Color me Overwhelmed - Birthday Week

Disclaimer: This post was written in haste because I'm about to run some errands but I wanted to make sure that I blog about my week So, please forgive my structure and lack of coherence.

It is my birthday week, and today is just Thursday but things are coming along pretty well - well being an understatement.

I would like to share with you the things that have reminded me of how blessed and lucky I am. Today's blog is about gratitude!

1. My family

We started the day by stopping by the Lipa Cathedral. It has always been a tradition in our family to stop by a church and pray on one's birthday. It's just too bad that Ate can't be with us. But I'm glad that she called me on my birthday morning. :) Thanks, Ate. I miss you.

MY family and I had a quick lunch at Chowking; I didn't have much time because I had work that day. Boy, was I full! I just love Chowking's Fried Chicken and Pancit Canton.

When I got to work, I got a birthday surprise!

2. The Aegis Foundation Training Team

Thank you, Katie memst, for the picture!

And yes, it really was a surprise. I was expecting a number of birthday greetings, but not a birthday cake! And my teammates sang for me, too! We are in the pantry, it was so touching and so awkward that other employees from different tables were singing happy birthday too! LOL. The cake was so sinfully chocolatey I had eaten two slices. Best of all, Shelly did not just smell the chocolate cake, she ate 2 slices of it! 

3. The boyfriend

After blowing out my FT Birthday candles, I was off to my baby! Kelvin picked me up from work, and as soon as we got into the car, I was handed yet another birthday surprise! A 16gb micro SD card! Yipee! I have always lamented on my 4gb memory card and that I only had 4 applications on my phone. So honey got me a new memory card so I can download all the apps and songs that I want! And of course, it did not end there... Hon and I had dinner at Shakey's, where we stuffed ourselves with pizza, calamari, fish, and fries! 

These are the quiet moments that I treasure with honey. I thank God for these moments where we can just sit, be with each other, and tell each other how our days had gone.

4. Birthday surprises from new friends 

Yesterday was an unforgettable day. The moment I stepped in the office, I was greeted with two birthday gifts from my trainees, Nette and Grace. What were those? My two favorite things in the world: Make up and Chicken Adobo!

I'd like to say thanks to Nette for the lipstick and blush; and to Grace for the delightful adobo! Gifts from the heart are the best gifts in the world.

And I thought that was it. No it wasn't! After the phone simulation activity when I let my trainees back into the training room, I noticed that none of my trainees were sitting down and they were all looking at me with expectant expressions. When I stopped what I was doing and asked them, there came a box, filled with red velvet cupcakes, with another round of birthday song! 

My birthday week just just keeps getting better and better! But it still didn't end there. Yesterday, Honey stayed home because he was sick. Because I wanted to share my happiness and birthday surprises with him, I went to his house and shared my gifts (except for the make up, of course) with him and his family. 

And there was yet another surprise.

5. Birthday goodies from dear Joma and Joyce

I'm not sure what the goodies were called, but they sure were yummy! The best part, the handwritten note from the couple! I'm not sure if people are aware but I am a sucker for handwritten notes. The gesture was very sweet and very thoughtful. I miss you, you awesome couple!

6. Honey's family

After a round of birthday greetings, we sat at the table and had a taste of mouth watering food. Here is a picture of me before I stuffed myself with Tita Kila's scrumptious (salmon) pie and fish, and Jami's impressively delicious spaghetti. *burp*

I am always grateful that Honey's family has always been welcoming and caring to me. I have been living alone in Manila for more than six years, but I have always considered their family as a second family, with their sweet pasalubong, home cooked meals, and hours of stories with everyone.

And so there you are, my birthday week!

I hope you had fun reading about my week!

How is your week coming along?

Daddy's Advice

When I was thirteen, there was this boy who decided he didn't like my guts and hit the back of my head with his plastic envelope (filled with his books and notebooks). The boy, fearing my wrath, managed to avoid me for almost a month. 

The next time I saw him, we were on the same school service on the way home. As soon as the jeep stopped at its first destination, I stood up and punched him right in the face. As he cried out and put his hands to his face, I heard a woman scream at me. Oops, unfortunately, the boy's mother saw the whole thing.

Needless to say, my mom and dad had to talk to the boy's parents and apologize. Mama was so furious, she spent a good 2-hour lecture on me. Daddy - as usual -  didn't say a single word. 

