Here’s Elmer Gantry

I learned something last week, which I should have realized many moons ago. That I was no longer Superman or Captain Marvel, not even Bernardo Carpio (Bernardo who?). I found out that I’m now just an ordinary mortal. I also need to recharge when at "low bat" level, lest my engine stalls.

Last Feb. 25, Tuesday I flew to Australia through the invitation of BFGoodrich for the launching and testing of two new tire models that are slated to be introduced to the local market by next month–the "Sport T/A" and the "g-Force".

The affair was dubbed the "BFGoodrich Got to Drive Challenge" and it had some 400 tire dealers, media personalities and motoring journalists invited to the Gold Coast not only to be briefed about the new products but also to actually test them by way of highly competitive motor sports events like slaloms, off-road events, drag races, to mention some. Motor sports can be stressful but a lot of fun and excitement and that’s exactly what my fellow motoring journalist from the country, Brian Afuang had–a lot of fun and excitement coupled with a lot of stress. After all it was a series of competitions.

I flew back to Manila on the night of March 2nd, a Sunday, which gave me two days to tape my weekly TV shows as I had to leave again on March 5, Wednesday back to Australia, in Melbourne this time, for the Australian Grand Prix, the 1st leg of the 2003 World Formula One Series and on this occasion through the invitation of Honda Cars Philippines. For a double treat to the motoring media invited, the Melbourne Motor Show International was added into the itinerary. On both events I was taping a lot of "stand-uppers" and continuity shots for my TV shows. We were back in Manila, midnight of Tuesday, March 11.

By the next day I was down and out. I had the colds with the proverbial accompanying coughs and to top it all, probably for eating too much meat during the trip, I had trauma on my two molars, which needed a dual "root canal" all in one day.

A "post mortem’ of my activities showed that I had been "working" for 15 straight days without realizing it. These are 15 physically challenging and worse, "unconsciously stressful" days that can wreak havoc into one’s physical constitution.

I just found a need to share this experience with you not to fill up space but because I find myself in a situation that can be very hazardous to health, which many of you may be into without realizing it.

Remember the old adage, "Find yourself something you like to do and you will never work for the rest of your life". That’s exactly where I am right now. Doing something that I not only "like" to do, but "love" to do. Therefore, I don’t feel that I’m working in any of the many things that I do.

This frame of mind can be very tricky as it allows you to think that you are not working at all. This frame of mind gives you an attitude that does not make you realize that you get tired, until the time that your physical constitution actually lets go. This frame of mind makes you not conscious of any work related stress. And stress, more than the physical aspect, can be more dangerous. And one of my doctors says that’s when you really have to look out. You may not know that death has been knocking at your door until you have opened it.

I can imagine that many businessmen and executives who immensely enjoy their jobs are in this "predicament" without realizing it. Some friends are telling me that my recent bout with "Bells Palsy" may have been a wake up call for me, as some say that the illness can also be stress related. I was told that the only acceptable option in this scenario is conscious and deliberate "pacing". No matter how much you enjoy what you are doing, you just have to regularly pause for a while and assess yourself for any possible subliminal stress. They say that the old saying that "one must always stop and smell the flowers" even when one finds himself always surrounded by flowers still holds true no matter what the situation is.

Now am I hearing an Elmer Gantry here? Do what I preach! Don’t do what I do!

But really, it won’t hurt much if we take stock of ourselves once in a while. It’s a great life and the only way to enjoy it is to stay alive.

‘A Taste of Sarawak’ at the CPH

If you are turned on by Malaysian food or just curious about it, don’t miss this chance offered by Century Park Hotel to taste real, genuine, bona fide Malaysian cuisine at the Café in the Park up to Thursday, March 27.

Dubbed "A Taste of Sarawak", this Malaysia Food Festival can not be any more authentic as Century Park hotel general manager Paul Gill is making it-complete with all the spices, condiments and even cultural dancers to boot.

Now relevant to the food festival and the culinary delights’ country of origin, Century Park Hotel also decided to treat their guests tomorrow to a "live" TV coverage of the Malaysian Grand Prix straight from the Sepang International Circuit. A giant screen shall be put up right by the hotel’s lower lobby at the Atrium Lounge, which is right beside the Café in the Park. This means guests will just have to walk only a handful of steps after a Sunday lunch of Malaysian gastronomical treats for the thrilling "live" TV coverage of the second leg of the 2003 World Formula One Series. I was suggesting to Century Park’s newly married PR manager Steve Naguiat to put up the giant screen as early as today for the equally exciting ‘qualifying runs’, although I’m not quite sure if this will also be covered "live" by either ESPN or Star Sports on cable TV. If it were, it would also be spectacular viewing for hotel guests.

Auto Focus now airs earlier in the week

Believe it or not most leisure lovers are passionate car lovers too. As a matter of fact, most Filipinos, owners or non-owners, have love affairs with cars, real or imagined. I have had my TV program Motoring Today running for 15 years now while Auto Focus, a spin-off TV show that centers exclusively on the automobile, is now on its 5th year of broadcast and in all these years I have learned that there is this Pinoy’s innate love for the automobile. From the sheer volume of mail alone, which I receive week after week asking a wide variety of questions about this transport wonder, I could feel the viewers’ deep interest in knowing more about it.

Anyway, may I just inform all those car lovers and automobile enthusiasts who regularly and loyally watch us that the TV program Auto Focus now has a new airing day beginning next week. It’s now scheduled on Mondays, starting this coming Monday, still a convenient late evening viewing at eleven o’clock (Channel 4 Manila and simulcast nationwide on the National Broadcasting Network). Just kindly pass the information to all your fellow "Auto Focus buffs" lest you deny them of a whole hour of interesting, exciting and informative viewing.

Are we short of good managers?

Believe it or not but Valle Verde Country Club still has to hire a general manager to fill the "big" shoes of its long-serving but now retired Pocholo Ramirez.

It’s been more than two years now since my good friend and co-host decided to get away from the "politics" of the club and just concentrate on managing his racing and racing circuit in Subic, the Subic International Raceway, and up to now the club has failed to hire anyone to just possibly approximate Pocholo’s running of the club and dishing out the right treatment to its members, some of whom can be very bitchy at times.

Is there really a shortage of good managers or are the good ones just afraid to touch this exclusive club with a 10-foot pole? Has the club made some kind of reputation to merit this?

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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