Skip to main content

BEING ON A CATALYST MINDSET

By Gil delos Santos

Even at early age, the mind has determination which path to take as the child in me unleashes life chain of dependency for the first time. 

The parents taught the first words, the child spelled out the first alphabets, the life language comprehension was on me.

Childhood is vital part of a person's development. Parents play a role. Their influence, teachings, and motivation shape the child's will for ambition. If they teach them become ambitious, the children will strive to learn to read and comprehend life without the parents' help after. 

On my own, I have figured how to approach the universe for my own favor as I face life day by day. 

The life responses are always based on the result of keen observation matched against the back experiences and ground realities. 

If there's something this mind can share, it is a product of both learnings and triumphs.  

On "success".
I define success as an achievement or positive result to the set goals. I see success not in the form of possessions or wealth. Someone could be successful because of its life achievements, wisdom, status even without overflowing wealth. 

However, wealthy persons with inherited money couldn't always be successful when they poorly run their life with standards of decency and well-education coming short.  

On "Kill them with kindness".
I run life to deliver reciprocation. Be good, I'll be the great. Be worst, I'll be the bad. 

The hard pound I deploy as reaction to rude approaches and inhuman deeds is the kind of kindness I impose. Not all kindness is in soft form. Tough love is still love. It is kindness to let the abuser know and feel what reciprocation they deserved.

We respect all, we just fear none. There is a role we need to play or a purpose we need to deliver - that's kindness whichever form it is served.

On "Conservatism". 
Bringing in Catholicism in the country was a good intention but in bad interpretations in most parts (the judgment is coming from a personal account). Not intended to encourage hate, conservatism is a mask that widen hypocrisy among believers. 

We don't judge the person but their act. We just hope that people practice what they preach too - to be responsible outside against what's being shown inside churches. Judge less, open mind, have compassion.

On "Happiness definition". 
Happiness is not limited to pleasing others and depriving oneself. Don't get chained with the realities and the conditions of conservatism that impose strong condemnation on acts against social norms. Choose own happiness before others' happiness. That's self care. We can't give or share real care for others if we're not full of care of ourself. Otherwise, we might end up take some part from others to make us full instead.

On "The power of now".
Life is always shortlived. Get a life well spent - that's the only thing that will matter at the end. 

If we remain stuck on the same mind after taking different stages in life, if our feet remain on the same place over and over again, if we're still in the state of planning our future year after year, you are missing life today.

Would you keep wishing what you want to do in the future or would you do your wish today and not care for the future?

The essence of life is today. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. 

On "Being a Catalyst". 
We have attempted to take part in the policy making arena when we run for a government position but we came short. We've tried to deliver fresh insights and approaches to the industry of tourism when we become a tourism officer but we needed more support. 

To deliver the same advocacy for excellence, today, we have a workaround. 

A catalyst heart will always initiate and accelerate actions without himself being affected of the past. 

For the love of a better future, today we enjoy to deliver what excellence can bring. We find our purpose outside policy making. We find our purpose inside the heart of the communities where direct impact could be delivered: (1) Happy to be part of an environment and wildlife conservation project in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park with fund granted by the UK government, (2) Happy to be part of an academic institution where I can plant seeds of excellence to the future tourism players.

The proper industry mind, skills, and discipline will multiply once these scholars are ready and out for deployment. They will become torch bearers of excellence and future social catalyst themselves in time. 

Then I can retire.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

OVER-DEVELOPMENT STRIPS BORACAY'S CULTURAL IDENTITY

By Gil delos Santos OVER-DEVELOPMENT STRIPS BORACAY'S CULTURAL IDENTITY For us local Boracaynons, taking over or giving away our cultural spaces to mega corporations and government projects disable us to conduct traditional activites on public spaces that belonged to the community.  That's how Boracay's cultural identity is lost due to over-development.  Sa Baryo or Punda (that's how we traditionally call Manocmanoc proper), in my childhood, Manocmanoc Beach was our playground. We used to catch and play with "guyokoy", hermit crabs or "bungog" and "mawik" all day. Swim in the water everyday like it's our own paradise—unbothered, undisturbed.  In the afternoon, our oldies gather at the shore to wait for Nong Musing and Nong Rudy, our local fisherfolks, to bring fish to the community which at that time "Lambiyong" or "Balangawan" costs 5 pesos per caltex (1 liter tub).  During the monsoon season, a sandbar ...

Understanding Low Foreign Arrival

By Gil delos Santos While the western world now combats against over tourism, the Philippines in other hand struggles to get a good share on foreign arrivals: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Q44TeFswV/ The latest Seasia stats report placed the Philippines at the bottom with 3m arrivals from January to August 2025 versus the top: Malaysia and Thailand with over 20m respectively, Vietnam with 13m.  Pre-pandemic (in 2019), Thailand records 30m+, Vietnam 18m, The Philippines with 8m. It has always been a struggle for the Philippines. But 2025 is looking the worst so far.  We always read reports on statistics but we don't often see the reasons why we're behind—except for the usual complains how bad our Department of Tourism is being run. I have followed the tourist arrival stats and trends in the past years. I research and collect tourist impressions over time. Here's what I found out: FACTORS AFFECTING LOW FOREIGN ARRIVAL 1) 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶...

BORACAY AS LUXURY DESTINATION

By Gil delos Santos Recognized as the World's Leading Luxury Island Destination again in 2025, Boracay can take advantage to gain in solidifying its share in the "luxury" market. Marketing efforts must target the niche luxury slow travellers.  Boracay does need Tiktok vloggers in contrast to most people's exaggerated regard for influencers. Here's why: 1) Vloggers are not spenders (in general). They always demand xdeals and sponsorships if not paid. 2) The viewing Tiktok community are mostly validation seeking which the influencers take advantage of in giving affirmations and "pa-inggit" through their contents focused to trigger emotions. 3) The wealthy and the professionals don't have time and interest on Tiktok. They have life standards most people can't afford. They don't seek approval nor validation. These are the people we want to attract to come to Boracay. They are spenders that don't care about the price tags—people with value and...