Highlights of 2008 (Long post)

 

1. Being assigned in Davao for 10 months for my third job rotation. I moved in January and moved back to Manila in November– this is where I spent majority of my year. I lived in my own small apartment, did the groceries and cooked for myself, and spent the weekends alone. I was out clubbing every Saturday night, seeing the same people in the same place. I learned to drink a whole lot of beer (especially if it’s ice cold) and resurrected my craving for chicharon bulaklak, yech! I took swimming lessons, caught up on the TV series I missed, and started going to the gym and dieting. Of course for the first half of my stay I spent most of the time preparing for the upcoming Module 4 exams. I didn’t really have a group of friends I hung out with but I met a couple of people I went out with from time to time. I actually got to explore the city more when I took my visitor friends around– John Rae, Cy, Angeli, Anna, Lotte, Bea, Mark, Edward, and Cathie.

   

  

Overall being in Davao was a great experience since the city was very safe, clean, and everything was near to each other. People were also very warm and accommodating. However living by myself and being alone most of the time magnified my feelings to the nth level! Haha. I was away from my family and friends, and had so much time to think and dwell on things I probably should not have dwelled upon. I’m glad to be back now– and I’m not ready to be away from everyone important to me yet again…

2. Travel. This year was probably the last I’m gonna travel as extensively as I did. Since I’m done with my MISE training and won’t have any more Modules in Europe (hence no more opportunities for Euro sidetrips), I don’t see myself travelling too far anytime soon. In February me and Angeli attended our friend Meryl’s wedding in Jakarta, spent the weekend with our fellow SEA MISEs touring around the city, and went to Bandung to go shopping at factory outlets!

   

In May I went to Copenhagen to attend Module 4, then took a graduation sidetrip with Jason, Sushil, Li’en, Kim, Zi and Meryl to Greece– Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos. Santorini was great, I could get married there! We drove around in a rent-a-car (I drove!), and the highlight was going up to this place called Oia to watch the sunset– apparently the best in the world– on my birthday… where they surprised me with a cake, flowers and gifts! We partied and spent time at the beach in Mykonos, Greece’s party island, for 2 days. Then I spent a night and met up with my Dutch MISE friends in Amsterdam, my favorite city– my third time there! 

   

  

For the latter part of the year I went local! :P I went to General Santos and Cotabato for business to attend meetings with our key clients. Well they were just a 3-hour drive away from Davao so maybe they’re not counted? :P In September I spent 4 days in Iloilo, and took a 3-hour per way roadtrip to Roxas. This December I finally went to Tagaytay again, after 5 years! I would have wanted to spend the last days of the year with Angeli in Ho Chi Minh (sorry dear!), but I figured I’d save the travel for ‘09.

   

3. Graduation from the MISE program. I finally graduated from the 2-year program! After 3 job rotations, 4 Modules, a whole lot of travel and meeting a big bunch of people from different cultures and nationalities, I got through! There were big bumps along the road– humbling ones, at that, but I got through them and I’m proud to say this is one of my major achievements. But I also went through… (read on to the next item)

 

4. A major career change. A month after getting back in Manila, being into my Process Excellence position at MCC and before pursuing expatriation for a MISE graduate, I decided to resign from the company and pursue a career in fast-moving consumer goods. Beginning January 5, I’ll be working as a Sales Trainee/ Account Manager for Colgate-Palmolive– new year, new job, new life! FMCG has always been the industry I wanted to be in, and now that my applications materialized, there’s no better time to grab the opportunity while I’m still young and haven’t stayed too long in the company to find it harder to leave. Ultimately I will want to be in Marketing, but Sales is a good springboard into getting more holistic experience– especially now that one foot’s already in. I also wanted to find an industry and a job I know I will be passionate about, something I know I will put my heart and soul into and push me to the limit. So there. I’ll be starting my new career in a few days ;)

And now on to the more dramatic things…

5. Goodbyes (and airports and airplanes). I’ve said more goodbyes this year than I ever have; I have a feeling I’m already numb to it. I said goodbye to my family and friends before I moved to Davao, to my MISE friends after Module 4, my close friends who left Maersk, my Davao family when I moved back to Manila, and to everyone I’ve worked with when I resigned this month.

