Happy Birthday Boss!

it was my kk boss' birthday so kai, mary and myself got together and made him a video.

selamat harijadi boss. thank you for the oppotunities. i wish you good health, safety and more abundance to come so you can bless more people.

paintball on the news

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

for a paintball cheerleader, it's a big thing when she sees paintball in the news on philippine tv. this is a big step...i pray that things will grow from here...

paintball and heartbreaks

i know how you feel now
the disspointment and the grip on the heart
that you gave your trust and it was crumpled
thrown away like it didnt mean anything

you ask why you are still doing this
the idealism overthrown by the commercialism
everything is about power and money
and the rest is left for trash

maybe i have to step back
give it a thought
cause right now
i feel so displaced

From the Paintball Cheerleader

for a paintball cheerleader,
it's a huge thing
when she sees paintball in the news
on philippine tv.



For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV













this is a big contribution to the sport...
i pray that better things can happen from here...
i may not be able to make cartwheels and pyramids for this
but still i am cheering and raving for paintball
to be acknowledged all over the world...
and ill start from the philippines...

congratulations to team real pinoy for bagging the top prize at the recent Paintball World Cup 2008 in Kuala Lumpur.

pinoy pride babybeh!

Baduy Natin!

we send kisses through other people
we receive them through other people
we spice up each other's lives through text
no expectations
we just surprise each other
that way we can take time to smile
a diversion from our realities

we have created our own lil word
temporary until we find another
in it i am learning to embrace my role
for I am an "o" woman
in this parallel universe we exist in
"we" are

baduy!

let me hug you.
let me hold your hand.
let me pray.
if you push me back
i will understand.

i will let you cope.
i will let you heal.
i will allow your silence.
if i had to handle this unknown
i too wouldnt know
i too will scream out questions.
so in your own little corner
allow me to whisper,
i love you and i will be here
once all the silent tears have flowed

dear che2,

there may be times you were reaching out and felt that no one was understanding. i know how that feels. i know what it is to feel isolated, alone and bearing the pain that literally feels like the heart is gripped.

sometimes i wished we were back to being young and free from all this. just the casual summer vacations in our street where children can be children. time when pain was about falling off a bike and scratching your knee. where happiness was equated to family dinners together with the anticiaption of scrabble after.

i can only pray you have the people physically there that can support you through this. i hope i know how else i can help.

let this be my way of saying i am here for you cousin.


manang m.

so where to now?

Happiness is only real when shared.
-Into the Wild

I’ve never lived beyond my middle class stature ,
I also work for shelter, food and some semblance of conveniences ,
I don’t have the safety net of savings or an inheritance.

should i remain and still create
or do i take on another journey
to inspire a dream elsewhere.

i may never be a millionaire
but i know i am rich
in my own way.

i create my dreams
and i will help ignite the fire for others
i am after all a catcher of dreams

so where to now??

This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life: A PLANNER REVIEW

Freespeech Publications did a brave thing, they sent a couple of people a copy of their 2009 planner for free and in exchange we must put it on a glass slide, mount it on microscope and make a comparative study of yet a similar specie known as the Starbucks planner.

Just to make things clear and easy i will refer to “this journal will actually change your life!!” As “change journal” since it does shout that out in direct and indirect ways.

On first glance.

I’d have to give it to the starbucks planner for its more professional-looking cover. I am in the consultancy business which means I go to a lot of client meetings. These meetings are my first encounters for possible clients; I need to be able to at least look the part of someone that you can entrust part of your business to. The change planner though funky, will look a bit extreme for people that formal.

I also give the starbucks planner another point for being expandable. My planner usually house everything I would need, from receipts, notes and even those journal entries you make on coffee napkins; these get inserted into the planner. The starbucks planner has a rubber thing to keep all my other inserts intact without the fear of them disappearing. The change planner looking like a book gives me the notion that i will loose a thing or two because it fell off.

On the material.

I love to color code my entries and use different kinds of pens. The change planner will get a point for this one. I find the paper they use thick enough to withstand any kind of ink. I find the starbucks planner’s paper too thin for sign pens.

