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Captain Lim, my mentor, my friend

On April 24 at 2pm a good friend and a great man passed away at the age of 90.
Captain Roberto “Bobby” H. Lim is my mentor and my friend.
I rejoice in the opportunity to learn from Capt Lim and I bless him for the friendship we shared.

I first met Captain Lim in 2005 when I was a student in his elective class in AIM. The class was called Sources and Uses of Power or SUPR.

He sent a preparation e-mail with a set of questions for us to answer before our first meeting. From that email alone, I could tell that this professor means business. I was expecting to meet a middle aged military man with a matikas built and a stern face.

I was surprised to find a Read the rest of this entry »

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A Serendipitous encounter with Jhet van Ruyven

I’ve had two totally amazing evenings last night and tonight. I’m on a roll!

Last night, I was in a meeting with Robi of La Maison at Greenbelt 5 in connection with a raffle sponsorship for Runners’ Runner. Midway into the meeting, a petite lady in her 40’s walks in with a couple of shopping bags and her humongous black handbag, as is typical for women who bring along their laptops nowadays. She dropped by the resto to get some take-home food and was planning to leave immediately.

Robi introduced me to the lady named Jhet, adding that Jhet is one of the owners of La Maison and that she’s an author. And then I recognized her!

Jhet is Juliet Torcelino-van Ruyven
author of “The Tale of Juliet – You have the power to change your life”
2007 #1 Amazon Bestseller for Biography

Juliet van Ruyven and Ka Edong - a serendipitous encounter

I had seen Jhet before, and I began recalling how, where and when I had seen or read about her. I told her I knew about her story, and was half embarrassed to tell her that Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Inspiring People | 4 Comments »

Remembering and Honoring Tito Roy

Tito Roy Buñag passed away on March 27, 2010.

I take a few moments to honor my tito with a few stories. Memories of my Tito Roy and what I learned from him.

Tito Roy was a presence in my family life at the early memories of my childhood. Memories of family gatherings are filled with images of Tito Roy’s laughter.

Among the very first lessons I learned from Tito Roy was a love for music. Tito Roy was a very good pianist, and the first pianist I met who played “wido” – playing by ear, self-taught. We had a 60-yearold piano at our ancestral home in Lingayen Pangasinan. With Tito Roy’s tender and joyful caress of the piano keys, beautiful music would chime out from this piano. And I, as a little boy of 6 years old, would watch Tito Roy, mesmerized with where all this beautiful music was coming from.

I remember how Tito Roy taught me Read the rest of this entry »

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Of Heroic Eagles, of love, of flight

“Tears are a gift from God. They express what words cannot.”

Heroic Leadership Class XXIX - The unstoppable class shirks no storm

Posted in Personal Development, Reflections | 3 Comments »

I Conquered: Hong Kong Half Marathon

Wahoooo!!! Today I completed the Standard Chartered Hong Kong (21km, half) Marathon. As with all of my runs, I enjoyed the run the whole time ;-) . Yes, it may hurt sometimes, but it’s all part of the exhilaration of running. It was great news as well that the half-marathon champion is a Pinoy. Still trying to track down his name. Go go go, Pilipinas!

Ka Edong sa Hong Kong Marathon

I wanted to share some experiences about the run, especially in comparison to the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. I did the Singapore marathon (yes, 42Km of it) in December 2, 2007.

Terrain/elevations:

Singapore: flat; asphalt and concrete.

Hong Kong: “Urban Hilly”  - This is how I describe having to go up the elevated highways, down (and up) the tunnels (yes, there were two tunnels!), and just when we thought we were all done with the uphill climbs there was just one more more climb towards the last 2kms before the finish line. Mostly asphalt. There were many instances of banked roads — runners with weak ankles better be careful.

By the way, the first 5 kilometers of the half-marathon were very Read the rest of this entry »

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Books to Lend, Books to Sell

To my dear personal friends,

I have this principle that if I hadn’t used something for more than 2 years, it’s best to pass it on to other people who could make good use of it.

While I was cleaning my house before the new year, I noticed that some of my books haven’t been re-read for more than 2 years.

Some of these books I bought at the bookstore or at the book sale. Some are books given to me that I’ve read many years ago.  Some are books that I truly cherish and want to keep for future re-reading, but would like lend to other people who would want to borrow.

Books are meant to be read, not kept.

Thus, I present to you a few books to lend and a few books to sell. This is an experiment. When this is done, I’ll tell you what worked and what didn’t work. And I’ll encourage you to lend your books and sell your books as well :-) .

