All is well in the world

I've got back-to-back-to-back meetings. I take for granted my personal errands.

BUT...

I was able to promote 2 of my team members. 

I got a salary increase that doesn't insult my efforts from last year. 

I've got very reliable team members who I can depend on. 

And despite our crazy-hectic schedules, Skye and I have one end in mind: at the end of the day, we come first. 

Our marriage is our priority. 

All is well in my world again. 

=)

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.)

Saying goodbye to people

It's a sad day. 

A young colleague passed away today. He succumbed to cancer just an hour ago. 

When I saw the posts on Facebook in December that he was in the middle of the battle, I found myself silently praying for his recovery. While alone in my car, while walking the hallways of the office, I muttered short prayers to myself for his healing. 

We're not even close. When I was still in Indonesia, I was surprised that he added me on Facebook. I just added him because I saw that we had a closely-knit social network. 

Until I came back to Manila and to my company. We became teammates. We were on a hi-hello chica basis, but he always had a positive aura. He was a good young man. Faithful, God-loving.

He was a pioneer in the blogging space, introducing video blogs in the Philippines. 

Ang gaan niya katrabaho. 

I was silently praying that he wins this battle. I told God we needed good people like him around, to rub off more goodness and faith unto others. 

I guess God had other plans. 

I don't know why I'm greatly affected when we're not even close friends. 

Truth be told, I'm on the verge of tears while writing this blog entry. 

Nasasayangan ako sa isang mabuting tao. 

Admittedly, he fought the great fight.

Coy, you will be missed. Thank you for the courage, for the inspiration, for your contribution to social media. 

May you rest in peace.

NKKLK!!!

To the ones who are not used to beckie speak, that reads as NAKAKALOKA! Hahaha. 

I definitely opened 2014 with a big loud bang in the office. 

Normally, people suffer from post-holiday blues after Christmas. 

Not me. 

I hit the ground running. 

My schedule is full to the brim. 

I made sure I had 1:1 sessions with my one-downs to ensure they know what they're supposed to do and what to deliver in the first quarter of 2014. 

On top of all these, I'm doing project management work for THE BIG EVENT. I hired a full-time coordinator for this, but being the OC me, I need to be on top of things. 

Keep calm, keep calm. I keep on reminding myself. 

At the end of each day, though, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and fulfillment, knowing that I have been productive. 

Sulit ang bawat araw. 

*feeling fulfilled*

 

Getting rid of unneccessary stress

Seriously, on a great Friday...

I DON'T NEED IT. 

I don't want to fuss over the small things. 
I don't want to be bothered by the trite and the trivial that can possibly irritate me. 

My schedule is full to the brim. It's mid-December and I've spent most of the time running around for errands. I know this will be the case until February, so as much as I possibly can, I need to just learn to let go. 

Don't sweat the small stuff. 

Repeat. 

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF.

Repeat until it sinks in. 

Wanted: desk time

I've been neglecting my paper work and it's been piling heaps. 

I need my desk time. Quiet time to approve leave requests, answer satisfaction surveys of other groups, monitor our group budget and spending. 

I need SILENCE.

Bitstrippin' like cuh-raaaazy

It's the latest fad online and it's been invading Facebook. I'm a late adopter of Bitstrip but it's been my leads' way to ease up the stress, especially today. 

The strips below are just really hilarious. LOL. 

Fierce

Third day with the bug but I'm in the office, working like nothing's changed. 

As giddy as ever. Fierce kung fierce. 

I will be relentless. 

You won't bug me, bug. Pun intended. 

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.

2,143

The number of unread emails in my Inbox. 

And I was only gone for 3 days.

So help me God. 

Overload

I've been in the office for more than 12 hours already. 

Seriously --- ano ang uunahin ko? 

'Didn't even realize it's way past dinner time already.

The truth is, I prefer crazy, jam-packed days with back-to-back meetings. 

Ako na. Ako na ang workaholic. :P  

It never ends

I'm at the Miascor airport lounge waiting for boarding. Thank God for lounge memberships and Citibank perks. I CANNOT STAND NAIA TERMINAL 1. 

I remembered what Big said the first time we met --- it's the worst airport in the world. 

But I'm digressing. 

Initially, I wanted to start reading the newly assigned book from my SWATTS book club. I eagerly got myself a cabernet sauvignon so I can sit back, relax, sip my wine and read through my Kindle. 

But no. Barely 5 minutes on the couch, my phone started ringing. I had to be in a series of phone calls  

with my boss and my leads to firefight some issues in the office. 

I had no choice but to turn off my Kindle and open my dear reliable lappy. 

Work. It never ends. 

Paalis ka na lang para magbakasyon ng ilang araw, hahabulin ka pa. 

At the same time, while this may sound like a rant to others, it's actually quite the contrary. 

I love my job. I love work. It's my vocation. I like the adrenaline rush. It gives me my sense of purpose. 

Sadistic as it may sound, hahanap-hanapin ko ang panic mode at habulan if I am on vacation for far too long. It's just how I'm hard-wired to be. 

But for now --- let me take this moment to chill a little bit. 

Off to KL for a couple of days to celebrate Chinese New Year and VDay with Skye. 

It's one of those very rare moments when I don't want work to come running after me --- even just for a couple of days. 

We do deserve the time to be together and just be. 

Closing lappy in a little bit. 

Ngarag.com

2 weeks of non-stop workaholic mode. 

Not self-inflicted. It is what's required to get the work done. 

Quotang-quota! 

I can't wait for the weekend! 

Pagod.com

Tuesday...and already tired!!! 

Stressaka emotera.

Game na!  

Monday stressaka

It's only a Monday...feeling Thursday. 

My platform went down, just at the time that we are launching several campaigns. 

Tigas kasi ng ulo.

Tsk. 

Bring it on! 

The beauty of job satisfaction...

...is that I don't hate Mondays. 

In fact, I'm looking forward to it. 

Ever since I got back, I don't have the jitters that I feel on a Sunday evening anymore, because I dread going to work the following day. 

I like Mondays now. For a change. 

Work is still very stressful. The Big Boss definitely knows his thing, so you can't BS your way around. But it also gives me a lot of challenge and room to grow.

Definitely no regrets coming back home. 

Of passion and service to humanity

I love what I'm doing. Unlike others who just work to work, I'm in the industry that I like. I love my domain of expertise. I love portals and user experience design. 

I spend loooong hours in the office figuring out the next strategy or the next innovation to adapt to my platform. 

It's one of the things that I love to do --- I just hope that while doing it, I'm doing some sort of service to mankind in my own little way. 

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. :) 

Stoning moments

Just came from a 4-hour planning meeting with our business group. 'Would've loved this so much had it not been for the migraine that's been pestering me the whole afternoon. 

Work has been pretty fast and hectic. My 3 weeks back feel like it's been 3 years! 

Everything's been great though. The business group has got a great, dynamic and passionate leader. The passion is just burning in his eyes, I can't help but feel infected! 

I'm glad I made the move. 

My gut feel just really tells me - plain and simple - I made the right choice. 

*happy thought while spacing out after the mental gymnastics*

Day 4

...and I am flustered!!!

Clocking in 12 hours everyday. 

But I'm happy-stressed. 

I made the right decision.