I remember my first computer I bought when I was still working in Saudi. It was a 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝟲𝟰 which I used for writing letters to family back home and, of course, for games (𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘬𝘢, 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘦, etc) for when there was nothing else to do because there were no bars to hang around on weekends or after work. Or too humid, too hot for a game of tennis or shoot hoops. Compared to the gadgets we have now, the selfie you took a while ago is bigger in size than this 64kB! dinky. Yeah, that big! But ancient techie nerds kill for every kilobyte they can get.

It came with a dot-matrix printer that whirs so loudly the vacuum was threatened. Also, a separate drive that feeds on 5.25" floppy disks -the kind that you can’t just put in your pocket because if they fold, you’re doomed. I forgot to mention that being hi-tech then means you’re on your own without Google or Wiki or Youtube taking the fun out of learning.

Those were the 80’s when internet was still creeping slowly into our lives and when fax and telex ruled the com world.

This is the story of my humble beginnings in this technology. I look back, once in while, to help me confidently move forward. It also keeps me from getting a bit forgetful. I never want to forget how beautiful it was to ask someone -not Google -how to fix something or what’s French for 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. When liking didn’t require a finger or a mouse. When a mouse was.

Here’s to the analog days. Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Driving within a jogging distance away from our place, a new gas station appeared to have just sprouted while we were sleeping through this pandemic. Funny thing is, even if we frequented this area prior to the multiple lockdowns, I forgot what it was before its new transformation.

When we got back home, I had to check Google map street view to find out its pre-pandemic history -it was an open space made into a ragtag basketball court where street kids played.

I had little recollection of it because it personally didn’t matter to me and those who used the place to shoot hoops or stand-by and smoke were unknown to me. Too bad for the street kids and by-standers, but good news to the business owners.

Change brings gold to some, rust to others. Still to others, it matters not. Are you ready for some? New normal, new opportunities, new government (oh please, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘢!). Bring 'em on. This bud is done and dusted.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I always think of myself as a salesman. Tho an engineer by profession involved in power plant design at first and later ventured into lighting design, I sell myself and the craft I am good at. Along the selling way, I must have met thousands, if not a trillion and three people. Some became close friends, most I’ve met only once or very few times. I wonder if they still remember this sweet-talking handsome guy they’ve encountered at least once in their lives. Maybe not.

This thought crossed my mind this morning when I received the sad news that the mother of my son’s Elem School classmate -now based in iIoilo -died yesterday. Age may have inhibited memory recall but I can't remember meeting her more than three times. But in all those times that I can, I remember a gentle soul, one with a happy disposition despite life’s difficulties. Her character, during those brief encounters, left a lasting mark on mine that I try to make good of every meeting I do -giving a genuine smile or making a silent blessing. This was what she probably did, blessing everyone she met.

Here’s to you, o blessed friend, and to the many you have touched.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

We homeschooled our children in elementary -Andre in his last two years while Nikkei in four. In my class, it was Andre. In my wife’s, Nikkei. Suffice it to say, they graduated best in everything in their respective classes. It was one of the best decisions we made as a family. Our children were taught according to their learning styles: Andre was more kinesthetic, while Nikkei was more visual. They’ve learned to be very creative while in class. Like in taking breaks. Examples:

"Oh-the-eraser-fell-very-far-from-the-table-I-must-pick-it-up" break.

Explanation: The poor eraser did not accidentally fall 10 meters away from the table. And it was so difficult to find where it landed.

"May-I-sharpen-the-pencil?" break.

Explanation: The pencil didn’t need sharpening 5 times per subject. The trip to the sharpener was through the kitchen and the living room.

It was also during that time when I was still a struggling actor while my wife was a struggling trapeze artist. Just kidding. We were struggling financially. Homeschooling helped reduce our expenses remarkably. The world was our classroom. We got to teach them the ins and outs of my business. The ins and outs of life. The Christian values we imparted did much. I am comforted with the thought that their future is bright.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵." I wish I was the one who said this. But I wasn’t. Derral Eves -the executive producer of #TheChosen TV series, declared this in a statement. And he has the best reason for saying so. Watch the series and you will agree with me.

I’ve done projects bigger than my own ego, the country’s biggest malls and dozen hotels. Big beautiful houses. Not mine. But still, none fits right as the moment that gives me the privilege to declare the same.

There are dream projects that have yet to come by: big cathedrals, airports, skyscrapers.

Doing the lighting design for my new house. That might be it, too. Still a dream.

But does size matter? Probably not.

My own moment will come and my God will let me know that 𝙞𝙩 is it. It may not even come as just a moment.

Until then, I will do my best thinking the one I’m doing now is what I have been called for.

So Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Can neighbors be defined by the distance that separate them?

Short story:

The past two times biking in my usual route within our village, a mango fruit fresh from its tree fell along my path each time. My wife loves this variety and so, without hesitation, I stopped to pick up the manna from above. I joyfully pedalled home tugging my pasalubong.

Few days ago, a friend who lives 4.5kms away from us called my wife to ask if she wanted mangoes. They’ve just harvested from their trees and thought of giving some to my family. Rissa, immediately sent Andre to the errand.

When the harvest came, they weren’t just some. They were plenty. Some of our neighbors at Massah and Meribah, near and far, got to taste them as well.

A neighbor is never too far away.

Here's to all them good, here and there. Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

With mercury rising to upper mid-30s, I decided to wake up early last Saturday for my weekend run. The sun was still hiding behind thick clouds lining the horizon when I stepped out of the house. At 28 degrees, that morning’s temp was North Pole compared to the heat that would soon explode by breakfast time.

The thing about this time shift is you get to see different, meet different. Most of the afternoon runs I’ve done were replays. Reruns, for better appropriation. Same things, same view, same people doing the same things. This time, it’s new running mates, new faces of people insane enough to wake up that early on weekends -in a pandemic, too! At mornings, there is nothing awkward for rational animals nodding heads when crossing paths because smiles are unseen behind masks.

Another plus is a good measure of vitamin D at the bottom end of the run when the sun has finally escaped the clouds and the trees. I thought I hopped and frolicked my last laps in joyful jog enjoying the sunshine.

After the run, I’ve got so much time in my hands, I even I even prepared breakfast while the queen, the prince and the princess of my palace were still…, still. In bed. Still. I didn’t mind.

Here’s to thinking different. Doing different.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes