Lavender & Coffee Stains

Hullo, blog!

Let me recount the happenings in the past few days. I have been busy posting interesting reads from major broadsheets. *hmm*...

June 24 - Manila Day! Since I am working in Makati, that means I have to go to the office that day and work my butt off unlike my sister. I think my mom did not go to work even though she works in QC. I was pretty worried that day because the driver said that there were lots of fools throwing water at passengers in the busy Manila streets. It is alright to be thrown at but the water that they shower on people stinks and smell foul. Yikes!

This day was also the special day of dear Granny Jane who is currently residing in Los Angeles, Cali. Because I had been too busy with my work, I was not able to write her a letter which I had promised before. I feel so guilty. I was not even able to send her a e-bday card. I wish I can make it up to her.

That same night, I went to Megamall to meet with Jon, LA and Jary. This was an unexpected plan to meet for dinner. Very unusual. *think* Since Dex will be fetching me from the office that time, we decided to drop by @ the mall and meet them. I introduced them to Dex a few chit-chats, off we go. Honestly, I feel so awkward that time. I got my reasons which I prefer to keep for myself. I just hope I did not offend my dear good friends for leaving like that. I didn't mean to.

June 25 - Aside from meeting with Stephanie of Mandarin Hotel, I mostly spent the entire day doing research. Most of the time, I spent it on self-study about some few issues about trade matters.

As usual, Dex picked me up from the office and had dinner together and then head for home.

June 26 - Nothing new about work, very relax and I checked my already mounting emails in my yahoo account and another private account. Downloaded some pictures and saved it in my hard disk. By lunch time, LA and I satisfied our lunchtime hunger at our canteen at the PhilamLife Building. He spent the morning at the gym nearby. Besides, we had some stuff to talk about. Serious stuff??? *hmm* It is mine to keep... After lunch, I told him that I need to go to Citibankto encash my cheque [I do not have any cash anymore since I used it all up during my Cebu business trip]. He came along and went back to Paseo de Roxas with me. Afterwards, we separated ways for it was almost 13:30 hours - I have to go back to the office and him, to meet a "friend". Hehehe! =)

I was supposed to tell someone about a special thing but things did not work out as I expected. Maybe things will work out in its own course. Hope I am making the right decision. =)

June 27 - TGIF! *hmm* We had the usual end-of-the-month company luncheon meeting at the office. I have forgotten all about it. Good thing that my college pal and I cancelled the supposed lunch meeting. She was supposed to be around Makati but some schedules of her had to be changed due to some unforseen emergency.

At the strike of 5pm, I started to tidy up my work area. It is a Friday and I do not want to leave it as it is. I do not want to go to work on Monday and see my table like it was damaged by some hurricane!

Since I expected that someone will be fetching me, I decided to pack early and bid my immediate superior goodbye. The executive director was there, too. As usual, they really find it too amusing to tease me and the others when they learn that some guy was outside waiting for any of us girls. I thought my immediate superior will check him out because he was already from his swivel chair and on his way out. Good thing he did not. *Are Japanese really plain chismoso?* That always makes me wonder...

Dex picked me up and I sort of gave him a cold shoulder for we had a little misunderstanding that morning. Sometimes, sending text messages can really be a pain since you have to shorten some explanations and even though, you can send more SMS, tendency is for you to get tired of texting back. [But one thing I know is that, our monthly billing statement will turn out to be a shock for both of us =)] Anyway, I changed my mind and decided to be nice for it was entirely my fault. Hehehe!

June 28 - I woke up early @ 8am and I guess, the reason was because my mom, my sister and my brother will be leaving. I was too surprised because I did not expect them to be out of the house on a Saturday except for my sister who is having her CPA review. My brother usually leaves the house on a Saturday during late afternoons. I learned my mom was on an overtime spree regarding their project. Papa, on the other hand, was upstairs doing his own stuff.

Since I will be leaving the house by lunchtime, I decided to do some chores at the house. But I had fun cooking lunch for my father. I cannot find anything nice to cook. I thought I will be either cooking hotdog and bacon for lunch since I cannot find any pork, chicken or beef in the refrigerator. I checked the other ref and there I found pork. That time, I do not prefer to eat anything fried so what I did was to cook steak. Porksteak! As usual, I drowned my steak with too many calamansi {yum yum}! I thought my father will not like it but when I got home that night, I did not hear any complaint about my specialty. Hehehe!

About my usual Saturday escapade, I really had fun. I had a movie marathon watching Chinese movies. I watched So Close and Fist of Legend! =)




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I am just here at home burning my net account..hehehe! I have been checking mails, surfing, looking for my favorite songs. I feel too lazy to read the current news eh. *hmm*

Yehey! :bounce2: I found it! Ooops, somebody found it for me!!!

TO LOVE YOU MORE
by Celine Dion

Take me back in the arms I love
Need me like you did before
Touch me once again
And remember when
There was no one that you wanted more

Don't go you know you will break my heart
She won't love you like I will
I'm the one who'll stay
When she walks away
And you know I'll be standing here still

I'll be waiting for you
Here inside my heart
I'm the one who wants to love you more
You will see I can give you
Everything you need
Let me be the one to love you more

See me as if you never knew
Hold me so you can't let go
Just believe in me
I will make you see
All the things that your heart needs to know

I'll be waiting for you
Here inside my heart
I'm the one who wants to love you more
You will see I can give you
Everything you need
Let me be the one to love you more

And some way all the love that we had can be saved
Whatever it takes we'll find a way

I'll be waiting for you
Here inside my heart
I'm the one who wants to love you more
You will see I can give you
Everything you need
Let me be the one to love you more

I always hear this song but I cannot make out the title. But then, I had a hunch it was Celine Dion who sang it. =)


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Last Thursday or Friday I think, INQ7 changed its online lay-out. *hmm* I think I prefer the old lay-out. It appeared more like a real online broadsheet to me. I find the new one a little bit dull and confusing. "Parang it is so disorganized." Oh! Just my 2 cent's worth.


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I liked this line ha, find it so sweet! =)
and i have lived all my life knowing that i will do what i can to keep u safe and happy...

eto mejo corny pero puede na...
i just did not know then who "u" was... till i met you

Posted below is a poem given to me by a guy who got it in turn from his mom's journal. Very nice! Hay...=)

what do you call this feeling
i feel deep inside my heart?
it's something i cannot fathom
i wonder how it did start.
probably the day i met you
but i can't remember when
the only thing i'm sure of
it was somewhere now and then.

my heartbeat starts to double
each time i see you near
with that specialness about you
that makes you very dear.
and how you fill my thoughts
every moment of each day
makes me keep you in my mind
in a special kind of way.

then, when darkness begins to claim
the hold it has on me
still, there, in a dream, you are
that's how it shall always be.
'til the first wink of my eyes
brings me again to think of you
and with a prayer, blooms a day
that starts and ends with you.

i guess i started living
the time i felt this way
for what good is life without you
this much i can say.
but i'd live through it anyhow
though with "if only's" and "in dreams"
for i cannot let you in my secret
it wouldn't be right, it seems.

yet, i have tried to forget you
God knows i have tried
and when i say, "i've succeeded"
my heart knows i just lied...
but if i could only tell you
then, perhaps you would tell me too
what to call this feeling
created, by you.

So, unusual. I feel so damn cold, I'm freezing like ice....

I am so busy and yet feel so relax. I do not know why. For the past few days, I was able to accomplish and produce positive results regarding my work. Sometimes, research dulls me but other times, it motivates me. Pretty weird, huh! A few weeks back, I was at the verge of resigning, giving up my job. I don't know.

It seemed like I have been doing self-study about economics stuff. I focus more on 3 subject matters: 1 - Cement Industry, 2 - ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and 3 - the RP-Singapore Petrochemical Issue. These topics are very interesting since they are mostly the contents of daily major broadsheets. I wanted to consider also the recent updates on the automobile industry but I think have to postpone it in a latter time. Too much information on my head will cause me mental overload...hehehe!

*Hmm* Aside from this, I have been trying so hard to clear my work area from thousands of paper, broadsheets and reports that have seemed to piled up like a mountain. As much as I clean them up, in a day or two, I will notice that it is much worse than before. Goodness! I hate working in a messy area because I feel so suffocated just by the sight of it.

