Brian Yalung’s Compositions

TEAM. That is the best way to describe how to win championships and make a basketball team function accordingly. Many question this philosophy and being a coach for over 3 years now, I have learned one thing; most of the teams I have brought to the finals are composed mainly of basketball players that complement each other. No stars.

Don’t get me wrong. I am no great coach. I learn the game through studying and from the players who inspire me. Yes, it is the players who discipline themselves and show me that they want to win that makes me coach for free. I am not in the caliber of professional coaches who get paid to whip up winning teams. I live and die with my team as long as they give their 100% each time.

I have had my share of stars in my fold. Most of them are hard to teach and normally they will not listen to you. The first sign you will see from me when a team has no place to go is when I sit down during a game and simply make substitutions. No timeouts no plays no nothing. You will not see me calling out plays or even blaming the referees for bad calls. I just sit down and watch the game like any spectator would.

But to the teams that I have coached, only three teams have been my ideal ones. Many would wonder how these guys would become champions. They have no stars nor distinct players in height and skills. It is all about chemistry and a coach’s inspiration. Basketball is a team game and there are approaches to apply. That is exactly the reason why there are defensive and offensive plays; to see how people will be able to fit into a coach’s system, my system.

At times when I have a fully loaded lineup, many would ask how come it didn’t become a champion. Well, for one, I too was a player before and not being a star and happy to be a mere role player, it is all about playing and having fun. I was part of many championship teams and though I was not the star, I could care less. Basketball awards are about team accomplishments and not the usual Most Valuable Player or Mythical Teams that some people long for.

My players know how I feel about superstars. I am not afraid to voice out how I feel about having them on my team. I got rid of some stars this past year and while I got a mixed up team, I am still happy at the results. Why? Well, at least I regained my appetite to coach them. Leadership and motivation, those are the two things that people seem to want from me. And I am happy to oblige as long as everything is under my policies in handling a team.

It seems that I have fallen in love with coaching players who want a championship and would not complain being relegated to normal players. They know what it takes to win championships. No one player can win a tournament by his own. Even the NBA can attest to this as we have seen from the former champs like the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs. It takes 5 or more players to make a difference. So I guess that is why most people would wonder why I hate Kobe Bryant so much. No ballhogs, no superstars. That is my policy and that will stick until I decide to stop coaching and just watch individualistic players destroy the game of basketball. Right Cons este Kobe?!?

Congratulations to the West Midgets for being the first LEGIT Back to Back Champions (2007 & 2008) and for my West Juniors team who competed in the Seniors Division and won

2^nd Place

. Those are special accomplishments and the best gift you gave me as a coach.

They say that 7 is a lucky number. Well, outside the early tragedies that have happened earlier on the year (death of my Grandma in February) and some unforeseen circumstances (reconciliation with my wife), I can safely say that this year was a totally good year for me in terms of proving who and what I really am.

Coaching Basketball

At the start of the year, I was really down, failing to win a championship even if the boys swept every elimination I put them in. It was a heartbreaking loss I encountered in the Ateneo Basketball League (ABL) and it really took its toll as far as self-confidence was concerned.

The same thing happened in my rookie year as head coach of the West Greenhills Team. It was the dream team I always wanted which only faltered in the finals.

Two Championships

I tasted my first championship with the West Midgets. I couldn’t ask anything more from these guys. I trained them hard and while I knew from the very start they were going to be champions, I just had to let them work for it. And work for it they did as they averaged over 30 points per game in winning margins. Yep, they smothered all opponents and better yet, it was a bonding experience with the guys whom I really knew were the best.

The second championship was redemption time for the Xavier boys. Handling them half-way last year, this was a year I prayed and hoped for them. And answering to my challenge, they swept the eliminations up to the finals en route to their first XABL championship. I was speechless but happy since I saw a group of guys happy to be part of a team.

Winning the Elections

Call it crazy, but I never thought I would pull it through. I had my apprehensions with regards to winning and even though I ended up 7^th, it was my distance from the 8^th place seed for Kagawad that really calmed me down. But overall, I am proud to be part of PRO Greenhills. At least our efforts didn’t go to waste!

