One early morning after a downpour, as I drove past the national highway, a dead dog was lying by the roadside—its body torn open, its blood washed thin by the rain. A few meters away, another lifeless cat lay sprawled near the gutter. That sight, as common as it has become, always makes me question this supposed “sixth sense” that animals are said to possess—the mysterious instinct to detect danger before it strikes.

I’ve heard people swear that before an earthquake, the chickens grow restless, the dogs howl, and the birds vanish from the trees. In the countryside, these stories are told with an air of certainty, as if nature itself whispers its secrets to animals first. It’s a belief passed through generations, sometimes reinforced by coincidence—a dog barking before a tremor, or cows refusing to move before a storm. But I’ve learned that superstition and science often walk different paths. While it’s true that some animals can sense subtle environmental changes—such as vibrations, temperature shifts, or changes in air pressure—this does not mean they can always interpret these signals as a danger, nor does it mean they can always escape it.

In fact, the animal kingdom is as vulnerable as ours, sometimes even more so. When a flash flood rushes through a village, not only do people drown, but also goats, pigs, and dogs tied to posts. During typhoons, countless birds are torn apart mid-flight, and fish are hurled ashore by storm surges. If these creatures indeed have some premonitory awareness, it does little to save them. Survival often depends less on instinct than on circumstance—whether there’s a tree to climb, an opening to flee through, or a human who cares enough to untie the rope.

I don’t discount the fascinating studies that show elephants detecting distant thunder or snakes sensing tremors through the ground. Those are marvelous adaptations, but they don’t imply foreknowledge of disaster; they merely indicate responsiveness to stimuli. The danger lies not in acknowledging animal sensitivity, but in romanticizing it. When we say animals “know” what’s coming, we grant them human intuition they do not possess, turning their reflexes into prophecies and their confusion into wisdom. It’s our human tendency to explain what we don’t fully understand by cloaking it with mystique.

Perhaps the reason such beliefs persist is that they offer us comfort. We like to imagine that someone—if not us, then the creatures around us—has a head start against danger. There’s reassurance in thinking that the dog’s sudden bark or the bird’s abrupt flight is a coded warning, a way for nature to speak. It feeds our yearning for connection to something larger, to a natural order we can no longer hear directly because we’ve become too civilized, too distant from the wild. Yet, ironically, this faith in animals’ foresight masks our own failure to prepare, to learn, and to adapt.

Whenever I see dead animals on the road, I think of how unfair it is that they get blamed for not escaping what they could never predict. A dog crossing a highway doesn’t know about speeding trucks, nor can a carabao sense a bridge collapse seconds before it happens. They’re not prophets—they’re survivors in a world designed by humans, a world that often doesn’t make room for their instincts. Our roads, our noise, our concrete—all these mute whatever primal sensitivity they might have once had. And so, they perish, not for lack of instinct, but for lack of space to act on it.

There’s also the irony that we expect animals to do what we ourselves fail to do: anticipate disaster. We build homes in flood-prone areas, cut trees without thought, ignore weather warnings, and still we mock nature when it retaliates. Maybe we find comfort in believing that animals sense danger better than we do because it excuses our negligence. But no, animals die too—sometimes first, last—and their deaths remind us that nature spares no one, not even her own.

I think it’s time we stop burdening animals with mythical powers they never claimed. Instead of expecting them to foresee calamities, we might learn more by observing how they live despite them—alert, adaptive, and instinctively responsive to the world as it is, not as it might be. Their senses are tools for survival, not fortune-telling. And if there’s a lesson in their silence, it’s that danger, once it comes, spares neither the wise nor the wild. It simply arrives—and like the rain-washed carcass on the highway, it leaves behind the same, humbling truth: instinct alone is never enough.

The first 90 days in any new role are critical. They’re a period of intense learning, adaptation, and relationship-building that sets the tone for your long-term success. While the specifics will vary depending on the industry, company, and role, certain fundamental questions should guide your thinking and actions during this crucial initial phase. These ten areas will guide your transition, build strong foundations, and ensure long-term success.

1. What are the three most important goals for this role in the first 90 days?

Don’t get bogged down in the minutiae. Identify the most impactful contributions you can make early on. This requires understanding the team’s immediate needs and aligning your efforts with the company’s overall strategic goals. Discuss these priorities with your manager to ensure alignment and avoid wasted effort.