Well, the clock hits 5pm already and Dex will be here in a few minutes. He is quite early today. I think he is making up for yesterday. I sometimes wonder why he has to do all these things. I can very well take care of myself and he does not need to bother himself. I sometimes worry because he works at night on a 3rd shift, leave the office in the morning, {lately he leaves the office at 12 noon}, sleeps only for about 3-4 hours, picks me up at the office between 6-7 in the evening, have dinner together and wander around, brings me home till 11-12 midnight and he has to go back to Paranaque and reach the office by probably 1 am or 2 am. What does he think of himself? A robot? We always *argue* about this matter but I always lose. He lets me win all arguments except this one, he says so. Well, I don't like it.

Alright, I have to log off and face all these paperworks. Later, blog.

Graduates to revisit UP Beloved - PDI 16 June 03



Recall alma mater with pride

MANY of today's biggest names in politics, business, government service and even entertainment come from the University of the Philippines.

Graduates recall with fondness and pride their stay at the UP that helped them become successful individuals.

"In UP, students are not afraid to question their professors and say their opinion unlike in sectarian schools," said Reynaldo M. Lesaca, whose class, 1943 (diamond), is among this year's honorees in the UP general alumni-faculty homecoming on June 21, 4 p.m., at the Luciano E. Salazar Hall, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Other honorees are Classes 1953 (golden), 1963 (ruby) and 1977 (silver).

This year's theme is "Population and the Quality of Life of the Filipino."

An integrated production number, showcasing their respective eras, will be presented by the jubilarians. Medallions will be awarded to the diamond jubilarians. Hosting the program are Willie Nepomuceno and Tessie Tomas.

Leading this year's diamond jubilarians is 82-year-old Lesaca, who still lives in the same house on Mabini Street in UP Diliman built in 1947, when the campus opened in Quezon City. Lesaca raised his eight children, including noted pop-jazz violinist John, in the same house.

"I was the one who taught John how to play the violin," said the elder Lesaca, a civil engineering graduate.

Lesaca entered UP in 1938, when Jorge Bocobo was the university president. His wife Florinda Jacob, his high-school sweetheart and a native of Lipa town in Batangas province, is also a UP graduate. She started the kindergarten program in UP.

The couple has been married for 63 years now.



Face-to-face with Einstein

Lesaca, who earned scholarships in American universities, takes pride in being the only Filipino to have interviewed the great scientist Albert Einstein at the Princeton University in New Jersey on Dec. 29, 1947. The interview was published in the "Evening News" in December 1949.

Lesaca, who taught at UP, also served as commissioner of the National Pollution and Control Commission (NPCC) in the '60s.

Other diamond jubilarians are Dr. Virginia R. Nanagas, Dr. Iluminada de la Rosa, Teofila Ofelia Tamesis, Dr. Paula Santos-Umali, and Dr. Conrado S. Dayrit, father of Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit.

The golden jubilarians are led by lawyer Hernandez, who is on his third and last year as UPAA president. In March, the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) donated, through the UP system president Francisco Nemenzo, seven million pesos to the university's library modernization program that aims to convert paper files into electronic formats. The amount was on top of the 17 million pesos raised by the board during its term, which will end this month.

It was Hernandez's class that brought Guillermo Tolentino's oblation from UP Padre Faura to Diliman.

Hernandez took up pre-law at UP Iloilo, now UP Visayas. When he moved to Diliman for his law proper in 1948, he recalled there were only two buildings, both used as offices. Classes were conducted in American quonset huts. Dormitories were inherited from the US army, since Diliman was used as an army camp.


Open-air shower

"When it rained, we had no classes because we couldn't hear what the professor was saying anymore," Hernandez said. "Our shower was open air, and there was only canvas to cover you."

Hernandez and wife Matilde Montinola have five children who all went to UP.

Among his fellow graduates are former senator Juan Ponce-Enrile, retired Supreme Court justice Abdulwahid Bidin, Court of Appeals Justice Nathanael de Pano, former executive secretary Ponciano Mathay, Dr. Rafael Salas, the first Filipino undersecretary-general of the United Nations, and the late senator Mamintal Tamano.

Maria Anicia "Boots" Mejia, one-time Inquirer vice president, obtained her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from UP in 1978.

"It was the age of salsa, 12-set or the maski-pops for the terpsichoreally challenged," she said. "We were listening to the Fifth Dimension, Diana Ross, Supremes, and even Rico J, and Sampaguita. We also watched Woody Allen movies.

"The youths wore bell-bottoms, cheesecloth (read: see-through) and bead chokers. You weren't from the '70s if you didn't own a puka shell necklace."

Among her classmates were General Edgar Aglipay and General George Alinio; Ed Alvarez, who is now president of Orix Metro Leasing, the biggest finance company in Japan; Salvador Escaño, president of Price Development; Butch Garcia, a partner at Sycip, Gorres, Velayo and Company; Victor Manarang, president of Extraordinary Development Corporation; Fred Rosal, a lawyer; Belen Buensuceso-Tan, now senior vice president for corporate planning of San Miguel Corporation; Josie Agloro, executive vice president of Hermes Shipping; and Jun Sabog, associate professor in management at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Mejia met her husband, Oscar, then finance manager of the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (CDCP), in the same college.

Mejia was vice president of Far East Chemco Leasing and Finance Corporation, a joint venture of Far East Bank and Chemical Bank of New York, when she enrolled in graduate school.

This year's homecoming awardees include Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, most distinguished alumnus; Presidential Commission on Good Government head Haydee B. Yorac, most distinguished alumna; lawyer Ponciano Mathay and Professor Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio, lifetime distinguished achievements; GMA Network president Felipe L. Gozon, information technology and mass communication; and Behn Cervantes for theater arts.

I think this is not the way things should be. If this bill is enacted into Law, UP education may really suffer. We never learn!

Please read on...PDI 22 june 03



UP should have own income, says Drilon

SAYING the University of the Philippines should not have to beg for funds from the national government, Senate President Franklin Drilon Saturday pushed for amending the UP Charter to allow it to generate its own income.

Drilon said the move to change the "terribly outmoded" charter, which had been enacted in 1908, was gaining ground in the Senate after the committee on education unanimously passed Senate Bill 2587, which authorizes the state university to generate income from its idle lands.

In a speech read for him at the Bahay ng Alumni at the UP, where he was conferred the "Most Outstanding Alumnus" award by the UP Alumni Association, Drilon said, "The times call for a review of the charter to ensure that UP will be more responsive and sensitive to the needs of the people in these modern times."

Senator Francis Pangilinan, who chairs the 15-member Senate committee on education, arts and culture, is the principal sponsor of the bill.

UP students and employees said the provision may lead to the "commercialization of education," and eventually to the sale of UP to private companies.

*Hmm* This got me thinking...Got it from my mail!

What hurts ...

- letting go of a person you've just learned to love

- reminiscing the good times you shared together

- shielding your heart to love somebody

- trying to hide what you really feel

- trying to hide the tears that involuntarily fall from your eyes

- loving a person too much

- giving up someone you never thought of giving up

- having the right love at the wrong time

- taking the risk to fall in love again

- hiding your relationship from someone else

- controlling your feelings to avoid hurting a friend

- Thinking of him every waking and sleeping moment knowing all the while that he never even thinks a single thought of you...

- letting go, because everytime you see the person, you only fall deeper

- holding back only to find out when it's too late, you both felt the same way, but were only scared to lose each other so much that you didn't let the feelings out

- falling in love with someone you didn't mean to fall in love with

- finding the perfect guy with only one problem, he doesn't love you

- helping the one you love "make ligaw" to your friend

- seeing the one you love crying for someone else

- the waiting also hurts like hell

- Having to hear "... I've met someone"

- Agreeing to his wish to 'just be friends'.

- asking his freedom back because 'he'd be happier with her'

- Asking you to 'forget that everything happened' and be 'normal' friends again.

- hearing that you're treated as a little sister

- sharing his future plans for the girl with you

- You stopped being friends because his girlfriend asked him to.

