Solitude

I miss quiet moments with myself.

I don't have a lot of those lately.

My social calendar is fully booked. I have double bookings for dinners and cocktails. I need to take vendors out for dinner. I have to see friends.

I miss Sunday mornings when there's nothing to do but just stare in space or watch episodes of TV series that I missed.

I never realized that I will grow tired of the noise.

I just want to be quiet. Even for a short while. For a change.

Go denim!

After almost five (5) years of wearing strictly corporate, we're now allowed to wear business casual.

Yes - jeans included.

Aylavet!!!

It's like ABS-CBN Interactive all over again.

And yes - you don't have to look lousy wearing denim jeans.

Denim jeans can rock the office.

Loving the ones behind this move!

Believing

Saying I’ve been to hell and back is downright cliché.

But it’s a fact.

I’m one of the most jaded person that you can ever find.

I wasn’t raised to believe in Santa Claus and fairy tales.

I don’t believe that a knight in shining armor will sweep me off my feet and we will ride a horse as the sun sets in the foreground.

I’ve been broken not once, not twice, not thrice, but countless times.

A lover once told me that the person you love the most will be the one who will hurt you the most. And he was right.

I stopped believing a long time ago.

I stopped believing so the hurting can stop.

But I see goodness in his eyes that can’t and won’t lie.

He is as transparent as water in a crystal spring.

I feel his earnestness.

Despite his fears, I felt how much he loved me.

And how much he loves me still.

I’m just not sure if how much he loves me is worth a hundred times over to make me believe again.

I guess, what I'm saying is...

Make me believe again.

Glorified messenger

Today, I'm a glorified soshal messenger.

Signatures needed. NOW.

Real signatures. Electronic signatures are not allowed for legal contracts.

For that - route the papers from Manila to Singapore then back to Manila.

Career!

The exquisite pain of romance

Last night, I caught one of Sex and the City’s season 2 episodes on HBO. This was the episode where Big and Carrie broke up because Big will move to Paris for work – without consulting Carrie.

Carrie said she will move to Paris with him, but Big said she should move not for him – but for herself.

Why on earth will Carrie leave New York for Paris if not for Big???

Why on earth will I even consider moving to Hong Kong with the language barrier and snooty salespeople if not for R???

Issues sounding way too familiar?

Wait until you hear the Carrie-Big exchanges:

Mr. Big: This isn't about us. This is about work!

Carrie: No, this isn't about work. This is about us getting closer and you getting so freaked out that you have to put an ocean between us.

Carrie: Why is it so hard for you to factor me into your life in any real way?

Mr Big: I guess old habits die hard.

I found myself texting R. about what I was watching. ‘Turned out he was watching, too.

The banter went on and on. R. asked me – how many times did they break up?

I quipped: “Several times. Just like us.”

How many times did I ever find myself in the same situation? R. going to Canada and telling me at the very last minute. Me being kept at bay when things became too emotionally involved.

Everything’s just way too close. The episode struck an extremely sensitive cord.

In all of Carrie’s lamenting, she said the words that I have been asking myself as of late:

Why am I running after the excruciating pain of romance? Why do I keep running after what is elusive?

In Carrie’s exact words:

Carrie: After we made love I knew it was over. Did I ever really love Big or was I addicted to the pain, the exquisite pain of wanting someone so unattainable?

I guess I’m both. I loved R. and I was addicted to the exquisite albeit excruciating pain of wanting someone unattainable.

After the episode, R. called me to say good night.

And I was sleepless until 3am.

Tired

And I don't want to burn out.

Don't make me burn on both ends.

8:43

Still in the office. Almost 12 hours now.

I got so used to going home uber late - like 9:30pm or past 10, that leaving the office at 8:43pm seems so unnatural!

Gotta peel myself off my chair and hit the dang gym!

Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year, everyone!

While I bid adieu to 2009, I will leave behind all the hurt and the loss that it brought me.
I will leave behind the drama...and close the door behind me completely.

At the same time, I will carry with me all the successes, the joys, the friendships and all the love that the year gave me.

Thank you, 2009 - for my new job post, for my Valedictory speech, for my travels abroad, for my new condo.

Thank you for the love and for all the good, trustworthy and loyal friends who are still with me. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my great love.

I welcome the year 2010 full of hope and aspirations, knowing that I can --- and I definitely will!

Cheers to becoming a great person and in finding and keeping that one great love.

Fight sa 2010!

2009 Flashback - part 4
MCS High School Reunion

We graduated from high school in the mid-90s. Yes - I am ANCIENT. Please don't carbon-date me.

