Popular Filipino movie action star Rudy Fernandez died Saturday-June 7, 2008 at the age of 56. His film credits numbering to over 100 movies which include mostly true-to life action films on notorious criminals and police characters like "Waway" and "Baby Ama", and other memorable true-to-life films about the exploits of former Police General and now Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Police General and now-Senator Panfilo Lacson, and former NPA leader and Army General Victor Corpuz. Fernandez is a proud recipient of numerous Best Actor awards among which are from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), the Film Academy Awards (FAP), and the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC).
Known for his nickname "Daboy" in the movie industry, he was first diagnosed to be suffering from pancreatic cancer in 2006 and had undergone a successful medical operation in a reputable Philippine hospital. However, after several years due to complications, "Daboy" was diagnosed to be suffering from ampullary cancer, a rare disease. "Daboy" and his actress-wife Lorna Tolentino also travelled to the United States and Japan to seek medical treatment for the actor's illness. After several months of therapy and treatment abroad, foreign doctors advised the actor's family to continue treatment in the Philippines.
His last movie acting stint was the action-comedy "Hula Mo, Huli Ko" with Ruffa Mae Quinto in 2002. When movie productions declined, he shifted to television and starred in GMA-7 shows like the docu-crime drama "Kasangga", the comedy sitcom "Da Boy en Da Girl" opposite Rosanna Roces, and lately the GMA prime timers "Twin Hearts" and "Atlantika," his last TV acting stint.
I first met "Daboy" in person in 2003 inside a popular fitness gym in Manila right after his regular workout exercise. He was physically fit and very healthy during that time. I was introduced to him by veteran film director Romy Suzara-- known in the movie industry as "Direk Romy"-- who wanted to cast "Daboy" in the starring role of his new project 5 years ago. "Direk Romy" and "Daboy" have had history of box office hits in many previous action movies they have done together.
I was one of writers of the creative team for "Spirit Questor"-- an action-drama-fantasy film based also on a true-to-life story which Director Suzara submitted as an official entry to the "Manila Fim Festival 2003", usually held every June and later to the "Metro Manila Film Festival 2003", usually held every December-- under Direk Romy's buddy-producer Red Sun Productions. Movie productions in the Philippines continue to decline during that time and due to escalating cost of movie production, Direk Romy's new film producer wanted the support of some government subsidy and tax deductibles which are extended only to official entries of film festivals.
In both instances, the project was not selected as one of the competing entries because the jurors preferred the big established production outfits like Regal, Viva and Star Cinema. The script was paid to the writers but the film was never produced to this date until the demise of its supposed lead actor. If it was made into film in 2003, it could have been tagged as "The Last Memorable Film of Rudy (Daboy) Fernandez!"
Monday, June 9, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
How To Avoid Nightmares!
I received this information from my sister - Imelda, a veterinarian by profession- who in turn got it from our cousin - Cora Borja who is a US-based pharmacist.
My cousin shared this healthy tip: never go thirsty when going to bed and be sure you have plenty of water during your 8-hour or more bedtime rest. She told that one of their pharmaceutical company's delivery driver died last week from nightmare or "bangungot" - leaving a housewife and 3 very young kids.
Her story reminds me of a tabloid news item I read a month ago about a male nurse of a private hospital who apparently died also due to nightmare. Nightmares are usually experienced by mid-age adults and young adults which caused them to die while sleeping. Many theories have been put forward as its cause. However, below are other related information which sheds some light to the cause of this malady.
The reported cause of young actor Rico Yan's death is nightmare after eating noodles for his supper. Medical investigators in China, Japan and several Asian countries who performed autopsies on persons who died from "acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis" found out that the majority of them had eaten NOODLES as their supper. This was a startling finding!
However, it wasn't the noodles that caused nightmares but dehydration. Imbibing even with a few drinks of alcohol or just eating noodles immediately before bedtime compound this on an empty stomach will trigger an electrolyte imbalance and other factors that causes a person to dehydrate or lose water.
It is therefore advisable for a person to take several glasses of water before bedtime if he had a few or several alcoholic drinks. Avoid eating noodles before bedtime, but if you cannot avoid it, always allow at least two hours for the body to digest the noodles before hitting the sack and drink plenty of water.
The most important thing is, never go thirsty when going to bed and be sure you have plenty of water during your 8-hour or more bedtime rest!