- being denied in front of people

- telling you lies where he'd been when actually, he was with a 'new friend' or an 'old flame'

- he told you he'd be leaving you to return to his ex

- breaking someone's heart

- Fighting for that one thing that would make you happy that is, holding on to a person who can not guarantee you his commitment unless he fix himself... then, you are left hanging for the moment...then he says, time will tell, but you still decided to hope in him and trust him...

- PRETENDING you're OK when inside you're dying

- PRETENDING to be strong.... and RECOGNIZING your weakness

- Lying in bed each night, thinking of that special person you can never have...

- Being with someone you can't actually love...

- Pretending you don't love a person whom you actually love...

- Being in love...

- letting go even if you really don't want to...

- having no right to say you are hurting because it was your decision

- Seeing the person you love hurt because of you... and not being able to help that person...

- having the courage to say I LOVE YOU to the person you love and finding out afterwards that things will never be the same again when he doesn't treat you with the same closeness as before

- having to face the fact that someone is capable of completely destroying the wall that you have set for yourself, leaving you weak and vulnerable

- admitting that you love someone despite his imperfections

- finding out that the more you try to hate him, the more you end up loving him, perhaps even more than before

- Realizing how stupid your mistakes was that led to your break-up.

- the thought that this guy, used to really love you and you loved him as well but you didn't give enough and he gave up on you

- Sharing the one you love with SOMEBODY else..."

- Making a promise and realizing that when the time has come for that promise to be delivered, the commitment is no longer there.

- The hardest thing about love - believing it exists.

- After you've been hurt, learning to forgive, learning to trust and love again.

BUT THE HARDEST THING REALLY IS LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF. WE ALWAYS FORGET TO DO THIS. ALWAYS.

I need to buy this book.

I was browsing some sites and I found this one.

ACROPHONOLOGY AND YOU

Acrophonology enables us to determine individualized energy patterns from a name. Letters are symbols for energy. They label the energies you possess. We will now explore your name for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy symbols to discover WHAT'S IN YOUR NAME...ACROPHONOLOGY

NAME ANALYSIS FOR: Frances Ivy Velarde Manalansan

You have an aptitude for dealing with the public. You would do well in entertainment and politics. You feel secure in group endeavors. You enjoy a challenge. You can take thought-directed actions. You have much enthusiasm with a driving attitude toward achievement in life. You can handle details well. You have a methodical mind. You are clever, inventive, imaginative and youthful. You enjoy socializing. You can be quite inventive and quite curious. You try to be prudent. You have good business acumen. You are relatively demonstrative in your affections. You enjoy being stroked verbally and physically. You can easily detach from people and situations. You enjoy unconventional friends. Your independence and freedom are important to you. You need to learn to be expressive. You are a person who cannot tolerate being misunderstood. You have a diplomatic flair to your nature. Equality and fairness are important to you. You have a need to be up front. You have a lack of confidence in your mental abilities and do not like being forced into giving your opinion. You have a discriminating nature coupled with perseverance and family pride. You want to be productive and feel useful, and enjoy helping solve problems. You like to be busy and not waste time. You must learn to give 'wise' service and not be a martyr. You must learn the lessons of self-worth; learn to love yourself before you can love others. You have a need to earn money to prove your success to society and must learn the true value of material gains and status.

Hehehe! Wala ang boss ko kaya...hehehe! :) I will be updating and revising this blog for a new look soon. Anyway, I still have to clean My Documents folder, My favorites "connection" and desktop "look." I hate eye trashes. If I do not need it anymore, throw it...*hmm*

Anak naman ng tokwa o! Kulit mo, Ramil! As if naman kilala kita talaga no. Obvious ba ayaw ko makipag-chat sa iyo? Sana naman ma-sense mo na busy ako at di puro chat ang inaatupag ko. Kapag wala ko ginagawa, dun ako nagcha-chat. O kaya naman, kahit na sandamakmak ang trabaho sa table ko at nasa chat ako, isa lang ibig sabihin nun, burnt-out na ko sa buhay ko at kailangan ko ng break. Pasensya na po! =)

Back to work!

Yesterday, as part of my daily morning routine, I was browsing the papers and I came across this:

LACSON used up PhP147-Million 'pork barrel' fund last year

OPPOSITIONIST Senator Panfilo Lacson, a presidential aspirant who earlier called for abolition of the "pork barrel" system in Congress, turned out to have dipped his hand into his own pork barrel last year.

Pork barrel refers to money from the national budget that finances projects identified by legislators. Lacson said as much as 60 percent of the budget for an infrastructure project is lost to corruption.

Except for Senators Joker Arroyo and Sergio Osmena III, all the other 22 senators either exhausted or used up a huge chunk of their pork barrel, according to records of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Of the 200 million pesos allocated for the pork barrel of each senator, only 150 million pesos was released in 2002.

Arroyo and Osmena did not avail themselves of a single centavo from their pork barrel fund, called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and formerly Countrywide Development Fund, a source of kickbacks and campaign funds for legislators.

Pork barrel is composed of two items: the so-called "PDAF soft" allocation and appropriations from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DBM records showed that as of Dec. 31, 2002, Lacson had availed himself of a total of 147 million pesos, three million pesos short of his entire allocation of 150 million pesos.

Lacson had used 100 million pesos as of Sept. 7, 2002, and 47 million pesos at the end of last year, according to DBM records.

On Feb. 26, 2003, Lacson delivered a privileged speech condemning the pork barrel system. On Monday he said that when he announced that he was giving up his pork he was referring to funds coming in this year. He said he wanted to help the government deal with its huge budget deficit.

Lacson said he was also disappointed with the way the pork barrel seemed to be "attended with corruption."

He said he had filed several graft cases against officials suspected of having made money from the pork barrel allocated to him in 2001 and 2002.

Among those he charged with graft in the Office of the Ombudsman were a regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways, a district engineer, and a municipal mayor.

If Lacson was three million pesos short of exhausting his 150 million pesos in pork allocation in 2002, eight senators used their respective allocations to the last centavo.

Those who fully used up their allocation were Senators Edgardo Angara, Noli de Castro, Luisa Ejercito Estrada, Juan Flavier, Gregorio Honasan, Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla Sr., and Vicente Sotto III.

Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Manuel Villar Jr. used up 78.5 million and 90 million pesos, respectively.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon used 149.95 million pesos, Senator Francis Pangilinan 149.00 million pesos, and Senator Teresa Aquino Oreta 140.00 million pesos.

The rest of the senators availed themselves of their pork barrel as follows: Robert Barbers, 102.3 million pesos; Renato Cayetano, 139.5 million; Franklin Drilon, 101.0 million; Robert Jaworski Sr., 112.0 million; Loren Legarda, 110.0 million; Blas Ople, 103.0 million; John Osmena 105,980,393; and Aquilino Pimentel Jr., 117.75 million.

A senator's availment of his pork barrel is not defined by party affiliation. Even Revilla and Cayetano, who have been sick and largely indisposed, have drawn heavily from their pork barrel at 150 million pesos and 139.5 million pesos, respectively.

Neophyte legislators De Castro and Pangilinan also used their pork barrel extensively - 150 million and 149 million pesos, respectively.

Ople, who was appointed secretary of foreign affairs in August 2002, drew a total of 103 million pesos as of Dec. 31, 2002.

Unlike congressmen who represent legislative districts, senators can spend their pork barrel for projects in any part of the country or for specific sectors.

Congressmen have a smaller pork barrel than senators. A congressman is entitled to 65 million pesos in PDAF and a minimum of 35 million pesos in public works fund.

All I can say is: "Ping, you're one hell of a big joke! Hanggang salita ka lang eh.

Mawningers!

I just encountered this in my email. I might as well post it. It says something about your birth month and its correlation to your personality as an individual.

JANUARY:

Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or
tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very Stubborn and money cautious.


FEBRUARY:

Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract.Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt.
Showing anger easily. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Learns to show emotions.


MARCH:

Attractive personality. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others.
Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.


APRIL:

Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest.


MAY:

Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.


JUNE:

Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.


JULY:

Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No
difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily
hurt but takes long to recover.


