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A DREAM TAKES FLIGHT

Donning an AirAsia cap, Dato' Sri Tony Fernandes, speaker at the first South East Asian Youth Engagement Summit, goes up the stage of Kuala Lumpur's Putrajaya International Convention Center followed by four flight attendants in AirAsia's chili red garb.  The casually dressed CEO of AirAsia announces that the first person to hand him something red will win a trip to London.  Two youth delegates scamper up the stage, one of them tripping on her own two feet before reaching Fernandes.  The 45-year-old businessman decides to give both of them the free trip anyway. This scenario is a good illustration of how Fernandes built his low-cost airlines from the ground up -- by enticing would-be passengers with free trips.

In 2001, Fernandes was the embattled South East Asia Regional Vice-President for the Warner Music Group.   Piracy was causing the company to lose money and he was getting bored with his job.  Having ‘dinner’ at a bar one night, he saw an Easy Jet television ad. He realized this was what he wanted to do -- build a low-cost, no frills Malaysian airline so everyone could fly.  He called his wife and told her of his plan, but couldn't get a word in because she couldn’t stop laughing.

Fernandes mortgaged his house and then rallied a couple of his buddies¹ in the music industry to set up Tune Air Sdn. Bhd. Their license application, however, was turned down by the Malaysian government. Fernandes quickly arranged a meeting with then Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The Prime Minister suggested that, instead of getting a license, Fernandes should buy the fledgling AirAsia, a heavily indebted subsidiary of a government-owned conglomerate.

With youthful audacity he announced, "I will buy Air Asia for one Malaysian ringgit!"  He got this reply: "Yes, you can buy it tomorrow."  

Fernandes might have gotten the airline at one ringgit (US$0.029) but he and his partners also inherited 40 million ringgit worth of debt. His vision, nevertheless, went took flight that same year with 250 employees and two ageing Boeing 737-300 flying to just one destination. A tragic event however, threatened to crash his dream.  

The September 11 attacks made people afraid to fly. But Fernandes saw a golden opportunity in what could have been a major setback. Airline leasing costs plummeted by 40 percent, saving the company a lot of money. Airline lay-offs allowed him to hire experienced staff at lower costs. A year later AirAsia had paid off all its debt and broken even.  

                           Fernandes with former CNN host Lorraine Hahn

"We Asians have this habit of kicking ourselves on the foot and saying it can't be done. Anything is possible when you put your mind into it," he says. Nine years later, AirAsia is the fastest growing low-cost airline in the world, carrying a total of 85 million passengers to date, with 7,000 employees and 90 new airplanes flying to over 130 destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe.  

Fernandes, a London School of Economic alumnus, is a laid-back CEO.  "I go to work wearing regular clothes. My pants are sometimes older than my employees”. And he runs AirAsia with a unique set of principles. For one, the company has a flat structure, where everybody has access to the big boss. By removing company bureaucracy, he gets everybody talking and giving invaluable ideas. "People are our best assets. Get the best people and let them grow. Let them fulfill their dreams. Help them discover potential they never thought they had," he admonishes.

When the company was still relatively small, Fernandes used to go undercover at least once a month as a bag carrier, check-in officer and even flight attendant for a day. It allowed him to get on the ground and see real problems and needs. It also gave him the chance to spot potential stars in the company. When he learned that some bag carriers dreamt of becoming pilots, he sponsored their training. He's proud of the fact that "eighteen months later they are flying planes."  AirAsia also boasts of having 35 female pilots in their staff. "If women can run a country, they can certainly fly a plane!" he exclaims.  

Fernandes ends his well-applauded speech by encouraging the summit delegates with his credo: "Dream the impossible, believe the unbelievable and never take 'No' for an answer!"  

Q&A with Tony Fernandes

Q: What have you learned about the flying habits of South East Asians? 

A: Southeast Asians are practical consumers when it comes to travel.  We are particularly attuned to getting value.  There is this price sensitivity common among us, which is good because it makes us stop to consider just what we’re getting for what we’re spending.  This is not to say that we pick up whatever is cheaper, but that we value a fair exchange and expect good quality products and services for the money that we spend. Also, Southeast Asians love to travel, and we like visiting our neighboring ASEAN countries. The region is breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly diverse, blessed with a rich history, gifted with spectacular natural attractions, and populated by probably the friendliest people on earth. And this 600-milion-strong region is AirAsia’s base.

Q: Is the LCC (low-cost carrier) model sustainable? 

A: Yes, and the success of AirAsia attests to the sustainability of the low-cost model. Not only is the low-cost model sustainable, it is also profitable. AirAsia now is Asia ’s leading and largest low-cost airline.  And we’ve been operationally profitable every year. It’s worked so well that we have launched AirAsia X, our low-cost, long haul affiliate and which is demonstrating that the model can work even on long-haul flights.

Q:How did you get the company out of debt?

A: First, we saw to it that we had a product that people want. We came up with fares that everybody can afford, routes that people want and need, and high quality basic services. We put in measures to maximize resources and trim costs. We implemented a 25-minute turnaround time for our flights, limited idle time for our aircraft, pushed the Web as a booking channel, and promoted a no-wastage practice in all our operations. We also invested in technology and marketing. We invested in projects, such as sponsorship of Manchester United, which raised awareness about the AirAsia brand not only in ASEAN, but globally.

Q: How do you manage a company with a flat structure?  

A: It’s actually less time-consuming.  A flat structure makes communication so much easier.  With everyone in the team able to directly raise an idea or provide feedback, we’re able to more quickly and efficiently deal with concerns. We don’t lose time climbing the steps of hierarchy just to get an idea across.

Q: Who inspires you and what drives you?

A: My mom has always been my big inspiration.  She was so full of life, and I was very close to her while growing up. My colleagues at AirAsia also inspire me.  The team’s dedication in achieving our goals is amazing, and they keep our dream of letting everyone fly going.

-Text and photos by JYC for Readers Digest Asia April 2010

See Article here:http://www.rdasia.com/a_dream_takes_flight

Help Make the Philippines No. 1 for the Ultimate Thailand Explorers!!!

The Philippines is on 2nd place right now trailing by 2,200 votes against the US Team. Your VOTE can help make us Number 1!  Voters will have a chance to win a $2,500 luxury Thailand package and an HTC Android phone!  YOU MAY VOTE EVERYDAY till Jan.8. Vote once a day until Jan.8!!! Go, Go, Go Philippines! :)   Look at the picture below for the voting procedure. 

South East Asia, YES we can!

We just came back from  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where we spent two  of the most exhilarating and inspiring days of our lives. Michael and I were chosen to be two of the 61 youth delegates to represent the Philippines in the Youth Engagement Summit (YES 2009) sponsored by SEAchange  in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  

SEAchange is South East Asia's Largest Youth Movement for Personal change. It aims to inspire the youth of South East Asia to make positive changes in their personal lives, their communities and the world. More than that, SEACHANGE serves as a bridge, connecting Southeast Asian Youths to projects, organizations, businesses, and leaders who can help them with the change they want to see.  

                            Putrajaya International Convention Center

As an initial catalyst, SEAchange organized the Youth Engagement Summit 2009 (YES 2009) from Nov. 16-17 to bring together some of the most inspiring global change icons together in Kuala Lumpur.  The goal is to motivate the youth to  raise above the issues facing our world in the 21st century.SEAchange brought in the best and the brightest young people in South East Asia to engage in a dialogue with world change icons like  chess master Gary Kasparov, CNN & CNBC reporter Lorraine Hahn, Andes crash Survivor Nando Parrado, Twitter  co-founder Biz Stone, Business mogul Donald Trump,  pop legend Sir Bob Geldof of Live Aid and Live8,  and  Facebook marketing director Randi Zuckerberg, to name a few.

The organizers have sponsored over USD $ 1 Million worth of free flights, accommodation, and summit passes for 500 Southeast Asian youths to be flown to Kuala Lumpur. When I checked further, I saw that although my age is no longer on the calendar, I apparently still belong to the youth sector. 

As a youth fresh out of college, I had dreamed of becoming  a world changer. Friends used to  ask me what I wanted to achieve in my lifetime and  I would answer: "World Domination!" And it is true. I believe each person has been given different gifts, with which we can bless the world in our own unique way. Mother Theresa said it  this way, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love."  This has been my inspiration as a media practitioner and it  has kept me going many a long night  to  finish an article, script, video report or audio-visual presentation.  

                           The imposing Petronas Towers

It's good to be reminded through this summit  that that dream that I nurtured in me as a young woman is also shared by thousands,  even millions  of youth, around Asia. More importantly, it is a dream that can be realized, as exemplified by the distinguished speakers who generously shared their story and divulged secrets as to how they made it happen.  

