Philippines - Manila - Awfully Disappointing

Read on this link first,
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Philippines/Metromanila/Pasig/Ortigas-Center/blog-642646.html

My friend Marel mentioned about this blog and shared her insights about it. Fortunately, when I opened my Tumblr today, another blogger posted the link already for the original blog from the British blogger. I read it and this is what my stand about it.

I know a lot of Pinoys would react on this negatively. Some may have tagged the Brit blogger as judgemental or racist, but for me he is not. He is just very frank, straight-forward blogger. In my opinion, those who have reacted negatively, were shallow minded. If you would really read on the blog itself and you would see that he wrote nothing but the TRUTH about Manila. Everything was a fair constructive criticism.

We should not get mad at this man who wrote this, we should thank him for being frankly honest about the reality. He wrote this blog to serve as the mirror of the PERSPECTIVE that WE DON’T SEE because we became so used to it.

The issue is neither the blog nor the blogger who wrote it, it is the REALITY that was slapped in our faces; the FACT and TRUTH that was told and now becoming visible in our senses.

Let's face it and stop being in denial, Manila have lost its shining glory. Years back, Manila was the most famous and developed capital city compared to other capitals in South-East Asia. But today, it is already far behind them. Manila was stuck to what it was a decade or so ago.

On the brighter side, let’s consider this blog as a wakeup call for a change. If we don’t want to hear or read such comments from foreigners, we should start to change the status quo. We should start to think on how we can re-establish Manila’s former glory. Let’s put Manila on top again.

I know you guys would point the gun to the government again, but that shouldn’t be case. ALL OF US should stop passing responsibilities to others. ALL OF US, THE GOVERNMENT and THE PEOPLE, ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE for this. We should be hand-in-hand to make the change. The government can make the programs and projects but it wouldn’t be successful if the people will not be cooperating with them.

Macarons de Paris

Sinful cravings.

If you are a fan of Gossip Girl, you probably know that this is one of Queen B's fave food. If it's not chocolate, you'll see Blair munchin' on these colorful sweets whenever she's stress or if something disastrous or humiliating had happen to her.

On Gossip Girl Season 2 (I'm not quite sure if t'was from season 2, I'll check it out later), Chuck Bass flew from the US of A to Paris, France just to get Blair a box of these. (Paging Pastor Patrick, you know what to bring me. #InMyDreams)

WHY???

Since I usually go home during rush hour, I always spend minutes and minutes of standing in a VERY, VERY long line just to ride a jeepney. So to kill the boredom, I always entertain myself. I read a book. I tweet. I listen to music.

But there is one thing that I really don’t understand. Since as I said it’s a LONG line so it means there’s A LOT of people standing next or in front of me. WHY do people keep on asking ME? Yes, ME! Out of all the people in line, it’s me that they always choose to ask if the line is going to Pateros.

Ok here’s my usual scenario: I have my headset plugged on both ears. My head is always bow down because I am reading a book. So if you imagine it, even from a far you would recognize that I am sort of BUSY. 

And then here they come, they would stop in front of me and then ask the question, “Miss, pa-Pateros?” or “Miss, anong pila?”. Since my head is bow down, reading my book, I am really not aware who they are actually talking too. So I just continue what I am doing and then after few seconds I would realize that nobody answers back. And whenever I look up, they are actually looking at me and waiting for my response.

Sometimes, I wanted to answer them, “Seriously? You are talking to me? You are asking me?”

It’s not that I don’t want to be ask but c’mon if there’s a lot of people, why can’t they ask them. Why me?

WHY???

My Lola Pat's Birthday

August 25, 2011

After my shift, I went to Garden of Memories to visit one of the most important persons in my life, my Lola Pat. I brought her orchids, her favourite.

Today is my Lola Pat’s birthday. This is one of those days in the year that I don’t need to put a reminder on my calendar or my planner or even set an alarm to remind me what the event is. This is un-evitable and unforgettable date for me. It will always be remembered by my heart.

Lola Pat is not my biological grandma. She’s my Inang’s cousin. She took care of me when I was still little. I literally grew up with her. She loved me the way she loved her own grandchildren. She treated me like her own granddaughter. She’s my one and only Lola Pat.

Despite her wrinkles and all those physical changes that were caused by aging, she’s still beautiful. She’s like a celebrity. She has a very white skin (the kind of white that only Chinese and rich people can haveJ). She has a very kind and loving heart. She’s helpful and very approachable. She’s an angel in disguise.

I was only eight years old when she died, but if I’ll look back and walk through my memory lane, I still have a clear picture of the times I spent with her.

When I was still little, after my pre-school class from the day care, my Nanay would sometimes drop me off at my Lola Pat’s house. She would look over me while my parents were at work and my siblings were at school.