On the layout

I have to give it to the change planner for thinking the way I do when it comes to layout. They were able to provide me with a monthly planner and then a weekly and daily space for my appointments. This necessary for me to be able to see my availability and from there zoom in on what I am supposed to do for the day. The amount of space they provide for the weekly is enough for me to be able to write down my schedule as well as write down a little bit of my day. The starbucks planner only gives me a monthly calendar but no space to even write birthdays at a month’s glance.

The weekly mood chart was a bonus to reflect on how the week went but I did appreciate the strategy notes at the end. I find the one page note page at the end of the month for the starbucks planner not enough for someone who attends multiple meetings a week.

Another thing that I will say is brilliant by the change planner is the yearly calendar found on the top of every page. It enables me to project schedules on a monthly and yearly system. I find with the starbucks planner I need to leaf back to the first part of the planner all the time which isn’t very convenient when you are in a middle of negotiations.

I will really have to with the change planner for its layout. I am enjoying the system it provides. The space for quarterly checkups is also a welcomed bonus since you are reminded of the quarters and you are encouraged to track expenses, strategize more and even check on your attitude with its soul inventory.

Overall

I chose a career that is very dynamic. There are times I have to live fast and some moments that I also need to take time to think and reflect. The change planner I feel was thinking with me on those terms.

Some things that can be better for me is again the chance for me to expand the planner and add pockets or extra pages. Another is since it claims to actually change a person’s life I find those pages between the months where they put something colourful or something to think about could be given more thought. Pictures could be added that can show topics like volunteerism, hobbies and travel to certain areas where they can make a change.

If freespeech Publications can also make the planner lighter (cover is sturdy but heavy) then it would be something that will be a mainstay in my bag.

When choosing planners, like choosing shoes, it has to be something your style and comfortable. For the price of P850 it’s definitely worth it!

This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life 2009 is available at all Powerbooks and Fullybooked branches. For more information you may check out http://freespeechpublications.com/

looking up

dear lelaki,

as you head back into the city everyday, i want u to take time to look up at the moon. things maybe chaotic or fall into routines but as you stare into this light you will remember that someone in another city is thinking of the same thing; or at least of u.


we are put here for a reason. we should never settle for convenience and what is merely within reach. take time to dream and aspire for a broader understanding of things. this way you can get the most out of life.


i want u to know that life isnt about absolutes but rather a daily unwrapping of surprises. so let the moon be my channel. my way of giving you the hugs that i cannot physically give. and my way of bringing in even just a drop of cheer to your otherwise tiring and monotonous day.


i know diving back into the current will be painful, nevertheless i will give and i am praying that it's worth it.


- a dream catcher

keep those postcards coming

on the cab ride home my eyes were just ready to say enough for the day. i said i would drop with a blag
when i get to my room. but as i opened my door
3 postcards fell. and it made my day!

so here I am. no blag on the bed. but rather i bring out my laptop to register them on postcrossing and writing a thank u note for those that sent them.

its nice getting postcards call it old fashioned but it makes me smile.

my turn now.

--- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ------ ------ ----- ----- ---
postcrossing

The goal of this project is to allow people to receive postcards from all over the world, for free. Well, almost free! The main idea is that: if you send a postcard, you'll receive at least one back, from a random Postcrosser from somewhere in the world.

Why? Because, like the author, there are lots of people who like to receive real mail. The element of surprise of receiving postcards from different places in the world (many of which you'd probably never have heard of) can turn your mailbox into a box of surprises - and who wouldn't like that?

Punta Fuego Occular

4 OCT 2008

took a loooong roadtrip with RC and Butch
to Peninsula de Punta Fuego
we needed to check out the place with a client
teambuilding by end of this week
it was the perfect setting to take tons of photos!

on the way back to manila
we looked into the other accomodation possibilities
around tagaytay for future training venues

looking forward to taking the trip back to these places!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PENINSULA DE PUNTA FUEGO
http://www.puntafuego.com/peninsula/

Punta Fuego, meaning "point of fire", is composed of high-end residential beach front properties located at the Batangas area only a couple of hours away from Manila. Peninsula de Punta Fuego, an 88-hectare world-class residential beach resort, was developed by Landco Pacific Corporation and Roxaco Land Corporation and was fully operational in 1999. The Punta Fuego community consists of Spanish-Mediterranean-inspired villas, a Beach Club, a Marina, a nine-hole golf course, a Country Club.

