Fun Day At The South

“Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! The magic is here!”

The sun was scorching hot on a clear Saturday sky when me and my crew Mike and Cassey, went all the way down South to enjoy our share of SMART Fun Familia 2008 at Enchanted Kingdom. With free ride-all-you-can plus 300 worth of consumable Wizard Money, we just can’t help but let out that kid in us even for just a day. But setting aside the scorching feel of the April sun on our skin and the crisp Laguna air blowing on our hair (well at least Mike doesn’t have to worry about that one), at least the crew got reunited again for some bonding moments in between rides, some ice cream, and lunch.

Traffic was pretty smooth going to Sta. Rosa in Laguna, save for minor traffic counterflows due to some on-going constructions along SLEx. Due to an early call time set by the event organizers, my friends and I slept during the entire trip. When we finally got there, we stayed a couple more 45 minutes chillaxing at the bus until around 10:00 a.m. and the theme park opened for the people. Take note, Enchanted Kingdom was closed at that time to the public because ours was an exclusive corporate booking. Bongga!

First stop: pearl shakes! Man, the sun was glaring from way up and our sweat is threatening to make an unprecedented exposure. That’s why we stopped by the first food kiosk we passed by and ordered pearl shakes. (Extra pearls for Cassey, please!) Then we rode Up Up and Away followed by DodgEm (EK’s version of the classic Bump Cars). After two more rides, we decided to hit for lunch at Launch Time, the fastfood within the Spaceport Zone. Food was actually good (Thank God the place was airconditioned! Woohoo!), except that it’s a bit pricey but their large servings made up for the cost. And in-between roasted chicken and barbecue coupled with seafood basket and tiramisu ice cream cake, we had a good (and oftentimes hilarious) conversation for the next two hours. (Considering the heat of the day, it would be nice to enjoy some airconditioned chillax for a while.)

We learned that Mike is now with Convergys and that he’s currently completing his training at the Insular Life Building which, according to Mike himself, has a rather eerie history back in the 70’s that’s causing some weird occurrences of ghost haunting and unexplained phenomena. (Ok, this is so Halloween-ish so I’m not gonna dwell on it any further. Geez!) Good thing for him to finally land a job that he obviously seems to enjoy in a company that’s known for good pay and opportunities for its people. Cassey, as usual, brought along with her a cool Samsung phone that’s not yet out in the market. (Hmm… I forgot the name, though.) I, on the other hand, was just chillaxing and surfing the net on my mobile phone while listening to Mike’s account on the things he’s picked up in his training, specifically some of the words (and expressions) that Filipinos are almost always TOO fond of using. (Believe me, this one’s a blog-worthy topic. Haha!).

The other half of the day was spent on three rounds of Anchors Away (I badly needed some glucose in my system after our third turn, else nausea may have settled in.), some ice cream (that nearly drew Mike to the edge of his patience and poise), more photo ops at Wheel of Fate, a wet and wild ride at Rio Grande Rapids (Thankfully this time, Mike didn’t get to be hit by the ‘shower’ else he could have strangled me since I was the one who really insisted on the ride.), a last turn at Flying Fiesta (to dry up from the Rio Grande ride since I was wet all the way to my, uhhh, undies… hehehe!). Too bad Space Shuttle (which was my personal favorite) was not operational that time due to some ongoing annual maintenance activity. Finally by 5:30 p.m. we were homeward bound back to Makati.

At the end of the day, we were a little dusty and smelled of sun and wind, but I had fun. And I hope Mike and Cassey did, too; even if I had to drag them all the way to the place. Still, it was nice that my crew got together. We’re planning to cook up some trip to Pangasinan, and I hope it pushes through. But anywhere’s good as long as I’ve got my friends. Aight? =)

PS: Word for the day: GONDOLA. *wink*

365 Days And Counting...

What a year that was…

Today I’m exactly one year at work, and I can’t help but feel [just a little bit] awed at some of the changes in my life –good or otherwise – for the past 365 days.

