Donating Bibles for Evangelization Project of Bible Expedition

It is about getting better...

Is this part of  being better, being involved in evangelization? Maslows hierarchy of needs, this is part of search for meaningful experience or search for meaning.

I am picking this as an advocacy. Initially to donate 2,000 bibles and then target for 10,000 next year.







December 10, 2017

Invitation to join an Evangelization Program of Bible Expedition

12 important reasons why Evangelization is important

                                                     Why the Bible and eyeglasses go together


This post was invited several times all ready by  a friend in the past Dale Abenojar, sa 4x4 adventures to donate to an Evangelization program. As everybody knows, Dale was the first Filipino to scale Mt. Everest via the difficult traverse route... This would cost P40.00 for the full size Bible, and P15.00 for the reading glasses.  According to him they will donate

                             20,000 Bibles   x P40.00    =                P800,000

                             10,000 Reading glasses  x P15.00    =  P150,000

                                             Total                                      950,000

to 10 municipalities of Occidental Mindoro.

Why the large bible?   So that the elderly, those with poor eyesight can read?
Why the  eyeglasses ?  So that those with really poor eyesight  can read... They go together.

This is very low considering that the lowest priced bible of Philippine Bible Society is at P295.00 The new testament is P65.00

                                                          Full size Bible

I was thinking we could be good for 2,000 bibles for the project and we buy 500 Bibles as souvenirs for the family of the deceased.  That would cost us P100,000.   P80,000 for the  2,000 bible and P20,000 for 500 bibles as souvenirs for the deceased.

It is part of our mandate as Christians to spread the Word to be part of this Evangelization.

Dale said that Evangelization has been his calling since 2,000.   He founded the Bible Expedition Ministries and is a full time missionary and evangelist.  He is confirmed by Elizabeth Hawley as the first Filipino to summit Mt. Everest and at the difficult North Col.   He was 2,614th. Oracion was 2,740

                                                 Picture ni Dale sa Mt. Everest Summit

Charice Pempengcos rise to stardom, and singing beside her idol Celine Dion is a worthy example of goal setting

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
December 9, 2017








This post does not care much about going on of celebrities.  I must  have missed plenty on stories about success, motivation and hard work.   However, while browsing through  You Tube videos, one caught my attention that says, the little girl who sang captured the audience much more than the famous singer who guested her.  That was Charice who sang with Celine Dion at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Truly it was a culmination of a dream for Charice, (who is now Jake Zyrus- singing career over?) who said she wanted as a child to sing with Celine Dion. Well, Oprah sponsored her being guest of Celine.

At the video, there were narration on the video that said Celine had  to spend 7 minutes to relax the visibly nervous Charice.

But when Charice sang, she showed who was the master of the stage.  She had control of the high notes, the gestures, the volume and expression. And Celine could only stand in awe and amazement.

That she has changed her gender or name, does not matter.  It was her moment, one moment in time, which she and the entire Filipino nation savored and which brought our country more honor. To trace what Charice did is a true road map to be successful and great.

Truly amazing for Charice at that time.  Proud to be Pinoy...

Action without study is fatal, study without action is futile - by Mary Ritter Beard

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
November 5, 2017

From Crestcore - Action without study...

Knowledge is power, but knowledge without action is useless

Action without study is fatal. Study without action is futile.

How often do we encounter this situation.  Those who love action do not want training, seminars or meetings.  Trabaho daw lang agad.  How can go straight to the job, if you do not understand the culture, products,a nd practices of the company

On the other hand, those who are imbibed with education, training and knowledge do not practice nor  implement what they have learned.  Practically speaking, it is  really useless.  A lot of this happen.  So what must be done?

Setting ambitious goals; to be a Forbes somebody

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
September 10, 2017

Sometimes earlier I mentioned that I wanted to be in the Forbes list of a Filipino with at least $100 million networth, or business in his name.  That would be about P5 billion.  I guess many Filipinos are in that list and are not just noisy or too modest to admit.