On Sundays, we always go to church and sometimes after the service we would stay at their house to eat lunch.

We always go to her house and I would always walk and play around the garage area just near her garden full of different kind orchids. Orchid is her favourite flower. She personally took care of her orchids. She loves orchids.

As I grow older, whenever important things happen to me, I’d always wished that she was still alive and she would witness it. Back in my elementary graduation, when I came up on stage, delivered my speech and received my medal, I wished that Lola Pat was there to hear me and put my medal on. In my high school graduation, I wished that Lola Pat was there to see my achievements and put my medals on me. On my 18^th birthday, I wished that Lola Pat was there to see me as I start the new chapter in my life. In my college graduation, I wished that Lola Pat was there and witnessed as I stepped on stage and received my last diploma.

I know she’s watching over from heaven with God and saw everything, but it still feels different if she was there and I could hug her after I received all my medals and diplomas. I know she would be proud of me.

It’s been fifteen years already, but whenever this day comes and I visit her tomb I would still cry while I’m praying and wished that she is still here.

Lord, please tell Lola Pat how much I love her and how much I miss her.

Crazy. Stupid. Love.

CRAZY. STUPID. LOVE.

After a very tiring day at work, Marel, Aaron and I decided to hang out for awhile before heading home. So we decided to go to Ayala, we didn’t have plans we just went there. By the way Aaron is my closest officemate with my current company while Marel is my closest buddy after college.

So there we were in Ayala and then we decided to watch a movie. First movie that Marel thought was Crazy Stupid Love. I have heard of it, coz she’s been talking about it but I didn’t bother watching the trailer (I dunno why) so technically I don’t have any idea what to expect. All I know was that it starred one of my all time celebrity crush, Ryan Gosling and my new fave female celebrity Emma Stone and that if falls on a romantic-comedy genre.

We first decided to watch it at Greenbelt 3, (which is my fave movie theater) but the LFS was too late so we ended up at Glorietta 4. So there we were with another unplanned movie date.

Cal’s wife Emily slept with her officemate David. Emily wants to divorce Cal. Cal moved out and spent nights at a bar. Jacob the womanizer saw Hannah, the law student, and tried to flirt with her. Cal and Emily have a son named Robbie who is in love with her baby sitter Jessica. Jessica has a secret crush with Cal.  Cal met Jacob the womanizer. Jacob taught Cal to womanize. Cal met a girl named Kate and slept with her. Kate is Robbie’s teacher. Hannah broke up with her lawyer boyfriend Richard. Hannah went back to the bar and asked Jacob to take her to his place. Jacob and Hannah spent days together. Jacob fell in love with Hannah. Cal and Emily have an older daughter Hannah.

Are you still with me? I guess you are so lost now. So what are you waiting for? Grab your keys and purse and go to the nearest cinema to watch this movie. J

If you’re looking for a good-laugh-movie you shouldn’t miss this one. I can guarantee you will be laughing so hard. These folks were hilarious I swear! It was one big messy story! CRAZY!!!

As I was sitting at the cinema and it came to the part where all the twists were laid down, all I did was, laugh-out-loud-while-I-put-my-two-hands-on-my-head-that-made-my-hair-messed-up-too and blurted out, “Damn! This is crazy!” J

Another thing that made this movie to watch for was because of Ryan Gosling. He was such perfection! That face, the stare and those abs. Wheew! Steamy! There were some scenes where I can’t concentrate on what’s going on because I was blankly staring at Ryan!

Until now I can’t get over the movie. The scenes are still lingering on my head. J So far, this is one of the best movies I’ve seen in 2011. This is an all good movie! Storyline was good. Twist was perfectly inserted. Performance was awesome. Messiness was CRAZY! 

WHEN ARE YOU PLANNING TO GIVE A PIECE OF CARE?

The Universe may have 8 planets but there’s only one place that we can live, EARTH.

God created the Earth so we can live. He made it very special compared to other planets because He wanted us to have beautiful place to live. He have entrusted us this place for us to take good care of it. Do you think you are doing your part as one of the caretakers? Think again.

Many research studies have been funded to study the possibility of us living in another planet, but no matter what they do to make it possible still it will not. So stop funding those research studies and focus on how we can restore the beauty of this planet.

Mother Earth has been sending us messages more often, but are we listening? Yes, there were few that listens, but it’s nothing compared to those who keep on ignoring the messages.

When disasters came we were frightened, we were terrified but after everything turns back to normal, were back to what we do. Instead of thinking on how we can SAVE EARTH, we think of how we can prepare and SAVE OURSELVES from the next disaster.

TRASHES were the main reasons for the floods and landslides that we ALWAYS encounter. We could have avoided these or have lessened the damage if we are responsible people.