AUGUST:

Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extra-ordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends .


SEPTEMBER:

Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Trustworthy, loyal and honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for
information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.


OCTOBER:

Loves to chat. Loves those who loves him. Loves to takes things at the center. Attractive and suave. Inner and physical beauty. Does not lie or pretend. Sympathetic. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated.
Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Soft-spoken, loving and caring. Romantic. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.


NOVEMBER:

Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative
but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Get angry very quickly. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and
emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable. Created the word "REVENGE"


DECEMBER:

Loyal and generous. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions.

I was born in May...

MAY:

Stubborn and hard-hearted ----------> stubborn, yes! Hard-hearted? depends...
Strong-willed and highly motivated -----------> Yes! absolutely!
Sharp thoughts -----------> I wonder, in what sense kaya? Hehehe! =)
Easily angered --------> It is my utmost weakness but on controllable levels na! =)
Attracts others and loves attention -------> Attracts others? EHEM, EHEM! Hahaha! loves attention? I hate it?!
Deep feelings -------> for and about certain things in life, yes!
Beautiful physically and mentally -------> Ano ba naman yan?! Next pls?
Firm Standpoint --------> oh yes! pag ayaw ko, ayaw ko???
Needs no motivation --------> I'm driven so no need for motivation!
Easily consoled ----------> ay hindi! Pag masama loob ko, masama talaga. Pero chocolate saka yung music soothing to my ears, *okay* na ko! :p
Systematic (left brain) --------> di ako artistic eh!
Loves to dream ----------> Dream is a precursor to attainment of your goals, I believe.....
Strong clairvoyance -------> This is almost true, sometimes I took it as intuition or deja vu. Well, at least for me.
Understanding ------- sometimes I admit that I tend to think about myself but I am improving on it...After all, di lang naman ako ang tao sa mundo :)
Sickness usually in the ear and neck ----------> I'm not aware of any...
Good imagination ---------> Should I say wild? hehehe!
Good physical -------> I think so...
Weak breathing --------> True, I'm trying to work it out....weird! coz I know I can do a heavy load but my breathing cuts me short...
Loves literature and the arts -------> One of my passions in life.....
Loves traveling --------> I love going places, meeting people, experience other cultures
Dislike being at home ----------> Those who know me can attest to the truth of this...:)
Restless ----------> As always!
Not having many children ----------> Hmm..*thinking* eh pano ba yan> Ideally, I want 6....
Hardworking ---------> I think this is me....
High spirited -----------> Yeah.....
Spendthrift --------> Hehehe! Savings ko, ah ewan?!

I haven't blog myself yet on my recent trip to the mountains. Was it almost 2 weeks? Hay...Pico de Loro is very memorable to me. It reminds me of my college practicum.

- I miss Nasugbu.
- I miss Hacienda Looc and its 5 towns.
- I miss the sands and river of Calayo.
- I miss first foster parents in Calayo.
- I miss the boys of Bulihan for they are my basketball peers.
- I miss the stonehouse in Papaya.
- I miss the beautiful Looc.
- I miss my parents there - their warmth, their love.
- I miss my sisters and brothers in every town I stayed at. They taught me everything that they know.
- I miss the stories that they tell me every single day of my stay there.
- I miss the merrymaking.
- I miss cooking their native food. I even miss their very own "kilawin".
- I miss the almost an hour boat ride to the town of Nasugbu.
- I miss the prickly sun on my burnt skin.
- I miss the salty waters.
- I miss the whisper of the trees at night.
- I miss lying in the bamboo bed and watching the stars appear at night.
- I miss the serenade of the local boys. I love to watch them from the window of the house and hear them sing.
- I miss the angry scowls painted in the faces of my foster parents everytime the boys starts serenading.
- I miss the richness of the fields that grow beneath my feet.
- I miss the early morning wake-up call so we can fish in the sea.
- I miss the touch of the fishnet in my hands.
- I miss riding the young horse of my foster parents in Bulihan.
- I miss the sweet, refreshing kiss of the wind on early mawnings.

Darn! I miss my life there!
I miss myself...in the hacienda.

When I go home tonite, if I have to rummaged through all my things just to find my college practicum paper, I will. I hope I have kept their addresses. I want to write them...and I hope they are okay.

Sometimes in life, you need to look back. You have to remember the things, the people that have molded you to the kind of person you are now. You have to keep in mind the good things and forget about the bad things. Once in a while, one must also remember that the big things of life came out from small things. It is only through remembering, recalling that one can experience the joys of the past; and it is only through reliving this past, one will be able to decide to lead the life that brings out the simple joys of our existence.

Supposed to be there's a picture here of Pico but the file size is too big.

I will be posting other pixes courtesy of Dex and the rest of the pack! =) But then, here is the link to Dex's site on Pico Climb - June 03.

Kaingay naman nitong boss ko sa likod. Gabing-gabi na eh. Minsan tuloy naiisip ko kung may kausap siyang mumu. :bop:

Oh well, does he sense that I am avoiding interacting with him? He cannot blame me. I do not care if I appear so nonchalant when he is around. It doesn't matter, who cares?! After I was immersed in the simple life of the people in the remote area of Batangas during my college practicum, I learned a few valuable things in life. One of them is that: treat people nicely and if ever you are superior to them, treat them fair. I knew for a fact that I changed since. I tried to treat people nicely and fair.

I had heard before that sometimes he has a tendency of high tone outburst. Well, I had my own share with him in Cebu. I can accept that if the thing he was "blasting" about was my fault. It was entirely not mine. It was his subordinate. I just did not retort back for I was almost in tears. I had worked in this firm for 3 years and never did I encounter such things. Only now...

I won't be bidding him goodbye when I leave the office tonite. I don't give a damn, even a single bit.

Nah, the rebellious me...

Aptanun, blog!

Isn't it so nice to stay home in the mornings?! Hay, grabe! Ang sarap ng feeling...hahaha! Mom and I will be leaving this afternoon to check the house somewhere in Cavite. I asked her why she bought it. It is an investment daw. Hmm...she even urged me to pay by installment. Investment for my future. Mom! I know what you mean. But I think my salary is not enough. It is already too heavy for my pocket to shell out that much. I still have to finish paying for the computer and my newly-acquired mobile phone. Hehehe! Sabagay, okay lang po. You are there naman so pautang na lang. Hahaha! =)

Naku, lagot na naman ako. Di na naman ako sisipot sa lakad ng mga office peepz. Bartdei kc ng anak ng Associate Director namin and I promised them I will show up. Sermon na naman abot ko. Hehehe! Ewan ko ba, lagi na lang may kasabay na schedule. Excuses! Hehehe! Tsk...tsk...tsk...

I woke up late today [as usual, as if it is new]. In fact, right now, I wanna go back to bed. Hehehe! Anyway, before I logged in, I did some cleaning. Kakahiya naman kasi parang boarder lang ako dito no. Helped my mom cooked lunch. I did cook sinigang. Yum! Hehehe!

On the side, I was texting with my new friend, Dex. I find this guy really cool. Just like my other male pals. A good storyteller and not boring. I can even write a few chapters of his life since I know some parts of it. Lagot ka! Hahaha! I know you are sleeping right now coz you just got home from work. Maghihilik ka kaya? Hahaha!

Anyway, since I'm at it, I just wanna thank this guy for being so nice. Bait mo ha! Thank you for the times you almost brought me home [kahit di ko sinabi sasakyan mo pabalik =)], for treating me to dinner [kahit di ko maubos yung fettucine kc sobrang dami for my stomach], for the funny stories and the serious ones, too, for the pictures during the climb [email mo ulit yung iba kc di ko na receive eh...hehehe!], for the gifts [tama na, sobra sobra na yon]! Thank you, dude!

Yun lang masasabi ko eh. Other things, sa akin na lang yon. Hahaha! ;)

Let's work it backwards!