1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
2. The heart of a Leader by Ken Blanchard
3. Staying Up, up, up in a down down world – Zig Ziglar – Love Joy
4. Strengths Finder by Tom Rath — Tristan
5. The Journeys of Socrates – Dan Millman
6. Developing the Leader Within by John C. Maxwell
7. Only The Real Matters by Francis Kong – Mimel
8. The Heart of Humor – Raju Mandhyan
9. Getting Things Done – David Allen
10. Brillant NLP – Tristan
11. Pera Mo Palaguin mo 1 – Francisco J. Colayco
12. Pera Mo Palaguin mo 2 – Francisco J. Colayco
13. Why we want you to be Rich – Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki (hardbound) – Cla
14. Personal Development for Smart People – Steve Pavlina (hardbound) – JP
15. The Celestine Prophecy – James Redfield (hardbound)

Each at 50 – 250 pesos or more

1. The Wealthy Barber – Chilton
2. Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino – Bob Ong
3. The Project 50 – Tom Peters
4. Iacocca, an Autobiography – Lee Iacocca
5. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom – Suze Orman – Cla
6. 67 Success Stories — Entrepreneur Magazine Philippines – Lulu
7. Eleven Minutes – Paolo Coellho – Gigi
8. Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coellho – Gigi
9. For One More Day – Mitch Albom – Mimel
10. The Five People you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom – Mimel
11. Riches in Foreclosures – Dinna Revilla
12. How to be Really Really Happy – Bo Sanchez
13. You Can Make your life beautiful by Bo Sanchez
14. Grow Rich Pinoy! – Larry Gamboa
15. Cashflow Quadrant – Robert Kiyosaki (ripped copy)
16. Getting things done – Robert Allen
17. The Project 50 – Tom Peters

    
    Each at 5 pesos and Up

18. 14,000 things to be happy about – Cla
19. Man of Purpose
20. God’s little instruction book for leaders
21. 500 Ways to Change the World – Mimel
22. Organize your Business Travel
23. A life God Rewards – Wil Kenyon
24. God’s Little Devotional Book
25. What are you Afraid of? – Plonka
26. Another Shot – Joe Kita
27. 50 ways to a better life – Andrew Sercombe
28. Stress Free Life – Sandeep Narayan
29. Winning Ways – Dick Lyle
30. Leadership is an Art – Max DePree
31. The Moon by Whale Light
32. A Penny Saved – Neal S. Godfrey
33. How to Develop Self-confidence for Success – PC Ganesan
34. Get a Financial Life – Beth Kobliner
35. Use the News – Maria Bartiromo
36. Internet Jobs for the Rest of Us – Deborah Gallant
37. A Still Small Voice – Echo Bodine
38. Youngblood 2.0 – Aruta De Vera
39. Network your way to your next job – Lowstuter, Robertson
40. Rizal is my President. 40 Leadership Tips from Jose Rizal  – Almonte (with autographs from the cast of the stage play)
41. Life is an Attitude – Dottie Billington

Take a look at the books below and see if anything interests you.
Click on the image to zoom in,
or visit the original post at http://www.edwinsoriano.com/books/books-to-lend-books-to-sell .

Books to Lend, Books to Sell

How it works:

1. The books to Lend are only open to my personal friends. I will Lend you any 1 or 2 books for 2 months.
2. In exchange, I will ask you to buy at least Three (3) of the books in the Sell Section.
   I’ll give you a fourth book for free.
3. Prices of books in the Sell Section are between P5 to P250 or more (negotiable).
   Name your books and let’s find a win-win price. Madali ako kausap :-) .
4. First come, first served. Leave a comment of the titles you want for yourself.
5. *Pick-up only* in Makati area

Why am I doing this?

1. I want to make space for newer books for me to read.
2. I want to spread the wealth — Books were meant to be read, not kept.
   Better that they be read by someone who’ll find them useful.
3. I sell some of my books (as low as P5!) just to make sure that the people who will buy it really want to have it and not get it just because it’s free.

Last notes

1. If you are a personal friend, you gave me a book and you find it in the list above — fret not, my friend.
   This is my way of sharing to others what you’ve shared to me in the past.
2. I encourage you, my friends, to share your books as well. Books are meant to be read, not kept.
3. List of books subject to change without prior notice.

Originally posted at: http://www.edwinsoriano.com/books/books-to-lend-books-to-sell

ka edong
bookshelf refresh

Posted in Books | 7 Comments »

Blind Side Movie – Inspiring story, and true to boot!

