Reviewing the year at this point is such a cliché but this is a valuable tool in keeping track of the good and bad points I went through personally. I should mention, however, that I have such a bad memory so the highlights of 2009 I write about here stood out in my mind.
First, the bad parts... I experienced heart break over a guy I was not committed to. The upside here was I felt human with emotions.
On to the good parts... I had my first visa, to enter the United Kingdom, no less! My flight was on April 2 and my visa was released on March 30. All people who knew I would be traveling were so glad as it was my only my third time to go out of the country. I spent 16 glorious days in that part of the world. The rejuvenation I experienced in that vacation lasted for many months. I wasn’t as burned out months after with no break in the office.
Official travels followed. I went to GenSan, Iloilo, and even stayed at the Taal Vista Lodge. I became a videographer and photographer, two job descriptions I never dreamed of doing. We left the office on Thursdays, stayed in the provinces until Saturdays, rushed desk jobs on Mondays, and prepared to leave the office again on Wednesdays. The highlights here are the hospitality of the receiving branch, the issues of the members and how we responded to them, and the food. I even met a lady who is now a good friend. The funny thing is, she is also from the head office. (Towards the end of the year, I went to Davao on vacation with old friends).
The Monday that followed that, our unit was assigned to lead the office flag ceremony. I led the singing of the national anthem and the office hymn.
Then, I was assigned to join the task force in assisting loan applicants. As I was primarily assigned to direct the people traffic which reached more than 5,000 applicants at one time, I acted as the host. I got to work with people from other departments.
After 2 weeks, I joined the chorale competition practice for the Christmas party. It was another activity with other departments. I gained another good friend.
Christmas time surprised me! I was surprised with the people who gave me gifts. I didn't know I mad that much impression on them. I felt so overwhelmed by their special gifts.
Snippets this year, I was assigned to read in the office masses regularly, reconnected with a friend I last saw in grade school, regularly went on ladies’ days out with an old friend, and connected with people from different parts of the world through social networking games.
2009 was a great year for me. I’m excited about what 2010 will bring!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
What I have been busy with lately
Sept 18-21: vacation in Davao
October 1 - November 4 (weekdays): hosting the office Ondoy emergency loan program, assisting applicants
This deserves a really long entry but for now, here are the highlights:
October 1: more than 7,000 applications
October 2: more than 5,000 applications
In the third week of October, averaging more than 2,000 applications every day.
In the fourth week, averaging more than 1,000 applications every day.
November: passed the audition for the Christmas chorale group presentation; rehearsals
October 1 - November 4 (weekdays): hosting the office Ondoy emergency loan program, assisting applicants
This deserves a really long entry but for now, here are the highlights:
October 1: more than 7,000 applications
October 2: more than 5,000 applications
In the third week of October, averaging more than 2,000 applications every day.
In the fourth week, averaging more than 1,000 applications every day.
November: passed the audition for the Christmas chorale group presentation; rehearsals
Monday, August 31, 2009
My addiction with Facebook games
Let me start by saying that our office Internet subscription has been cut off for around a year now. During the time we had access to the Internet, there were lots of Web sites blocked by our administrator. This includes all chat sites, blogs, networking sites such as Friendster and Facebook. That was until they cut off our Internet completely.
That being the case, I checked my emails when I got home. As I sometimes go home late, the most I could do when I go online was simply check my email. In my emails, I receive a number of invites, and later on, gifts for Facebook games. At the start, I simply ignored them until the office started talking about developing games for the office. As the most popular games nowadays are Facebook games, they wanted to develop a game exactly like that.
I wanted to know what they were talking about in the office so I decided to pay attention to my Facebook games invites. I had the most gifts for Farm Town. I receive trees such as lemons, apples, oranges, pears, bananas, plums, peaches, cherries, mangoes, coconuts, and palms, from friends, for free. A number of them gave me flower plants too, i.e., forget-me-nots, zinnias, and daffodils. And what is a farm without animals! I have chickens, cows, dogs, horses, peacocks, and rabbits. I only spend money on seeds such as grapes, tomatoes, rice, corn, and potatoes, when I replant after I harvest the crops.
