gearing for 20-13...

less than 2 days and it's a new calendar year! i've a lot to look forward to this coming year and i'm really set to get busy: first, in church; and second, at work. of course, i need not mention dedicating my whole self to my two girls, 24/7. i just feel blessed with everything i have and for these, i thank God, my Father! ;)

- - - - - - - - - - - -

a while ago we went to auntie joy's place. it's her birthday and we used to celebrate her day with an annual family reunion especially when my mom was still here in Manila. years passed and the tradition seems to fade. it's nice to gather still though even if family members aren't complete and seeing the relatives happy being reunited once in a while is already enough to compensate those lost years.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

SURPRISE! i have work tomorrow--- December 31! and yeah, to put icing on the cake, i'm working on the first day of 2013 too! isn't that great??!!!

#reversePsychology

- - - - - - - - - - - -

last week, my two girls & i spent the holidays with my dad and relatives from his side. it was really, really, really nice to get back to your former 'home.' i took my two girls in downtown San Fernando and we strolled the side streets of the patio. we were actually looking for a flower shop to have it placed on my grandpa & grandma's grave. later, i met a HS classmate (and hometown mate) in a coffee shop to catch up with things. i dropped by their place after our coffee (chat) then headed back home to my two girls. everytime i visit Pampanga, i never fail to reminisce my good old teen years...





- - - - - - - - - - - -

earlier, my blogger bespren (biep) called and he was already in the boarding area. so his trip is finally pushing through after long time of planning. it's just sad that he has to leave right before new year's eve and spend the new year away from his son & wifey. well, it's all for the good of his family. goodluck on your new undertakings in PNG, daddy kuri!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

2013 is approaching. more surprises, more challenges ahead. let's bring it on! ;)

wazzup, Decembah?!

first post for December, hopefully not the last. some people are making the most out of this day because rumors say that tomorrow, December 21, 2012 is doomsday! i'd say, "weh, di nga? "

- - - - - - - - - - - -

i missed posting last 12.12.12 or December 12, 2012. it's the last date where we can encounter a triple number in a date. these triple number-dates are quite significant for me because of a couple of reasons: 1) my blog started in March 3rd, 2003; and, 2) i got married in August 8th, 2008...

so what were your stories last January 1, 2001? February 2, 2002? April 4, 2004? May 5, 2005? June 6, 2006? July 7, 2007? September 9, 2009? October 10, 2010? November 11, 2011? and December 12, 2012?

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Last weekend was a Hi-5 treat day, not only for our little girl but to us (wifey & i) as well. we do follow this group since our little girl started watching it even before she can stand on her own, three years ago. her lolo daddy bought us the discounted tickets for the Hi-5 Holiday concert and yea, we got the last row seats in the balcony. being the good father that I am, i was disheartened to see my little girl watch the show from the very far view. so, daddy made a way to bring his little girl near the admired group. i took my little girl down to the main hall, very near the stage and we just stayed in the aisle. more moms followed with their kids and soon, the kids were enjoying the 'close encounter' with the Hi-5 group. did my little girl enjoy the show?



- - - - - - - - - - - -

very busy at work since last month, and it is predicted to last until next year. perhaps our team can rest just weeks before the next fiscal year. i just hope that no work will come into the way of the scheduled long weekends in 2013. speaking of which, i'm on duty on the 31st of this month AND january 1st.

does that mean that i'll be working overtime (OT-Y) for most of the coming year? nooooooo...!!!! :(

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Isang pagbati para kay binibining Janine Tugonon, Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2012, at 1st runner-up sa Ms. Universe 2012. Para sa aming mga kababayan mo (at sa marami ring ibang lahi na nakasaksi ng paligsahan) IKAW ANG NANALO! ;)

[caption id="attachment_2827" align="alignnone" width="300"] 2012 Miss Universe 1st Runner-up, Bb. Janine Tugonon, MABUHAY![/caption]

missing home already

we've been in the hospital since Saturday. Not that we're not used to this set-up but yeah, we're really missing home already.

busy until 1st quarter of 2013?

everything seems pouring at work these past few weeks and more weeks to come. not just because it's December but our department has been tasked to do a 'project' to be executed in just three months! work... WORK! This month has been hell in terms of events and come December, more events are lined up! and when everybody thinks that these events are all over after December, our team is just starting to get even busier... things to look forward to are simply overwhelming.

at the same time (and i guess more timely than ever) our group is undergoing expansion. our team however will remain to serve every division. so, i guess it is just but proper for our team to grow also. it is actually my first time to process the hiring of a 'subordinate' who will directly report to me. while i'm used to 'managing' people, this will be my first time to do it in a profession, officially. supervisor job? sort of. but only the job description was 'upgraded.' i hope compensation follows soon.

i need a break.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

the other day while i was driving to work, a tricycle-service caught my attention while the red traffic light was on. the tricycle is carrying SIX student-passengers inside his sidecar and an additional two on back ride.

[caption id="attachment_2813" align="alignnone" width="300"] "tricycle sardines?"[/caption]

how can you entrust your kid/s to that kind of a "service?"

ang hirap kumita ng pera

eto na yung kwento ng modus operandi na bumiktima sa amin noong nakaraan pang biyernes. andami kong pwedeng gawing title ng post na ito... "kakaibang trip" / "pang-famas na modus" / "effort si kuya" / "buwis-buhay na modus" / "babala: bagong modus"
lahat ng 'yan, swak sa ikukwento ko.