  

 

But like I already said before, I really don’t like the feeling of goodbyes anymore. I’ve said many other tearful goodbyes this year, and most of them related to saying goodbye in airports– with me moping about them on lonely flights home! When I said my last major goodbye this year to the company I’ve been 2.5 years with and with colleagues who’ve seen me through my weight transitions (LOL!), I didn’t really feel anything. I felt that after all, real friends will keep in touch.

6. Rejection. Just like goodbyes, I’ve experienced more rejections this year than I have in my life! When I was having a career crisis towards the beginning of the year, applying to jobs in FMCG and not receiving any feedback– that was a lot. Unsuccessful applications for expat positions I was interested in also made up for more of those. The biggest one though was more related to feelings for someone, eeeeek! The gist: I felt things I’ve never felt, did things I never did before, and said things I never thought would come out of my mouth! Looking back I probably just overestimated. Well, expectation management probably got the best of me. And though things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to, there’s no better thing to do but move on and start with a clean slate in ‘09. Nevertheless, I don’t have any regrets since it can all be charged to experience!

2008 was such a growing pains year for me. I’ve experienced all sorts of emotions– from being over the top happy, excited, kilig, to being devastated, sad, lonely, disappointed, depressed, and bitter. I’ve been through major successes and failures, realizing that I’m only human, I’m no island, and that once things hit rock bottom there’s no other way to go but up. I’ve learned so much about life, other people, and most of all about myself– how I am when I’m alone, when I’m sad, when I go through failure, and the lengths I’d go and the things I’d do. I’m sure that this is not yet the worst, but at least I experienced all this to prepare me for when that time comes– I just have to get through these things to make me stronger. I would say I didn’t like this year, but it’s probably the best one so far in terms of teaching me about life, being mature, and realizing that anything that happens will be the result of my deeds and decisions. I’m sure in 2009 I’ll see the fruits of my “hardships”. I can’t wait to start with a clean slate ;)

And moving on to more interesting things, here are some of my resolutions for 2009:

• Save save save! I didn’t get to save much due to all my travels and expenses, but I’d like to take this seriously in 2009. If 2007 and 2008 were spending years, 2009 will be my saving year.
• NO MORE OF THEM SHORTIES!!!
• Lose more weight… at least 10 more pounds before the year ends
• Take my work seriously
• Enjoy the single life– do all the clubbing, parties and drinking I want… I’ve only got 3 years before my ideal marrying age, hahaha!
• Meet as much people as possible and expand my network

I’m sure 2009 will rock. I will make it. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The first week back

I’M BACK!!! :) Got here last Saturday afternoon, still sleepy from Friday’s despedida for me at Marugen Dream in The Venue compound, where almost all of the Davao staff attended:

The place was small enough to fit all of us to hog the karaoke machine, so it was just good times, doing the thing I loved to do the most in Davao on my last night– videoke! Bong gave me a caricature that didn’t quite look like me but it was very sweet :) We finished at 2am, then Rex, Lani, Jane and me headed to Urban Club to cap the night off. It was an even better way of ending my Davao nightlife by coming to the club I spent so much weekends in, especially during my first few months. I didn’t realize how much I missed it and I had such a good time! I felt sentimental in that this is the place Rex and me started and this is where we’ll end as I leave the place I called home for 9 months. 

On Saturday night I went out with Sunny and Mia and guess what we did– videoke at Havana in BF. Hahaha. 2 nights of drinking and videoke for me. I missed those folks, too bad JC wasn’t there to join us! BF has changed a lot, I didn’t realize we already had Timezone and Platinum KTV branches here! I love this village. Anyway after Havana we just went to Starbucks to hang out a bit.

On Sunday after mass I watched Quantum of Solace with my family at ATC and since I was so sleepy from the late nights before, I slept through half of the movie! Haha. Daniel Craig is hot as James Bond though, can I just say! HB was also in Manila for a vacation but we weren’t able to meet coz he spent the time with his family– more of that later.

Monday was the first day back at work and I probably spent half the day catching up with people from the office. I love the location of the new office! It’s right in front of Mall of Asia so it’s very convenient to buy anything, anytime! Plus there’s a Fitness First downstairs so it’s so easy to go to the gym. My department’s area is away from all the action but at least we have our own secluded room to be noisy all we want.