As soon as mom left the room, I went up to dad and said, "Nauna naman sya, Daddy e. Gumanti lang ako." He started it, Dad. I just got even.

And Daddy looked down at me and said, "Ikaw kasi e, mananapak ka na lang sa harap pa ng nanay nya. Sa susunod, siguraduhin mo wala yung magulang." This one's on you; you just had to punch him in front of his mother. Next time, make sure the parents are not around.

Greatest advice ever!

June 10, 2013

Gradeschool Graduation: March 1998

Capping Ceremony, 2005

What about you? What's the best advice you dad has ever given to you?

A Love Story in the year 2008

Sometime in 2008...

Part I

It was a sunny morning; the young man started his day just like any other day. From his home in Paco, he took the public transportation to his office in Quezon City. He arrived at work at nine in the morning and went on with his daily tasks.

For months and months this was how the young man lived his day. In the late afternoon, he would leave the office and travel to Pasay to pick his girlfriend up and take her to work. Every evening at seven, the young man would pick his girlfriend up from her house, take her to dinner, and then drop her off at her office in Makati at ten.

You see, the young man worked during the day, and his girlfriend worked during the night. During the day, he would be working while the young woman was sleeping. Their schedules did not match so he made sure to make time for her everyday; even if he had to be in four cities every day.

So each day, this young man travelled from Paco to Quezon City, to Pasay, and then to Makati – just so he could spend time with the young woman. Every day presented the same schedule: arrive at work at nine, leave the office at six, pick the young woman up at seven, and then drop her off at work at ten.

But today was a different day; because the young man decided to surprise his girlfriend. His girlfriend was a hopeless romantic and he knew how much she loved surprises; so he decided to leave the office earlier than usual so that he could show up in her house unannounced and surprise her.

So, off the young man went; he got on the train and smiled all the way to Pasay while imagining the surprise on his girlfriend’s face when he shows up in her house.

At around six in the evening, the young man arrived on his girlfriend’s doorstep with a big, excited grin on his face. He knew that at six in the evening, the young woman was just about to wake up and prepare for work. And so he called for her to open the door and let him in. He called, and called, and called.

There was no answer. There was no one home.

Part II

It was a sunny morning; the young woman started this day just like any other day. From her office in Makati, she took the public transportation on her way to her home to Pasay. She arrived at her house at eight in the morning and went up to her bedroom to sleep.

For months and months, this was how the young woman lived her morning. In the late afternoon, she would wake up, prepare herself for work and wait for her boyfriend to pick her up and take her to work. Every evening at seven, her boyfriend would pick her up from her house, take her to dinner, and then drop her off at her office in Makati at ten.

You see, the young woman worked during the night, and her boyfriend worked during the day. Their relationship was a little complicated because they were not like other regular couples who would work during the day and go out at night. She would be working throughout the night, while the young man was sleeping. Their schedules did not match, and she loved that her boyfriend made sure to make time for her everyday; even if it meant he had to be in four cities every day.

So each day, this young woman would thank the heavens that a wonderful young man would travel from Paco to Quezon City, to Pasay, and then to Makati – just so he could spend time with her. And so, each day witnessed this schedule: get home and sleep at eight, wake up at six, meet her boyfriend at seven, and then work at ten.

But today was a different day; because the young woman decided to surprise her boyfriend. The young woman was a hopeless romantic and her boyfriend had a knack for surprising her all the time; so she decided to turn the tables by surprising him instead. She decided to wake up early so that she could surprise her boyfriend and show up in his office at six, which was the time when he would usually get off from work.

So, off the young woman went; she got on the train and smiled all the way to Quezon City while imagining the surprise on her boyfriend’s face when she shows up in his office.

At around six in the evening the young woman arrived at her boyfriend’s office building with a big, excited grin on her face. She knew that at six, the young man was just about to leave work. She waited, and waited, and waited.

For a few long minutes, she did not see the young man that she was waiting for.

And then her mobile phone rang.

Part III

The young woman looked down on her phone and realized that it was her boyfriend calling.

With a big smile, she pressed the ‘call’ button and answered, “Hello, baby!”

“Where are you?!” the young man bellowed from the other line.

“On the street, walking,” was the young woman’s cryptic reply. She was trying not to laugh and keep the mystery in her voice.

Now enraged, the young man shouted, “What?! I wanted to surprise you. I’m here at your house and you’re not here! You should be sleeping. Where are you?!”

After a stunned second, the young woman replied, “I’m at your office; I wanted to surprise you so I came here to pick you up!”

