Thursday 28 March 2024 18:18:42 PHT

True: New Year's resolutions

Tagbilaran, Sunday, 6 January 2008

Proem:

  • Food for the soul: Great gifts are not found in any store. The best present is stored in the hearts of friends, it has unlimited supply and bears no expiry date. Merry Christmas to you and a Happy Prosperous New Year and your family as well.
  • Feliz compleaños to Mervie Batong Orange Luniningning, daughter of Princess Analiza of Stone Hill in Tubigon, Dec. 26. Mervie and her mother Princess Analiza live at the top of the hill for their hermit practices; Anastasia Udtohan, Dec. 24; Manny de Erio, Dec. 21; and Engr. Junin Caberte, Jan. 1.
  • It's Tubag Bohol members (local and international) gathering on Dec. 30. The members will visit the Sunshine Home as part of the group's charity at 9:30am. The assembly place is Brew Point in Soledad Street. The group will meet in the evening for a party! Be there. For more information, you can log on at www.tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com.

Surprise tidbits:

Could it be true that these businessmen have rekindled their romance? According to True Very Reliable Source (VRS), the gorgeous couple were "spotted holding hands" inside a mall. Perhaps, they are already "on" last Christmas says VRS. How sweet naman!

Bohol relationships are anything but stable, and there doesn't seem to be a formula for making love last. In 2007, we witnessed the short-marriage trend take off with business couples splitting after less than four months of marital bliss. And even duos like ahem, ahem (clearing sore throat!) we thought would stay together forever separated. Of course, there was that one pair we knew wouldn't make it — young businessman who married this young beauty queen from Tagbilaran topped our best Bohol's who's who split list. So, who will call it quits this year?


Out with the old, in with the new, so the old adage says.

After Christmas (the Filipino Christmas has one of the longest celebrations in the world--22 days to be exact) ... here comes great anticipation we are looking forward to ... New Year.

Another year ends, a new one begins (and we will "grow" older, nah I hate to say it). What is it about endings and beginnings that put us in a reflective, and ultimately, reconstructive mood?

The start of a New Year is also a time to make resolutions to make one a better person in the coming year.

I have my own New Year's resolutions for Bohol's who's who...and they are:

  • To a radio announcer who's subject for a controversy, you know, scam, please do better your job as a journalist. No spins, no hidden agenda and no grandstanding.
  • To government departmental heads (both in sea and land) Be honest. If you're caught cheating, please resign to save your dignity.
  • To bosses, if you are sick, don't hide your illness from your friends and boss and still receive a salary even without going to the office. For what?
  • To bosses, again, don't scold your subordinates in public, do it privately. They have feelings you know. What if they will resign? Patay ka!
  • To police officers and officials, don't cover up for your friend's and relative's crime.
  • Those guwapitos, be faithful to your spouse. If you can't be, choose a lover who's of your age, not who's to be your daughter.
  • To Dr. A, don't abandon your child.
  • To public officials and all, don't abandon your friends who tell you of your shortcomings, they are your real friends.

As 2007 has about to end, let us remember who are those Boholanos who make and carve their names in 2007.

Man of the Year

Winner: Iluminado Boc. Honesty begot honesty--and more blessings keeps on pouring for Iluminado "Nong Lumi" when he decided to return a cool $17,000 (The money's peso equivalent is P800,000) which was placed in an envelop and left in his tricycle by an unsuspecting passenger. Nong Lumi, 45, resident of Habitat Village in Bool District, Tagbilaran City is married to Laureana with two children, Mirasol and DonDon.

Honest Tricycle driver Iluminado Boc is the Man of the Year

Runner-Up: Inabanga Mayor Jose Jono Ching Jumamoy was elected the youngest mayor in the Philippines at age 21.


Trinidad Mayor Judith del Rosario-Cajes
is the Woman of the Year

Woman of the Year

Winner: Trinidad Mayor Judith del Rosario-Cajes. It's woman thing. She's the first congressional spouse in Bohol who entered politics and won in Trinidad.

Runners-up:

  • Jane Cajes. As newly-elected Sangguniang Kabataan Provincial Federation (SKPF) in Bohol unopposed.
  • Tagbilaran City Councilor Kit Oppus. As the only woman lawmaker in the city council elected this year's elections.
  • Bea Zobel Jr. The patroness of art who helps Bohol to preserve her cultural heritage. She's conferred "Baclayon's adopted daughter."
  • US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney. She visited Bohol to focus on the many partnerships and initiatives the U.S. Government works on in the city and immediate region. The Ambassador said that Bohol is "leading the way, several times before."
  • Dra. Mary Grace dela Serna. The woman who remained calm during the Loon outbreak.

