FEB 2012 Happened so Fast at WORK

While at it, I never knew I have been doing A LOT until I've seen the photos at work that I have collected for the past month. I didn't even notice it was the Valentine month haha!:)) So let me share how my February became a packed month at work...

Feb. 1 - Oh we planted mangroves in Putatan, Muntinlupa City...at least for photos ops purposes haha!

the Chief of Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Sec. Neric Acosta

Feb. 3 - We were invited to the Ibon-Ebon Festival in Candaba, Pampanga, the home of different migratory birds.

 Mayor Jeff Pelayo led the parade that we joined

Feb. 3 - Yeah, all the way from Pampanga, I went to Tanghalang Pasigueno in Pasig City to see David Archuleta's taping of a concert scene in his new teleserye on TV5, "Nandito Ako". Well it's my first time to watch him perform live and it was cool!:)

free tickets from the office

Feb. 8-10 - Our team went to Cebu City for the 33rd PAWD (Philippine Association of Water Districts) Convention at Radisson Blu. I loved our room, the buffet, and the lace cookies that I got! Plus I was able to meet with my Cebu-based friend. However, it was really a stressful 3-day trip because of work. I wished I have enjoyed it  more.

 Mayor Mike Rama of Cebu City plus our boss and some personalities I don't know haha

 the Bollywood-inspired Fellowship night in Cebu International Convention Center

got this from Don Merto's! awesome but expensive haha!

Feb. 22 - Advanced birthday celebration of our Company President/CEO. Of course, I got involved by making some logistics-related arrangements. On his actual birthday, Feb. 24, he was in Baguio, then a lechon was delivered to the office...and since he's away, we took charge of eating it! LOL!

Feb. 23 - We attended the LGU Sports Summit Welcome Dinner at the Rizal Stadium in Manila. There I got to talk to the Head Coach of the Philippine Rugby Team (yes, the VOLCANOES haha). I was introduced to some members of the team who were there. Some of them really looked good. And the next day when we googled them at work, what popped out on the screen were their photos wearing just underwears! haha! So they were those guys who were once in the huge billboard of Bench somewhere along EDSA.:))

those 2 hotties at the center were Jake Letts and I forgot his name!:))

Feb. 27-29 - Had another stressful 3 days at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel for the Water Loss Conference 2012. It was a huge event attended by lots of foreign delegates, plus the President of the Philippines, Noynoy Aquino. We also invited some beauty queens. Good thing I was friends with some of them. On the first day, we invited Czarina Gatbonton, Ms. Philippines-World 2010; on the second day was Angelia Ong, the Face of Binibining Pilipinas 2011, and on the last day was Nicolette Henson, Miss World Philippines 1st Princess 2011 and Binibining Pilipinas 2nd Runner-Up 2010. Among them, I was closest to Angelia 'coz she's really a good friend of mine even before she became a beauty queen. I've been friends with Czarina 'coz of lots of our common friends. It was the first time I met Nicolette but she's really nice and I really enjoyed talking to her.

Czarina (oh please excuse the stressful me haha)

 my soul sister Angelia! also our barkada's bunso:)

 new acquaintance, Nicolette!:)

and this is me for the Gala Night! Lady in Red!:))

See, I survived February! Just imagine how varied those events were. From tree planting under the sun to a sophisticated gala night in a high-end hotel ballroom. My job is stressful yet fun. And btw, I didn't have much photos of me 'coz I've been stressed out almost the entire month and it wouldn't be nice to show that haha!

Well I'm really gonna miss work. It's too bad that I NEED to leave the country with my family, and leave work because of that. However, we'll never know. For sure God already has made plans for me. Whatever those are, it's for the better. We'll never run out of good opportunities. Just be patient and calm.:)

Been so Busy but Blessed!

Hey! I missed my blog site! Haven't posted anything here for a month now. Been so busy at work and in school. But I hope to share what I have been doing in the past month that I haven't blogged.

Well I was just so thankful with my classmates/friends in my graduate school because they're making me feel how valuable I am. They make me enjoy studying too! I actually have been nerdy with them lately haha! And of course, I have always appreciated my colleagues at work who make me enjoy at work no matter how stressful it can be. The after-work drinks, lunch time bondings, and random chats are just priceless! 

One thing I look forward to is the weekend! It gives me time to rest and to enjoy with friends. I just feel awesome, more especially with my girl friends around! We never run out of things to say haha!

