I want to be a diplomat

I cannot exactly recall how and when I knew of the Foreign Service Officer (FSO) exam. All I remember now are bits and parcels of my dream to be a diplomat. There were times I searched for the exam schedule only to find out that I missed it by a few months already. I once asked an officemate who took the exam a few years back. He told me a brief overview. Then I saw a review class for it. I inquired through e-mail a few weeks before it started only to be answered by the coordinator a few days after the class began.

I attended a meeting once where I met someone who knows a former schoolmate who works for the Department of Foreign Affairs. She told me that my schoolmate, a licensed FSO, has already been posted abroad. I searched for my schoolmate's e-mail and sent her one promptly. I told her that I am inspired by her achievements since high school graduation. She promptly replied and told me to take the FSO exam.

That was when I literally became obssessed with it. I looked for information about it on the internet. Now I know that the FSO exam has a 90% mortality rate. This is even higher than the bar exam's mortality rate! the exam is divided into 3 parts. I learned that yearly, an average of 3000 applicants take the first exam. It is an SAT type but at this early stage, only around 300 pass to take the second set.

I saw blogs of 4 Pinoy diplomats. One posted rephrased questions which were given in 2006. The other 3 shared their lives as FSOs.

From then on, I subscribed to a newspaper, bought an SAT reviewer, read whichever is the better issue between Time and Nesweek magazines for the week, and regularly visited the Web sites of the World Economic Forum, ASEAN, and World Trade Organization. I likewise stopped watching sine-serye because the time I have to read and be updated about all possible exam questions is never enough. Now, I literally have no idle time among working, preparing for the FSO exam and my part-time job.

I told my friends about it and I'm overwhelemed by their support. For example, my friends and I still talk about trivial office and showbiz gossip once in a while but now our conversation topics focus more on world and Philippine affairs.

As I become more updated with Philippine political news, my desire evolved from being a diplomat to helping the Philippines in all ways I can. It could be that I am already thinking of an excuse should I fail the SAT type of exam but I am truly saddened by the turnout of most of the events in the Philippines. I sincerely want to help improve Philippine society as I feel that Filipinos can excel in any field of his/her choice. I want to market the Philippines to the world that we are a race of brilliant minds and loving hearts.

Cyber Relationships

A little backgrounder on me... I worked in a university Web site for more than 4 years. I practically had access to most, if not all, internet technologies. I have been using the computer in my work 8 hours a day 5 days a week since 2002. But that's even disregarding working with my computer 6 days a week for an average of 13 hours in 1999-2002. The point is, I use the computer to get things done in my work!

I belong to about 8 e-groups to get in touch with friends and to learn the latest trends and events in the industries I belong to. Though I was a Web writer, I had this blog fairly recently. I also chat with friends though it is blocked. I looked for ways to work around the firewall.

I have been a friendster member for several years already. A day doesn't pass without me sending an e-mail to a friend or to an officemate. I read online news everyday.

I am not tech savvy but I definitely know how to use communication technologies.

I'm just amazed that I have two of the most serious friends who have found love on the internet!
And these people are not the young ones either. One is a 40-year old guy and the other is a 35-year old lady. The guy is the most quiet person I know, while the lady is a university professor.

Come to think of it, I shouldn't be surprised that the guy "connected" with a lady on the internet. After all, I knew of the personal details about him through asking him while we chat. Things he wouldn't have told me in person, that's 100% sure. I wouldn't have dared ask him in person as well because he doesn't say much. He presently has a girlfriend by randomly selecting a beautiful person on friendster and chatting with her over a webcam.

As I said, the lady is a 35-year old university professor. She is very selective of her friends because she is a very private person. This lady met her present boyfriend over friendster as well.

I personally add guys as friends over friendster though I don't know them. As far as I'm concerned, that's as bold as I can be over friendster.

Someone asked me if I chat with guys I don't know. I honestly answered that unless referred by a common friend, I don't chat with strangers.

Should I take a lesson from my good friends? That's a thought!

Name your blessings

I attended the January 2 mass at the office. The priest had a nice homily. He said that we shouldn't simply count our blessings but we should name them as well. I tried it and I became more appreciative of the things I have.
Off the top of my head, these are the blessings I received in 2007:
1. I personally experienced a miracle. I got well from an incurable disease.
2. My prayers started to evolve into responsive conversations with God.
3. God made it easy for me to spread His love by letting a good number of people know that it is alive and present everywhere.
4. I finally understood that God's gifts are given by a loving father, that I shouldn't be afraid of accepting His gifts. They are given out of genuine love.
5. I presently have a better paying job. I am able to share my blessings and still have enough to enjoy life and for my security.
6. In addition to my full-time job, I had several part-time jobs that had reasonable working hours and paid enough, considering my lifestyle, at least.
7. I continue to have meaningful friendships. Old friends started getting in touch with me again. I gained new friends.
8. I travelled out of town and abroad with family and friends.
I'm sure this list will get longer and be more meaningful as I reflect on the topic. The prayer that keeps on entering my mind now is the Serenity Prayer:

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.