Baptism of Fire and a Great Deal of it...

Going into my first AGM under my new designation... there was a lot of tumultuous times that came along the way... Of course, a promotion is a promotion but with it comes a great deal of responsibility... There's so much to do last week so had to adjust in such a short span of time... plus add to the fact that I still have to cover my previous responsibilities since I really haven't even advertise to hire someone to do those stuff... to compound my woes was a network downtime for our oracle system that delayed the reports...

Yesterday was a busy day for me during our AGM in Singapore, being the lead presenter for the Company's financials (previously, I only had a voice when consulted on several IFRS issues)... A bit jittery at start (I always am) but in the long-run I became more comfortable and effective as well, even if I had so little time to analyze the numbers... Quite relieved that at the toughest of circumstances, we were still able to present a decent yet concise report... And luck finally did catch up with not much queries made by the shareholders...

Went to the Singapore Museum of the Arts later that day with some colleagues... wherein there was a unique tour of Singapore's culture though it became a bit dragging owing to a very lengthy narration and of course, fatigue was catching up as well from several overtime as of late... Went to Chinatown to buy some souvenirs and did a lost in the city routine by deciding to walk back to the hotel instead... a quite a long walk really... Rested for awhile and after talking to some of my friends who are now based in Singapore decided to go down to the bar and joined our Group auditors...

Started the day early today with a marathon of meetings, with bankers, potential business contacts and financial media... Finally, I volunteered to join in checking out possible office spaces for our Singapore office (so I'll know which place to crash whenever I'm here)... and now I rest for the mean time but will be going to ministry of sound with colleagues and spending my weekend here with friends before I go back home on Monday... Quite a great deal to manage but I'm glad it's over and now from work mode, I return to my regular mode - vacation mode... =>

Bitten by the Cleaning Bug

This is as rare as it gets... On a week which was not really good since things haven't been on my side lately; as well as, being out of sync at work (still on vacation mode... hehe)... Deadline is April 27 AGM at Singapore... things gets tougher by the minute... I decided to take some time out to clean my room... though it's more of an overhaul since I practically changed the overall make up of my room...

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Computer table now beside the bed... the bed now facing the TV... the three sofa stools (including one shape like a dice)... new bed sheets & pillow cases and shedding away some excess stuff... has now created a more comfortable feel of my room... Still not over though since, I'm planning to shift from curtains to blinds... and still thinking of adding a sofa adjacent to the TV (but that's something I'd rather decide on some other day)...

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Since I've been bitten by the cleaning bug, I also did my laundry, clean the kitchen and comfort room area... Must have been a severe infection inflicted upon me that's why I decided to go on a cleaning spree... but I guess the new look is a welcome change, I get to see daily when I get home... At least, things are now orderly at home... Now to shift the cleanliness and clarity stuff into my way of thinking... and start my push towards things I have to do in my work... and in my life...

Sporty Weekend in Tagaytay!!!

On a tail end of an exhausting week (gimmick related... hehe...), comes our Company outing in Tagaytay Country Hotel... Since I brought a car, we (Boboy and Joth) left earlier than the Company bus - leaving Makati office at 8 am... Ms. Del joined us in Cavite... and since we were the early birds, we decided to go to Tagaytay Zoo before going to the hotel...

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It's a real close encounter at the Zoo and I even had a picture feeding a tiger cub... Again, no animals were harmed in this shoot... The Zoo was a bit small though there's a bigger version in Mendez, Cavite... The good part about this is that you are real close to the animals here and the scenery is nice overlooking Taal Volcano...

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We were still early for the check in time which is 2 pm so we had our lunch at Josephine's... yum yum... buffet at P290 and the food was great and as expected we ate a lot (I guess I have to shy away from weighing scales for the mean time)...

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Finally proceeded to Tagaytay Country Hotel and arrived before our other colleagues arrived so we had a few rounds of bowling... The rest who took the bus arrived shortly... After a few rounds of bowling, we then went to shoot some hoops (real tiring since the court was open under the scorching heat)... After a few games of basketball (we won)... we decided to join the others in badminton where we played again (and won again) a full game... We then took a breather at the nearby Mc Donalds then it was bowling time again...