I've stayed in touch and I'm really very tight with high school besties. It's the circle that I've shared a lot of history with. In fact, high school friends is a misnomer. I've known a lot of the girl friends since kinder.

It's both nostalgic and comforting to see old faces. I haven't seen some of my high school guy friends after graduation! 'Good to know they're alive and happily married. =)

The default company, my high school besties:
Elisa, Ryan, Keith, Obet & Jonathan

Creme dela creme: Candy, Charmalaine, Moi,
Ethel, Amber, Elie and Jennifer of the cream section

With Jonathan: this is where I go Bros over Hoes.

Jonathan & Moi with other high school buddies

with BonBon, Pam and Sherrie Ann

All the single ladies

With the high school boys (or girls!?!?)

Moi with Patrick & Flax: they used to hang out
a lot in my folks' house back in high school.

Where the boys are

The ladies with Jonathan

High school group photos

'Ya can't go wrong spending time with people who've known you since you were all just kids.
I was happy to see the peeps I grew up with.

Until the next roll call...

2009 Flashback - part 3
PDC Christmas Party and the myGlobe girls

This is our first Christmas party with the new Product Design team. Amidst the stress and the other unspeakable things over and above our humongous pile of work, myGlobe still sticks to one mantra:

"Work hard. Party harder!"

PDC exchanging gifts

With the ladies (starting from the back)-
Yoj, Malee, Nabeth, Lala, Chrissie, Anne & Moi

Laughing at the funny host

Goofing around with Andoy & Malee

with the new design team -
Boss Goz, Yoj, Malee, Anne, Nabeth & Mela

Nabeth & Moi with Len & Jesse

with the fun guy buddies - Jesse & Joel

Tres Marias - as always

Like I said - work hard, party harder!

2009 Flashback - part 2
Singapore - Bintan, Indonesia Trip

After my nth heartbreak, I just had to go somewhere. Actually, I just wanted another convenient excuse to leave the country, and another relationship issue oh-so justifies my wanderlust.

It's both comforting and exciting to plan trips and just fly out with friends. I've been missing Madison, too, and the chicas just all really piled up. We've been planning to take a trip together for ages already so...finally!!!

So off I went to Singapore with JT to visit Madison. The 3 of us went to Bintan, Indonesia for a much-deserved beach getaway. I'm actually surprised that the Bintan da-moves was actually reasonably-priced! Nirwana Resort Hotel was also surprisingly cozy. Seafood is uber cheap!

Some photos during the trip (Oh, I know Thad is so waiting for this. Hahaha!):

Ya Kun Kaya Toast - where Mads took us to have
buttered kaya toast for breakfast. 1,000 calories ito! Hahaha!

Mads & Moi at Ion Orchard in front of my church -
Louis Vuitton flagship store!!!

Ze Louis Vuitton flagship store

Prologue - a very nice bookstore at Ion Orchard.
They've got a lot of tarot decks!

Shrimp noodle soup that I ordered for lunch - whattabigbowl!

Lafangin natin ang noodle soup.

I literally ran to the frontage of Takashimaya when
I saw this one. Thanks, JT, for indulging me with the photos!

LV ca-raaaazy!

First breakfast day at Nirwana Resort with Mads & JT

At the pool bar. I so loooove pool bars!

Drinking cocktails at 11 in the morning.

With Madison

Thou shall not fail to eat laksa when in Sing-Indo.

Chillin' with Madison by the poolside.

The trio at the pool bar - again!

With Madison on tambay mode at the clubhouse of Nirwana

I can't wait to plan for the next trip.

Mads, we gotta push through with Siem Reap, Cambodia this year!

2009 Flashback - part 1
My October birthday celeb

I know, I know. I was on hiatus again for more than 2 months. 'Can't blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol because all I did was work my a** off. True enough - greater power comes with greater responsibility. I can't really complain, though. It is what I wanted. The new post, though, robbed me off humongous precious personal time.

To make it up, I'm posting photos of some important milestones from October until now.

What better way to start by posting my birthday photos last October 17. Had a fantabulous time with the original myGlobe and the inner circle. Birthdays should always be this fun!

Tres Marias (with Nabeth & Mela)
at Capricciosa for an Italian dinner

with the original myGlobe peeps + Teng

with Arlene

with Ariel

Shiny, happy crowd during my birthday celeb

with Ariel and Gem

with my bestie & favorite alchy - what more can I ask for?
Moved to Spicy Fingers for cocktails.

with Romy and Gemma

with the favorite posse': Teng, Wryl and Gemma

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it. ;-)

with me favorite bros - Teng and Wryl
'wish Thad's here!

