Constantly Improving

Its been hard trying to market FMASCHOOL.com, difficult because I am my own worst client. As someone with marketing experience, I know that its crucial that I follow up with any and all contacts I
might have made in my events. It's important to have a booth ready to go with staff ready to answer any questions that might arise. But it is also important to get their contact info. Just giving them my flyer or business care won't do any good. It is up to the vendor to follow up. I know this, and any marketing person worth his salt knows this. But I can't seem to do it. Maybe this is what keeps me from success. My own lack of follow through?

So with that to any and all who wants to market anything. Showing up isn't good enough anymore, its showing up everyday is what counts. Push for it and never give up on your dream.

Francis




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New Testament Survey

Last night (11/04) I started my second class at Vanguard University and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Last night again the Lord reconfirmed that Vanguard is the right place. But its kinda sad and scary at the same time that I only have 4
more weeks of class left. I don't even have time to adjust to it. But at the same time I don't have time to get bored. I have to just fix my student loans stuff. Pray for me.


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God Answering

On September 27, 2010 the Serrano house went through an upheaval Sunday morning. Finding a boy in my niece's room is surely something that this uncle wasn't prepared for.

But that is not what this blog is about. This blog is about doing what is right even when it betrays even myself. Surely this was a test from God. To have this same boy whom I just kicked out of the house invite back because he had nowhere else to go.

All throughout my thought process I kept pushing and pushing for let this BOY deal with his own problem. But Jesus was talking to me the whole time where He drown out my own voice and kept reminding me of my Christian Duties from my conscious aka GOD. Then if that wasn't enough I saw a license plate that said God Loves U and that was it.

Well he's staying with us. But I know God will not forsake us.


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Tita Celia's Pinoy Restaurant in Carson, CA

I


happen to chance to find Tita Celia's Filipino restaurant here on Carson and Figeroua. As I found this place I found myself excited to eat some authentic Pinoy Food. I ordered Breakfast meal with Tocino served eggs and Garlic Rice. I also ordered 2 pcs of Pork BBQ and Large Sago Gulaman.

As I first noticed that this place is standard turo-turo (point point) restaurant. The decorations are dark and uncomfortable. Two flat tv playing of course TFC. I try not to judge the quality of the food based on this weird decoration but it does have a theme. A dark theme colored. But with all the windows you would think this would be brighter. Tables are dirty and the chairs well there's stuff on it.

Now let's get to the food. I think the only thing fresh with my meal was the eggs that was polched, cause that's the typical way the Pinoy cooks eggs. (<---sarcasm). The tocino and rice was too hot. It was clear that rice have been reheated to the point it burnt the tongue. No taste of garlic anymore. The the tocino was frozen cooked a while ago and reheated. Thus the meet was dry and the ice that was on the marinated meat washed away the sweatness and sapped all the life from it.

The Pork BBQ I'm afraid was prepared similarly where it was frozen and reheated. And what's worse was the Sago gulaman. Ive had water that had more taste. It might as well served dirty water. For that was no sago gulaman.

Its so sad I want to support Pinoy business but until they improve their food they have no business of being in business. Sorry.

Out of 5 stars I give Tita Celia 1/2 a star. And they only get that cause the women that work here are cute.

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I know I am suppose to share

When I was a little boy one of the things that was alway hard for me was to share. Share my toys my friends just anything that belonged to me well it stayed with me. I am just a stingy little boy. I guess it had to do with being the youngest and there was at least 16 years between my sister and I. So in that context i am an only child.

But as I grew older I knew that sharing was important. And now I share all the time. But when is it okay not to share?

Eversince Visayan Legacy split from the main school it has been awkward. I mean I still have friends from the old school. And I look forward to see them in tournaments and seminars. But now it's different.

Now that they decided to stay with their teacher why are some of them still asking us to be their corner man and or prepare them for the upcoming tournament. Why are they not asking their leaders and or teachers? I just find it so unfair that they are expecting us to sti help the when in our time of need they decided to abandon us. Let's me be clear although they are still my friends. Their decision to stay with that person still hurt. To me it felt lime they put their self interest first before doing what is obviously right. ( Oh btw if you are reading this and you are one of those people. Sorry but this is how I feel )

Now at tournaments they come up and ask if we can be their corner man or have a session with them to train. I am so not down with that.

1. Why aren't they askig their teachers? I mean they choose to stay with him so have him help you. But more often than not if we do help them they go and give credit to their teacher not the one that actual helped them.

2. As a school owner my point of view has changed. I find myself thinking of my students first more and more often. And my students pay me to teach them what I know, why then should others get it for free? It's not fair to my students.

So sharing all the time. Well not in this case.

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To my Dad c/o Jesus

Dad,

Do u miss me like I miss you? Do you cry at times on the moments that seems to make any sense?
Do you envy those who have take advantage of those they are supposed to?
All I know is Dad that 15 years ago a small piece of me left and I wait I long and I cry for no matter what no matter who you will be the only one that fills that gap. And I long for the day where we can be all a family again. I love you Dad.

Your Son,
Francis Thomas B. Serrano

Jesus, can you tell him this for me? And I thank you for the promise that I will see him again.




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Effectiveness of Stickfighting

More often than not I get a lot of questions and comments about FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) and it's effectiveness. Well it doesn't take much convincing that FMA is designed for real world application. And yes I know we don't walk around with sticks everyday. But any true Filipino Martial Artist knows what makes this effective isn't the tool it's the "tool" that thinks that I need a stick to kick their ass. Just kidding what makes this dangerous isn't the stick it's the person that wields it.