My cousin shared this healthy tip: never go thirsty when going to bed and be sure you have plenty of water during your 8-hour or more bedtime rest. She told that one of their pharmaceutical company's delivery driver died last week from nightmare or "bangungot" - leaving a housewife and 3 very young kids.
Her story reminds me of a tabloid news item I read a month ago about a male nurse of a private hospital who apparently died also due to nightmare. Nightmares are usually experienced by mid-age adults and young adults which caused them to die while sleeping. Many theories have been put forward as its cause. However, below are other related information which sheds some light to the cause of this malady.
The reported cause of young actor Rico Yan's death is nightmare after eating noodles for his supper. Medical investigators in China, Japan and several Asian countries who performed autopsies on persons who died from "acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis" found out that the majority of them had eaten NOODLES as their supper. This was a startling finding!
However, it wasn't the noodles that caused nightmares but dehydration. Imbibing even with a few drinks of alcohol or just eating noodles immediately before bedtime compound this on an empty stomach will trigger an electrolyte imbalance and other factors that causes a person to dehydrate or lose water.
It is therefore advisable for a person to take several glasses of water before bedtime if he had a few or several alcoholic drinks. Avoid eating noodles before bedtime, but if you cannot avoid it, always allow at least two hours for the body to digest the noodles before hitting the sack and drink plenty of water.
The most important thing is, never go thirsty when going to bed and be sure you have plenty of water during your 8-hour or more bedtime rest!
Friday, May 30, 2008
The RCBC Bank Massacre
I felt deep anger and moral anguish on the violent deaths of ten individuals who were all shot in the head in a bloody robbery of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) branch in Laguna, Philippines. It has been two weeks since it happened but the brutal inhumanity of the killings continue to circulate in broadcast and print media and the internet. No sane person can be neutral about it after seeing the gruesome pictures of the victims in RCBC bank massacre. There’s no need to repeat the details here, but recent events related to the incident require closer introspection.
Police Investigation. The responding police team broke into the RCBC Cabuyao branch, and started trampling around the scene of the crime due urgency of finding and saving any survivors. It appears from news reports that even the police were taken aback by the extreme violence of the killings. I hope the Philippine National Police (PNP) Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) people remain cool, scientific and methodical in collecting all possible physical evidences which could prove the real killers.
Task Force RCBC. Understandably, President Arroyo was furious and ordered the PNP to immediately find and arrest the perpetrators. Task Force RCBC was formed, composed of investigators from the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Crime Laboratory, Traffic Management Group, Laguna Police Provincial Office and Civil Security Group. Each unit has its own leadership, operatives, organizational structure and way of doing things and therein lies the problem. We can only wish the head of Task Force RCBC all the luck. Task Force RCBC lost no time in going after the criminals. The PNP Director General emphasized that he did not issue a shoot-to-kill order against the robbers, but the Task Force promptly gunned down the first four suspects they encountered—whom they said battled it out in a fair gunfight like the cowboys in the Old West.
Rubout or Shootout. The relatives of the four slain men claim rubout which led to speculation that at least “men in uniform”, whether in active service or not, were involved in the RCBC robbery itself. For purposes of the investigation, these guys were clearly more valuable alive than dead, or at least until the murders are solved. The official PNP statement says that the four men killed were really members of a notorious kidnap and robbery-holdup group. The rumor is that the police is using the RCBC massacre as an excuse to go after existing criminal syndicates. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that initial findings indicated that the suspected members of a crime gang were summarily executed, not killed in a shootout.
Crime and Justice. The question on a lot of people’s minds is why the crime was so violent and extreme. The obvious answer seems to be that the identities of robbers are familiar to witnesses and the criminals wanted no witnesses-alive. The execution-style killings showed that these criminals are willing to go diabolical to escape prosecution, killing with impunity and without remorse. Police claim that based on accounts of some witnesses, they have identified the real names, backgrounds, affiliations, and the last known addresses of five suspects while four others were only identified through their aliases. We hope they are brought to justice soon. As the old saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied – for the victims, their families and loved ones.
Preventive Measures. Some major lapses in security measures of RCBC Cabuyao branch were discovered after the violent incident. The CCTV security camera and bank alarm were out of order and not functioning. There was only one security guard on duty when it should be at least two guards at the time of incident. There was also no regular police visibility in the area. There was clear indication of an inside job based on police investigation but how such vital information became known to the RCBC criminals do not require much after-thinking. What matters most in these lapses is for other banks to ensure the security and safety of their personnel, as well as the customers, by ensuring that such mentioned lapses are prevented at all cost in their respective banks – if they don’t want the possibility of another bank tragedy in the near future!