2. Who are the key stakeholders I need to build relationships with?

Success in any role depends heavily on effective collaboration. Identify the individuals whose support and collaboration are essential for your success. This includes your manager, team members, key clients, and other relevant departments. Proactively schedule meetings, build rapport, and understand their perspectives and expectations.

3. What are the unspoken rules and cultural norms of this organization?

Every organization has its own unique culture, often communicated through unspoken rules and norms. Observe carefully, ask questions (tactfully!), and learn how things are done. Understanding the organizational culture will help you navigate social dynamics, build relationships, and avoid unintentional missteps.

4. What are the existing processes and systems I need to understand?

Familiarizing yourself with the key processes and systems in your new role is crucial for a successful transition and ongoing performance. This involves more than simply understanding the basic functions; it requires a deeper understanding of how these processes and systems interact and contribute to the overall goals of the organization.

ere’s a breakdown of what that entails:

Identify Key Processes: Begin by identifying the core processes directly related to your responsibilities. These might include workflows, procedures, decision-making processes, and communication channels.

Understand System Functionality: Learn how the various systems used within your role operate. This could include software applications, databases, communication platforms, project management tools, and any other technology used in your daily work. Don’t just learn the basics—explore the advanced features and functionalities to maximize efficiency.

Document Your Learning: Create a personal knowledge base to document your understanding of processes and systems. This could be a simple notebook, a digital document, or even mind maps. This will serve as a valuable reference point as you settle into your role.

Seek Mentorship and Guidance: Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from experienced colleagues or mentors. They can provide valuable insights and shortcuts, helping you navigate the complexities of the systems and processes more efficiently.

Observe and Participate: Actively observe how experienced team members utilize the processes and systems. Participate in real-world tasks to gain practical experience and identify areas for improvement or clarification.

Ask Questions: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Clarifying uncertainties early on will prevent misunderstandings and potential errors down the line.

Continuous Learning: Recognize that processes and systems can evolve. Stay updated on changes and new developments to maintain efficiency and effectiveness.

By thoroughly familiarizing yourself with the key processes and systems, you’ll gain a strong understanding of your role, improve your efficiency, and contribute effectively to the organization’s success. This proactive approach will significantly contribute to your overall success and integration into the team. This might involve learning new software, understanding internal workflows, or grasping established communication protocols. Efficiently mastering these systems will significantly improve your productivity and integration into the team.

5. What are the team’s strengths and weaknesses?

Assess the team’s capabilities and identify areas for improvement. This understanding will inform your contributions and allow you to leverage the team’s strengths while addressing potential weaknesses. Contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment.

6. What are the biggest challenges facing the team and the organization?

Understanding the challenges facing the team and the organization is crucial for identifying opportunities to contribute meaningfully. This involves actively listening, asking insightful questions, and engaging in discussions to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape.

7. What resources are available to support my success?

Find and utilize available resources—mentorship, training, documentation, and colleagues—to support your learning and growth. This might include mentorship programs, training courses, internal documentation, or access to experienced colleagues. Proactively utilize these resources to accelerate your learning curve and enhance your performance.

8. What are my personal learning goals for the first 90 days?

Set personal learning goals that align with the priorities of the role and your long-term career aspirations. This might involve mastering a new skill, improving a specific competency, or expanding your knowledge of a particular area. Regularly review your progress and adjust your goals as needed.

9. How will I measure my success in this role?

Define clear and measurable goals for your first 90 days. These goals should align with the top priorities you identified earlier and provide a framework for assessing your progress. Regularly track your progress and discuss your achievements with your manager.

10. What feedback mechanisms are in place, and how will I solicit regular feedback?

Proactively seek feedback from your manager, team members, and other stakeholders. This will help you identify areas for improvement and ensure you’re on track to meet expectations. Establish regular check-in meetings and actively solicit feedback throughout the 90-day period.