The same is true for my Farmville. I only spend on replanting the lots with seeds. The trees and animals I accept as gifts are more than enough for my small land. It is worth mentioning that upon logging on to these 2 games, I am given the chance to give trees and animals as gifts to my friends. This explains why I have an endless supply of trees and animals from friends. In the game, I can likewise help my friends in their farms by raking the leaves.
As I waited for my crops and trees to grow, and my pets to get bigger, I explored other games. This led me to play Barn Buddy. This is in no way similar to the 2 previously mentioned games. In this game, my friends cannot give me plants and I can steal from my friends’ lots and vice versa! The viciousness does not end there as I can destroy their plants with bugs and weeds! (I haven’t done this yet! I even water their plants when the land dries up and kill the bugs and weeds that pester their plants).
Waiting for my plants in these 3 games to grow can be quite challenging. Needless to say, I explored more games. I found Sorority Life. The title is apt for the game. I build my sorority by having sisters. The more sisters I have, the more events I can organize. Some events are cute and fun. There are events where I need to find things in a very messy drawing within a time limit. At other events, there are games with the tic-tac-toe principle. This is likewise time-pressured. In other events, the rewards are given just by clicking the links.
To organize events, I need energy. There is an energy meter which shows what events I can organize. In addition to energy, I also have confidence, stamina and money. “Fight” is a major link in this game. “Fighting” means going on a showdown with ladies outside of my sorority matching corresponding points for accessories, outfits, and rides. In order to fight, I need confidence. When my confidence meter is almost empty, I need to go to the spa which charges money from my bank account. When my confidence level drops to zero, I become “terminally depressed”. The stamina meter shows how many ladies I can “fight”. The loser in these fights loses influence and money. I earn money by having a job. I pay for “training” to get accepted to jobs. I also need a job to buy accessories, outfits, and rides.
I can honestly say that I am hooked to this game! As I need more sisters in my sorority, I found a Web site looking for sisters! They give me gifts necessary in the game, just like in Farm Town and FarmVille. I do not know more than half of my Facebook friends from all over the world, I dare say, as I just added them to make my sorority bigger in number, hence stronger!
This very feminine game has its masculine counterpart, Mafia Wars. I have jobs such as collecting protection money, roughing up dealers, taking out rogue cops, performing hits, bank heists, among others. I have a hideout, rent a house, own an Italian restaurant and an apartment complex. I even pay protection money for these properties.
At the onset of my being hooked to these games, I didn’t mind the time I spent in front of the computer. As I realized that I haven’t reopened the novel I started reading a month ago, I disciplined myself to set an hour each night to read. I likewise disciplined myself to set my sleeping time to no avail! I couldn’t sleep earlier than midnight because I needed to protect my earnings in the games that I play.
These games are not bad in themselves. Sorority Life and Mafia Wars are strategy games. Designing FarmVille and Farm Town stirs creativity. The time I spend in front of the computer is what bothers me. I used to enjoy other things. I am slowly getting back on track and cutting down on time online. It wouldn’t be a bad thing if the most I do is read my emails and check online news. Friendster and Facebook are great networking sites. It even gave me the chance to expand my network beyond my friends and connect with people of all races with a common interest, playing network games on Facebook.Sunday, August 23, 2009
The week that passed and beyond
My boss has been gearing up for a big presentation to THE boss and we, the lowly people, made sure we prepared all the necessities well, making it seem we just finished goind our job. This has been our process for more than a week now.
Our office is composed of 3 departments that each have reports. Our assignment was to present our department's report, and collate those of the 2 others. Sounds easy, right? Be the judge.
One department submitted right at the last minute of the first deadline. It would have been ok as they literally beat the deadline. The only thing is, their report was still incomplete. We would have gladly filled in the blanks but it was just too technical for us. The other department finished a day ahead yet they couldn't give their report to us because their head hasn't checked their output at that time.
I looked forward to thursday night and the 3-day weekend (Aug. 21 is Ninoy Aquino Day). Me and my boss finished out part and as I was about to leave the office a little after 6:00 pm, one officemate told me that they cannot give their report to me before I leave the office, another one told me that major changes were made to their report.
I still left the office as scheduled and went to have my warts removed! I haven't taken a bath since Thursday night as I'm waiting for the marks to heal. It's a good thing, the healing cream I bought is really effective. Needless to say, I haven't left the house since then.
Can't wait for next Friday when I will watch a concert with a good friend.