As I mentioned yesterday, I was really "floating" when I got to work yesterday. I know it was Friday and I still had tons of things to wrapped up but I cannot even bring myself to think about work. To cap it all, I only accomplished one productive output! Bonk myself on that! Good thing, my superior did not give me much pressure. I just reassured myself that on Monday, I will be my usual, hyper, pro-active self. Promise, I am looking forward to go to work on Monday! =)

So after work @ 6pm [I think], Dex dropped by. Jil, Pam and I were all together when we got out of the office. But Jil seemed like in a hurry so she went ahead of us. All 3 of us, Pam, me and Dex left the building together. It was raining and I was praying that it will stop. We separated with Pam since she will heading towards the Landmark terminat and us, on our way to Glorietta. Dex and I had dinner @ World Chix. Hehehe! I cannot recall what he ordered but I remembered the sweet chili which I keep on picking [when he is not looking]. I ordered fettucine but I cannot finish it all for it was such a big serving for my stomach. I was able to finish my salad, though. I liked its taste.

While dining, we talked about lots of stuff and most of the time, I burst out laughing. Hahaha! Honestly, I do not know who is the clown between me and him. I still have to know who between us is the funnier being. =) Alongside, he gave me some stuff which I really do not want to accept for I hate accepting gifts. I do not want to feel obligated but seeing his face changed to something like being offended, with hesitation I accepted them. Anyway, thank you but please, stop giving me things. =)

Afterwards, we proceeded to the cinema floor and checked out what movies were being shown. I wanted to watch Tanging Ina but I decided not to watch it that time. As I said, I was floating. Maybe tomorrow or when I am back at my old self. Then, we headed to Park Square and check out the sports shops there. There were 3: Store Shop, Toby's and this Mike's Sports Shop, I think.

After some time, we decided to go home. As usual, we *fought off* again. Since he has to work, I told him not to bring me home. Very persistent. The end is: he won. :bop:

After a few texts with him [if he was able to leave the area in his good, old self, lol], I dozed off to a very peaceful, inviting slumber....zzzzzzzz!


My Cebu business trip [18-19 June '03]

I did not take a wink of a sleep Tuesday nite till the wee hours of Wednesday mawning. That time I still have to prepare my working stuff, recall if I have forgotten any important documents and as well as prepare my overnight pack. To keep myself awake, I drank 4 cups of brewed coffee and hit 2 bottles of Red Bull to keep me alert. I even checked my email account to make sure that when I get back, I won't have to battle reading too many uncalled for emails. I even chatted online. I even managed to reread The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

At exactly 4 in the morning, I stood in one corner of the room and mentally went through my personal and working stuff. All accounted for. Except my cash. I was not able to encash the cheque for my travel allowance. I had to do away with the few thousand bills in my wallet and I can still depend on my “savings” atm.

All packed, I hit the bathroom and lavishly played with the soap and the bubbles. Hehehe! I really do enjoy bathing in cold water kahit napapatili ako sa sobrang ginaw. =) Walang pakialamanan. I wish we have a bath tub at home para dun na lang ako tatambay. Hehehe! =)) As my alarm went off, I knew then that meant I had to hurry up. I had a 730 am flight and I have to be at the airport at 630 in the morning. It was a Wednesday and that means heavy traffic flow in Baclaran. Quickly, I rushed out of the bath and donned on my black slacks and a girlish white blouse. Making myself up, I rushed to my closet and grabbed my black blazer. My black bag packed with an overnite clothes [another black slacks and a white ¾ blouse and bedroom clothes], essential stuff, working papers and a book [to read in the plane], tapes and camera, a few bars of chocolates and my mobile phone and planner was waiting for me by the end of the stairs. I called on to my mom and bid my father goodbye. [I wonder if Papa knew that I was bound to fly to Cebu that day.] My mom was as always, worried about me traveling alone and for her it was too dark to leave home. I told her not to worry and that I can take care of myself.

I rushed out of the alley and hailed a trike that will bring me out of the ville. I found some cabs lined up in the gasoline station but I dared not check them out. Of course, they will be charging me a resounding 300 bucks to the airport! Those drivers! What do they take me for?! An idiot! Too early to use my razor-sharp tongue. I hailed this cab that passed my way. I thought he was okay since he did not ask me how much I will be paying. Just a few kilometers away, he said he will be charging me 250 bucks. What?! He is no different from the others. I said the max that I will pay will be 150 bucks since the airport is just near. I told him to bring me back where I was if he will still charged me that much. But then he won against me. Checking out time, I knew I do not have much time for arguments. Fine, I will pay you! Just drive on and bring me there. I had a thrill, nerve-chattering drive to the airport. Good thing, he was not so reckless. I did not get a headache.

I was 30 minutes early. I refreshed myself in the airport’s restroom and afterwards look around if my companions were already there. They were not. I lined up to get a boarding pass and later paid my terminal fee. I had myself checked-in. Since it was too early, I look around the stalls and booths selling varied stuff. I bought a newspaper and scanned the Business section for any important news. I was feeling a little cold so I lodged on at the coffeeshop and ordered a cup of cappuccino. I was sipping through and I noticed this cute little boy advancing towards my table. It was so funny coz he laid out his cute, little hands to me. I was wondering if he was asking me to give him my cappuccino. I did not order any croissant or sandwiches so I took it that he was after my cup. *Hmm* I smiled at him and the thing was, he smiled back too. I rummaged through my bag and pulled out a bar of chocolate. I looked around and checked where his parents were. A few tables away from me and they were looking at us. I caught their eyes and I made a gesture if it was alright to give it to the boy. They said it will be fine if I wanted to. I gave it to him. He grabbed my right hand and gave me a 5-hit on the palm. I thought that was it. When I asked for his name, he planted a baby [malaway kasi eh…hehehe!] kiss on my right cheek! [O dib a, wishing ako na sana I have my own kid!] Cool! Then he rushed to his parents and showed them what he got. It was really so nice to see him bounce with joy. Haay...I finished my cappuccino and sat in one of the vacant seats outside the coffeeshop. I read the papers and texted some people. Seemed that all of them were still in bed since no one was replying. I got a few replies when I was to board the plane.

I arrived @ the Mactan International Airport at exactly 845 am. I met up with my superiors and with the reserved van for us, we proceeded to San Fernando, which is outside the city. It was a very long drive, mind you. After an hour or so, we had lunch together with the Vice President of the company at the Pulchra Resort . I was not able to visit this place before so I was in awe when my eyes set on it. We were all kidding each other that maybe we can cancel the afternoon schedule and take a dip at the pool or the beach. I had taken some shots using my mobile phone so maybe I will be posting the pictures here.



After lunch, we head off to Naga and visited a cement company. Actually, I have visited this company before in one of my energy conservation projects. The place, the procedures were still fresh in my mind. It was like a déjà vu to me. Plant visits were finished and by 5 pm, we were heading to the Waterfront Hotel. As expected, a long drive back. It was almost 6pm when we got in the city and we had a 630 dinner meeting with the chamber of commerce. I beg off not to join since I have to prepare some of the stuff I will be doing tomorrow. After some prodding, they let me go. I checked in at the hotel at 630 pm and the rest proceeded to the Mactan Island. That was another more than an hour drive. I checked with our lawyer and interpreter if they were still at the hotel. I called them up and dismissed the idea of reaching them. I was right when I learned that they went out already. Pity me!

I put out everything from my bag and called housekeeping. I had my white blouse ironed for tomorrow’s use. I called concierge to check if the materials for the seminar had reached the hotel. I requested them to deliver it in my room. Everything was fine and I then remembered my wallet. A mere 200 bucks was left after I had tentatively paid my hotel accommodation plus the incidentals. I need to go the mall to withdraw. I had some difficulty withdrawing. I was so frustrated and panicky. What if I cannot withdraw?! Darn! I called my mom, my sister, TJ . To no avail. I called Dex. Hehehe! I had no one to talk to and he was the only one available. He consoled me and said things that calmed my already freaking nerves. Fortunately, after a few tries in one of the many atms in the mall, I was too glad to see 6 bills of 500 pesos denomination came out from the atm. Hahaha!

After that, I had dinner at KFC. I only had coleslaw [my favorite] and a few bites from my chicken. That’s it. I headed back to the hotel and watched tv. I had fun watching 2 foreign shows. One was in Japanese and the other Chinese.

