A Love Story

Love moves in mysterious ways... Here's one love I met this week... Witness our love story... This is what he told me...

I SHALL SEEK AND FIND YOU.

I SHALL TAKE YOU TO BED

AND HAVE MY WAY WITH YOU.

I WILL MAKE YOU ACHE, SHAKE AND SWEAT

UNTIL YOU MOAN AND GROAN.

I WILL MAKE YOU BEG FOR MERCY...

BEG FOR ME TO STOP.

I WILL EXHAUST YOU TO THE POINT THAT

YOU WILL BE RELIEVED WHEN I'M DONE WITH YOU.

AND YOU WILL BE WEAK FOR DAYS.

ALL MY LOVE,

THE FLU

*WINK **WINK**

**DONT FORGET TO GET YOUR FLU SHOTS!!!!**

So, what were you thinking huh??? :)

Feeling Sick Again...

I'm feeling sick again... The virus is still out there!!!! I already sprayed Lysol in the office because I don't want the other trainers to catch the flu, or the colds, or whatever it is!

At the same time, I'm feeling sick not just physically but emotionally. I like someone but this person doesn't know that I like him. Arghhh!!! Torture!!! How come women cannot just express their love to a man? It's not the usual norm. Hmp. I feel life isn't fair.

I'm doing a lot of things at work lately. I'm flattered that my Bosses Mark and Manly trust me but of course, sometimes, I wish they are always here with me. They are a good source of support you know... They make me feel safe and secure.... (Okay Guyz... support at work and not as a boyfriend... Hope I made that clear otherwise I'm dead! Mark has a girlfriend (I think) and Manly has a wife.)

Well, even if I'm a bit sick still, the show must go on! The pictures here were taken while I was crying because of pain and teary-eyed probably because of my colds and headache. Hah! Can you do that - Crying and Smiling?

WIG Gig!!!

I purchased a wig at National Bookstore in preparation for the Halloween celebration in the office. My co-trainers started trying it on just for Fun. Judge who's the most fairest of them all! :)

Snobbish Plumberry

Napoleon Ralf

Rockstar Michael

Vietnamrose Chito

Bedroom Beauty

Do We Try or Should We Just Say Goodbye?

I've been thinking of "Paki" lately. As a girl who had always believed in fairy tales, I often catch myself being drowned by illusion and unsolicited faith.

My "reality check" always bounces and it's hard to get a real score. Too many unanswered questions...

My friend Chikki introduced me to a song that summarizes what I'm feeling now. It's from an Anime Movie - I think "Visions of Escaflowne". I wish that this song will reach him...

VECTOR

Told myself for a long time

don't go there

you will only be sorry

Told myself so many times

I just had to take a look

in those faraway eyes...

In them I saw a longing

for something

Maybe I couldn't give you

Said it's all in my mind

"It ain't nothing"

Don't say that

Don't say that

darling no

Don't say anything at all

Because I've seen it now

Can't pretend anymore

"It ain't nothing"

*Chorus*

Do you know what I mean?

And have you seen it too?

Do you know what I mean?

Do you know?

And I'll do anything

Just tell me what it means

Cause I can't live in doubt anymore

Do we try or should we

just say goodbye

(Instrumental)

If you'd rather be somewhere

that's not here

then you just gotta tell me

Cause there's so much more to life,

than pretending

Don't you know

Don't you know

darling for you

I'd do anything at all

I wanna be with you

but that look in your eyes

tells me something

*Chorus repeat*

I wanna know

can you tell me

I wanna know

will you tell me

is it hello

is it good bye

I gotta know

won't you tell me

I gotta know

you can tell me

is it hello

or just goodbye

I gotta know

can you tell me

I gotta know

will you tell me

is it hello

is it goodbye

I gotta know

won't you tell me

I gotta know

You can tell me

is it hello

is it goodbye

Sick...

I was sick for the past few days. Well, it kinda started Thursday, Oct. 20. I had fever and had been sneezing and coughing. I decided to go on leave from work Friday until Monday. Gosh, I'm not used to staying at home and not doing work! Yeah, yeah, workaholic. But that's me. Can you imagine, I'm at home and yet I'm trying to access my Outlook in the office! (Maybe 'twas a bad idea for IT to teach me how to access my emails at home. Now, it's a bad habit of mine!)