Our office is composed of 3 departments that each have reports. Our assignment was to present our department's report, and collate those of the 2 others. Sounds easy, right? Be the judge.
One department submitted right at the last minute of the first deadline. It would have been ok as they literally beat the deadline. The only thing is, their report was still incomplete. We would have gladly filled in the blanks but it was just too technical for us. The other department finished a day ahead yet they couldn't give their report to us because their head hasn't checked their output at that time.
I looked forward to thursday night and the 3-day weekend (Aug. 21 is Ninoy Aquino Day). Me and my boss finished out part and as I was about to leave the office a little after 6:00 pm, one officemate told me that they cannot give their report to me before I leave the office, another one told me that major changes were made to their report.
I still left the office as scheduled and went to have my warts removed! I haven't taken a bath since Thursday night as I'm waiting for the marks to heal. It's a good thing, the healing cream I bought is really effective. Needless to say, I haven't left the house since then.
Can't wait for next Friday when I will watch a concert with a good friend.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Infectious Joy
This Wednesday, I attended the Novena mass at the office. I saw Nelia, and asked that she accompany me while I ate lunch. She told me that she and other ladies in her department were planning to watch AND I LOVE YOU SO after office. I was shy at first but I really wanted to see the movie so said yes anyway.
Eight of us excitedly left the office and decided to eat dinner at the Aristocrat. We made a bet that whoever cried first would foot our dinner bill. We were joking that we'll keep the bill at P1,600 with a P200 per head budget laughing our hearts out. We ordered just 4 softdrinks in can, 2 persons sharing a can. We said we'd cancel orders should we go over the budget. We told the waiter to compute our bill right after he took our orders just to make sure.
Another waiter approached us and asked if we knew the guy who was sitting at the table next to us. The waiter said that guy paid for our P1,800 bill! In all, he paid for his P300-meal, P1,00-take out food, and P300-tip, plus our tab.
No one knows who he is. The ladies at the end of the table next to his were saying that he was smiling at our conversation. We know we looked professionals wearing our uniforms. I was the only one who didn't have the blazer on.
We were at the parking when Nelia couldn't see the parking receipt. While looking for it, we saw the contents of her blazer pockets, lots of tissue ready for the crying moment she never had. We saw the receipt after 5 minutes.
It was a pleasant surprise for all of us.
Eight of us excitedly left the office and decided to eat dinner at the Aristocrat. We made a bet that whoever cried first would foot our dinner bill. We were joking that we'll keep the bill at P1,600 with a P200 per head budget laughing our hearts out. We ordered just 4 softdrinks in can, 2 persons sharing a can. We said we'd cancel orders should we go over the budget. We told the waiter to compute our bill right after he took our orders just to make sure.
Another waiter approached us and asked if we knew the guy who was sitting at the table next to us. The waiter said that guy paid for our P1,800 bill! In all, he paid for his P300-meal, P1,00-take out food, and P300-tip, plus our tab.
No one knows who he is. The ladies at the end of the table next to his were saying that he was smiling at our conversation. We know we looked professionals wearing our uniforms. I was the only one who didn't have the blazer on.
We were at the parking when Nelia couldn't see the parking receipt. While looking for it, we saw the contents of her blazer pockets, lots of tissue ready for the crying moment she never had. We saw the receipt after 5 minutes.
It was a pleasant surprise for all of us.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Truly an exciting office life!
June 25-27 (Th-Sa): I was in Gen. Santos City for the first leg of dialogues with GSIS member agency representatives. It was fun! We literally devoured over sumptuous delicious food prepared by the branch office staff.
July 2-4 (Th-Sa): Iloilo dialogue. I was assigned video coverage. In our second night, around 10 of us bonded the Filipino way over videoke, a couple of bottles of beer, and pizza. More sumptuous delicious food and great company!
July 9-11 (Th-Sa): Batangas dialogue spent in Tagaytay at Taal Vista Lodge! As i documented the event on video, I was given the nickname Video Girl! Cool climate and sumptuous delicious food!
July 13 (Mon): I was tasked to lead the recitation of Ako'y Kawani ng GSIS but ended up leading the national anthem and GSIS hymn as well.
Last I heard, our unit is tasked to be usher/ettes in the launch of our new product!
