When it rains, it's Four

This whole week's totally for the books. 

1. New mandate. 

2. New scope. 

3. New role expansion. 

4. Another team folded under me. 

Ako na. 

Ako na talaga.  

Ako na talaga ang nagmamaganda. 

I don't know if I'm punching above my weight here, but my new scope is gargantuan. Admittedly, I asked for a scope expansion but I was happy to just add another stream under my belt. But NOOOOO. Kailangan ba talaga dalawang buong department? 

Seriously. 

But as usual, I'm happy to take on the challenge. I just said yes. 

I'm excited. But I'm also scared. 

Gulp.

After declaring to the Universe that this year, balance is primordial to me, this is what I get.

Okay payn. Andito na, eh. 

Lezdodiz!  

(So help me God.)

Of best friends, saying goodbye and welcoming another one back

Indeed, life is a wheel that goes on and on. Sometimes, we say goodbye to people we love, but if they are meant to be in our lives, they eventually stumble back in. 

Des is leaving for Melbourne next Tuesday. While I'm saddened that I will soon lose one of the besties within the Inner Circle, I'm also excited to have someone back again. 

VERY EXCITED!!! 

Ate Eve is coming back to Manila for a new gig. Whilst we will be on the opposite site of the fence, it doesn't matter. I'm getting one of my best friends back. That, to me, is what matters.  

Ate Eve is one of my crutches during my Jakarta stint. She was my sounding board, my weekend salon and shopping soulmate even before the Malaysia Boys came into both our lives. 

Although we kept in touch very regularly despite the distance, being near each other still mattered. 

And now, we're back together. IN THE SAME CITY!!! STARTING TOMORROW!!! 

*dance of joy* 

Here's to more adventures together. And cheers to good ol' friendships! 

  

Of Christmas traditions and comfort zones

I'm pretty much flexible and I go with the flow. I can make the best of bad situations.  I can appreciate the simple things in life. When I'm happy, I'm really giddy-happy.

Admittedly though, no matter how flexible and adaptable I am, I do have comfort zones.

Amidst the sea of change, I take comfort in classic traditions. In the same people I see, I talk to, I go to for the really important things. 

Every year, every 25th of December, our high school circle gets together for our Christmas dinner. It started in 1994 and it hasn't been broken ever since. 

1 more year to go and it's gonna be 2 decades of this long-running tradition. Our expats go home for this. I was looking forward to it myself when I was still in Indonesia. 

I'm just glad that some things don't change. And I hope they won't anytime soon. 

This is one of my favorite traditions of all time. =) 

Christmas morning

Christmas mornings are THE BEST!!!

I can wake up late. 

I wake up with my entire family in the house. As soon as I enter the living room, I smell the waft of piping hot chocolate and Mom's classic spaghetti meat sauce being warmed on the kitchen stove. 

The entire house is just really crazy - Abbygale shouting, playing and running around, conversations among the oldies - my Mom, my Dad and Yayay Cita. 

One word to describe everything: BLISS. 

The holiday season used to make me sad. 

Not anymore. 

I have no reason to be. 

JC has blessed me so much. There's just so many things to be thankful for. 

My family. Skye. My friends. My career. Everything in my life just fits all perfectly for me. 

Today, it's JC's birthday. Ironically, He's the one who gave me a plenitude of gifts. 

Christmas. 

I now love Christmas. =) 

Premium on friendships: Part 2

And so you called me this morning, insistently asking if we could see each other over the holidays. 

I can sense this is your way of making it up. 

You ask me to go with you to get your barongs custom-made. 

You evade the topic of radio silence for 2 months and pretend like nothing happened. 

Dork. 

But fine. 

Since you are one of my friends and it's Christmas, I will let this one slide. 

But do this again...do it one more time...

You're really gonna be off the friendship list. 

Merry Christmas, Alpha One. 

Big Dreams

I have big dreams for other people. 

I have big dreams for my family. 

