2011 Another Anihaff

Christmas 2011 is over!
It is the time of the year to compile the other half of what made this year awesome!
Life is like a soap opera complete with drama, suspense, thrill, comedy and what not, life imitating art of art imitating life?

July 2011.
Finally was able to met our manager from Atlanta, Tom Deaton. Being an individual contributor and being the manager I always CC'd him in emails. As customary to this event pictures and food!

X-PTPH mates dinner.
Even though I only spent there for almost a year, I made friends and as a group we like to eat and videoke!

The Controversial Team Building.
For a multinational company, I think NCR wins as the most "tipid" when it comes to promoting team bonding management. They really dont give much emphasis on team dynamics and how little rewards can strengthen a team - and this involves budget!

A Sporadic Afternoon Videoke
After some ukay2x shopping, we went to an early checkin at Songhits to kill songs :D

August 2011.
Singapore! I finally reached you. I was not just amazed I fell... Now I am faced with the dilemma of to be with or to stay...The reason I went to SG in a short notice is the wedding of my best-friend Juvy! Thanks for the accommodation and everything!

Arnel's Birthday
Thank you bai for inviting me :D

Palawan.
This year marks our 2nd annual trip with my Ideyatech ex-officemates. Palawan is so marvelous both in nature and food that the days we spent there feels short.

September 2011.
Revisited Baguio, it was my 3rd time, with my current officemates in NCR. Had so much fun, also took a sidetrip and look around at Luneta.

Disney's Mickey and Friends!
Got a chance to watch Mickey Mouse and friends at the Waterfront Lahug, all thanks to Ensogo for the discount.

October 2011.

Capitol joined the worldwide event of celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month by flood lighting the capitol Pink.

Sue's wedding, one of my SpEdmates got married! Unfortunately I think I got food poisoning after :'(

My Birthday. Oddly I did not took a picture on my birthday, maybe there was drama. Hehehehe....

Rainforest Cebu with Cousins.
We went to a newly opened nature park in Cebu, Rainforest! There were 2 snakes (a BIG one and a small one).

November 2011.
Birthday of Ate Jade. Met new friends.

December 2011 - The Last Hurray for 2011

NCR Christmas Party - As usual the date is very early at December we are I think the earliest to held a company Christmas Party.

POSI team only outing.
Also customary is for our team to held its special our own cost outing.

CIC Family Day.

This year I got to re-attend the last Family Day of my nephew's Cassy and Clyde since they will be graduating next year.

After the CIC family day we went to SM!

Christening of baby Bogs (son of mama Maia)

Christmas time! Christmas though is silent this year.

Gathering of highschool mates. Though it rained all day and some people cancelled, we pushed through with it and it was an enjoyable night!

HOPING 2012 will be as FULL and EXCITING!

A Little Reunion

It has been 12 yrs since we graduated from highschool. Most of these folks I know for more than 16 yrs (starting from when we were freshies). Even though we ended up with different careers and lead different lives, we somehow kept the friendship and bond as batchmates.

I am always happy to be in attendance on these gatherings because it keeps us updated with each other's lives, even though there is facebook, twitter and the likes, it is still different when you talk with them in person. These people collectively is a part of my life and it may not be obvious and we may not be very close but seeing them makes me feel I belong.

Torrential rains almost made this meetup cancelled but thankfully it pushed through and even though attendance was very limited it still is memorable and we got to know each other very well.

Countdown 'til Christmas

This year I got to have my first week-long Christmas holiday vacation as our company mandates it to file for VL. Thankfully I have the credits and will be work-free at least for one week!

Christmas countdown...

December 25, 2011 (Sunday)
- at the strike of 12 fireworks started. As customary in our family we went outdoors and watched the fireworks around us. There isn't many this year, we are hoping that by New Year we will see much more.
- Aunt Eyen shared her actions on the fire at Gaisano Capitol South which sadly burnt her Ampao from her boss. Hopefully it will be repaid.
- ate fruit salad before heading back to sleep and ow, upload the pictures.

  

 

December 24, 2011 (Saturday)
- attended my 3rd Misa de Gallo
- again movie marathon day long and started to write this blog.
- one of my inaanaks (son of Cathy) claimed his gift
- a super healthy dinner: Crispy Pata
- videoke2x while waiting for midnight

December 23, 2011 (Friday)
- attended my 2nd Misa de Gallo.
- nothing much happened this day as I only watched movies all day. Alternating with sleep and eat.

