Hostage for the Day

It's been a trend that towards the end of the day, something comes up to make me stay after office hours... and today was no different... In fact, I felt like a hostage, unable to leave until everything is ok... Today, was much more of a burden to bear as I intended to leave the office early to avoid traffic going to Anton's Birthday and the eventual output was not solely on my hands... so part of the task was a long wait for other parties to finish their part...

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Well, I now have a simple solution to avoid situation like this... decentralize button on... protection bubble off... People should realize that there are still other resources to utilize than yours truly... That's something I have to work on... The traffic contributed in dampening my mood... and I guess even the precious moments with friends are still not enough to turn things around...

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Anyway, I just have to rest on the comfort that no matter how worst the traffic or the day was... it's still nice to be in the comfort of friends though I was not my usual jolly self tonight... A nice dinner at Ha Yuan in Timog and Shooters Night at Cig with Ateneo friends (Anton, Mascy, Jan, Bogz, Cig, Owen, Lindsay, Rocky, Steve and Ronan) was a good diversion to an Annual Report that hadso much surprises that came along the way...

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I just stayed for shooters night 'till 12 midnight as I guess sleep is also a great equalizer and once I get up tomorrow, It'll be a new day and I have the whole weekend to compensate for all the surprises that ended this day... =>

Wishful Thinking

After 12 days in Taipei, I'm glad to be back in the Philippines... I'm not one to drool for those long out of the country sojourns... a few additional immigration stamps in my passport should be enough... I'm still emotionally attached to my carefree and uplifting life here...

Last week was a bittersweet pill to swallow... which leaves one to think if all the fun we had touring the place was worth all the used up energy... pent up anger and unwanted pressures... To think the difficulties encountered in the annual report has been on my shoulder for several years now... Makes me think to switching to finance as I'm more drawn to finance related problems than the ever changing world of accouning... but that's just wishful thinking at this point in time...

And on the switching mode, I guess it's time to turn the switch to vacation mode... as I plan to take it easy for the next few months into summer time... Easy time aside, I guess, it's also time to reassess the what, where, when, how and why on things to do going forward... Nothing drastic or cryptic meant just a mere pause to appreciate that despite the tough few months with so much annoyances, I'm still standing firm in one piece... and then I have a simple rule to follow... No annoying people within 3o feet... but then again, rules like that are just wishful thinking. =>

From Gloom to Bloom

Much have reversed from being numb last Friday after an impromptu meeting with our chairman on the remaining annual report issues... and a little while later, everything is now resolved and take a chance at the little window we got to finish the Annual Report... plus we get to have several days-off in lieu of working at the peak of the holy week....

So even at diminished energy, Jing and I are now back to our vacation mode and took advantage of an election in Taipei to be able to go to the newest attraction which is the Maokong Gondolo (cable car) without the long queues... My take on the Gondola... The last point of the Gondola is Maokong and it has several tea shops and plantation... so it's a haven for tea lovers (I'm more of a coffee person)... In the middle of the cable car ride is the Zhinan Temple which is a larger version of Baguio's Bell Church and Cebu's Taoist Temple... The thrill of the long cable car ride is worth the wait and the cost is not that high... though we did have are occasional wrong turn on our way to the different locations with the lack of the English signage...

Next stop was the Botanical Garden, which is conveniently located in the Chang Kai Shek area... and has a nice serene backdrop filled with different types of plants, ponds and there's so many squirrel just playing around the area... It's always a welcome visit to be in touch with nature... and since we were in the area, we also went to the Chang Kai Shek Memorial Hall to buy some souvenirs and have a few snapshots in the place...

After a whole day going around, we decided to have a few hours rest in the hotel around 6 pm before going back to the night market... since we're low on energy, we just decided to go to the night market beside our hotel instead of the larger night market in Shilin... Even if we don't understand each other, we still were able to bargain thanks to the wonder of calculator (hehe... use your imagination...=>)

It's now time to rest again cause tomorrow is still another day... ZZZZZZZZZZZ

The Next Point After Giving Up is Being Numb

In the more serious part of the trip, we're stuck in the depressing... an unfinished annual report left hanging by the holy week... so what's worst in being stuck away from home working during the peak of the holidays is that you get your energy drained by people talking in riddles who just can't seem to make a position on what to do with their proposal... Intolerable Cruelty at its finest...

Anyway, the first to draw my energy was the blown out of proportion issue on who to edit the financials, which should have been resolved easily and peacefully had someone not interceded to force his point... then there's the on and off discussion again on audit issues that never seems to be resolved (or decided upon)... Our deadline just died and since I'm way past giving up, I just feel numb already... I guess, I should rename our annual report to our annual torture due to lack of cooperation from counterparties...

