On Parenthood

Do not lose the child in you even after you become a parent. This will be a very useful bridge between you and your kid.
- Erwinskofp 101110

The most fun part about being a parent is you and your playmates lives in the same house.
- Erwinskofp 101110

On Happiness

Happiness comes from different sources. It may also come at the expense of other people's grief.
- Erwinskofp 101110

Being happy is getting what you want and most importantly knowing what you want.
- Erwinskofp 101110

Hapiness can and may just be a temporary state of human mind. It will never be permanent unless there is contentment.
- Erwinskofp 101110


I personally feel the the question "Are you happy?" is mostly answered with a hollow "Yes".
- Erwinskofp 261110

On Taking Risks

A person who doesn't take risk at all may one day find himself on the brink of oblivion.
- Erwinskofp 091110

Break the monotomy by doing something new, take a risk.
- Erwinskofp 091110

If you always go for experience you are blocking progress in some levels, everybody needs to jump in and take a risk every once in a while.
- Erwinskofp 091110

You should manage the risks you are taking otherwise everything will be meaningless.
- Erwinskofp 091110

On Simplicity

A person who doesn't take risk at all may one day find himself on the brink of oblivion.
- Erwinskofp 091110

Break the monotomy by doing something new, take a risk.
- Erwinskofp 091110

If you always go for experience you are blocking progress in some levels, everybody needs to jump in and take a risk every once in a while.
- Erwinskofp 091110

You should manage the risks you are taking otherwise everything will be meaningless.
- Erwinskofp 091110

Might-have-beens

The day I graduated from high school, I felt Im the coolest guy to hit town. I felt the man inside me is finally coming out. Its time to put my matchboxes and robots in a box so my future son can enjoy it too. Its time for fashion, time for girls, for alcoholic drinks. Time to take over the world.

But first, what career will I take? My childhood dream was to become a Doctor. But as I was growing up, my interest in medicine diminished. My second choice was to become an Engineer, a very popular choice at that time. My problem was, what kind? Electrical? Civil? Industrial? There are so many. It took me another 2 years to finally settle down on a career path. I have decided to become a programmer and a systems analyst. Thanks to PATTS as they injected two computer literacy subjects in their curriculum the same year I was lost in a maze thinking I could become an aircraft pilot.

So, I finally answered my true calling. But was it?

I have no regrets whatsoever in my chosen career. I love what I do and Im very proud of my job. I have worked for several companies. This is truly the right path for me.

Today as I look back on the choices I made, I wonder on the might-have-beens.

I could have been a lawyer, I have a natural gift for reasoning and twisting an issue.

I could have been a psychiatrist , I can understand human behavior and give out sensible advices.

I could have been a politician, I wanted to be rich (hahaha...)

There are so many might-have-beens, countless.

Is it too late to explore? Is it unrealistic to change lanes? A friend who thought he's smart once told me its a waste of time but I believe otherwise. Time will tell.

Thanks for reading.

Genuine Happiness

For some reason, today I was unusually quiet while sitting in the passenger seat of the taxi, beside the driver. Usually I start a conversation with these ever-so-eager listeners. I talk about almost anything as we drive around metro, it helps divert our attention away from traffic woes. But today is not one of those times. I sat there quietly, my eyes fixed outside the car window.

Observing.

A nissan x-trail passed us by, I saw two young boys, brothers maybe. Both of them are wearing school uniforms. The first boy was holding a gameboy, his eyes fixed on the small screen not bothered at all by the thick hair that is almost covering his eyes, his lips are wide with a smile. The second boy, sporting an almost identical hairdo of his brother is also looking directly at the small screen. His eyes wide open in amazement and also wearing a big smile.

Genuine happiness.

Minutes later while waiting for a go signal, a passenger jeep was right in front. A young mother, probably in her mid-twenties was carrying a boy in her lap. He was in shorts and slippers staring directly at his lollipop and occasionally licking it. I can see the contentment in his eyes.

Genuine happiness.

Go find yours.

Something About Myself

I am one of those people who doesn’t have a nickname.

Others go by the name “BERT” (Roberto), some looks around when they hear a “REY” (Reynaldo) being called, some responds with the name “Carl” (Carlito) and most of the guys flip their head when the name “BHOY” (Protacio, Marcelo, Procopio, Benedicto, etc.) is being hollered.

So I guess nickname was the last thing on my mom and dad’s mind when they gave me “ERWIN” as a name.

Who could blame them? My father’s name is ERNESTO, my mothers name is ANACLETA ZOSIMA. They go around with the name the new generation calls “AMBAHO”. So maybe they were thinking a short and safe name, thus “ERWIN” is very practical.

As I was growing up, a lot of friends ask for my nickname. Some even tried giving me one. Some called me “WIN”, but it failed terribly because they were shouting “WIN” in the middle of the basketball game when we were behind by 20 points. Some tried “ERR” but it failed too because it sounds like they were so hesitant, “Errrr… Errrrr…”, so no nickname ever succeeded in making it to my RESUME.

That is why, I was “ERWIN” when I entered school, I was “ERWIN” when I made the wrong choice of accepting a teaching job and stopped my College studies at the age of 19. I was “ERWIN” when I became a programmer at the age of 21 and was even more “ERWIN” when I was promoted to Systems Analyst at the age of 23. I was very proud to be “ERWIN” when I became an MIS Head.

I am also the “ERWIN” who once dropped everything and went back to school and tried to finish what I started many years ago.

I have always been “ERWIN”, through my ups and downs, never “WIN” nor “ERR”. But what I really wanted to be is the “ERWIN” who did it right, the “ERWIN” my wife and 3 kids will be proud of.