On Tuesday I signed up at Fitness First and had dinner with Angeli after. I was so relieved I was still able to avail of our corporate rate! The initial cash out I was supposed to pay was 9,650 but they were able to reduce it to something like 3,350 which included the first month’s membership fee and the admin fee, with all other charges waived. Little did I know that I was gonna be tied down to the membership for a year!!! It’s not so bad and at least I will really be motivated to maximize my membership, plus it’s transferable too just in case I have no use for it in the future, who knows…

On Wednesday I didn’t report for work to attend the last interview with an Option B. It was rather short, and me and my co-applicants were quite disappointed with it. More about that later– but after that I had lunch with Michael (my co-applicant), did some toiletries shopping then went straight home.

Yesterday was normal but I went to the gym for the first time. There was this personal trainer who tried to talk me into availing of the 1:1 training service but it was damn expensive, something like 1,500 per session! Hullo!!! By the way the people at my new department in the office are cool. Been having lunch with Kristine, who was my high school batch mate, Archie, and Acey, if I’m not having lunch with old friends. 

Today was normal too but before going to the gym I attended this wine-tasting seminar at the office, administered by this wine supplier for our Christmas party. It was free and educational so I attended it anyway– I now know how to be distinct about taste, smell, and color for white and red wine, heehee! 

As for my job– it’s a good one since I’m in Process Excellence and therefore not involved in the day to day tasks, which I believe I’m so over already. I’m sitting in Customer Service now to prepare the department for a big business move in January, and I have to make sure things are ironed out. It’s a good temporary job. As for expat, it hasn’t been working well but HR has presented me with “something that might be of particular interest to you” in the local organization, and who knows… but about that…

I WILL SOON BE A “HG” TOO! If you’ve been reading my blog and the entries about HB and why I call him that, you’ll know :) Ok it’s nothing final yet and there’s still something I have to surpass but I’M THERE!!! Boom!!! I hope nothing gets in the way of it from really happening!!!

But as for HB the person, hmmm. Nothing to tell. I’d rather not talk about it but there are sure more things that keep me happy and busy lately. Besides I’ve got a busy weekend, gonna go to my lola’s tomorrow, have dinner with Ann and Kris, going to Tiff’s birthday party, and on Sunday:

!!! Watching the concert with my siblings. I’m surprising them by taking them straight to the concert instead. Something to look forward to! :)

A day of firsts and lasts

If it were not for some bad news I received this afternoon I’d say my day was pretty good. I woke up, chapped lips (from eating 2 bags of junk food last night while watching Grey’s Anatomy 3), hungry for some warm, home-cooked food, and I flicked the TV on the Lifestyle Channel. Man, the food made my feeling worse! And so I resolved that today I will have either a) some good Italian food at La Toscana, or b) a food trip with authentic Japanese food. Problem is, since I don’t have “weekend friends” here I’d have to eat alone– which I NEVER do. Until today.

I had a problem with eating alone since I hate it when people always look at me while I’m doing my thing, what more if I’m eating, and worse, alone! I’ve never tried it too in Manila, either in the office or back in college (I’d always text someone to eat with me, or else I’d rather not eat at all or I’d eat in the car), since someone I know who’s with company might see me and say I’m a loner or something. Hehe. Anyway I decided to try it today, for lunch. It’s my last weekend in Davao anyway, I haven’t eaten anything decent in 2 days, and I think I deserve a nice “last weekend in Davao” meal. I didn’t eat Italian or authentic Japanese food; instead I had lunch at Buffet Palace where they served all sorts of food on a buffet (duh). 

What I learned? Eating alone in public is not so bad after all. Or maybe because I ate at a nice place and everyone’s just too busy to mind others’ business. But to be safe I brought a book with me, a nice memo pad, and drafted notes I was gonna write on cards for Cy (his birthday’s next week) and my boss (my goodbye letter for her). Well, I had a good time eating by myself. The waiters were looking at me here and there but it’s easy to just say “walang pakialamanan!”

And so these are what I ate. I had to get a portion of everything since I’m pigging out anyway. Man, I ate so much I felt like puking after! But the food was good, sulit yung 270 pesos ko!!! :P

Japanese food as the “pre-appetizer”

Sisig, chicharon, kinilaw, and potato & macaroni salads as the appetizers

Sweet & sour pork, adobong squid, steamed fish, beef kaldereta, yang chow rice, and crispy pancit. Saraaaap.

