Dambadeniya

Children's Balloon Blowing Competition in Dambadeniya, Sri Lanka



Nakakatuwa yun picture! Ang kulay kasi nung mga lobo. Nakakainggit din kasi parang ang saya ng New Year Celebration nila.

Galing nga pala yun picture na 'to kay Sunil. Si Sunil ang Local Representative ng Dambadeniya sa Nabuur. Siya ang main contact namin sa community.

Sabi nya, male-dominant society daw doon kaya ang boses ng mga kababaihan ay hindi napakikinggan. Ang mga kalalakihan kasi ang bread winner ng pamilya. At isa sa mga paraan para maisaayos ito ay ang tulungan ang mga kababaihan na magkaroon ng pagkakakitaan. Dito daw magsisimula ang mga pagbabago.

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let it sting..

Yan and status ko ngayon.
Pero mukhang mag-iiba na sa mga susunod na araw.
Sana nga.

Ilang araw ko ding ininda yun a.

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Speaking of sting, Annual Physical Exam namin ngayon. Medyo masakit nun kinuhanan ako ng blood sample. Ang tagal pa bago nag-stop nun pagdugo.

Normal naman daw ako. hehe

Pero wala pang result yun Xray and Urinalysis (wala kasi akong dalang sample).

Medyo nanibago lang ako sa mga tanong kanina.


Doc: Single?

Ako: Opo.

Doc: May anak?

Ako: wala po..


Doc: nag-sisigarilyo ka?

Ako: hindi po.

Doc: umiinom?

Ako: (medyo natigilan..) occasionally. (yes, times are changing. hehehe dati mabilis pa sa alas-4 sagot ko na "hindi po")


Doc: magpapa-genital and rectal exam ka ba o hindi na?

Ako: hindi na po (scary!)


eto naman habang naghihintay ako ng turn ko na magpa-Xray:

Manong (ndi ko alam ang tawag sa kanya eh): hindi naman po kayo buntis?

Ako: hindi po.. (ano dw?)

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moving out of the comfort zone..

I received an invitation for a Career Orientation Seminar last week. The company did not divulge its name but mentioned that they are into rural banking and microfinance. The invitation said we were shortlisted from through the Placement Office. True or not, it was still an ego booster. =) I checked the email addresses and found out that Francis was also invited. I texted him a couple of days before the COS if he is coming or not. He was still unsure and so was I.

Anyway, both of us came today thinking that it was Planters Development Bank. However, it turned out to be Producers Bank. All of my expectations went down the drain. My mind was a clean slate when the orientation began. The orientation started at 930am (though the invitation said 9am). We were about 20. Everyone came from the Ateneo (batch 2003 and 2004) and each of us knew at least one person in the room.

After the prayer, we were asked to introduced ourselves and share our expectations while the facilitator wrote them on the manila paper. I haven't done this since college and it reminded me of school days. The company background was presented the whole morning and questions were entertained. The facilitator said we were free to leave anytime we want if we feel that we don't fit in.

Lunch was served (for free). And when we resumed for the afternoon session, there were only 8 of us left - Miss Maricar (talk about one cool mom! she was an IS major batch 2004), Jill, Alex, Francis, Nic, George, Roy and me.

An overview of the Management Trainee Program was presented. After that, we were given 30min to think if we were going to remain to be interviewed. Almost everyone was hesitant because the trainees will be assigned for a time in the provinces (rural areas that is) as part of the training and will be actually doing field work. Field work means looking for microfinance clients, borrowers, etc. We were actually warned about this during the morning. I remember the Corporate Planning Officer said, "This is not the microfinace that you are thinking, which is the sosyal microfinance. It's different."

We remained.

We were panel interviewed by batch - 3, 3, and 2. I was in the last batch with Nic. While the first batch (Francis, Jill, George) were being interviewed we had our merienda (again for free.. hehe) and discussed about our plans and what we think of the opportunity. We exchanged phone numbers afterwards. They were such inspiring people.