Money and Power. The robbery-massacre in RCBC is a reflection of wide-scale violence on a national scale. The RCBC killers apparently stole 12-15 millions of pesos at gunpoint while some of our national leaders routinely steal twenty, fifty, or a hundred times over with the stroke of a pen, or after a few secret meetings or golf sessions. The RCBC massacre stole 10 lives due power of the gun while hundred time more lives have been lost, among the poor and defenseless, owing to lack of food, medicine or fundamental health care because the funds for these basic needs found their way to the pockets of those corrupt people in power.
Police Investigation. The responding police team broke into the RCBC Cabuyao branch, and started trampling around the scene of the crime due urgency of finding and saving any survivors. It appears from news reports that even the police were taken aback by the extreme violence of the killings. I hope the Philippine National Police (PNP) Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) people remain cool, scientific and methodical in collecting all possible physical evidences which could prove the real killers.
Task Force RCBC. Understandably, President Arroyo was furious and ordered the PNP to immediately find and arrest the perpetrators. Task Force RCBC was formed, composed of investigators from the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Crime Laboratory, Traffic Management Group, Laguna Police Provincial Office and Civil Security Group. Each unit has its own leadership, operatives, organizational structure and way of doing things and therein lies the problem. We can only wish the head of Task Force RCBC all the luck. Task Force RCBC lost no time in going after the criminals. The PNP Director General emphasized that he did not issue a shoot-to-kill order against the robbers, but the Task Force promptly gunned down the first four suspects they encountered—whom they said battled it out in a fair gunfight like the cowboys in the Old West.
Rubout or Shootout. The relatives of the four slain men claim rubout which led to speculation that at least “men in uniform”, whether in active service or not, were involved in the RCBC robbery itself. For purposes of the investigation, these guys were clearly more valuable alive than dead, or at least until the murders are solved. The official PNP statement says that the four men killed were really members of a notorious kidnap and robbery-holdup group. The rumor is that the police is using the RCBC massacre as an excuse to go after existing criminal syndicates. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that initial findings indicated that the suspected members of a crime gang were summarily executed, not killed in a shootout.
Crime and Justice. The question on a lot of people’s minds is why the crime was so violent and extreme. The obvious answer seems to be that the identities of robbers are familiar to witnesses and the criminals wanted no witnesses-alive. The execution-style killings showed that these criminals are willing to go diabolical to escape prosecution, killing with impunity and without remorse. Police claim that based on accounts of some witnesses, they have identified the real names, backgrounds, affiliations, and the last known addresses of five suspects while four others were only identified through their aliases. We hope they are brought to justice soon. As the old saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied – for the victims, their families and loved ones.
Preventive Measures. Some major lapses in security measures of RCBC Cabuyao branch were discovered after the violent incident. The CCTV security camera and bank alarm were out of order and not functioning. There was only one security guard on duty when it should be at least two guards at the time of incident. There was also no regular police visibility in the area. There was clear indication of an inside job based on police investigation but how such vital information became known to the RCBC criminals do not require much after-thinking. What matters most in these lapses is for other banks to ensure the security and safety of their personnel, as well as the customers, by ensuring that such mentioned lapses are prevented at all cost in their respective banks – if they don’t want the possibility of another bank tragedy in the near future!
Money and Power. The robbery-massacre in RCBC is a reflection of wide-scale violence on a national scale. The RCBC killers apparently stole 12-15 millions of pesos at gunpoint while some of our national leaders routinely steal twenty, fifty, or a hundred times over with the stroke of a pen, or after a few secret meetings or golf sessions. The RCBC massacre stole 10 lives due power of the gun while hundred time more lives have been lost, among the poor and defenseless, owing to lack of food, medicine or fundamental health care because the funds for these basic needs found their way to the pockets of those corrupt people in power.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Triangle for Earthquake Safety
Below excerpts from Doug Copp’s write-up on the “Triangle of Life” which appeared in numerous international publications after the devastating earthquake in China. Doug Copp is the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. His write-up is very informative and has proved to save lives in an earthquake. He has crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, and founded rescue teams in several countries. He was also the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years and have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985.
Earthquake-Safe Triangle
The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't know at the time that the children were told to hide under something.
Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the "triangle of life". The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.
TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
1) Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety - survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.
6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible. It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
Spread the word and save someone's life... the entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!
Earthquake-Safe Triangle
The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't know at the time that the children were told to hide under something.
Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the "triangle of life". The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.
TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
1) Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety - survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.
6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible. It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
Spread the word and save someone's life... the entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
10 Tips for Job Seekers
As an insider in international recruitment industry in the Philippines, I find below write-up titled “10 Things A Recruiter Will Never Tell You” truly correct and valid for many headhunters I know-- as published in recent issue of Crossroads JobSeeker News. There are indeed a lot of industry secrets and having access to those secrets can make the difference in whether a job applicant’s resume is accepted or rejected by headhunters-recruiters-- whether for local or overseas employment.
Top 10 Things Recruiters Will Never Tell a Job Applicant
1. Your cover letter put him off.
You might have been thrilled to find just the right cover letter form in a book of cover letters or computer template. What you don’t realize is that a thousand other people have also found that cover letter—and the recruiter has seen them all. It makes your cover letter look like 150 other letters he has read that morning. And it makes you seem unoriginal, and not a good candidate.
2. Recruiters spend five to ten seconds looking at each resume.
If your resume cannot get his attention in five to ten seconds, it will be passed over. In an extremely fast-paced environment, high-volume resume reading is required; recruiters are professionally trained to look for certain items. If your resume is not designed to contain what recruiters are looking for, you won’t get a second chance.
3. Your resume may be full of hidden or unsuspected red flags.
You think you have a great resume, but there may be red flags you are not even aware of. Here are a few that cause concern for recruiters: (a) Too many jobs in a short time = Unstable candidate; (b) Too many years at the same company/industry = Inflexible to change; (c) Overqualified = Too expensive or won’t stay long; (d) Underqualified = Long learning curve; (e) Too many different types of jobs = Candidate doesn’t know what he wants.
4. Your age is obvious from your resume.
You may think you’ve fooled the recruiter by leaving out your college graduation date, but there are many resume cues that can betray your age. In today’s youth-oriented market, this can lead to a whole series of misconceptions: (a) Your industry knowledge is out of date; (b) You don’t understand current technology; (c) You won’t be able to work under younger managers; (d) A well-written resume can prove your experience while downplaying your actual age.
5. Your resume indicates you are not a good "cultural fit" for his clients.
Your resume reveals more about you than you know. Your personal information or extra-curricular activities may actually make a negative impression on recruiters or potential employers. Even the way you phrase your job experience can prove that you don’t belong in his client’s workplace.
6. The recruiter’s first motivation is earning commissions.
The recruiter’s loyalty is not to you; it is to the companies that pay his commission. Those employers are interested in the bottom line—and so is he. Don’t expect a recruiter to be personally interested in your career goals; he only wants to talk to you if you match the qualifications of the job openings he has to offer. It is up to YOU to make him understand what a great asset you would be to his clients—and therefore to him as well.
7. He doesn’t care why the employer didn’t want you for a second interview.
If the employer isn’t interested in you, then neither is the recruiter. Recruiters don’t feel any obligation to tell you why you didn’t make the cut; he has other jobs to fill and other candidates to fill them. As much as we’d like to think otherwise, recruiters have to focus on jobs that pay them, not on improving your interview techniques. It pays to work on your interviewing skills well before you get to that stage.
8. He doesn’t care why the employer didn’t make you the offer.
Recruiters don’t want to admit that they knew you were the second choice all along or that the employer was just interviewing you to go through the motions. Maybe the top candidate was even someone else he sent in. You have to be aware that you are in competition at all times—even with other job seekers your recruiter represents.
9. He won’t tell you the real reason the position you want is on hold.
Again, a recruiter’s first loyalty is to the companies that pay his commission. So he is not going to tell you that the employer just ordered a budget cut or that they are having a management crisis. And you will be left to wonder if the company put the job on hold to avoid hiring you. By honing your interview skills, you will be able to determine those hidden concerns and rely on your own judgment, not your recruiter’s.
10. He won’t tell you the true salary range for the position.
For internal, corporate recruiters, it is in their best interest to keep the salary range low. It makes them look good if they can have a positive impact on the bottom line, and what better way to save thousands of dollars than by negotiating low? For third-party recruiters, their commission is often based on your salary, so they will try to inflate the salary range.
Don’t give up on recruiters just because you know these hard facts. Instead, use them to your advantage! Recruiters can actually be your best asset in a job search. Your recruiter can be an incredible ally. In fact, maintaining contact with your recruiter even after you have found a great job can be a good idea. Don’t burn your bridges. That same recruiter might be the one to hand you your next job on a silver platter - the right job at the right salary for you.
