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!!!

Big medical spender and other drama

I spent Php 8,500 on medicines today at GNC that I had to get a Gold Card to avail of the 20% discount! Haha. It’s reimbursable anyway for my company’s Php 12,000 annual medical benefit that I haven’t used– and have to consume by the end of the year. Guess what I bought?

I sure hope this works!!! A bottle with 150 capsules cost Php 5,500! Crazy! Buti nalang it’s technically the company buying it for me. They say it really works though so let’s see! I go to the gym naman regularly and I try to keep a reduced healthy diet so hopefully I see some results soon… if not then at least I tried it :)

I also bought three bottles of Glutathione– one each for me, my mom, and my dad. It’s really an antioxidant dietary supplement but the side effect is skin whitening so it’s like hitting two birds with one stone!

I didn’t get exactly this one– the one I bought was actually stronger since it contained 250mg of glutathione. I have Php 3,500 to spend more, maybe I’ll get a new pair of glasses and another pair of contact lenses this time. When I transfer to Colgate I have Php 16,000 a year to spend so that would mean more Hydroxycut?! Haha. Joking!

In fairness I feel like I’ve lost some weight and I can already see it on my pictures, though I dunno if it’s just the angle? :P

 

Before– this was last July in Davao, and after– just last Friday, and that was already after I had a heavy lunch at Azul in MOA with Ian and Peter (yummy binagoongang paella, white cheese sticks, and ginataang pakbet!), Razon’s halo-halo, (Peter’s libre), and Krispy Kreme (John’s birthday treat) for dessert! Do you see the difference or is it just me? :P

In other news it feels so good to be back, I’m totally loving it! I love just being at home on weekends with my family around, with my friends conveniently near, and just being in Manila once again. Ask me again to come back to Davao and I’ll decline outright– this place is my home and nothing else will ever come close, despite the grueling traffic and the fact that I have to commute on weekdays! The office is right in front of Mall of Asia, and Fitness First is just downstairs that I don’t have to take a bath and dress up here at home since I shower there in the morning after gymming. The only thing I don’t like about MOA is that it’s difficult to commute especially late at night and I spend about Php 250-300 for a cab, crazy! It’s not stopping me from going out though, just last Friday I did videoke after work with Ian, Kristine and Acey. And last Friday was my last MISE get-together– well because I’ll be in Colgate by January, plus Mariel and Kaye will still be away in Denmark by the time my resignation is effective.

That’s all of us (Jade, Mariel, Ian, Me, and Kaye) with Martin, our HR Manager, at Via Mare last Friday. We had another round of stuffy, carby merienda before heading back to the office for some Friday beers at the pantry. Oh yeah, technically I’m no longer a MISE since I already graduated (gasp!) from the program but we won’t be this complete again, at least until my last day at work…

I love it that it’s a four day weekend for me– we’ve got no work on Tuesday since it’s Pasay Day, but I’ll be spending it to get an NBI clearance as a pre-employment requirement for Colgate. I’ll also be fixing the mess that is my room, I’ve still got the 2GO boxes scattered around plus my sister’s usual mess. Grrr! Anyway I had a good week and a good weekend too. Last night naman I was out with JC and Sunny– we had late, fatty chicharon and rice dinner at Baliwag then coffee at Kopiroti. I miss my best friends!!! Even if I’m not in Boracay (ehem, ehemmm!!!) this weekend, (and even without HB in my life right now) I’m loving it– I don’t even have the spare time to download all the top songs on iTunes as I did back in Davao!