Job and Writing

It is no secret that writing and blogging are my cup of tea. Now that I am writing for various companies, it is helping a lot in supporting me and my family explore the world on our own. I still encounter some rough moments but overall, I am happy with what I am doing.

Family Letdown

I just don’t want to get into details but my family is a big letdown. It seems that money is always the need and unfortunately, some people just change when they get hold of it. No further comment on this. It is a fact.

Grown Up Girl

Vanessa has finally grown up. While I do shout at her at times, it is because she sometimes tends to grow backwards and forget what I trained her. She is growing up fast and there is no more room for dilly dallying. She just has to live life in the manner to which she has already adjusted. Playing around and looking dumb is simply risky and may make her incompetent like some people I know who rely heavily on others.

Mikee and Sheila

After deep thinking, I know I love my wife still. Many question it but I don’t care. It is my life to live and being true to my word, I make my own decisions.

Mikee is an angel sent for me to accept or not. I am crazy about this kid and while many tell my I am spoiling him too much, I do the same to any child who would be sweet and loving. I just hope he grows to be as mature and as responsible as Vanessa someday.

The best part of it is that Christmas is just around the corner. While I will not be with my family like recent years, I guess it’s the price to pay for living up to principles. It’s a whole new world out there and I just have to face it like a normal human being would.

We have all been exposed to various jobs booms. Ranging from technology to health and to the call center marketing era, there is an impending boom on the horizon which may even go beyond what these job areas have offered.

A lot of people have questioned the authenticity of working from home, refusing to believe that people actually make good money from doing so. This may come as a surprise to people whom have thought the way. The opportunity is for real.

Okay so we hear about people earning 6 figure deals. Now this may be something that would be an exaggeration. But it can be possible. This is of course if people would handle more than one blog or article writing gig. The 6 figure thingy can happen, but after some time of investing in the new wave of job opportunities from home-based jobs.

Blogging has evidently been something that has over-achieved its purpose. Starting from the usual online diary belief, it has grown into one of the best marketing tools to support advertising and promotional endeavors that businesses can think of. People have leaned more towards reading personal opinions without barriers. This is a reality that organizations have taken up today.

Make no mistake about it; the number of bloggers needed today have ballooned ever since this new strategy for modern managing companies have turned towards blogging for spreading information awareness through problogging jobs and article marketing prowess.

There is not much to invest. All it needs is the basic foundation of talented minds and placing them in such a way where they can offer quality content and information in the form of blogs and articles that can help people get a better overview of what they need to understand. Some may consider composing articles and providing information a waste of time but if there is one scarce resource that people need to understand today, it is the fact that properly delivered information will help anyone in any endeavor.

A lot of people have even gone to the extent of making problogging and authoring content writing as their main profession. But this would of course mean lots of articles and blogs to maintain. The key towards earning in this line of industry is dedication and undying effort. Relying on one source of work is not a feasible choice. This is one reason why most probloggers and content article writers would usually undergo this profession as a hobby or a part-time work that they can do anywhere.

So for the curious minds, blogging is not sophisticated or hard to professionalize. All it needs is proper use of grammar, sensible content writing and focusing on the topic/s for discussion. With these basic elements in a blogger’s pocket, all that is needed to date is to find and market their services. The rest will fall accordingly, surely for success and rapid development of bloggers and article writers known over the web today.

To help spread the fruits of problogging, he maintains the Freelance Blogger Jobs World at (http://www.blogjobs.biz/). All bloggers, new and old can check out his daily posts for more information regarding this next job opportunity boom of profitable working from home ventures.

Keeping an eye on the little things of life can always become amazing at times. Most people dream of being among the clouds and looking down on people after their time has come. However, the thing is, some people just don’t know how to look back at all the good things that people have to offer, only caring about themselves rather than lending or repaying all the efforts and hardships that these people have given them through the years.