Top 10 Things Recruiters Will Never Tell a Job Applicant
1. Your cover letter put him off.
You might have been thrilled to find just the right cover letter form in a book of cover letters or computer template. What you don’t realize is that a thousand other people have also found that cover letter—and the recruiter has seen them all. It makes your cover letter look like 150 other letters he has read that morning. And it makes you seem unoriginal, and not a good candidate.
2. Recruiters spend five to ten seconds looking at each resume.
If your resume cannot get his attention in five to ten seconds, it will be passed over. In an extremely fast-paced environment, high-volume resume reading is required; recruiters are professionally trained to look for certain items. If your resume is not designed to contain what recruiters are looking for, you won’t get a second chance.
3. Your resume may be full of hidden or unsuspected red flags.
You think you have a great resume, but there may be red flags you are not even aware of. Here are a few that cause concern for recruiters: (a) Too many jobs in a short time = Unstable candidate; (b) Too many years at the same company/industry = Inflexible to change; (c) Overqualified = Too expensive or won’t stay long; (d) Underqualified = Long learning curve; (e) Too many different types of jobs = Candidate doesn’t know what he wants.
4. Your age is obvious from your resume.
You may think you’ve fooled the recruiter by leaving out your college graduation date, but there are many resume cues that can betray your age. In today’s youth-oriented market, this can lead to a whole series of misconceptions: (a) Your industry knowledge is out of date; (b) You don’t understand current technology; (c) You won’t be able to work under younger managers; (d) A well-written resume can prove your experience while downplaying your actual age.
5. Your resume indicates you are not a good "cultural fit" for his clients.
Your resume reveals more about you than you know. Your personal information or extra-curricular activities may actually make a negative impression on recruiters or potential employers. Even the way you phrase your job experience can prove that you don’t belong in his client’s workplace.
6. The recruiter’s first motivation is earning commissions.
The recruiter’s loyalty is not to you; it is to the companies that pay his commission. Those employers are interested in the bottom line—and so is he. Don’t expect a recruiter to be personally interested in your career goals; he only wants to talk to you if you match the qualifications of the job openings he has to offer. It is up to YOU to make him understand what a great asset you would be to his clients—and therefore to him as well.
7. He doesn’t care why the employer didn’t want you for a second interview.
If the employer isn’t interested in you, then neither is the recruiter. Recruiters don’t feel any obligation to tell you why you didn’t make the cut; he has other jobs to fill and other candidates to fill them. As much as we’d like to think otherwise, recruiters have to focus on jobs that pay them, not on improving your interview techniques. It pays to work on your interviewing skills well before you get to that stage.
8. He doesn’t care why the employer didn’t make you the offer.
Recruiters don’t want to admit that they knew you were the second choice all along or that the employer was just interviewing you to go through the motions. Maybe the top candidate was even someone else he sent in. You have to be aware that you are in competition at all times—even with other job seekers your recruiter represents.
9. He won’t tell you the real reason the position you want is on hold.
Again, a recruiter’s first loyalty is to the companies that pay his commission. So he is not going to tell you that the employer just ordered a budget cut or that they are having a management crisis. And you will be left to wonder if the company put the job on hold to avoid hiring you. By honing your interview skills, you will be able to determine those hidden concerns and rely on your own judgment, not your recruiter’s.
10. He won’t tell you the true salary range for the position.
For internal, corporate recruiters, it is in their best interest to keep the salary range low. It makes them look good if they can have a positive impact on the bottom line, and what better way to save thousands of dollars than by negotiating low? For third-party recruiters, their commission is often based on your salary, so they will try to inflate the salary range.
Don’t give up on recruiters just because you know these hard facts. Instead, use them to your advantage! Recruiters can actually be your best asset in a job search. Your recruiter can be an incredible ally. In fact, maintaining contact with your recruiter even after you have found a great job can be a good idea. Don’t burn your bridges. That same recruiter might be the one to hand you your next job on a silver platter - the right job at the right salary for you.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Popular Wines from A to Z
Sometimes, people want to have a glass or bottle of wine, but feel uncomfortable because they don’t know what wine to order to how to pronounce correctly the name of wine. Thanks to wine experts from the International Wine and Spirits Association-- who will hold the first European Wine Festival on June 5, 2008 at the Mandarin Oriental Manila— as they give an educational listing of most popular Wines around the world. It’s time to expand our knowledge with popular wines from A to Z and how their names are pronounced.
