Achievement Unlocked!

Finally, after 2 and a half years (5 semesters) in the postgraduate program, I finally got a master's degree! I have already completed all the requirements in graduate school last October 2013, but it was only on April 26 that we had the graduation ceremonies.

In the first 2 years of studying, I tried my best to balance full time work and school. However, I had to work part-time so I could focus on my review for our comprehensive exam and our final project (something like thesis).

since my family is abroad, I got my friend/classmate, Rona to go up the stage with me

Thank God, I survived! I'm now a Master of Technology Management from the University of the Philippines Technology Management Center (UP TMC), UP Diliman. I'm so thankful to my family for the support, and of course to my professors who have really taught me well. I can't imagine having paid for my own education. It felt so good! It's indeed one of my best investments.

my mentors: UP TMC Director Cruz, Dr. Posadas, Prof. Imbang

Dr. Roger Posadas - Philippine Father of Technology Management

My project adviser, Prof. Glen Imbang

I will surely miss graduate school, most especially my classmates who turned into good friends. Graduate school wouldn't have been the same without them.

batchmates :)

friends :)

my graduate school "barkada"

my closest girl friends in school, Mayette and Rona

Anyway, I really felt that this master's degree added value to me, most especially in the corporate world. It helped me land my current job as a full-time business consultant in one of the top technology companies in the world.

So if you guys are still deciding whether to take up masters (or MBA), don't think twice about it because besides the fact that it appraises your value, it's also very fulfilling personally. And if it's within the career that you wanna pursue, go for it because it is really applicable in the work environment, most especially when it comes to decision-making.

here comes the mandatory photo with the sunflowers

Jule, Leo, Me, and Mai (and I'm the youngest! haha #proud)

Just wanna share my post-graduation meal, which was treat to me by my friend, Irene from Iloilo City and her husband, Alex from London. It's my first time to try Todd English Food Hall at SM Aura, and I would say that it was a great experience! I love the food, the service, and the ambiance.

my fave: Crabonara

I forgot the name but it's a clam pasta and it's yummy!

S'mores :)

choco lava :)

me and Irene

It was really a celebratory weekend for me because my birthday and my graduation happened in two consecutive days!:)

xoxo,

city girl

Sponsor A Noche Buena for Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Please support our project for the victims of typhoon Haiyan. We are raising money so we can hold a Christmas party for the typhoon victims in one of the affected communities in Northern Iloilo in Panay Island, Philippines. We plan to have a simple yet meaningful Christmas feast for the victims to give them hope and make them happy, most especially because it will be hard for them to feel the spirit of Christmas with what happened to them. Besides having an early "Noche Buena", we'll be also giving away holiday baskets to the families and toys for the kids. We really hope you could support this cause.

For your donations, visit https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/2des6. Please also like and share our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SponsorANocheBuena.

Sponsor A Noche Buena initiative, a disaster relief project in partnership with Sigma Alpha Nu, a Sorority of University of the Philippines, aims to help provide holiday gift baskets to 1,000 families who are victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. 

Typhoon Haiyan is said to beone of the biggest and most destructive natural calamity that hit the Philippines in the recent years. This disaster is feared to have taken at least 2,000 lives (as of this writing), left thousands injured and missing, hundreds of thousands homeless and at least 2 million people in need of food, water, and medicine. These numbers are expected to soar as search and rescue continue.

This cause was started by a facebook group "Sponsor A Noche Buena" launched by Kei Obusan, who wondered how Christmas will be spent by these people in this very upsetting condition. In the Philippines, Noche Buena is a special Filipino tradition where families get together on Christmas eve to share food and gifts. Imagine being homeless at a time when the rest of the world are celebrating in fancy clothes giving grand gifts to each other. Imagine those children who are out in the cold desperately finding comfort in their temporary shelter. This project is for those people who deserve to be given a spark of hope. A little gift from us who are very fortunate to have Internet running and clean water to drink anytime we want. 

Each "basket of hope" will be filled with some typical noche buena items, some toys for the kids, a letter of kindness from the volunteers and donors, and other stuff that we can give to (hopefully) lighten the burden that the victims are going through. At $10, you can already sponsor a basket that can bring joy to these families.

This campaign will serve as a launchpad to invite partnerships, companies or individuals with the heart of gold who are willing to sacrifice their $10 for the affected families of this calamity. 

Your help is needed. Share your blessings! Thank you.