No doubt those experiences can become disturbing. It is a matter of caring only for one’s self and neglecting the needs of others, parents and relatives included. There is a fine line between sincerity and the ability of people with regards to providing support and being there once the need arises. But with the evil of money and wealth, people could care less and would rather see a person die rather than cherish their importance and parts in their lives.

Such can be traced towards cultural and ethnic growth. Not all people would have a memorable past but regardless, caring more about your financial capacity and stature has to be a pathetic sight. Imagine an old woman, helpless and motionless. Spending millions just to keep her alive and all you would think about is keeping the money you have for yourself. Let us be more concise, imagine that was your mother or father, would you think twice about wanting to see them alive or dead and just get your inheritance and let them die due to lack of support?

People have varying insights on such. But in such instances, money seems to be worthless if only people would give value towards existence of people who are dear to them regardless of what the past is. Life can not be replaced, money can be earned. So what is the point of comparison between the two if any?

There are people who do not earn much but are willing to help even with nothing in return. Why these people do this is something I can sum up to values. It is not a requirement to give back what you have gotten. It is a matter of putting values into focus. If only the dead can talk, maybe their disappointments can be heard.

Sit back for a minute and reflect. What if fate was altered and you would find yourself thinking back to your childhood? Would you say that life has dramatically changed and what you have now would be something that you really didn’t bargain for?

Surely, there are a lot of people who have given this some thought. Our lives will always encounter changes in their proper course and this is a reality rather than a fantasy. We may all be in a dream world, but this dream world may not turn out in our favor at times.

Making the best out of what life has to give should always be in our thought. We would all know what to do and why we should do them. There is no right or wrong, only a decision to which we will all abide and respect. We cannot alter the course of our lives nor can we go back to correct the mistakes. But what we can do is make the past our point of reference when we make current and future decisions not only for us, but for our future genes who will carry our name.

Such can be considered a legacy of sorts. We make our own name and we know for a fact to which extent we want ourselves to be in. There are no regrets for the decisions we make. It is something we believe that is right regardless if they are right or wrong in the minds of many. The main thing is doing the right thing at the prime of your life. We only get this opportunity once so we should all abide by it.

People will get hurt by decisions made by others, especially if they are found on the losing end. But this is only temporary. Being hurt and depressed is only normal and a part of life. We may shed a tear or a wide grin. We all have feelings and these are normal reactions. This is nothing to be ashamed of.

But the sun shines in our lives as well. We cannot move on and attend to other parts of our lives without confidence and belief in ourselves. There will always be rumor mongers abound. But this should not be made an excuse for our shortcomings. A person may choose to prove them wrong but in essence it is uncalled for.

What is important is that dreams are guides regardless of the results. Abide by it and stand tall. No one has the right to judge others by mere experience. It is a right instilled to us all. So catch your dreams and makes the right move. You may only have one shot at it in your lifetime.

Fortune telling, the usual thing we hear about being able to know what the future holds for us will always draw varied criticism. Many do not believe in it, while some do. Depending on how superstitious a person may be, it all boils down to believing if what your future holds for you is believable or not. For the record, consistency from how gifted people are able to read you without uttering a word will surely be the first gauge of measurement in being able to tell if a person would believe it them or not.

It takes much to impress me. For one, I may flash that smile to your face, but in my mind, I am trying to evaluate if you are for real or just a plain con artist. This goes the same for all the people I meet everyday, friends, business partners and people in need. While I will admit that it has reached to the extent that people I get close to may end up from claiming true friends to con artists, this experience is really something for the books and sad to say, I do believe in this person I met yesterday.

It has been one of my personal agendas to be able to meet up with highly touted fortune readers, for the sake of knowing what tomorrow would hold for me and my family. The experience was truly something the enlightened me and had me teary eyed. There were bad expectations as usual, but being the person I am, the way that this person read me was perfect. I found no inconsistencies and basing on her sincerity, the fact that she did not demand any amount for her services and just asked for referrals and help for her not so fortunate family hit me in an instant.