Dra. Celestina Ma. June dela Serna,
runner-up of the Woman of the Year

Top Event of the Year:


Loon Outbreak in January 2007
is the Top Event of the Year

Winner: Loon Outbreak. Two of 100 diarrhea victims died in an outbreak in Loon last January 23, 2007.

Runners-up:

  • Tuba-tuba downs 20 students in Bohol last July 26, 2007
  • Bohol Youth Day. More than 10,000 Boholano youths in the province had attended the Bohol Youth Day which was graced by President Macapagal-Arroyo and some Team Unity senatoriable candidates on March 10-11, 2007.
  • Catigbian's 3rd Katigbawan Festival. Carabaos are 'beauty queens' last June 16, 2007. There were 15 beautiful and healthy carabaos from the town which are commissioned to join their barangays for this year's competition.

Newsmakers of the Year:

The year 2007 was peppered with spicy words to say the least. The newsmakers are Mayor Dan Neri Lim, Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso, Councilors Rama and Kapirig


A reader forwarded this: So it's New Year's Eve. The fireworks have rained and exploded across the sky, the dessert is all eaten and the champagne bottles are empty. You sit around talking and New Years resolutions come up. "Yeah, this year is gonna be different!". You feel enthusiastic.

Fast-forward to the middle of January. The weather's dreary. Enthusiasm has waned, dabbling has ensued. Maybe the resolution is abandoned altogether.

True would like to share this article about How To Make New Year's Resolutions That Work written by Gary Ryan Blair:

New Year's is the only holiday that celebrates the passage of time. Perhaps that's why, as the final seconds of this year tick away, we become introspective. Inevitably, that introspection turns to thoughts of self-improvement and the annual ritual of making New Year's Resolutions. New Year's Resolutions offer the first of many important tools for remaking ourselves.

People the world over make New Year's Resolutions. Often, what we vow to improve is some habit related to health, weight, exercise, occupation and income. You may think your successes or failures in this department are of no interest to the world at large. Not true. In fact, a whole branch of science—psychology—is devoted to behavior modification. And psychology tells us that there are five stages involved in turning resolutions into realities.

The Five Stages That Lead to Successful Resolutions

Pre-contemplation: The desire to change is vague. This is a good time to seek information and ask some important questions such as, "What risks am I running by going along just as I have been?"

Contemplation: Weigh the benefits of change. This is a time to get specific, to monitor behavior. For example, keep a record of how much you eat, drink, spend, etc.

Preparation: Begin making small changes. For example, you might give up some TV time and redirect your energy. Now's the time to tell family and friends that the leopard is about to change his spots. This is the time to make a firm commitment.

The Action: Banish and sacrifice vices while embracing and committing to new virtues. At this point, give yourself all the help and support you can by creating a sense of accountability to others. Encourage family and friends to prod, provoke and push you.

Maintenance: This is the challenging part. You're finished with your old habit and into your new life. It is a lot easier to maintain your resolution than it is to regain it. Do your self a monumental favor and stay focused on WHY you set this resolution in the first place!

Those who stay the course and fulfill their resolutions share these characteristics:

  1. They believe in their ability to change.
  2. They did not indulge in self-blame or excuse making.
  3. They avoid wishful thinking and concentrate on results.
  4. They understand their motivators and reasons why the resolution is important.

Resolution Guidelines

The most important investments require time. Setting and achieving a resolution requires focus, effort, and commitment. Changing old habits and developing new ones won't happen overnight. The following four guidelines are meant to help you achieve all of your New Year's Resolutions:

  1. Focus on one resolution at a time. Divide and conquer the activities to achieve your desired results. Break larger tasks into smaller ones--each of these make up your Personal Resolution Roadmap, a path to achieve your goal.
  2. Create a sense of accountability. Designate a friend, mentor, or companion for sharing successes, monitoring progress, and offering support. The benefit of involving others in your goals and plans is instant access to experience, knowledge, and wisdom; it also raises the bar of responsibility.

    Research indicates that one of the qualities of those who are successful at making changes is that they have excellent support systems. Many of those who make resolutions never tell others about them. Consciously or subconsciously, that way if they fail no one will view them as a failure.

