singing our hearts out

Habang nanonood kami ng mga roomates ko ng Search for a Star in a Million at Pinoy Pop Superstar (sayang, hindi nananlo si Brenan), nagkayayaan kami mag-videoke. Dahil late na nun at nanonood nga kami, napagkasunduaan namin na kinabukasan na lang.

Ayun, 9pm ng gabi nung Monday, pumunta kaming 3 sa IO sa Jupiter. Off peak yun kaya for Php180, pwede ka mag-videoke for as long as you want (syempre hangga't open pa sila.)

Ang saya! Tatlo lang kami pero sobrang ingay namin. Sinilip nga kami nung isang staff dun, akala nya ata may kung anong nagyayari na.

Eto ang ilan sa mga paborito ko na kinanta namin ng todo bigay.


Addicted by Simple Plan

I'm tryin' to forget
But I'm addicted to you
But I wanted
And I needed
I'm addicted to you
Now it's over
Can't forget what you said
And I never
Want to do this again
Heartbreaker
Heartbreaker
Heartbreaker


Just Like a Pill by Pink

Run just as fast as I can
To the middle of nowhere
To the middle of my frustrated fears
And I swear you're just like a pill
Instead of makin' me better, you keep makin' me ill
You keep makin' me ill


Survivor by Destiny's Child

I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)


I Don't Want to Talk ABout It by Rod Stewart

I don't want to talk about it, how you broke my heart.
If I stay here just a little bit longer,
If I stay here, won't you listen to my heart, whoa, heart?


I'll be there for You by Bon Jovi

I'll be there for you
These five words I swear to you
When you breathe I want to be the air for you
I'll be there for you
I'd live and I'd die for you
Steal the sun from the sky for you
Words can't say what a love can do
I'll be there for you


Grabe, and dami naming kinanta at 2am na kami umuwi.

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love

Noong isang gabi, sabi ni Gerry sa Stained Glass, ang Love daw ay hindi gaya ng kidlat na bigla na lang dumadating. Para daw itong ambon, na unti unting pumapatak at sa pagtagal mamamalayan mo na lang na basang basa ka na.

Hindi yata ganyang ganyan ang pagkakasabi pero parang ganyan sa pagkakatanda ko. Wala lang. Naalala ko lang.

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distracted

This morning, while the Trainor was discussing about the Pivot Table in Excel, I was browsing through some articles in Inq7. Pasaway talaga ko. Sa harap pa man din ako nakaupo. I can't help it. It's not my fault that the Internet is accessible in the classroom and YM is not blocked.

Distracted that I am, I came upon the Youngblood article entitled Broke. This time, I was really distracted. I emphatize with the man. Is life here really hard? How hard will it get? Libre pa rin ba mangarap?

At the end of the article, the man wrote that he hoped the pickpocket who stole his money was able to feed his kids on that day. Akalain mo? Hope is still with us.

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1 cancelled appointment & 2 emails

I was supposed to have a phone chat with Maaike today between 8-830pm regarding Dambadeniya and Nabuur in general. I was actually excited and quite nervous about this. I can't imagine myself talking with Maaike over the phone. She's one of those people who continually inspire me and I really look up to her.

Maaike by the way is the Online Communites Manager of Nabuur. She is Dutch and that is one reason why I'm nervous about the phone chat -- it has been half a year since I met her (online) but I still don't know how to pronounce her name properly.

Anyway, an hour before the phone chat, my mobile phone signaled "attention: low battery." I had to send her an email informing her to call me on my direct line, instead. Almost an hour later, her husband sent the below.

Hi Ava,

I am writing on behalf of Maaike Karemaker, my wife, to let you know she has been forced to reschedule your meeting with her that was set between 14.00 hours and 14.30 hours. She's extremely sorry to cancel, but another important appointment took far longer than expected. Please confirm this message when you've received it, so Maaike can rest assured you're not waiting for her to contact you.

Kindest regards,
Ruben Karemaker

Associate Legal Officer
Trial Chamber II
United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

I replied to Ruben and asked him to inform Maaike that it was fine and that she didn't have to worry. At least I have a couple of days more to figure out how to say her name right. :-)

-------------------

Then, another email came. It's from Sunil. He's the Local Representative of Dambadeniya, Sri Lanka (a village in Nabuur).

Dear Ava,

Being such young your attempts to offer a helping hand to utilize your
expertise  we always appreciate.My elder son is already 24 years and I
told him about him as he too study in computer science.

We are now planning to initiate a book exhibition along with leadership
development programme for the school children of the villagers as they
are deprived those facilities.

I will send more details later

Regards
Sunil

I replied thanking him for the kind words and informed him as well that I'll do my best for the village. But I forgot to remind him that I did not study Computer Science!

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random thoughts...

Yesterday was our 2nd day in Mandarin class. Grabe, para kaming nasa Kinder ulit na nag-aaral ng alphabet at kung pano magsulat. Last week, akala ko hindi ko kakayanin na ma-memorize yun 37 MPS (Mandarin Phonetic Sounds) para sa class kahapon. Buti naman at medyo alam ko na. Dun na lang ako nalilito sa characters na medyo magkakamukha gaya ng chi, èng, sz; at saka shr, dz.