I have bigger dreams for Abby. 

Yesterday, I was with Abby the entire day. She had such a great time choosing her Hello Kitty Christmas gifts. 

She told me that her dream is to have her own bedroom filled with Hello Kitty stuff. Hello Kitty pillows and bed cover, Hello Kitty lamps, boxes, toiletries. Hello Kitty everything! 

I do want that for her. 

Early next year (which is just a matter of days), I will look for a new school for her already. I definitely want to enroll her in a better school. It's never too early to prepare her for university. 

And I want her to go to MY University. 

Big dreams. 

I need all of the Universe's conspiracy for this. 

Loooooong albeit pleasant Sunday

It's past 1am but my day just ended. I'm ending it with a glass of wine (or two) while reading my last book for the year. 

Today is epic. 

It's been a looooooong day of errands in preparation for Christmas.

Whatta Sunday! 

It is a blessed one, though. Amidst the frenzy was a good quality time with la familia. 

Family trumps all else. 

I'm definitely loving this season. =) 

All I want for Christmas is...

On a lighter note, I'm loving my Christmas gifts. =) 

At least those that I needed to open because of the Christmas party ceremonies. 

Keep 'em comin'. 

Fighting the flu bug off

I'm double-booked for Christmas parties tonight...

But I can feel the flu bug. 

And I'm fighting it off as best as I can. 

Waaaah.

Come on.

Don't be raining on my parade now. 

Holiday Bug

Gah. A few days before Christmas and there's still a deluge of work in the office. 

I can't concentrate anymore. 

I slept late wrapping Christmas presents for my entire team of 30 plus last night. Egg-zoooooited to give my gifts today! 

I can't wait for the Christmas weekend and it's only Thursday!!! 

Premium on friendship

So we bump into each other near the elevator. We both look stunned, like it's not even likely to come across each other when we work for the same company. In the same building. 

We say our cordial "Heys."

I had to text you: "Is it just me, or you're not talking to me?"

You made up lousy excuses of being busy all the time and wanting to message me about my prenup shoots. 

I text back: "That's a load of crap." 

Look, you text me when you're zoning out in meetings and you text me around bed time. I used your car and driver for my birthday holiday with my bestfriends.

But you stop talking to me afterwards. 

After the announcement that I'm really getting hitched.

What gives? 

No congratulatory greetings. No nothing.

I can't just let you get away with the "I was busy" excuse. Although I did expect it.

Then you invite me to dinner like nothing happened. Like there was no radio silence between us for the past 2 months. 

2 months. 

I don't know what's going on in your head, but in mine, we were friends. 

And I placed a premium on that friendship. 

I was there for you when shit was happening to you when we were in Jakarta. 

So tell me.

What gives? 

7 days before Christmas

Skye and I just finished watching The Hobbit. It's past 12 and my mind is still racing. 

Sleepless in Manila. 

Yes, I am. 

Because it's 7 days before Christmas and I still have a looooong to-do list. 

Panic at the disco na!!! 

Breathe. Don't stress. Breathe. 

Christmas is on turbo charge this year. 

Game on, fayt!!!

Tiis-ganda: When hard work pays off

I have not been drinking a lot for the past 2 months now. I've stayed away from alchy as much as I can. 

No more binge-drinking, drunk driving and Prive' party nights. 

All for the love of better health...and fabulous prenup photos. 

I liked our Jakarta prenup shots in August but I felt like my arms there were humongous. My legs were pamalo ng dalag and I had double chin. 

I work out regularly and I try to eat healthy. 

My nemesis is really my alcohol intake. 

As such, I made a resolve to shun alcohol as much as I can. And if I can't, I made an effort to drink moderately. 

What used to be a bottle of wine over dinner became 1-2 glasses for me. An all-you-can drink mojito night is ROI'd by just 2 glasses. 

