a life unaccounted for

Meredith Grey (Grey’s Anatomy) deliberated, “Why do I keep hitting myself with a hammer? Because it felt good when I stopped.” For the majority of the viewers, it was perceptive and touching. For some, however, it was deliberately annoying, melodramatic to some extent, and downright stupid. For these people, once is enough. When failure creeps in, it is game over for them. No ‘try again’ and no second chances. Be it in finding their one true love, their quest for success, and yes, their venture in the networking industry.

Who wouldn’t want a lucrative income? Networking promises that. It is depressing though that because of some persons’ greed and scheming to take advantage of those who are just trying to make their life easier by earning more, networking scams were developed. Day after day, we are bombarded by negative news about this to the point that networking became synonymous with fraud, sham, swindling, and deception.

The predicament is this: how do we distinguish the real ones? Here are some pointers I learned:

1. There must be a revolving product. A networking company that doesn’t offer anything is not a company. It is not even a legal business at all. Unless they figured out a way to sell promises (which I bet they did, if they were able to fool a lot of people), look for their flagship product.

2. A limitation for bonuses must exist. So they say they are offering “unlimited referral bonus!” don’t shout “Whoopee!” just yet. Think, and think hard: if they are giving away all their receipts as bonuses, how can they earn? Ano ‘to, lokohan?

3. You WORK in order to EARN. It is the basic—and the only—rule in the corporate and entrepreneurship world. Simply put, your investment will not multiply by itself. Say a networking company urges you to invest a certain amount of money, earning as much as 3% a day with you not doing anything at all. It is unbelievable and by itself doubtful, but some people are still hooked. Why? Because it is too good to be true, and they are fervently, zealously hoping/wishing/dreaming for it to come true. Come on! Even long-term deposits only go up as much as 12 to 15% a year! Three percent a day equals 90% a month, which is a long way from 20% like your good old 5-6 lending system. Also, some people who are joining the real networking groups are expecting checks when they are not doing anything at all. Excuse me, you paid for the products, as well as the right to become a dealer/partner; you did not buy a share of stock in that company to be waiting for some kind of dividend to come rushing into you. You want to earn? Sell your products! You want to earn? Refer your friends and relatives! Ganun lang kasimple.

I know, I know, your first venture into networking turned out to be a hoax. But don’t let it stop you from wanting a better life. Did Colonel Sanders stop persisting after 1,009 rejections on his chicken recipe? If he did, then we would never know Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Did Thomas Edison stop after failing thousands of times before inventing the incandescent bulb? I could give you a thousand more success stories, but you can just Google it for yourself. (All thanks to the World Wide Web and wireless fidelity, which are also success stories on their own.) Don’t rob yourself of the chance to try one more time. Who knows? Today might be your day.

Okay, so what I really want to say is that opportunity knocks just once, and if you won’t grab it now, we’ll make sure all your friends and relatives will grab it, and by the time you believe in the business, they are already financially successful. Will you let yourself be left behind? Skeptics ask me, “Why networking?” and to them all I say, “Why NOT?”

P.S. Okay, so I am an Accounting graduate, and by profession, I should be cynical about this. I had been in this industry for just a WEEK when my whole family (Mama and 4 sisters) and my boyfriend became members last Tuesday (02.23.10). Next week at the release of checks, Mama will receive Php9,000.00, oldest sister will receive Php7,000.00, and both me and my youngest sister (who haven’t referred anyone yet) will receive Php1,000.00 through matching bonus. Not bad, huh? Also I've met there RNs, engineers, realtors, and students from FEU, CEU, Lyceum, and PUP, just to name some.

P.P.S. Also answering “Why NOT?”? Contact me, and I’ll tell you the story of “Barya King.” -09234788688

P.P.P.S. Fellow networkers, if you can add something to my list of pointers, that would be awesome. ^_^

Dahil natulog ako kaninang tanghali, nahirapan na kong makatulog at naisipan na lang namin ni Udeng na mag-reminisce ng aming student days pagkatapos manood ng PBB DU. Una naming pinag-usapan ang mga lessons: kung paano niya mas gusto ang Biology samantalang mas type ko ang Chem at Physics, ang pagmu-multiply niya ng 10s sa conversion at ang pagcha-chant ko ng “mili, centi, deci, meter, deca, hecto, kilo!” Kasama din ang solar system na gusto niyang lesson, pag-absent tuwing Music at ang pagda-disect ng palaka habang inilalaban ko ang paglalagay ng sulfur sa jelly ace, pagwa-one-man-show para hindi magklase at pagtatahi ng pattern paper.

Maya-maya pa, adventures at misadventures naman. Siyempre, hindi mawawala ang “Number 2” experience kapag misadventures ang pinag-usapan. Pero walang tatalo sa kanya na pinatawag pa ang pinsan sa high school department para kumuha ng short kung ikukumpara sa akin na napa-Number 2 habang tumatakbo pauwi dahil na-late si Papa at ang kanyang bike sa pagsundo nung Nursery pa ako.

Ano ba ang reason of existence ng mga bata kundi laro? Mas uminit ang pagtatalo namin pagdating sa topic na ito. May sinabi siyang larong “Liwayway,” pero nung pinaliwanag na niya, parang “Chippy chippy gum” lang na pinalitan ng lyrics, ginawang love song. Siguro estudyante din yun na may crush kay Liwayway. Ayun, binago yung lyrics, kahit na medyo parang may problema sa original, dahil wala pa kong nakikitang bubble gum na Chippy ang pangalan. Tarzan o Bazooka meron, o kaya Tattoo. Yung Chippy chichirya lang.