As Michael and I mingled  in the lobby of the impressive Putrajaya International Convention Centre, which had  hosted heads of states and high-profile personalities such as Bill Gates, we met  fellow Filipino Amiel who is an English teacher in Vietnam, who  recognized us from our video for the Ultimate Thailand Explorers.  He said he voted for us during  the semifinals. We were delighted. As the three of us were talking, an American lady who introduced herself as Christine, handed us flyers about a video contest on Democracy which is being sponsored by the US government. Michael who at that time was having a dilemma about our visa application spoke to her about it and she graciously told us she'll help us with it since she's with the US State Department. 

When the summit commenced, we learned from YES 2009 organizing chairman Harmandar Singh, advertising veteran and CEO of Sledgehammer Communications, that this same Christine is part of  US President Obama's staff! She has been sent to convey a message from the US president.  

According to advertising veteran Singh, it was President Obama's "Yes, We Can"  attitude that inspired the conception of YES 2009. And he was actually invited to speak in the event. It's a dream that  Singh,CEO of Sledgehammer Communications, had nurtured for months. He  divulged that that's the reason they timed the event during the US president's trip to Asia. "This is the secret I want to share," Singh said during the opening ceremony, "We chose this venue for its good security. Outside of this convention center is a helipad, where the President can land should he wished to visit us. I have not given up hope that he'll drop by." 

Even though President Obama didn't make it to the summit, we weren't disappointed by the impressive roster of speakers who flew in from around the world to share their stories of hope with us. 

Some  memorable things they shared-- 

Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter:  "Opportunity can be manufactured." Early in his life, Biz learned that he was not the most popular kid around. He was not good any major sport, but he realized that he was good  in La Crosse, which wasn't  a popular game in his school. And so he created his own team! He has learned early on that he could create his own niche. 

Biz co-founded Twitter with his engineer friend when a major project he was working on hit a snag.  "What if we can know what our friends our doing without us asking them?" --This simple question inspired the creation of Twitter.  "It may seen like an overnight success but it took 10 years. You have to love what you are doing, if you are doing a start-up (company)," he says. Today, Twitter is being used not just to connect people, but to advance causes and start revolutions around the world. 

Dr. Mamphela Raphele, former managing director of the World Bank: "As young people you have  ethical choices to make right now, not only when you are old." The only South African to hold such a position in World Bank cites the little things we do that affect climate change. "Think about the cellphones and computers you throw away that becomes somebody's trash. These are personal decisions you do that  impact your world. How about the lights? Not closing the lights when you leave the room for 5 minutes, that's burning coal. You have the information and technology to make the world more sustainable through ethical choices." 

Dr. Raphele grew up fighting a lot of gender stereotypes in South Africa. "In my country, you are known as a daughter or a wife. I grew up with parents who are teachers so naturally people expected me to be a teacher. But I chose to break ranks to become a medical doctor." This doctor, academician, businesswoman and anti-apartheid activist  admonishes women to believe in themselves and know who their true value. "The women of  South Africa, for example,  we had  to define ourselves and be proud of who we are and celebrate it." 

Narain Karthikeyan, first Indian F1 Race car driver: "The youth of today should DREAM BIG. If you have the talent, bring it out and do the best you can. If you have the talent and will to succeed, it will happen." Thirty-two year old Narain knew at an early age that he wanted to be a race car driver. It seemed then like  an impossible dream as he was from India where he said "no decent race track" existed and the only sport  recognized was cricket.  In fact, he practiced his driving skills by commandeering the tractor in their farm. 

Fortunately, he did well enough in school to have his father agree to get him trained in race car driving in France. At age 20, he sought help from an Indian company and got their support. In 2005, he became the first Indian F1 race car driver when he became the main driver for the Jordan formula one team. "I am an example of someone who  had one dream and  stuck to it and followed through," Narain shared. He now supports underprivileged children and tries to spread this message across India. 

Sir Bob Geldof, Live Aid and Live8 Founder: "To die of want in a world of surplus is not only intellectually absurd, but morally repulsive." Pop icon Bob Geldof of  Boomtown  Rats is better known as the  co-writer of the song "Do They Know its Christmas?," one of the best selling singles of all time.  Sir Bob knew poverty at a young age. He grew up in a poor Irish home, his only luxury being a   small transistor radio. Rock music  was his only solace, and it became to him a language of change and possibilities. At 13, his eyes were opened to apartheid in South Africa. 

When he rose to stardom in 70s and 80s  Sir Bob used his earning as a rock star to support charities that gave to African children. In 1984, he organized the super concert Live Aid with Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Not content with just "doing charity," he decided in 2005  to give justice to the poor of Africa by dialoguing with leaders of rich nations. The generation of leaders who had watched Live Aid on television had now grown up and he was able to convince them to changing political structures and laws to help the poorer nations. Sir Bob, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II,  advocates using both charity and political lobby to effect change. "Live Aid was able to raise $150,000 through individual funding,but Live8, which dialogued with the G8 leaders, was able to raise $50 billion," he stresses. 

Addressing the youth of Asia, Sir Bob gave this challenge:  "Commit yourselves to change so that you can make the change. The rest of the the world is depending on you to protect our environment because we've destroyed ours and we will pay you to protect yours. Tell your government. But if they don't then be the leaders yourselves!" 

Chess Master Gary Kasparov: "Success can paralyze if you allow it."  Kasparov--a writer, political activist and the greatest chess player of all time-- became the world chess champion at 22.  After the match the widow of a renowned chess player approached him and said, "I pity you. The happiest moment of your life has just past."  He never forgot that and strove to prove her wrong.  

"True consistency is change. Change or be fossilized," he stressed.  Kasparo was kept on his toes by his greatest opponent Karpov. After Karpov faded away, Kasparov admitted that he began to relax and as a result lost to a much younger player. Yet, he was humble enough to learn from this experience. He used  it to fuel his drive.   "You can't stay at the bottom because the competition there is too fierce. If you stop taking risks you will stop progressing. We need a new generation of innovators, not imitators. The world may have been mapped out for us, but what we need right now is to innovate and explore." 

Donald Trump, CEO of Trump Corporation: "Don't quit!"  American business mogul, socialite and TV personality Donald Trump admonishes the youth to have that all-important character he calls "stick-to-it-tiveness." Beamed via satellite in his office in New York, Trump recalls having a conversation with his agent Jim: "Jim told me that business shows just don't work in prime time. Jim didn't believe it could make it. When 'The Apprentice' became number one on prime time, he was asking for a commission!"  Trump gave him a straight-forward answer, "Jim, You're fired!"  

Nando Parrado, air crash survivor: "Live your dream but don't forget to tell your family that you love them because when I was at the Andes (after that plane crash), all I thought of the whole day  was my family." At 19, Nando Parrado had to live through the  horror of seeing his sister and mother die in an aircrash. In 1972, Parrado was to fly to Chile to play in a international rugby match. Informed that the plane still had vacant seats, he invited his mother and 17-year-old sister to join him in the trip. Since seats weren't assigned on that plane, he randomly sat on the 9th row, not knowing that those seated from 10 rows and above would all perish in that crash.

The plane crashed at 18,000 ft in the Andes mountain range during winter in -40 degrees below zero.  With superhuman effort, Nando spent 11 days finding his way out of the Andes to seek for help. He and 18 of his friends were rescued. His ordeal in the Andes mountain was made into the movie "Alive" where he was played by Ethan Hawke.  "I am extremely happy just to be able to put my daughters to bed every night. This realization has not taken away from my work or 'success' in life. I am CEO of  6 companies, but there is no business meeting or commercial activity that I would not exchange for the moments of happiness I have had with Veronique and my children," he shares.  

The summit was said to have reached a total of 1 million youth via satellite as it was beamed to several universities around Asia. 

More stories  and profiles to come. . . 

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog!  :) This is where I share my articles and some personal reflections. 


To view updates about the Ultimate Thailand Explorers, also visit http://mikejen4ute.blogspot.com  


For updates about our recent travels, view http://jctravelblog.blogspot.com  


Have a great time! 

A Dream Wedding Venue

Discovering Splendido was one of the highlights of our 2008. After getting engaged on 168 (January 6, 2008),we excitedly took a trip to Tagaytay to scout for a wedding venue. Since we both love the outdoors, we planned on having a garden wedding. I particularly wanted to get married in a lush garden fronting a sprawling golf course. We looked at possible venues the whole day, but were not quite satisfied with what we found.  
As we were driving back to Manila at dusk, a thought popped into my mind. Out of the blue, I blurted out to my fiance, “Sa Splendido na lang tayo (Let's get married in Splendido).” At that time, I didn't have an inkling what Splendido looked liked or if it was even open for weddings. The last time I saw the place was in 2004 when it was under still construction. At that time, some friends and I just happened to pass by Splendido on our way to Batangas and we parked near the sales office to stretch our legs. That was my only encounter with the place.

 It must have been It must God whispering a wonderful secret to us for the very next day, I surfed the net and was all too delighted to find that Splendido is actually a golf club and, more than that, it is fast becoming a popular wedding destination! I called their trunkline right away and reserved a date even though we haven't seen the place.

And when I asked if we could have a wedding on the golf course, assistant marketing supervisor Noel immediately informed us that they actually have a nursery just right behind the golf course where we could have the wedding.

The Splendido nursery is an elevated diamond-shaped garden beside a man-made lake. To go there,you have to walk or drive a golf cart through a path that would give you a stunning view of the greens. Then, you go up a flight of thoughtfully placed cobbled stones steps. The view is simply breath-taking. It was the perfect place for us--large enough to accommodate our 250 guests yet small enough to get that intimate feel that we wanted for the ceremony. Really a dream come true!

Another revelation was the food! Not only was it reasonable, it was a heavenly fare. Later on, I found out that the kitchen is headed by Chef Ed Quimson and Chef Tristan Bayani two of the most promising chefs we have in the country. When we requested for a customized menu to fit our budget, they gladly gave in. To be practical, we decided to get mini-cakes instead of the usual wedding cake with only one edible layer. Splendido's pastry bar baked such deliciously decadent and eye-catching cakes for us that made us wished we took a second serving during the cake-cutting.



During the course of the preparations, we called on Noel, Jonna, newly appointed marketing supervisor Cherry and restaurant supervisor Bomel time and again for changes and what-have-yous, and they were very accommodating. Noel was always on hand to answer questions. I appreciate how he listened and answered questions when my mom checked out the place two weeks before the ceremony. When I asked Cherry for help with the VIP place cards, she volunteered to do it for us, even though it wasn't part of the package. Bomel with his bubbly personality is just so conscientious and passionate about his job. He took very good care of us during all our meetings and went out of his way to grant our every request.He made us feel confident that everything would work out well on our day. I'm so glad he personally drove my wedding cart to the ceremony.

Our wedding day was such an answered prayer and a dream come true. A few minutes before the ceremony, it actually drizzled. Guests had to be transported back from the greens to the club house. Dark clouds loomed directly ahead and some of our guests and sponsors panicked. Despite the gloomy scenario, the whole staff believed and prayed with us that the weather would clear. A few minutes later, our prayers were answered. Not only did we have our wedding at the Splendido Nursery with nary a hitch, God even gifted us with a glorious sunset as the ceremony concluded Moreover, there wasn't a drop of rain the whole night as we partied away during the reception.

It's been a year since our October 2008 wedding. We still reminisce about the whole experience almost every day and we can't stop thanking God for Splendido. It's a place we know we will always come back to.

We received this note from Splendido's CEO last Oct. 8, 2009:

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement....it really means a lot to me as I personally and painstakingly designed Splendido...that you appreciate it as much as I do bolsters my spirit!!!! 
Katrina C. Ponce-Enrile

The Will to Win!

While Michael and I were enjoying our 1st  anniversary get-away last weekend, he received an email informing him that he had won Php 5,000 worth of DK travel books and a premium item from the History Channel.

This morning I opened my email to find that Cebu Pacific had just picked me as the 7th and final winner of  round-trip domestic tickets for their Twitter Raffle promo!  Last Friday--supposedly the last day of the promo--Cebu Pacific discovered that one of those who won in the raffle was an employee and so they decided to  make another draw early this morning . :)

God is just amazing!  Not only did He let us  enjoy our  365th day of togetherness as husband and wife by giving us perfect weather on a supposedly stormy weekend, He also put in these little extras to delight us. We are in constant awe of His love and goodness.

I don't see myself as a competitive person, but I do enjoy joining contests. It started when my teacher entered me in a drawing competition in kindergarten. It was followed by a slew of other school-sponsored contests: a track meet, a choral declamation, a singing contest,  a crossword puzzle contest, to name a few.

I knew I had  found my match when I met Michael. Early in our courtship, we discovered that we were both fans of Cebu Pacific's in-flight fun games and  both cherish our collection of prizes from the said airline.


                                                            with Kooky of Mediacomm

Early this year, an ad in Multiply prompted us to join Whisper's online photo-story contest. Shortly after winning the grand prize, we discovered Boy Kuripot, a Filipino website that lists all local and foreign online competitions that Pinoys can to join. Boy Kuripot is run by Jeffrey Siy who himself has won a lot of prizes from online promos. (Visit his website at http://boy-kuripot.blogspot.com.) We have him to thank for the thrill his website gives us during our free time.

I remember declaring these words from the Psalms this morning before logging on and discovering the Cebu Pacific surprise: "You are my shield, and You give me victory and great honor. I pray to you and you answer from your sacred hill." Psalm 3:3-4 This is our heritage as sons and daughters of the Most High God.

Here is a list of the prizes we have won since we got married:

1. Nokia Cellphone from Globe Telecom-- Michael joined a spin-off of "Deal or No Deal" during a Christmas bazaar in Zamboanga. He chose bag number 3, because it is the date of our wedding.  (Dec 2008)

2. Asus EEEPC and Sumdex bag from the "Why Men Love Whisper" Promo-- This is an online contest by Whisper Napkin. We  won Best Photostory for the month of March. Thanks to  Mr. Nelwin Uy and Sir Lito Genilo for the photos. We were buying house plants when Michael got a call. We floated with joy the whole afternoon. (March 2009)

3. Macbook White and a bag from the "Why Men Love Whisper" Grand Finals--We both screamed our lungs out when we discovered that we won the grand prize. Thank you for all who voted in Multiply! We were overwhelmed by your support.  (May 2009)

4. Corel DVD software and Winner's Certificate from the Corel Digital Arts Competition--Our video won  4th place in the video editing category. Again, many thanks for those who voted. Some of you even voted everyday! :)


5. Garnet stone--the first jewelry I ever won.  I got this during a trip to  a Hongkong jewelry store last June. I was the first to answer that the store's diamonds came from South Africa. (June 2009)

6. Shopping Gift-checks from Singapore--Michael won 500 Singapore dollars-worth of gift checks from a specialty store in Singapore in July. Unfortunately, they couldn't send us the GCs as it was only available to Singaporeans, but we appreciate  winning,nonetheless. (June 2009)

7.Cebu Pacific Goody Bag--I was the first in the flight  to name the movie where the phrase "Momma said that 'Life is like a box of chocolates.'. . " came from. The goody bag contained Centrum vitamins and Chapsticks. (July 2009)

8. Sunsilk Package for the Style-in-a-Snap promo--My Lookbook entry received the "Kawaii Award" (Kawaii means "cute" in Japanese). Thanks, Nelwin and Michael, for the photos. Thanks also to those who voted and those who tried to vote. (It was hard to get through the contest's online registration).  I received the call from Sunsilk a day before my  birthday and since it was sort of a mini-online pageant for hair, I was flattered to receive the award.    (July 2009)

9. Cebu Pacific Pad and Pen-- Michael and I both won a practical and stylish pad and pen set from Cebu Pacific during  the "Bring Me" Game. I was laughing because the stewardess asked the passengers to "bring her" ten fingers and I was the first one to do so. I have my competitive and brilliant high school classmates to thank for that. Being in a class with them trained me to  have fast reflexes so I could  earn points  during recitation time. Haha!  (Sept. 2009)

10. DK Travel Books and History Channel Gift Item

11. Cebu Pacific Round-trip Domestic Tickets

Hope this encourages you to inject some fun into your life. You can help us  increase the items in this list by viewing our application video for the Ultimate Thailand Explorers here: http://bit.ly/qt0s  

Enjoy! :)

35 things I learned at 35

Yes, I celebrated my 35th birthday last July. I can't believe it myself. My dear husband whisked me on an island get-away. For fun, we went parasailing that day. It was near sunset and the whole island was gleaming below us. Afterwards we took a dip in azure waters near the parasailing dock. It must have been more than 40 feet deep. It is always liberating to be in nature.

Turning 35 made me reflective. And here I share with you some lessons learned in the past 12,410 days that I have spent on earth.

I have learned that. . .

1 My happiness, contentment and satisfaction is found in God alone. I cannot imagine a life lived apart from God. And without Him, every dream, every ambition and every attempt at success is meaningless.

2 My identity is not based on what others think about me but what God says about me. People only see what's on the outside, but God sees the heart. They can only judge me based on my past, but God sees what I can be in the future. Only He knows my full potential. I have learned never to typecast myself according to other people's opinions and expectations.

3 God wants to bless me beyond my wildest dreams. However, we may have different ideas of what is best for me. At all times and in all situations, God's plan is always better than mine. I am stubborn and headstrong. I have set opinions and preferences. But in my 26 years as a Christian, God has shown me that I can be wrong about many of my choices. His way is always best. Be it about our schooling, career and choice of a mate.Even in the most mundane things, it pays to ask His opinion and obey His leading. I have 101 examples to illustrate this point, which I hope to turn into a book one day.

4 It's better to say "No" than to lie. Indecisiveness is a female malady. And it's usually based on our desire to please others, so people will like us. I think it is more unfair to tell a lie and keep other people hanging.

5 Sunscreen delays aging. Long before whitening creams and lotions were invented, I have been wearing sunblock. It's not that I'm afraid to get dark. I actually think a healthy tan looks good. At 16, my mom told me that the sun can cause skin damage which can lead to age spot and wrinkles. This motivated me to use sunscreen even when I'm indoors. Harmful UVA and UVB rays can penetrate windows and are emitted by lighting fixtures at home. I have seen women in their 20s who already have wrinkles around their eyes, forehead and mouth. A friend, who used to be have smooth skin, developed age spots and wrinkles a few months after taking tennis lessons early in the morning. How I wish they would discover sunscreen.

6 Never lend money to friends. Lending entraps both the borrower and the lender. It is a snare that destroys relationships. If a friend is really in need, I have learned that it is better to give with no strings attached.

7 I do not really know a person well enough to vouch for his character until I have either worked or transacted business with him or her. Work and money bring out the real character of people. Maybe that's why Jesus spoke a lot about work and money matters in the 

four gospels.

8 God is far from being a tyrannical dictator and His commandments are always for my own good. Whoever thinks that he is a killjoy may be mistaking Him for religion. Being a Christian is the one great adventure with God. He has taken me to places I could only dream to do things I never dared think I could do.

9 Nobody gets pregnant by accident. Now that I am married, I realized that premarital or extramarital indiscretions are almost always pre-meditated and they take a lot of planning.

10 God is extravagantly generous. I knew this in principle, but I only realized it fully when I married a man who loves gardening. In our small backyard (read: 40-sq. ft. laundry area), we have the following plants in small pots: lychee, durian, peanut, tomatoes and lettuce. All of these started from tiny seeds that my husband collected from our travels. God doesn't only give us fruits to eat. In that fruit are seeds that can produce hundreds and even thousands of same fruit. And mind you, it only takes a few days or weeks for a seed to sprout.

11 To be healthy, I need to prepare and cook food simply. Fruits are best when eaten in their natural state. Vegetables only need a few minutes of cooking to preserve the vitamins and minerals in them. Instead of using a juicer or blender, we have learned to eat our fruits whole. We bake our meat and fish dishes, instead of frying them.

12 It's best to wait until after marriage to have sex. You enter marriage with zero guilt, no shame and your trust for each other completely intact. Sex then becomes a spiritual union, not just the fulfillment of baser instincts.

13 To beat jetlag during intercontinental travel, I have to remember to set my watch and schedule according to the time of the country of my destination before I enjoy the inflight entertainment.

14 I am never too old nor too wise to learn from a child or a person with lower stature. May I not too proud to listen to them.

15 God believes in me more than I sometimes believe in myself. God has placed in each of us unique skills, talents and gifts that He wants us to use His glory. For our talents to blossom and be put to good use, we have to have an unflinching belief in abilities. We must not allow people and circumstances to hinder us from shining.

16 People who dissuade you from pursuing your dreams are afraid of your capacity to succeed. There are many dreamkillers out there and they can be very mean. They can mock, tease and laugh. Most of them are insecure and your presence heighten their insecurity. They have either failed or have given up on their dreams and they don't want you to achieve yours. Keep away from these people.

17 Victory is not gained by the intelligent or the swift, but by those who never give up. According to the book Working with Emotional Intelligence, confidence, not high IQ or a good education, is the greatest predictor of success. And it's because the confident never gives up easily.

18 I can change my emotional state by controlling the way I think. Everyday I am bombarded by a thousand thoughts and ideas. It is my responsibility to filter them so that I don't get corrupted by thoughts that can harm my spirit. If I focus on the bad, my mood will inevitable suffer. These toxic thoughts contribute to the production of stress hormones that can damage my body. I have to keep focusing on what is pure, what is good, what is noteworthy.

19 It's foolish to compare myself with other people. God has a unique call for each person.

20 I cannot set a deadline about when I'm supposed to marry, have kids or get promoted to my dream job. The world may have its own ideas about the right age to do all these things, but I need not put myself into that mold. I need to trust that God has a unique plan for me and His timing is always best.

21 Successful people are passionate about their work. There is joy and delight even in labor. If you are not happy with your job, maybe it's time to rethink your career path. Please resign early, lest your lack of enthusiam at work poison the whole department.

22 It is good to have Yakult and a piece of banana during breakfast. The health drink Yakult contains probiotics or good bacteria that aids in digestion. The banana, on the other hand, is a prebiotic which the probiotics feed on to increase themselves.

23 Extra virgin olive oil is the safest and healthiest cooking oil. All other kinds oil including canola, coconut, sunflower, soya, peanut and even plain olive oil are harmful because they go through a complicated refining process. According to Dr. Don Colbert, oils that go through refining process where they are degummed, refined, bleached and deodorize, lose their nutrients. Aside from that, refined oils contain toxic lipid peroxides that can lead to cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

24 Brown rice is a healthy and delicious alternative to white rice. Because it is whole grain, brown rice is very filling,thus making you eat less. It also aids in digestion. To cook brown rice, add 25% more water than usual, or soak it 30 minutes before cooking. Or else you will end up with pebble-hard brown rice.

25 No matter how I claim to love God, if I hate someone, the love of God is not in me. In fact, the Bible calls such a person a liar and a murderer. Ouch!

“If anyone says, “I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20

“Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” --1 John 3:15

26 Done in the right attitude, housework can be relaxing and therapeutic. A clutter-free house brings comfort and peace of mind. Somehow getting organized makes us breathe easier.

27 When talking about other people, if I can't say the very same thing when the person is present, then I should not say it at all. Doing so would be slander.

28 When driving, it's much better to bless than to curse someone who cuts me in traffic. Somehow releasing forgiveness and blessing frees me from the anger and rage that can ruin my day.

29 The most talented people I've been fortunate to worked with are usually the humblest. In contrast, those who toot their horns the loudest are the ones who need more practice-- to say the least. God indeed gives more grace to the humble.

30 It is important to spend time to visualize the kind of life I want. As athletes use visualization to master their sport, so can I master the challenges I face by visualizing my desired outcome. Oftentimes we do just the opposite-- letting fear, worry and anxiety get to us by ruminating on the worst. “Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be,” advises Elbert Hubbard, “and the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into that particular individual you so admire.” The Bible puts it this way: “As a man thinks, so he is.”

31 I don't need a lot of things to live comfortably. Because of our tiny apartment, I am learning to stop my compulsion to buy things that I want but don't need.

32 I have learned never to shop for groceries on an empty stomach, because I end up spending more and worse, I tend to buy junk food. In connection with this, I'm learning that when I keep junk food out of my line of sight, I don't crave for it at all.

33 Contrary to popular claims, soy milk is not healthy. While doing research for a project, I discovered that soya beans contain certain substaces that prevent protein digestion, block the body's absorption of importaint minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.) and make red blood cells clump together. That is why it is not advisable to eat unfermented soy products. To solve this problem, soy growers in the US use created a genetically modified variety of the soya. This variety goes through a refining process using chemical that have the potential to harm the body. Also, the isoflavones in soya acts like the hormone estrogen. One author claims that giving soy milk to a child has the same effect as feeding her with birth control pills. The report may be a little exaggerated, but I have since gone back to drinking cow's milk.

34 Never undertimate the power of words. They can be used for good or evil. Words can kill or heal. I have talked to people in the autumn of their lives who still wince as they recall harsh words spoken to them when they were a child, as if it were said yesterday. I've resolved to always speak encouraging words to people, if I can help it.

35 I am never too old to be all that I can be and to do all that I've set my heart to do. At 70-years-old, my friend's mom learned to swim for the first time. She enrolled herself in her grandchildren's swimming class. Grandma and the toddlers learned to paddle side by side. She was even asked to be featured in  that swimming school's brochure. The famous Pacmom, Dionisio Pacquiao, had her TV debut as a dancer and commercial model at age 60.

If that doesn't inspire you, maybe this poem by Longfellow will:

“'It is too late! Ah, nothing is too late

Till the tired heart shall cease to palpitate.

Cato learned Greek at eighty; Sophocles

Wrote his grand Epidus, and Simonides

Bore off the prize of verse from his compeers

When each had numbered more than four score years.

(That's 80 years old in modern day language!--jen)

“'And Theophrastus at four score and ten

Had but begun his “Characters of Men.”

Chaucer, at Woodstock, with the nightingales,

At sixty wrote the “Canterbury Tales.”
Goethe, at Weimar, toiling to the last,

Completed “Faust” when eighty years were past.

“'What then? Shall we sit idly down and say

The night hath come; it is no longer day?

The night hath not yet come; we are not quite

Cut off from labor by the falling light;

Something remains for us to do or dare,

Even the oldest trees some fruit may bear,

For age is opportunity no less

Than youth itself, though in another dress;

And as the evening twilight fades away,

The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.'”