It took the couple a number of seconds to recover from their shock, and the young woman ended up laughing her heart out. Her body was shaking from her laughter and her heart was melting from pure love.

The Adventures of an Interviewer

“Tell me about yourself.”

Here is a statement that I have repeated numerously these past few months.

Since late last year, I have been screening applicants for one of the accounts in the company that I’m working in. I’ve got to say that an interviewer’s job is freaking arduous!!!

But an interviewer’s job is kind of hilarious too! You see nervous applicants, interviewees who stumble into the interview rooms, applicants whose hands are trembling so much they literally drop everything, and interviewees sweating bullets while waiting for their turn.

But what takes the cake are the actual interviews where you hear the most sidesplitting answers from applicants.

Here are my Top 10 answers.

Please note that most of the answers came from the applicants that I have interviewed and one came from a friend who has had her share of amusing interviews.

I

Interviewer:       What do you do for fun?

Applicant:            Oh, you know. I like hanging friends.

(I felt like running after hearing this.)

II

Interviewer:       What do you do for fun?

Applicant:            I like playing with my kids and sleeping with them.

(Should I alert the authorities?)

III

Interviewer:       What do you consider as your biggest weakness?

Applicant:            Sometimes I overdue myself.

(Not even sure what this meant.)

IV

Interviewer:       What do you usually do when you encounter conflicts with other people?

Applicant:            I’m calm down.

(Can’t it be up?)

V

Interviewer:       What are your strengths that you can contribute to this company?

Applicant:            I’m an easy learner; I learn easily.

VI

Interviewer:       Tell me about yourself.

Applicant:            I live with my father. I don’t live with my mother. I grew up without sawing her face.

(I think I just spoke to another murderer.)

VII

Interviewer:       What are your strengths that you can contribute to this company?

Applicant:            I can do a lot of things at the same time.  That’s how multi-tasking I am.

(Right, you are.)

VIII

Interviewer:       Hello, I’ll be you interviewer for today; I’ll be asking you some questions about yourself.

Applicant:            (Nervously) Ma’am, please don’t make me hard.

(Thankfully, I was not the interviewer. I would have run for the hills.)

IX

Interviewer:       What brings you to Manila?

Applicant:            I can’t able to have a job in Leyte.

(I wonder why.)

X

Interviewer:       Please tell me about yourself.

Applicant:            I’m lived in with my husband; we’re not married.

(No, we most definitely are not.)

Hilarious, eh?

Care to share your adventures at work?

The Xin Wang Experience

I am officially a Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe fan.

I love Chinese food and am a sucker for noodles and soup. I first had my Xin Wang experience a few months ago and had a taste of their Seafood Noodle Soup. Ever since that day, I am hooked on Xin Wang.

Prepare for uncontrollable drooling tendencies, dear readers!

Here is Xin Wang, located at the back of the mall, right beside IMAX:

Once inside, one is greeted by the courteous staff, who will immediately seat you at the couch. Here are some shots of the interior of the cafe:

Nice, isn't it?

Here is the menu:

Glorious, isn't it?

Now, on to the food, mi amigos!

Luncheon Meat 'N Mushroom Cream Sauce Spaghetti for P215

We were treated to a delicious serving of creamy spaghetti with generous strips of luncheon meat and different kinds of mushroom.The pasta was perfect, and the cream sauce was just plain delectable. I will definitely order one of these again!

Seafood Egg Hor Fun for P230

The seafood lover in me just couldn't resist this mouth-watering platter of seafood goodness! At two-hundred thirty pesos, the dish boasts of a mix of shrimp, squid, fish, and another type of seafood that my hungry mind couldn't identify. I was not very happy with the noodles, though. It was a little too soggy and bland for my taste. But overall, I was quite happy with the dish.

Pork Chop 'N Egg Papaya Soup Bee Hon for P220

Want a slice of pork chop in a big (and I mean BIG) bowl of bee hon soup? Then this one will definitely fit the bill. At two hundred twenty pesos, the soup is just heavenly filled to he brim with bee hon and a big slice of pork chop right in the middle. Top it off with hard boiled egg and bits of REAL papaya, one is in for a big surprise. My pork chop was a little hard though, I wish they could have cut it into little bite size pieces. But the soup totally compensated for the meat!

Noodles Macau Style for P195

Here is a dry noodle dish fit for luncheon meat lovers! For 195 pesos a plate, experience the goodness of dry noodles topped with bits of corn, carrots, egg, and peas! Yum!

