bing'scoffeetalk

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

It's Christmas time alright! Ever felt like it seems somebody else's big holiday and you are just a spectator? Well, I kinda feel that sometimes. In the houses around, dancing lights are lit both inside and out in the front gardens. Underneath the overly decorated Christmas trees are gaily wrapped gifts, altogether worth whatever extra money was left after overstocking the pantries and refs with ham and queso de bola and other sinfully delicious fruitcakes and goodies to feed the would be guests, the malls are busy, and the streets are ever crowded with frantic shoppers, and endlessly trimmed with rows and rows of lanterns and bells, and wreaths, and always, they glittered! I see all these as you see them. Christmas carollers can't be stopped by the confused barking of guard dogs, askals or with breeds! The spirit is so filled with fanciful things, and only a few really manage to insert the figure of the true Celebrant, whose birth and selfless giving is the true reason for the season.

(Did I hear you say "Bah humbug!?")

Anyway, happy holidays to everyone and may the you all have a blessed one, free from man's self-imposed ostentatiousness. Just you and the silence of the early morning when all your kids, and yes, your extended family, are back in their beds and your noche buena is over and the early morning darkness brings with it the world's collective hush for a distant event so magnificent that we humans have not really found a proper way to celebrate it. Bask in its wonder, be still in its joy, just sit there and be in awe. And then have a Merry Christmas!

Love, sincerely,

Bing

BING L. HERNANDO slept soundly at 12/29/2004 01:54:00 PM

Giving Away Love – Christmas Mania

This is a season of cheer, of food, and sheer shopping madness! Or is it?

I bring out a bag of gifts to lessen the pile of gifts underneath the little Christmas tree and when I get home, I bring along a bigger bag from my generous givers! Fantastic!

I mean, the vital idea is not in the physical things that we give to each other. It is the shudder of joy we get as we receive the merrily wrapped items. Why so, because it feels like a gentle pat on the back, or on the arm, or on our cheek that says, “You’re thought of ‘cause you matter.”, or "I care for you enough to take time to get this" or "Hey, I love you, get me?" or "For all you've been, I still care, whatever" or simply yet, it's a soft nudge in your heart that says it all.

So, as we open our gifts, let’s rid our minds of tag prices, or the utility, or the beauty of the presents but the thought and time spent in giving it.

As the years go by, we learn more about gifts and giving of ourselves, and what love means on a dark and cloudy day, a man hung crying in the rain, because of love, yes because of love……

“As little children, we would dream of Christmas morn,
Of all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find,
But we never realized, a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live.”

BING L. HERNANDO slept soundly at 12/29/2004 01:41:00 PM

My Company-Aiming for Global Competitiveness

When we heard about the abolishment of the US quota, the Newtimes Group in the Philippines, simply put, was shaken. Our comfort zones suddenly cluttered with many concerns, namely: stiff competition, China’s edge, cost-cutting, human resource optimization, detailing critical points and more. It is certainly bothersome. The inevitable comes, and the whole world looks at it with different views. By January 2005, the garments sector fully integrates into the GATT principles, an important key of which is the protection of domestic industries through strict implementation of sound tariffs, not import quotas. Freed from restrictions, we’re supposed to enjoy quota free status, but the thought of competing with more established countries breathtakingly-threatens rather than refreshingly-exhilarates our nerves.

Not disheartened but reacting positively, the Newtimes Philippines management responded urgently to the challenge. Mr. Ulysses Young, determinedly focused on improving competitiveness, by way of improving the quality of our produced garments, upgrading production facilities for greater efficiency, and inspiring solidarity of purpose. The idea is to work harder, get better, cascade the synergy mania horizontally and vertically. Altogether, we say no to pessimism. Fearless and bold, we’ll go beyond survival and succeed!

BING L. HERNANDO slept soundly at 12/29/2004 11:57:00 AM