Wala pa din ako alam sabihin in Mandarin, maliban sa Ni Hao. Kelangan daw muna kasi matutunan yun characters. Tapos nun, pagtatambal-tambalin yun characters. Parang sa Grade 1 (b-a : ba; k-a, ka). Ganun ang ginawa namin kahapon (p-i : pi; ph-i : phi).


----------

Kagabi after class may nagyaya sa kin na lumabas. Nagpunta kami ng Bagaberde at si Nyoy Volante ang magpe-perform. Ang tagal nya bago dumating. Medyo ok naman yun naunang band. Unlabeled ata yun name nila. Ok yun boses nun gitarista at nung kahonista (ano ba tawag dun?). Yun girl na vocalist, pwede na rin. Medyo nag-fflat nga lang pag masyado mataas. O baka pagod na siya.

Iba iba din yun genre ng kinanta nila. Eto yun mga natatandaan ko: Love Moves in Mysterious Ways
Better Days, Shy Guy ("i don't want somebody who's loving everybody"), Kahit Kailan, Elesi, Hinahanap Hanap Kita, Yes Yes Show.

Hindi ko matandaan yun title nung ibang foreign acoustic songs.

Tapos may nakipag-jam na lalaki sa harap. Maganda naman boses nya. Kinanta nya yun It Might Be You (with feelings) tapos sabi nung crowd: more.... Ayun, kumanta pa sya ulit ng All My Life.

----------

Mag-aalas-dose na ata nung nagperform si Nyoy. In fairness, magaling naman pala sya. Una nyang
kinanta yung You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling tapos Kiss ("you don't have to be rich, to be my girl). Kaya nya pala yun mga ganung kanta.

Tapos nun mga love songs na: Because, Nasaan Ka Na?, Panalangin, Crazy for You, etc. naputulan pa siya ng string ng guitar kasi masyadong passionate. hehe

Kumanta din pala siya ng Anak kasi may nag-request na balikbayan na babalik na sa States. Kinanta nya kahit hindi nya memorize ang lyrics.

----------

Wala daw pasok sa Korea office bukas kasi Children's Day. Buti pa sila.

----------

I won't be working for 2 days! Yey!

Nasa training ako ng Data Analysis & Manipulation using Advanced MS Excel sa Ateneo Information Technology Institute.

Sana hindi boring.

----------

May nagyaya din sa kin mag-Palawan next week. Kaso hindi ako pwede dahil may hinihintay ako na interview. Yep, tinawagan ako ng Producers Bank. Dapat nung Tuesday pa yun kaya lang hindi ako pwede kaya na-resched.

----------

Ang haba na ata ng napost ko. At mukhang wala namang sense. Oh, well.

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nakuha ko 'to sa blog ni Tish

Your Birthdate: March 19

Your birth on the 19th day of the month adds a tone of independence and extra energy to your life path. But at the same time, it poses a number of obstacles to overcome before you are able to be as independent as you would like. The number 1 energy suggests more executive ability and leadership qualities than your path may have indicated. A birthday on the 19th of any month gives greater will power and self-confidence, and very often a rather original approach. However, a somewhat self-centered approach to life that may be in conflict with some of the other influences in your life. This 1 energy may diminish your ability and desire to handle details, preferring instead to paint with a broad brush. You are sensitive, but your feeling stay somewhat repressed. You have a compelling manner that can be dominating in many situations. You do not tend to follow convention or take advice very well. Consequently, you tend to learn through experience; sometimes hard experiences. The 19/1 is a loner number and you may experience feelings of being alone even if you are married. You may take on a tendency to be nervous and angry.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

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Encantadia

Ngayon nga pala ang start ng Encatadia. Nanood ako kagabi nung "the making". Mukhang maganda. Sana..



photos from: http://www.igma.tv/sphotos.php?showid=110

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bored

Holiday ngayon pero pumasok ako. Walang masyadong ginawa kaya medyo nakaka-bore. Holiday din kasi sa ibang countries, pero 2 lang ang nakita ko na announcements - from HK and JP lang.

Please note that Hong Kong office will be closed on 2 May 05 (Monday) due to Additional General Holiday for Labour Day.

Please note that the following dates are public holidays in Japan, our office will be closed:

29 April (Greenery Day)

3 May (Constitution Memorial Day)

4 May (National Holiday)

5 May (Children's Day)

Buti pa ang Japan, ang daming holidays. Anyway, wala din atang pasok sa Korea at Singapore dahil walang nagungulit na clients.

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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.

--------
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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back to work

I was supposed to be at work at 10am but I called in sick and told my Senior I'd be coming at 2pm, instead. Of course, I wasn't sick. I just wanted to sleep some more. Well, that's one good (?) thing about my work, I can take a vacation anytime I want to (except of course, when there are too many people taking a leave on certain dates) and I can call in sick, when I want to sleep some more. And yes, they know I'm not really sick. ;)

5 days of not coming to work and here's what welcomed me:

2 500++ unread emails! (but of course, not all of them are for me.) Around 2 450++ are still unread until now. And I have no plans of reading them.

I found out that I was scheduled for my presentation/ certification exam at 10am today! It's good that I called in sick because I'm not prepared for it and I'm still on vacation mode. I was rescheduled for tomorrow, so I better prepare tonight and impress them. Pressure!

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