And here's why:

1. Extension. A stick is an extension of my arm meaning that I can still do the same move with a small variation.

2. Faster than you. A stick can travel almost 50x's faster than your fist. And we train to block and counter with a fast moving sticks being wielded against us. Well if we can move block evade counter circumnavigate dodge with a stick traveling at high velocity than how much easier would it be when it is traveling at a slower rate?

3. We start training weapon first. That is because FMA has a military point of view. In any military training across the globe and history. All soldiers are first taught how to fight with a weapon. And when they go out on the field of battle they carry as much weapons as they can carry. Why? It's because they want to have as much of an advantage over their enemy. So they teach them how to wield their weapons first and then move into empty hands. But ask any soldier, once you take a way their weapons are they any less dangerous?


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Something New in You!!!

Isaiah 43:19" I am about to do a new thing now is springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

As we look into a new year a lot of things come up. Some are good and some are bad. But whatevver it is. If it is for the Lord it will be something great in the new you.

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All of sudden Im heading North

This is the first time I didn't go to a big tournament with the guys. But it was Jules birthday and well I had to go. Actually I had to go to both. So I went to Julies birthday but before that I've packed my bags for I am heading to Fremont California or the 2010 tournament. And here is my ROAD TRIP.

12:24 AM drove for about 45 mins and mother nature calls (or roared) and so I'm here at Santa Clarita's IHop answering the call. As soon as I was done I stepped out to find out that not all Ihops are 24 Hours. Oops.

2:02 AM not really sure where I am but I am in petro iron skillet stop. Why is this trip requireing me to use the can a lot? What the heck did I eat at Julie's

3:30 AM again not sure where I am but pulled over at a denny's nap time. Oh btw I drank that 5 hour energy drink and one hour later I'm sleepy. What a rip off.

I know I should really sleep but the one hour drive wasn't too bad. I was able to turn on the cruise control and just coast man. The whole drive I just kept thinking how beautiful Julie was tonight. She was wearing this cream colored dress and it was so nice to hear about special moments people had with her. It was really great to see Auntie Trini and Uncle Lawry. Auntie was telling me that she is going to Vegas for her 75th birthday and in July the whole clan is going to Hawaii for Uncle's 80th birthday. I love them so much.

4:30 AM FINAL PUSH. I've decided to not make anymore stops. I was driving on Highway 158 and the sun starting to peak through the hills. To be honest if this was the only reason why I went just so I can this Majestic Moment it would be worth it.

7:35 AM so the GPS kept saying that I will arrive at my destination at 7:35 AM and I was starting to have my doubts. But I did make it. Tried calling Josh but no answer and called Kim and he was able to tell me where their room was so I can take a quick shower.

8:00 AM I'm downstairs saying hi to everyone.

Now it's 2:19 AM Monday morning and I'm back home safe and sound. Josh was able to drive back with me and he actually drove the lion share of it back so I was able to catch some sleep. But overall it was a great quick road trip and wouldn't have missed it for the world.


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The Heavy Stick We Wield

Last night I trained with the guys for th first time this year. And it was intense to say the


least. Instead or swinging the regular rattan stick I swung a heavy kamagong stick. And it was bulky and the weight shifted too much to keep any sort of balance to it and unless you are an experience escrimador I don't recommend for new practicioners to be wielding it. It will just hurt your wrist.

Hitting the tires and th bags with those heavy sticks were no jokes. But when we switched to the lighter sticks I was flying

But my back is sore and I can't get up.

I love stickfighting
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Turtle style

So today's class I find myself developing more and more as an escrimador. Today we worked on the ABC blade technique. When my students asked why are we using the full stick when a knife is a lot shorter than that. I said well if you can clear a 24" stick while acting like it's a blade the how much more easier it is when it's a 4" knife? Which makes so much freekin sense that it made me wonder hmm did I always know that or was it something I did during my days as a student and never really understood why. I am so happy with my student's progress that I remember how they use to twirl now I am very proud to see the excell.

Then I wanted to re-emphasize the kawi hand. Cause I truly believe that the stick hand kills your enemy but it's your kawit hand is what will save your life.


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You called and look whose answering

I just recently returned from Las Vegas Nevada to help them start their very own Christmas Institute. And Lord was it a succesful weekend. Going into this weekend we had so many doubts and so much fear.

One of the many concerns were the abrubt change. It seems like this is too soon and that they need more seasoning before being called to serve. And I shared with them that no one is ever really is ready to be a leader for leadership isn't about hey now I can lead it's about hey something needs to get done and someone got to do it. Moses is a perfect example that he felt he wasn't ready to be a leader although he was raised and groomed as royalty and to lead the people of Egypt. But all that God required from him was to show up and He will take care of the rest.

The next concern they had was who was going to help them. Well I am so very blessed that my friend Christian is taking on this ministry with me. And we were able to show them that we had strong experience leaders ready to serve.

And there are more but as the time went on we all realized that the fear will ALWAYS be there and that's how God wants it to be. For faith is only truly excercised not in the absence of fear but in the presence of it. But just like Peter we cling to our Lord God to get us through this storm.

All I pray for is for me to keep my ears and heart open to be able to lead these young leaders to their very own Christmas Institute. All Glory to God.


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The dark days

The Darkest Days
By: Francis T.B. Serrano


The day are short the nights darker & there is no end in sight. How I long for the subtle hope that is a flicker of light amidts the darkest of nights.

The winter of my heart freezes the life and I long for the sliver of warmth from the intesity of a sun hidden away by the clouds of sorrow.

The depth of my soul is a shallow puddle compared to the longing of the ocean where te deapest and most rarest of jewels are hidden unattainable to all but by the one destined to hold it and show the world that my life and my purpose

Is To bring hope again.


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