Let us hop to Day 2: This one was really pretty hectic to me. I fetched one of our speakers from the airport and after that on the way back, I went to the investments promotion center in Cebu and conducted a small interview. I was welcomed and I was able to get all the information that I need. It was so relaxing because I thought I will have some difficulty but it seems like I had been doing interviews for aeons. Even the questions I laid out to them, along the course of conversation, I was able to raise other significant matters.

After the meeting, my superiors who went on a plant visit while I was at the airport, well, we decided to have lunch together. I beg off and said that I will be going back to the hotel and check on the venue of the seminar since in an hour or so, we will be having the afternoon seminar.

What greeted me was pure shock?! It was not the set-up I requested and it almost made me freak-out. For Waterfront Hotel, that’s the second bull’s eye mark you did to me. Last March was the first. I promise, you will be hearing from me after a few days.

Anyway, with the assistance of 3 roving managers and the trainees [sorry guys, if you had your hands-on training so early], everything was almost perfect. My superiors did not even now that a few minutes ago, everything was amiss.

To cap it all, the seminar went okay and we decided to take the 730 pm flight instead of the prior sked of 930 pm. We proceeded to the airport and I told them I can negotiate if we can still get in the 730 pm flight provided there are still seats available. Yes, we were able to fly back to Manila with the desired schedule.

As expected, Dex picked me up from the airport. I introduced him to our executive director, to my immediate superior and lawyer. Of course, my immediate superior had this funny, taunting smile on his face. Hahaha! Malicious guy!

Dex and I headed off to Baclaran and board up a bus to Ayala. We went to Glorietta and had dinner. After a while, we dropped by at Starbucks 6750 to meet TJ, Jovee, Mayk and Burn. We had some chit-chat and we headed home. Dex brought me home after some nagging. Hahaha! Unfortunately, upon reaching the trike station, it rained. I was not able to tell him what and where to ride. Goodness!

I was reading today's Inquirer's Lifestyle section [Well, I pamper myself in reading this section during weekends since Monday thru Friday, I allot it in reading the heavy section of 3 major broadsheets!] and I guess I had a good laugh imagining what this writer did while participating a triathlon event at Subic Bay Yacht Club. As she mentioned, "I bravely joined the 10th Subic Bay International Triathlon. With sheer guts and sheer ignorance, I entered into a competition with the least amount of training and background."

These are the funny parts of her article:

Here she was shopping for her accessories:

1 - I went through careful screening of my pieces which had the lightest weight with the best visual impact. I separated a set for my swim heat (neon waterproof bracelet, two-toned Speedo swim cap and pink goggles). I prepared my sarong and beach slippers to wear for the few meters run from shore to the transition area. And for the actual 10k run, multi-layered pearls strung in neon nylon and lime green dangling earrings, my funky Swatch watch and a neon pink cap. If the awful weather had only been better, I would have run with my blonde wig.

It did not mention anything but I think she was registering for the competition:

2 - when I entered the room, a lady approached me and asked if I was a sponsor. With a slight look of horror, I said no and proceeded to enter. The same lady then said that non-participants would have to pay for the meal.

Didn't I look like one of the triathletes? Just because I was wearing a feather hairclip, dangling earrings, beaded necklace and floral pants? Just because I didn't possess the lean, firm bodies of just about everyone in the room? But, hey, I was a registered, full-fledged triathlete, even for just this one weekend.

She did not join the biking event since she had no bike and she just chatted with a guy from the Adventure and Reaction Club. Afterwards, she was advised to start the run.

3 - When Mon said it was a good time to start my run, I made sure all my accessories and waterproof makeup were in order. Again greeting the well-wishers, I started my 10k run. Mimicking the rest, I drank a lot of water while running and tried to spit in the air. But after the first round, I had to stop, use the toilet and eat a power bar-but not simultaneously of course! I actually wonder if serious triathletes even stop to relieve themselves during the bike or run.

A good laugh for you! Here she was still in the middle of the race:

4 - As I went through a water station, I saw Ricky Ledesma, our high school prom king, watching the race. Naturally, this was a good time to stop and catch up on old times, as well as catch my breath of course. Ricky said he was shocked to see me in the race. Maybe he was wondering if I was the muse.

Hehehe! Mga Papa na doctors!

5 - As I was completing my last lap, I happened to chance upon the doctors on call and asked if they would give me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation so I could run faster. Pacing side by side with me was Nicanor Nicado, a 64-year-old former lifeguard and a veteran triathlete. But for now, also my running date. I was so inspired not to stop thanks to him that before I knew it, we had both completed the run.

Just imagine how she fared in the event. Oh, it is alright. It is for fun and I envy her for that! That was a good play, Ms. Prieto-Valdes!

I am not really fond of flowers for myself but I appreciate them growing wildly in the mountain top or in the meadows. [I have a particular liking for this type of flower and with this color which I beg not to disclose because this have to be given by somebody]. Hehehe! =)

I find this website about flowers and there's a quiz that will reveal your floral signature and personality. Here's the link: Floral Signature

My results:

Your floral signature is: NATURAL!

Natural types are casual, earthy and prefer the outdoors; naturally. Flowering or green plants, meadow flowers and woodsy accents suit this personality best.

I want to share this speech delivered by Butch Jimenez, head of PLDT's media and strategic communications department at the UP Diliman Class 2003 commencement exercises. His speech is entitled: What's better than...?


Better than being negative

As college students, you're just about to set sail into the real world. As you prepare for the battleground of life, you'll hear many speeches, read tons of books and get miles of advice telling you to work hard, dream big, go out and do something for yourself, and have a vision.
Not bad advice, really. In fact, following these nuggets of truth may just bring you to the top. But as I've lived my life over the years, I have come to realize that it is great to dream big, have a vision, make a name, and work hard. But guess what: There's something better than that.

So my message today simply asks the question, What's better than...?

Let's start off with something really simple. What's better than a long speech? No doubt, a short one. So, you guys are in luck because I do intend to keep this short.

Now, let me take you through a very simple math exam. I'll rattle off a couple of equations, and you tell me what you observe about them. Be mindful of the instructions. You are to tell me what you observe about the equations. Here goes:

3+4=7, 9+2=11, 8+4=13, and 6+6=12. Tell me, what do you observe?

Every time I conduct this test, more than 90 percent of the participants immediately say, 8+4 is NOT 13, it's 12!

That's true and they are correct. But they could have also observed that the three other equations were right. That 3+4 is 7, that 9+2 is 11, and that 6+6 is 12.

What's my point? Many people immediately focus on the negative instead of the positive. Most of us focus on what's wrong with other people more than what's right about them.

Examine those four equations. Three were right and only one was wrong. But what is the knee-jerk observation? The wrong equation.

If 10 people you didn't know were to walk through that door, most of you would describe those people by what's negative about them. He's fat. He's balding. Oh, the short one. Oh, the skinny girl. Ahhh, 'yung pango. Etc.

Get the point? It's always the negative we focus on and not the positive.

You'll definitely experience this in the corporate world. You do a hundred good things and one mistake-guess what? Chances are, your attention will be called on that one mistake.

So what's better than focusing on the negative? Believe me, its focusing on the positive. And if this world could learn to focus on the positive more than the negative, it would be a much nicer place to live in.


Better than working hard

We have always been told to work hard. Our parents say that, our teachers say that, and our principal says that. But there's something better than merely working hard. It's working SMART.

It's taking time to understand the situation, and coming out with an effective and efficient solution to get more done with less time and effort. As the Japanese say, "There's always a better way."

One of the most memorable case studies I came across with as I studied Japanese management at Sophia University in Tokyo was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies.

The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a box of soap that was empty. It immediately isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty.

Management tasked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast.

But a rank-and-file employee that was posed the same problem came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.

Clearly, the engineers worked hard, but the rank-and-file employee worked smart.

So what's better than merely working hard? It's working smart.

Having said that, it is still important to work hard. If you could combine both working hard and working smart, you would possess a major factor toward success.


Better than dreaming big

I will bet my next month's salary that many have encouraged you to dream big. Maybe even to reach for the stars and aim high.