    Communicating your resolution and intentions actually increases your accountability to the behavior. From the very beginning it is important to share your objectives and goals with those around you so that you can enlist their support. Knowing that you are accountable to someone other than yourself will help to keep you on track.

  3. Persist until completed. A resolution achieved is a stunning example of consistency and hard work. If you fall behind schedule or are sidetracked for any reason, refocus! Just don't give up! Don't surrender to temptation, difficulty or temporary failure. Persist until you achieve the goal.
  4. Cultivate personal integrity. Integrity gives you the oxygen needed to cross the finish line of accomplishment. Your commitment determines your level of success. This commitment boils down to two essential tactics: daily action and review.

Resolution Beginnings

The nuts and bolts of achieving any resolution are invariably the same. Neither the size of the resolutions nor the person achieving it matters. Successful New Year's Resolutions consist of the following:

Clear Purpose: For a dream to become a goal, it must be specific. Being thin is an image, losing 10 pounds by March 1 is a true resolution. Be clear on what you want to achieve.

Make a New Year's Resolution that you have a real, bona fide intention of keeping. The truth is most people have not made a genuine, serious, no-kidding-around-I-really-mean-to-do-this New Year's Resolution!

In Writing: Describe precisely what you want, how you will earn it, when you will have it, and the benefits you'll receive from achieving your resolution. Write the details, but don't make it complex. When you put it in writing, you increase your chances of moving to the next step and increasing your level of commitment.

Your mind, while blessed with permanent memory, is cursed with lousy recall. Writing your resolution goes a long way towards achieving it.

Commitment: Without commitment, you can say, "Farewell dream. Adios potential. Toodleloo success. Hello Mediocrity!" Your resolution will find a more deserving soul: someone with courage, character, conviction... commitment.

Commitment is not only habitual but also essential — it moves you ever closer to your resolution and ultimate success. Commitment is the heartbeat of your goal.

Accountability Counts: commitment means you own it. You are responsible for taking the resolution that's on paper and turning it into a desired outcome. Owning it means tasking responsibility for changes, risks, failures, and successes.

Creating Your Resolution List

Write down your list of New Year's Resolutions. Get them all out of your head and down on paper.

Focus, Focus, Focus!

Does one resolution stand out? One that you are ready to go after. Focus on this one; you can replicate the process later.

My #1 Resolution is:________________________________________________________

Congratulations on your decision. This focus is critical to moving forward.

Resolution Validation

Next, validate your chosen resolution's importance. For each question below, ask yourself if you're getting a green--go, yellow--caution, or red--stop signal.

If a caution or stop signal pops into your head, stop to ask why. It might mean that this resolution isn't the right one to be focusing on. The validation test will keep you motivated as you continue on your resolution road trip.

If the validation questions show you that this is the wrong resolution for now, start over. Return to your original list, and work through the process once again. It is wiser to focus on the right resolution than to start one you're not committed to.

Write down what comes to mind as you read through each question. These notes will serve as a motivational tool for you when you are in the middle of your resolution plan.

  • Is This Resolution Part of My Personal Mission?
  • Does this resolution align with my mission? How?
  • How does this resolution align with my values?
  • How will this resolution bring me closer to living my mission?
  • Is This Resolution Really Me?
  • Is this resolution authentic?
  • Can I envision myself accomplishing this goal?
  • Is it a habit that I can incorporate into my life?
  • Am I The Owner of This Resolution?
  • Is this MY goal?
  • How can I take complete ownership of this resolution?
  • Is This Resolution In My Control?
  • Is this a resolution I can actually achieve?
  • Is it within my control or someone else's?
  • What do I control about this resolution?
  • What do I not control?
  • How Will This Resolution Stretch Me?
  • Is this a resolution that will make me grow?
  • How will it help me learn new things?

By investing your efforts in each of the five stages that lead to successful resolutions, you give yourself a launch pad for starting your new year and your new life.

I wish for you a New Year of health, wealth, and happiness. A year in which you give yourself many gifts to include the gifts of love, patience, and faith. I encourage you to pursue your resolutions with open arms and to believe deeply in your ability to enjoy the rewards of resolutions and dreams achieved.

Everything Counts!


Email me at leoudtohan@yahoo.com. Visit www.bohol.ph.

Leo P. Udtohan

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