Beyond the Questions: Action and Adaptation

These ten questions are not merely points for contemplation; they are springboards for action. The first 90 days are a time for active learning, relationship building, and strategic planning. Regularly reviewing your progress against these questions, adapting your approach as needed, and maintaining open communication with your manager will significantly increase your chances of a successful and fulfilling transition into your new role. Remember, this is a period of intense learning and adaptation; embrace the challenges, seek feedback, and continuously strive to improve. The foundation you build in these initial 90 days will significantly impact your long-term success and contribution to the organization.
————–
If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

THAT’S what we can get from that gospel episode where Christ made the people, who admired the temple for its rich adornment, to realize how it was going to be at the end of time. (cfr. Lk 21,5-19)

Oh, many terrible things were going to happen, he told them. But at the same time, he reassured them that while they shall be hated by all men for Christ’s sake, not a hair of their head shall perish. “In your patience you shall posses your souls,” he said.

This gospel episode is definitely a call for us to prepare for the end, either of our own life or of time and the world. It’s a preparation that is also a call for us to really strengthen our faith, and to keep on going and growing in our spiritual life that in the end is what truly matters, since that is the life that brings us to our eternal bliss with God.

In this regard, we need to see to it that our profession of our belief in God, and the accompanying practices of piety that it involves, should always continue to grow and improve, making appropriate adjustments, proper adaptations and even necessary corrections along the way.

We cannot deny that we always tend to fall into lukewarmness and complacency, leading us to fall into all sorts of inconsistencies between what believe in, what we teach and what we do. It calls to mind that accusation Christ once made against some of the Pharisees whose words we may follow but not their deeds, since, as he said, “they preach, but do not practice what they preach.” (Mt 23,3)

We have to continually check and review how we are doing in our spiritual life, in our relation with God and with others. Do we really find time to pray, to know more about God? Are we progressing in our skill in discerning God’s will and ways at every moment of the day?

This definitely would require of us to have some kind of a plan of life that covers everything in our life, making them pursue the ultimate goal of our life. If we are to be effective especially in facing the many challenges and opportunities today and in the future, we need to hone our skills at making plans and strategies, both of the short-run and the long-run types.

This may require a lot of patience and self-discipline, and the learning curve may be very slow at the beginning. But then again if we persist, there is no other way but to succeed.
Of course, the most important goal of the plans and strategies is how to relate everything to God. We have to come out with concrete ideas as to how to make that goal achievable. Obviously, this would involve developing the virtue of order and of inculcating the proper sense of priorities, giving the inputs of our Christian faith the first priority.

We have to examine our attitudes, practices and habits, and see which ones would reinforce this effort and which would hinder it. We have to learn how to make plans and strategies that are realistic and are organic in the context of our personal circumstances. They have to be plans and strategies that know how to flex with the changing circumstances without getting confused or lost in our proper focus.

We should be able to see a gradual process of developing our spiritual life such that we can feel more intimate with God himself and that our whole life goes truly in synch with God’s will and ways! This is what is meant by preparing for the end.

After the onslaught of the two Typhoons in Tino and Uwan came a very important house part, the roof.

Why roofs matters? For one it is a shelter on top of our heads.

The Philippines experiences around 20 typhoons per year, making durable roofing materials essential for lasting protection. While it’s true that the right choice can protect your home and lower your maintenance expenses, there are more reasons why roof material matters in shaping your property’s worth.

When a natural disaster strikes, it can cause great damage to homes and buildings. One of the most important parts of a house that needs to be prepared for such events is the roof. A strong and reliable roof can protect your family and belongings from dangerous weather conditions.

Roofs are our first line of protection from rains, hale and snow. In the Philippines, roofs are symbolic and concrete, a durable means to help our people survive. And survive they did , holding unto and embracing on all fours on the roof of their houses, in Cebu and Catanduanes, elsewhere.

And that, many of our people, under the lashing of the Super Typhoon cling to it and save them from being strewn and carried into the Open Sea, for them the roof was the superhero.

Yet, again, the roof is now also a symbol of how high the tide of neglect. How formidable the force of systemic corruption that we cannot be safe inside our homes, because floods will engulf and devour the hapless one. We are up to the roof with thievery that its demoralizing to pay our taxes nowadays.

Every rooftop is a reminder of the possibility that come floods and high water, it’s a sanctuary, a safe haven. It is also a reminder, how buried we are with the quagmire and entanglement of hogwash and corruption, that its is not knee-deep, neck deep, its nearly over and through the roof.