Just to give you a brief background, this is my second job so far, after having resigned from the previous company I worked for for almost 3 years. Along with my changing jobs, it was also a change of industry. Being adept in the ins and outs of the local semiconductor industry, transferring to the telecoms industry was an unplanned but welcome change. In terms of work and responsibilities, man, it was so different! Way back in 2004 I was the module engineer working with robotics and machines that reach up to the production floor ceiling. I’d get my hands dirty (and oftentimes a bruise here and there) during machine maintenance activities, with the help of the friendly neighborhood production technicians who, in some way, most of them I’ve befriended already. (Believe me, these technicians can do wonders for the machines… and sometimes a lot hell of time, too!) I’d go to work in my signature tees-and-jeans-plus-sneakers-and-backpack outfit just like the rest of the people in my previous company, not even wearing earrings nor bracelets, and definitely no makeup for me! Yep, that was how my Mondays to Fridays went.

Fast forward to 2008, and here I am in the big city as a business process analyst in one of the major telecoms company in the country. I don’t do dirty machine works now; instead I have to deal with software developments, technical documentations and the works. I had to trade in my sneakers for girly flats and sandals, my tees for casual blouses and tops, and my backpack for a shoulder bag. My day normally starts at 8:30 in the morning, whereas in my previous work I start as early as 7:00 in the morning!

The better part of my first year at work was spent on learning the ins and outs of the industry, specifically the department with which I’m a part of. I’ve met a couple of diverse people as well. Though I’ll not mention their names, some of them might be reading this and they’ll most probably know that I’m talking about them. There’s my boss who’s blood level harbors on an alarmingly low scale that it usually worries me whenever she calls in sick for the day. On the outside she may seem like the usual workaholic (glasses and all) but she’s one ultimate beach bum and a jet setter who can very well pass as honorary member of the Korean team. I also have two officemates who unwillingly becomes the center of everyday pranks and jokes by our in-house prankster (I’ll tell you more about the Prankster later on). These two are good friends of mine, and coincidentally their boyfriends share the same name. One is a Cabalen chocolate lover who’s got a name for each one of her stuffed toys (teddy bear = ‘Beary’, dog = ‘Doggie’, star = ‘Starry’), while the other is a pure Chinese lady with a penchant for anything that’s pink who, ironically, does not speak the language. The Prankster (as I will call him for anonymity’s sake) loves to play pranks and jokes that usually harbors to too much. He’s one of those so-called ‘obedient’ boyfriends who do the semi-admin responsibilities to his girlfriend. When teased about this, he defensively says “Mapagmahal lang…” The team does not usually take his word for it, though. Oh yeah, there’s also the walking encyclopedia of the team who’d gladly sit in the front row with pompoms if Wikipedia was part of the Wold Cup series. He adores everything that’s Japanese, and his ideals are sooo Atenista that sometimes, we just can’t help but stop and stare at him thinking. “Get on the next plane to Japan and get the freaking out of here!!!” Of course, I was only kidding (or am I, really?).

These people, and many others, make the work life a little more interesting than the usual 8-5 of the average yuppies. My current job has some some downside to it though, that I admit; like the costly transportation cost, desktop instead of laptops, and the higher risk of running into something really nice that often results to unplanned expense during a lunchout at one of the nearby malls. But still, there are lots of perks to be enjoyed (bonuses, on top of everything else) and the people [so far] are great. True, they're one diverse set of people (some of which I really can't figure out) but still we're one happy bunch at the office. As far as the career ladder is concerned, for now I'm pretty much enjoying the responsibilities I'm currently handling but it doesn't stop here. It's a competitive industry out there and one can only do so much as to grab whatever golden opportunity presents itself in the horizon. I'll always be on the prowl for something better and change is inevitable, eventually.