Now on the the beverages!

Mango Ice blended for P70

Iced Milk Tea Float for P95

A favorite of mine! Iced Milk Tea in an aluminum glass (gives new meaning to cold drinks!) topped with vanilla ice cream!

And the best but definitely not the least, the Xin Wang Special Mango Snow Ice!

Xin Wang Special Mango Snow Ice for P135

A bowl of ice goodness! A volcano of ice goodness! Here is an ice volcano with mango ice cream on top; and on the side you will see bits of real mango, mango syrup and mango jelly, and on the bottom: milky goodness! This is, by far, my favorite summer dessert! Mmm mmm mmm!

I have vowed to myself that I will keep going to Xin Wang until I have tasted everything on their menu! And I mean all 250 dishes on the menu! :)

Go check out Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe at the Mall of Asia!

Location: Ground Floor, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia (next to IMAX Theater), 1300 Pasay City, Philippines

Click here for the Xin Wang Facebook Page!

Contact Number:  8227518

Website: http://www.xinwang.com.ph/

What about you? Have you found a new go-to restaurant?

[An Old Post] Tito Poly

Hello, friends. I came across an old Facebook note that I wrote in 2010. This was a few months after our family lost a dear uncle. Read on, friends.

Tito Poly, you are still missed.

From left: Lau, Tita Gi, Lola Mila, Mama, Ate Ye, Daddy, Ate Kaye, Ate Merz, and Tito Poly

December 14, 2010:

"More than thirty years ago, before my aunt reached her twentieth year, she married a quiet but impressive soldier. This man became a loving husband to my aunt, a firm but loving father to my cousins, the trusted son that my grandmother had always wanted, and a brother/father to my mother and her sisters.

 Two years ago, Tito suddenly fell ill. We were stunned and saddened to find out that Tito was suffering from a heart condition - a condition that was made worse by his congenital heart disease that was not detected until recently. His condition rapidly deteriorated until that fateful day in July 2010. His wife found him unconscious on their bed and she immediately called the hospital. He was then admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he fell into a coma and could not talk nor respond. No one could get to him; he couldn't talk to us, and we didn't even know if he heard us at all. Everyone was at a loss. We waited for days; we were allowed to visit him only twice a day, an hour each time. Every time we visited him, we had to wear surgical shoes and gowns. We talked to him as often as we could; as often as the nurses and doctors would allow us. We told him how much we loved him, and that we missed him.

 But we finally had to let him go. The entire family was enveloped in grief. All of us had questions running through our minds. Numerous questions but answers proved to be elusive. How could someone so strong, so brave, so dependable, so invincible succumb to an illness?

 I have always seen him as a strong, silent man. Just like my own father, he was a man of few words; but when he spoke, everyone listened. But now that's he's gone, how will our family move on? He was not just a husband to his wife or just a father to his kids. He was a son to my grandmother whom he gladly took under his wing. He was a brother and a father to my mother and her sisters who lost their father when they were young.

How do you say goodbye to a husband who stood by you for more than three decades? How do you say goodbye to a father who was quiet but always ready to listen, support, teach and help you? How do you say goodbye to the man who became the brother you never had?

Until this day, those questions still have not been answered. It has been five months since that traumatic day and everyone is still trying to move on; like little babies trying to walk without the help of guiding hands...Sometimes I find myself looking for him whenever I visit their place. And after a few seconds, I silently remind myself that he is gone. I could just imagine how hard it must be for his children. And I can only pray that Tito is now with Him, smiling down upon us. He is now in a better place; a place without needles, without pain, without tears. But we still can't help but think about him.

We miss you, Tito.

P.S.:
Tito, Lola is sick and is in the ICU. The nurses won't let us in and she is really scared. Will you watch over her? Tell her we are all outside waiting for her..." 

What I want to do NOW...

When the month of May rolled in, I promised myself that every night before bed, I will watch a film which I have never seen before.

Last night’s featured movie was A Little Bit of Heaven; a movie about a woman named Marley Corbett (played by Kate Hudson), who was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. The news was broken to her by a serious Dr. Julian Goldstein (played by Gael Garcia Bernal), who eventually fell in love with her humor and resolve. In the midst of pain and suffering, Marley found a way to embrace love, reconcile with her parents, and leave her good friends with fond memories.

