Mad with my Tripod

I just loved the new tripod I bought yesterday at the Photo World Manila in Glorietta.

So what happens when I'm alone...

with my new tripod?

This happens. =D

Di halatang addict ako magpicture sa sarili ko. =)

In the Middle

If I had a perfect soundtrack for my days in January, it would be In the Middle by Jimmy Eat World. The music was hurried, like my days. And the lyrics? It was written for me. Oo para sa akin talaga! "it just takes some time, little girl, you're in the middle of the ride, everything will be just fine, everything will be alright" Pano nila nalaman height ko? =P I love this song. When I'll feel down or confused, I'll listen to this song again.

I had the craziest schedule in the past weeks. I knew I reached my peak when I had to run from one very important client meeting, where I did a presentation, to another equally important meeting with my section in the Future Leaders Initiative, where we agreed on a ground rule that no one will be excused from being absent or late. Maybe I didn't discover early enough this conflicting sched because of the 200+ unread emails competing to get my attention. I felt like there was just too many information flying around, too many tasks attempting to knock me out. OA naman... hehe..

Finally, it's weekend. My much-needed, most-awaited breather. The clients had left. 2 more days, and we'll be done with our high-prio efficiency initiatives. There are still action items left from these 2 events. I expect more to do's coming up with my FLI section. But I am able to manage completing some of them already. Thanks to the book I read -The Personal Efficiency Program. Actually, first chapter pa lang ako. Definitely helped me with my procrastination problem. The concept is very simple -just DO-IT-NOW. Sa mga gaya ko, subukan nyo rin. =) I can share with you the book details (found it in books.24x7).

Busy man, nakakaparty pa rin. Prost!

As I expected, it's gonna be a full year. New Year pa lang, nakabook na weekends ko until mid-Feb. The first 2 weekends, I concentrated on my review. And yes! I passed!!! Certified Project Management Professional na ako. This was important for me. It was my first exam after the board exam that I failed 7 years ago. And this is the only exam that I so badly wanted. Gusto ko rin yung topic. Kaya, thank you to all who prayed for me and were very encouraging. To God be the glory!

Last weekend naman, Alvin and I were part of the first workshop of FLI in Tagaytay. Galing din ng timing. A year ago, we were also in Taal Vista. =) Ito pa! Nanalo kami sa casino, together with the kids (yung mga ASE's ng SLC at si Ai). As in, 800% return (kung tama ang math ko). The best part of it was not the money, but the fun we had. Talanga chip-in chip-in kami sa bets. There were about 10 of us. Masaya talaga. Yung isa nakauwi ng 1K+, ang pinusta nya lang ay yung 100 na chip na balato namin sa kanya. Kakaaliw di ba? Simpleng roulette lang to -odd/even, red/black. Beginners luck, unite! Yung mga kasama namin kasi first time pa lang mag-casino. Naki-hitch lang ako. Alam ko naman na malas ako sa sugal. ;-)

This weekend, we'll be celebrating our first anniversary. Isang taon na po! (Fireworks, please!) =)

January was tough for me. But as they say, you need the bitter to appreciate the sweet. Definitely, there were also many things to celebrate and be thankful for. ;-)

Happy New Year!!!

Strangely, I don't have a song in mind for this entry.

Are you as excited as I am for all the possibilities of 2008? I have this strong feeling that it's going to be a great year for everyone (legendary!) ...for the Philippines, and even for the US economy. Bongga! 2008 is like a rare sequel that beats its predecessor, like Bridget Jones's Diary Edge of Reason... arguably. Osya, tama na tong pagpe-premonize (new word: act of making premonitions) ko. Baka magaya pa to sa The Village. Mas maganda pa yung trailer kesa sa actual movie. Again, arguably.

So, what's your resolution? I don't have resolutions, but I have my traditional New Year's Prayer. Wala kaayo ko palihi, pero naka-polka dots ko. mwehehe. Mutuo ko nga maski walay palihi, basta nag-ampo, ma-bless jud ang tuig. I lighted my 2-year old Prosperity Candles, courtesy of Roscef. There are 7 or 8 colored candles, representing health, peace, good spirit, money, love, etc. Sabi duon, you light them for 30 minutes and the candle that remained the tallest will be what's bountiful for you in the coming year. Di ko na pinaabot ng 30 minutes. Weird kasi lahat sila pantay-pantay pa rin ang height. Sana ibig sabihin nito ay lahat ng blessings mag-aabound in 2008.

Sa mga berks, pinagdasal ko kayo. Kaya be hopeful for 2008. Ika nga ni Father nung New Year's eve mass, a grace-filled new year for everyone.

Sleep All Day

In the past days, my sleeping pattern has been going awry. I'm active until 5 in the morning, and sleeping so hard until 3 in the afternoon. I'm having shorter days than the winter season.

Tonight, or shall I say this morning, to make myself busy while I wait for my sleepy self, I read my 2 old blogs. It was an experience I did not expect. I saw a different me that I have almost forgotten. The one who nursed a bad heartbreak, moved on, seized the day and the world, had the best year ever, found her new self, transitioned to new chapters, got tired, got lonely, found answers, got busy, met new people, reflected and realized lessons, started new things, enjoyed company of great friends, and continued to grow up (not physically, of course!).

There was an entry I wrote where I told myself it might not make sense now, but may make sense in the future. Indeed, it does now! There were a few entries that made me ask, 'did I really write this stuff?'. There was a couple of entries where I wrote some stuff that I wanted to read again in the future to be reminded of some important realizations. There were entries with questions or uncertainty to which I have already found the answers. I have grown up.

I looked for those old blogs because I planned to delete them already, now that I have this new blog. But after reading all the entries, I realized they're worth keeping. Some stories are worth reminiscing; lessons worth learning over again; experiences worth reliving.