holiday. kaya ang karaniwang kalsada na 'di umuusad sa sikip ng trapik kapag may pasok, pwedeng baybayin sa bilis na higit 60 kilometro kada oras nang araw na iyon. pero naglalaro lang sa 40 kph ang takbo ng kotse namin. paglagpas lang ng may ilang metro mula sa MABUHAY rotonda, isang medyo may edad na lalaki ang biglang tumambad sa unahan ng kotseng minamaneho ko. nagmula sya sa center island. naglakad nang parang lasing o bagong gising (time check: ilang minuto bago alas-7 ng umaga) papalapit sa tumatakbo kong sasakyan. wala sya sa tamang tawiran. iniwasan ko si kuya. tiyak ko, hindi ko sya mahahagip. pero kumalabog ang likuran ng kotse ko pagkatapos kong umiwas sa kanya. at dahil tumatakbo ang kotse ko, sumulyap kami ni wifey sa likod--- lumingon sya, ako naman sa rear view mirror tumingin. si kuya, tumatakbong parang si Ben Johnson habol-habol ang tumatakbong kotse ko. aaminin ko, medyo kinabahan ako. paglingon ko ulit sa harap, nakapula ang traffic light. patay! eto na si kuya. lumapit sa gilid ng kotse, pinakita ang duguang braso. sinipat ko habang medyo natutuliro... may "dugo" pero wait... tila walang sugat o galos dun sa duguan niyang braso. si kuya na parang lasing kanina, gising na gising ang diwang nagtatatalak sa gilid ko. dumampot ng bato. yun na yata ang pinakamatagal na stop light ng buong driving career ko. "gusto ko lang kumain, babanggain nyo pa ko.. natapon lahat ng kanin kong dala, eto pa nangyari sa akin!" (sabay turo sa dumudugo nyang braso na walang kagalos-galos)

natatandaan ko pa na inalok ko syang tumabi kami at para pag-usapan pero nang maramdaman naming uma-acting na lang si kuya (o maaaring hindi rin) inabutan na namin sya ng cold cash pagpalit ng stop light mula pula at naging luntian. malugod nya itong inabot nang buksan ko ang bintana ng sasakyan, hindi naman kami binato.

ayun. instant 100 bucks bago mag-alas siete ng umaga, mukhang quota na si kuya. binalikan namin siya ni wifey ng tanaw pagka-andar namin at parang wala lang ang nangyari sa kanya. tuwid namang maglakad at umupo lang ulit sa may center island. takte!

How was your long weekend?

here's mine:

November 1, Thursday. just stayed home. Went out in the afternoon to perform my church duty and then just bought some food at the nearby supermarket after. There's no place like home. And I miss lazying on the couch. It's been a long time since i have last stayed in the house and do nothing but eat, sleep and not think of any pressure at all. Thursday was awesome!

November 2, Friday. wifey & went off the road early to get some stuffs for her online business. along the stretch of Espana, we got victimized by this aged man. details of this modus operandi on my next blog post.
anyway, we rounded the market for a good couple of hours. too many 'affordable' stuffs around, too bad we just have enough to spend for the items that needed to be bought. went home immediately since the sun is already spreading its fierce heat. freshened up at home, took lunch, took a nap, then off we went to INC Life! This was an exhibit of the milestones of the church (Iglesia Ni Cristo) from the time of the leadership of Bro. Felix Manalo. There were also various activities for the family organizations--- Buklod, KADOWA, binhi & PNK and we enjoyed being in there. sulit, 'ika nga. I was even interviewed by the TV crew but really had no idea when it was aired (or will be aired?) anyway, we also had the chance to visit my favorite FM station Pinas FM 95.5 which is just within the compound of the venue. a friend is currently on board and so we had our names greeted and song requests played on air. then we had photo with another DJ (the next to go on board that time) and met former radio colleagues. it was a fun day!

[caption id="attachment_2797" align="alignnone" width="150"] at PINAS FM 95.5 booth[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2798" align="alignnone" width="150"] with Pinay BFF Moodie Jam & Kuya Evner[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2799" align="alignnone" width="150"] looking at the fishes[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2800" align="alignnone" width="150"] shooting ball... more fun![/caption] [caption id="attachment_2801" align="alignnone" width="150"] INC Life.. more fun![/caption]

our day wasn't over. we drove to Eastwood city afterwards to complete our family bonding. our little girl was so delighted she even befriended the old man who was playing the piano in Eastwood Mall.
we walked through the tiangge, watched a couple of small kids jump in the costlytrampoline, took time staring at the fishes in front of a pizza-pasta place, and refreshed ourselves with some treats from DQ. then we called it a day!

[caption id="attachment_2802" align="alignnone" width="150"] yummy![/caption] [caption id="attachment_2796" align="alignnone" width="150"] chill time at Eastwood[/caption]

November 3, Saturday. may pasok. boo! hahaha. panira lang ng super long weekend. anyway, it's quite surprising that many of my colleagues reported to work. ang sipag lang ng mga taga-Marketing! :D i spent the workday attending to the papers that need to be prepared for the contract signing the coming Monday. also took the chance to meet blogger 'bestfriend' dadddy kuri during lunch. but yeah, we didn't pig out. we tried this new milk tea business of GMA reporter Bernadette Reyes just across GMA Network in Timog Ave. Milk Tea (with pearl) lovers should try it. For a starting business, the store looks promising. And the owner is very friendly ;)



Sunday is a usual church day, and again family day for the rest of it. loved the long weekend. i hope we get this at least every quarter-year. :D

daddy's joy :)

i'm a dad for over three years now and i can say that the joys that your child brings are countless. yes, even if your fuse blows numerous times because of their stubbornness, it still doesn't equate with the happiness that you feel whenever you see them, much more bond with them. the early years of being with them to know them and letting them know you, the proper time to teach them what life has to offer, the perfect time to discipline them whenever necessary. the reward that you get when you see their happy face whenever you treat them a cone of ice cream, the priceless hugs & kisses they reciprocate for the unconditional love you let the feel. all of these are the joys of being a dad...



