Crazy People Were Out On The Road Last Night

I was on my way home from Eastwood at around 1AM last night -- after dinner, drinks and a fantastic movie -- when I met Crazy Person #1. I was driving down Libis towards the U-Turn under the flyover when this motorcycle with no tail light almost screeched to a halt right in front of my car and JUST DECIDED to veer left and go up the flyover. I got royally pissed at what he did that I slowed down and honked my horn on him for a full 6 seconds. The a$&hole, far from being apologetic, arrogantly turn his head towards me and activated his weng-weng. Pwede ba?!

I proceeded towards my usual route via Edsa. Miraculously, traffic was pretty light (traffic conditions lately, due to constructions all around, were horrendous even at the oddest hours). Until I hit the Magallanes flyover. Vehicles were slowing down and changing lanes. Apparently, there was a Pajero up ahead with its blinkers on. Poor guy, I thought, to have your car break down at this time of the night. What wasn't apparent until I was a few cars from it was that it wasn't stalled after all. It was, in fact, moving IN REVERSE DOWN THE FLYOVER. Trucks, jeepneys, cars and buses -- all of us-- were swerving to avoid this incredibly stupid driver and his vehicle. What?! Was he planning to back up 400 meters down a highway so he can go up the SLEX flyover instead?? Ang tanga, I swear. And damn inconsiderate!

Of course, people like these just get away with it, right?! Grrrr...

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The Other Boleyn Girl was a cool movie. Scarlett Johansson was refreshing and Eric Bana was gorgeous, but Natalie Portman ROCKED the movie! Enough said. Catch it in theaters this weekend!

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37 degrees and it's going to get even hotter. I soo wish I'm down by the beach right now!

And she's back in the game!

Wow, I can't believe it's been more than a year since I last blogged. A friend told me it's testament to how I'm actually living life rather than just writing about it. I admit I have been so busy that I hardly had the time to update myself online. I had suddenly become one of those people who just accepts invitations in Facebook and Multiply without actually having the luxury of going thru my friends' pages. The irony of being connected but still not quite in touch with the rest of the world.

Then this morning, while sipping my Caramel Macchiato and wolfing down a blissfully sinful Cinnamon Swirl bun... I went thru my old posts and realized that I DID miss--big time--documenting my 2007. I could've written about so many things, talked about so many new experiences... but I simply just... didn't. Time surely flies, things have changed, and nothing was constant. Reliving them in print (or online!) seemed to make the experiences last a little bit longer.

So now, I dedicate this short, albeit much-awaited post, to people, esp my friends, who are shockingly interested in what I have to say (so much so that they would actually DEMAND to have me write something on this again). Coolness! I vow to do better in updating my blog-- even go back and write about stuff that happened 3, 5, 10 months ago, when I dropped out of sight. I vow to remember how 2007 was such a difficult year and yet such great one.

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Last night, while I was doing some Excel files for work (BOOOORRRIIINGG), I was simultaneously (mabuhay ang multi-tasker) chatting with Liz, a friend of mine who is now stationed somewhere in Bonifacio Global City. She told me, green in the face (or at least I can imagine her green), how one of our friends, Anot, is currently in Cape Town for work. Yes, THE Cape Town in South Africa! How effing cool is that?! I pinged Anot, seeing her online, and told her how I too was turning green with envy!

Scrolling down my YM list, I also saw Penot, another college friend, who married a Scandinavian and is now living in Finland. So there I was chatting away with 3 different people in 3 different countries, different continents. So much has changed since our UP days (splurging meant going to Katipunan for lunch!) and yet, things haven't. Chatting with them, it was as if we were back in the tambayan waiting for our next class to start. We would banter around, laugh, and update each other in between hirits, gossip and bading talk.