Granted, the movie wasn’t a tear-jerker, it wasn’t that impressive, even.

But the movie made me realize ONE thing: The best time to let people know you care is NOW.

So this week, I want to…

·         Give Mama and Daddy a kiss and thank them for their love. They are the best gifts a child can ever receive

·         Tell Kuya that even though we don’t see eye to eye most times, I love him and that I only want the best for him

·         Tell Ate that I admire her strength and that I thank her for being her; and that she is the best sister in the world

·         Tell Prince that I love him and that I wish for him to grow up t be a good, honest and smart man

·         Tell Kelvin that I love him with all my heart and that God couldn’t have given me anyone better

·         Tell Sesha that I admire her faith, resilience and strength

·         Tell Razel that I love her and I pray for Reese’s future; and that I will always be here for her

·         Tell Isha that I wish her peace of mind and the love that she deserves

·         Tell DeeJay that I wish life had treated him better and that he will always be in my thoughts

·         Tell Lola Mila that I love her and that I thank her for all the times she worried about me. I guess that what Lola’s are for. J

·         Tell my Titas and Titos that I will always be grateful for their listening ears and ready advice

·         Tell my cousins that I am honored to be called their cousin. They helped me become what I am

·         Tell my brothers, sisters, and friends that they are the amazing icing on my life’s crazy, crazy cake, and that every single moment I have spent with them is a precious moment that I will forever cherish.

·         Tell those I have offended that I am sorry and that they can hit me in the head the next time they see me (gently, please)

·         Thank all the people that I have worked with; every moment spent with them was equal to a pound of learning

·         Thank all my trainees for the laughter, learning, and inspiration

·         Tell those who I have inspired to pay it forward

·         Tell God that I am the luckiest person in the world; and that I thank Him for everything He has done and given to me and for me.

What about you? What can you do NOW?

Getting Ready for Legazpi

I am so excited for my first out-of-town-without-the-family trip for this year. What makes this trip even more exciting is that I will be travelling with our awesome TA buddies! :)

To make sure that Kelvin, our friends and I will have the time of our lives, I have prepared a list of things, places, and activities that I'd like our group to experience.

Travel buddies, read on!

PLACES TO VISIT:

1. Mt. Mayon (but of course!) and Casagwa Ruins

Mayon Volcano is renowned as the “perfect cone” because of its almost symmetric conical shape. The Casagwa Ruins are the remnants of an 18th century Franciscan church, the Cagsawa church, built in 1724 .

2. Mayon Resthouse Observatory 

A nature park where one can enjoy different recreational activities in the hearts of the Mayon Planetarium and Science Park, picnic areas, wall climbing facilities, and zip lines.

3. St. Raphael Parish Church

One of the unique attractions of the present St. Raphael Church is its altar table made of a single block of solid hardened lava. 

(photocredit: wowlegazpi.com)



4. Albay Pilinut Showroom

Established in 1936, Albay Pilinut Candy is the first pili nut candy factory in Bicol

(photocredit: article.wn.com)

5. Albay Park and Wildlife

A picnic grove and park which houses 347 animals belonging to 75 species.

(photocredit: http://www.tourifictravelservices.com)

 6. The Embarcadero de Legazpi

Bicol’s premier waterfront lifestyle and commercial hub which offers exciting different attractions such as go karting, zipline, jetski, dinning, shopping, and many more!

photocredit: www.wowlegazpi.com

 7. The Japanese Tunnel

A 40-meter lomh L-shaped and seven-feet deep tunnel used by the Japanese forces as an arsenal during the 2nd World War.

(photocredit: http://www.legazpicity.gov.ph)

8. Kapuntukan Hill (Sleeping Lion Hill)

photocredit: www.wowlegazpi.com

Because of its shape, it is also fondly and more popularly called by Legazpeños as the Sleeping Lion Hill, with the higher peak resembling a lion’s hunched shoulders and mane and the lower peak, its rump.

9. Ligñon Hill Nature Park

photocredit:  byaherosnapshots.com

A popular destination where one can enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, rappelling, paintball, airsoft, shopping, sightseeing, and dinning.

ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY:

1.  Whaleshark (Butanding) Watching
2.  ATV on foothills of Mayon Volcano
3. Extreme Mountain Biking in Albay
4. Skimboarding in Legazpi’s Black Sand Beaches
5. Hiking
6. Biking
7. Rappelling
8. Paintball
9. Wallclimbing
10. Ziplining

What else do you recommend?