IT WAS A LOT OF SACRIFICE, considering that my stress-buster means cocktails or wine nights at Barcino with my ladies. And yes, Barcino has missed me so much for the past 4 months. 

Lo and behold, the hard work paid off. 

I'm happy with the results of our Manila prenup shoot. And I feel less guilty. 

No more binge drinking! 

And I will actually add that to my 2014 resolutions. 

=) 

Chronicles of a Lagareng Weekend

It turned out, my weekend was just meant for me to run errands.

Gone are my usual Friday drinking sesh - which apparently is good for me since I'm trying to lose a few lbs. for my gown to fit semi-perfectly. 

I had to wake up at past 6am on Saturday morning to quickly shower and pick Abby and my Mom up. We headed out to Divi so I can buy the fabric needed for the bridesmaid dresses. 

From there, I had to buy boxes, gift wrappers and some items for Abby. 

We left Binondo at 2pm so I can have some downtime before I do my best friend duties in the evening. Lo and behold, I had to endure a 2-hour traffic on the way home so I had to immediately jump into the shower and get dressed. 

The only real downtime I had was my Saturday late night alone at home after dinner and drinks at Bugsys. I was literally running around the whole day. 

Sunday was no less frantic. After worship and the traditional Sunday family lunch, I normally take long naps but I had to trade them for a gift wrapping sesh. I made a significant dent on my list but 2/3 still need to be wrapped. Ang arte ko kasi mag-gift wrap. Kailangan production number talaga?  

It works in my favor that I have actually come to accept that I'm destined to be Superwoman Multi-tasker Extraordinaire this December. The earlier I came to terms with it, the more efficient and effective I am. 

Kailangan ng dibdibang multivitamins nito! 

From hereon though, I need to make a commitment to not compromise my sleep, lest I want to fall ill. 

I need all the extra superpowers that I can get. 

So help me God!

Crossroad, yet again

Crossroads have a way of teaching you life's important lessons. 

At least in my case, it's one of the most important stages where the Universe compels me to take action. 

So here I am again, at yet another crossroad in my career. It's a good one, though. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be given so many choices and opportunities. I'm not even deliberately looking, but the opportunities just come knocking. 

How can I not be grateful? 

If I go for one career opportunity, I will go back to the lion's den once again. I will again leave my family behind to explore opportunities. 

This time, though, I am not alone anymore. 

But if I don't go, I feel like I'm starting to become complacent already. 
Complacency has never been in my vocabulary. So has it permeated my life as of late?  I refuse to believe so. 

I'm struggling to make a decision. Normally, I stall when this happens. So many things to consider, not enough time. 

I'm asking the Universe to again conspire in my favor for me to be enlightened and to make the right decision - for me and for everyone I love.

A year in retrospect: Happy anniversary to me

Exactly 10th of June. 

It's been a year today since my feet (or the plane, for that matter) brought me back to Manila. 

It's been a year of a roller coaster ride that's a mix of fun, adventure and a lot of exciting things that came my way.

The future looks brighter ahead. 

And I can't wait! 

Before I even go giddy about the greater things to come, I'd really like to spend this week for introspection. I know I've done so much but there were also short falls that I'd like to compensate for in the coming weeks and months ahead. 

But cheers to me for a great year that was! 

Not bad, A. Not bad. 

=)      

2012, In Retrospect

According to Feng Shui, Snake-born people were not supposed to be lucky in 2012. Career was supposed to be on the down-low, money luck will be subsiding and lethargy will get in the way of big projects.

On the contrary, I HAD FUN IN 2012! I had a blast!!!

True, true --- things were not perfect. The year carried with it some glitches, but I must say that I pulled through with grace.

I cannot count one by one all the blessings that I received. That’s how much generosity I got from the heavens --- there’s way too many to count!

I returned to the Philippines with a better and brighter career. I am definitely happier and more fulfilled in my not-so-new workplace. I was scared of my comeback since I was filling up BIG shoes, but I did prove the weight that I can carry and the contributions that I can bring in.