Good thing that many organizations and even big companies have taken part to make a change, but their actions will never be successful if us, PEOPLE will not help and participate.

Kudos to the Muntinlupa City, because they have already implemented the “no plastic” law or whatever they call it. As for those who were not yet aware, if you will go to Muntinlupa, you will immediately noticed that most of the stores there, even at the malls, they don’t use plastic bags instead they use paper bags. I love Muntinlupa!

Pasig City has already started out a campaign for a greener city. (I am not pretty sure how it works; surely I’ll research more about it so I can share it with you) But my point here is that, at least they have started something.

Muntinlupa and Pasig are one of the biggest cities here in the Philippines, but they were able to come up with campaign and they were able to have their constituents follow. With the other cities, to the LGU, what’s your plan? If they can do it, I know you can too.

The biggest mall chain here in the Philippines has shown their care for Mother Earth for years now. SM Malls have started their campaign to use and bring your own re-usable bags few years back. They are one of the pioneering major companies that were very consistent in promoting greener lifestyle. Good to know that Ayala Malls (Market! Market!) is already following the trend. With these two malls, they have set a day a week or a month where they are not going to put the things you bought on a plastic, they’ll put on a paper bag or they will be requiring you to bring your own bag. I think SM is doing this every Wednesday, while Market! Market! is doing it every 15^th and 30^th of the month.

PEOPLE, the companies have taken their part, when will you?

You may think that you are just one out of the billions of people across the globe, so whatever you do will not make any difference but I think you are wrong. If every one of us will think that way, it will really not make a difference. But IF YOU START the change from you, and then everyone around you sees that, then that would make a difference. Just like the saying goes, IF YOU WANT CHANGE, START IT FROM YOURSELF.

You don’t know how to start? I’ll be sharing to you some of my simple ways on how we can HELP SAVE MOTHER EARTH. These are little things that you can do on your daily life. These maybe are little things, but if everyone will start doing these, I know it will be of great help.

STOP ASKING FOR PLASTIC

When we are buying stuff, baggers ALWAYS put it on a plastic bag no matter how small or how many the item is.

What you can do, when you are buying only small stuff or maybe you are buying only an item or two, you can proactively ask the cashier or bagger not to put it on a plastic. Just put it inside your bag, but don’t forget to get your receipt. 

ALWAYS BRING YOUR RE-USABLE BAGS

When we go to the supermarkets and “palengkes” to do our groceries we always ended up with a lot of plastic bags.

What you can do, since SM and Market! Market! have already produce re-usable bags that you can use for your groceries, buy maybe 2 or 3 so you can use it for your groceries. When you know you are scheduled to do the shopping or grocery, bring your re-usable bags so baggers can put your stuff in there. If you’re not sure when are you going to do the shopping and groceries, then maybe you can have a little space for your re-usable bags on your daily work/school bag.

STOP THROWING YOUR TRASH EVERYWHERE

When we are on the street or literally outside a building where trash bin is nowhere to be found, we ended up throwing out trash literally ANYWHERE.

Come on people, the streets are not a big trash bins, (in some it may looks like a trash field, but don’t you think it became that way because of the trash you threw?).

What you can do, if it’s just small trash like, candy wrappers etc, put it on your pants/bag’s pocket first and then throw it later when you already found a trash bin. If it’s a little big like cups you used etc, PLEASE don’t mind holding on it for awhile until you see a trash bin where you throw it. And PLEASE make sure you throw it on a trash bin not on the corner of the street or somewhere else.

Be responsible enough, to throw your trash on the right place. We have been taught about this since we were young, but still we don’t follow it.

Let’s start the change on ourselves, little we know everyone is doing what we are doing. Be an example to your family, friends, colleagues and everyone else around you.

SAVE MOTHER EARTH BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank

I was not planning to watch a movie last Sunday but when my friend Marel told me that after church she will be having a movie date with her HS gay best friend EJ. When I asked her what movie they’ll be watching, she said “Babae”, and then I said I wanna come with them to watch it too.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank was an award winning Indie film from Cinemalaya. Most of the Cinemalaya films were not available for commercial viewing. Since it made a big noise in the Indie film world and a lot of people wanted to watch it but missed the Cinemalaya screening, they decided to show it on the commercial big screen.

The movie starred one of the big names in the showbiz industry and I should say she’s one of the most versatile actress and the most in-demand comedienne of this time, no other than Eugene Domingo. J It also co-starred JM de Guzman, one of the best dramatic actor of this generation, Kean Cipriano, Callalily’s front vocal and Cai Cortez.