It then dawned on me how much technology can really change lives (you can bring out the Kleenex now, please, haha). I know, I know, it's corny thinking that way, ESPECIALLY since I work in IT. Then again-- really, somehow-- we ARE all connected, aren't we?
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Chronicles of a Summer Cruise

Day 1, March 3, 2007: It's 10:00AM, halfway packed, with memories of last night's mahjong-slash-drinking session (ok ba sa Friday gimik? :-P) still pounding in my head . I was supposed to be at the airport at 1PM to catch the 2:55PM flight to Singapore! In went 4 sets of swimsuits, 1 sarong, 2 LBDs (1 casual, another formal and quite lacey), 3 pairs of shorts, lots of undies, a sweater, a pair of khakis, 7 shirts (3 of them spags), my gym outfit, a beach bag, my toiletry kit, med kit, camera and phone chargers, a pair of heels, my newest havis, and another pair of sandals (whew!!). I was dressed in a pair of jeans, a plain beige shirt and my sister's dirty gym shoes (she borrowed mine, hmp!). I caught up with the rest of my team at the airport and in my haste forgot to transfer my newly-opened bottle of body spray from my knapsack into my check-in baggage. I grunted in frustration as it got confiscated by the hand-carry checker. I rolled my eyes as I clearly saw that she didn't put the bottle with the rest of the stuff and instead hid it where she can probably bring it home with her at the end of the day! Kainis!

I sat with Donna on the plane and we talked about our careers, B-school and how excited we were about our cruise. We arrived in Singapore, checked-in at the Pensinsula Excelsior and spent the next hour doing some serious shopping before the malls closed. Tired from the flight but giddy with anticipation for a much-awaited chili & black pepper crab dinner at Jumbo restaurant, all 13 of us headed for the East Coast Parkway. It's been more than a year since I last ate their mouth-watering crabs coupled with fried roti. Grabe, kaka-miss! Nagkamay na kami at lahat -- walang pansinan during the first 15 mins of dinner, hahaha!

Sated, with our bilbils almost bursting out of our pants, a number of us went to Clark Quay to check out the new gimik spot by the riverside: The Cannery at Clark Quay. The Cannery boasts of rows of high-class restaurants (think Eastwood meets Greenbelt and Serendra), designer bars and very cool clubs to cater to each unique night-life craving.

I met up with a Singapore-based friend at the Kandi Bar: a sexy chill-out bar playing groovy house music, serving expensive cocktail and displaying absolutely gorgeous Hed Kandi artwork.

** image taken from visitsingapore.com

Those Blog Things Again

Ms. AA takes the What Alcoholic Drink Are You Quiz!

We're Going on a Cruise!

Our team's going onboard SuperStar Virgo! From the Singapore hub on Sunday, we sail overnight to Penang, MY, stay there for 8 hours, leave for Phuket, TH, have fun in the sun for 10 hours, then go back to Singapore. Super excited as this is my first time to go on a cruise! Woohoo!

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cheers! finally being able to watch American Idol Season 6 :o)
it's ok... if you were made to take on more work this year to "further develop your skills"... right, right?
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me wild hair

my hairdresser texted me today for 3 reasons:
1. asking how i'm doing --- specifically, how my hair is doing.
2. thanking me because 3 of my friends went to her to have their haircut (i wonder who?!)
3. asking me ever so subtley when i'm coming over for my long due cut

i have 2 things on my mind after this text:
1. wow, people actually listen to me when i recommend someone or someplace or something!
2. i seriously need a haircut!

my schedule's been as wild as my hair these days and i never seem to find time to squeeze in some quality time with my hairdresser. the fact that the salon closes at 7pm doesn't help much as i'm never done with work before 6pm.

that's why it's great to go to the beach sometimes. the wind, the sand, and the salty water are a bunch of great excuses for having such wild, bad hair hehehe!

speaking of the beach, 5 of my IBM-friends and I went to Puerto Galera over the weekend. in a desperate craving for lounging in the sun, snorkelling underwater and drinky under the stars, we decided to head of for a weekend there before we head off to Bora in April.

needless to say, we didn't do much but lounge in the sun, snorkel underwater, and go drinky under the stars :o) perfect weekend.