Almond jelly, ube flan, mango float and halo-halo for dessert

I never thought I could eat so much, especially with my habit of not eating too much recently. Bali wala yung gym ko! Haha! Anyway. After eating I went to the salon to have my bangs cut (since they were already too long and wavy), had my eyebrows threaded, and had a pedicure. My last pampering here in Davao! I have to admit for the past months I’ve been spending a lot of money buying beauty stuff and pampering myself. Haha. It’s also my last time to go shopping alone on a weekend, but good thing I had the resolve today to NOT buy anything for myself. I just spent money buying pasalubong food for the people back home.

Anyway I also received some bad news today, that one of our Operations staff in Gen San died of a stroke this afternoon. The guy’s not even 50! We have the same birthday, and he was really nice to me and he always gave me food when here was here in Davao. I just spoke to him last Friday, and he’d always tease me about HB. Hay. I didn’t realize that last Friday was the last time I’d talk to him. Life is short. 

A pic from last July when we had our 80th celebration. Godie’s the one on the right.

I’m giving my Dad a call tonight to tell him to always take care. I’m thankful I’m getting into the habit of exercising at this age, and I plan to keep it that way. Weight loss will follow if it will :P Anyhoo, I have 6 more nights to go here in Davao before I fly back to Manila on Saturday!!! I can’t wait, but I also couldn’t help but feel sad that I’m leaving. I’ll be writing more about that later.

In Davao, I didn’t… (Part 2 of many)

So here goes Part 2 of my tribute to the place I called home for about 9 months. I’ve only got 2 more weeks to go starting Monday– and though I’m excited to go back home to be with my family and friends again, I will definitely miss this place which taught me more than I expected. It made 2008 a “growing pains” year for me– but after all that I went through, I’d like to think that things can only get better right? I can’t wait to start 2009 with a bang, and hopefully with all of my questions answered.

Anyway during the later part of my stay here I made a list of things I wanted to do or try out since I had a lot of time on my hands. About half of those on the list didn’t happen :(, but doesn’t mean I didn’t have a blast. I had my “satellite” family in my boss Bong and my other officemates. Bong was like my second mom– she’d pick me up on the way to the office, and after work we’d go to the gym together and she’d take me home. We went out a lot too and she introduced me to a lot of her friends. I would have been lonelier if I didn’t hang out with my family here even if once in a while, aside from my friends and family back home, they helped keep me sane at least. Anyhoo here are the things I listed on my must-do list but wasn’t able to accomplish. Here goes.

In Davao, I didn’t…

… try out some things I said I would. White water rafting (I know, I know, how could I???), diving, and the long-planned DJ lessons. I’m quite scared of the rapids so I haven’t tried the rafting… as for diving, my friend Andy invited me to go one Sunday but I was too lazy, and now he’s too busy! And as for the DJ lessons, when I realized I was finally free to do them weeks ago, I didn’t have much time! If you enroll in these lessons you can use the studio for a month, and I just don’t have a month left here in Davao to get the most of my money’s worth. Plus, I had more “important” priorities such as going to the gym for the past months :P, and in my early months here I had to focus on my studies. Oh well, in Manila nalang when I get back, but it’s something I will still definitely try! :)

… have an out of office group. As I mentioned earlier, I was more or less limited to the people at the office, even if almost all of them had families already and Friday was the only good day to go out– and worse, only when someone made libre or picked up the tab and pegged it as “client entertainment”. Hah. I was thinking of joining a church choir to meet people but I just never got around to doing it. I met some people but I really wouldn’t know how to form a group out of them. Plus, not having a car is totally paralyzing since I felt like I wasn’t mobile– I had to plan where I went every weekend so I don’t have to strut back and forth in a cab. I used to go out with my friend Rex a lot, but aside from that the only times I truly went out with people my age were when they went to visit me here (John Rae, Cy, Mark, Angeli, Charlotte, Anna, Bea). I guess I could have done better in this aspect though…

… kiss a boy, get a boyfriend, have sex. LOL that was too straightforward. I remember on my familiarization trip before moving to Davao, the cab drivers told me I was probably gonna meet my future husband here. One of the older MISEs assigned here before me met her husband here too. But well, I didn’t. I didn’t even get to kiss a boy, what more have a boyfriend and have sex! Haha. Guys at the office were either married with kids or gay. I met a lot of people in the club and through other friends, but I didn’t really find anyone worth pursuing, or maybe I just didn’t put myself out there too much. (And in connection to this I have a comment I will reserve for Part 3.) Yes, the truth is that I was too preoccupied with someone in Manila that I didn’t really put much effort into expanding my network and going all adventurous. People might say I’d regret not doing so but I personally, I don’t think I wasted my time. Not to say that it was all worth it, but what I went through with that is something for the books. Hehe.

