Miracles for those who believe…

"Crazy" is an understatement to describe the past few weeks. I have no words for it. Just when maybe most of the companies are slowing down to get a feel of the season, certainly, not in our company.

But I am glad it's all behind me now… i don't even want to recall what I've been through.

Hmmm… but on the other hand, maybe i should look back and never forget that episode. I should stand tall and humble December as i proudly tell her "Hey, the challenges you hurled at me were nothing. I was able to deliver!"…

The month that is about to end really tested my spirit. In the end, I can say proudly i did well  but hell, i don't wanna go through that again. F***k… NEVER AGAIN!

I won't elaborate but let me just state that in life, lessons learned the hard way are the most valued and highly treasured…

I can't curse December… never will I curse it. How can I?  it's the birthday month of JESUS! He is also the reason why I was able to deliver.

The last task was almost impossible. Only a miracle could save the day. What did I do to make it happen? I PRAYED… and God took care of the rest. All the forces of the universe seemed to have conspired to make it happen.

I am grateful… I have finally exhaled… and i have three more days to savor the Christmas season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

(note: image lifted from  www.thebeatmuseumonwheels.com/ourblog/bixby.htm)

Alone again (naturally)…

A week after i posted my "waiting to exhale" entry, i am slowly getting back into my groove…

Still lots of work to be done (and there's only just four working days left before the long break) but somehow, the situation has been manageable. That's because i've accepted the fact that some tasks simply just can't be done and it's not totally my fault. When i accepted it's the reality, that's when i felt better and i was slowly exhaling…

And so, over the past few days, i had my much-delayed haircut (barber's cut this time… super iksi!), spent time at the spa, and visited my derma to finally had that "magic potion" (i call it that coz until now, i don't know what's being injected on my acne that makes it disappear in overnight!). I also made an effort to have a regular work out schedule at the gym.

I also did what i haven't done for a long, long time– i.e. watch a movie alone. Yeah, i love doing some stuff on my own but i dreaded the thought of eating at a restaurant, malling and watching movies… alone. 

For me, these activities are meant to be enjoyed with friends. Or special someone if you have one. Ang feeling ko, napaka-pathetic ko naman if do this alone.

On that particular Saturday, all of my friends had schedules of their own and my urge to watch Elizabeth I was a spur of the moment. Knowing that it's just the only free time i have, much to my horror, i was forced to watch it alone. I did the usual routine that a moviegoer does– queued for the ticket, bought some snacks at Burger King, and finally on to the movie house.

For a few minutes, I felt sorry for myself. But when I started to concentrate on the film ( and ignored that insistent voice telling me "you're pathetic, pathetic, pathetic…" ), I truly enjoyed Cate Blanchett's magnificent portrayal as the iconic queen. I totally forgot that i was watching alone!

Having plenty of time left, i then did another thing that day that i haven't done for years– explored Glorietta and people watch by myself!

I am proud of what i accomplished that day. More than the beautiful movie and my other activities, I was actually happy with another lesson learned– that it's okay to be alone. It's not bad, after all. It's all in my mind.

I was alone (naturally), but not necessarily lonely .

(image on this blog was lifted from www.camargue-nature.co.uk)

Waiting to Exhale…

 Just when almost everyone i know are in a holiday mood already, it hasn't really dawned on me that it's gonna be Christmas Day in two weeks time. I'm in no holiday mood. While most of my friends are busy visiting weekend tiangges and malls for Christmas shopping, i can only sigh with envy. I simply have no time!

The past months have been overwhelming (actually it started last October). I've been out of Manila the past two weeks for out-of-town company events and while I was away, paper works, meanwhile, were filing up on my desks. Also lots of things in my office "To Do" lists! On top of that, the publication that I am overseeing is already delayed. Releasing it before Christmas break is just a dream (this gives me a lot of stress!).

Personal stuff has also taken a back seat. I can't believe i haven't gone to the salon since September!– this means I haven't had a hair cut, hair color, manicure and pedicure, etc. I haven't visited my dermatologist either since October after my appointment was cancelled on October 18 due to that Glorietta explosion (damn!). No wonder, i often have my acne break outs, especially when i am under pressure.

My work out at the gym has also been irregular while my eating binges have become a natural phenomenon, meaning, i am slowly (i'd like to think it that way) gaining weight that I avoid the weighing scale nowadays *sighs*

I feel ugly. I don't feel like fixing myself. And for this, I am pissed. Shocks!!!!

This is bad… I know, i have to get my groove back! (Oh God, help me pls!)

I'm waiting to exhale…

A Scoop of Durian Ice Cream started it all!

Davao City– I am once again in one of my favorite cities in the Philippines. The land of DURIAN ICE CREAM…

I've been frequenting the place since the early 90s. In fact, during the time of President Ramos, I was here almost six times a year or more (I remember our provincial trips all over Mindanao then was almost monthly because he wanted to promote the region as an investment area. In fact, it was during his tenure were the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area was created).

I was asked once what place in the Philippines I am willing to relocate or work and i said i wouldn't mind to be assigned in Baguio and Davao. I don't know but I have this special affection for this place. Not all the places i've been to in the Philippines have elicited this kind of affinity and level of comfort. (I've been to Batanes up north down to Tawi-Tawi down south and this is one thing I am grateful to FVR because as his close-in reporter then, I got to visit far-flung places in the country during his six-year term.)

Unfortunately, when I moved to the corporate world in 2001, my travels to this place have lessened. Therefore, each visit to this city is something that i look forward to. I am here for the Philippine Art Awards-Mindanao awarding ceremonies later and despite the huge tasks that we do here to ensure the event's success this afternoon, it seems it isn't work at all. I am having FUN here!

It's always nice to see old friends from way, way back. Though we seldom see each other, somehow the bond that was strengthened by time is as strong as ever,and getting stronger   in fact after my every visit. Last night, I was with Philippine Star Mindanao bureau chief Edith Regalado. This lady is such a charm. I call her "Princess of Davao." Through her, I got acquainted with members of the Davao-based media and one of them is Dennis Jay Santos of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, who was also with us last night.

It felt good to see the two of them. It feels even better to look back and reminisce of how one beautiful friendship blossomed through the years. We were so engaged with out chit-chat that lasted til 1.30 am today (Bitin!).

Dennis asked how Edith and I became friends and we both exclaimed (ala duet) "Durian Ice Cream!" and we laughed. Yes, a scoop of Durian ice cream started our 15-year friendship. I vividly recall, I was busy faxing a story to Manila back in 1992 at the old PIA office and I was so harassed when suddenly a jolly lady approached me with a broad smile holding a scoop of ice cream in a cone and said "o, mag-ice cream ka muna. durian yan, especialty ng davao."

I never ate durian fruit in my whole life  (until now) and i don't like its smell but instead of saying no to her, i gladly accepted the ice cream and i never had any regrets. From then on, it became one of my favorite flavors. I never miss eating durian ice cream whenever i go to Davao. In fact, I just had one a while ago hehe.

So when I'm back in Manila and think of Durian ice cream, i will not only relive the experience of savoring its exotic taste (Sadly, durian ice cream is not available in Manila), i will remember a great friendship. Nestle Durian ice cream started it all….