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cheers! for great weekends with great company
it's ok... not having the perfect beach body... yet! and that's a hard-core promise!!
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On Sleep

Funny that my first post for the year (my first post in over a month!) is about sleep. I guess that stems from my missing my bed so much the past weeks. Friends have been bugging me about my last post (it WAS getting old) but I just couldn't bring myself to write. Year-end at work was pretty light for me---thank God--except for the planning, budgeting and occasional last-minute to-dos. However, December, being the stressful month that it always has been, left me craving for more time to do everything that needs to be finished. It goes without saying that I dedicated a 100% of my free time with my bud when he came home for Christmas. And since I finished up my leaves when I visited him last May, I had to squeeze in gift-shopping, dinners and countless errands between my waking hours at work.

And so... the past weeks, I found myself almost bone-tired from the reunions, Christmas parties, brunches, 1-rounds and out-of-town trips. So tired that I barely had time to check personal emails, much less go blogging!

Well, actually, I never realized I was that tired until I had my first full 8 hours of sleep last Saturday. And I have been catching up on my zzzzz since then... :o)

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cheers! having the talk with my bud that pacified a lot of my fears
it's ok... to slack off sometimes in order to fuel up for another stream of busy, busy days!
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Bills, bills, bills!

Spent last weekend doing very adult stuff--- accounting expenses, paying bills and balancing my accounts! The OC in me tries hard to account for every peso is spent, but it's really challenging to do that sometimes... A glaring sign that I should start my monthly accounting is when my wallet has more receipts than cash :-P

This is what my desk looks like every month = utter chaos!


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cheers! getting closer and closer to touchdown!
it's ok... if you get home almost past midnight doing overtime.
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It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

The air is cooler in the evenings, the Christmas lights on trees are all aglow... and carols are played everywhere you go!

I love Christmas... and I particularly cannot wait to spend this one! :o)

Here's a pic of the breathtaking Christmas tree at the Waterfront Lahug.

And here I am molesting one of the drummer boy-slash-nutcracker-guarding-the-Christmas tree-kuno.
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cheers! for the 1st of the many fireworks display you will watch every weekend at the ATC after Sunday's Holy Mass!
it's ok... if you didn't catch up on your email today. Spending the weekend sleeping off the week's alcohol & head-splitting hangover is something you deserve!
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Back in the South

Back in Cebu! Only now I'm staying at the Waterfront in Lahug. Unluckily, I got one of those rooms that haven't been renovated yet... and all I can say is... I miss Marriott!!! My only consolation right now is the huge, gorgeous Christmas tree with the awesome decor at the lobby. Will take a pic of that and post it tomorrow :o)

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cheers! getting a text from a Business Partner appreciating the help you are extending to them
its' ok... if your hotel room surprisingly has no bathtub. The hot shower with the perfect temperature literally melted your stress away anyway.
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To Be Inspired

I watched my first inspirational concert by Gary V last Friday. Marje invited me to it watch with her and her friends from CCF. I then invited my friend-slash-officemate, Aleta. Somehow, I also found myself nearly dragging Kris and his SO, Arvin, to go too. I totally forgot to include my sister, who's the biggest Gary V fan of all, to get that one extra ticket -- then it turned out she was busy that night after all (whew! bye-bye, thoughtless-big-sister-guilt!).

For 3 hours, we were touched, inspired and taken with each of Gary V's songs. His introductions to each song were equally moving. I find the way he shared the 'Word' to every one of the 5,000 people watching him to be refreshing and far from being preachy and self-righteous. He invites rather than forces you to have a better your relationship with Him (lest you miss salvation and perish in Hell for all eternity!)

His humility, his sincerity and his quiet but strong belief of God's love for him is evident in his songs and even his relationships with the rest of the members of his family. He would frequently mention his wife, his dad and even his in-laws in his intro-sharings.

Paolo, his eldest son, is the lead singer of this rock band, Salamin. While father and son do not share the same taste in music, they do reflect the same messages in their songs (yes, Paolo would sing about praises, healing and moving mountains in his too-noisy-for-the-oldies rock songs!). And to prove that they both respect each other's music, they shared the stage at one point to sing, "Open the Eyes of My Heart". Very pop-rock. Very wholesome.