But since not many read this blog  I would like sana to be at that level in the next five years. These are what we have right now:

Where are we going: to be worth $100,000,000 for the next give years

Where are we now:


              1.      5 SBUs with inventories of say 3,000 plots each x 5  =  15,000 x  40,000 =  P600,000,000  or about  $11,000,000

              2.  Expansion project #  1    P1,500,000,000 worth of inventories of $30,000,000 worth

              3.  Expansion project   # 2   P500,000,000  worth of inventories or $10,000,000 worth

              4.   A memorial plan company with target P5,000,000,000 for the next five years or  $100,000,000

How do we get there:

            1.  The expansion project 1 is  almost about ready;  site development plans are ready, the alteration of plans will be filed next week;

           2.  Expansion project 2 is also ready, kulang na lang ng topo at drainage plans

           3. The marketing plans, incentives, commission scheme, price list, and the sales map will be ready next week.

           3. The memorial plan company has been acquired and will recruit sellers sell and develop the business

Kaya.  Kayang kaya pag sama sama, pag sama sama, kayang kaya



                 

Training and inspiring through others through KWENTO (stories)

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
September 10, 2017

The Kong  story on training reminds me of the importance of story telling. I won at MM many eons ago in the CMLI story telling contest besting other candidates from vaunted exclusive schools and public schools thanks to my very strict coach and English teacher (head of the English dept, she gave me a grade of 85 though in her subject despite this achievement  - that is another story though)

I overlooked the importance of story telling despite two important advice:

1. From Fr.   Ben  the former Pres of Ateneo, (is much better than the younger and supposed to be much more dynamic leader that leadership training is about making kuwento and that the younger generation learns of the values and strategies from the kuwento relayed  from generation to generation

2.  The public speaking course of Cale Carnegie from ETIOP which  I also took eons of years ago emphasized that speeches should be stories or kuwento peppered with human  interest (that appeals or suits your intended audience) rather than pompous ideologies or theories.

3.  We were advised on sales presentation as former detailman of a local pharma that isnow  multi billion multi national, to have jokes (even green ones) to capture the  attention of your prospect.

And so yesterday, in a sales meeting in Calapan in one of our SBUS which was attended by some former and new seller, I had many kuwento for the welcome remarks and the Q and A portion.   I think we captured the interest and imagination of many by that approach

And so we remember the kuwentos of our lives.  MMK

Biking farther and faster as compared to having ambitious goals in business

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
September 10, 2017

I recall the kuwento about John Gokongwei  that putting up new businesses is not about making more money.  It is about oneself. The struggle about oneself and your ability and your  degree of self development and self mastery. That is true.

Making more much money does not mean much but helping others earn more, helping advocacy, improving places and what people can enjoy do matter.  But this requires more effort, more resources and determination.  As you pursue  these goals, being lofty means more obstacles.  Not all your people are aligned to your vision. Not even your relatives.The external forces are not as cooperative.  (The govt agencies) But one  knows that these can be overcome. With determination, and persistence, all ducks get ligned up with ones goal.

It is akin to biking when one is senior.  The butt aches, the back are stiff, the reflexes are not as sharp, the thighs and legs get hurt faster.  But one bikes and bikes and even aspires for ambitious destinations: steep hills and distances of over 100 kms  and more and with very young people.

What I see is that biking is not about equipment new bikes or group sets (carbon fiber or whatever).  Ordinary bikes will do.  What matter is the will power;  the lung power and the thighs and the legs.  Not better and more expensive bikes.

How to train better and more effectively?

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
August 6, 2017

Yesterday, grabbed a newspaper from  fastfood while having breakfast.  We were on our way to Pangasinan for a business meeting.

What caught my attention was the article of Francis J Kong, Business Matters on page b3.

He says that the best trainers are both able to inform and transform.  It is not enough for a trainor or a speaker to have facts and figures - information, if cant transform his audience.  You may be funny or entertaining, but if you cant inspire your audience, then you have failed as as trainer or consultant. You may be funny or be like a stand up comedian, but if you cant create change in the minds of your  listener, then it is time wasted for your audience and sponsors.

You must also develop CRITICAL THINKING (we have emphasized this in MBA or when we teach leadership or entrepreneurship. For personal  development we need in the area of learning to think to develop critical thinking)

What is critical thinking according to Kong?   It is the process of accepting new ideas (being open to innovation and creativity and other options)  withholding judgement, and possibly to create your own new ideas.

The trainor and or the boss must have the ability to connect the hearts and the head, and make the trainee use the ideas he has learned to be applied in his job.   Thus, our method of making our people reflect should be suffient:

                            1. What did I learn from the book/training?

                            2, What is the relationship to what I all ready know?