The movie’s outer story was about an Indie film producer and director who want to make their names big in the industry. They wanted to make a big hit Indie film and dreaming of making it to the most prestigious award giving bodies around the world. Their concept was about the slums’ status quo and the underlying issues that came with it. Their story was about a widowed woman living in a slum area with her seven children. She can no longer bear the pain of seeing her kids suffer so she decided to sell one of her kids an old foreigner pedophile.

On the other hand, the movie’s inner and main story was really about the status quo of the movie industry, not just in the commercial film but as well as in the Indie film. Some may not understand this but for those people who studied the ins and outs of the industry as well as those people who have a very critical view on what they watch, they would definitely understand what the movie is about.

The real deal these days especially in the Philippine movies, were the shallow story lines starring the-most-famous-but-not-so-good-actors. Most of the movies didn’t make any sense anymore. Some were copy cat of the other movies. Movies now were more of an advertisement tool and very commercialized. You would see how the sponsor’s products were being inserted in every scene. Some movies were no longer realistic.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank also tackles on how some actors make their demands and their say about the project that they are doing. It seems like the production owe them big time because they agreed to do the project so they have the bragging rights to demand a lot and make changes to the movie and the story lines. But that shouldn’t be case. They were just actors, which mean they are paid to play the role they were given the way the director wants them to be. They are paid to make the character come alive. They may make suggestions but it is still the director’s call, not unless the actor is the producer too.

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank was a movie that lets you in to the world of film; the ins and outs of it. 

Catch Me I’m In Love

I watched this movie yesterday and I thought I need to write a blog about it. So here I go.

The story was patterned to a very common love story, rich-and-poor-love-affair. And the characters was already used, Presidential kid fell in-love with a common people. But what I liked about this movie was that the writer was able to show a different angle of the story and that made it a unique one.

The movie was not the usual love-against-all-odds type. The characters did not struggle to fight their love with their parents or with other people around them. In fact everyone around was so supportive with them. No one took an effort to break them up. So where’s the conflict there?

How would you fight for your love if your enemy is yourself? Can you still fight for your love if your insecurities killing you? The biggest conflict in the movie was the girl’s struggle to fight their love with her own self. I haven’t seen any movie with the same storyline. In the movie, the girl had issues with her insecurities and what the “crowd” was saying about her being the girlfriend of the Presidential son. I don’t know if all the girls would agree if I say that, with us girls, when insecurities attacks it’s really hard to fight it off. Basically it was a love-against-yourself thing.

This movie made me realize how conflicting a girl’s mind can be.

Emo Day with Your T-SHIRT

It’s exactly a month since my cousins left for Darwin, AU and I’m missing them so much. At this time we still don’t know when will be the next time that we’ll see each other again.

I miss them much more right now because of the Harry Potter movie. I used to watch it with my little cousin Vane. She is my HP-movie-date ever since, but now for the second time we will be watching it separately. L

My younger cousin Vane, whom I treat like a baby sister, left me with her oversized-shirt. And since I’m missing her so much, I wore the shirt today.

Few Minutes Before Sunset at Boracay

Few Minutes Before Sunset at Borcay

This picture was taken at Station 1, Boracay Island, June 20, 2010, in front of Mr. Holidays Resort.

My First PhotoArt!

This my first PhotoArt!

Photography is my passion. I got so interested into photography way back in college. Back when digital camera was first introduce. Back to days when DSLR was not a famous gadget yet.

At first I thought I developed this interest because of my course but I was wrong. It runs in my blood. My Tatay was into photography as well. He have this manual Olympus SLR. Yeah! The old school SLR. And even an old school Polaroid.

If you are really into photography, I mean REALLY into it, not just because it's so "USO" nowadays, you would know that pictures from the manual SLR are way much better than those taken from the DSLR. :)

Forever and a Day

“It took me a day to fall in love and it took me forever to say goodbye.”

That was the line that made me curious about this movie. I expected a lot with this movie, because it was from Star Cinema and it was directed by Cathy Garcia Molina.

 The actors were good and the director too, but I was a bit disappointed with the story (not as disappointed with My Valentine Girls). The love story and scene progression was too fast. The story was not well established. As the story goes, there were two movies that came in my mind, A Walk to Remember and Love and Other Drugs.

The whole movie was like a localized slash copy cat slash collaboration of the two movies I mentioned. It doesn’t have any new element or twist in the story.

It was all about two people who accidentally fall in love with each other. The guy is one tough-stubborn man. The girl would leave a great impact in his life and bring in new perspective. One is dying and the other one doesn’t want to let go of his beloved.  But in the end he learned how to let go. In short it was a story of lovers struggling and fighting their love for each other against the unbeatable enemy, DEATH.

I am now alarmed with our movie industry. Sad to say most of the local movies are not worth to be watched on the big screen. 