there goes daddy's girl! ;)

family, crime, career, leader

Last Saturday was one of those rare Saturdays that I spent with my family, since I started working on a 6-day workweek job. So early that day, we prepared to visit Papa Johnny's mom in Manila. Wifey & I then left to buy stuffs for her online business. Our little girl was left under the care of her lolos & lolas. Our "shopping" went smooth so we headed back to Mommy's place just in time for lunch (around 1PM already). A few chat & catching up after our lunch, then we left the place to visit lolo Albert who's currently in Tayuman. we left Mommy's place around 2PM. more or less an hour after, here's what happened in their neighborhood: (WARNING: some parts of the video are sensitive)



the house just across the street of Mommy's place was robbed & a shootout between the suspects & the victims occurred. just an hour earlier, we were parked just across (in front) of that place! When Papa Johnny was informed by his siblings the news that night (we were already in church) we had goosebumps! We just left at the right time!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

something big is supposed to happen in our department soon... but I can't exactly tell the details. I DO NOT KNOW how the "plans" are being shaped but according to my boss, we're going to more than double our team in terms of manpower. the execs have too many plans for us (our department). it must be a good sign, right?

aside from the "blooming" department expansion, my wifey's online business is picking-up at a good pace. i'm happy to see her busy, but more happy to see her fulfillment in what she does. yep, she still does everything at home--- cleaning, laundry, ironing, and being a full-time mom to our little girl. superwoman, yes? ;)

- - - - - - - - - - - -

with all my heart, i warmly greet today, together with my family, our beloved Executive Minister, Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo more blessed years as he celebrates his 56th birthday. we fervently ask God to bless him more in leading the church to the perfection of our faith.

[caption id="attachment_2782" align="alignnone" width="300"] "Glory be to God!"[/caption]

after almost a year... TGIF!

today has been declared a holiday by the palace but we have work, swapped with our Saturday work.. it means our holiday will take effect tomorrow and i don't really mind it. two upsides of this holiday-swap are, 1) traffic going to work should be light today; and, 2) i can happily say TGIF again! yay! :D

since i embraced this six-day workweek job, i've obviously haven't expressed so much delight whenever Friday arrives since i still need to go to work on Saturday. Saturdays were usually spent with other stuffs (domestic or raket) and of course additional time with family. it's usually my "rest" day and more bonding time with my two girls. but since i worked up to Saturdays, i have to squeeze in my Sundays to do all things that are usually done in two days. so tomorrow, wifey and i are scheduled to spend the Saturday buying stuffs for her online business. also, we will drop off papa & mama in Mommy's abode in Manila. Our little girl will be with them while wifey & i do the rounds. family day & business raket = hitting two birds with one stone. sounds like a very productive Saturday! ;)

and while i thank GOD for everyday, it's one of those times today that i can gladly say Thank God, It's Friday! :D

The SONEVA Experience

I've been longing for a relaxing massage for weeks already and just in time, an offer i can not resist has to come. Thanks to blogger pal, Glentot, he thought of me without batting an eyelash to try this family spa in Tomas Morato. In my years of familiarity with the stretch of Tomas Morato, i was surprised to have missed this establishment, when in fact, i always seek for massage parlors where wifey & i can have our body pampered. It has been five years since i first tried to avail a body massage, visit different spas, and determine which massage suits my preference. And so I know what massage service to avail when I visited SONEVA Organic Spa--- Aromatherapy, which costs nearly a thousand pesos. And yeah, it comes with a foot massage so total massage time is 90 minutes. I said to myself, "wow, relaxation at last!"

I walked towards the reception, the receptionist gave the usual welcome smile. she was accommodating enough to respond to my inquiries. after telling her the massage i'd be availing, she asked me the therapist preference if i'd like a guy or a lady therapist. i really don't care about the gender and i just told the receptionist that i like a veteran therapist (which i always prefer even in other massage parlors). i was asked if i'd hit the shower before the massage but due to time constraint (yeah, i just left wifey & the little girl in a newly-opened mall nearby) i opted to have the massage right away.

I was led to the room (looks like it was a couple's room since there were only two beds inside) where i will be treated. room space, check. lighting, check. room ambiance, check. music, check. bed sheets, check. robe & shorts, check. room temparature, check. i was just puzzled though, the therapist asked me to change and put on the robe (even if i didn't take a shower) then when she came back after a few minutes of preparation, she told me to take off the robe. i knew i shouldn't have worn it in the first place. :P

i also noticed that she brought with her a rice cooker--- where she heated the water. when she's set up everything including the aromatic oil, she began stroking my back. oops, wait. i told her to dim the lights more because i feel more comfortable having a massage with much dimmer lights. then she continued stroking my back. believe me... the therapist knows her kung fu very well. she knows where to put those pressure. i felt i was receiving a thai massage with the bonus of that green tea scent oil soothing my sense of smell. the therapist constantly asked me how the pressure was but later on learned through the body language i display whenever i felt too much pressure was applied on my gentle body (haha). after an hour of body (mostly back, which i really like) massage, the therapist concentrated on my feet--- foot massage! it was a good experience over all. I was asked if i wanted a hot or cold tea afterwards and while i was still feeling rejuvenated with that "veteran" touch, i chose to drink a glass of iced tea.

should i recommend SONEVA to my friends? why not? it is accessible via jeepney ride, cab, and especially with your private car. SONEVA Organic Spa is located at Tomas Morato corner Limbaga St., 270 4th Floor, Forum Building, Quezon City. It is open seven days a week, from 1PM to 12 midnight. Yep, even if you work overtime on a normal 8 to 5 or 9 to 6 pm sechedule, you can still catch up a good massage with their 12 midnight last call time.

for more information, you may contact them thru (632) 926-6249 and (63) 917 4071129 or email: info@sonevaspa.com

i'm considering to come back there and try their signature massage, and perhaps a treat for wifey, i may avail one of their couples packages on our next special occasion. ;)

PS. ok din kaya yung slimming massage nila? har har har... :P

Sa Lahat ng mga Guro sa Buhay Natin...

kapag sinabing "Teacher," ang naiisip natin kaagad ay yaong mga nakasalamuha natin sa paaralan mula elementarya hanggang kolehiyo sa loob ng isang silid-aralan. Pero marahil hindi natin napapansin, marami pa palang guro sa buhay natin na nagtuturo hindi lamang ng mga asignaturang inilapat ng Department of Education o Commission on Higher Education, kundi ng iba't-ibang bagay na makapagpapaunlad ng personal nating pamumuhay. sabi nga nila, hindi lahat ng bagay ay sa paaralan lang natututuhan.