Anyways, I truly miss my Training Team - the "Ret-Ret" Team. (Ret-Ret means Retarded) Whenever we get together inside our Trainer's room called Windy City (but we'd rather call it "Windang" City), we tend to forget all our problems. We're a happy bunch of people, with different personalities and characters. If I decide to pursue a career with script-writing, I could make a sitcom out of our funny, sad, romantic and action experiences in the office.

I'm back and even if I still have some traces of my sickness, I just have to set it aside. Working makes me forget the loneliness I'm feeling inside. It's a therapy to exorcise the demon in my head. Hey, I'm only human, with needs, wants and desires. And for me not to be reminded by that, I have to keep myself busy.

I gotta prepare now for a class. We're kinda short of trainers so I have to do it. It's good to teach again. I enjoy seeing people be enlightened - at the same time, I learn as well.

Happy Birthday my Shohar!

Today is the 31st birthday of my Cyber boyfriend. I missed him a lot because we don't get to communicate that often. I was a bit worried too with the recent earthquake in Pakistan. It's so frustrating not to know what's happening to him - if he's safe and in good condition. I can only be strong in prayers.

The Man...

Even if I have no idea where this relationship is going, I just manage to keep myself filled with happy thoughts - knowing that someone out there finds me special. I hope he can feel that I'm trying my best to make him special in my life. With the 1 picture that he gave me, I made sure that it gets the attention it deserves. I even displayed his picture next to mine. The photo below is in my bedroom.

For his last birthday, I gave him a keychain. It's a silver keychain with an engraved picture of him and me together. At the back, there's a message saying "Just a simple memento for a love worth cherishing." When he received the package, he immediately went on-line and thanked me for that special gift. It touched him to see that we were together - even if it's only in that keychain. It made him feel closer to me. I'm glad he liked it...

Happy Birthday my Shohar! Your Begum is just here waiting for you. Even my pet cat Bochog is anxious to see in the flesh the man in the picture - the man that I choose to love now...

Catleya and John Resurreccion's Wedding

Today, October 22, 2005, I witnessed a very grand wedding. It was the wedding of one of my very close friend way back 1981. That is Catleya Velasquez-Resurreccion (hmm... her new last name is sooo hard to spell!).

Catleya and I remained close friends - despite the fact that we had both expanded our horizons. We were together gradeschool and highschool, lived in the same village, rode the same school bus and even attended the same church before. College was the time we had to let go of our always being together - She studied in La Salle while I went to UP. It was also the time where she transferred to a different Subdivision. But that didn't really made our friendship cold. Thanks to emails, yahoogroups and cellular phones - we managed to keep in touch.

Her husband John, I met due to an "entrepreneurial" adventure. I'm so ashamed that I wasn't able to pursue the business mainly because my focus wasn't there. I hope they have forgiven me for not supporting. But I guess they did - because they've invited me to witness their very special union.

Last month, I attended a magical wedding - my former Training Manager Patricia and her husband Patrick. Now, I was able to see another wedding worth remembering. Let me share to you excerpts on Catleya and John Resurreccion's Wedding.

The church was at Parish of St. James the Great in Ayala Alabang Village. It was a very big church that even if they have approximately 300 guests, we only occupied maybe 1/4 of the area. Catleya marched the aisle with a very long veil - enhancing her beauty and making her everyone's focal point. The motif of orange and pink made the environment so light and lively. Flowers are fresh - truly a sign of intense preparation.

The photographer was very skilled. Not only did we experience the traditional formal picture taking, he made us do some crazy stuff too!