Location: Peninsula de Punta Fuego, Batangas

to a wife, from his friend

Dear Mrs. HisWife,

I met with your husband last night.

Please don’t think wicked of it. We only had a drink and it wasn't even alcoholic. Just a friendly catch up between friends was all it was. We animatedly talked about what has happened in a year. The sport , the people and trivial things. We also talked about where life has taken us.

And as I listened to him talk about his business heartaches and dreams I wanted to go up to you, stretch out my hand to show appreciation. This time he didn't leave you out of the conversation. He proudly told me about what you have been doing. The career change with a side note of how similar our jobs are now. Plus you wanting him home early every night, making sure he doesnt become a workaholic (he needs to be reminded every chance you get).

Thank you for slowly being part of his life. For being there during the moments that really matter to him. For taking the step to alter situations so that he can feel that someone supports him. Last night I felt that he finally feels that he has someone.

He is a great guy and I know that it is something that you also know. All he needs is for someone to tell him that every now and then. Things don't have to be serious all the time. Take time to act silly and let go of sophistication...you'll see how his eyes light up like that of a child.

His heart has been broken by business deals and some people he thought were friends. I dont want bitterness to be part of such a beautiful heart. I'm leaving soon and all he has is you.

Please continue being in the boat with him. He chose you to be his wife. I am only an emergency raft which exists in a parallel universe called friendship. I am aware that between our worlds are boundaries...I will respect that.



In good faith,


Your husband's # 1 friend

the other woman

but the other woman will always cry herself to sleep
the other woman will never have his love to keep
and as the years go by
the other woman
will spend her life alone

- jeff buckley

hearing the song

she told herself maybe she was the other woman
cause she did -without loosing her sense of self - what she could do to be near him
cause she rationalized his goodness beyond what it probably was
cause she wanted to show him how much bigger the world is

and then she sang the song again
and realized

she didn’t want to be alone
she wanted to take her own children to the beach
or have a kitchen that will let her make them almond-walnut pancakes
or have someone who she can talk to about her dreams
and who would, in turn tell her his

so she let him go

but what really stung her was
how through all this
he did make her feel like the other woman
because for the last time she thought
maybe he was fine where he was
maybe to him he needed someone who was nearer
maybe he had to settle into what was convenient
maybe he will be happy

cause that's all she wants for him --- to be happy

in a 10-year relationship

I have this guy in my life,

aside from my dad
we met for 10 minutes back in 1998
and has grown the relationship for 10 years to date
so far the longest of all the series of unfortunate men in my life,

pun intended

he’s has been part of all the significant dramas

in my life after highschool
and has accepted my quirks and screws loose, and i his
we can handle talks while we “tusok-tusok” the fishball
to sipping wine and discussing about art history or van gogh

they say that even the stars agree to our being together
i am Gemini, he is Sagittarius
complimentary in almost everyway
he holds the line at times while i breathe,

and i hold it up when my turn comes
we have our silly competitive contests

where the scores are never remembered
our daily highlights and lowlights

and a knack for being able

to laugh at one another’s “ngak” moments

anything, anywhere, anyone we can take on
though we can even by ourselves
but we can be better if we combine our powers

about a year and a half ago we made a decision
to take the next step in our lives and move into the same house
this time we take the practice of conjugal property to another level
there a days he buys the food and there are days that he gets lazy and i take over
there are days we are excited to talk about life, and days stretching out to weeks
that we just go our own separate ways for a breather

we talk about other relationships we have or have had, the escapades and charades
and though at times we do get jealous, i know he’ll never own up to it
so we just continue sharing our life and the journey towards what we call dreams
this has just been great for me all this time,
i can very well say, if relationships were this mature,
then maybe some companies will go out of business
and the world can be a much better place

so to those that know me you know who he is

he is my will and i am grace
together we are always on the lookout for the next gorgeous man
so we can stare, giggle and make our own kind of fun
and yes...
he is....*giggles*

and that’s what makes the friendship just divine!