December 22, 2011 (Thursday)
- The last day of work! I still have issues to investigate. Thankfully I was able to resolve it and our QA endorsed an external release to customer. I really hope that no bugs will be discovered until at least after the new year.
- After working half-day, yes I used 4 hrs of my remaining personal leave credits I went straight to the department store and bough toys for my "inaanaks". They are just cheap ones under 200 pesos a piece. As a child they would surely be happy to have something for Christmas.

Pasko sa Piniriso

Christmas! Honestly not felt it for sometime. Sadly, count this year as one of them. I can still remember the Christmases past where I would wish it to be everyday! The lights, the decorations, the food, the toys, the joy! The world back then was colorful and simple in my eyes.

I don't know when exactly I lost the feeling. I just realized one holiday that it was gone. The reason perhaps? Maybe I've grown up as most people do. Maybe I lost the feeling because the spirit of Christmas  which is to love and show love and share love I did not do, or limited myself in doing. Yes Im guilty of that being an unloving creature. I certainly am not in a state of love as most people recognize love is. I am not void of love though, Im just not full of it.

As I have known myself, I need to be around people that shares the positive vibes of Christmas. It might be a temporary fix but like a drug or alcohol do it makes my heart feels better if only for a limited time - at least I can feel Christmas.

What do I need? Who do I need? I can't answer because I'm confused as to what I really want in this life. It's not a crisis but a serious cancer that one day will eat my whole being if left untreated. Im racing with time as to my boundaries on this family, what can I do and what I shouldn't do. What is acceptable and what is not. What is being a brother and being truthful even if it hurts someone you love.

I hate dramatics at church lately. They oversimplified forgiveness. An example that Im sick of hearing is this story. A child was "molested" by someone close to him/her.  Years passed and that someone who molested a child got very sick. The molester had become naturally fragile and old. The molester asked for that child for forgiveness. The child forgave the molester. Can you see what's wrong in this story? I do! It's sickening and maybe this is what is in the minds of the "religious" that EVERYTHING can be forgiven. It doesnt really matter how small or big your sin was/were. At the end everyone is mandated to forgive because Jesus was sacrificed by God for our sins. It is a gross oversimplification that I think is the root of all these twisted logic about forgiveness.

I do not know what is the right timing to forgive but I know when is it that I have forgiven someone for something that they have done wrong against me. And it is a wonderful feeling, it really is like a thorn is plucked from your body, it hurts but time heals it and when you touch it again, it hurts no more.

So this is Christmas, how I wish I will be much happier this time of the year.

Let's Get Back to December

We have finally reached the last month of the year! Customary to this season is for companies to hold a Christmas party for their employees, and ours was just held last Sunday Dec 4. This is my 2nd Christmas party at the same company for a long time now and everything went nice and I really enjoyed the event.

I went to the venue very early at around 4pm, the organizers announced that registration starts at 5:30pm, but there are a number of people lining up when I arrived. So I decided to eat snacks first at Starbucks within the venue in Oakridge.

It took almost 30 mins from when I started to queue until I was finally registered. The venue is big and  with nicely decorated tables and the tent-like ceiling decor makes it feel like you are in a beach resort. A slight problem is with the lights, since they always project the blue tint which does not looks good on pictures.

The food was nice. Although I prefer last year's way, where they put the food per table and you don't have to line up to get food. Anyways, I ate until my stomach was full and satisfied with 4 glasses of iced tea :)

Now we go to the groups presentation. NCR employees really goes a long way preparing for this competition - unlike any companies I've been and maybe it is because the cash prizes given that ranges from 7k to 10k cash, is enough motivation.

"Too much flesh" - the phrase that can summarize the entire event is very apt. The employees at NCR are very talented and entertaining - it was a fun filled night of food, cammaraderie and entertainment.

Though our team did not place, they gave joy to the crowd nonetheless.

2012's theme will be End of the World.

Now get back to work.

The Last Stretch of November

This is the last week of November and we are quickly moving towards the end of 2011. 2011, the year I got my groove (programming kind) back. This is not yet my end-of-year blog, I still got a month for that.

Our company's Christmas party will be held at Oakridge hotel, and it is Vegas themed. It will be next Sunday, yup December 4. I need to buy at least a polo shirt for the occasion as a quick inventory of my shirts all deemed them not suitable for party wear.