Amarone (Ah-ma-RoH-nay) – red wine.
Amontillado (Ah-mone-tee-YAH-doe) – red wine.
Beaujolais (Bo-zho-LAY) – red wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon (Kah-burr-Nay So-vin-Yon) – red wine.
Champagne (Sham-pane) – sparkling wine.
Chardonnay (shar-dun-Nay) – white wine.
Demi-sec (Deh-mee-seck) – champagne with residual sugar.
Gewurztraminer (Ge-vertz-trah-mee-ner) – aromatic German wine.
Kabinett (Kah-bee-NET) – semi-dry German wine.
Merlot (Merlow) - juicy wine.
Muscat (Muhs-kat) – dessert wine.
Nebbiolo (Nay-BYOH-low) –wine with black fruit and tar flavor.
Oloroso (Oh-loe-roe-soe) – sherry wine.
Pinot Blanc (Pee-noe-BlahN) – poor man’s Chardonnay
Pinot Noir (Pea-noe-Nwahr) – red wine.
Riesling (REESE-ling) – red wine
Rose (Roe-zay) – pink wine.
Sauvignon Blanc (So-vin-yon-Blahnk) – white wine.
Tempranillo – (Temph-rah-NEEL-yo) – red wine.
It maybe quite difficult to familiarize ourselves with such long list of popular wines. The rule about white wine for fish and poultry and red wine for red meats has become flexible. In a hotel, or restaurant or in an occasion where you have to order the wine, particularly if you are the host and know little about wine brands, it is better to use the following formula as suggested by the book Executive Etiquette:
To complement Beef dish, order wines starting with letter “B” as in Beef such as Beaujolais, Bordeaux and Bartolo.
To complement Chicken dish , order wines starting with letter “C” as in Chicken such as Chardonnay and Chablis.
To complement fiSh dish, order wines starting with letter “S” as in “Sole fish” such as Soave and Sauvignon Blanc.
Whatever is your preferred wine, let’s drink to that!!
Amarone (Ah-ma-RoH-nay) – red wine.
Amontillado (Ah-mone-tee-YAH-doe) – red wine.
Beaujolais (Bo-zho-LAY) – red wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon (Kah-burr-Nay So-vin-Yon) – red wine.
Champagne (Sham-pane) – sparkling wine.
Chardonnay (shar-dun-Nay) – white wine.
Demi-sec (Deh-mee-seck) – champagne with residual sugar.
Gewurztraminer (Ge-vertz-trah-mee-ner) – aromatic German wine.
Kabinett (Kah-bee-NET) – semi-dry German wine.
Merlot (Merlow) - juicy wine.
Muscat (Muhs-kat) – dessert wine.
Nebbiolo (Nay-BYOH-low) –wine with black fruit and tar flavor.
Oloroso (Oh-loe-roe-soe) – sherry wine.
Pinot Blanc (Pee-noe-BlahN) – poor man’s Chardonnay
Pinot Noir (Pea-noe-Nwahr) – red wine.
Riesling (REESE-ling) – red wine
Rose (Roe-zay) – pink wine.
Sauvignon Blanc (So-vin-yon-Blahnk) – white wine.
Tempranillo – (Temph-rah-NEEL-yo) – red wine.
It maybe quite difficult to familiarize ourselves with such long list of popular wines. The rule about white wine for fish and poultry and red wine for red meats has become flexible. In a hotel, or restaurant or in an occasion where you have to order the wine, particularly if you are the host and know little about wine brands, it is better to use the following formula as suggested by the book Executive Etiquette:
To complement Beef dish, order wines starting with letter “B” as in Beef such as Beaujolais, Bordeaux and Bartolo.
To complement Chicken dish , order wines starting with letter “C” as in Chicken such as Chardonnay and Chablis.
To complement fiSh dish, order wines starting with letter “S” as in “Sole fish” such as Soave and Sauvignon Blanc.
Whatever is your preferred wine, let’s drink to that!!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Guide To Work Well
My idol-government official and fellow resident of Marikina City – incumbent Chairman Bayani F. Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) gives the following pointers in recent issue of the Marikina Times newspaper.
I find this “Guide to Lead” of Chairman BF truly practical and effective in bringing out the best in every worker or person on whatever work or undertaking. Whether your work is in government service or private sector, or even if you’re involved in any professional, socio-civic or religious organizations, I believe the following Guide will be very useful in accomplishing your assigned job or task.