… do other basic things. Get an enema, donate blood, go to the ob gyne. Is it believable that I wanted to get an enema for detox? :) It’s true. Just never got around to doing it. Or finding the time to.

… get to save money. ‘Nuff said. Being alone for 2 whole days during weekends, being 10 minutes away from Gaisano Mall, and suddenly having this vain trip has taken its toll on my pocket. Ouch! Even if my daily expenses here aren’t that much, I make up for the saving by spending big during the weekends. Of course I also have other financial obligations and so I’m in no condition to say I’m rich right now. Haha. Well I’m just having the time of my life! (And soon, I’ll be doing it back home!!!)

Most of these things I will still definitely do soon. It’s just that I didn’t get to do them here. Oh, I can’t wait to see my family and friends again. And now that I have a fresher perspective of appreciating Manila from being away for quite long, I won’t waste any time… :)

(Part 3 to follow!)

In Davao, I… (Part 1 of many)

As I oh so gleefully announced last time, I’m coming back home to Manila!!! I’ll still be working in the same company, but this time for the domestic business– doing projects in Customer Service. I didn’t really like Customer Service when I was there for my second job rotation, but this time is much better since I will be heading projects in preparation for a big business move in January. Short of saying it won’t be a clerical position, so yay! And while I’m still looking for a nice expat job (or who knows, another job!) then what better way to spend it than to gain experience in another business unit, while being back in my home base that is Manila right? :)

Anyway now that I’m counting 3 weeks (19 days to be exact) before I move back to Manila after my 9-month assignment here in Davao, I wanna write some sort of list of what I’ve done and went through. In fairness, I have learned much much much more about life, myself, and people while I was here, compared to what I learned during my first year of working back in Manila. Being alone truly changes you and makes you know yourself better. At the same time boredom will make you try different things! I’ll be writing this in parts since I’m sure it will be quite long, but for this entry I’ll be mentioning the “more shallow” ones. So here goes.

In Davao, I…

… learned to love (ice cold) beer. When you say “ice cold” it really is cold that if you scrape the ice off the bottle and drop it into the beer it freezes! (Cy taught me this trick.) I absolutely loved it that I was out drinking at least twice a week during the first few months. Now I don’t wanna drink beer if it isn’t ice cold. The best place? Jickong’s. And in relation to drinking…

… learned how to smoke. Not good too if you ask my other friends. Haha. I’ve tried it back in college with my brother, but that was only once or twice. Now when I drink or go clubbing here in Davao, I have at least one stick. It’s just social smoking though so nothing really destructive… the only destructive one was weeks ago when I had 5 sticks in a night coz I was tense! Yikes. As long as my teeth don’t go yellow, I don’t stink, and I don’t get pimples from it then I guess it’s fine. 

… took swimming lessons. About time I did! There was a 5-day long weekend one week and so I decided to enroll in swimming lessons. My instructor was a 20-year old Muslim guy who I bombarded with Islam-related cultural and religious questions. Haha. Aside from learning how to swim (and finally get over my fear of deep water) I learned a lot from Vasit too. Well, add to that a stubborn tankini tan that I’m trying hard to get rid of! At least I can now swim without fear of drowning if I’m led to the deep parts of the water!

… had almost everything waxed and/or threaded. OUCH! Eyebrows, upper lip, and the most dreaded brazilian wax. Well it’s painful indeed but it’s worth it because you feel so clean after. The worst part for me though isn’t the brazilian waxing itself but the time when the hair down there initially grows– it can get DAMN ITCHY, believe me, I was spanking it just to avoid scratching it!– Ok too much details!