Shooters!!! Yeba!

Are we drunk? Hell no!
Denial is a river in Egypt.

BIllabong rashguard from Gem and Des - yeeeey!

Sandman from Arlene - favorite!

Mawawala ba ang special?
Cicu French dinner with R.

Me birthday cake

Just like last year, my birthday was a blast. My own birthday party is the one day in a year that I can totally let my hair down, let loose and just be my fun self.

Thank you, Inner Circle and R. for always being there to toast with me.

Until the next birthday partay!

(And I already have a theme in mind!)

Fight!

First time in a very long time that I'm still here at 9 in the evening.

I'm catching up on my emails and I've got several literatures on platforms that I need to read.

It's stressful. It's hectic.

It's good to be back.

Cosmic reality

I seem to be living in a parallel universe this past few weeks.

I don't know if it's good for me --- but I'm in a suspended state.

Am I stalling?

I'm not sure.

2 more days to go...

Another leaf will turn.

Deciding on our fate

The gods above are currently deciding on our fates.

Sadly, sometimes part of our future is not in our hands.

Don't do it randomly - like you're shuffling a deck of cards.

Or like picking a name from a fishbowl.

Some of us dedicated most parts of our lives for a cause.

Thank you...

for the goodness of people.

Thank you for the exercise of restraint and fortitude.

Thank you for pleasantly proving me wrong.

Thank you for giving me a flicker of hope that all is not lost.

There are some good men and women out there with big hearts.

And this is for them.

May you multiply in number.

Apropos

Elvin posted this on his Twitter and I had to RT:

"Live simply so that others may simply live". Give and help out until it hurts." HealPhilippines

It is not enough to commiserate. It is not enough to say, our hearts go out to our wounded brethren.

In times like this, empathy is simply not enough.

Distance is not an excuse. There's Paypal, G-Cash, Western Union, relief operations centers in the States, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, in all of Asia, Australia, even in Europe and the Middle East. Pinoys from everywhere are reaching out.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE.

People are getting sick and hungry in the evacuation centers.

Relief goods and medicines are NOT enough.

Don't postpone help for tomorrow.

Because we need them TODAY.

TNC sense of humor amidst the ravages of Ketsana aka Ondoy

Context: This lunch time, Palangga blasted a text to TNC inviting everyone to attend Noel Cabangon's benefit concert and drink tonight, moving the usual Thursday gig to a Wednesday instead.

I had to decline since I need to build emergency kits and continue helping in Globe's relief operations.

While everyone is busy taking turns in doing volunteer work in the afternoon, TNC's Thad texted this:

"Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed: when they drink, they will forget their misery and think no more of their burdens."

Proverbs 31:6-7

Thinking that this is a ploy to move TNC tonight, I had to Google and double-check.

Totoo nga.

And this officially becomes TNC's mantra and ultimate justification for its existence.

Hanep.

On Carrie's Big

Commercial from the onslaught of the typhoon...

I was watching the preview of Sex and the City The Movie on HBO this afternoon.

An SATC producer quipped:

"Sex and the City will not be Sex and the City without Big. He is the problem and the hope."

Nuninuninu...

Sounds familiar, doesn't it, Gem?

Hahaha.

Please help Ondoy victims


Guys, re-posting important contact numbers.

If you want to send help - food, medicines, supplies - or if you want to volunteer in the relief operations, please see the numbers below:

Rescue Operations

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120) ndcchelpdesk@gmail.com

Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)

Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)

Metro Manila Development Authority (136)

Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902) Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)

Quezon City Rescue (161)

San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)

Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)

Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)

Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)

Rubber boat and chopper requests

NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)

You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shopping Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).
Petron & San Miguel Corporation are lending choppers for rescue operations, call/text: (+632917-8140655) ask for Lydia Ragasa

Power supply concerns

Meralco (+63917-5592824, 16211, +63920-9292824) If you want service cut off to your area to prevent fires and electrocution.

Donations of heavy duty flashlights needed for rescue operations in Cainta, Rizal area. Contact Cielo at (+632918-8824356)

E-Donations

SMS: text RED to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (Smart)
G-Cash: text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882
TXTPOWER.org: Paypal, Smart Money (5577-5144-1866-7103), G-Cash (0917-9751092)

Cellphone services

FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text wis to 386.
FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text find to 7000.