Goodbye, Friendster

Friendster may have been one of the greatest laughingstock in the cyberworld nowadays, with people throwing funny jokes about it. You are jologs if you still patronize it and you are linked to Friendster's fan world when you act as jejemon in Facebook and Twitter. But let's admit it. Friendster ignited our social networking life. Long before these two social networking kings garnered unparalled popularity, it was Friendster who taught us how to brand ouorselves in the internet. I commend Friendster for that.

Now, as it about to officially concede to the battle it has with its original niche, I felt a pang of sadness looking into my old photos, testimonials, blogs, and even shout outs. Ah memories! I can't help but smile while I go through the long abandoned site. I vividly remember how each one would ask others to give them testimonials, how my heart skipped when I saw a monster amount of my profile's page views, how I pour my hearts out through my Friendster blogs. And the list goes on and on. Friendster was unique on its own.

Before my turn to bid goodbye to my long beloved Friendster, I want to share with you some of the thoughts I learned through its fate. Common thoughts which were solidified by Friendster's experience.

...Friendster taught me that there is really no constant thing in the world. Competition is everywhere and you need to keep up if not surpass yourself and your competitor - that is if you want to keep in your shoes that number one spot. Being complacent is next to losing. 

...While it taught me above, it also paralled a learning on when to stop and accept that you are in a way defeated after holding on to the competition. I admire the people behind the site for battling it out after even though they see that it was an uphill battle. They were defeated, but the more important thing is that they fought hard. No what ifs, no buts.

...And just when you are defeated, it does not mean that it is the end of your world. There are still a lot of doors wanting to embrace you. Yes, that thing called sunshine after the rain. So never give up!

And lastly, I want to share with you some of the best times I had with Friendster!

Positive comments which made me feel appreciated and loved while reading them all over again!

That Will Power

I've jumped from a battery producing company to a cigarette manufacturing one last December. My current employer belongs to a controversial industry. Yes, that line "smoking kills" and the likes is one of the battlecry that we are facing. But I am do sparing this blog from debating on my company's existence, we do have a Corporate Affairs group who handles such things from barangay level to the Senate.

What I wanted to impart is a personal realization on the word - will power. You see, smoking is relatively allowed in some of our meeting rooms. You get to see different kinds of brands meeting each other in meeting tables. If we have this, how much more during parties?

We recently had our Finance summit in Tagaytay where we all gathered to define our priorities and set the tone at the top regarding Finance's direction for 2011. A long day of series of talks and activities, the whole participants deserve a party at night! And by party, I really mean party! Drinks were high and mighty, and so were the cigarettes. You know that feeling of being out with yourself, with your colleagues not as officemates but as fellow party-goers? Yes, freedom and riot! All night, supply of drinks and cigarette was overwhelming. I had a few liquid turning me to a tipsy lady. But cigarette? I did not dare to try it.  I was proud of myself of not giving in to what the mood of the party sets - lots of drinking and smoking. I surpassed the temptation with a strong amount of will power!

There was one colleague though, who finally tucked one stick on his fingers after the longest time he had one - that was when he was in high school. I can't help but wonder, why, in all these years that he managed to do away with cigarette, he finally let some smoke get out of his nose? But maybe, just maybe, he wanted to try our products. But then, I still see him having a growing relationship with smoking. I felt sad.

Choices. Will power. Peer pressure. How do handle them?

My Favorite Months

My favorite months of the year are from July to Novemeber.

It is not summer. But I am a beach person.
It is not Christmas season. But I am a sentimental and people person.

July to November is rainy season. I hate getting drenched and soaked in flood.
It is the typhoon season. I have my hearts to the helpless victims.

But.... But why do I like these months? Would you know? :)