… stuck to a diet and gym plan. Yay for that! I’m still sticking to it now. Apple cider vinegar an hour after every meal, only half a cup of rice a day, and at least 3 hours of cardio a week. Sometimes I violated but those were totally unintentional and isolated circumstances so they’re not counted, heehee! And hey, the plans are working. I guess it helps that I’m alone and I don’t have anyone else to eat with for dinner and on weekends. And I’d rather not eat than have people see me eat alone, so… :P

… learned how to pamper and reward myself. I go to the gym at least thrice a week, then step into the sauna or have a dip in the jacuzzi if I feel tired. I had regular pedicures, whole body massages, and of course not to underestimate the retail therapy I did every week! Ok that’s not good on my pocket, but if you’ve got nothing to do and nowhere else to go to on the weekends then I guess the mall is the best place! And I just always ended up buying something. :S

… consistently heard mass every Sunday– out of my own will! I must admit that when I always went with my family to mass back in Manila, it was just out of compliance– but in fairness I have learned to hear mass every Sunday here. It’s quite sad though that something big and unfortunate had to happen (I was at the lowest point in my life!) for me to become closer to God, but it’s all good now. Because I’m also working on my faith, I’m now able to sleep alone in my room, whereas I was more duwag back in Manila! (Not that I have a choice here, do I?)

… experienced living alone for the first time. This may not be anything new or special to others, but it was a new experience for me since I’ve never lived away from my family for more than a month. I was away for about 3 weeks when I’d attend my modules in Copenhagen and travel for a week, but I was with friends anyway so it’s not counted. This time, I had to cook by myself, wash my underwear, go grocery shopping, do some budgeting and allotment of expenses and groceries, and experience weekends by myself– whether it be hearing mass and killing time at the mall. Believe me, it can get lonely, and I sure missed my family and friends a lot, but sometimes you also get some time to stop and think about different things– depends on what you’re thinking of if it’s good or bad! :P

… maxed out my nightlife. Davao’s probably not the best place for a clubbing nightlife since there are only a few dance clubs here (Urban Club, Autoshop, 183, Halo– or that I know of), but during my first few months here I was out EVERY Saturday night, no fail. My “life” would officially start at 12mn, then I’d always meet up with my friend Rex and possibly some other people at Urban Club, then we’d go home at 4am! That was fun. I eventually got tired of it since it’s the same people and music every week… but that’s why I’m looking forward to Manila since there’s so many different places to choose from! :)

Guess those make the list for the more shallow ones! What I can say is that I’ve definitely learned to live independently while I was here in Davao. Of course you’ve got no choice but to fend for yourself– you can’t eat if you won’t cook or buy anything, and you won’t have underwear to put on unless you wash the dirty ones (unless you only keep buying!), so that broke my “spoiled” (or so my parents say) life in Manila. Eventually if I go expatriate or have a family I’ll also be doing things by myself, and later on, for my future children, so it’s good to have learned it now. And there’s a first time for everything right? :)

(Part 2 to follow soon!)

5 bottles + 5 sticks = no hangover

My Friday night was pretty cool. It was Rex’s birthday eve so we had a bit of a celebration at the office, then went drinking, first at Pescado, then Jickong’s. Pescado had a nice ambiance but it was quite humid and they didn’t serve ice cold beer (bad if you’re here in Davao), so we decided to transfer to the usual favorite, Jickong’s. At least there the air was much cooler and there were much more people, giving the Friday night drinking atmosphere. We played a game where you had to burn the tissue wrapped to the mouth of a glass with a coin in the middle, and if the coin fell inside then you had to answer any question that was thrown at you. I dropped the coin! And so I was bombarded with the burning questions they’ve always wanted to ask– all of which were of course about who else. :|

Anyway I had 5 beers total, and I smoked 5 cigarettes! I don’t really smoke, I just do it when I feel like it, but last night I was so in the mood that I had a lot. My hands still smell like it now, yikes! Good thing I didn’t wake up this morning with a hangover– I didn’t feel any headache at all! Maybe it’s because I ate a lot before drinking, and we ate a lot too while we were there. And since it’s officially Oktoberfest, I tried the limited edition beer–

Since I paid more for the bottle (PHP 40), I took it home! Maybe I’ll use it in the future to pass a love letter or something, haha! I’m keeping the bottle. Maybe I should start a collection of limited edition beer bottles from around the world? :)

Anyway in other news, I’M COMING BACK TO MANILA FOR GOOD!!! Plans were kind of talked about so fast that it hasn’t really sunken in until now. I’ll be arriving latest mid-November, and I’ll be working for our domestic shipping service (MCC) doing special projects for Customer Service. I’m really excited because I won’t be doing trivial tasks at all, and I will be undertaking major projects in preparation for a big business move this coming January. And I think I’m better with projects than routine work so I think this is a great learning opportunity while waiting for expat. Oh and about expat, I’m still applying but I’ll be here in the Philippines for another 4 months at least– or who knows, even longer! My replacement here in Davao is coming by Monday so I can’t wait to start the turnover and go back to my home sweet home in Manila again!!! :) :) :) I’m counting down the days!