noong nakaraang taon ay pinasalamatan ko sa pamamagitan ng blog na ito ang aking mga naging guro sa paaralan. Salamat po, Ma'am, Sir! ngayon, gusto ko namang ialay ang pasasalamat sa maraming mga guro sa buhay ko na nagturo sa akin ng iba't iba pang mga bagay. kung sino ako ngayon, kung ano ang ugali ko, kung paano ako makitungo sa kapuwa ko, kung ano ang pananaw ko sa buhay, ito'y dahil sa mga taong hindi sa silid-aralan ko nakasalamuha. at oo, may nakapagtuturo rin sa akin na mga tao na higit na mas nakababata kaysa akin. kahit nga sa anak ko, may natututuhan ako. ang pagkatuto ay isang proseso na nagpapatuloy. at sa pagkatuto, laging may guro sa likuran nito. minsan nga, sarili mo na pala ang tinuturuan mo.

pero aminado ako, hindi man guro ang propesyon ko, lubos ang kagalakan ko kapag may natuturuan akong tao. at ang pagkalubos nito ay kung balikan ka nila pagkalipas ng ilang taon at sariwain ang dahilan ng tagumpay nila sa buhay--- na ito'y dahil sa pagtuturo ko na hindi ko naman inasahang babalik sa akin.

sa lahat ng mga guro, sa loob man o labas ng silid-aralan, HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS DAY po sa ating lahat!


(handog ng isang mall ang "Teachers' Wall" kung saan maaaring magdikit ng mensahe ang mga tao para sa kanilang mga minamahal na guro)

where has the blogging spark gone?

i haven't been updating lately, perhaps the "spark" of blog posting has dwindled these past few weeks. what's eating my blogging appetite, work? lack of family time? the crave for simply lazying on the couch and catch some TV shows? exhausting work schedule? or simply no stories to tell. one thing i'm sure is, it's NOT the latter.

too many things have been happening lately and i haven't been catching up with my writing. shame on a former (legitimate professional) writer!

19th PR Congress
i saw big names from the Public Relations world, and one of the speakers i admired most delivering his talk was Tony Ahn who was quick but clear in delivering his part discussing about reputation management. He advised us to "be radically transparent, and engage with public where the public congregates," wherein at this time, they are mostly on social media.

The congress also tackled a good number of topics relating to the disruption that the PR community faces--- the dominance (today) of social media, and how it affects basically everyone.

Filipino-Canadian & Youtube sensation Mikey Bustos had a special appearance by the end of Day 1 and i just couldn't let go of the opportunity of having a souvenir photo with him. After all, his being (pinoy) nationalistic is very admirable.

[caption id="attachment_2757" align="alignnone" width="300"] starstruck with Mikey Bustos[/caption]

handling crisis management

almost very related to the congress i attended, we have been faced with a crisis over the week and we just have to manage it. still long way to go, this is a learning curve for us. and this has been keeping us busy over the past couple of weeks and up to now and maybe in a few more weeks, as reputation tainted with a bad publicity is really not that easy to rebuild right away. and for that, i'm on duty today & tomorrow in one of our projects. talk about losing your one & only weekend day, but yeah, it's part of the job! any way, i was informed to have an offset for the sunday work. that should compensate it. ;)

fast growing up
our little girl is fast growing-up. the only thing she needs now is to talk straight. but i love her baby talk. in a few more months, she won't already be saying these cute words that only her mom and dad can decode. the little girl will soon be the girl who will go independent. i just hope even if she grows up, she still yearns for those daddy hugs & kisses that we do everyday when i come home from work. :( sume-senti?





another thing growing up is wifey's online business. please, please, please... join the craze and enjoy shopping online! visit my wifey's online shop at Bonenica Shop. Such affordable prizes... check out the shop and see things you may need everyday, or simply want. see the difference? we have what you need, and we may also have what you want. visit now! Bonenica Shop!



life's decisions

in a couple of years, our little daughter will go to formal school. we have been offered a life-changing option to decide on and wifey & i both agreed on one decision. abangan!

The Fern and the Bamboo

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...
I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the
bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the
bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year
the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo," He said.

"In the third year, there was still nothing from the
bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was
nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and
insignificant...But just 6 month later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet
tall.
It has spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and
gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it
could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, My child, that all this time you have been
struggling, you have actually been growing roots"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The
bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the
forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give Me glory by rising as high as you can."

(25-Feb., 2006)

"I'll see you in September..."

"...when summer is gone,
have a good time but remember
i'll be waiting back home..."

^ one of the many "September songs" that i love, Gary Lewis' "When Summer Is Gone."

September is the start of autumn---my favorite season. Too bad, we don't have that in Manila. However, it's also an anticipated month here, since it signals the beginning of the "holiday season," so to speak.

The first of September validated my employment in the current company i'm into. It's the first day of my regularization. [caption id="attachment_2742" align="alignright" width="150"] "Basta Radyo... Bombo!" - with Henry Lumawag[/caption] It's my 2nd business trip in Iloilo. This time I don't have any colleague from Manila accompanying me. I'll be holding an event with the help of colleagues based in Iloilo... and i think it's all good. Lot of things to learn all by yourself. This isn't a new set-up for me, and i'm just grateful that everyone around are very helpful and accommodating. This morning, I went to Bombo Radyo to meet its Station Manager. Our company placed an ad in the station and it airs on separate (programs) time slots. It's an honor to have met the station manager of the popular radio station in the region. We chatted a bit, mostly talking about our placed ad, and how they do radio advertising compared to stations in Manila. With the request of my boss, I also booked them a schedule of lunch date next weekend. We value media a lot... we must, just like everyone else should.