GUIDE TO LEAD
1. Know you objectives and resources.
2. Draw a plan to the last bolt and the last man.
3. Sell your plan.
4. Deploy as much and proper tools for the job. (Let the tool do the job.)
5. Make sure every man has his orders.
6. Give comfort to every man.
7. Make sure everyone is doing his share.
8. When things go wrong and you’re pressed for time, don’t do it alone. (Let the organization help you to keep task in line. The organization is bigger than you may think.)
9. Change plan or abort mission if the job cannot be done, but get prior clearance from whoever gave you the order.
10. When in doubt – report.
11. When the job is done – report.
12. If you succeed, let everyone know. If you fail – let your immediate supervisor or your boss be the first to know.
RESOURCES or CONSTRAINTS to Work Well: Men, Equipment, Materials, Facilities, Money, Information and Time!
I find this “Guide to Lead” of Chairman BF truly practical and effective in bringing out the best in every worker or person on whatever work or undertaking. Whether your work is in government service or private sector, or even if you’re involved in any professional, socio-civic or religious organizations, I believe the following Guide will be very useful in accomplishing your assigned job or task.
GUIDE TO LEAD
1. Know you objectives and resources.
2. Draw a plan to the last bolt and the last man.
3. Sell your plan.
4. Deploy as much and proper tools for the job. (Let the tool do the job.)
5. Make sure every man has his orders.
6. Give comfort to every man.
7. Make sure everyone is doing his share.
8. When things go wrong and you’re pressed for time, don’t do it alone. (Let the organization help you to keep task in line. The organization is bigger than you may think.)
9. Change plan or abort mission if the job cannot be done, but get prior clearance from whoever gave you the order.
10. When in doubt – report.
11. When the job is done – report.
12. If you succeed, let everyone know. If you fail – let your immediate supervisor or your boss be the first to know.
RESOURCES or CONSTRAINTS to Work Well: Men, Equipment, Materials, Facilities, Money, Information and Time!
Friday, May 23, 2008
8th Wonder of the World - in the Philippines!!
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Rising from the volcanic depths of the Sulu Sea in the western Philippines, these magnificent areas encompass an astonishing diversity of marine life. Tubbataha is the Samal word for “long reef exposed at low tide.” Samals are seafearing people of the Sulu Sea and are one of the few people who have accessed the Park in the early 1980’s.
This Park is an underwater sanctuary where nature can thrive. Tubbataha is the Philippines' only National Marine Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of global importance, being preserved for generations to come. From majestic whale sharks to elusive seahorses - Tubbataha supports an unparalleled variety of marine creatures. Colourful reef fish crowd corals growing in the shallows while sharks and manta rays haunt the steep drop offs to the open sea. A team of Philippine Rangers are stationed on the reef year-round and, from March until June, locals and foreigner divers visit Tubbataha to experience the wonders of this unique underwater world.
Earlier this month, the Manila City Council passed a resolution urging Filipinos to vote online for the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan as one of the "New Seven Wonders of Nature." According to the resolution, it is time for Filipinos all over the world to use their Internet skills to vote at www.new7wonders.com for the benefit of the country. It’s a known fact that Filipinos love to vote, that's why in beauty pageants like Miss Universe, the Ms. Philippines’ candidate usually win the Miss Photogenic award.
Two weeks ago, Tubbataha ranked 30th on the list of 77 nominees. Latest newspaper report this week says it's now on the 8th rank. The only other Philippine entry, the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, was slowly climbing like Tubbataha. Other top contenders like the Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha National Park and Fansipan Mountain in Vietnam were the top three vote-getters, followed by Cox’s Bazar Beach in Bangladesh, Sundarbans Forest, the Ganges River in Bangladesh and India, and Mount Everest in Nepal.
The contest was organized by the non-profit Seven Wonders Foundation that was established in 2001 and which conducted the “New Seven Wonders of the World” search that ended in 2007. “Making the final cut is not only prestigious but also a tremendous boost for the country in terms of tourism gains, and winning has remarkable educational value for highlighting the beauty of nature and the diversity of our natural environment,” said the resolution.
Voting for the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” will be open until December 31. Afterward, a panel of experts will trim the 77 nominees to 21 and the last round of voting will be held until the end of 2009. The top seven vote-getters will be declared the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” in 2010.