Plans

I’ve been here in Davao since January but I haven’t really done much, especially in my free time. Believe me, when you’ve got a laptop and free wifi at your place, time just passes so quickly when you’re in front of the computer and have communication to home back in Manila right in front of you! But anyway since I’ve been to Davao I’ve only done the following so far:

1. Been drunk on my first weekend

2. Been to the beach– Paradise (twice), Costa Marina, and Hof Gorei

3. Been to a banana plantation

4. Eaten hito

5. Been to videoke– almost 10x to date!

6. Tried the ice cold beer at Bak-Bak

7. Been clubbing– almost every month, especially when I was new here!

8. Entertained visitors– John Rae, Cy, Mark, Angeli, Lotte, Anna, Edward, and Cathie

9. Been to the “must go” Davao sites– Philippine Eagle Park, Jack’s Ridge, Eden’s Nature Park (tried the zipline there too!)

10. Played badminton– twice!

11. Been to the gym regularly

12. Had a whole body massage

Well they’re all not really too big of a deal but I feel like I haven’t really done much– at least for my self-development. And now that I’ve got some time on my hands especially come September when I’ll be waiting for expat, I made up a list of things that I wanna do in my remaining months here in Davao…

1. Enroll at Beatlab (DJ school) and try DJing at Urban Club

2. Play badminton at least twice a month

3. Take swimming lessons

4. Donate blood

5. If possible– get an enema! (For detox!)

6. Get a hair treatment

7. Visit the OB gyne

8. Buy a new pair of glasses & contact lenses

9. Detox with Papaya Enzymes/ Apple Cider Vinegar

10. Read a book regularly– at least once a month

11. Have my eyebrows threaded

Well they’re not really too big of a deal to do but of course I’d have to shell out some money, though I still have some obligations for now! Haha. Anyway I also thought of doing things I’ve always wanted to do before I grow older and can’t feel like doing them anymore. I’ll cross out items from the list as I achieve them! And here’s to a new outlook on living the single lonely corporate slave life in Davao… :)

The weekend

My horoscope for today (well, it’s not surprising that it’s very very true again): IF YOU WANT SOMETHING NOW, BETTER ACT NOW BEFORE SOMEONE SWOOPS IT UP.

Am I supposed to be alarmed??? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

(Don’t worry, this week… this week. I will make sure I get through, even if I have to spell it out.)

Anyway I spent the weekend with people from the office for our summer outing at Hof Gorei resort in Samal Island. The resort was nice, the room was only 4,800 for 10 people (there were 9 of us), but the beach sucked, MAJOR! You couldn’t see the water coz it was all weeds. I didn’t swim in the beach at all, and it was damn hot. Enjoy naman to spend time with my officemates, on Saturday evening we had this semi truth or dare but it was more of sharing about married, mature life (there’s only 3 of us singles in the group!!!). Well I honestly wish I was with the Manila outing with the people my age, from what I heard it was a riot!!! But not to say I didn’t have a good time– we did videoke, ate a lot, and time was not enough in the resort to relax!

When I got home at about 3:00 I cleaned my apartment to prepare for Mark’s and Cy’s stay here, and in the evening unexpectedly Jerome picked me up for dinner. He’s here in Davao, coming from Cagayan de Oro, and he drove all the way from Cebu. Anyway we had dinner at Jickong’s in Torres, then I took him to Fagioli. Was too tired to stay too long so I was home by 10:30 na. He’s gained so much weight, my gosh, more than double of when I met him back in… 2003?! Wow.

Anyhoo this week… this week. Exciting. Interesting. Lots of people at the office.