I also need to cut short (or go skinhead) but maybe just a super short cut because Im not confident carrying my head without a little bit of hair.

Anyways, December is just around the corner, Im excited for this party and whether I got a chance at winning the 2 million pesos.

Ten Years Matters

Last night was a revelation. I think in my drunken state I get to act moves that the typically sober me won't ever do. Thankfully, Im not (yet) on the sexually maniac mode, just liberal with flirtations. It also helps that the group Im with is not that kind of people, and I was not brought up with weak morals that brittles at the slightest provocation.

Im not in a relationship and it has been a long time since I've been in one. When I see couples, especially those on their early twenties, Im jaded and thinks that they will not last. Im not going to hide it but Im saying goodbye to twenties next year so Im still allowed "technically" to act young and stupid.

I'm not a fan of alcohol, but through the years I learned to handle it and I guess Im a success story (so far). Whenever Im drunk, I can still access my reasoning (albeit in a limited capacity) and it never occured to me yet to have blacked out totally and do super stupid things with only my primal instincts in control.

To be quick and precise.
I got drunk -> flirted with someone who have a bf, and someone very young -> being warm about it.

Flirting as described here is super let us say PG 13 but I think it is not how severe it was but the fact that you did something which may have a different effect if other factors may have been different, and the feeling that it was ok, knowing that you would not feel ok if it happened to let us say your younger sister or niece.

In the morning when things are a bit clearer and the world is much brighter, we got to chitchat a little. How young are you? 20. God I felt old and with the pulsating pain of my head, resulting from drinking mixed alcohol, it seemed that time flew away under my feet (in perspective of going out/partying/love life). I felt too old to do these things.

Hahahah, in reality though I feel young (and I still am), just dont throw the age reality because I was born on 1982. 10 yrs, accurately 9 yrs, wow these people were born when I was in grade 3!

The lesson from this encounter is to live life to the fullest because time does not wait for anyone it just goes and will never come back again. Also to take it slow on alcohol consumption because health is wealth and it is better to be on the healthier side of things.

Cathedral Windows

This is not about the dessert. This is about the church. Cebu City Cathedral to be precise.

It's already been more than a year since I started to go to church at the Cathedral. Before, I go to church at Sto. Rosario, 3pm time celebrated by father Butch. I can't remember why I decided to shift churches, or why the Cathedral and why the 9:30am mass. It's one of those things you just don't worry and it gets into your system and starts a cycle.

So every Sunday I go to the Cathedral to hear mass. For more than a year I got to observe people that keep that schedule and sits approximately close to where I sit.

I applaud the whole family that goes to church every Sunday. It really is a wonderful sight when you see the whole family bonding or just being together at church. That's one thing I did not experienced I guess. When I was young, I can remember my grandparents bringing me to church. When I was a teenager I go to church with my siblings and cousins. When I had a relationship, I go with her. Now, I go by myself. I remember a gospel that says when at least two (2) people is gathered for HIS name, HE will listen. I guess I have to find that one person to go to church with.

Then there are those that go to church with dates. The typical "in-a-relationship" status, you have to be with your special someone on this Sunday. Putting God in your relationship is essential, if it's what inside the minds of those BF/GF going to church.

Of course there are those singles who goes to church with themselves (me included). Nothing much to say to them (us) because these people just want to listen and reflect to the words of God.

In the church I see babies, infants and those toddlers running, crying and playing inside the church. It doesn't bother me to see them busy with play, come on they don't even understand their parents yet much more the echoed sermons of the priest. It is refreshing to see children play innocently and just having the time of their life, enjoying and not caring what's around them.

I'm praying that the Lord will continue to bless me and my family and friends and His will be done.

The Health Plan

I've been planning this a long time ago, but things happen - mostly money problems that sidestep this plan. Currently, it seems that I can finally get this plan into action.

So what's this plan Im talking about? I call this my health plan. See, Im not the health buff, or a healthy looking person at least - so my goal is to become active in achieving a healthy lifestyle.

I have a list of what I should (or try to) do, and this is not in any particular order.

One is to have a general checkup. I mean from head to foot. I want to know if there is something wrong somewhere in my body. I dont want to get caught off guard.