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It's been an exhausting day so far, driving the whole morning and playing bowling, basketball and badminton the whole time... so after dinner, I decided to have a soothing and relaxing time at their Spa Facilities (due to the physical activities throughout the day, I guess a Spa treatment would be a best fit)... I had bio spa, which removes bad toxins in the body and a soothing aromatheraphy massage...

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By the time the massage was over, some were having a great time in the videoke room so drop by there for a while then went to my room... A few minutes later, we (me, Allan and Joth) were off to Hapagkainan, which is just a few minutes away from the hotel for a warm meal of Bulalo... When we got back, sleep finally caught up.

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We left Tagaytay earlier than the others (7 am) the next day and since it was early, traffic was light and we arrived in Manila in just little over an hour... Upon reaching home, it was a full-day rest time (something I haven't really done since January) and now, I finally feel the effects of a sporty weekend in Tagaytay... low on energy and high on body pain... hehe...

Introducing Charisse Margaux L. de Ramos

I got my first glance at my newest inaanak yesterday, Charisse Margaux when I met my good friend and now a proud dad to cute little Charm, Arnold... Charm gonna be welcomed to the Christian world this saturday (Too bad, I won't be able to come... huhu...) ... Ok, the term should have been my soon to be inaanak cause I'm only Ninong Franc starting Saturday...

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The place was at Good Earth in Greenbelt 3 and Arnold came carrying his little bundle of joy... Charm is such a pretty baby and quite tall for her age... though unfortunately for me, she was asleep all the time during the dinner... Next time, we meet Charm, I'm gonna enjoy carrying you, playing with you and just seeing you again... and I know you're gonna grow up just fine...

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Dinner was great and quite a long conversation with Arnold since it's been quite some time since we last saw each other... I think the last time was during his wedding where I was part of the entourage... Arnold has matured a lot over the years in wisdom, not really age... A lot of laughs and stories came and went, with baby Charm, still fast asleep... Arnold has always been a funny person ever since college and I'm glad he found his smile again in his wife Odha and daughter Charm... and by the time, I'd have my own kids, I've asked fewer questions to the doctor because Arnold has already provided the answers albeit in his usual jolly way.

I'm happy that even though I won't be able to attend Charm's christening due to a previous commitment, I had the chance to meet Arnold's lucky Charm before she goes to Indonesia where Arnold's family is now based... Welcome to the world Charm and I'll see you around!!!

An Esquinita Escape

I don't usually go out much during weekdays... or if ever I do go out, it's usually within the confines of Makati... so last Wednesday was a bit different as we had a sudden get together aty Esquinita near ABS-CBN in Quezon City...

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Of course, traffic was terrible from Makati to QC... and what started as a meeting between Anton, Rocky with friends and Mascy turned up to be a well attended gig... with Blue, MJ, Cig, Jan and me joining as well... It's quite a simple affair with just pulutan (barbecue, inihaw na pork chop, etc.) and a few drinks... though it took some time for the place to serve the food...

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After a few hours of merriment, we each took our way home... and call it a day (and night as well)... Of course, the next thing in line to do after I reached home was..... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!

An Easter Dip at Baraoas Sur

Spent Easter Sunday at Nava De Oro Resort in Naguilian, La Union with relatives… It’s quite good to be back in Naguilian where I spent most of my childhood summers… and of course, a dip in a pool is always a desired event considering the hot temperature lately…

Started the day early with an hour drive from Baguio to La Union at 6 am and eventually proceeding to the resort… a bit early but after quite a while, we were able to plunge in the pool and one good thing was that the summer heat was not as scorching in the morning… as a bonus treat, we tried the improvised go karts and had a great time as we braved the heat to take a few laps around the course…

Then lunch came… yum yum… and after lunch, we played bingo to pass the warm early afternoon… luckily, I had quite a good winning run throughout… hehe… and as the sun started to mellow down, we took a few more time around the pool… and proceeded to our trek back to Baguio City…

It’s been quite some time since I’ve last been to Naguilian unlike before when I go there every summer time and just live a simpler life in a more tropical temperature… biking around the place… swimming and just braving the summer heat… Time is not as much as a luxury now as compared to when I’m studying but at least, I was able to take an Easter dip at such a familiar place… and I believe there will be more dips to come…