Because I’m home AGAIN on a Saturday night…

… and I’m tired from studying Logistics the whole day today (I actually just started at lunch and then slept for 2 hours after lunch)…

I saw this movie “Little Manhattan” (from 2005) on Star Movies today while I was having my Mr. Chips + Yakult breakfast (I know, eeeek, unhealthy! I haven’t done my grocery shopping yet!). Anyway it’s about two 11-year olds who find love in New York City. How young to find love, haha! The main character’s this guy called Gabe who falls in love with his kindergarten classmate and karate sparring partner Rosemary, and when he eventually musters the courage to tell her how he feels, it’s just too late since she’s off to summer camp. Cute movie, lots of nice quotes to get from it, such as this one:

Suddenly, I knew what I had to do. Love isn’t about ridiculous little words. Love is about grand gestures. Love is about airplanes pulling banners over stadiums, proposals on jumbo-trons, giant words in sky writing. Love is about going that extra mile even if it hurts, letting it all hang out there. Love is about finding courage inside of you that you didn’t even know was there. 

Hahahaha. Here I am again. Aaaaanyway. Here’s what I did the rest of the week since we got our PBVPs last Wednesday:

On Thursday it was my officemate Tetet’s birthday and we had free lunch at the office– paella, sweet & sour pork, barbecue, and chicken. Yum! Made me miss Mom’s cooking even more, my Mom makes a mean paella! And I miss my salpicao!!! Huhuhu!

In the evening I went to SM with Rex to go shopping for toiletries while he blasted his bonus on shoes. I spent like Php 1200 man! POOF! I didn’t know grocery shopping could get so expensive, I mean I just bought shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a couple of other non-food stuff. Yikes! Hopefully that stock lasts me for more than a month from now!

We then ate at Banok’s– I had the liempo barbecue, which was just like Php 40! I swear, the food here in Davao is absof*ckinglutely cheap but well worth the price for what you’re paying… or is my “taste” just deteriorating/ or am I settling? I hope not, I don’t think so! It actually even seems cheaper to eat out as long as it’s this cheap than to go through all the trouble of cooking at home…

And their buko halo-halo dessert was nice. It was only Php 50! No pic of it though, but it was served on a coconut… and I spilled it all over me when I tried to pour the milk out! Yikes! (2nd time such a mess happened, last time I was out with Rex in Shakey’s and the waiter spilled soup on me!)

On Friday me and my officemates were supposed to play badminton in the evening but we were too busy with work, so we just went to Chili Chill along Torres, had dinner and some beers, and went to Rizal for videoke at Gimik Barkada KTV– Php 100 lang per hour! The place was dirty and had no class at all but that was an OK price for videoke, the songs are the same anyway and are even newer than K1, which charges triple the price (but it’s a nice place naman). The not-singles left at 12 so it was again me and Rex who abused the mic until like 1:30! Haha! Was good to stretch my vocal chords man, I was singing like crazy.

Anyway so I’m home tonight and I don’t feel like going out anyway. I didn’t know I’d eventually get tired of it, or at least to want to take breaks from all the drinking and partying. Besides it’s only the same people I’m with and the same people I see every weekend so I can sacrifice having to stay home to miss out on it. And work was quite tiring too, was busy the whole week with this new Lean Quote Pricing in Sales, and next week will be even worse! My boss’s boss assigned me to do this study that’s due this Friday, and hell I don’t know where to start! It’s a good thing though since I’ll get to use my report-writing skills again, (I should be used to it from college!) and show them that I’m up for the challenge of delivering that report in a short span of time. I’m scared though, I will need to do a lot of things for this!!!

Good thing our Summer Outing’s next week already, yayyyy!!! We’re going to this resort in Samal Island called Hof Gorei for an overnight trip. Lots of things to look forward to for the next weeks including quite a lot of visitors & trainees at the office from MCC (our sister company), and then the next week (and weekend), Cy for some systems training and hanging out over the weekend, maybe with Mark too for another systems training the day before. I’ll be happy again :) And that week for sure, skipping Urban Club on a Saturday night is NOT an option! ;)

Food Trip: Pista Lokal

My fave cheap food in Davao! Located along F. Torres St., they serve even better chicken barbecue than Banok’s… only for Php 65. Tuna belly at 150. Chopsuey at 150. Cool acoustic band. And they serve ice cold beer too!

 

Jane, after our prodding, sang “Power of Two” with the band last night. Cool! Other pics with officemates Iman, Razel, Nessa, Jane, Rex, Rudy, Joar, and Tetet:

   

Have eaten there twice this week, yesterday night with Rex, and last night with the Davao staff, Bong, and our HR manager Martin. My new “must-visit” place instead of Bak-Bak– have taken Angeli here too. Bringing my next Davao visitors here!