About 3 months ago, I felt this pointy sharp sensation on my stomach, fortunately after some ultrasound (my very 1st) nothing was found. I even found out that my kidneys are doing ok, a BIG relief since I always thought Im going to die of renal failure because it is so prevalent in our family.

Another on my list is to see the dentist. I know Im not on the healthier side of oral health. It is really a hassle when talking to someone and you know they can smell your breath. I dont even like the smell. Im just afraid to go to the dentist because I know they like recommend to extract 5 teeth and do all those "necessary" procedures on my mouth. Aside from the financial burden, there is also that embarassment factor.

Dermatologist, I know what your thinking - skin care! Though I wont deny I want to have good skin - who doesnt? - my primary purpose for seeing the doctor of skin and hair is to have this "extra" skin growing on my waist checked. It was barely visible and non sensitive before but recently I noticed that it becomes itchy. Another reason is to check my scalp, as I have been losing my follicles fast lately, I just want to know if this is the genes or an infection of sorts.

Lastly, but not the least is I plan to go back to the gym. Vanity aside, I want to have a defined body that looks far from fragile. The reason Im not yet enrolled is because of the cost. I always reason to myself that I can always exercise at home or run, and I can use the cash in eating. However the home exercise plans always ends up me getting asleep and the running is dependent on uncontrollable and erratic weather.

Ahh, another one comes to mind, eating healthy! I mean fruit and vegetables at least one meal per day. But buying a fruit except for banana is a hassle and expensive and green leafy things are very hard to safekeep. Reasons, I know.

So all (or ar least some of) those things I would like to start before this year comes to a close.

Money, where have you gone?

The Blessings

Expectations, is one of the things I left behind because I don't want to be disappointed. In doing so I often set the bar low so that I can claim small victories. This is not bad per se but doing so makes me just ordinary and typical.

I often look at myself with prejudice. I really don't think of me being great at anything. If you heard me 'brag' it's either I'm joking or I'm pushed to saying those things because I need to protect myself or is in a group high praising ourselves for entertainment.

Im not rich. Im not 'that' smart. Im just typical. I work because I have to. I don't have my own company because Im not enterpreneurial. Im not in a committed relationship because even I decided Im not fit to be in one.

Im just being still and stale.

However, God still gives me surprises! And Im not complaining. Thank you God for always guiding me to the right way. Im always asking for your mercy and forgiveness, and the wisdom so that I can give more weight to what really is important. It's uplifting to know that even the unrelegious me, God still blesses me, believes in me.

From the words of Paulo Coelho, "enjoy your success, you deserve it" I'm quite enjoying the moment. Im happy and driven to do the things I like to do. What more can I ask? Still a lot, but Im taking my time and taking that one step at a time.

The Mean Mail

Sometimes I'm mean. And sometimes I like to be mean - shhh, that's a secret.

One sure thing that irks me the most is when someone is being lazy at what they are supposed to and paid to do. What I can assure though is that years of experience has made me think a thousand times before reacting and instead divert my energies to thinking of 'creative' ways to unleash my upset emotions. It's not that I don't make mistakes, I do, but this is supposedly a work environment and we should present ourselves to look united to people outside our organization. It's not you against me - it is us working together to build something worth paying. Consider this a lesson, young person!

It really is not that big deal, and I'm just looking for a bit of spice on this rather plain office environment. I kind of miss the tension. So here's the deal: an email sent telling me that I'm confusing 'you' about the progress of this requirement. Of course it is confusing! It's not like we are learning ABC's. My one cent is you should have at least tried to read it thrice before pressing that 'send' email button.

There are many emails sent, it's part of your job to cut across the clutter and ignore the things that are not essential to you. You're young but it doesn't mean you can just cry foul over lots of emails - which are 'progress' emails.

Now to cut you some slack since you had a hard time reading emails I had this blog for the 'read between the lines' I replied, just in case you got 'confused'.

Me saying: "My apologies for the lots of emails regarding the progress of this RFQ which you find hard to comprehend." 

What I really wanted to say: "Bullshit! read-reread, read! You son-of-a-b*tch!"

Me saying: "As clearly stated in the previous email regarding the status of the machines."

What I really wanted to say: "Do you know how to read? Or are you just challenged, mentally?"

So there goes.

To my officemate(s) who might read this: I'm just tired and sick and not my jolly self tonight. Don't take this too seriously.