I sure heard that about a million times right before I graduated from this university. So I did. I did dream big. I did aim high. I did reach for the stars. No doubt, it works. In fact, the saying is true: "If you aim for nothing, that's exactly what you'll hit: nothing."

But there's something better than dreaming big. Believe me, I got shocked myself. And I learned it from the biggest dreamer of all time, Walt Disney.

When it comes to dreaming big, Walt is the man. No bigger dreams were fulfilled than his. Every leadership book describes him as the ultimate dreamer. In fact, the principle of dreaming and achieving is the core message of the Disney hit song, "When You Wish Upon a Star".

"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are; anything your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do," as Jiminy Cricket sang.

But is that what he preached in the Disney company? Dream?

Imagineering

Well, not exactly. Kinda, but not quite. The problem with dreaming is if that's all you do, you'll really get nowhere. In fact, you may just fall asleep and never wake up.

The secret to Disney's success is not just dreaming, it's IMAGINEERING.

You won't find this word in a dictionary. It's purely a Disney word. Those who engage in imagineering are called imagineers. The word combines the words "imagination" and "engineering."

In the book "Imagineers," Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, claims that "imagineers turn impossible dreams into real magic."

Walt Disney explained there is really no secret to their approach. They just keep moving forward-opening new doors and doing new things, because they are curious. And it is this curiosity that leads them down new paths. They always dream, explore and experiment. In short, imagineering is the blending of creative imagination and technical know-how.

Eisner expounds on this thought by saying that "Not only are imagineers curious, they are courageous, outrageous, and their creativity is contagious."

The big difference with imagineers is that they dream and then they DO! So don't just be a dreamer, be an imagineer.

You must have all been given a lecture at one time or another about the importance of having a vision. Even leadership expert John Maxwell says that an indispensable quality of a leader is to have a vision. The Bible also makes it very clear that "Without vision, people perish." So no
doubt about it, having a vision is important to success.

But surprise! There's something more potent than a vision. It's a CAUSE. If all you're doing is trying to reach your vision and you're pitted against someone fighting for a cause, chances are you'll lose.

The Vietnam War is a classic example. Literally with sticks and stones, the Viet Cong beat the heavily armed US Army to surrender, primarily because the US had a vision to win the war, but the Vietnamese were fighting for a cause.

In the realm of business, many leaders have visions of making their company No. 1, or grabbing market share, or forever increasing profits.

Nothing really wrong with that vision, but take the example of Sony founder Akio Morita. He did not just have a vision to build the biggest electronics company in the world. In his biography, "Made in Japan," he reveals that the real reason he set up Sony was to help rebuild his country, which had just been battered by war. He had a cause he was fighting for. His vision to be an electronics giant was secondary.

What's the difference between a vision and a cause? Here's what sets them apart...

No one is willing to die for a vision. People will die for a cause. You posses a vision. A cause possesses you. A vision lies in your hands. A cause lies in your heart. A vision involves sacrifice. A cause involves the ultimate sacrifice.

Just a word of caution. You must have the right vision, and you must be fighting for the right cause. In the end, right will always win out.

It may take time, and it may take long. But if you have the right vision and are fighting for the right cause, you will prevail. If not, no matter how sincere you are, if you are not fighting for what is right, you will ultimately fail.


Two final quotes

Allow me to end with two quotes that I have lived by ever since I stepped out of UP.

The first comes from the Bible, which says, "To whom much is given, much is required."

Having been given the opportunity to study in UP, no doubt, much has been given to you in terms of an excellent education. Don't forget that in return, much is now required of you to use that education not just for yourself, but for others.

And as you move up and start reaching the pinnacle of success, even more will be required of you to look at the welfare of others, of society and of the country.

Though I have often dreamed of addressing any graduating class of UP Diliman, I never really thought it would happen. This brings me to the second quote I have held close to my heart as I traverse the destiny God has laid out for me.

"There is no destination beyond reach of one who walks with God." My standing in front of you today, as the youngest commencement speaker of this esteemed university in 92 years, is proof of how true that quote is.

A final review:

* What's better than focusing on the negative? Focus on the positive.
* What's better than working hard? It's working smart.
* What's better than dreaming? Imagineering.
* What's better than doing something for yourself? Doing something for your country.
* What's better than a vision? A cause.
* What's better than a long speech? Definitely, a short one.

Thank you and congratulations, UP Diliman graduating class of 2003.

Good mawning, blog!

I woke up a little early than usual, @ exactly 8 am. Oh well, I have lots of things to do before this day ends. I was planning to start doing somethings first but I want to go online to check if I have any important email messages.

I think most of my time will be alloted in doing the laundry. Parang ang sarap maglaba ngayon coz it's sunny. I even asked my mom to put the used bedsheets and the blankets on top of the washing machine before she leaves home. Feeling ko masipag ako ngayon. Probably it is because nobody's home and no one will fuss around. I like it better when I am alone coz I finish earlier and without kunsumisyon...hehehe!

Papa is here but he is nowhere to be found. Mama on the other hand, was doing overtime for work. They have to attend an event wherein they have to promote a facility donated by the Japanese. Hehehe! Ano kaya yun?! *wonders* My 2 siblings naman: my younger sister is attending her CPA review class and left early and my younger brother, I do not know where he is again [probably with her girlfriend {at this hour?}!

I have already swept the whole house, mopped the floor and washed the dishes. Before logging on, I have already prepared what to cook. I decided to have garlic fried rice and pork steak barbecue. Hehehe! Can you believe it? Pork steak barbecue is on the grill while I am here. I rush to the kitchen every 10 seconds to chek on it. =)

After lunch, I will "go on diving" to my laundry. Tough task,ahead. Hehehe! Hope I can finish earlier so I can fix my room, especially my bed. I still have to read some papers from work.

Anyway, I will be right back!

Another press release on F4!



Fans of Meteor Garden’s F4 will find a lot to rave about in the coming weeks from F4’s home network, ABS-CBN. With Meteor Garden continuing to take in strong ratings every weekday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. (right before TV Patrol), fans of the characters Dao Ming Xi, Shan Cai, Hua Xhe Lei, Xi Men and Mei Zuo can look forward to its sequel, Meteor Rain, airing very soon on the network, with a special edition of the Star Studio magazine all about it also on its way.

In the middle of the storm are the four handsome, young, Taiwanese men who make up F4. Jerry Yan (Chinese name: Yan Cheng Xu), who plays the arrogant but passionate Dao Ming Xi, was born in Taiwan on New Year’s Day, 1977. He is 180 cm tall, and speaks both Mandarin and Taiwanese fluently. He collects eyeglasses, and hopes to organize a farm of his own someday. Vic Zhou (Chinese name: Zhou Yu Min), who plays the quiet, violin-playing Hua Zhe Lei, was born on June 9, 1981 in Taiwan, and is F4’s youngest member. Also standing 180 cm. and weighing 66 kg., Vic’s favorite food is fried chicken, while his favorite drink is green tea.

Ken Zhu (Chinese name: Zhu Xiao Tian) plays the womanizing Xi Men. Born on January 15 in 1979, Ken stands 180 cm and weighs 72 kg. He speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English, and is an avid swimmer and cook.

Finally, there’s Vanness Wu (Chinese name: Wu Jian Hao), who plays the group’s funny guy, Mei Zuo. Born in the US on August 7th, Vanness speaks Mandarin and English, but reserves a special fascination for Japanese items: he collects Japanese toys and considers Japanese food his favorite.

Already one of the top-concert and recording draws in Hong Kong, Brunei, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan, F4 – short for “Flower Four,” a definition that probably owes more than a little to the boys’ good looks - is, in real life, a boy band whose vocals have even made it to the soundtrack for the Disney film Lilo and Stitch. Their debut album, called Meteor Rain and released last August, has already gone platinum, selling more than 200,000 copies in Taiwan alone.

Download these F4 songs by texting the following keywords to 2366:

TONE CANTLOSEU for Can't Lose You
TONE BROKENVOW for Broken Vow
TONE METRAIN for Meteor Rain

I was browsing the web news in INQ when I came across this:



Senator Renato Cayetano together with Senator Franklin Drilon

The once formidable-looking senator of the country now looks like a stick. I hope he gets well. *prays*

If ever I am going to travel overseas, I would like to first land in this gorgeous country of Thailand. This country impresses me, lures me with strange sensations. I don't know why.