[caption id="attachment_2743" align="alignleft" width="150"] little Aya and her medication. Made her well with prayers :)[/caption] I do miss my two girls, though. I'm not very fond of being far from them for more than a day and only the business trips can do that to us. I was touched with the gesture of my little girl when wifey called yesterday, saying that little Aya was inquiring if I brought an umbrella with me. She said it's raining hard back home. I miss my little girl. She always waits for me from work to play "budin" (baby talk for "bugbugin" where the action of beating up a person is retained but not to harm but to kiss the victim all over the upper extremities, mostly in the neck part and face.) Even if she's asthma attacks... she sees to it that she plays with daddy before going to sleep. I wish I can just take away her sickness because we don't want her having a hard time when the attack hits her... :(


longing to see the colorful trees again, the falling of leaves, the feel of the breeze of cold air, signalling the weather transition going to winter... the feel of autumn... just as the summer is gone...

wrapping up August

a few more minutes and the ninth month of 2012 will make its entrance. '-ber months' as they are more popularly called, September marks the anticipation of the most joyous holiday(s) for many Filipinos. before this month ends, let me just recap what other significant things happened aside from what i've already posted.

> headlines today is the appointment of (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas as the new DILG Secretary, officially filling-in the shoes slippers of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. Tough job for Roxas, all eyes will be on him. Congressman Jun Abaya takes over his post as Transportation & Communications chief.

> i received a letter from the HRD, confirming my regularization beginning tomorrow, September 1st. i'm very thankful with my colleagues who have been helpful, especially my boss, Nix, who's ever supportive in everything.

> i've discovered the healing power of ASCOF Lagundi against cough. if i have not taken it the first day i felt pain in my throat, i could have been sick in bed the following days. (this isn't a paid post) let's just give credit where credit is due ;)

> today marks the 3rd death anniversary of the leader i looked up to for many years. truly, "his labor is not in vain..." #bro.EGM

> my dad felt sorry for her apo. when he visited us one day, he saw how the little girl watches TV with barely a clear picture on the tube due to lack of a good antenna. so he instructed us to inquire... and voila!

[caption id="attachment_2737" align="alignnone" width="300"] checking what's on at Disney Junior[/caption]

> because of colleagues influence, i began appreciating milk tea more. uhmm... with pearl sinkers, of course. ;)

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="alignnone" width="300"] Serenitea Adikssss[/caption]

> this month, the "transition month" lives up to its 'title.' wifey & i agreed to give 'it' a shot. in a few years time, we will see... :|

long weekends and the search for ILG Sec. Jesse Robredo

my two girls & i have spent the night in our tita's condo in Wack Wack, as their family went out of the country. this wasn't our first time to be left in their unit whenever they go out of town. nothing much to do here but eat, sleep, and just go online the whole day. so i grabbed this chance to migrate my multiply photos into my USB, and some of them i uploaded in my FB account. i've heard that multiply is taking its social network user profiles off their site and focus on online selling(?) so there was a call for users to migrate their uploaded photos and blog posts somewhere. i didn't use its blog service though so i just have to focus on saving my photos.

[caption id="attachment_2728" align="alignnone" width="300"] sunset view of Manila, extending to Manila Bay, from the condo unit balcony[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2729" align="alignnone" width="300"] Wack Wack Golf & Country Club bird's eye view[/caption]

today, i will be attending to the repair man who will look at our (church) organ. the musical instrument turns on but no sound is coming out from it. "must be the amplifier," said the repair man when i talked to him over the phone and scheduled him to repair the Yamaha EL-27. then we'll be meeting with relatives tentatively this afternoon. not much activity for this 4-day 3-day long weekend (may pasok kase ako pag sabado.)

on a more sad news, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo is still missing after their chartered plane crashed last Saturday. It's the 4th day of the search and rescue operations, everyone is still hoping that the good secretary will be found and rescued. i barely knew secretary Robredo but being well-exposed to news stories for over a year, i came to know that Robredo isn't your usual "politician." he is a public servant. and reading more of his background, much more from his very own daughter, really validates how good Robredo is not only as a public servant but also as a family man. (Read here: Aika Robredo's Source of Inspiration)

Here's to hoping, together with many Filipinos, for the safe rescue of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

-------------------
10:36am update...

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo's body was found this morning. DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas confirmed in a press briefing that it was confirmed around 8:15 earlier...



the nation has once again lost a good public servant. to the family of Secretarty Robredo, condolonces... from the people who look up to the good secretary as a public servant, as a family man, as a good fellow Filipino.

4 years and counting...

bayani-juan sa bayan ni juan

we've been monitoring the news since yesterday when flood began rising, fearing that an Ondoy part 2 is in the making. my heart goes to my countrymen who tirelessly exerted so much effort to show the bayanihan spirit throughout the day. many were stranded, many needed help in many forms, not a few extended help in so many ways. information dissemination was easy with today's technology. i was monitoring FB & twitter for updates and my spirit was uplifted with what i saw in many photos... Pinoys displaying bayanihan, and victims still wear smiles on their faces!



[caption id="attachment_2713" align="alignnone" width="300"] Pasig City, Metro Manila[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2719" align="alignnone" width="300"] all smiles amidst the calamity (@ Makati Business District)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2718" align="alignnone" width="300"] humanity extension (heart-warming)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2714" align="alignnone" width="300"] eto ang aming mga pulis![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2715" align="alignnone" width="300"] "in the call of duty" --- 'yan ang PNP![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2716" align="alignnone" width="300"] proud sa aming mga kapatid! SCAN International in action[/caption]

and in spite of everything... Pinoys continue to rise! the spirit is just amazing...