                            3.  How can I apply these learnings to my job?

We are alive alive, we are not dead; so always move and achieve

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
July 11, 2017

As we mentor trainees and wannabees, and we note that 0 was achieved for the day, we keep mentioning that they are alive.  Only dead can not  move, nor finish anything.  We are alive, we are alive and by all means we are given all powers and ability to achieve the things that all human beings were able to achieve

This was a line in carpe diem (Dead Poets society)

What brings you nearer to the truth and the light?

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
June 25, 2017

According to Peter Drucker,  as he wrote about management, the more is drawn nearer the Scriptures.   A manager/management writer has to be near the truth and the light.   For example, he said that one of the most elusive truth in a business is the P and L.  Depending on your accounting policy, you could always alter the bottom line.

Thus you have to find the truth and when you are nearer the truth, you become nearer the Light.  And the Light is the  Lord.

The Proverbs 6:23 says that the the commandment is the lamp and the law is the light.   Thus Peter Drucker and Proverbs are convergent.  There is a truth in commandments that correspond to the teaching of the Scriptures.

Jesus Declares I am the light of the world, the truth shall set you free John 8:25 -58

From the Gospel  of St Thomas  114 Sayings from Gospel of St Thomas (not in NT)

From Verse 61.6

5) Therefore I say: If someone becomes < like > (God), he will become full of light.
But if he becomes one, separated (from God), he will become full of darkness.

Verse 77:   Jesus says:

(1) “I am the light that is over all. I am the All. The All came forth out of me. And to me the All has come.”
(2) “Split a piece of wood — I am there.
(3) Lift the stone, and you will find me there.”

One of the interesting points in the Gospel of St Thomas is that the Kingdom of God is here at hand.   There is a divine light within all of us, we just  need to open our eyes.  We should restore earth nearer to the Kingdom of God.  That means a  lot  of Christian hard work to bring peace prosperity, lessen hardship, sickness, accidents, war and the like.  To help one another  as children of God

Which is better mortality or immortality?

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines

In our lives we are confronted with the question of death.  Thus diseases, Alzheimer, longevity and health are important concerns as we grow older. And this is the question addressed by Discovery Science  through the wormhole with Morgan Freeman   "Can you cheat death?"

There are methods that certainly does that:

1.  Stem cells.  We can regenerate our aging organs using embryonic stem cells.  However as we grow older, we get less and less of embryonic stem cells

2.  Discovery  of the ability of some sea creatures to regroup together even if they are cut, and /or regenerate by a Korean scientist.  We still have to find a way how this can be done or applied

3. Genetic re engineering.  Some of the genes can be spliced and re  ordered so that cancer, and other corruption of genes are corrected.  It has been done in pigs.

But what is better for the specie?  Immortality or Mortality  There is game simulation where the survival of mortals and immortals were compared.  The immortals initially won but later on the mortals got the better of the two because of their ability to get better healthier younger and stronger players in the field.  Why as individuals we want immortality, for the human race, mortality ensures the progress and winning of the human species.

More on learning to do experience: repairing a kitchen screen door closer

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
May 28, 2017

The household has been bothered by a kitchen screen door whose pneumatic stopper has ceased working because the the screws (2) were ripped off from the anchor of the alum door and the unit.   And the door lay idle for about several days and we could not use the door.   There were talks of buying a new door stopper and calling a repairman.

Today I got the chance to analyze the situation and appreciate the problem.  All I need to do was to get two tapping screws a millimeter or two that are oversized the ones that ripped off.  So I went to the usual hardware which closed early.  Then I happened to see a store that sell all types of nuts and bolts owned by certain Mike Cordero right next to the entrance of the Binangonan cockpit.   I got initially two for P2.00 but did not serve the purpose (too small) and later for P2.50 and that fitted (kabit2) Presto.  Problem solved for only P4.50 and some sweating under the noon sun

But problems can be solved if there is a passion to learn how to do it, and think hard how the problem can be solved.

Signs that you will be rich, and most are related to time and execution

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
May 27, 2017

Signs that you will be rich (the reverse is why you could fail)


This video tells of three secrets:

1.  Speed of implementation.  Thus Do It Now, Not mamaya.  Ngayon na.  Hasten the pace.  One of the secret of success of entrepreneur according to Larry Farrel is High Speed of Innovation.

2  Ability to act even with incomplete information
Not to be paralyzed by paralysis.  Ability to act in view of uncertainty.   SM put up malls even in the midst of crisis.