Overall, I guess the last 365 days have been good - 365 days of exploring new possibilities, new friends, and a new career... AND COUNTING! Cheers! =)

Forgiven, Not Forgotten

"You're forgiven, not forgotten..." - The Corrs, Forgiven Not Forgotten

In almost 25 years of my [so-called] exsitence, I can say that I've only been really angry (and I'm talking here about that ugly vine of hatred that crawls up on you and threatens to take over better judgement and, worse, the conscience.) twice. One was during college (sorry to disappoint you, but I won't be spilling out on this one.) and the last time was sometime 4 years ago (now this one you're gonna hear about).

Inasmuch as I would like to spill the juicy details about the guy (yes, it's that 'guy thing' again), there's nothing much to tell except that he was a mestizo from Pangasinan who pursued his intentions to me and my family, and everything then became rosy...well, ALMOST. Happy ending could've easily followed, except that God had other plans. See, the week after our third date that ended with him having dinner with me and my family at our house (geez, what is it with third dates???), I accidentally met his cousin who happened to be an acquaintance of my former boss then. It was when I learned that the jerk had a girlfriend that time who happened to look a LOT like me. For a while, the realization hit me like hilarity being poured ice-cold on my head.; and then it finally sinked in and off I was to the ladies' room for some major sob fest. The rest, I'm pretty sure you know, was history.

God, how I hated him. I hated him, not because he deceived me, but because the guy actually had the nerve to deceive my family. My mom treated him well and welcomed him warmly in our home. He'd have dinner at our house, talk with my mom and cousin, and he was a perfect gentleman. Or so he may have seemed to be. He apologized profusely after the truth was out. Of course, apologizing was the only logical and reasonable thing he could have done. It even came to a point where he promised to break off his relationship with the girl just to be with me, without me even asking him to do so. Moreover, I had to endure the hostility of his cousin towards me. THAT and everything else added up to the hatred I felt then for the guy.

And then last night, after countless efforts of apologizing, he sent me a message via Friendster, saying for the nth time that he was [truly] sorry for the things he's done and that he'd be happy if I'd accept the truce he was offering and become friends again. And for a while, I thought it would be an increment to the nth time that I'll ignore his effort and send his message straight into the trash bin. But tonight somehow it was different. I thought that maybe it wasn't worth all the anger anymore; that despite the mess he made, something wonderful came into the picture where he left off - Max. Max was my ex-boyfriend, and even if things didn't work out between us, the memories were all worth keeping. Ok, enough about Max. Yeah, I guess I pretty much forgave the person and moved on from that messy series of my life.
BUT...

I may have forgiven him for the deceit and lies he's done, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten the act itself. I can't shake the feeling of humility because at that time, I couldn't even look at my mom in the eye because I was the one who introduced a guy who deceived me and my family. That's why friendship is something I can no longer offer, at least not for now and not anytime soon. Call me cynical, but that is how I am. Friendship equates to trust (at least in my vocabulary) and once broken, it can never be the same again.

I replied to his message, saying that I've forgiven him but that friendship is not an option for the two of us now. I also wished him well and hoped that he has moved on just as I did. Finally, I asked him to not send me any more messages like that; I've forgiven him and that's enough. Everything will eventually fall into place, in God's own time.

Swamped... And Sooo NOT Loving It!

Swamped (defined) - rendered powerless especially by an excessive amount or profusion of something; OVERWHELMED.

These past few days saw me at my being the finest - and most professional - crammer in the Diaz clan (ok, maybe even at my mom's side of the family, the Manalotos). And what else could make me rant like this other than 3 things - school stuff, more school stuff, and lots lots more school stuff. Woohoo!

The school term is coming to a close, but it's never too late for my friendly neighborhood professors to require papers and projects left and right before we plunge into the so-called summer fun. I've always been warned by my mom (Who, after almost 25 years, I still can't believe how she seems to always know best) that taking up 3 subjects in a single term may be too much of a handful for me, considering I still have a day job on weekdays. And as usual, I realized too late. While all my friends are busy enjoying the long weekend with families and friends (and beaus), I was getting cozy with my laptop, trying to figure out which one needs to be done first among the many requirements I have to submit by the end of this week. Let me see.. well there's the 15-page reflection paper and WebQuest project (Whew, good thing this one's supposed to be done by pairs!) in my Technology in Learning Environment class, the oral defense and thesis chapters from 1 to 3 in my Methods of Research class, and a 5-page commentary and case study report for my IT Strategic Management class. On top of that there's work, my struggling social life, and my feeble attempts to FINALLY have a lovelife (But this one's not a priority though, honest! Hahaha!).