But what makes me feel sad now is the fact that I NEED to leave my current job and be with my family abroad for the next 2 and a half months. Will be watching over my grandmother and little cousin in Japan. Too bad, the company wouldn't allow me to be away that long but I completely understand that. It's just that I've been so attached with my job that I've been doing for  year already, and my colleagues at work whom I super love! But I like how they make me feel that they will miss me. It actually makes it harder for me to go. I'm not good at saying goodbye!!! But I know that our friendship will always be there. I've always been in touch with my colleagues in my previous jobs and I believe that I'll be more in touch with my colleagues here because the office is near my school and my house. I'm thinking of visiting them regularly when I get back, as if I'm still a part of the team.

So there, I'm leaving SOON. And I believe there are better opportunities when I get back. God is good and he will never let me down. Hoping for the BEST!:)

Congratulations Talk N Text!

This team has been very close to my heart...and I'm just so happy that they made it again! Back-to-Back Philippine Cup Champions!:) They've been the best All-Filipino team since last year. After this conference's Game 5 (Jan. 29), they became champs again!:)

I'm so proud of these guys because I know how much they have worked hard for this. Through this conference, they encountered a lot of injuries and dilemmas which have almost stopped them from running, but they never gave up! They kept fighting, kept believing, kept the faith and worked harder as a team. They really have THE HEART OF A CHAMPION!

Congratulations to the team, the coaching staff, the management, their families, friends and fans. I'm just so honored to be a part of this family. Congratulations also to Larry Fonacier for winning this conference's MVP!:)

TNT Nation in full support!

woot! confetti galore!

 Ali got emotional in his interview (after all he's been through)

 must be the team's lucky charms lol

 Larry = MVP

super cute Liam, Larry's son

Ryan Reyes taking the net off the ring

 our traditional championship photo :)

friendship :)

And so our tradition continues...victory party at Dads/Kamayan/Sambokojin, Ortigas after the awarding ceremonies, then Bugsy's Fort for the after-party. It's just so AWESOME!:)

 with our idol Jimmy and the soon-to-be-engaged JD

 with the forever late, Aaron

 with our next conference's import Ohmar

 with the 6-time Champ Coach Chot

PROUD TO BE TNT!:)

Looking forward to more championships! Heart and soul for the game. Keep the faith!:)

A Taste of History

Because of my job which gets me around places, I was able to have a stop over at one of the most important places that's been a part of Philippine History...the house of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the Republic of the Philippines. It's located in Kawit, Cavite. This house was where the Philippine flag was first raised and the Philippine National Anthem was first sung, during the declaration of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898.

It's nice to see that it's well-preserved by the local government. It is now a park where people, most especially kids hang around.

House of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo (taken via Instagram app)

Gen. Aguinaldo's Memorial (taken via regular iPhone cam)

Old church in Kawit, Cavite (taken via Vintage Camera app)

Our country is so rich in history, and looking back is just so sweet!:)

SINULOG 2012!

January 13-15 - It's my very first time to attend a Festival in the Philippines...so it's also my first time in Sinulog!:) All I know about Sinulog is that it's crazy haha! A lot of my friends have been there and they have been telling me the same stories.

At first, I was hesitant to go because I wasn't able to book early so flights were really expensive. But 3 days before the Sinulog weekend, I realized that a lot of my friends were going there and so I found myself booking a Php5000+ worth of Round Trip flight via Air Philippines. Actually there's also a connecting flight via Bacolod so I went Manila to Bacolod and Bacolod to Cebu.

I took half day at work 'coz my flight was at 3:40pm. Since I had to rush a lot of work in the office, I was only able to leave Quezon City at 2pm and I found myself rushing to the airport. I arrived at 3pm, 10 mins earlier than boarding time, but I had to go through a lot of stops before getting to the boarding gate. It was another Amazing race moment for me! The worst part...flight was delayed! Due to runway traffic, we're an hour delayed. Around 40 minutes of that was spent inside the plane waiting for our plane's turn for take off. Good thing I saw a friend there who chatted with me while waiting to board the plane.