Our first meeting in itself was impressive. Sitting and drawing one card alone, this girl read me perfectly. From my past to current status, everything was clean as a whistle. The things in my mind, the fact that I defy odds and the real world, not believing in fortune telling or “hula” as Filipinos are fond of calling it, my failed marriage, my prized possession of which is my daughter, my career, and my approach towards people and lastly, my lost for belief in love. Pinpoint reading is what I would call it, and all past and current issues were like clockwork.

All I cared about was for the future of my daughter and my career. Truly, everything was fattening to the heart, especially the part where I would meet someone who would love me for who I really am and serve as my eventual partner. Nope, it is not my ex-wife nor the person I have been constantly pursuing. She will just pop up one and will make a total difference in my life, same thing when I read my Feng Shui for my 2007 outlook.

Career wise, it was really vivid in the same way that it is now. Taking on all these things, working, pushing my current company towards success and writing as hell to carve a name out of myself, it was all described in one word…”Personal Fame”. Well who wouldn’t but it is not for the money entirely, it is more on personal success and satisfaction. True that I do not go for the financial rewards initially, it is more of being comfortable with my lifestyle and accomplishments, something that I have been preaching ever since I got out of college.

Health is a concern as I should take care of my heart. Nope, I will not have cardiac arrest. It is more of hiding emotions and my inability to blurt out what I feel. I keep heartaches to myself and would rather not divulge them since no one has yet to understand my inner feelings and thoughts. Guess I just haven’t found the right person to guide me, but that is okay and I will live.

Whatever reactions people would have on fortune telling, I will respect your insights. But as far as I am concerned I do believe in this person I met today. My heart goes out to wanting to help her and her family, but for sure I will want to meet her again and provide more help as I was really tight on budget today. There were a lot of things I learned, and to be honest, I am glad I did just that today.

It was worth taking time out from work and knowing fortunes and misfortunes. Whether they come true or not, well, it doesn’t matter. I believe it will all still depend on me and how I drive my life into the roads of reality, something that will always pop up surprises.

Each year, anyone would ask, what would be your New Year’s Resolution? Usually, I would not answer and if ever I did have one, I would keep it to myself. I believe in making resolution by putting action on to them and seeing fate have its way. It is better than allowing our mouths getting the best of us.

The Year in Review

Okay so by this time, 2006 will be closing and looking back, the year was not so bad. While it started out tough knowing you were cheated by your ex-wife for several years after implanting in your mind that you were the one who had the problem, it sucks to know that you were right all along. Well, touché and hurrah, maybe my third eye was really there but I just didn’t listen or look through it.

Social Life

On the side of love life, well it didn’t start out that well also. For the sake of not wanting to hurt another person’s feeling by failing to be the man of her dreams, I called it quits since that relationship would be sort of one-sided. Would you believe I forgot how to love? Anyway, if there is one thing I hate is that of thinking only of you. I had some love interests but as usual, most of them faltered. But the big story was that it didn’t devastate me that much compared to the previous years.

The result however was a recluse attitude and choosing to isolate myself from friends whom I had apprehensions with regards to sincerity. Unlike in the previous years, I cut short my gimmicks and attendance in social gatherings. Besides what would one less person do to spoil their fun?

Career and Commitments

On the career side, I am still far from satisfied despite being appointed the General Manager per se. While it was only the title that changed, the challenge to grow the business and run it as my own was too good to let up. Going through pressure and the demands of the owners was simply mind boggling but was capped off with the opportunity to renegotiate with our counterparts in

Taiwan

, not to mention being able to travel outside the country once again after 26 years. For 2007, the renewed vigor and optimistic forecasts are something I am very enthusiastic about. I am almost 100% sure that most of them will be attained. I have no explanation but they are just gut feelings which I am confident.

On the side, there were the usual sports organizing as the bowling and basketball tournaments and first coaching stints with my boys. Overall they were memorable and satisfactory. Having proven my theories tested was an accomplishment as well.

There was of course my farewell stint with the Ateneo MBA team in both basketball and bowling. Being a member of the champion teams for both sports was really something that I cherished, although it was also my official goodbye to the professional school. I also took out intentionally in my friendster list, people who only used me and are insincere.