Yesterday, we were on zero energy... no energy to complain... no energy to get angry... and after going back from the printers office... Jing and I slumped to our respective rooms to sleep of our frustration on the unfinished annual report... Now, we're stuck on how to finish the annual report before we live Taipei with so little energy and resources left... I used to label my annual report experience as a lesson in crisis management but I guess this time, it should be anger management...

I used to end my gloomy blogs with a glimmer of hope but this time, I won't... I still am numb from the annoyance certain people have made... =<

Yang and Yang Ming Shan

A long warm Sunday in a usually cool Taipei at this time of the Year. We visited Yang Ming Shan National Park in the morning and hot a nice view of all the flowers that was in full bloom... It was a bit crowded today but it's still a nice place to visit with its touch of nature and picturesque backdrop... Though it's quite a long 45 minutes bus ride from Jiantan MRT station and a long walk to enter the park... but amidst all the effort, I still find it worth visiting...

Went back to Hotel at around 2 pm for late lunch and to rest a bit... and then it was our scheduled dinner with our CEO Clement Yang, who came with her wife Cherry and daughter Christine... A very heavy steak meal at Outback, near Taipei 101... After dinner, we were off to home... and it's now to break from the nomad mode and get down to business... but first... some well-deserved sleep....ZZZZ

Pics are at multiply

TamZoo 101

Though we haven't really started much except to structure the Annual Report and ensure that every portion has been submitted, I'll still claim that between break from our Annual Report load, we went to Taipei 101, Taipei Zoo (We missed the Maokong Gondola... a new attraction here due to the long queue... next weekend)... and Tamshui...

Been to Taipei 101 several times already but since this is Jing's first time in Taiwan (me... I've lost count on how many times I've been in Taiwan)... I play my usual role of tour guide... so up to the tallest skyscraper again... We went evening yesterday to take a peak at the night sky via the 91st floor of Taipei 101... It's a different peak this time since in the past, I use to go during the day... and the cold breeze in the top of the tower was a welcome change with a overhead view of the city at night...

Today, we went to Taipei Zoo, which was such a big Zoo... Of course, it's my nth visit to the Zoo though it was nice to have go here once in a while... The Maokong Gondola was the new attraction at this part but the queue was so long so we had to rescehdule on that part so we had to settle with the Zoo... Anyway, just noticed that the problem with a big zoo is that it takes you more time looking for the animal...

After the zoo, we then proceeded to Tamshui, which was on the opposite side of the map in Taipei but thanks to an efficient MRT system, it's still so easy to reach... There's so many people here... Tamshui is similar to our baywalk in the Philippines... We then proceeded to Fisherman's wharf, which is more of a gimmick place in the middle of the sea... Mystical and serene... that's the charm of the place... After we were back in the port in Tamshui, we had a nice cup of coffee and mapple cinnamon roll in Starbucks...

And then we're on our way home... Nice warm jacuzzi bath to rest my weary body... and a little bit of blogging and sleep to follow...

Pics are at multiply.

An Early Bird isn't Late

An early bird... that hasn't been me for quite sometime... except of course on Mondays for my coding cutoff... then again, being early hasn't really been my cup of tea since I used to log almost 2,000 minutes a month of being late just to avoid my former boss annoying and unnecessary meeting... though I did get approval from higher authorities for such kind of action...

I'm just am not used to live by stiff rules... How can you think of out of the box solutions when you're living in a box.??? My biggest alibi for being late... I guess, our creative juices are at its best when we work on convenient times... though once all the busy days are gone I'm definitely gonna be an early bird... cause I want to leave early too... and have all the fun that comes with the summer times...

On a mental note, I did try to be early lately but by several twist of fates, there's always a reason for me to end up a bit late... at least I tried... but when I get my well earned rest, I'll be up and bright each day I wake up... =>

Too Much Multi Tasking is Bad for your Health

Work Load has shifted from bad to worst... Of course, the regular finance, accounting and treasury stuff does not seem to be enough... and as an accomodation to our auditors, I'm playing travel agent since I have to coordinate with our Chinese colleagues as well...

And despite having numerous meetings with banks... consultations from Jing and treasury... a finance info memo to rush.... the largest part of my headache is the booking for our SGV auditors... 1) It's peak season now that holy week is fast approaching... 2) they were already late in filing their visa... 3) Their requested route is 3x more expensive than the regular route... (tsk tsk... that didn't bode well with treasury department...) 4) I'm also running out of time in finishing my to dos before leaving for Taipei this Friday...