Kaya, sa mga friendships, I encourage you to read those old entries again. Kakaiba!

Subukan ko na matulog. :)

Ben, Stuart Little, Ratatouille, Mickey Mouse, and their Year

Excited na ako sa 2008! Syempre, tiningnan ko agad kung anong meron sa 2008 base sa Chinese astrology. Year of the Rat daw. Chinese Brown Earth Rat to be specific, oha. :-)

Base sa declarations namin ni Maia, 2008 is going to be my good year. Long story. Basta 2005 was a great year for me, and 2008 is yet another great year. Kaya super excited na ako.

Ito yung mga nadiskubre ko sa internet:

- Ang Chinese astrological sign ko ay Metal Monkey.

- Compatible daw ang Rat sa Monkey at Dragon. Ayus. Monkey ako, Dragon pareho parents ko. Of the 12 signs, The Monkey is the one most likely to have the best year.

- Since this is an Earth year, those people born in a Metal year (ako yun!) will generally fare better than others.

- Rat is the first sign of the Chinese zodiac and signifies new beginnings. That which is begun now is likely to have long term consequences.

- 2008 will be a year of possibilities, a time of progress. Should add something new to your life.

Kung gusto nyo malaman ang yearly horoscope ng ibang signs, check nyo to: http://chinese.astrology.com/

In the end, it's all about you, your faith, and what you think and do. So, think positive, do good, and God will shower you blessings.

p.s.

Stupid question, what's the difference between a rat and a mouse?

Picture of Yu

For those who haven't seen me for a looong time, check out my 2007 look. =)

After New Year Side View (January)

Our First Trip - Malapascua Trigger Happy Reflection (March)

June Garden Wedding Angle

Disney-Excited Pose (July)

Newscaster Look (October)


Pang Awards Night (October)

Bowling Night with Officemates Look (November)

Christmas Party a la Moulin Rouge Look

Slumber Party Bad-A$$ Look (December)

...and for those i haven't seen in a while, share your photos too. this is fun! ;-)

You Oughta Know

~alanis morissette

Just don't mind the lyrics. Kumusta naman? I have sooo many stories to tell. Some quick updates na lang muna.

You ought to know...

Mae just gave birth to baby David Leu (8.36 lbs) 15 hours ago -Dec. 26, 1230pm. That's our second DB baby, next to Carlo (aka Ian) & Carol's baby John Carl.

Juni gave birth to her second baby -Patrick Gabriel [cute name no? I'd love to call him Gabe.], last Dec. 16. For sure, pogi baby na naman just like his kuya and my inaanak -Nico.

Some of my discoveries lately:
youtube is addictive! If I thought I'm over cable tv, I just found myself a new addiction.

Blogging is fun-ner now with all these new features. Yet another addiction.

Marc Nelson is great! I know he's good-looking and hot. But I've never liked him, until I've watched the first 5 episodes of The Amazing Race Asia Season 2, and found myself seriously rooting for him and Rov (close kami). He seems nice and pleasant. I'm proud to see them as the strongest team. Represent! I think they're the only team who speak English loud and clear. Sakit sa ulo yung iba.

Kaya ko pala lakarin from GT to Greenbelt/Glorietta in 15 minutes lang, along the roofed walkway. Tamad kasi maglakad.

Favorite ko pala talaga ang Beatles. Pansin ko sa mga songs na nasa blog ko so far.


I'm spending the holidays in Makati. My first Christmas break without my family. Several reasons. So far, it's not as bad. But I surely miss all my friends.


Shout-outs: Miss ko na mga friendships! Jazzie, balik ka ulet dito. Gerry, natuwa ako na i get to read your blogs again. Leng, promise I'll write soon, and send your pictures too; hello to Mae. Maia, I know we're housemates, but I missed hanging out with you; labas tayo nila Pia next year...hehe. Juni, excited na ko makita si bb Gabe; tibuon na nako ako regalo kay Nico, hehe. Misyl, sad, wala ko sa dedication ni bb Tickles, kita ta pagbalik nimo diri. Jackie, sorry wa pa kita magkita usab, I'll make up for it soon. Jake, let's do photo tripping when you get back. FG, unta magkita na jud ta pagbalik nimo after Christmas. Corre-Anjel-Jiji, unta maglaag na pud ta usab like our Hongkong trip. Klang, kanus-a kaha ko makavisit sa inyo no? Puhon. Ate Nenen, ka-cute sa imo bb Shawn, artistahon; tnx for sending the pics; mishu. Dee, let's chat again; i sincerely hope you're fine now; love you! To my high school berks, sorry I missed the reunion, yadayun ba? To all my college friends, mingaw na ko ninyo tanan; unsay balita? Orrie, mingaw na ko nimo; kung minyo na ka, ako na lang single sa Arian, hehehe.. ARIAN's, lingaw siguro kung magkita-kita ta no? Kalaag's, I just realized it's almost 3 years since our sweet, short affair; kaka-miss. Keep in touch kayo lahat. Amishu!

# 1

here i go again. my 4th first blog entry.

i like to read blogs. i've been trying to keep one, but i get busy and/or lazy. let's see how long i can keep this one going.

i had fun setting up this blog. i used lines from my favorite songs here as titles to the sections or to entries (which i'll try to list in my juke-blox [pauso]). i also look forward to posting more photos from my album, aside from those posted in flickr.

but really, all i want is to share some stories and keep in touch with all my friends out there.

so, to all my friends: drop a message, share your blogs, and let's keep in touch. =)

welcome to my 2nd blogspot!

syempre may soundtrack. =) Start of Something New (High School Musical)