On my blogging and writing, I would say it was indeed a big help. Handling Biziki and some other per contract gigs helped a lot, especially in financing the needs of me and my family in crucial stages of the year. I am thankful to the Lord for still being there to give me such graces. My best Christmas gift was that of coming back home to Mark Saunders, my original creator who gave me the big break and exposed me to the world of online writing and blogging. I am back handling various blogs for Mark and that is the highlight and best Christmas gift I ever got.

Family and Friends

For family, it will be the final year before my unica hija will finally march towards college. While it seemed awkward for me at first since it seemed like only yesterday that I was taking these entrance exams myself, being there and seeing my daughter all grown-up had me teary-eyed.

But then again, she is moving towards being an adult and I am just proud to be the one to see her grow into one. Not to mention are her accomplishments and growth into independency when I fired her so-called tutor who was merely after money. Joining and winning such contests as the

in the Story Writing contest really brought joy to my heart and hopefully stepped up her confidence level with regards to accomplishing something if she really puts her heart into it.

This is something her mom never believed in. I am glad she believed in it and is now putting it into good use.

Family was still the same. I still have my cute niece and nephews to take away my headaches, spoiling them every time I see them as usual. My week just cannot be complete without playing with them.

Devastating would be the thought that my grandmother may be lying on her deathbed, something of which I still refuse to believe owing to the fact that she seems strong to live for another 10 years. But I am not God to make such a claim and I leave it up to the One in Heaven to decide her fate.

Plans to move out and occupy my dad’s condominium in Mandaluyong are in the works since eventually this house will be sold. The worth of the house is more important to my relatives and well, it is just as well since I won’t see and may have the peace of mind of focusing on what I want to prove, and this is to be successful and care less for people who look down on me so much that they want to see me fall.

Ex-wife, last I heard she was working in a call-center and having a hard-time coping up with life. Well, money isn’t the only thing important in life but for their side I guess it is. Nevertheless, Vanessa and I still included her in our prayers before I left for

Taiwan

in December.

What Now in 2007?

For 2007, Outisde the usual Feng Shui readings which warned me to take care of my health and tighten my financial belt despite influx of financial resources, I am optimistic of looking for more writing and blog jobs to aid my monthly financial needs.

For work, I see a good year as long as my marketing and business plans are met. But if my hunches are correct, it will be a fruitful and successful year for me and the company. I can see myself traveling again this year, but as for the destination, I have no idea.

For my daughter, I see her finally pursuing her career as it should be. Business, Computer Science or Journalism, the choice is hers to make.

For my friends, well, I will still stick to my decision of choosing wisely. There are users and they are people I will choose to avoid rather to engage in. It’s better at that since I have no use for them.

For my family, well, although it seems we will be parting soon, I will make every effort of finding ways for us to be still close. Again this only covers my immediate family.

For writing, I am praying for a smoother and harmonious influx of projects and blogs. Doing something I love and earning from it as well is simply the best thing that ever happened to me.

For enemies such as my former money-sucking in-laws, well, no comment. I’ll just ignore them and let them be. But reconciliation is definitely out of the picture, even if you kiss my ass.

For relationships? Hmmm, hehe, hrmmmm. I think I’ll just cross the bridge when I get there. While I wanted someone so much, it seems like a lost cause but no regrets. As long as she is happy, that’s a closed chapter in my life already. For others, well prospects? Cannot think of one, all I care about is career success for now.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2007, hopefully another break-out year!

Ok so it’s that time of year again when I could care less about devoting my time on someone. And I bet you would say it is Christmas season again right? Well, technically, yes I am looking forward to the Christmas season and am also going to sit back and watch it go by with Vanessa, my Unica Hija.

You see, life is not about purely having someone around to share your success and accomplishments anymore. It all seems as if you are needed only when they are in trouble or would want some freebies from you. Sad to say, it has been hard for me to ignore text messages, yahoo messages, and even e-mails. Ever since I got back from my business trip from

Taiwan

, there are only a few people whom I really informed that I was back home.