Lesson learned... It's not always good to be nice... I could have just focused on my to dos and let them do the coordination... maybe next time I will... so tomorrow, I'm just gonna send their bookings to our China colleagues and that's all I can do for them tomorrow... No more, no less... The rest, I have to finish all my to dos...

On the good side of the day, I did have a nice dinner with FAA and Rommel at Gerry's Grill... Wow Crispy Pata (Mel's fave...) I think that should be the final piece of my birthday treat... and then time to face my hectic life... but the sun is set to shine and the travel and escapades are set to begin... The good life is coming soon.... =>

Sheer Display of Arrogance

If I had a choice I won't be blogging much yet as to relive my birthday blogs but apparently just had something that pissed me off big time and I think I did have frost bite from the arrogance displayed by one of the supporting service line from our auditors...

It's a hectic day with the morning spent with series of meetings between 2 banks... I'm packed with meetings since last week 'til I go to Taipei this Friday... Had a great lunch at Shanghai Bistro with Jing and Marose... and as soon as I went back I wanted to rush the 10 year forecast to be able to send the infomemo to the investor before he left the country... then came a request for a meeting from our audit team since their FSRM service line would want to meet us, the client...

And then came the arrogance... It's not really an issue on what the senior was discussing but it was the approach in which he laid out what he is discussing... He didn't even sound convincing but he tried to force his point which 100% never works with me... I don't even think there was any item to discuss though it seems that he was too competitive and doesn't listen to any other points raised by the me and our auditors... Well, then if he didn't want to listen he should just have recorded what he has to say and let us just hear him on a recorder... Maybe the player would have more charisma than him... and the ultimate insult, after the meeting he just turned his back and left...

For the years I've been with audit, I never showed any tinge of arrogance since I know this is a service activity... unless all the changes in the standard have revised that deifinition as well... I've never really turned my back on my audit roots... In fact I was almost always at odds with treasury on delays in collection of our auditors and have made it a point to make their life easier... but for pissing me of on an impromptu meeting when I have so much to do... I am now having second thoughts...

Modesty aside, I've worked with more senior and experienced directors and partners on audit and yes even FSRM related matters and I can't remember a time I was treated this way... Yeah, the item he was discussing was simply a valuation procedure of receivables... hey I forgot I did more complex valuations than this as an auditor and as a client...

I don't wish to flaunt my position or my exposure, except maybe to headhunters, but for people like this, it's real tempting to do such a thing... Anyway, it doesn't really matter what I know but it's more of who I am... and I am not an know-it-all individual who force his ideas on people... There's always ways to package your ideas in a more appealing presentation and the appeal is derived from listening not just forcing your ideas...

I don't usually get pissed off since I've been through tougher situations and not specially at people since I believe that no matter how annoying people can get, there is still a good in them... but for this once I'm definitely pissed off at someone and not for something... and it's not even a nerve-wracking problem but just a wrong approach by a self important nobody... =<

My Birthday with the FAA Babies

March 9... in another version of my birthday celebration... celebrated my birthday with my fellow FAA Baby in SGV (Anna, Ruth, Cath, Sharon with Yohannce and Carol with Jason) at Cafe Breton in Mall of Asia, 2pm onwards... then there's still those who sent text greetings... lots of thanks...

My birthday started late with me having to wake up late after a very long and fun birthday salubong with AGSB friends the day before... I did have a good sleep with me accidentally switching my mobile on silent so by the time I woke up I already had accumulated so much greetings... so that means I would have more energy to spend with my SGV friends...

Picked Anna and Ruth at GB3 on my way to MOA... then came Cathy... Carol, Jason, Sharon and Yohannce... Getting together FAA Babies in a single place is quire a chore as we're all have made our stride on our respective careers after SGV... I really appreciate spending time with you today...

Nice time to chit chat and plan some possible outings this summer time... and the food and ambience at Cafe Breton was great... and time just flew by so fast... and on our way back... we noticed that so much has changed in MOA already but I guess we can check on the new attraction at a future time... as we're now on our way home and I have to catch up for the mass near home...

Anyway, I know it's already overused but thanks for all those who remembered... =>

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My Good Earth Birthday Salubong Year 2

For the second straight year, I've welcomed my birthday in Good Earth Rockwell with Ateneo Friends... Main reason... AGSB Friends come in pack (Steve, Blue, Eunice, Stephen, Ronan, Jan, Cig, Grace, Poch, Gina, Anton, Rocky, Bogz, Paulo, Jay, Owen and Lindsay) and since we've all been busy, a nice dinner chit chat is just what the doctor ordered for the occasion...

