Metrics. I think everything substantial and relevant to this world is measurable. I think that all rational things have points of comparison and rules to measure them by. But what do I know about this world? I know that numbers don't lie, and when you learn how to look at numbers and compare what they mean to the bigger picture, numbers - even in their bare and raw form - can tell you more about this world.

Most in this life, I think, is fleeting and will not stay relevant for too long. This blog will probably outlast the things we think are relevant now. Probably in ten years. Probably tomorrow. Who knows.

But what I do know, is that in order to keep yourself relevant to this fast-paced environment is to never stop learning, updating, upgrading and never, ever lose focus. It's a challenge, but another thing I know in this life is that the more you work hard for something, the more the reward will be worth all your efforts to attain it.

Probably I'm rambling. Probably I'm not. I've learned enough to be open-minded about everything. Alongside the lessons of being open-minded is that you care about less things than before. You hold less emotional stake at things when you are open-minded.

Of course, I am an opinionated person and that won't change until the day I can no longer write, but I now tend to keep the things I want to care deeply about at a minimum.

It's the same about the company you keep. You can't hold them all in equal regard. Some will fade away, some will grow and flourish and be of continuous relevance. Of equal, beneficial coexistence.

What is success?

It might mean a lot of things for different people, but I think we can agree that success is surviving stormy Valero street at 6am

Is it the attainment of material things and enjoying experiences that exemplify the very meaning of being successful? Is it the freedom from financial woes and the stability and security of one's lifestyle that define it? Is it having a handful of people you let inside your walls and keep constant contact with?

Is the idea of being successful (whatever it means for each one of us) what drives us further? It drives us to greater heights, to greener pastures and better lifestyles, but is it the real meaning of success?

Perhaps we see success differently. We can only argue what we think constitutes being successful.

I've read a blog from five years ago. I've never read something that has that many swear words making so much sense, but the meaning goes way beyond the language. It was the expression. The intent of writing. The meaning beyond words is what mattered and what hit me is the awful truth that life, well, it isn't easy. You gotta know what you want in life, work hard for it, and accept the shit life gives you in the pursuit of what you want.

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Why I think working harder than everyone else is necessary to succeed.

Working hard is, what I think, the main ingredient of even surviving in life. Cultivating great ideas allow you to succeed. But working hard is necessary. Especially in a workplace that grinds the faint-hearted and rewards the exceptional.

There will always be people who know better than you. Who know a lot more than what you know. Who can always kick your butt if they were ever so willing to do so. That's why you have to put in more hours than them to learn what they know and master their craft, build your own set of expert-level skills, and trump them in the arena called the workplace.

I can't say my work is always pixel-perfect (on the contrary I commit mistakes often), but persistent learning and hard work will push me to a level that I commit less mistakes (in life and in work). What I can say for sure is, I push myself further and farther to achieve my set goals.

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I've been training Muay Thai for quite some time now. I've gotten stronger, I think, and endured cuts and bruises in the process.

Let's connect through Instagram. I post there more often

I was asked by one of the trainors what my reasons are for training. I told him I wanted to learn the martial art. I will probably move on to another once I'm confident of my skills - probably Pencak Silat, Kempo or if I have the money to buy a katana (which I really, really want) Kenjutsu. It's only recent that I've acquired the love of seriously learning martial arts, for they are indeed art forms.

Dear Filipinos,

Let's elect the rightful public officials next time, please?

"Please vote for me in the next elections! For Public Service!"

From my Flickr photostream

I would love to go back to Sagada one day - and never come back.

It is in this place that I felt completely free. Far from the lifestyle we've grown accustomed to in the city.

This is the life I want for myself. To live my life in solitude.

This is perfect. One day...

Disclaimer: This will be a series of blogs I will write about how I think about work - mine and in general. Over the previous months I've come up with a lot of ideas about how work should be regarded, how we should be working and why we shouldn't be taking work lightly.

Enjoy.

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I enjoy work.

I think I am passionate about work, among other things. We can go overnight in the office continuously working except for the 2-3 hours of rest in between long shifts. Not that I'm complaining. I enjoy having the opportunity to make myself bigger and the chance to be given work to do and accomplish something.

I've seen a motivational video on Youtube that said something similar (I wasn't able to bookmark the video but I will probably post it in the next blog of this series if I chance upon it). It said that in order to be successful you need to need it as much as you need air.

It's as if you're struggling to survive - that's how it's supposed to be. That sounds harsh but it's true. Half-assed people never made it in life. Half-assed efforts never achieved anything worthwhile.

After all, there's beer waiting for people who deserve it after a hard day's work.