Reception followed at the Grand Ballroom of the Palms Country Club - still in Alabang in Filinvest Corporate City. One funny thing, since it's also the Halloween Season, I was a bit confused with some orange candles that lighted the path. I was wondering is this for their wedding or is it part of the Halloween ambiance (as Orange is the color of Halloween too!). But, there's nothing scary when you enter the Grand Ballroom. At the same time, if you used the stairs instead of the elevator, very creative flower designs were posted in the railings of the grand staircase. Upon surrendering our gifts at the doorway, we are led to our respective tables (I'm at table 8). On our table, we have already a preliminary souvenir - 3 chocolates packed in a gold box with pink & orange ribbons bearing the signature sticker of John and Catleya. When everyone was seated, the host JM (I'm not sure if that's his name but I'm sure he appeared in Television before) started introducing the members of the entourage - from the flowergirls to the maid of honor and best man. After that, we watched a video of the couple and Catleya's nieces. It was so creative! Then the newly weds marched towards the room.

When everyone was seated, the host called the guests per table to have a picture taking with the couple. Once done, the guests could already go to the buffet table and get food. The menu was superb!!! From Japanese makis to pastas and salads, to rice and chicken, beef, pork, shrimps and up to desserts. Yum, yum!!!

Time to settle down and witness the special wedding program. The couple had their first dance (by the way, John was really tensed!), they had the cutting and eating of the cake, the speeches - both parents and the couple themselves - and we again watched a video showing how they got to know each other and other funny anecdotes on how they've nourished their relationship.

The bouquet and garter catching has a very cute twist! For the bouquet, the bride had individual rose petals each tagged with a note of which you have a chance of winning a prize. Guess what, I won! I got a Moisturizing Hand Soap, Hand Gel and Hand Wipes from Bath & Body Works (that's expensive huh!). I was actually kidding them, saying, "Is the price a new boyfriend?" Hahaha.. How I wish! For the garter, single men were given a shot of tequila and then playing the limbo rock. How low can they go? Well, eventually, they had a winner. I just forgot his name. But he was nice and game, just like me, hence it wasn't a problem him sliding the garter to my fat leg. Hehehe... I had to ask, will the garter fit me? Thank God it did! :)

I also met Millet, one of our friends in Miriam. I took our pictures. Too bad I wasn't able to get a picture of the bride and the groom... Oh well, I hope they can share some of their pics soon. :)

As much as I'd like to stay longer, I had to go home too. But I brought home with me not just my Bath and Body Works prize and a rosary souvenir, but a very beautiful memory of Catleya and John's Wedding. I hope and pray that their marriage will be a living testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness! To Catleya and John, Congratulations and Best Wishes!!!

Millet and Me

Tita Norina - An Aunt Worth Remembering...

Tita Norina, or Tita Baby as what we would often call her... joined our Heavenly Father last Oct. 17, 2005 (that's Manila time... I'm not too sure the time in the United States).

This picture was taken Jan. 20, 2004 - the 30th Wedding Anniversary of my parents. The one standing is My Tita Baby (wearing yellow San Francisco shirt). Sitting beside her is my Mom.

When I was browsing through my collection of pictures, I was surprised to see that my Tita Baby came here in the Philippines. I have fond memories of her and let me tell you what they are.

When I was young, maybe I was 7 or 8 years old then, she stayed in our home because she was pregnant with my cousin Edmond. When my cousin was born, me and my sister Lynette were very curious about our cousin because having a boy in our home is something new to us. There was a time that when my Tita Norina was giving Edmond a bath, my cousin started to pee and since the motion of the peeing is upward, I screamed and went to my mom asking if my cousin is an alien! As you can see, I'm used to just having women around me, my mom, my sister and my yaya. My father is often out of town and busy for work. Tita Baby is always in our home during those times.

Then, my Tita started living with her parents (my Lolo Quirino and Auntie) and I remembered that we had this picture of me sitting in her lap with a pentel pen in my hand that I used as a microphone since I love to sing. They would always make me sing and I would gladly submit to their request.

She soon went to the US and had stayed there for a long time. I knew that she got married and had a daughter - a special child.