July 2-4 (Th-Sa): Iloilo dialogue. I was assigned video coverage. In our second night, around 10 of us bonded the Filipino way over videoke, a couple of bottles of beer, and pizza. More sumptuous delicious food and great company!
July 9-11 (Th-Sa): Batangas dialogue spent in Tagaytay at Taal Vista Lodge! As i documented the event on video, I was given the nickname Video Girl! Cool climate and sumptuous delicious food!
July 13 (Mon): I was tasked to lead the recitation of Ako'y Kawani ng GSIS but ended up leading the national anthem and GSIS hymn as well.
Last I heard, our unit is tasked to be usher/ettes in the launch of our new product!
Monday, June 15, 2009
A surprisingly busy weekend
I got home before 7:00 pm last Thursday as my boss gave me a ride home. As it was Independence Day, we had a 3-day weekend.
June 12 passed by as any ordinary weekend when I laze around the house all day...
Almost! I got bored surfing through TV channels when I decided to invite my friend to watch a movie for P15.00 only at SM Manila. This was the second time we did it. Just last week, we watched Ink Heart. This Friday, we saw The Golden Compass. We went home right after seeing the movie.
As soon as I opened my eyes Saturday morning, I checked the time on my cell phone. I received text messages from 2 friends, 1 was from my best friend updating me on what she did all week and how she would spend the weekend. The other one was from a friend I haven't seen in a while inviting me to join other friends just to hang out that night. As I thought of just another boring day waiting for the day to end, I confirmed at once that I would join them.
After sending my replies, I washed my clothes and did some other household chores. It was nearly time to prepare to go out. The thing is, I haven't received confirmation yet if plans would push through or not. We met an hour after our originally scheduled meeting time.
Was I glad I joined them. It was truly a night filled with fun and laughter! We ate at a Japanese restaurant, then took a short ride to a videoke bar where we sang to our hearts' content for 2 hours, then walked in a street free of transportation and people with few lights to the nearest night hang out where we had 1 bottle of beer each while watching a band. We separated at 1:30 am.
I set my alarm for 4:00 am to pick up my mom from the airport. Her plane was due to arrive at 6:00 am. She got out at 6:30 am. She distributed our pasalubongs to those of us at home. I took a short nap, then she decided to go duty-free shopping. Actually, I shopped, she just watched me do it. Then we went home for a short while just to drop off the things that I bought. We proceeded to visit my nieces where Mama gave her pasalubong. I was truly tired when I got home tonight, I went to bed at once.
As luck would have it, I haven't slept a wink all night. That was when I decided to write this entry.
June 12 passed by as any ordinary weekend when I laze around the house all day...
Almost! I got bored surfing through TV channels when I decided to invite my friend to watch a movie for P15.00 only at SM Manila. This was the second time we did it. Just last week, we watched Ink Heart. This Friday, we saw The Golden Compass. We went home right after seeing the movie.
As soon as I opened my eyes Saturday morning, I checked the time on my cell phone. I received text messages from 2 friends, 1 was from my best friend updating me on what she did all week and how she would spend the weekend. The other one was from a friend I haven't seen in a while inviting me to join other friends just to hang out that night. As I thought of just another boring day waiting for the day to end, I confirmed at once that I would join them.
After sending my replies, I washed my clothes and did some other household chores. It was nearly time to prepare to go out. The thing is, I haven't received confirmation yet if plans would push through or not. We met an hour after our originally scheduled meeting time.
Was I glad I joined them. It was truly a night filled with fun and laughter! We ate at a Japanese restaurant, then took a short ride to a videoke bar where we sang to our hearts' content for 2 hours, then walked in a street free of transportation and people with few lights to the nearest night hang out where we had 1 bottle of beer each while watching a band. We separated at 1:30 am.
I set my alarm for 4:00 am to pick up my mom from the airport. Her plane was due to arrive at 6:00 am. She got out at 6:30 am. She distributed our pasalubongs to those of us at home. I took a short nap, then she decided to go duty-free shopping. Actually, I shopped, she just watched me do it. Then we went home for a short while just to drop off the things that I bought. We proceeded to visit my nieces where Mama gave her pasalubong. I was truly tired when I got home tonight, I went to bed at once.
