Early this year, I planted some vegetables in my backyard and I was able to harvest for our home consumption. However, when the rainy season started in the month of June, I stopped maintaining the plants and they were overtaken with the growth of weeds and other grasses.

Starting on the middle of last month, I acquired a grass/bush cutter to clean my backyard and start again raising some backyard vegetables. It took me some time to clean the whole lot as the weeds, plants, and tall grasses became so thick that some of my fruit-bearing trees and plants were covered by them. However, I was able to clean the whole backyard.

In the next days, I will start to till and cultivate the land again. We will see how the backyard looks like in the next weeks and months to come.

This is Number ONE Law of Power in the the book, “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene.

This had been my guiding principle and reminder once I was able to buy a copy of this book in 1998. In 1998, I was then the newly-designated Secretary of the General Staff of the Philippine Army and I was directly under the Office of the Chief of Staff, Philippine Army. Basically, all the documents coming from the different General Staffs and Units go through my scrutiny and screening process before each document goes to the Commanding General of the Philippine Army. I did not have any Command Authority over the different units under the Philippine Army as I was a “facilitator” of good and efficient flow of communication to the leadership of the Philippine Army. At the same time, I also disseminate instructions of the leaderships down to the subordinate units throughout the country.

My position then was a powerful one but I made sure that my authority was within the personnel and staff in my office who fully supported me to accomplish the tasks of the office.

It was in this office and position that I first applied the “Laws of Power” while I was in the active military service. On hindsight, I might have violated some but in the end I think I was successful in my career by following these “laws”.

Up to this time, I would review and re-read the first book that I have but most of the time, I have them re-read through online if time permits.

In the military, Commanders would only hear these two important words from their subordinates, “Yes, Sir”! As a subordinate, one is not allowed to go against the order/wish/suggestion or idea of a Commander. A subordinate is only allowed to say anything if the Commander ask for it. If not, just stay silent. Always remember the saying, “Obey first before you complain”.

As I transitioned to the civilian life, these “laws” had been ingrained to my attitude towards everybody. As I am enjoying my retirement as a civilian citizen, I know I still have the power as a citizen of this country.

Not even the members of your family.

This statement had been my guiding principle since I retired from the military service.

At this time in my life, I don’t have so many friends. I can count only with my fingers whom I consider as my friends. Their cellphone numbers are in my Iphone Directory but I haven’t called them for unnecessary things and it had been years since. Some of them are my friends on Facebook and that is the only way that they can see me.

Make life as simple as it can be. Trust only those whom you could depend upon through the years.

Yes, Politics is dirty and stressful. If there is a topic that I want to discuss with people and friends, it is Politics that I would try to avoid. Why? Because everything you say is just your personal opinion and most of the time, very different from what are the facts on the ground. Now that I am retired and enjoying a simple and non-stress life, I don’t want to add emotional or mental stress on my myself.

When I was in the active military service, I observed how politics work. Sometimes, I apply politics in dealing with my superiors, peers, and subordinates. However, politics outside the military service is totally different but the concepts are still the same. To make it simple, everything is a “give and take” arrangement. Very basic!

In my Social Media posts, I try to avoid making my personal opinion on issues and matters about politics. I just keep them on myself and let the time pass until after I finally don’t have time to recall them. Always remember that when you post your personal opinion on the Social Media, whether you are an expert or knowledgeable on the topic, there is ALWAYS somebody out there who will argue with you. And most of the time, these arguments would lead up to personal matters and the issue at hand to be discussed is put aside. Most of the time, you don’t know these people who would argue with you. So, every time when I am confronted with this kind of situation, I would just end the conversation.

People have different upbringing, orientation, and attitude. Every individual has its own mind, perception, and opinion on anything and if they are not aligned with yours, then argument and misunderstanding will follow.

September 15, 2022

I think I am going to start writing again. I am thinking of devoting at least ONE HOUR everyday just to write “what is in my mind” while I am in front of my Laptop Computer.

For the past five to six days, I have refrain from posting on my personal account on Facebook. But I spend a considerable time scrolling everyday on posts which seem to be no longer interesting and I thought of limiting my exposure and attention to these posts and information that I read from the said platform. Instead, I will be writing some of my daily thoughts in this blog. I think I said this thing in my previous posts. Hahaha!

For the past few days, I came across a video on YouTube Channel about a girl keeping a some sort of diary of his daily schedule. To make the story short, it seems that this girl had been efficient in doing her daily activities and she became more productive in accomplishing a lot of things. So, I applied this concept to myself through an Application which I downloaded and have it handy in my cell phone because I don’t need to use a notebook and a ballpen. I am now hooked to my TO DO LIST on a daily basis and I think I am more productive during the day. To my surprise, after two hours from the time I wake up this morning, I have done already 4 tasks in my Today’s TO DO LIST. I think I am going to be completely transformed as a result of what I have started.