And who could forget Gabriel, the second son who can dance up a storm, just like Gary? He was called on stage to dance with his dad more than a couple of times, to the delight of screaming female teenagers -- myself included. Be still my heart!

We left St. Francis Square with hungry, growling stomachs but with hearts full of inspiration and joy. (Cheesy, but true!)

Save Room

I love this song by John Legend. It's amazing, sexy and I never get tired of listening to it :o)

Random Echoes

"A good leader is a guy who can step on your toes without messing up your shine."

-- John C. Maxwell, Leadership 101

In IBM, being a people manager is taken very seriously. Not everyone who leads a team is considered one. They tell us we have to be a good leader first and foremost. And each of us, with or without the title is expected to be one-- whether in leading a project team, an ad hoc team, or just simply chairing an important meeting with attendees from different Business Units.

A leader is like the wind that blows the ship towards the right direction or the waves that carry the vessel to shore. Good leaders, I'm beginning to fully understand, can never create waves big enough to make a difference if they are worried about pleasing everyone. At the same time, the wind they blow must not be too strong that they trouble the ship and cause it instead to sink.

Now It Can Be Told

My claim to fame: being featured in People at Speed in last month's issue of the Speed Magazine. Uuuy... kunwari credible!

The only problem was that the biggest picture in that spread was a picture taken during one of IBM's press cons 2 years ago. All sweaty after a karting race, I was also some 10 pounds heavier & a couple of inches wider. It wasn't all that flattering and needless to say, I didn't hear the end of it from my colleagues at work. (Yes, complete with photocopies of the spread posted in cubicles and everything!) Nyahaha!

At least Manny picked a better pic to post on the website... so he's been forgiven :o)

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cheers! for being the closest thing to becoming a celebrity
it's ok... to once in a while be overly concerned about your vanity!
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Highway Driving

I drove alone from my house to Canyon Woods, Tagaytay Thursday morning for a Business Partner event. Canyon Woods is so far up that it already sits at the border of Nasugbu, Batangas. It's a good thing I relish the pleasure (or the pain?!) of my own company that I actually didn't mind the long drive. It was just me, the radio (my car, Stitch, doesn't even have a CD-player installed, hehe), the occassional phone calls and the crazy, random thoughts swirling in and out of my head.

I love long drives--- be it with my bud, my family or a group of crazy friends. There's a different kind of bonding that happens when you all get stuck in a car for hours on end. You talk about things from the deep to the inane, make up hilarious games, take trips down the memory lane and sing to your hearts' content.

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One of the long drives I want to do in the future is Big Sur Drive. The US Highway 1 drive boasts of one of the most scenic routes in the world. I hear the landscapes, the sunrises and the dramatic coastlines are simply breathtaking.

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I took one of those blog things again the other day. Do You Drive Like A Guy or a Girl? Friends are not surprised, for sure, hahaha.

I miss Speedzone!

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cheers! finally announcing an exciting new program you've been working on for a month now.
it's ok... if you smoked your first yosi since high school.
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Kodak Happy

As if we've been camera-deprived the past years, our little once-every-6-years-decent-looking group were taking countless pictures before, during and after Giselle & Jin's wedding!
Ok, so Liz wasn't THAT decent-looking in this pic. Let's try again:

I'm not sure where Hester Bester is planning to go in this pic, but it's a nice one, just the same ;-)

They had a butterfly release when the bridge and groom walked into the reception ballroom. My butterfly didn't take off, allowing me to take a picture of this beautiful creature.

Changing Lives

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me. That’s what I’d hoped to give to you forever. --- Noah, The Notebook

Wow.

Ok, forgive me for getting all mushy and corny. I just finished watching The Notebook (yet again!) a week after my good friend, Giselle, got married to her very own chinky-eyed teddy bear. There’s nothing like seeing two people clearly in love & happy with each other.

It always gets me teary-eyed whenever I witness the Great Handover. You know, that moment when the parents of the bride turn over their daughter to the man she will marry. It says so many things, don't you think? Those last few steps towards the altar with parents of the bride on either side of her... that last hug they give their daughter before she turns her back and takes that first step towards a life of her own... that look they give their "new son" that says everything (here is our baby, we are giving her to you, take care of her)... and then... that instant when the bride and the groom's eyes finally meet as if for the very first time.