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Party started at 9... it's a nice feeling seeing friends having such a wonderful time and such wonderful time meant we have to move the Nommu visit a little bit longer... (Sorry Mascy for the delay.... and the confusion on the different venue...)... a little bit longer meant a few of us reaching Nommu in QC at past 2 am... Jay, Rocky, Anton and me met up with Mascy in Nommu for more food and drinks... and I was home past 3 am...

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It was a nice fun night really (I missed saying that for a while) and from the deepest corner of my heart, I wish to thank those who came on my birthday salubong and those who sent their messages for my birthday... I really had a great time!!! =>

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Finally Ready to Party

In just a few hours, it'll be my birthday... Happy Birthday to me!!! Though I've set the celebration weeks back, it is only late this afternoon that I am starting to get excited on my special day...

What went in the way was a phalanx of things to be done and a major presentation this afternoon... It's been a near breaking point at work... Maybe I'm just taking in too much load for my own good... but I'm still surviving... Even setting up the parties that come with my birthday has been so stressfull... Funny how the venue of my party went from good earth to nommu until finally settling for both... Even having fun is generating some level of strain...

Now, I'm finally putting everything aside for the next few hours and tomorrow is mine... mine... All mine... I'm now in the center of the universe for the time being... I might as well live the borrowed time before I just become a single speck in the midst of all the eventualities that come and go... Ok have to leave for the mean time and will be seeing Ateneo friends shortly... and then the party is about to start... =>

Will I Survive???

It's less than 3 days before my birthday and even if I'm looking forward to meeting up some friends during the weekend, I'm just too tied up with so many things that I just can't seem to look forward a few days wait...There are three things that I probably don't want to hear in the next few days or else I may go whacko...

1) It's not my job... I guess if your in the higher up on the corporate ladder, I don't think you have this luxury... though it's more annoying hearing this from people who's job title is so obvious to own the responsibility...
2) I'm too busy to do that... I find it insensitive to say that since for one, almost everybody is suppose to be busy at work... that's why it's called work... I do remember that I have one mini shirt years back that says "overworking, my alibi for not working." Nice alibi...
3) I'm underpaid to do the job... There are proper channels and time for concerns like this... One simple equation... make sure you contribute more than you are paid and the rest should follow... if not here then some place else... I do have some people in mind who deserves a decent increase...

A bit cranky lately... stuck with so many must dos (not just to dos)... Annual Report - over hundred pages of hard work to go... Finance - a major presentation this weekend and bank queries to address... Treasury - so much funding requirements... Accounting - Two months to catch up... Audit... several clients in progress... Other matters - several items to push... and then my trusty stress ball is too stressed out as well... So tell me... Will I survive???

Excess Inkblogs: There's always tomorrow thereafter and a few more tomorrow, It'll be a celebration... and going through dire times makes you appreciate life's various celebration... though I do hope Crancky Franckee won't be around to bother me cause no matter how hard things are, I'm definitely welcoming an older, smarter and happier me...

Hello Outside World...

A lot has come and gone since my last blog and the big part of the story was I made it past the board meeting in one piece... It's always tough for me during the board meeting as I am usually grilled about the financials of the Company... and though there may be some misses... I did get my proverbial tap in the back for a job well done... of course, the job well done is to be shared with the whole finance and accounting team... so there goes the reason I'm not visible lately...

Week before board meeting had a glimpse of the outside world with Alex despidida (waah... that's not a good thing for me since it'll be more work for me...)... Metrowalk with AGSB friends (finally met up with Ateneo friends after each being stuck in our busy lives)... Visit to Avelon Zoo (not really worth the P200 entrance fee as you can navigate the place in 20 minutes)...

Then a sigh of relief that we have made our full year announcement in time... talk about meeting tight deadline... first lap over and one final hump to surpass before I start getting back to my vacation mode...

Had a mini vacation mode this weekend with a trip back to Baguio... though I did bring some finance work home... I wasn't able to do anything as our broadband in Baguio was down... so in place was a restful weekend spent with family and friends...

Had a nice time hanging out with SLU friend Min and her daughter Hannah...
Had an old school backyard basketball with my Inaanak Arvin...
Had my first part of my birthday celebration with Family...
Had attended my Tita's own birthday celebration...
Had plenty of rest and slack time with the very cool rainy weather prevalent at that time...

Then it's now back to reality and it's major number crunching time again... but despite the busy schedule... there'll be time and place for saying my hello to the outside world... with several more versions of my birthday this coming weekend... and then the tough Taiwan Annual Report finalization... and I now release the break and time to accelerate again in my work mode... =>