Choices for Friday night movie were: Blind Side (Sandra Bullock), Legion (X-men-ish), Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs (Animated silliness).

We chose The Blind Side. Even if the movie is below the radar, barely knew it was coming, after reading the synopsis, I wanted to check it out. And we didn’t regret it for a minute.

The Blind Side is about a young big African American boy who was taken off from the streets one cold winter evening by a rich family (Sandra Bullock, husband and two kids). The family and their new found friend struggle through the stigma of other people’s prejudice. Prejudice against color, stereotypes, appearing “goody two shoes”, expectations, being stupid, acting “normal”.

Visit: http://www.theblindsidemovie.com/

The Blind Side Movie - Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron

Blind Side is about giving people a chance. Giving people a break. Sometimes, that’s all we need to get along better in life, just one break from someone who truly cares for us.

The movie is filled with inspiring scenes. It was such an inspiring story, and it was even more inspiring to find out that it was a true story!

But there’s one specific scene that strikes me most.

This big African American boy they call “Big Mike” appeared Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Inspiring People | 2 Comments »

Rediscovering my Helping Heart at Bethesda Children’s Home

In October of 2009, I rediscovered the pureness of heart from orphaned or abandoned kids.

I was part of a one week stay-in training in Baguio called the PSI Heroic Leadership Class of XXIX. It’s a seminar which helped me understand myself even more, making me aware about my deepest darkest fears, and making me more aware of my deepest brightest dreams.

One of the seminar activities was an act of Agape for the kids at an orphanage called “Bethesda Children’s Home”.

I have many stories about my Bethesda experience. Stories like…  

• being entertained by the kids with a Cordilleran dance
• walking from the church to the school which meant hiking 10 minutes down one hill and hiking a second hill to the school. Whew!
• playing fun kindergarten games with the kids
• singing nursery rhymes and songs
• hauling and mixing cement for the floor of 2 classrooms – this was our class’s contribution to Bethesda
• sharing a meal with the kids
• giving a massage and being massaged in a massage line

A Helping Hand for Bethesda

Bethesda Kids in a Cordilleran Dance

All these were remarkable experiences I had at Bethesda.

Amidst the many experiences I had that day with my team and the kids of Bethesda, I’d like to share just two specific stories that capture the essence of my first visit to Bethesda.

A helping heart strengthened in childhood Read the rest of this entry »

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Snapshots of 35 Revolutions around the Sun

Snapshots of Ka Edong

• 1975,  January 11
  Baby born after the Christmas 0f ’74. Must have been an expectant Christmas.
• 1975-78
  Dad says we lived a comfortable life. Inalagaan naman daw ako ng parents ko at mga kapatid ko, lalo daw ni atchi.
• 1979
  Earliest memory was playing in the owner type jeep of the Silvestres. I fall and burst my lower lip.
• 1980
  Watching our new home in Happy Homes being built. The Soriano kids throw coins into the wet cement of the house’s columns and stairs, for prosperity and blessings.
  When we moved homes, I was riding at the back of a pick-up truck with the wind in my face, pretending I was driving a motorcycle. Bliss.
  Got bitten in the face by our neighbor’s dog (a rotweiler, was it?) .
  Went to school in Marishan (Maryknoll). Spent one of my first days there crying ‘coz I wasn’t dressed in uniform. Hahaha!
• 1981-1987 – SPED
  Met a fascinating man, Manong Johnny, who endlessly inspired and entertained us kids with his street-smart science tricks.
  Boy Scout camping in John Hay
  Tae Kwon Do
  Breakdance
  Christmas programs, UN Day, Araw ng Kagitingan
• 1987-1991 – Pisay
  A whole new world! Garnet, Camia, Rubidium, Muon.
  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Reflections | 6 Comments »

Dream Weaving

I woke up this morning from a dream that was physically and emotionally exhausting. And I’m speaking of the type of dream that we have while sleeping, not the dream which we sometimes refer to as our goal or prayer.

I remember that I’ve had a couple powerful dreams in the past 25 years or so. But unfortunately, I did not take the opportunity to document or write about it. Until today, I remember vividly one single powerful dream I had when I was in 4th year High School. Now having a blog, I take this opportunity to write about this dream I had this morning, so that I can refer back to it in the future.

Let me first share with you an experience with a very powerful dream I had in highschool. And then I’ll share the dream I had this morning and a few thoughts I have of it.

Adolescent Dreams and a healing of the heart

When I was in 3rd year high school, I had a relationship with a young girl whom I’ll call Chess. Chess was Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Reflections | 4 Comments »