__ ___ ___

postscript. I just learned that someone in his family believes that we are really are a we-will-be-married-soon-enough-kind of couple. I had a hearty laugh hearing about that. he said maybe we should get engagement rings too. I can’t blame them for thinking though, it’s the best relationship set-up i’ve had. I love u tag...to infinity and beyond...

My Kind of Decorating

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

When it comes to decorating and furnishing your home, no one would ever accuse you of purism and restraint. You're a real glamour puss, never happier than when an opportunity crops up to add another flourish of theatrical pizzazz to your home. We're not saying you're a drama queen, really...!

Living Room

You are drawn to all things that combine beauty with adventure. This is a high-octane, unabashed, sensual look that encompasses everything that's luxurious, voluptuous and curvaceous. Think rich fabrics, textured materials and glossy surfaces. While glamour makes a big, bold statement, it also smacks of total comfort and fun. Modern accessories will make a sleek counterpoint, allowing an outstanding sofa, for example, to take centre-stage. Fresh, bright colours at the 'cool' end of the spectrum are welcoming and airy, while modern floral prints add a smart, feminine touch. Make comfort the priority in your living room: it's where you naturally go to watch TV, relax and de-stress.

Bedroom

Your bedroom benefits from a lovely feminine touch. Sleep is fundamentally important to our well being. In busy towns and cities, noise can often hamper a good night's sleep. Soft furnishings really do absorb sound, and touch is such an important sense in the bedroom, from crisp, linen sheets to wool or even sheepskin underfoot. You like to surround yourself with pretty frills and flounces in your bedroom, using a palette of beautifully muted colours to create the perfect retreat from daily stresses and strains.

Dining Room

You're a maverick, blending a melting-pot style that's all your own. At home, the pleasure you take in your 'pick 'n' mix' approach to decorating gives the dining space a 'pot luck' sense of fun. The dining table is the perfect place for you to show off your kaleidoscopic approach to interior design and decoration: cups, saucers, plates and glasses of different colours, shapes and sizes can look vibrant and fun when executed with flair: just don't go overboard or try too hard. When it comes to entertaining, you're pretty casual and relaxed.

Home Office

You like things floral and feminine, even in the home office. These days, almost all of us have a home office: a desk and a chair in one corner of the living room with adjustable task lighting and adequate filing is all it takes (and might be all the space you can afford). Pretty finishing touches can transform even the most utilitarian desks: a potted plant, a vase of flowers or family photographs can make all the difference.

Conclusion

Your home's a shrine to all things glamorous.

am i a wild cat?

september adventure wish

i pray...

my boss can take me with him to the subang training
we get all the pending checks from the clients we have
that i can get to stay with my malaysian sister when i get to KL

then...

i can visit this beautiful place
of castles and french architechture
the closest to europe I can get for now
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Colmar Tropicale

Colmar Tropicale is the unique French-themed attraction at Berjaya Hills. It stands 2,600 feet above sea level on 80 acres of natural forestland. The first of its kind in Malaysia, it is modelled after the 16th Century Colmar Village in Alsace, France and has retained the authenticity and European feel of its counterpart. Submerge yourself in the French countryside ambience at Colmar Tropicale as its beautiful architecture and furnishings bring you back to times of yore.

The lifestyle at Colmar Tropicale is highlighted by many attractions whether you arrive singly or with a family. Kick back with a cigar at Le Vin Wine & Cigar Bar and marvel at the lively street entertainment and exciting stage performances from local and foreign artistes. For photo snappers, Colmar Tropicale is a haven with the castle drawbridge at the entrance being a favourite. Watch swans along the moat, sit around the square's fountain, wishing well and climb up the viewing tower for a grand spectacle of the resort and the picturesque cuckoo clock tower hich was designed after the Riquewihr Tower, France.

