The Year of the Franc

On the eve of a new year, there are always two things that one does... One is to look back and the next is looking forward... Looking back, we'd want to see how the passing year was and looking forward we'd like to see what we'd want going into the new year...

Looking back... I've been so blessed this year... An MBA degree with a silver medal award to go with it from Ateneo Graduate School of Business... A new position at work... A new car... A lot of out of the country travel... good friends... great company... and a much better life... 2006 has been definitely a milestone year for me...

Looking forward... lots of pleasant surprises (I just appreciate when people go out of their way to surprise you)... lots of travel (I still want to continue exploring the world)... friendship (Hanging out and keeping in touch with friends is always a must for me)... Love... Success... and a lot of happy moments that would last a lifetime... I hope 2007 will mean a lot more...

Resolutions for the year of the pig... the first of which is not to be one (more gym, less rice, chocolates and sweets)... More time enjoying what life has to offer... and continue doing my fair share in making the world turn in the right direction... we all ought to...

Happy New Year to all!!!

Christmas in Baguio

Spent the Christmas in Baguio... and Christmas was a bit fun this year compared to last year... as there were several more activities in line... had a round of singing that night after the regular gift giving... the fun started when I had to tease those who don't want to sing but eventually was swayed into singing after all those prodding... Also, Yvan of PDA who happens to be my neighbor in Baguio also dropped by...

Finally went out early this evening to take a peak at the various Christmas decors in Baguio... There's the giant Christmas tree at the circle near the post office... There are the lighted flower decors across the main streets of Baguio... There's the famous Baguio Cathedral with a lighted tree backdrop... There's another tree on the foot of session road... Of course, you get an excellent peak of the whole City at the various view decks in SM...

I've always seen Baguio as having vibrant structures compared to other cities... Its first flyover is designed with a Pine inspired theme... It has well-lighted overpass, which comes in so many letter (I, L, U)... There are the golf courses in John Hay and Country Club... The picturesque views of Mines View, Tam Awan Village and Botanical Garden... and a lot more...

Too bad, the plan to place a facility similar to Snow City was put on hold... It could have been a white Christmas in the city of Pines... Well, there's always next year... My fingers are crossed...

Merry Christmas to all

It's about 14 to 15 degrees here in Baguio... It sure beats the temperature of my air-conditioned unit in Makati... Anyway, just woke up after arriving this morning from a six hour bus ride from Manila early today...

Waking up late and just staying home has been a common way to spend my time in Baguio already... though a slight difference from today is that in a few hours it'll be Christmas...

Of course, I'm not expecting any gifts at all since we have a rule here that once you start working, you also are not entitled to gifts from the older generation anymore... instead it's your turn to give back... (Weird rule huh!)... Hmmm... Christmas is a time for giving anyway... Part of the joy of giving is that you get to realize that deep inside your tight budget, you still can dole out some funds for gifts...

This year is quite different though... before, I could afford to shower myself with gifts... now I have to prioritize the amortization of my car loan... Maybe I should just consider the car as my Christmas gift to myself... yeah... it's also my birthday gift... for the next four years... hehe...

Well... Christmas would not be the same without all the greetings... So, I just want to greet everyone, "a Blessed and Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year... I hope that your holidays maybe filled with love, joy and peace for all of you and your loved ones... Have fun!!!"

Christmas in Makati

In my previous Inkblogs, I took some snapshot of Christmas in Hong Kong... I just deemed it fit that I also take a peek at Christmas in Makati City... So armed with a camera... I went around Ayala Ave. and took some pics (hmm... come to think of it, I haven't been to Ayala Ave. at night lately since I usually take Buendia on my way home)...

Christmas in Makati always seemed like a light show with each building and street corner having bright lights and Christmas decor... The decorations this year even at malls pale in comparison to previous years... Probably the tough times has dampened the spirit a bit but even still... Christmas has strong bright glow in Makati... a brighter glow provided by a nation who'd always choose to have a "Merry Christmas..."

The celebrations and the decors may not be as vibrant as before… Gifts may not be as bountiful as before…. Parties may not be as extravagant as before… but I guess as long as we take a moment of our time and remember the joyous things associated with Christmas – Christ birth, the spirit of giving, the carols, the time and the celebration shared with family and friends… then Christmas is here to stay…

Anyway, I will be spending Christmas in my hometown in Baguio… the cool weather… the family and friends… I can’t wait to be home and celebrate the peak of the yuletide season…

Balik Bowling

Jay Anne, Donald, Franc and Mads (Sayang Wala si She and Mark)

Had bowling again after quite some time not playing last Thursday at Rockwell... It had to take a balikbayan (Jay Anne-now based in NY) to bring us back to the bowling lanes... So it's our turn to go balik-bowling also...

Anyway, started with a dinner at Banana Leaf in Rockwell (c/o Jay Anne after a long pleading that she should be the one to treat us)... hehe... Present were Mads, Donald, Che, Ivy and FAA... Too bad She (Cayman) and Mark (London) weren't around... I miss beating She at bowling... hehe...

Bowling didn't go well... Our scores were low compared to our previous games... probably a case of adjusting to the game again after a long layoff... Anyway, I see another round of bowling as my friends now based in Singapore would be coming back for Christmas... Hope to do better the next time...

Had a coffee at Starbucks with Jay Anne, Mads and Donald afterwards before calling it a night...

Makati Skyline

Had the Christmas party of Medtecs at the roof deck of City Garden Hotel at Makati Avenue last Friday from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm so I was able to catch a glimpse of Makati Skyline as a late afternoon view and an early evening view...

• Late afternoon... quite dark already owing to the earlier nights that accompanies the Yuletide season in the Philippines... the sun on its way to its descent still shows a slight radiance behind the buildings... Traffic still not that much at this hour...

• Early Evening... the street lights coupled by the lights coming out from the car shows a trail of lights surrounding the buildings... the darkness of the night slowly crossing over but still manages to show a blue to dark blue colored sky... Traffic is a bit worse at this hour but seeing a lot of lights coming from this altitude makes such a good sight...

You can also take a glimpse of the other side of Makati Ave... where you can also see Mandaluyong and Ortigas Area... Incidentally, there was a fireworks display that night at Ortigas which can be seen at the rooftop...

Yeah... and about the party... The view was great... hehe...

Dolphins and Sea Lions are from Show Business

Watched the "Wonderful World of Dolphins and Sea Lions" with Sharon and Family (Sioty and Yohannce), Ruth and Cathy at the Mall of Asia last Saturday... My first time to watch dolphins and sea lions perform in the Philippines... though I've watched the dolphin and sea lions show in Ocean Park in Hong Kong already... The experience watching here and there is quite different...

For one, you can watch with more friends since it's more accessible... the host was able to put on a very interactive show... the crowd was as much a part of the show as the dolphins and sea lions... Since, this was a smaller show; you can have a closer interaction with the performers... the dolphins and sea lions... Of course, the show half as fun without seeing the children having a good time... I bet Yohannce had a great time too...

Dolphins and sea lions are really performers in their own right... they're smart... agile... skilled... and playful creatures... They love people and people love them... Anyway, learned the trick in training them back at Whiskers Show in Ocean Park... You have to feed them fish for every trick they do... and they develop close bond with their trainers...

Wherever the location, dolphins and sea lions have tremendous showmanship... an entertainer to the last swim... and that I guess is a very long long swim...