When I was in high school, I longed to see France in Europe. This G-8 member country boasts of untouched yet elegant beauty. But as I grow old, I realize how enchanting it is to find that here, in my very own country I can see those heart-stopping panoramic views of a lifetime. So, I dared to see them all.

In Asia, I long for Thailand. I still don't know why but I will soon find out what drives me to cherish the time that I will be walking along the paved streets of the city and taking shots of the elusive beauty of the countryside.

In Europe, France it will be. But I still do not know when...=)




Thailand's diverse geography offers an impressive range of activities. Northern Thailand's mountainous forests are renowned for their spectacular waterfalls, lush green scenery, caves, birds, and other wildlife. The exotic elephant safaris and trekking with knowledgeable guides to visit remote hilltribes have become very popular.

To be in touch with nature and to help conserve it for future generations, I have read that there are types of activities that were designed for responsible nature lovers. Appreciate the beauty, view its wonders, but keep it intact for others too. =)

Here are some of them:

Bicycle Tours

What a better way to fully appreciate the local lifestyle than by pedaling through those narrow roads that tourist buses can't penetrate? It is also a novel and good way to enjoy the natural wilderness and historical ruins.

Elephant Safaris

Experience lurching through the forests atop a pachyderm and learn to appreciate its mighty strength and agility, able to wade across deep rivers. Most elephant camps that offers treks are based in Chiang Mai, but elephant rides are also offered at tourist destinations in most resort towns.



Sea Cruises

Take a cruise and view the impressive scenery the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea has to offer. Travel in style and leisure.

Trekking

Thailand offers ideal terrain for hiking, from the limestone forests of Krabi to the undulating mountains in the North, where many hilltribe people live. Head over to any national parks for nature-based trekking, teeming with wildlife, waterfalls, and other natural attractions. Some treks incorporate elephant safaris and other modes of transportation.

Walking Tour

Sometimes the best, and time-efficient ways to learn about Thai culture is simply by walking around, either plainly observing or immersing yourself with the people. Most walking tours involves temples within the same vicinity. And in Bangkok, sometimes walking is much faster than cars.

Wildlife Viewing

Some of the rarest, tropical animals and birds can still be found in the nation's national parks. The most common trips are birdwatching, but even a simple walk in any mountainous area will guarantee a sighting of at least some common animals found in Thailand: gibbons and monkeys.





For seekers of adrenaline rush and want more out of life [sounds like Sustagen Premium], anyone can take a pick of any of these thrill-seeking activities that will surelybe memorable. Whether you're a novice or expert, the skilled staffs and facilities ensures safety is their priority.

Cave Explorations

Because of Thailand's mountainous geography, particularly in the North, West and South, an abundance of natural caves are on hand for exploring. Some contain beautiful limestone creations, while others house sacred Buddha images. Though safe and vividly marked, most require a guide. Don't be alarmed if you should encounter sleeping, harmless bats.

Rock Climbing

This cliffhanging sport began in Krabi, with its scenic location and many challenging routes, but is now available at many sites throughout the country. The sport's popularity has picked up dramatically over the past few years, with the introduction of artificial wall climbing offered in most metropolis and resort towns.



Whitewater Rafting

Take your pick of the leisurely bamboo rafting on tranquil rivers in the North or the more exciting whitewater rafting in sturdy inflatable rubber boats in strong currents and rocky gorges. Umphang in Tak made whitewater rafting famous among locals and has earned a world class rating. Nowadays, many more places around the nation offer this thrilling ride, with class ratings from 1-5.

Good Afternoon, blog!

I will be leaving in a while. I have tons of work to do pa din, as usual! I cannot even go out to watch a movie but of course I will try harder. I missed watching movies na. My ex has been calling me since last night asking me where I will be during the weekends. He said he wanna tag along. I did not answer the phone coz he will be bugging me nonstop and I hate that. It is a good thing I changed my blogsite, that way, he will never know what goes on inside my peculiar head.

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I was supposed to accompany a good friend to do his "practice" for a race (so I thought). I felt so guilty for not doing so. I had to do an emergency at work and I cannot say no for it will be such a burden on a Monday. Promise, I will make it up to you, dude! I know you are darned mad with me for backing out at the last minute.

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I noticed that my evenings during the past few days were spent in the company of a few, good buds of mine. It seems like it is being more of a habit seeing LA, Jon and Jary. I hope to see the others, too. I missed Papa Kerwin, Mariel, Jorry, Jhengskie and Paul. They are the usual, regular peepz that I go out with during weekends. I hope all of us will be able to hook up with each other soon.

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Yeah, I got a new phone. Cool! I fuss and ogle with it for hours last night after getting it from Jon. I checked the new mobile without reading the manual. I'm not the type who will spend more time in reading directions; I prefer tinkering with it, more practical, do you say hands-on learning?! hehehe! Anyway, I already got the hang of it except for using it in texting messages. I find the round keypad a little confusing. I tried to text someone last nite and instantly gave up. Hehehe! Probably in a few more days, I will be used to it like any other phone. Of course, the fuss about this new mobile phone of mine will last only for a few days. It is always like that with me. At first, I care for it, buy ne accessories but later on, I will find it ok to throw it away in the sofa, in the bed or stashed it in my bag.

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Funny and embarassing to admit it but I declare myself as one of the "youngsters" who go over gaga with the F4. I was on my way to meet LA, Jon and Jary and I took the MRT. There was some stalls there and one of them was a music shop. I was almost tempted to buy the F4 CD when I heard their ohh baby, baby song playing on the air. Hehehe! What stopped me were the throng of male yuppies. If I know, they are also trying to get hold of the F4 CD....hehehe!

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What's my plan today? I want to watch Ai Ai delas Alas' Tanging Ina movie and after troop to my favorite place on earth and check out their stacks of HTML books. I really want to learn more about this computer language. I know it is truly basic but for a non-techie person like me, it is not. I want to improve the appearance of this blog and maintain it forever. At least, I can somehow write my thoughts down and motivate myself into writing more. After all, I have other plans too when it comes to writing.

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Oh my! I almost forgot to call the language school. Next month is the start of classes already and I still have to take the evaluation exams. I was told that it is scheduled on June which is this month. Goodness! I hope I am not late and if ever I am, they will reconsider.

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Finances!

This is the aspect of my life that bugs me more. Billings and loans and other things that I have to pay keep on piling up. I am really a lousy money-handler. I still have one more month to pay for the computer I bought through my mom's credit card. The phone bill for last month is already overdue. My atm is a thousand bucks below the maintaining balance. The other atm for my savings [supposedly] was already 5000 bucks below the maintaining balance, too. This is where I got the payment for my new cellphone. Also, I still have 3 rolls of film to develop and I need to have them developed soon. My ex requested me a month ago to accompany him and his siblings to Baguio this coming weekend but I think I have to beg off for a few more weeks to refresh my finances. My scheduled climbs were also put on hold till next month for the same reason. I was thinking if I will be able to join TJ and Franz in the Batangas climb this month. TJ was even volunteering to lend me money so I can go. Thank you, sis! But I will still find a way to join. Pico de Loro ata yan! That was my 3rd mountain to climb when I was in college. I just hope everything will be back to normal, soon!

Anyway, I have been though this kind of tight situations and I always find a good way out. Hehehe! Mama, pautang ulit! =)

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I received a text message from my ex. Since I was not answering his calls, he texted me that either he will pick me up from home or we will just meet in Robinson's Place [he really knows where I plan to go depending on my mood - sometimes I wonder if he can read my thoughts from afar] and have dinner in Tokyo Tokyo. Again?! I was there the other time that I met up with my buds. He really likes that Japanese resto.

Is he really pinning his hope that we will get back again together? I have the strong impression that he does. How can I make it water-clear to him that what we had is enough? Besides, being tied up in a relationship again is the least of my plans as of the moment. I am still rethinking my plans for today and the future. I am 25 already and I haven't done a thing worth lauding for. I want to satisfy this craving for personal attainment.