We landed in Bacolod at past 6pm so I didn't wait that long for our connecting flight to Cebu at 7:20pm. The plane from Bacolod to Cebu was so small, even smaller than a bus. No aircon at first, but it was turned on as the cabin doors were closed. It was so funny 'cause 15 mins after our take off, the pilot announced that were already on our initial approach for landing; so we were only inside the plane for 30 minutes haha! When I got to the Mactan, Cebu Airport, I waited for my bestfriend who flew in from Manila the same time I left Bacolod. However, since all flights from Manila were delayed, i waited for her for 1.5 hours. When she arrived, we took a regular meter cab to our hotel, The Hotel Elizabeth. 

 instant room! haha

While checking in at the reception, there were performers at the lobby, doing the Sinulog dance. They were entertaining. We proceeded to our room, which was actually sponsored by PLDT. It's an executive room originally good for two since it only had 1 queen-sized bed but we converted the sala into another room for two by adding two single beds. It was so cool! haha! Got 2 flat screen TVs, 2 T&Bs, an office desk, and a dining area. After resting for a bit, we had dinner at the restobar across the hotel and went back to the hotel to prep up for the party. At 12:30, we went to Vudu for the PLDT WiFi Zone launch. Yes, Vudu is offically a PLDT WiFi Zone now!:)  We got a table somewhere at the corner but the club was too crowded and smoky so after a bottle of Vodka, my bestfriend and I went ahead and proceeded to Penthouse to meet our friends and arrived there past 3am. The event was hosted by Styles Entertainment, with DJs Ace and Scratchmark, sponsored by Smart Netphone and Vans Philippines. After partying for a bit at the DJ's booth, we left before 5am and had pizza and pasta at Mamma Mia's. And finally at 5:30am, we're reunited with our beds! The best feeling ever!:)

 Vudu

 Penthouse

Unfortunately, I had to do a bit of work while I was there; though it wasn't actually required. I was just OC for my upcoming event in Cebu on February. haha! So I had a meeting there around 11-11:30am then we went to Casa Verde (the original) where they serve the best steak in Cebu.

After lunch, all roads were already closed for the solemn procession along Fuente Osmena Ave.; so we had no choice but to walk. Along the way, we bought hats and accessories, took photos, and kept laughing haha! When we got to Basilica de Sto. Nino, people were not allowed to enter. So, we just had lighted candles outside the church. Then we decided to see the Magellan's Cross. It took us more than an hour to get there since there were lots of people and lots of closed roads. Plus we took a 30-minute rest at a food stall where we just played iPhone games haha! After a minute of taking photos at the cross, we're off to SM to watch the fireworks. It was so hard to find a cab, even a jeepney! So we had to walk again, trusting the directions that we see on Google maps haha! Then after more than 30mins of walking, we finally found a cab! However, on our way to SM, my friends realized that they have an event/meeting so we just dropped by another accessories store and went back to the hotel; and that involves a lot of traffic in between!

 pat bought a hat, watta rhyme!:))

 scary masks haha

 black Sto. Nino

 what can you say to their "coldiest" beer haha

 wow!

 praying...

 Basilica de Sto. Nino

Magellan's Cross

After dinner at Chikaan, where the meeting happened, we went to The Terraces in Ayala. Our friend from Smart, Abbie, treated us to dessert in Casa Verde. I love their 'Death by Chocolate' ice cream cake! After a fun girl bonding, our friends from Vans picked us up then we proceeded to Vudu again for another PLDT Wifi Zone night! This time, super VIP! We had the biggest table with lots of couches and of course, sponsored drinks!:) So cool that Gerald Anderson and some PBA friends like James Yap were also there. So I got back at the hotel at 5:30am and went planking on the bed haha dead tired!:))

Death by Chocolate

Thanks Abbie!:)

 Vudu VIPs

 Gerald Anderson and Young JV

 James Yap

I woke up at 9:30am 'coz I didn't want to be late for my 12:15 flight. After fixing up, we had breakfast buffet at the hotel and I left for the airport at 10:30am. Good thing there's no traffic and the way to the airport was on the opposite  side of the Sinulog parade. I love arriving at the airport early 'coz it gives me time to relax. That time, I had a "ME" time in Bo's Coffee haha! Flight was delayed for 15-mins but it's okay. I finally landed in manila at 1:30pm and immediately headed home to sleep!

I just wished that I have stayed 'til  Sunday night so not to miss the parade. However, I had no choice but to work on a Monday. But at least, I was able to experience the festival even just a few days; plus I got to bond with my friends too. Next year, I'm SOOO gonna plan an ultimate Sinulog (Cebu)-Dinagyang (Iloilo) trip! haha!:))))

VIVA PIT SENYOR!!!!!:)