Dahil sa Mindoro ako lumaki at dito siya sa Maynila, magkaibang magkaiba ang paglalaro namin. May isang larong takbuhan na may dalawang kampo ang pareho naming nilalaro pero hindi magkatulad ang paraan. Itinuro ko rin sa kanya ang “Younger,” pero palagay ko sa amin lang may ganun. Laro yun na para sa tatlo o higit pang mga bata. Itataas ang paa patalikod, parang itutukod sa pader. Dapat perpendicular sa tuhod. Tapos ganun din ang gagawin nung iba. Yung isang bata ipapatong ang paa sa may tuhod ng katabi, tapos siya din sa tuhod ng katabi niya, paikot. Parang human chain. Tapos iikot sila habang kumakanta ng “Younger, together again! My love for you is yuki yuki you!” na dapat hindi mahuhulog yung mga paa nila. Pwede ring gawin sa dagat habang naliligo. Hindi ko alam ang ibig sabihin ng “yuki yuki,” siguro yun ang version dati ng “toot toot!” pag bastos. Siguro lang.

Naalala ko rin na sa likod ng classroom naming may baging at tuwing recess, hihila lang kami dun ng isa para makapaglaro. Kaya naalala kong itanong kay Udeng dahil hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam, at hindi niya rin masagot: “Ano ang tamang English lyrics ng Teleberd?”


PBB DU side thoughts:

What is your best physical asset?

Melai: My best physical asset is my hair, because you can see it is very curly but I don’t think it is my greatest asset but I think it is my greatest asset. *make face* Please do not be angry…

Tibo: Cooking…
Physical asset?
Tibo: Oh, physical asset. Understanding.
Physical! Your physical asset. (motioning and pointing at face)
Tibo: Yes, yes, physical asset. Well, I’m a simple guy. I’m understanding…
Physical, when you look at the mirror, what do you see?
Tibo: Uhm, I’m a simple guy…
Dude! No, I mean in your face! Eyes, ears, nose… Tibo: Nose, my nose.

*Whew.*

Was supposed to go to Quiapo, but couldn’t get through Sta. Mesa because of the public swimming pool that appeared everytime there is a little drizzle of rain. On the way back, I was bombarded with the present reality: uneducated, unguided youth;tax-evading businesses; and slum areas that looked like garbage mountains from afar (like nightmare up close). The Social Cancer all over again. The difference? Spaniards had nothing to do with it, for you did it to yourselves.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I had seen how you can be united. But should someone die for you to become one? Congratulations, you’ve come a long way in terms of your ways of life, but look at the cost. And I understand you, I really do. I know you don’t have anything at your table, and I also experienced that. When I just finished Noli, I almost threw it into the fire because I didn’t have any money to publish it. I ate just once a day, mostly bread and coffee, not unlike the kaninbaw you’re eating right now.

What everyone needs in these times of turmoil are the Maximo Violas of the world to give hope to people. But all will be waiting, and no one will become one. You see the problem?

The Filipinos will always be colonized: by Padre Damaso, by Americans, by commercialism, by pornography, by politicians, by selfish dreams. The situation and actors will vary, but the play will remain the same.

So now what? The answer is simple. Start small. Dream. Make a difference. Register. Vote. Know your rights. Exercise your rights. Better yet, join The Good Ideas. Because when people think of better ways to improve our beautiful country, I will always be there. I am willing to die a million times for you, so I’ll see you on Whitespace.

**
P earl of the Orient, oh my grace-filled and exquisite home
I will forever live in your sweet promise of peace
N ay, no one can replace you in my heart until my life will cease
O nly you will be flourishing in this majestic throne
Y earning will I always be for your freedom until I receive Death’s kiss

Pupungas pungas, isinara ang alarm ng
cellphone. Naligo, at umalis ng walang
lingon-lingon. (Naiwan pa ang baong ri-chee.
At ang gate, nakalimutang isusi.)

Lakad, takbo, lakad. Sakay ng dyip.
Lakad, takbo, lakad. Sakay ng fx.
“Legarda po.” Sabay abot
ng bayad. “Wag sanang ma-late” sabay
hinga ng maluwag.

“Norway, norway, ano ang 2-0 mo?”
“Walang madaanan dito
Kilo, pasakayin mo na lang ng
LRT yang mga 59’s mo. Lahat
ng eskinita sarado.”

“Heavy 53 dito sa Pandacan, wala
na ko malusutan. Toyota, saan tayo?”
“Patay tayo Oscar, hindi ko din alam
to.” Palatak ng boses sa radyo.

Nakabalandra sa kalsada ang mga tumitirik
na sasakyan, nagsu-swimming sa baha
ang mga batang walang muwang. Libre
ang entrance fee! Sa resort sa Santol Ave.
Pinasukan ng tubig ang tambutso ng
motor ng tagadeliver ng dyaryo. Hindi
malalaman ng mga pobre ang
latest tungkol kay Cory.

Hay naku, kung kelan ka sinipagan
saka naman walang napakinabangan.
10:30 na, sabi ng cellphone
ko, sana may breakfast meals pa
sa McDo. Kainis talaga, nakakabanas!
Mabuti pang umuwi at manood
ng Veronica Mars.

(O mag-internalize bilang si
Lolo Pepe. Baka sakaling manalo
pa ng Noli.)