MONTE CARLO

It was a planned movie date with my buddies Marel and Clea. It’s been a while since the last time that we watched a movie all together. First option was Green Lantern starring Blake Lively from the Gossip Girl series. But we heard that it wasn’t that good and it wasn’t a worth-to-watch-on-the-big-screen type. So we decided to watch Monte Carlo starring Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and and Katie Cassidy. The latter two are stars from the GG series too. J

To be honest I was so out of loop for the current movies and I wasn’t aware what the movie is about. With Selena Gomez starring in it, I’m not so sure at first if I’m going to like it. I have two reason for doubting the movie, first, I don’t like Selena coz I think she’s just like the teenie-weenie-spoiled-brat-superstar. And second, after Clea told me that the story was about two-look-a-like-individual and the other one would be accidentally mistaken as the other one, I thought it’ll be like a copy cat from the Lizzie Mcguire movie.

But still we gave it a shot and were so surprised. It was an all good movie after all. We really have good laughs. It’s a good thing that we didn’t set our expectation so high for the movie. J

It was a story of an ordinary Texan girl named Grace (Selena Gomez) wanting to spend a good vacation in Paris.  After her HS graduation she was sent to Paris for vacation by her mom and stepdad but she’s not alone. She was accompanied by her blonde, happy-go-lucky, older-than-her best friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) and her miss-perfect, conservative step sister Meg (Leighton Meester). Emma and Meg were batch mates in HS and the total opposite of the other. They’re like cats and dogs. So it was not a good thing that they were together in one trip.

In Paris they had the worst tour package anyone could imagine and misfortunes started to occur. But their tour started to turn in full 360 degrees when Grace was accidentally mistaken as Cordelia, the stubborn, hard-hearted, spoiled brat heiress. They grabbed the opportunity and planned to pretend her just for a night, but in the morning they were all sent off to Monte Carlo and had no chance to escape it at all.

They have experienced their dream vacation and the life that every girl dreamed on, a life of a princess. They continued to pretend and as their journey continues, they realized a lot of things. Grace, found her heart for children in the charity. Emma realized that being a socialite is not the life that would make her happy. And Meg, let herself loose in a good way and had the taste of a real life; full of adventures and surprises.

They were loopholes in the story, but all in all, it was a good movie. It does make sense. It does bring a message to the viewers. Thumbs up for Monte Carlo!

Selena Gomez was good portraying both characters. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy’s chemistry was good as well. They were perfectly fit for their characters. J

PM, this one is for you :)

17^th of April, around 7:30pm, on the 7pm Sunday Service at Victory Fort.

I was sitting there, at the first row, left most side (if coming from the door), on the first chair from the aisle, all alone. And there you were, standing in the middle of the stage, wearing your folded long sleeves polo and you slacks; all eyes and ears were on you (including me of course). Some may have known you already at that time, but not me.

The time that you stepped on that stage, I was smitten by your presence. J That very moment, I whispered, “Cutie si Pastor”. I was surprised when you introduced your mom and your stepdad and I presumed that you are single and not in relationship (I’m still keeping my fingers crossed that you are as I am writing this blog). As I looked at you from my chair, I whispered again, “Are you the JC de Vera of my life?” Only few people knew that I have a crush on JC de Vera and every time that I see you, you remind me of him. And as I listened as you preached the word and cite little things about you, I was amazed. You are such a good speaker and preacher. You seem to be so smart and witty; so serious yet has a good sense of humor. I have a feeling that we can talk anything under the sun. At that time I realized you have already captivated my heart. J

After the service, I thought that would be the last time that I’d be seeing you, coz I know you were just a substitute pastor for that day since Pastor P was not around. I know that you would be around the Victory Fort for a little while supervising the youth ministry, but I didn’t expect that I’ll be seeing you more often.

I was not able to attend the next two Sundays after I saw you. And when I attended the 10am service on the 15^th of May, you were there. And Pastor J announced that you would be staying for good. I was delighted that I will have more chances of seeing you.

I admit I have a crush on you the very first day that I saw you and until now. Maybe that’s what they called, or maybe what I called, crush on the first sight. You charmed me.

I was born and raised in an active Christian family (or should I say clan), but I’ve never thought nor have it crossed my mind to have a crush with a pastor. Not until I saw you.

From then on, I always hoped and prayed that you are the one God has destined for me; that one day you would notice me and maybe we can start as good friends; and I hope someday you will read this blog with me by your side.

M-O-T-I-V-A-T-I-O-N where are you now?

It hasn’t been that long since I started working with my current company. I never thought that I would feel this laziness and boredom so early.

In my previous company it took me a year before I felt this way. But here it only took me less than six months.