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Everyone got all dressed for this special occassion. I was part of the entourage, so I had clearly no choice! But gosh, most of the boys looked half-decent in their barongs (Vyke, ever stylish in black!) and the girls with their pretty dresses and stylish hair & make up. Even Liz-- oh horrors-- was in a dress, pearls and had make-up on! Whoohoo! (photo taken from Liz's cam)

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Funny how things are changing… friends moving out of the country, moving up corporate ladders, pursuing life-long dreams, getting engaged, getting married, having kids… Oh, how we sometimes catch ourselves pretending that we know what’s coming when most of the time, we actually… just wing it.

Someone wise once said that when you get better, the game only gets bigger. It’s in human nature to push ourselves everyday to seek new challenges. It will always be about looking forward and taking “the next step”. We know we will be less spoiled when we leave Manila for “a better life” in another country. We know the risks involved when you leave everything behind to pursue THAT dream. We know having more influence and responsibility at work means bigger headaches and longer hours. We know having kids will be expensive. We know the hardships and nerve-wracking challenges of married life.

But we dive in anyway. Why do we do that? Are we just being masochistic? Are we in denial? Or simply because --- we go back to the premise of these questions --- we are human. You dare not let yourself live without welcoming these challenges, risks, heartaches, and pains. Because without these hardships, there is no fulfillment, no bigger dream, no joy, no love, no life.

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cheers! seeing the Maras today, having a noisy lunch and a restful afternoon
it's ok... if things are not smooth-sailing. It's just a bump and it will pass.
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I was a complete slacker today. I was looking forward to this no-work holiday to catch up on my emails and clean up my desktop. I was even looking forward to listing down my expenses, doing my bills & balancing my accounts. I planned for a long craved-for massage in the afternoon. And what did I do? Surfed the internet, went blog-hopping, stuffed myself with junk food and watched 12 episodes of Grey's Anatomy.

As I said, not a single to-do checked today. Oh my.

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cheers! at least you were able to change your bedsheets!
it's ok... to give in to the temptation of a no-brains-required-day
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Catching Up

Whoa, it's been more than a week since I last posted something in here. So many things have happened the past days.. but for some weird reason, I found myself with with too many thoughts and things to express that I simply... just. got. stuck.

Hmm.. where do I begin? Ahhh... seeing that my last post was about Davao, it would just be right for me to talk a little bit more about my trip to the land of ---here I go swooning again--- the divine durian!

Liz and I spent 4 full days just stuffing ourselves with MSG-rich junk, fresh seafood, durian, pomelo, salads, a little bit of good 'ol American junk food and more seafood! We spent the rest of the stay going to this wonderful gym called Holiday Spa & Fitness Centre (PhP150 for a day, unlimited use!). It boasts of a badminton court, a swimming pool, a jogging track, first-class gym equipment, a boxing ring and an impressive dance studio. Not bad for PhP 150 a day, unlimited use... Not bad at all! We were in heaven for 2 afternoons trying desperately to burn off the calories from our countless gorging.

Lovin' Mistakes & Technology

Thanks to PLDT WeRoam, I'm able to connect my ThinkPad to the Internet and amuse-slash-entertain myself while waiting for Liz to arrive. The Go fare promo terms dictate that we are supposed to be checked-in 45 mins before the flight, otherwise, we run the risk of giving up our seat for someone on the waitlist. Well... it's 3:30 now and Liz is nowhere in sight. The good thing is, because we are holding identical e-tickets, I failed to mention during check-in that mine is not first name on the list. So the counter girl mistook me for Liz and checked her in before she realized her mistake. So now, I'm in the boarding area with the right pass and Liz's pass is waiting for her at the check-in counter. At the very least, Liz is assured that #1, her seat will not be given to someone on the waitlist and #2, she won't be left behind by the plane. At the very least, I won't find myself alone in Davao at 6:30 on a Thursday morning. Haha.

Yipee for mistakes we are more than happy to accomodate.