As I am writing this post, I'm down to 2 more requirements. (That's a relief!) I know I've been neglecting a couple of invites from friends but hopefully (and I mean HOPEFULLY) the end of the week will cut me some slack. I need some serious chillax after this. If there's thing I hate besides a bad breakup, it's being swamped with work when I could be out with friends on a movie or food tripping with my mom. But... first things first. Still, I sooo hate it!

Six To Nine Months

"Six to nine months... Tick-tock, tick-tock..."

Yesterday, it became official that Intel Cavite (better known as Intel CV) will be closing it's doors in nine months' time, max. News were flying like crazy over phone calls, SMS, emails, chat, and yes, even in blogs of friends who have been affiliated with the company one way or another. It's as true as the sun that's gonna set in the evening, yet somehow it haven't sinked in yet... at least not for me.

I remember the first time I set foot in Intel CV during my interview. Back then, I couldn't help telling myself, "Ang layo naman, sobra! Probinsyang probinsya... ayokong mag-work dito. Basta, bahala na." A week later, I got a call from HR for my contract signing and in a matter of days, I was officially Intel Inside as Process and Equipment Engineer for the Burn-In group of CV CMO Test Engineering Department. Back then, I was an excited girl who's fresh out of college bursting with energy to prove myself to the world (and of course to earn my own dough). Who would have thought that I'll be getting so much more than what I bargained for.

Before I knew it, I was dealing with machines and robotics, and walking the production line in anti-static shoes with smock and production goggles. I was issued my very own laptop (yep, the laptop part was cool! ^_^) and doing CE! audits and monitoring tool utilization and downtimes. Mind you, there was no overtime pay that time, and the extended working hours were all for free (that part, I didn't quite like). But still, it was a lot of fun because of the people I've come to work with. They made life a lot sweeter for me while we were all working our tired butts off. We had a lot of fun and good laughs over our Tagaytay lunch outs, Magdaragat happy hours, Urban Chef in-house lunch, and too many photo ops to count. Yup, life then was sweeeettt!

Sadly, there came a point in my career when I realized that I could do more than the routine tasks I was doing at Intel. I knew then that the time was nearing when I would have to move out of my comfort zone and explore what else does the industry have to offer. I also started paying for my graduate school tuition then so I needed additional dough. In a couple of months, I bade farewell to Intel, along with other friends who have resigned as well to find 'greener pastures'.

Hearing the news that Intel CV will be closing it's doors by the end of this year somehow leaves me with a heavy heart and a bit of melancholic nostalgia for that place that I once called 'home'. True, I had to leave the company but in earnest it seems like I never really left. It's as if a part of me will always stay with the company that taught everything I now know and can do. I owe to Intel the learnings and competencies I have acquired. As my friend Sam puts it, "Yes, there's something with CV that makes you consider it "home" to a certain extent... it's the people that I'll miss most..." For me, it's the working culture and the people that gets one unsuspectingly attached to the working place.

Let me end this post by saying a big KUDOS to the people behind Intel's glorious days in the Philippines. All is not a waste, for even if only the legacy is the only thing left behind, no amount of money can equate to the years and loyalties that has made Intel CV what it is and always will be - a great place to work.

One great team... and one great place to work! :)

The Bomalabs Strike Back!

"Its hard 4 me 2 mit up wid u kc nalilito din ako. I dnt knw really if i love her, but i knw dat she loves me..."

