On Visiting the Manila Cathedral

Manila offers a wealth of tourist sites for visitors coming to the Philippines. As the capital city of the country, one can find that it still retains the elegance of the "old city"; when horse-drawn carriages, called "kalesa", plied the streets and pollution was unheard of.

The growth and development of the city and its inhabitants can be seen from different perspectives. As the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, the Manila Cathedral provides an important counter-balance to the rough political landscape, which still rears its ugly head, at times.

Located in Manila's Intramuros District, Pope Gregory XIII dedicated the cathedral to the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1581. It became a minor basilica through Pope John Paul II's papal bull in 1981.

It has since become a prime basilica, as the Pope had given it special recognition and importance, which, among other things, caused long queues of couples waiting for their turn to tie the knot. If only for the chance to witness the Filipino way of celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony, be sure to include this in your itinerary.

Foreign nationals interested in architecture, history, politics, religion, art and culture may find in the Manila Cathedral, and the Intramuros District, a perfect jump-off point to explore the rest of the country. To this end, those who come may find, embedded in its sacred walls, both happy and painful memories of love and war, of triumph and defeat -- 'till death do us part.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

More than ten years ago, I read the book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". Written by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, this book has helped influence the way I look at myself and the world around me. It's a classic that teaches timeless principles. Principles that, if one adheres to, can create abundance, harmony and peace in all areas of life.

The seven habits, enumerated below, teaches us about private (mastering self) and public (a more meaningful connection with others) victories. It underscores the importance of one's worldview, or how we see the world, and differences in perception. It also introduces the concept of the "paradigm shift" and how to align our paradigm with principles based on the character ethic.

Moreover, one finds a chapter devoted to each of the habits, which ends with a discussion of the inside-out approach to personal effectiveness. The inside-out focuses on the character-driven person responsible for his own actions and motivated to become a man of integrity.

The habits:
1. Be proactive
2. Begin with the end in mind
3. Put first things first
4. Think win-win
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the saw.

Dr. Covey, who passed away in 2012 after a biking accident, continues to inspire people everywhere to become a better person; to take a look at one's actions, thoughts and beliefs, and its impact on other people. I still find nuggets of wisdom every time I skim through its pages.

By and large a good read, I've included it in my top 5 business books entrepreneurs must have and learn from .

Looking for Success in the Year of the Snake (2013)

*Photo courtesy of Jakub Krechowicz

An entrepreneur is, essentially, a man with a vision. Others connect with and follow him because of this vision. At the start of 2013, the Year of the Snake, do something different - adopt a definite purpose and hold on to it until it becomes ingrained into your heart and mind. Success is the offspring of vision.

Coming to Manila

Like Times Square (above), Manila has that magnet that magically attracts. 

*Photo courtesy of Giacomo.

People from the province come to Manila for many reasons: to find work, to study in one of the big universities, to visit relatives / friends, to escape poverty, to find love, etc. It may be short stay or a permanent vacation, but whatever it is, your life will never be the same again after seeing the sights, sounds and smell of the "big city".