As luck would have it, I haven't slept a wink all night. That was when I decided to write this entry.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Loving and Hurting
I attended the mass yesterday. The homily tackled loving and hurting. The priest explained it well. These are the highlights.
The priest said that a priest defined loving, in Tagalog, pagmaMAHAL as the opposite of pagMURA. He said that when you love, you elevate that person. Its opposite pagMURA is having lower regard for that person. Just like loving God, you elevate Him even higher. However, we cannot elevate God anymore because He is above all things. In His greatness, He meets us midway so we can know Him and love Him more.
Translating this to love among and between humans, when we love a person, we elevate that person, we put him in high regard, minaMAHAL. When we start devaluing that person, one of the expressions could be pagmuMURA, literally cursing. As a result, the devalued person is hurt.
The priest also said that yesterday's Gospel is a contradiction, quoting, "Now, I give you a new commandment: love one another just as I have loved you, you also must love one another." (John 13:34) It is a contradiction because Jesus commanded that we perform something that comes out naturally. For example, adults command a child to eat heartily so that the child will be healthy. In the same way that adults command an obese child to eat less for the same reason, to be healthy. When we were still in school, our parents commanded that we study well. We all know how hard following that commandment could be. So why should we be commanded to love when we do it automatically?
Jesus commands that we love one another because though it is a MUST, it is hard to do, just like proper eating and studying well. When we exert that much effort in loving, we are hurt when we people do not respond well to our actions, hence the extra effort to follow His commandment.
The priest said that a priest defined loving, in Tagalog, pagmaMAHAL as the opposite of pagMURA. He said that when you love, you elevate that person. Its opposite pagMURA is having lower regard for that person. Just like loving God, you elevate Him even higher. However, we cannot elevate God anymore because He is above all things. In His greatness, He meets us midway so we can know Him and love Him more.
Translating this to love among and between humans, when we love a person, we elevate that person, we put him in high regard, minaMAHAL. When we start devaluing that person, one of the expressions could be pagmuMURA, literally cursing. As a result, the devalued person is hurt.
The priest also said that yesterday's Gospel is a contradiction, quoting, "Now, I give you a new commandment: love one another just as I have loved you, you also must love one another." (John 13:34) It is a contradiction because Jesus commanded that we perform something that comes out naturally. For example, adults command a child to eat heartily so that the child will be healthy. In the same way that adults command an obese child to eat less for the same reason, to be healthy. When we were still in school, our parents commanded that we study well. We all know how hard following that commandment could be. So why should we be commanded to love when we do it automatically?
Jesus commands that we love one another because though it is a MUST, it is hard to do, just like proper eating and studying well. When we exert that much effort in loving, we are hurt when we people do not respond well to our actions, hence the extra effort to follow His commandment.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
traveling in England
I spent 16 happy days in England on vacation!
I'm still uploading my pictures in http://preciousanne.multiply.com/photos/album/4/Tour_of_England
Hopefully, I'll create an entry on the highlights of my vacation sometime soon.
I'm still uploading my pictures in http://preciousanne.multiply.com/photos/album/4/Tour_of_England
Hopefully, I'll create an entry on the highlights of my vacation sometime soon.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
2008 Christmas break
I truly love the Christmas season because almost everyone is good to everybody else. Everyone loves to share their blessings simply because it's Christmas. Here's my holiday season journal.
Dec. 20, Saturday
Sis Jenny invited 3 of us to watch the Paskuhan Festival in Pampanga. She went home ahead so. In the end, Sis Eva was too tired to join, so it was just me and Sis Jennie Anna who went there. This is when the fun started. We took the wrong bus! We passed by the town we had to go to by about 2 towns. When we got to the place where we were supposed to be, we were very hungry, so we had a bonding over dinner at the mall. We were thinking of skipping the show altogether, the major reason we went there, because the place was very crowded. As we were able to find space, we finished the program until the fireworks display. The lanterns were just awesome!
We went to Sis Jenny's place shared cake with her family then slept at 2:00 a.m.
Dec. 21, Sunday
We woke up late, ate a very delicious tall glass of halo-halo then went back to Manila.
As soon as I arrived, I dropped off my things then went to the mall with my mom. I was able to do my Christmas shopping only this day! I was able to buy toys for my brothers, nephew and nieces.
I looked for my mom's favorite perfume and reserved it because, as it was expensive, I was short on cash.