Then, it was our turn. The questions were: What can you contribute? How are your people skills (pertaining to the grassroots)? How do you think Microfinance will help the poor? Is it ok with your parents if you are going to be assigned in the provinces? Do you know how to commute?

We will be informed of the results in 2 weeks time.

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turning chinese..

well, not really..

I have just enrolled in a Basic Mandarin Class in Tower Languages Tutorial Centre. Classes will be held every Tuesday from 6-9pm and Module 1 will take 15 weeks to complete. We are only 6 in class (2 of them are my officemates!) and the classrooms are really small I'm not sure if we can breathe in there. Nevertheless, I'm quite excited. At least I have something new to look forward to next week. :)

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back from Subic...

Last weekend, I was in Puerto Galera. It was fun and it was one of my best out of towns, ever. But how come I didn't write anything about it? Well, I figured Ate Cla, Guiller and Kuya Rolls will do the postings and I'll just end up repeating them.

This weekend, I was at Grande Island Resort in Subic. It was our Company's Summer Outing. The sand is not white and the shore is narrower. But what the heck, we have the whole island for ourselves. The rooms are nice. And there's a buffet! I don't even remember how many times I've said, "this is the life..."


waiting for the bus: mitch, me



look who got on the bus! (Bus #9): ellen, ferdie, john d, mike,
shaun, mitch, karlo, ralph, me, roanna, mimi, ian



ang tagal umalis, picture muna ulit: kat and me



we need to take a short boat ride to get to the island..



that's our ride..



mainit talaga dito as in, pero kailangan naka-smile pa rin:
lindsay, rj, lyn, micth, me, kat



the island..



it's the thomson invasion!!!



picture muna ulit. inaayos pa daw ang rooms namin



actually, ang tagal bago kami nakapag-check in.
after lunch na kami nakapag-ayos ng gamit.


this is the man-made lake in the middle of the island.
semento nga lang yun ilalim nya kaya medyo malumot
yun ibang parts. in fairness, maganda sa picture! hehe


here's our cottage..


a little further down our cottages...


After the siesta, the Amazing Race started.


the HelpDesk Team: Vince, RJ, Gerry, Ellen, Ian, Norman


Norman, Ian, Gerry (he was awarded the Iron Man), (where's Ellen?)


Sayang, hindi kami nanalo. We were leading the race until the 4th stop. But it was fun cheering for them. Dapat may award din kami as best cheeerers.


kakapagod pala maglagay ng pix. bukas na ulit yun iba...

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a couple of hours later..

It lasted for an hour.

I walked straight to their table and he stood right away when he saw me. I was quite nervous and maybe he was, too. Then, he introduced me to his friends. And that's with the capital S. Goodness, there were 3 tables full of his friends. So, it wasn't really surprising if I only remembered 1 name. I was introduced as the bestfriend.

We talked. Talked about the usual things -- where I stayed, how's work, how's life. Then, I also asked about the same usual stuff -- where they are staying, how's school, how's life. I was texting while we talked. He was eating. I don't know how I felt but somehow he seemed a little tensed. He kept punching me whenever he would say something. I told him to stop but he didn't. He used to do that. Somehow, it felt like the good old times.

Then, we took a picture. A few minutes after, we left and took a walk. They need to go back and have some rest. I need to go home, too. While walking, we talked about relationships. Same as before, I am not committed to anyone. He is in an "semi-kinda" relationship and he said it is better that way.

We arrived at the elevator. Their car is parked in the upper level. It was time to say goodbye. I did and wished them good luck for tomorrow's competition. He said goodbye and asked for a hug. "What's with you," I asked. "We don't do that. We're not that close." Then, I laughed. "We aren't?," he answered. "No," I replied back. "Why should we," I asked. He told me maybe he just missed me, that's why.

to be continued...

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the week that was...