I have so many windfalls to be thankful for, too! Money was supposed to be dry but the Universe was just way too generous. I’m not swimming in money, so to speak, but I can say that I have more than enough. For myself, for my family and for what I can share to others.

I lost my one great love, but I’m thankful that in this lifetime, I can say that I was able to experience and find it. At the same time, I’m even more blessed and more grateful to find a new love, a second chance to fall in love again with a great guy who adores me.

2012 had so much to offer. I’d like to believe that there’s both heaven and earth luck, but I probably tided over the trials and tribulations of the year because of my perseverance and persistence aka bonggang-bonggang kakulitan, hard work, strength, courage and resilience aka kakanta ng “I will survive.”

Most of all, it was my faith in God that held my hand. I knew I can make it because of my faith. My darkest hours became my finest moments because He was there --- the entire time. JC, I cannot thank you enough for embracing me in your grace.

So to all the survivors and to all the blessed, cheers to a spectacular and blessed 2013!!!

I’m looking forward to another great year ahead!

Purpose

For everything that is happening in my life right now, there must be a purpose. 

1. My engagement with Big was broken.
2. I turned down a contract renewal in Indonesia --- regardless of its 100% salary increase. Yep, you got that right.  
3. I came back to the Philippines.
4. I came back to my previous company --- with a better package and a better post, of course. 
5. I had a recent falling out with Big.
6.  I had another falling out with a friend --- In hindsight I'm actually thinking whether she was really my friend to begin with.
7. My priorities are shifting. There is meaning beyond the long hours at work. 
8. Friends and significant people from all over the world are returning to Manila!

I am definitely pruning my friendship list. Some are intentional, some are circumstantial.  

I'm re-examining my values and what's important to me. I'm beginning to question whether what I'm doing in my life is actually contributing to the betterment of humanity, so to speak.

With every heart ache that I feel, another blessing comes. Is it just me or is this really happening? Or perhaps I learned how to count my blessings for every tear that falls.


God knows I want to do more, fulfill more, achieve more.

And at the end of everything, I want to have more joy in my life.

Purpose.

I sure damn hope that I'm fulfilling mine.

Staycation

Life in Manila --- yep, still adjusting to it. 

Welcome back to your life, April. 

The last 2 days of the long weekend was spent running around like a headless chicken. Errands here and there, meeting friends and being with family --- it never ends.

Yesterday, I had to be at the airport, attend my 3-hour worship with the family, buy Abby's materials for her homework, visit my best friend in Makati Med and make a dent in my reading materials.

CRAAAAAAAZYYYY.

I wanted some quiet ME time today, you know, finish reading Catching Fire in bed while sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows. I need my ME time to keep my sanity. 

BUT I decided that I'd rather go happily crazy spending the day with the family. The whole morning was spent cutting and pasting Abby's homework, stringing new kiddie bracelets for her and teaching her how to play Jenga (oooh, she has a knack for it).

The afternoon was spent at the Shangri-La Hotel for high tea to meet J and catch up again before he goes to the airport. I headed to the car wash after then rushed back to my apartment for the family dinner.  

Whew! 

It doesn't end there --- I have to help them pack up, drive them back then have my time in front of my lappy to do some pre-work for tomorrow. 

To think that I was supposed to meet suppliers today and re-stock on my inventory. 

More than 2 months back in here, but I gotta admit that I'm still getting the hang of things. 

I'm back in my life. Front and center. 

No matter how tiring it gets, I won't trade it in for anything else.   

Champagne life

And my champagne brunches have been replaced by Sunday worship, family lunch and family quality time.

From shopping galore to picking up Abby's playdate and watching over them while they swim in the pool. 

I am definitely blessed. 

Much as I miss my champagne brunches --- which I can still have, but on Saturdays --- my Jakarta routine has been replaced by spending time with my family. 

Not complaining. Definitely not complaining at all.