We went home so I could drop off my things, left my mom at home, and headed off to another mall to buy more presents.
Dec. 22, Monday
I reported for work and a good friend told me to drop by his office as he will give me a gift! As I needed to go back to the mall to buy my mom's perfume I reserved, and as I didn't want to simply get my gift and leave him empty-handed, I wasn't able to claim my gift.
Dec. 23, Tuesday
My friend was supposed to wait for me in his office after 5:00 p.m. so we could exchange gifts but was driven out by the security guards at 4:00 p.m. as office hours ended at 12:00 noon.
He called me up that night and we agreed to see each other during the Christmas break.
I received a text message from my VP checking if I would report for work the next day. She needed me to work on her powerpoint presentation.
Dec. 24, Wednesday
In the office, I lacked the materials for inclusion in the presentation so I went home at 3:00 p.m. When I got there, the whole family was present.
In the last 2 years, we checked into hotels New Year's eve so the kids could swim and enjoy the fireworks display sans the noise and smoke. This year, we decided to skip it for economic reasons. My heart went to my nephew when he said he was looking forward to checking into a hotel on new year's eve. I joked that if he would give me the money everyone gave him for Christmas, we could do it. He gave me all the cash he had, P370.00.
Christmas Day
It was a very traditional day for us. We went to my tita's house as our dear Lola was there. We had lunch then gift-giving. The whole time, family members took turns singing along the videoke while others danced to ballroom music. To say that everyone was happy is an understatement.
Dec. 27, Saturday
I met with a friend, ate dinner then watched Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat. We had a good laugh.
Dec. 28, Sunday
I couldn't forget how my nephew looked when he told me he wanted to check into a hotel on new year's eve so we decided to do it again. After calling up a few hotels, my sister-in-law booked a room for us at the Renaissance Hotel.
Dec. 29, Monday
We paid the reservation fee and shopped for things to bring to the hotel. My mom had the flu but she tried her best to pace herself so she join in all our activities.
Dec. 30, Tuesday
We checked into the hotel, roamed around Makati, took out KFC for dinner, watched TV while the kids enjoyed the bathtub then went to sleep.
Dec. 31, Wednesday
The kids went swimming, we had lunch treated by my youngest brother, the kids swam again in the afternoon, we dined out at dinner then watched the fireworks display.
New Year's Day
The kids swam for about an hour, we had brunch then checked out.
January 3, Saturday
My mom still has the colds but she's feeling a little bit better now.
Though the break was 12 days, I was never bored because I rarely stayed at home. Bonding moments and days with the family were well-spent. I didn't even have the time to read books. It was a well-enjoyed break.
Dec. 20, Saturday
Sis Jenny invited 3 of us to watch the Paskuhan Festival in Pampanga. She went home ahead so. In the end, Sis Eva was too tired to join, so it was just me and Sis Jennie Anna who went there. This is when the fun started. We took the wrong bus! We passed by the town we had to go to by about 2 towns. When we got to the place where we were supposed to be, we were very hungry, so we had a bonding over dinner at the mall. We were thinking of skipping the show altogether, the major reason we went there, because the place was very crowded. As we were able to find space, we finished the program until the fireworks display. The lanterns were just awesome!
We went to Sis Jenny's place shared cake with her family then slept at 2:00 a.m.
Dec. 21, Sunday
We woke up late, ate a very delicious tall glass of halo-halo then went back to Manila.
As soon as I arrived, I dropped off my things then went to the mall with my mom. I was able to do my Christmas shopping only this day! I was able to buy toys for my brothers, nephew and nieces.
I looked for my mom's favorite perfume and reserved it because, as it was expensive, I was short on cash.
We went home so I could drop off my things, left my mom at home, and headed off to another mall to buy more presents.
Dec. 22, Monday
I reported for work and a good friend told me to drop by his office as he will give me a gift! As I needed to go back to the mall to buy my mom's perfume I reserved, and as I didn't want to simply get my gift and leave him empty-handed, I wasn't able to claim my gift.
Dec. 23, Tuesday
My friend was supposed to wait for me in his office after 5:00 p.m. so we could exchange gifts but was driven out by the security guards at 4:00 p.m. as office hours ended at 12:00 noon.
He called me up that night and we agreed to see each other during the Christmas break.