[caption id="attachment_2717" align="alignnone" width="213"] Pinoys... pinagagaan ang dalang pighati ng kalamidad, anumang pagkakataon. "Onli in da Pilipins!" :)[/caption]

(all photos courtesy of FB wall posts. no copyright infringement intended)

PINOYS... KAYA NATIN ITO. At sabi nga ng South Border: "There's a rainbow always after the rain." ;)

Goodbye, Mang Nes...

one of the happiest times in my work life was during my stay in the distribution company, especially when it was in its pioneering years. colleagues were intact, work flow was smooth, everyday was feel good going to work.

one of the pioneer among our colleagues was Mang Nes. He usually rode on with our juvenile jokes, where he was most of the time the target. he traveled long daily by commuting to work from his abode in Morong, Rizal to Libis, Quezon City office and vice versa. he worked hard as the breadwinner of his family and for his children. He seldom never complained and projected a smiling aura whenever you greet him. soft spoken but he also had this punch lines where all of us in the pantry would burst into laughter. he was our group mate when we did the "spice girls" production number in one of our december parties...

too bad he had to go now... he left us shocked and sad... and now, we only have good memories of him...

[caption id="attachment_2702" align="alignnone" width="300"] the IMDS team during its early years... 4th from right is Mang Nes[/caption]


^Kid, Jon & Mang Nes

quick notes

only my 2nd update for this month, and in a not so pleasing news, this is another death post. after attending the devotional prayer last night, we (wifey & i) were greeted by a surprising SMS from my cousin: "patay na si uncle non ngayong 8pm, nasa new era gen hosp pa sya at si auntie loida." i just don't know how to react. my mom just sent them something for the month and i am about to contact them any day from now. and then this news. after getting more details, i called mom and broke the news to her. i knew she's sadden by what i've told her and three of her brothers died while she was away from the country. uncle non is the youngest among the boys, and my mom never forgets to look after him and his family. just imagine how it feels to lose a loved one, and not being there. i talked to my aunt and inquired since when were they in the hospital and she told me that they just came in there the day before. cardiac arrest was the said cause of death. it's just nice to note though that family members were immediately ready to help my widowed aunt.

------------

i'm currently struggling in terms of monetary savings the past few weeks. but my faith says "hold on." indeed, blessings come at the time you never expect. i'm happy to support wifey with her new online business. she's still in the process of starting it and we both hope it could at least complement and sustain our savings versus the monthly expenses. i just want to clarify that we're not spend-thrift and we prioritize the basic needs. need i mention that i don't get to buy new stuffs for me anymore? and we've also cut expenses already, and plan to squeeze out some other things a bit more. amazingly, i don't feel any sense of panic with this current situation, even if in a couple of years time, little Aya will also be going to school already. i've always held on to this: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

------------

after 26 years, i came back to Iloilo--- not for pleasure but for a business trip. it was nice seeing the place again, although i don't recognize any resemblance of the present Iloilo from the former. Too many changes already. It was also nice being with my colleagues Didith & Ricky who were my companions and guide in our projects there in the province. Iloilo offers a good number of great food and we didn't miss them: batchoy, seafood, and those pasalubongs that Manilenos also love. When I come back there, i still need to taste some specialty food i wasn't able to eat during my two-night stay. that would be in September!



more photos here.

The Nation Just Lost Another Treasure

[caption id="attachment_2686" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dolphy, 1928 - 2012[/caption] Being a martial law baby, i grew up being a fan of a Filipino sitcom which was very popular during the early 80's, and which lasted for more than a decade on Philippine TV. TV programs then were not as "liberal" as the shows of today. Humor used to be simple and most of the time "clean." As far as I can remember, there were three popular TV shows back in my childhood years: two of them were soap operas and the other, an undisputed sitcom which portrays the typical Filipino family life--- John 'n' Marsha. The sitcom was starred by couple Dolphy as John and (the late) Nida Blanca as Marsha. They have two kids named Rollie (played by Rollie Quizon himself) and Shirley (portrayed by the Diamond Star Ms. Maricel Soriano.) Both of them started young and grew up with the sitcom. Notable scene in its every episode is the mother-in-law's (played by the late Dely Atay-Atayan) endless blabbing against her son-in-law John, and the 'echoing' of the sermons by the 'biyenan's alalay,' Matutina. When John N Marsha ended, the king of comedy continued to make people happy through his unique comedy, and family-oriented sitcom again went on air in the 90's--- Home Along Da Riles.

Dolphy is more than just how today's generation knows him. In an article written by Gibbs Cadiz, Dolphy is a national treasure. He gave laughter to millions of Filipinos, generation after the other. He didn't give in to the pressure of entering politics, "Eh paano kung manalo ako?" as he said. He's one of the humblest Pinoy celebrities i know that's why millions adore him, respect him.

King of Comedy... THANK YOU. your throne in the industry will forever remain!

kids (learning) toys

our little girl owns a bunch of toys (like most kids her age) and we've come to master what toys she loves playing with. we've also taken her to toy stores a lot of times and these are the top three toys she ALWAYS go to and take time playing: 1) ball; 2) bicycle (with support wheels); and 3) bubble toys.

her most recent toy (given to her as a birthday gift) is a kiddie SPALDING basketball worth P3++ (almost 400 bucks). she's fond of playing with balls at home, whether just passing it, tossing it, kicking it, throwing it, and lately, she's beginning to learn how to dribble. sounds boyish. but i personally think it's cute.

anyway, i'm thinking of toys that will be interesting to our little girl, and at the same time educational--- toys that'll make her think, or those that will enhance her creativity. she was bought a bag of building blocks (the cheaper alternative for LEGO) by her mama lola i think those kinds of toys are best at her age. the other day, i was looking at this and thought that she may already appreciate playing with it:



shaping clay is a part of nursery (or kindergarten) class. i remember having this activity in school when i was still a kid. i didn't really enjoy it because i simply do not have any artistic blood in my veins. making any good shape out of the mashed (or rounded) clay is always in vain. but well, i guess its just me. i loved writing and singing more back then.

wifey & i believe that our little girl is intelligent (just like any other parents to their kids) but yeah, she never gets tired of discovering things. even if we tell her not to do things that are dangerous to her, she still wants to learn by experience. sometimes her curiosity is adorable, and most of the time it's not. but kids are kids. they only pass this stage once and the least we can do is to appreciate everything. yes, EVERYTHING. even if she's already too big to play little, but still too little to play big. dig?