Every day, I have to drag myself to get out of the bed and go to work. I no longer have any motivations. Even if I think of money and my salary, it’s still not enough to push me to get up and go to work. I really don’t know what had happened to me, but I’m just so tired of this work. I am so over with the call centre.

For the record, I don’t have anything against the company or the people I work with. Everyone that I work with my previous or my current company was nice. There were instances that they have become the only reason why I am staying with the company.

I am not rich; I don’t have any savings either. My family don’t support me financially, but I really wanna quit this job. I know, this is not want I want and I know this is not where I should be.  I no longer want to be stuck in the four corners of my station, with my headsets on, listening for people venting out and answering the same questions. I don’t want to be in a work where I sit for rest of the day and for the rest of the week.

Production is my life. The outside world is my station. That is where I should be. Passion is my motivation.

Deferred Dreams

When I was young, I thought everything was so simple and easy. But once I got out of the real world, I realized life isn’t that easy as what I perceived it.

During the college years, I started to dream BIG! I dreamed that I will be able to get into the job that I wanted, a radio DJ or an event planner or a cameraman or a photographer or a location manager and the least that I wanted, just to be in the production field or anything that is in-line with my course.

But life is too tough; I don’t have any choice but to be employed to a job that can pay my bills, CALL CENTER AGENT. This is the only industry that can support me financially and this is the only industry that has fast and easy employment process. But this isn’t the job that I want.

After graduation, I said that I’ll just try this for maybe a year and after that then I can be in the job that I want. But it wasn’t that easy, job openings and job offers in the production industry is too stiff and rare. There are openings, but they require at least a year of experience, in which I don’t have since I was stuck at the four corners of my station with my headsets on.

At first, I thought being a call centre agent was quite easy, but I was wrong. This is a really tough job. You talked to a lot of people and dealing with different type of people. Finding solutions for someone else problems. This is a challenging job, but everything becomes a routine as time passes. You were asked for the same questions and you answered them with the same answer. You keep on explaining things over and over again.  It’s not that I am mocking the call centre, but that’s the reality. You started to get bored with it, lose your motivation and all that and you started to look for something that you really want.

I guess this is what happens when you are still young and single and you started to realize that you no longer like what you are doing. You started to look for the things that you love to do. You wanted to work doing the things that you are passionate for.

At this point no matter how I badly want to leave the BPO industry, as long as I have huge bills that I have to pay, I have to stick with this industry and put my dreams aside. I don’t know how long I will be putting my dream job on the side, but I hope it won’t be that long; that it will not come to a point that it is already too late.

Up and Away

Just few minutes more and it’s my off again. And this weekend will be so much fun ‘coz finally the long waited team building is now for real.

Me and my team mates and of course our dearest TL will be heading North today after shift. Baguio… here we come!

It’s about time that we all have good break over the weekend. It’s been very stressful for the past few months. Aside from that, it’s a perfect timing for us to celebrate our team’s regularization day! Yipee!

We will be staying at a colleague’s house there, so accommodation is free. TL also made secret itinerary and that’s makes me more excited! This will be all fun get a way for us. This is our team’s first team bonding out of town, afar from all the hassle and bustle of Manila.

MCF

MCF stands for McDonald’s Coke float and Fries or simply MY COMFORT FOOD.  J

I’m not so sure if everyone has their own comfort food, but for me McDonald’s Coke float and fries has been my comfort food since college. Whenever I’m sad, frustrated, depressed or I just want to treat myself, soda float and fries were there for me! J

I don’t know why but there’s something with these foods that satisfies me. I can go with any fries; I’m so in love with French guys, I mean French fries. J But with soda float, I prefer the soda float from McDonald’s. Coke float or the flavoured Sprite float is fine as long it’s from McDonald’s. For me they have the most tasteful and delicious soda float in town! I’ve tried the one from Jollibee and KFC but I didn’t like it.

I have these weird way of eating fries and Mc Float. For the French fries, instead of dipping it a ketchup or gravy sauce, I would rather dip in on the sundae on the float. Afterwards, I will eat the sundae first on the float, then when there’s only few left from the sundae I’ll mix it with the soda. TASTES GOOD! YUMMY! J

I also made it as a sign from God when it comes to destined one for me. I said that, if the person that will be courting me found out without me or my friends mentioning it to him, that these are the only foods that make me happy, then he is the right one.

Green and Violet and PINK

This blog will be all about the company I worked with and the one I am currently working with. Due to privacy reasons, let’s put like a code name for them. J Let’s label my previous company with Green and my new one Pink.  I won’t tell why. J

I worked for almost a year and a half with Green and it was great, because the environment and people were friendly.  But the only thing I don’t like about it was the night shifts and weekend work day. I don’t have my social life anymore. I don’t get to spend much time with friends and family. Plus the product is a bit stressful.