I received a text message from my VP checking if I would report for work the next day. She needed me to work on her powerpoint presentation.
Dec. 24, Wednesday
In the office, I lacked the materials for inclusion in the presentation so I went home at 3:00 p.m. When I got there, the whole family was present.
In the last 2 years, we checked into hotels New Year's eve so the kids could swim and enjoy the fireworks display sans the noise and smoke. This year, we decided to skip it for economic reasons. My heart went to my nephew when he said he was looking forward to checking into a hotel on new year's eve. I joked that if he would give me the money everyone gave him for Christmas, we could do it. He gave me all the cash he had, P370.00.
Christmas Day
It was a very traditional day for us. We went to my tita's house as our dear Lola was there. We had lunch then gift-giving. The whole time, family members took turns singing along the videoke while others danced to ballroom music. To say that everyone was happy is an understatement.
Dec. 27, Saturday
I met with a friend, ate dinner then watched Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat. We had a good laugh.
Dec. 28, Sunday
I couldn't forget how my nephew looked when he told me he wanted to check into a hotel on new year's eve so we decided to do it again. After calling up a few hotels, my sister-in-law booked a room for us at the Renaissance Hotel.
Dec. 29, Monday
We paid the reservation fee and shopped for things to bring to the hotel. My mom had the flu but she tried her best to pace herself so she join in all our activities.
Dec. 30, Tuesday
We checked into the hotel, roamed around Makati, took out KFC for dinner, watched TV while the kids enjoyed the bathtub then went to sleep.
Dec. 31, Wednesday
The kids went swimming, we had lunch treated by my youngest brother, the kids swam again in the afternoon, we dined out at dinner then watched the fireworks display.
New Year's Day
The kids swam for about an hour, we had brunch then checked out.
January 3, Saturday
My mom still has the colds but she's feeling a little bit better now.
Though the break was 12 days, I was never bored because I rarely stayed at home. Bonding moments and days with the family were well-spent. I didn't even have the time to read books. It was a well-enjoyed break.
Friday, January 02, 2009
May you be blessed
May you be blessed with all things good. May your joys, like the stars at night, be too numerous to count. May your victories be more abundant than all the grains of sand on all the beaches, on all the oceans in all the world. May lack and struggle be absent from your life and may beauty order and abundance be your constant companions. May every pathway you choose lead to that which is pure and good and lovely.
May every doubt and fear be replaced by a deep abiding trust as you behold evidence of a Higher Power all around you. And when there is only darkness and the storms of life are closing in, may the light at the core of your being illuminate the world.
May you always be aware you are loved beyond measure and may you be willing to love unconditionally in return.
May you always feel protected and cradled in the arms of God, like the cherished child you are. And when you are tempted to judge, may you be reminded that we are all one and that every thought you think reverberates across the universe touching everyone and everything. And when you are tempted to hold back, may you remember that love flows best when it flows freely and it is in giving that we receive the greatest gift.
May you always have music and laughter and may a rainbow follow every storm. May gladness wash away every disappointment. May joy dissolve every sorrow and may love ease every pain. May every wound bring wisdom and may every trial bring triumph and with each passing day, may you live more abundantly than the day before.
This is my heartfelt wish for you.
May you be blessed and may others be blessed by you. May you be blessed with all things good.
KATE NOVAK (www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com)
May every doubt and fear be replaced by a deep abiding trust as you behold evidence of a Higher Power all around you. And when there is only darkness and the storms of life are closing in, may the light at the core of your being illuminate the world.
May you always be aware you are loved beyond measure and may you be willing to love unconditionally in return.
May you always feel protected and cradled in the arms of God, like the cherished child you are. And when you are tempted to judge, may you be reminded that we are all one and that every thought you think reverberates across the universe touching everyone and everything. And when you are tempted to hold back, may you remember that love flows best when it flows freely and it is in giving that we receive the greatest gift.
May you always have music and laughter and may a rainbow follow every storm. May gladness wash away every disappointment. May joy dissolve every sorrow and may love ease every pain. May every wound bring wisdom and may every trial bring triumph and with each passing day, may you live more abundantly than the day before.
This is my heartfelt wish for you.
May you be blessed and may others be blessed by you. May you be blessed with all things good.
KATE NOVAK (www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com)
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