So whether you're Filipino or other nationalities who believe that this so-called nursery of marine sanctuary must be preserved and protected, make your vote counts in something that can help to promote the Tubbataha Reefs in the Philippines. Make your voice be heard by logging on to www.new7wonders.com
This Park is an underwater sanctuary where nature can thrive. Tubbataha is the Philippines' only National Marine Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a place of global importance, being preserved for generations to come. From majestic whale sharks to elusive seahorses - Tubbataha supports an unparalleled variety of marine creatures. Colourful reef fish crowd corals growing in the shallows while sharks and manta rays haunt the steep drop offs to the open sea. A team of Philippine Rangers are stationed on the reef year-round and, from March until June, locals and foreigner divers visit Tubbataha to experience the wonders of this unique underwater world.
Earlier this month, the Manila City Council passed a resolution urging Filipinos to vote online for the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan as one of the "New Seven Wonders of Nature." According to the resolution, it is time for Filipinos all over the world to use their Internet skills to vote at www.new7wonders.com for the benefit of the country. It’s a known fact that Filipinos love to vote, that's why in beauty pageants like Miss Universe, the Ms. Philippines’ candidate usually win the Miss Photogenic award.
Two weeks ago, Tubbataha ranked 30th on the list of 77 nominees. Latest newspaper report this week says it's now on the 8th rank. The only other Philippine entry, the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, was slowly climbing like Tubbataha. Other top contenders like the Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha National Park and Fansipan Mountain in Vietnam were the top three vote-getters, followed by Cox’s Bazar Beach in Bangladesh, Sundarbans Forest, the Ganges River in Bangladesh and India, and Mount Everest in Nepal.
The contest was organized by the non-profit Seven Wonders Foundation that was established in 2001 and which conducted the “New Seven Wonders of the World” search that ended in 2007. “Making the final cut is not only prestigious but also a tremendous boost for the country in terms of tourism gains, and winning has remarkable educational value for highlighting the beauty of nature and the diversity of our natural environment,” said the resolution.
Voting for the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” will be open until December 31. Afterward, a panel of experts will trim the 77 nominees to 21 and the last round of voting will be held until the end of 2009. The top seven vote-getters will be declared the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” in 2010.
So whether you're Filipino or other nationalities who believe that this so-called nursery of marine sanctuary must be preserved and protected, make your vote counts in something that can help to promote the Tubbataha Reefs in the Philippines. Make your voice be heard by logging on to www.new7wonders.com
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Why Women Cry?
Thanks to my friend Angela Sandalo for sharing this beautiful
Subject: Why women cry
Watch her eyes
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"
God said:
"When I made the woman she had to be special.
I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,
yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.
I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.
I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."
Please send this to ten beautiful women you know today. If you do, something good will happen - You will boost another woman's self-esteem
Subject: Why women cry
Watch her eyes
A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"
God said:
"When I made the woman she had to be special.
I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world,
yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.
I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.
I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.
I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.
And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."
"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."
Please send this to ten beautiful women you know today. If you do, something good will happen - You will boost another woman's self-esteem
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Welcome to PinoyViewer's Webpage!!
This webpage is prepared by a neophyte blogger who aims to explore the wonderful world of blogging!
Like any new blogger in global blogging, may this new blogspot reach everywhere: initiate contacts and renew friendships; meet new friends and acquiantances; promote peace and goodwill; encourage new ideas and form opinions; exchange pleasantries and sharings on any subject under the sun. The writings in this webpage will present the blogger's point of views in everything he sees, hears, experiences, remembers and watches around him - people, events and places!!
Ultimately, this blog aims to learn and express new ways and things: review and enjoy life and everything that has something to do with living and loving; and at the same time - nurture spirituality and honor the supreme Creator who bless us with good health, wisdom and talent in everything we write and share in this webpage ..... welcome to you all - for taking some of your precious time to join the PinoyViewer's webpage!!!
Like any new blogger in global blogging, may this new blogspot reach everywhere: initiate contacts and renew friendships; meet new friends and acquiantances; promote peace and goodwill; encourage new ideas and form opinions; exchange pleasantries and sharings on any subject under the sun. The writings in this webpage will present the blogger's point of views in everything he sees, hears, experiences, remembers and watches around him - people, events and places!!
Ultimately, this blog aims to learn and express new ways and things: review and enjoy life and everything that has something to do with living and loving; and at the same time - nurture spirituality and honor the supreme Creator who bless us with good health, wisdom and talent in everything we write and share in this webpage ..... welcome to you all - for taking some of your precious time to join the PinoyViewer's webpage!!!
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