3.  Show how much you value your time.
Do you have a planner?  Do you spend more time at FB or dwelling on 6 o clock news that are not making you any money.  As per Henry Sy, we are all given only 24 hours a day, no more or less, but do use that time to give more value to your business to yourself

So the successful entrepreneurs value time act fast, and are intuitive in face of uncertainty

You see things much clearer after you are rebuked reprimanded or experience pain

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
May 20,2017

Yesterday was a re oral for an MBA student whose prior presentation did not pass the panel scrutiny because of lack of FS.  During the early times, it would have been an F. But since the grading is now compartmentalized for the strama, the student is only required to take remedial action on the defective part.

But since the effort of the student to pass was thwarted, she was apparently hurt if not angry.  She forgot her USB and left her presentation at the computer.  She left in a huff.

She was asked yesterday what she learned from the experience  And she said she realized her mistake, and that she could have done better.

I told her that my frequent encounter with strama makes me better at evaluating real life business problems and in negotiations.  When we are on top of numbers and when we can easily grasp the importance of numbers vs the strategy then we can better captains of the industry.  In her case, better business woman, and better manager

I told her, mastery the real lesson comes from the things you missed and the things you did wrong.  What is important is that you make up and learn from that mistake.

Today, our AM talk was about offering our life to the Lord, the past, the present and out dreams.  Including our pains. and it makes us feel better.  We offer our pain and join to the Lord. It is part of our praise and offering to the Lord.

Our work, our achievements are our offerings to the Lord.  The prayer to the Lord consist of praise, gratitude and blessings (material and spiritual0

We do not run away from our problems, we run towards the problem.  The more we can live fully as  we solve our problems and become better in doing that

Learning to do is an important skill

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
May 18, 2017

Two circular bulbs (FL) conked out in the house and I had difficulty figuring out things in the dark:  one is in the bedroom and the other one is in dining room area.  I thought that all that I needed would be the bulb.  The one in the bedroom was easy.  But the one in the dining area was challenging.   It would not turn on.  It would flicker at the start and then be out.

So I tried to get another bulb (this one costs double the first one I bought.  Still would not light up.  So I brought in the ballast for testing and was planning to change the ballast.  But the store clerk said it was ok.   Then I installed the assembly still would not light up.

Until yesterday, I bought a ballast and I installed.  The difficulty then was finding the right holes for the screw and I perspired profusely and almost two hours on the installation.  Not that I was scrimping on the electrician  but none had come for the last two weeks.

Boy was I glad I was able to do the repairs myself.  The reward was bright bedroom

Some notes on being positive

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
April 18,  2017

I started out in my business career feeding myself and reading about PMA Positive Mental Attitude. If you think you can you surely can.  What the mind can conceive the body can achieve.

But being positive surely goes beyond about mind power.  It tells to be enthusiastic.

To think of good things not bad. to think of happiness not bad.

To think only of the best and being the best.

That in dealing with others, and it is very likely that there will be disagreements, to think and search only about areas where you can agree rather than on disagreeing. Win win rather than win lose or lose win.

To guide others on how they can win or succeed rather than fail.

To have positive expectancy, to expect that still good will come out of bad situation.

To wish well of other even if they curse or put your down.  Or to pray for them

To think above the rest or expand your thinking if they have narrow mind, or they could not think above the gutter

That as a positive person you attract positive people. If you are positive, you bring positive vibes in a room and make others positive too.  You come in negative, others become negative.  As you think highly of your team and subordinates, they rise up to the occsaion.

If you want others to have more money, to be the money magnet.

To raise up your people so that you will rise too above the water.

Building more businesses as one becomes senior is not about making more wealth but about your self improvement

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
April 18, 2017

I think it was JG who said that old as he was he still loved creating or buying more businesses, even as he was old or for that matter, they were bleeding red ink  They held on with Sun Cellular losing billions until they sold the same to SMART for several tens of billions

He said it was not about making more money, but it is about battling oneself ones demons, ones weaknesses, and bringing out the best in you  The obstacles, the problems are the same, and at one point you may give up and say this is too much for your age to be still wrangling with these things you were battling early on in your life.  Is not time to rest. What do you think?

As in biking, my aspiration is to live longer and happier.   One can never get old from biking.  We can older if we stop.   We want to bike longer, faster and stronger.  We want to give always our best until the flesh becomes weak and decayed.

