjoy