Daydreaming in Ozamiz

Arrived Ozamiz City at 7:30 in the morning. I was giving a talk on building game worlds at La Salle University. Pleasantly surprised to find familiar faces at the airport. Dr. Jaime Caro of UP-ITTC and Nikka Lao of Anino Games were there to talk at the convention, too. Dr. Caro had to go early, but I spent the morning with Nikka.

It was nice to know she was into Fantasy, too. Talked about Eoin Colfer and Megan Turner over breakfast. After that, we took a little walk by the bay, then went back to the hotel to wait for us to be picked up to go to La Salle. Nikka was a QA Manager. And she surfed during weekends. Waves. Not the Internet.

I was not into sports at all, but this got me thinking. Why don't I go try a physical activity out? Number one, I need exercise. Number two, I need something new! Hmm, the cheapest would probably be swimming. And that would take care of one item on my Goals List this year.

But I want something radically different. Like Quidditch. I'd play Quidditch. Or even just flying. Not even necessarily on broomstick. Free form flying. Let's make a dome. An electromagnetically charged dome. And all flyers would have a charged vest that would control the charge, to bring the flyer up, down, forward or backward. And the vest would be controlled via Mindsky and eye movement. Fun~

Or if not, then, I'd play fighting games. In virtual reality. With force feedback and a motion suit. And fighters would be hooked up to this structure that looks like this metal spherical turny-thing that astronauts use for training (if anyone could tell me what it's called, that would be much appreciated). And there would be a follow-through mechanism. And the fighter would just initiate the action, and the metal structure would follow-through with the backflip, sommersault, or whatever action I'm trying to make. Fun~

Or, alright, something more realistic. Outbreak Manila. I'll go run from zombies while Maita sells hats. And then maybe the organizers would organize a real-life hidden object game, too. Oh, yeah, in real world terms, i belive it's called a scavenger hunt. In a creepy deserted house. With doors and walls that move. And floors that creak at the touch of a button from where the organizers are. Then, if that's successful, they would organize a Hunter exam, too. Minus the losing of one's life, of course. Fun~

Wait, wait, wait! Let's do something like the Danger Room. But, being realistic about it, just projected visuals. No force feedback. Full-color Laser Projector. And we have a camera and sensors on the ceiling of one corner of the room. These two check what objects you interact with in the room. And the laser projector will project visual effects and feedback using projection mapping technology. So if you pretend to be Sakura and hit a Clow Card on the floor, the system will project the creature emanating from the card...right in your living room! Fun~

Oh, wait! Tai chi. Before you shoot me down, imagine this. You're moving your hands about, and dragons appear from them, following your graceful movements. There is a light mist spraying from the ceiling, to keep you cool. And the dragon moves gracefully around you as you move slowly and deliberately to each next form. Fun~

Or dance. Egyptian Bellydance. Egyptian Musical Bellydance. And each movement of your hips changes the sound, changing the notes, changing the volume, moving the sound from left speaker to right speaker, and changing the frequencies of the music as you move. Oh, wait, it doesn't even need to be Bellydance. Any dance will create music. Imagine, a new way to create music. Do you play music? Yes, I dance. Fun~

Hmm, I think I'll make some of these things.

Disney Leadership Strategy 2: Break the Mold

Get as flat as you can in terms of organizational structure.

Be clear about who's responsible for what. ◦ Remember that responsibility and authority go hand in hand. ◦ Make every position count. ◦ ◦ Eliminate overwork. ◦ Rethink the meeting structure. ◦ Anyone can take responsibility for change. ◦ Be prepared to take risks. ◦ Expect resistance. ◦ Don't try to win every battle. ◦ You're never really done.

Just a thought...

Jade Vine, are you reading my blog? Coz you seem to be the only one of my sisters reading it. If you are, I just want to say, "Aww, you care!" Aylabshu! Do you want my Choco Mucho? It's not a Ferrero, but it's a big Choco Mucho! To show my appreciation. Claim it from me if you want. :)

So busy and yet so bored!

I just want to do something new, see something new, experience something new, learn something new. But I feel stuck! I can't because I'm too busy and I shouldn't be doing anything new because there's so many things that have to be done! And I can't really afford to go study anything new at the moment. I want to learn something new, but every time I bring it up, people remind me that I haven't learned what I had to (but don't really look forward to) learn yet, and why don't I do those first before starting anything new. I want to experience something new, but I have responsibilities. And by the time the day is done, I'm too tired to be out on a Friday night! But I want to be out on a Friday night. I want to meet new people! And hear new ideas and new stories! I want to enjoy new characters in my life! Interesting people whose presence would take my tiredness away. But I don't exactly know how to go about finding those kinds of people! I'm bored and I feel stuck. I'm so busy yet I feel so stagnant. Lord, help me!

I wish I could take a month off and go to some far off land where it's quiet with trees and rolling hills all around the old stone castle I would stay in. And my room will be spacious and opulent with red velvet draping my canopied bed. No net in the area. Maybe just some guests staying in the castle. Good home-cooked food over good conversation. And in the morning, I could go out into my room's balcony, and mist and morning fog would cover the greens around me. And I would take the time to write my novel. Unhurried. In the castle where time slowed down.

If not that, then I wish I could go to Japan for a few weeks and stay at a Japanese onsen. I could soak in the hot springs until all the fatigue went away. Then I'd have a massage. Then eat very fresh Japanese food. Then I would walk down the area's garden paths, admiring their beauty, and contemplating. Slowing down a while.

Or, Lord, what if you sent me to another country for a month to maybe talk or teach game design? And I'll be able to meet absolutely new people. And know about them and their culture. And see new sights. And taste new food. And hear new stories.

Hmm. I think I need to read a romance or fantasy novel.

Leadership is Relationship

As part of my requirements for MBA, I had to interview a person of leadership. And I decided to interview Pastor Joey Bonifacio because I was curious how he could be so busy traveling and checking up on the churches they had planted all over Asia, be the Senior Pastor of a church with around twelve thousand attendees, and not seem to be stressed about it. Well, he and his kind secretary managed to squeeze me in his busy schedule. :) Pastor Joey didn't seem very comfortable answering my questions, though. But nonetheless, I got a lot of valuable insights from that interview. And I'm very thankful he agreed to let me interview him.

In one sentence, his view on leadership is this: Leadership is a relationship. It is not all about hard work and just trying hard. It's about how you deal with people around you. And it's also about people you know. A leader doesn't have to know everything. But he has to know when he needs help, and know who to approach when he does. It is not about the number of economics degrees you have. It's about the economists you know. Because people will give you insights. People will give you advice. And people can be specialists in their own fields.

VALUE
In his view, leadership is not learned in a classroom. You don't go around looking to be a leader. You are called to it. And you're given grace to do it. With each of my question, he seemed to be telling me that I was missing the point. I asked how he motivated his people. He said he didn't. I asked him what his struggles were in the leadership. He said he didn't have any.

He spoke of value. What was valuable to your people? Do you provide that which is valuable to them? Why are they working for your company? Is it because of money? Because if it is, then don't be surprised if they leave you when a better-paying job comes along. Is it because of what your company stands for? Then in that case, as long as you stick to what you believe in, they will stay with you. And they will give you their best because they're not doing this out of fear or obligation. They're doing it because they want to, and they believe in what they do.

Leadership, he said, was not about trying to get people to do what you want them to do. It was about finding people whose values align with yours. If you find people on the right lane, everything is easy.

INFLUENCES
I asked about his influences. And they were the people around him that he had a relationship with: the other pastors, his parents, his mentors. There was not one particular person that molded him to be the type of leader that he was. And also, there was not one particular instance in his past that made him what he was. It was not about the big things. It was the constant interaction, the modeling, the conversations that made him what he was today. Again, it was the relationships he kept.

LEADERSHIP TODAY AND HIS ADVICE
Times are changing. Today, information is sent out very easily. With social media, it's so easy to share information. But it is also very easy for your reputation to get destroyed. If someone uploads a compromising video of you on YouTube, it would spread so fast, and the damage done to one's reputation would be very difficult to repair.

Pastor Joey thought this a good thing, though. And his advice to people in leadership is this: Be transparent. In other words, have integrity. Be the same before all people. Say only what you mean. And when you say you'd do something, do it.

Mind Dump: Dreams

Every now and then, I just need to organize my thoughts by writing them down. I need to assign priorities to my dreams. They're all over the place. So today, blog, be my pensieve.

1. Komikasi - On my dream list, definitely my first priority. Number one, it's already here. Worked so hard to get here. Number two, not just my dreams, but the dreams of several other individuals are also attached to it. And number three, God seems to have big plans for this little company. I know, and even my people can attest to it, that we wouldn't be where we are now if God wasn't there to save us and bring us all these amazing opportunities. 
1. Advergames - First priority in Komikasi at the moment are advergames development. This will help the company get a steady flow of income.
2. Original Digital Games and Apps - Now, this is what we really like. And we're starting. So, I'm quite happy with that.
1. Starstruck for March
2. G* of D*, Turn*, Lu* games for May
3. C* games for June
3. Digital Books - Can be started anytime but not beyond November for launch.
4. Other Games - Developing some on my own. Target for this is November.
2. Novels - I owe Kyu one short story for April. And I'd like to make novels for book publishing, too.
1. Fantasy romance novel series involving insects and tropical islands.
2. Inspirational romance novel involving music and a bit of the supernatural.
3. Young adult fantasy series for boys involving the spirit.
4. Romance comic books
3. Learning
1. The Academie for women for personality development and fun.
2. Leadership School for boys.
3. Science camp for kids.
4. Digital Arts school in the outskirts of the city.

Ah, February

February, you are a noisy month. I thank the Lord that the countship was flooded with blessings when you arrived, but you bring with you also voices that will not cease their whispering in my head. I know, you, February, give volume to their voices. You, February, have a glamour upon your days, especially sometime a bit to the left of your center, in a point where it would be the heart for us humans. I know the spell you cast and yet, look at me. I wish to defy you with one hand, and with the other, I wish to enter into your masquerade, even with my eyes open. You were just another month before, you know. Why did you have to cast your magic upon me? Yes, I know, I longed to be enchanted. But did I really need to feel that? Did my King set you up to this?

Ignore my whining, sweet February. I am just another one of the broken. Ignore me for my darkness. Or, if you're kind, surprise me. But to the million hearts who hope, don't disappoint them. Enchant them and be their siren.

Sunday at Tiendesitas

Ah, today was beautiful. I woke up to sunshine and Isaiah 62:4.

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah;
for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.

No longer will I be branded deserted or left (for something, someone or somewhere else). Instead, I will be called a delight to my Lord. And my land will no longer be called desolate, unproductive, barren. But rather, my land will be married. My King will take care of the land He has entrusted to me.

If your morning starts with something like that, you know the rest of your morning is going to be great. :)

The morning was cold. But breakfast was ensaimada and warm chicken macaroni soup. Perfect for the sunny but cool February morning. Besides, the cold wind is blowing. The tombs will open soon. I wait in anticipation, Lord.

We left early for Tiendesitas. My sister, Maita, was going to have a Dog Fashion Show at noon. She was also going to have a booth there so, we had to go there with time to set up. So we left the house at nine in the morning to Nightwish and David Bisbal ❤ in the background. And so after we left Maita to do what she needed to do at the venue, Marie, my other sister; Pat, my brother; and I went to a bistro nearby and had breakfast (second breakfast for me).

We went around Tiendesitas while waiting for Maita's Fashion Show. And I found these really cool stuff! Got myself a mask ring and this Steampunk-looking bracelet (P100!). 

We also looked at the cats and dogs they were selling there. Our cat, Hannibal, was exhibiting signs of being lonely for other cats' company. And I'm considering getting him a playmate maybe in three or four months time. But I want a bred cat this time. The most ideal would be a Maine Coon. Cream or Tortoiseshell. If not that, then a blue Persian would be my second choice. Saw a blue Persian, but it wasn't pure bred.

We also saw a couple of huge dogs who were there for the Dog Show that afternoon. They came up to a man's waist! Their heads were bigger than mine (okay, fine, take the pun)! I think a child can ride their backs and they would be able to support it.

When it was finally time for the Fashion Show, we want back to the event place. And, hmm, Maita's improving! It's a lot more organized, and her style is really showing now with her hats and clothes, both on humans and on dogs.

All in all, a good day. :)

Sunday at Tiendesitas

Ah, today was beautiful. I woke up to sunshine and Isaiah 62:4.

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah;
for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.

No longer will I be branded deserted or left (for something, someone or somewhere else). Instead, I will be called a delight to my Lord. And my land will no longer be called desolate, unproductive, barren. But rather, my land will be married. My King will take care of the land He has entrusted to me.

If your morning starts with something like that, you know the rest of your morning is going to be great. :)

The morning was cold. But breakfast was ensaimada and warm chicken macaroni soup. Perfect for the sunny but cool February morning. Besides, the cold wind is blowing. The tombs will open soon. I wait in anticipation, Lord.

We left early for Tiendesitas. My sister, Maita, was going to have a Dog Fashion Show at noon. She was also going to have a booth there so, we had to go there with time to set up. So we left the house at nine in the morning to Nightwish and David Bisbal ❤ in the background. And so after we left Maita to do what she needed to do at the venue, Marie, my other sister; Pat, my brother; and I went to a bistro nearby and had breakfast (second breakfast for me).

We went around Tiendesitas while waiting for Maita's Fashion Show. And I found these really cool stuff! Got myself a mask ring and this Steampunk-looking bracelet (P100!). 

We also looked at the cats and dogs they were selling there. Our cat, Hannibal, was exhibiting signs of being lonely for other cats' company. And I'm considering getting him a playmate maybe in three or four months time. But I want a bred cat this time. The most ideal would be a Maine Coon. Cream or Tortoiseshell. If not that, then a blue Persian would be my second choice. Saw a blue Persian, but it wasn't pure bred.

We also saw a couple of huge dogs who were there for the Dog Show that afternoon. They came up to a man's waist! Their heads were bigger than mine (okay, fine, take the pun)! I think a child can ride their backs and they would be able to support it.

When it was finally time for the Fashion Show, we want back to the event place. And, hmm, Maita's improving! It's a lot more organized, and her style is really showing now with her hats and clothes, both on humans and on dogs.

All in all, a good day. :)