[caption id="attachment_2682" align="alignnone" width="300"] little Aya hoarding canned goods. panic buying? :P[/caption]

Good Food, Good Friends, Nice, Nice Place!

on the occasion of colleague Rach's birthday (today), we have celebrated this as early as June 8th... excited much? :P it was my first time to go out with a big bunch of PCFI colleagues after work, and it was my first time to visit Galileo Enoteca Deli as well. Surprisingly, it is just located near our workplace. And another surprise for me... it offers Italian delicacies! Did i just say "pasta?" they serve not-so-ordinary dishes that will surely satisfy your taste buds. but that's not the end of the surprise for me. the ambiance. it's THE ambiance. excellent for that perfect proposal moments, very good for private family or friends gathering, or simply an intimate dinner date with your special someone. Galileo Enoteca Deli is also a wine restaurant. The interior design of the place will surely captivate your heart and it definitely adds to the perfect dine-in experience of every customer. Added attraction to the place are artworks (paintings) hanged on its walls, and one of them was made by our birthday celebrator. just being proud about it. ;)

wasn't able to take note of what we ordered and ate but i'm already looking forward to revisit the place, this time with my two girls. it's worth a visit for your next special occasion. no kidding.

[caption id="attachment_2676" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ren, Szantee, Tina, Nix, Mac, Didith, Jon, Rach, Ricky[/caption]

(from its FB page)

Galileo Enoteca Deli (Wine Library of wines) - Place where you can explore Food and Wine pairing. Italian Deli and Authentic Italian dishes best complimented with perfect glass of wine.

Mandaluyong Branch:
No.80 Calbayog Street Corner Malinao Mandaluyong City
532.04.82/ 534.46.33
Open from (Monday to Saturday)
11-11pm


Eastwood Branch:
Ground Floor, City Walk 1, Cyberpark, Eastwood City, Bagumbayan Quezon City (Beside Dulcinea)
0922.832.80.71
Open from Monday to Sunday
11-11pm
(Beside Dulcinea, Across Something Fishy)

Boracay Branch:
Galileo Enoteca
Balabag, Boracay
Malay Aklan
Station 2 Beach front (Near Dmall)
0923.569.65.20- Look for Naide

Happy (3) Kaarawan!

Our little girl turns three today! That also means that i'm already a father for three years. wow, it's that fast.. the time, that is. Can't help but look joyfully at our little girl as she grows and learn more new things that just make us awe effortless. some people are asking if she's enrolled to school already but wifey and i think that it's too early for her to go to school. she learns at home anyway with her mom patiently teaching her the basics she needs to know. well, as every pre-schooler tries to learn, our little girl already knows the A-B-C, she knows numbers 1 to 10, she can distinguish basic colors (with the color violet she refers to as "purple"), she knows the basic shapes including "star" and others such as the moon, sun, she can easily tell a boy or a girl if you point to the people she's familiar with, and much, much more tricks that can really surprise us.

earlier today, while mom & dad were at church, she woke up with her lolo daddy and we saw them waiting outside our house when we arrived from church. then when her lolo daddy grabbed the sweeper, she immediately followed and helped him. we prepared her for the children's worship service also but before cleaning up (taking a bath), we let her blow her first (small) birthday cake. well, the major celebration (which includes the REAL birthday cake) was to be served in the afternoon at my in-laws' place since the little girl shares her birthday with her uncle Jayson. so she gets to blow the three candles in the real birthday cake later in the afternoon.

[caption id="attachment_2669" align="alignnone" width="300"] her first "cake" today[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2668" align="alignnone" width="300"] blowing the "real" birthday cake[/caption]

looking at my daughter, i can just pause for a moment and wonder how i'd be preparing for her education. there's no backing out now. tuition fees especially for pre-schoolers are very costly. and all i can do is to hope for the best of everything.

i wanna thank the LORD God for everything... and the most precious blessing our family received is the existence of our little girl, Aya Camille.

I love you, anak! :D

What's your coffee personality?

it's been a long time since i answered these online quizzes. browsing on some results of a keyword (work-related) i entered in google, i ended up reading a forum for females, and found this quiz: What's your coffee personality?. Feeling that it's a slow Saturday workday anyway, i took the quiz and answered this set of multiple choice questions:

1 .) You wake up on a weekend morning. What's the first thought that pops into your head?
- You tell yourself that it's time to get up, but that you don't have to rush.
- It's time to put on your running shoes and hit the road or trail!
- You think about your current hobbies and interests. Having free time means you can do the things you love.
- You start planning how your schedule, which will involve doing your errands and meeting up with friends.

2 .) What is your typical breakfast like?
- A big meal with rice because breakfast is the most important meal of the day
- A sandwich because it's something easy to eat on the road
- Just a pack of crackers is enough
- It depends on what you and your colleagues are craving for. You like having breakfast together before the workday begins!

3 .) Where do you usually get your coffee?
- You make it at home and pack it in your thermos.
- A coffee shop that’s in between your house and the office
- That small coffee shop where they may not have many fancy machines, but have a lot of ambiance
- Just the office pantry (plus, it's a convenient way to get a glimpse of your office crush)

4 .) You manage to get to work with time to spare. How do you spend the extra half hour?
- Probably browsing the news or chat with your officemates
- Checking your e-mail and reviewing your agenda of things to do, ordering them according to priority
- You fix yourself up. The commute to work is a killer, and you want to present a professional image to the world
- Having breakfast with your workmates

5 .) How do you manage work-related stress?
- You take yoga classes after work a few times a week.
- You try to spend at least a weekend every month or two hiking and camping.
- You make the time to indulge in your hobbies.
- You go out for an after-hours drink with officemates.

