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. 

Of birthdays and another leaf to turn

I just came from a surprise birthday celeb from my team in the office. 

Tomorrow, I turn another leaf. 

Another year.

Thank you, God - for all the experiences. They were all great. Everything was awesome. 

Here's to more birthdays, wonderful friendships and great loves. 

Clarity

I don't normally post lyrics of songs but I'm making an exception. 
This song has been haunting me and is so far my longest-running LSS. 

Clarity
 
High dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain, it was worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash 'cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'til it breaks your glass and I drown in you again

'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Walk on through a red parade and refuse to make amends
It cuts deep through our ground and makes us forget all common sense
Don't speak as I try to leave 'cause we both know what we'll choose
If you pull then I'll push too deep and I'll fall right back to you

'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

We're on a roll!

Oh yeah, we definitely are!

I've been in and out of meetings for the past 2 days. My usual lunch rendezvous with the girls were replaced by lunch meetings. The thing is, my system doesn't register it as lunch if it's in a meeting so I still feel hungry all the time! 

All is not lost, though.

2 approvals cutting across all the hierarchies. All in a day.

AYLAVET!!! 

I feel so accomplished this week. 

Thank you, Universe, for being so cooperative! 

A few more hours and I am hosting a dinner party for my girls tonight - whatta perfect way to end the frenzied week. 

I love my life. :) 

Saturday fun machine

Redundant, redundant, redundant.

I know --- I sound like a broken record already.

This whole week has been TIRING!!! But I happily ended the weekday with a Go! for my portal launch. And it's HUUUUUUGE! I'm loving it.

Last night, I met VinceDiy for dinner at Lara Djonggrang. He's here in Jakarta for conference. It's nice to touch base with friends outside Manila.

Tonight, Evelyn is hosting a birthday dinner party for Moi and Jen. The Bitches are baaaaack!!!

Happy Birthday to Moi

The thirty-something era.

It's wonderful.

I'm feeling the love.

Thank you, friends.

Fridaaaaaay!!!

Random thoughts on a Friday afternoon:

Finally! TGIF!!!

Super stressed. I'm sooooo looking forward to a quiet weekend to just unwind and relax.
Catch up on much-deserved sleep.

I just realized, I haven't even read some of my fave blogs. It's been a looooooong time.

2 days before my birthday.

For the first time in 4 years, I'm spending it quietly. I will resurrect ze party madness when I come home to Manila in December.

Party or no party though, I'm very happy. I've been very blessed.

My wishes came true and I'm doing great here in Jakarta.

I'm just really very grateful.

But if I must indulge on a birthday gift, I'd love to have a 64G WiFi + 3G iPad and this Louis Vuitton Brea GM vernis bag:

I know, I know.

I'm pushing my luck.

Libre namang mangarap.

At birthday ko pa! Hahaha.

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 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!)

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.

Loving Thursday nights

The Thursday Night Club - TNC, as it was baptized - is mostly in Quezon City as of late.

I don't mind braving the traffic.

The company of Arlene, Teng, Plang, Wryl, Thad and the others who come and go during the drinking sessions is a perfect refuge after 4 stressful work days.

Every Thursday morning, I wake up looking forward to the margaritas and just laughing my head off. I will miss Thadacious when he comes back home to his southern kingdom after the bar. He's just the perfect complement to Teng's sense of humor.

Laos talaga ang hindi marunong magbato ng witty comeback.

And the doors are not open for the dimwits, I must say.

Ibabaon ng buhay.

'Til the next TNC.

Fight!

It's your birthday, we're gunna party like it's your birthday...

No verbosity needed. We had ubeeeeeer fun celebrating Arlene's birthday!!!

Happy birthday Arlene! Cheers to more fun, more alchy, more friends and more parties together.

'Nuff said.

25 shooters & cocktails from Shakers Big Punch

Winner ang mobile bar!

Go Gail!

Bring the flamers down!

Moi & Teng - no we're not yet drunk.

Moi & Arlene - we're both Fire Snakes!

Winner party friends. Si Spocky walang kupas!

Benjie & Sandy

Cheers!