My mom and dad went to the US last September 7, 2005 and returned here in the Philippines October 9, 2005. They stayed with most of our relatives, including her. When my mom arrived, she handed me a card with a $20 bill - from my Tita Norina. It was an advance Christmas gift. I was sooo touched because I never expected to receive a gift from her. I'm already 30 years old and it's quite odd receiving gifts still. I was about to email my Tito Raul and tell him to tell Tita Norina "Thank You" for her thoughtfulness and generosity. It's very sad to note that I will never get that chance because she passed away. Could it be premonition - that she knew she will be leaving us... hence, she made sure that she will leave us something? I don't know the answer. Maybe God does.

Tita Norina - An Aunt Worth Remembering... You are very special to us all... Wherever you are, I know you are happy. God will take care of you and I know that the people you left behind will be in good hands too. I Love You!!!

Rest In Peace Tita Norina

I'm posting some of the pictures of Tita Norina during my parent's visit in the US. These are the latest pictures of the family with her...

Saturday Night...

It was my friend Cristina's 30th birthday yesterday. Her sister, Ate Laura Murayama called me and asked if I could come to Tavern (Greenbelt 3) to celebrate Tina's birthday. I was a bit tired that day since I came from a very tiring shift at work but hey, Birthdays are meant to be a joyous event and should be given attention.

I asked my friends Amor and Jonathan to accompany me. I'm glad that they opted to come too. A few drinks, a few pica-pica dishes, some music, and we all said our goodbyes.

Going home, Amor was tipsy (and to think he only had 2 bottles of San Mig Lite huh!) and so we decided to eat at KFC Buendia (it's near a Gasoline Station). Here's some pictures of my Kwela friends. Thanks to my Nokia 3650 camera phone (even if it's already 2 years old), I was able to capture some Kodak moments!

Enjoy!!! :)

Silly Amor...

Come Eat with Jon...

Subo, Amor, Subo!!!

Chow Jon!!!

2nd Joint Training Staff Meeting

We had our 2nd Joint Training Staff Meeting at Union Bank Friday, Oct. 14. It's nice to gather together and share best practices and learn new things.

Mark introduced us to a new ice-breaker, "I'm Singing In The Rain" and it was hilarious! Also, we had the Samson-Delilah-Lion game (similar to "Jack & Poy") and it was a good twist to an all-time favorite game.

Anyway, during our 1st staff meeting, our group didn't win the Communication activity and so our consequence was to do a dance number. Due to lack of preparation, we came up with the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" with House Keeping dance steps. We called our team "Ocho Rios" - based on the print on Ramon's shirt. :)

As our redeeming factor, we won the Samson-Delilah-Lion game. Hah! Next time, it will be the other team who will perform.

We had a refresher with our EIS Training then Acie and I prepared something for the group. Acie shared an article and I shared a "Handful of Blessing" - some candies and chocolates packed in plastic gloves.

Everything went well and after the meeting was done, we left Union Bank to go back to RCBC and continue with our work. Then we were called back for a very important announcement. What was the announcement? Our salaries were delayed!!! And everyone's heart sank...

But one good thing is that our Bosses were supportive and didn't pressure us to do much work that day. We managed to be calm and still happy - knowing that we have each other to complete our day. :)

Explaining our "Dance"


Rowny and I - just "fooling" around


Rowny like a Silly Baby...


Ashley like a Licking Kitten...


Ashley biting a finger from a "handful of blessings"


Acie & Me giving out the goodies


Acie pointing out the rules for our Housekeeping Dance


Depressed me after the Salary Announcement


Lois, Jhery, Jon & Me - trying to forget the salary announcement


The Bank owe us big time!!!


The team that's about to leave the building


Happy Me...

Service with a Smile!

We are celebrating Customer Care Service this week and we have some activities to go with it. This day (or should I say yesterday, Oct. 4), it was about Service with a Smile. Here's the smile candidates:

Lawie (VTECH Program Manager) with Tere

Lawie again with Aipreel

More girls... Katherine and Claire

And of course, the IT guys in action:

John S., John E., and Ron V.

But who can top the Support Team Smile Service? Sitting is April, the cute HR Compensation & Benefits Lead; and Standing are the Awesome Trainers - Jhery, Acie and Meeh...

So,what's the next challenge?

We are ready... Dare to Bare!!!