The true attraction of Colmar Tropicale is apparent. The spirit of hospitality and welcome is epitomised by warm and helpful personnel to ensure your holiday here is seamless, by providing all the necessity comforts and needs. Bask in a holiday here with comforts like your dream home away from the norm. Live up the atmosphere at the resort for a holiday experience beyond compare, only at Colmar Tropicale.

new found enjoyment

i am now in tagaytay for a job evaluation session with a land development company. and since the hotel has wifi then here i am taking time before the session starts to post this.
i am liking my new fun job.

after my 2-moth malaysia adventure, i joined a team that does organizational development consultancy and offers various training programs. we also offer teambuilding programs for companies that want to maximize the effectiveness of its teams. the past couple of weeks, I am being exposed so that I can eventually lead and facilitate some of the programs we offer. but for now I get to shadow my boss and handle just a module or two.

butch calls me his training associate. i am basically a slasher. i do anything and everything for now. i am marketing coordinator, training assistant, personal assistant, researcher, powerpoint designer and training participant all in one. being a kinesthetic learner, doing all these things maximizes the skils and knowledge I gain. and i am enjoying every minute of it.

to top it all, i get to work with my mentor. he's been a boss for the last 5 years with 2 of the call centers I had been connected with which means he had gotten to know how to handle all my socializer-artistic self. so yey!

so why am i liking my job? because like centrum it is complete. i get to train, to travel and learn alot from everything I do. plus it freelance so what more can you ask for?

Stranger Encounter

came home to trekkers lodge one night, the place I called home in kota kinabalu (kk), and saw kenny with his uncle. they got themselves a room there while his uncle was in town. naturally they invited joel and me for a few round of beers. i willingly said, "sure."

itay and kenny gave up on us early since they both had to be up early for work. so I was left drinking with a complete stranger which actually concerned me a bit. but after thinking that I was "at home" anyway then I refilled my glass and continued on the discussion.

as we emptied our tiger beers we found ourselves discussing about life. it spun off from the mere question of why I was in kk. hmmm...good question. something that people have asked and I cant really seem to find an answer. my staple response was "I just felt like I had to do this trip." which was true for me.

we compared our cultures, shared about our travels around the world (just south east asia for me though) and even discussed about love. in the middle of one of our conversations he suddenly just stopped. he took a gulp of his beer, then with all the english he could muster said, "i not know you very long, but i feel you come to kk to look for something...have you find it?"

i was frozen. here was a man that i just met and he asks me a loaded question. snapping out of the shaken state I told him, "yes I did, but for me its letting the experience reveal where I should be headed," to which he replied "i think you looking for love here." what did he just say?? I wanted to shout and say "OF COURSE NOT!" but that would be lie.

i may say that finding love wasn't the main concern for the trip. but it still was a reason. no sense defending myself to a guy that seems to be able to read me. but this is not why I am writing about this experience. after being quiet and him feeling the apprehension, he went on to say the statement the made rethink the days to come.

"you are like playing football, you kick and kick the ball. but to where you don't know. now you are tired. you look for love but you dont know what you want to find, because you dont have a goal," was what he said.

part of me wanted to scream at him and tell me my views on letting the universe open up the opportunities for me. but somehow that was just wow-i-couldnt-say-anything-cause-its-partly-true moment for me.

if that was a friend or a person from my family that said it I would been in red alert defensive mode. but coming from a mere stranger. that was just wow! a bitter sweet dose of reality. i wanted to hug him, but remembered I was in a country that could easily misinterpret that. so I just stuck out my hand and told him, "that was most candid assessment of my life and I thank you for verbalizing it for me."

i may never see him again but he will always be a man that slapped me back to a dream-reality-balance.

so am I kicking the ball towards a goal now? i can say yes. my field may be small and the goal make-shift, but definitely worth the baby steps.

have I found love? hmmm...next topic please....

Temporary Separation Night

Location:
Upperstar Cafe & Santana Karaoke Bar
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

4 July 2008

they organized something for me
to make sure i felt the love
cause we were going to be separated
for a couple of months

people from RB came
well except for the bosses
and most importantly those i call family
they were all there!

this why i love my kk family!!

-------------
these entries i first wrote back in 2008
in my multiply albums.
i wanted to have everything in one place
so I am reposting them in my blog.