People around me said that I was lucky because the company was friendly and that I would never find another company that has the same vibe. And before leaving the company, I admit that I had fears that I might land in a company that is a complete opposite of Green. But I was wrong.

It’s been almost 6 months since I started working with Pink and I should say I didn’t expected that it’ll be like this. Pink was really different with Green, in a good way tho. The people and environment here are the same with Green, nice and friendly. But I should say I have more fun here. Account is less stressful and laid back. You have balance with your social life and work life. You get to enjoy and spend time with your family and friends without having to BEG or COMPETE for a Sat-Sun off.  You get to hang along with the all the people here, from the most top managers to the other agents from the other accounts. Managers are very visible and very hands-on, even their counterpart offshore. And one thing that I really like, especially in the training phase was, the culture trainer. In some company, they would just get some local who is good and knows a lot about English or the country, but never been there. Here, the culture trainer is imported from their country. If you have any questions about the cultural differences or just anything about the culture, the people or the country, you can get the answers first hand base on real experiences from someone who lives and been there not just base on books or some modules.

So far, I’m still enjoying my stay here, with the company and its perks, the account and the people I work with. Though, I am so eager to get out of the BPO industry ASAP, the people in this company made me stay here for little longer. J

Graduated from CANDY

Ate Mhaye and I were out in the supermarket to do her last minute Pinoy-made-grocery-shopping before going back to AU and I saw the new issue of Candy magazine with Blake Lively on the cover.

In my high school and college days, I found every article in the magazine very interesting. I read it from cover to cover.  But now it seems that my interests have already evolved. I scanned through the articles and only one article caught my attention, the article about Blake Lively of course.

After a few scans on the magazine, I’ve noticed that most of the articles on it are no longer relevant for my age. I have come to realized that I have matured in some ways (in SOME ways only, no violent reactionsJ).

Maybe I should start to accept that I am a grown up now and Candy magazine is no longer applicable for me. I should accept that I need to graduate from the teenie-weenie-magazines.

And I'm ALL ALONE...

TGIF and it is my last day for my working days this week. It was a very tough week. I was late almost every day (I thank God I was on time last Thursday). Shame on me!

I am all alone today. My seat mates weren’t around today. Aaron’s on RD, Maan on SL, JE on suspension and Kuya Eric on LWOP. Most of the officemates I usually talk was on the far side of floor.

So here I am, left with my computer and my blog.  I guess I’ll be blogging a lot for the rest of the day. Especially if it is idle.

The Last Song Movie

Just a few days ago while riding RoRo, I decided to watch a movie on my laptop and I ended up choosing “The Last Song Movie” ‘coz I haven’t seen it yet plus the fact that it was based on a novel written by one of my fave author, Nicholas Sparks.

Someone has told me already that it was an all good movie, (well it’s no doubt because the novel was written by a best-seller author). It was really a good movie. I was crying most of the time and can’t help the tears falling on my cheeks.

It was about a father-and-daughter-relationship. It really touched my heart because; I am very close to my father and there was a time in my life that I was about to lose him forever.

The daughter was very close to her dad, not until her parents got divorced and her dad left them. She started to be stubborn and rebellious and stopped playing the piano, which was something that she shares interest with him. One summer, she was forced to spend it with her dad and she didn’t know that he was sick and about to die. So she was so harsh and hard to him. But she later on started to open up to him when she met and fall in love with a guy in her dad’s town and she has no one left to talk to, except him. While staying with her dad, she found out that the town people, including her dad, were thinking that her dad was the suspect for burning the old chapel in town. As her summer romance is going so well, she was surprised when she found out that her dad was so sick and has few more months to live. She felt so devastated and felt so guilty for everything she did to him. She then decided to stay with him and take care of him. Later on, she found out that her dad was not the person who burnt the chapel, but it was her boyfriend’s long time friend and her beau knew this all along. She got angry and pushed him out of her life. While spending few more weeks with her dad, she saw that he was trying to finish a self-composed song for her. He couldn’t finish it anymore because of his illness and his fingers can no longer play the piano. She then decided to finish the song. Once she’s done with it, she then found her dad dead at the balcony.

Nicholas Sparks never fails to make me cry. As cry like a baby. And one thing he never fail to do on his novels, is to kill at least one character at the end.

I’ll give to two-thumbs-up for The Last Song movie. I’ll make sure that I’ll let my future kids watch this movie. You should watch this with your dad.

Likes VS Dislikes

I am not a big fan of Miley Cyrus, but I can’t deny the fact that the girl is all so talented. She sings very well and acts well too.

Actually, I always caught myself singing along with her songs “The Climb” (which by the way is one of my favourite songs) and “Party in the USA”. And just recently I saw one of her movie, “The Last Song” and I should admit she’s a good actress.