- Actual SMS message from Mr. Bomalabs (to my girlfriend)

5:39 p.m., Wednesday. I was on my way to ride the shuttle service going home from the office when my phone buzzed with an SMS message from my girlfriend. She was having this convo (via SMS) with a guy we both know from sometime way back, and from the looks of it my friend was being put on the 'spot' by the guy, and she was confused (and a little giddy, to be honest) as to where the convo would lead to. For a while I got really excited for her, knowing too well that their friendship has come quite a long way and that yes, she likes the guy. I stay tuned as she updated me on how their convo was going, until she told me that the guy confessed having gotten back with his ex-girlfriend (come to think of it, it's now gonna be 'ex-ex-girlfriend', ha ha!). It would have been fine, as if two good friends were sharing some good news in an attempt to catch up with each others' lives. It's really just fine. Until he dropped the bomb and confessed that he's had feelings for my friend even way before, and that he isn't that enthusiastic about the getting-back-together thing because he's not so sure whether he still loves his ex or not.

DUH?!?!

I confronted my friend about it, and the poor dear is confused, flustered, and a bit shocked all at the same time. Being my frank self, I presented her two possibilities: 1) the guy would give up on the girlfriend to pursue my friend and try to make it work with her, or 2) the guy could just be fishing for answers so that he'll know if he can go as far as to date my friend on the side (sorry dear, I'm just being honest here). As much as I hate to admit, it could most likely be possibility #2. But we both agree on one thing: he's one of those really-hard-to-figure-out guys that's even more complicated than deciphering ancient writings. Bomalabs (a.k.a. 'malabo') as my friend calls it.

The way I see it, men have this annoying habit of fishing for answers from us girls instead being direct to the point. I mean, come on! If I can translate whatever the text message meant, it would equate to "Uhmm... I've gotten back together with my girlfriend but you see, I liked you ever since and I was wondering if you'd still want to see me and hang out... but my girl doesn't have to know." Plain and simple; direct to the point.

At the end of the day, my friend and the guy dropped the subject (geez, I hope it's for good... haha!) but my girl's feeling a little off balance by the night. To be honest, I'm quite relieved that things ended at just that for now. Heck, he could've just seriously pursued my friend and then things could have had a sweeter ending! Believe me, though readers of this blog may not have the slightest idea (ok, maybe some may just have the itsy bitsy slightest idea) as to whoever is the friend I am talking about, I know her well enough to say that she deserves so much better than a semi-sorta confused guy who couldn't quite figure out how he really feels. Believe me girl, you deserve so much better than that. ^_^

A Fool's Tale

Yang: "Guys, I'm getting married"
Lissy: "Ows?!"
Yang: "Nyahahaha April fools! =P"

Just in case you haven't notice (like when you're too busy editing your Friendster/Facebook/Multiply/My Space/Blogger/LiveJournal/Wordpress site like, err, me! Hahaha!), it's the first day of April or better known as April Fools' Day. All over the world, this day is well known as a time when humor reigns and harmless pranks, practical jokes, and hoaxes are sanctioned. In short, it's the day when everyone is allowed to fool - and be fooled by - other people.

I may not have much to say about today, but admittedly I have been a fool one too many times in my sweet 24 years of existence. I have had more foolishness than I could count, and the results are often disastrous, if not ultimately embarrassing (to the point where I feel like I could very well welcome the Earth to eat me up alive). Blame it to impulsive youth, a freedom-loving spirit, or the desire of proving my limits to the world, still there were times when my foolishness got me going for more than what I bargained for. And believe me when I say that things can get pretty ugly and downhill from there.

I'll be turning a year older in the coming months, and I know very well that I'm bound to commit more follies and mistakes on top of everything else which I did. And there will be more humiliations and embarrassments along the way. Oh well, at least I'll be a bit wiser (hopefully) and I'll be a better person (Uhmm... cross your fingers please!). I can only hope that Self (Self a.k.a. Me) knows a little better this time, and that she's learned a lesson or two in the past years. She'll commit some follies, of that I'm sure. But I pray that she won't be the fool who learns life's lessons the hard way... at least not again.

Happy April Fools' Day!!! :)