I dont think we should give up.  Habang may buhay.  God gave us life a gift so that we can share it with others and not even old age and fatigue should stand in our way.  If we have problems we can still devote our time to solve this, we can still train and inspire our people and they would profit from our sagacity coming from our experience and maturity

We feel sorry for younger businessmen who cant get beyond their small brain thinking

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
April 13, 2107

When I was very naive, I convinced my parents to embark on business venture in order to give great image and wealth to the family Later on when my parents died, and my siblings kicked me out of the board.l  I regretted having made that goal in life.

While I entirely planned and executed the business plans, they totally ignored that and said it was my parents who gave their wealth to them (true but even the will and testament of the parents were executed favorably for them.  How ungrateful.)

Lately I was hoping that we  could make amends and offered them two business proposal:  one was to be a servicing mortuary for a pre need company, and the other was a grant of right way deal where they could earn millions.   For the first one, they did not sign a deal, so we had to give it to another party.  For the second one, they over stretched and maxed out their greed and proposed a totally unacceptable deal.  I just dont know their kind of thinking that limits their growth and grabbing business opportunity.  The pre need company can help them boost their business (which funded:  the chapel and the crematorium which they had not paid to me)

And then even came out with an announcement that gave negative image of their company.  

More power and good luck to their small minds

They will have their comeuppance

On material wealth and health from Alexander the Great

It is about getting better...

A mechanical engineer for a multinational company, a kapadyak in biking shared this with me at pm on FB:

Source is Alexander the Great (the great at age 33) conqueror of Egypt, Persia, and rest of Asia

Worth reading and sharing: When you see a man selling handkerchiefs and still sweating profusely in traffic, it tells you that possession is not the same as ownership! Your life belongs to God; you are only having it but you don't own it. So, be careful what you do with your life before the owner asks for it. The last wishes of Alexander the Great......... On his death bed, Alexander summoned his army generals and told them his three ultimate wishes: 1. The best doctors should carry his coffin ... 2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery ... 3. His hands should be let loose, so they hang outside the coffin for all to see !! One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain . Here is what Alexander the Great had to say : 1. "I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death , even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal .." 2. "I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth , will stay on earth.." 3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is : TIME. We do not take to our grave any material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time. When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back . Our time is our life !. The best present that you can give to your family is your TIME and to God is your LIFE.. May God grant YOU plenty of TIME, to share this important message with all your contacts. We all forward jokes and other messages...pls forward this message to all your friends and request them to forward it to their friends too. Pls every living person should read this.

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When you feel pain you know you are alive

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
February 18, 2017

I just watched a CI movie, X with benefits and there was this scene where the daughter had conversation between daughter and father Tirso Cruz III who had oxygen mask, and was recuperating from a stroke

The daughter was repenting and apologizing to her father for causing the latter pain (he had a stroke after he took care of her because she attempted suicide after breaking off with Derek Ramsey)

The father said that she must change her attitude towards pain.

He recalled that as his daughter was born she was not crying (as is an indication that the infant is alive) and was still.  The nurse slapped the baby hard, once twice.  The father said do not hurt my baby.  The nurse said it is all right to slap the baby sir, to know if she/he is alive.  And on the third try, the infant cried.

Thus he said, you must feel pain to know if you are alive

Disappointed at former engineers who worked with us - are confirmed crooks

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines

February 9, 2017

When I rode to my appointment this morning, I happened and was happy to know that the driver owner of the van was former engineer who used to work for us.  He is from the Visayas and I just came from his province.

I engaged him in a conversation about the good old days. He does not have good word about the engineer who used to work for us (and who left us because he crossed my path due to dishonesty about work hours, ie not being in a work place and in his sideline line during working hours).  The said engineer left together with a marketing staff for a politician contractor.

He now has a palatial home in an exclusive village at the suburbs and a new SUV wow (His wife I understand who works with the govt is as dishonest as the husband)

A missive at a mass - run towards not away from your problem

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
January 29, 2017

A leader runs towards problem not away from them

I went to Antipolo Church last Friday and at the end of the mass after the blessing he enjoined everyone who was in attendance to run towards their problem and not away from them. As we focus on the problem, we will realize how God will help us, give us a new perspective on the problem and have this solved soonest.  Most of us are in denial, drink to to death when we have a problem or even commit suicide for really big problems.  

This is challenging and difficult as I have seen in my 65 years of struggle.  But we hang tough and strong.  When we give up, that is the end.