In the 10 months that I've been working, Career High ang araw na 'to! Kakaiba. Hindi na ata ako huminga buong araw. (ok, exaggerated na yun. hehe)

April 15, 2005 Stats:

60+ emails
4 phone calls (1 from US,1 from UK, 2 from HK, 1 from SG)
20 pending client requests (ayoko na mag-Monday)

TGIF talaga! Buti na lng may company outing kami bukas. We're going to Subic! Yey! Sana masaya at madaming food.

Oh well, dami pa sana kwento kaya lang may nagtext. Kaladkarin talaga ko. Konting pilit lang, pumapayag agad. Ano kayang mangyayari mamya pag nagkita kami? Next time na ang kwento.

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got this from my email...

FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument
when they are right and you need to shut up.

FIVE MINUTES
If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour.
Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just
been given 5 more minutes to watch the game
before helping around the house.

NOTHING
This is the calm before the storm. This means
"something," and you should be on your toes.
Arguments that begin with 'Nothing' usually end in
"Fine"

GO AHEAD
This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.

LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal
statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud
Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders
why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with
you over "Nothing"

THAT'S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that
a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means
that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how
and when you will pay for your mistake.

THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or
faint. Just say you're welcome.


Send this to the men you know to warn them about
future arguments they can avoid if they remember
the terminology!

And send it to your women friends to give them a
good laugh!

Oh, and before we forget

"Whatever"
...it's a woman's way of saying *FCUK YOU

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another day's gone

530pm na, nandito pa rin ako sa office kahit hanggang 3pm lng ako today. Well, ok lng din naman kasi hindi naman talaga ko nagwowork. At saka may aircon dito! hehehe Ang init kasi sa boarding house kaya mas ok na dito. Hindi ko din masyadong feel mag-stay dun because the landlady is back!!! (waah...)

Wala din masyado ginagawa today sa office kasi holiday sa Hong Kong dahil Ching Ming Festival daw at sa Korea naman dahil Arbor Day. Actually, Hong Kong lang naman ang pinakamakukulit na Account Managers at clients. Ewan ko ba kung bakit ang dami nilang tanong at gustong gawin sa buhay. Minsan mapapaisip ka talaga, minsan naman nakakabobo.

Kahapon din, wala masyadong work kaya nag-ssurf lang ako. Ayun tuloy, pati ang Googlewhack (nabasa ko 'to sa blog ni Omi) pinatulan ko na -- pero hindi ako successful. =( Hindi pa rin ako nakakahanap ng "the one". Pati nga yun officemate ko napapaisip na rin ng word. Nandamay pa ko! hehehe

Ayan, malapit na mag-6pm. Siguro hindi na mainit pag uwi ko. Kaso, nakakatamad pa rin umuwi.

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what's wrong with hello???

haay.. nun isang araw pa ko nag-ttry magpost ng pix pero ayaw nya. meron pa bang ibang way para maglagay ng pix?

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i want to write!!!

I have been wanting to write about 2 things since saturday night, but i'm just too lazy to do so. I wish there's such a thing that could straight away transfer what one is thinking into writing.

It's been almost a week, I should've recovered from my "vacation mode sickness". I thought the vacation would revitalize me, but it feels like I'm drained all the more. I want to stay home -- to sleep, eat, watch movies, listen to music, read, write.

I'm not sure why I feel tired. Work doesn't feel like work after all and I really have lots of free time. Why, then do I feel like this? Maybe it's the thinking that causes the weariness. I really am thinking too much these days. (Those Jesuits! They are to blame for this.. haha) Sometimes I think too much I feel like I'm going to throw up. No kidding. And recently I've been having some flashes of growing up memories. Last time, I posted this,

"EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... that her childhood may not have been perfect... but it's over..."

Most of the time I'm glad they're over, but there are times I wished they weren't. And I wished it were different. Oh, well.

Could it be that I, the cheerful and high-spirited me, is suffering from lifeache? I hope not. I'm too young to be diagnosed with this. Someone cheer me up, please...

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