6 .) What kind of music perks you up?
- Old school rock music
- Techno or trance
- Pop hits from the '80s and '90s
- The latest radio hits

7 .) On a typical work day, how many cups of coffee do you consume?
- Maybe two or three cups. Any more, and you'll be bouncing off the walls!
- Probably four or so. You like the buzz, and it helps you work.
- One, maybe two. A little caffeine is enough to get you through the day.
- You often lose track. You like leaving your cubicle every now and then to pour yourself a cup because it allows you to stretch your legs.

8 .) Do you order different types of coffee drinks for different occasions?
- Yes. When you're with friends, you tend to pick beverages you might not have tried before.
- Nope. You get your usual--it's tried and true, and it means you don't have to take so long to order.
- Yes. You're always on the lookout for something new.
- No, you don't change your order because of different occasions, but you do change it depending on your mood.

9 .) What do you do to chill out and relax?
- You like quiet days at home with a book or movie; you save your energy for nights out with friends.
- The gym--you have a number of friends who go there, plus working out gives you endorphins, which make you happy.
- The spa for a massage--there's nothing like having someone work the kinks and knots out of your muscles.
- The mall with friends--a little retail therapy goes a long way, and even if you can't buy, it's fun to try!

10 .) At a coffee shop, how long does it take for you to order your coffee?
- Less than a minute because you tend to have an order in mind before you line up, though you do listen to the barista's suggestions.
- As long as it takes for you to say “coffee.” You pretty much rattle off your order, pay, and wait.
- Not long, but sometimes you take your time because it's so hard to choose something you’ve never tried before--especially if the cafe has launched new drinks.
- Not long at all; the barista already knows you by name, and all you have to do is confirm that you're having your usual order.

and, here's my quiz result:

You're a LATTE!

You’re light and bubbly, and you never let anything get in your way. You are very passionate about your hobbies, and while this gives you a lot of satisfaction, it can sometimes get in the way of your work life. You can be a bit of a clock-watcher at work, but you do finish your tasks. It’s just that you need to get out of the office to do what you want to do. It's not that you hate your job; it's more that, while you enjoy your work, you prefer to think of it as a way for you to fund the endeavors you're really passionate about.

You like to keep things light, so a latte is perfect for you! Shortened from caffe latte, Italian for “coffee and milk,” a latte can be as simple or as jazzed up as you like it. It’s simply coffee and milk--more milk than a cappuccino or a macchiato--but it’s far from boring. Whereas other mixed coffees have the coffee as the base, this one has the milk as the base, with the coffee being poured on top. One thing to note is that many shops serve their lattes with artistic renditions of hearts, petals and other simple designs.

if you wanna try the quiz, you may answer the questions here: What's your coffee personality?. it should be nice answering them while sipping your favorite cup of coffee, right? :D

Monday, what's up?

it's a brand new week and headlines unite with the defeat of Manny Pacquiao to Timothy Bradley via split decision. while i admire Manny for every boxing performance, i can easily move on with his loss to his recent match, mainly because if it was a real defeat, then it'd somehow keep his feet on the ground. But some analysis say the match was just all about money. well, boxing is a business. sadly, the sport has to come to this point where fair matches should be driven by "some factors" and that the fans come to the losing end.

on another note, weekend was good. i got to run my first fun run event although it wasn't a full run, i get to realize i need to do more physical workout. unlike when i was in my previous job, i get to carry big boxes when i do inventory so i get a free workout even when working. running regularly is one of my "wants" but getting time out for this is the difficult part for me. now that i get to work six times a week, i only have Sundays for my personal stuff. and the day must also be divided with church and my family so planning to run got more blurry. that's why somehow, even if still unfit, i'm thankful that i was given the opportunity (since there are no other choices) to run for this sponsored event. i also realized that i need to get a good pair of (an all-around) rubber shoes. Ren was kind enough to take photos of the event. "Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan," was initiated by the provincial government of Cavite and was held in Trece Martires. this coming Saturday, another cause, this time for the senior citizens, will also be held in Cavite. the fun run will happen in Imus where our company also took part of as sponsor. I'm not just sure if I will be representing our company again to run, or maybe we can tap someone to run for this event while i do the documentation. whichever, both are okay to me.

this week, my family gets to stay in Mandaluyong for a couple of days. it means i'm near my work place. Yay! i can get longer sleeping hours! and yes, living-rich mode, haha! i'm looking forward to bring my two girls in one of our projects in Cavite tomorrow. we'll be doing some preparations for a BIG event by mid-week. it's holiday tomorrow in celebration of the country's independence day but we need to work. well, at least my colleagues are nice enough to offer me to take my two girls during our ingress. :)

busy days ahead... as always. but being busy is better than doing nothing at all, right?

comfort zone?

[caption id="attachment_2656" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="my 1st open house event with PCFI"][/caption] i'm slowly getting used to my daily "routine" with my 3-month old job. traffic has been cooperative most of the time when i'm on my way to work, i get a pretty good parking slot, i get to be greeted by friendly staff when i enter the building, i get to be with cheerful people when i enter our room, and i've a supportive boss. work's not so little, i SHOULD write on my calendar of activities. i've been provided with service units necessary for my job like mobile phone & laptop... honestly, this is my FIRST time to be provided such "accountability." my wifey affirmed that i'm in the marketing department since those are necessities. well, i guess. it just feels so different from my previous jobs. now i work six days a week but i'm more comfortable being in the day shift and entitled (again) to holidays after a year of working on holidays with no extra pay. i just love to be home right after office hours and be with my two girls. i think i'm getting the hang of this. although, i still wish for more family time on weekends. nothing beats a two-day OFF in a week's work. perhaps, and still hoping, that someday, we'll have the Saturdays to ourselves. i still have a LOT to learn about this new job and an industry practically new to me as well. i'm looking at better things ahead, trying to focus on my reason of taking this new task in exchange of my previous careers. patience is a virtue. and i do hope i get that nilaga by giving a lot of tiyaga. i just need to be positive about the things around me, and yes, everything will be fine.