Observe Learn Observe (OLO) even at an old age we must continue learning

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
January 21, 2017

I met the chairman of the largest memorial park group in the Philippines today.  They have 23 memorial park sites, 17 of which are operational (others are pending or have difficulties) and I remarked that no matter how many businesses or project you have completed, you will have problems and you must struggle with each of them, learning new things along the way.

He disdained people who have shallow understanding of their work and their business.  He said he met many people who claimed to be experts in the field but really have shallow understanding of the business.

When I mentioned the feature of the business, he remarked that old as he is (79 years old vs  my 65) he learns from me. and to which I said the same thing here.   We should be open to learn from each other from competitors and all people we meet.  To do otherwise is hubris and then we start growing old.l

He will never grow old, and the Lord will bless us with longer life because we help so many people have jobs and leave poverty behind, improve the bereavement industry and improve the way, people immortalize the memories of their loved ones.

Which reminded me of an entrepreneur from our place who despite his limited education established a hazardous waste disposal business, a resort, a restaurant, a scrap and recycling business from automobile factories.  He said that one of the key skills and abilities he has is his ability to learn quickly

There are many young graduates and trainees we have who do not and probably can not learn fast

Lessons learned from the TV series Tyrant

It is about getting better...

Rizal Philippines
January 1, 2017

Happy New Year every one.

During this 3 long holidays, I found nothing much to do, after biking and cleaning bikes, except to watch TV. One that caught my attention is the TV series at CT channel Tyrants

I found to be entertaining and riveting and I had my eyes glued to channel almost the whole day today watching last night before and after new year. I found interesting insights and twists in the series:

1.  Extreme paranoia drove Jassam  the current President, to suspect his own son his general plotting against him and even tried to kill his own brother, Bassam, the main protagonist, the pediatrician from USA turned politician.  He even suspected that the whole thing was happening like his daughter in law getting miscarriage and having hysterectomy, the war with Calipahate, the losing of the City of Maan at ficitional country of Abuddin at the Middle East to the Calipahate were perhaps punishment of God to him.

2.  Love of brother and parents.   The series emphasized that although at one point in the interrogation at the Calipahate side of a brother who turned against another, it was said " he was your brother"  The President even said that disobeying your parents or even turning against a brother could bring ill tidings to your business or regime.   (I am glad my paranoia about my brother not doing business with me as an ill act was unfounded, because he is interested to do business with me.)  At the end of the day, brothers will be brothers and country men will be country men. as Khalid (aka Bassam) decided to stay instead of running away to Lebanon, decided to stay and fight Caliphate. and even join forces with Gen. Said (the son of Jassam) and well with Jassam

It is noteworthy how Bassam aka Khalid motivated and inspired the tribal fighters that their tribe resisted the Romans and barbarians early on.  And this time, they will do the same.

3.  The real tyrants were the ladies and not the men presidents nor the generals.  Who were the puppet runners?   The mother (who died in a mistaken bombing) and the first lady. The thing with the First Lady though, compared with Jassam and the current PHL president is that she recognized her mistake and corrected her action although it may mean treason.  She knew how to plot and leverage vs the Generals under the President.   How to cajole, threaten them.

   When Bassam was on a mission to disable the SAM of the Caliphate and Gen Said was arrested for alleged bombing of her grandmother, the First Lady wasted no effort in freeing Gen Said, mobilizing the Gen. Solomon through Molly, the husband of Bassam to rescue Barry aka Bassam.  (Would Digong swallow his pride)

   When the Arab league was investigating the alleged use of chemical weapon vs its own people (to save face with the Chinese ambassador at city of Maan) she said she can testify vs Pres. Jassam in exchange for her sons position in the govt.   How daring and how bold.  GMA would be put to shame.

These are great l lessons in nego and power play.

4.  Power trips

     The head will always nit prick the subordinate and accuse the subordinate of treason or insubordination for certain procedural matters (leave the matter to me even if the subordinate is after the group's goal.  But sometimes in the case of Caliphate, personal revenge got better of the black Calipahate leader although he was instructed not take revenge against the man Khalid.   In the end, he was badly injured to be saved by Bassam (Barry, Khalid)

Well you get great insights into power, politics, diplomacy oil terrorism etc.  mercenaries, weapons deal.

Unfortunately after 3 years, the series breathed its last this October 2016  (you cant keep on building excitement forever in a series.   Somehow, they will live happily ever after, you cant keep on killing the villains or protagonist or repeating the same plots