So you will ask, how bout the others? Well, reality check, I am only me. Who cares if you left or arrived right? I mean, it hard to be someone your not, but if the need arises, then just show a poker face and enjoy what you have, like my daughter and family. Friends? Yes I will admit I am rich in friends but only a chunk of them is what I can consider true and sincere. That is why they are the only ones I touched base with when I got home.

Funny. People don’t bother to value you when you’re a simple person. But once you start rocking, they are quick to acknowledge you as their friend, some even considering you their close friend, suitor, or maybe even lover eh? Well, as a friend told me, don’t allow yourself to be used. Know when to say “No”.

Guess what, at first I thought saying NO was hard. But after some practice, it is not hard after all. Are you one of the people I already said NO to or someone whom I have left out in the cold? Well, whoever your are I can hear you saying…”Who gives a Damn?” — Precisely My Point!

Blogs are alternative methods of writing wherein most people can compose anything they want and in the manner they would want the mood to be set. A combination of a website with rich content in the manner and design that any person would want to be known, blogs have become a good source of therapy and income for the chosen. The latter of which may draw conflicting inputs since focusing on income generating content would sometime take out the true essence and meaning of the entire post. Notable here is the focus of people on the use of keywords, repeating them at will so that search engines can easily find them once queries for particular words are being sought.

Blogs are familiarly known as online diaries where people share their experiences and stored knowledge in the manner they want to express them. Nobody knew that blogs would eventually become a money-making practice for sites which want to expound on various topics and genres that their website is to be known for. Today, social networking services such as Friendster, Multiply, Hi5 and MySpace, have not only offered a chance for people to expand their network of contacts but also to hold online diaries for their colleagues and friends to see. Usually, life experiences, business knowledge, setbacks, accomplishments and photo images are the main contents of the blogs that these people make. Such a practice also allows people to hone their grammar and typing skills and further enrich their vocabulary.

The Blog Adviser, created in November 30, 2006 is a project that Orble made possible. The site is hosted by the Orble Network and its main purpose is to be able to provide information, actual experiences and business related content to share with Orble bloggers and other people seeking rich content information. Unlike most blog marketing sites, the purpose is to provide useful and colorful insights and expound them in the best possible way, not only through properly termed topics but also through actual experiences as witnessed and dealt with by the person who will be handling all the posts on a daily basis.

The Blog Adviser aims to focus on business related issues and information based on actual research work and strategic management practices from real life business management issues. With the actual hands-on experience of handling a local trading company and business consultation services to various local and foreign companies, the Blog Adviser is expected to be among the top sought after sites for information and explanations with regards to varying issues on the business and management side for professionals of today and tomorrow. Links and images will be used to coincide with the posts, not just to optimize the site but also to serve as supporting proofs with regards to the validity of the posts to be made.

On the side, The Blog Adviser will also provide some freestyle writing content from personal experiences that combine poetry and stories into one. While these posts are mainly for adding some counseling and advise to online people who want some pastime reading, especially the romantically inclined individuals, the freestyle writing section promises to give worthy and reliable actual experiences for people who seek answers from life.

Hence the Blog Adviser has commenced and started its part in contributing towards the blogging era and each visitor is expected to be satisfied in both the business and personal aspect. For more information, the Blog Adviser can be visited today at http://www.blogadviser.com

So now it can be told. The months of product development for unique and different sports drink in the mold of Gatorade with a certain twist is slowly taking the Philippine market by storm. With a right touch of sweetness and some fiber bits inside, Powerbits Sports Drink from Chin Chin has been a large demand in the country today.

Placement and exposure was always a problem for the exclusive distributors of this unique drink concept. But now, after closing deals with large supermarkets and convenience stores, the demand has settled down and penetrated the market it was set out to cover. And just in time before the year 2006 ends. A product success for all the efforts and sleepless nights garnered indeed.

Exclusively distributed by Merlion International Sales, Inc.

Philippines

, there are parties who have been trying to cheat their way and contact the official suppliers. Too bad folks, you have to engage us in a court battle before you can do business for yourselves!