Maybe I do like her as Miley Cyrus, the talented young pop star, but I strongly do not like her when she is Miley Cyrus the rebellious-slash-liberated-slash-daring-slash-seductively-sexy-wannabe showing up on pictures from paparazzi and some live shows.

No offense to the Miley Cyrus fans out there, but that is just how see her. And I hope she wouldn’t end up like my previous pop idols, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. They are really good in their craft but faded in the lime light because of the wrong choice of people to be with and the wrong choice of path to take.

It isn’t too late for Miley to change the path. She’ll be better if she won’t rush into growing up and going into the extremes. She is still young. I’ll be happy to see her following the Hillary Duff’s path, still famous, glamorous, settled and contented and no too much drama in her life.

OMG! Chuck Bass is really here in the Philippines!

OMG! Chuck Bass is really here in the Philippines! He was chosen as the new lead endorser for Penshoppe!
I’m not so sure why I-am-so-out-loop for this news! I guess I was just so busy running around preparing a getaway with my cousins.

Anyways, thanks to one of my officemate Gene, who informed me about this. I was so excited about the news and Googled it right away! And poof! It became a coco crunch! (Just kiddin!) And there, the news is confirmed!

He arrived last night and will be leaving by Friday! Gosh! So little time! I need to see him! Laurice Chang! Marel Arceo! Kaithlyn Publico! Mara Ariza! Chuck-Bass-Hunt starts now!

He will be here for 3D/2N to have a photo shoot for Penshoppe ads with a famous photographer for Australia. WoW! Penshoppe is following the Bench and Kamiseta in making itb through the global market! Another originally Pinoy clothing brand had made a name globally!

While I’m typing thi blog, my fingers are literally shaking and my heart is beating fast. I got so excited! :)
I badly want to see him! Just one picture from him! Chuck Bass! I love you!

http://www.philstar.com/funfare/Article.aspx?articleId=691887&publicationSubCategoryId=70

Long Lost Sisters

Does she look familiar??? Better take a second look. J You must have mistaken her from an uprising hot-sexy-model-slash-beauty-queen from Israel.  J

Her name is Rae Carla, or just “Calai” (I actually her Calaicay sometimes). She’s a good friend and an office mate as well. I’ve known her for about four months now J and she’s been one of those people whom I got along easily. She’s been one of the people whom I trust in the office and also one of those that I share the tweetmis. J

Admit it she has a striking resemblance to Gal Gadot. They’re like some kind of long lost sisters or what the famous Shivaker “A brother (sister) from a different mother” J

Gal Gadot is an Israeli model turned beauty queen and turned Hollywood star. We’ve seen her in the Fast and Furious movies. She also appeared on Knight and Day as a henchwoman of Tom Cruise’s enemy and also on Date Night as Mark Wahlberg’s hot and sext girlfriend.

Thank You For Patiently Waiting

“You have to find someone who shares the same beliefs and faith as what you have”, in short, as much as possible it should be a Christian too. That is just one of the things that were instilled in me as I grow up.

I wondered will I ever find that someone destined for me. But as a Christian, it was also instilled to me the virtue of “patiently waiting”. J But I guess I didn’t follow it not until after I graduated from college.

I fell in love with LOVE. I stumbled and fell for some guys who weren’t the right one. I got hurt. I cried buckets of tears. I revenged. I was stupid, that’s all I can say. I even made the biggest mistake of giving it to JUST someone. (And now I’m regretting it.) I WAS CRAZY FOR LOVE.

But now I’ve learned. I’ve learned that God has someone for me, (I know and I believe that). And I’ve learned that despite of what I have done wrong, there is someone out there who is willing to take me and love me as I am, including my flaws and all.

I will no longer wonder if that person will come, I WILL PATIENTLY WAIT for him. In God’s time he will come. Our paths would cross and would change each other’s lives.

My Dearest Cousins

It's been over a year since I last saw them. I miss them so much and I'm glad that they were given 2-weeks vacay here.

My cousin Vane (top photo) is like my baby sister. I hug her most of the time because she sa cuddly. :) When she asks favor from me, I'll try all my best to give it to her. She is my Harry Potter movie date. I watched most of the HP movie with her. :) She also met some of my friends from highschool and college.

After a year staying in Darwin, NT Australia, she gained ALOT of weight. So I'm looking forward to see her coz she's definitely cuddlier than before. :)

My Ate Mhaye (bottom photo) is like my bestfriend. She literally knows me inside and out. She knows all my secrets, (even the darkest ones that no ones else know except us). I find comfort in talking to her. Whenever I have problems she's one of the people I can talk to. And whenever I'm in trouble I know she's one of the people to back me up.

My dearest cousins, I'm gonna see you very soon!