Hero-thon

I finally completed the 18 Chapters of Heroes, which I started Tuesday last week. I liked this series since it was a bit different from other series in the sense that it was covered by one major story line for the whole season. The series starts a bit dragging since you have to get to know so many diverse characters but as the series goes on, it evolves into an exciting and suspense-filled series. I really can’t wait for the 19th episode to the season finale… As good and evil consolidates its forces and powers towards a grand finale, you start to appreciate the interlocking plots among the shows key characters…

Saving the world… That’s what heroes do… Quite a cool thing… having powers and using it to make a difference… And in that train of thought, with powers or none, I guess I can still do my fair share in saving the world by… reaching out a helping hand… being a wall others could lean on… imparting a thought or some knowledge when needed… making people smile and look at things in a positive light… or just plain being dependable most of the time…

And speaking of heroes, maybe I should pay tribute to bar topnotcher Noel Malimban, who was a schoolmate in college, an officemate and a housemate in SGV before he took up law… An admirable trait of this guy that he remains modest and humble despite the accolades… He still emerged on top despite having fewer resources than others… Congrats… Noel!!!

Incidentally, it’s national heroes’ day on April 9 and of course, this is no way related to my hero-thon (Heroes Marathon) but since, it’s a holiday… It makes the holy week a lot longer… Might as well pay tribute to all the heroes out there… never give up on saving the world…

9 Churches, 13 Stations in 1 Good Friday

Immaculate Conception

Don Bosco

Recoletos

St. Vincent Church

Lourdes Church, Kisad Road

CICM Home Sweet Home

Pink Sisters

Sacred Heart, Military Cut-off

Holy Family Church, Bakakeng

Tagaytayan Na!!!

With the coming of summer, comes the idea of summer getaway and for several castaways from Ateneo... the getaway meant a relaxing (a bit exhausting due to sleep deprivation) and exciting weekend at the windy climate of Tagaytay.

Rendezvous was at Starbucks Rockwell at 9 am (which eventually moved a little forward to various events). The first leg of the race (I mean trip) was a drive to The Riviera in Silang, Cavite. At the Riviera, we were treated to sumptuous treat at the club house (with its no slippers please and no sleeveless tops for guys policy… hehe...) and an afternoon of bumming around in front of the poolside. After a few hours of rest and relaxation, we were back to the road to Tagaytay on our way to the house we rented in Rodeo Drive where we were treated to a rare glimpse of sunset on one side and at the same time, the moon rising on the other side.

It was an all-star cast in terms of participation (Franc, Blue, Jan, Bogs, Grace, Nikki, Owen, MJ, Vangie, Cig, Mascy, Rocky and Diane). The food was great courtesy of Don Owen for The Riviera and a masterfully prepared meal prepared by Blue (who’s a part owner of B1 café… for your food and catering needs… hehe…). Drinks were overflowing and the cool serene atmosphere in Tagaytay was a welcome break from the warm and a bit polluted Manila backdrop. The house was a real nice house to stay and party with so much space and room for all though most of us crammed ourselves to sleep on the veranda at the second floor where we had the cool breeze to serve as our aircon for the night.

The away time from the cosmopolitan lifestyle in the metropolis is always an event to look forward to and with friends to share the house, the laughter and the all the mixed emotions that came from a variety of intertwining yet unique personalities. Of course, being clustered in a house gives quite a housemate feel ala Pinoy Big Brother… hehe… Though this time, I don’t think we need to evict anybody. Maybe the poll should go… on who among us should be Big Brother… my vote goes to Blue… I think if you know Blue this should be self explanatory…

Even as we welcomed the next day, most of us were still awake with the last batch, me included went to sleep at past 4 am with poor me being the first to wake up at 6 am (that’s sleep deprivation) and unable to catch my slumber mood again. After breakfast, some already left for various commitments back in Manila but for some (Franc, Cig, Jan, Bogs, Owen, Mascy, Diane and Rocky), the weekend never ends as I say… - lunch at Leslie’s (whose air conditioned area look liked a canteen but had an excellent view of Taal Volcano…then halo halo & ice cream and another round of bumming around at poolside at The Riviera… then a visit to Havianas shop in Alabang Town Center and finally a dinner at Manongs in Alabang.

Was able to reach home a little past ten, where after my regular routine I retired to sleep to catch up… and catch up I did with me oversleeping until past 8 am missing my coding cutoff and just communing to work instead of driving… as well as being very late on the first working day of April… well, such a small price for an eventful weekend, I guess…