Anyhoo I’m excited for Christmas :) Our office Christmas party is on December 12 and I’m glad I’ll be celebrating it here with all the young people at the office, haha. We’ve got these company presentations to look forward to and the theme this year is a chorale, so we have to do a chorale-style presentation of one 80’s song and one Christmas carol. My department is doing Head Over Heels by The Go-Go’s and Carol of the Bells, but we’re absolutely unprepared as of now while the other departments are really taking it seriously with all the organs and vocalizing pa talaga after work. And so Ian volunteered us to emcee the Christmas party to try to get out of the presentation since we don’t wanna be embarrassed to be part of a lousy presentation (of course we’re still not sure about that at this point)– but I don’t think it’s gonna work! We now have another duty to fulfill and that’s to emcee, grrr!!! But no worries though, I would have liked to emcee again after a successful one (also at the office Christmas party) back in 2006. At least it will be a fun last Christmas party for me…

And in other other news I have a new crush at the office! Hahaha! He’s cute and hot. Siyempre I can’t post the pic here but he’s really nice and we’re chummy chummy na. LOL. Things aren’t going so well with HB– actually there’s nothing going on since I haven’t heard from him in days but I’m actually thinking of him less so that’s good. Leche siya, che! Haha.

By now I realized this post was totally random! I just had too much to say :P Till the next one.

Cheers to the graduate…

So, I’m feeling particularly better this Sunday and I have decided to write this long overdue post on my graduation from the MISE program I’ve been on for the past 2 years. :)

On May 16, I took my fourth flight to Copenhagen for our fourth (and last) Module– this time with all 360 trainees around– for the four final exams in Maritime Law, Logistics, Terminal Management, and Liner Trade during the first week, for a self-leadership week in the Danish woods, and for our formal graduation ceremony.

I arrived in Copenhagen on Friday night as usual after an 18-hour flight from via Amsterdam (I did not forget to buy my Haagen-Dazs Pralines & Cream!), and stayed up longer catching up with my American friend Ashleigh, who crashed at my room for the night. The next day we had breakfast at the hotel then went shopping at H&M in Stroget, yayyy! After she left to check in at her hotel, all of us SEAns had lunch in Nyhavn– at the place we first had lunch in Module 1! We got back to the hotel to study a bit (but I actually spent it catching up with my roomie Sushil), then had dinner at Butterfly, my fave pizza place in Stroget, then got ready for the next day, the official start of Module 4!

Glad to see my dear SEA MISEs again! All of us stayed at 71 Nyhavn Hotel

The first week was just normal, not taking the exams into account. I wasn’t in a very social mood this time as I was worried about the exams, so every night I spent studying for the exam the next day! Besides, there really wasn’t an activity room, and we missed the warm, cozy Karlslunde atmosphere this time. :( The food was much better though! I had bacon and eggs, and yogurt for breakfast every single day!

The exams weren’t as hard as I expected, but that’s coz I prepared thanks to my two consistent study-mates Pai and Yim! I messed up Liner Trade though coz I ran out of time…

The second week we spent in the Danish woods for our self-leadership week. Man, was it just physically exhausting! I was lucky though to be in a strong group with 7 guys from Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Brazil, China, South Africa, and Italy, and there were three of us girls from the Philippines, Denmark, and Jordan. On the first night we slept in an inflatable liferaft– 25 of us, and it was my most excruciating night ever! For the three days after we went through a day of physical and mental activity we’d walk more than an hour to our campsites, cook food camp-style, build our own tents out of wood and tarpaulin, and get into our sleeping bags on damp leafy soil! Eeeek. We weren’t given the privilege to shower either, so imagine that… by third morning I was ready to burst, as I was obviously not made for the outdoors! On the second day though, despite the heavy rains and freezing wind my group won, so we had a nice hearty dinner! :) And believe it or not, I was the last female standing in my group, unscathed!

The last day of it was worse, my feet were already damn sore, I couldn’t run, and we had to row 4.5 hours across a lake with gale force winds! In the end we all got down from the boats and pushed them across the shallow, muddy water to the finish line. After another series of activities and racing and running and rowing across a swamp, we got to the finish line and were done with the self-leadership week!!! It was the best feeling to have your fellow MISEs greeting you at the finish line and just congratulating everyone for completing it, and the program! It was the best culmination ever, we had a big barbecue and then fireworks! (No pics from it as we weren’t allowed to bring cameras) That night we went back to Copenhagen to stay at our hotels, and I had the best hot shower ever! I think I cleaned myself twice, the first wash was all muddy!!!

The next day we had our final day as MISEs… we had some debriefings and talks at the Black Diamond in Copenhagen, then we were off to Esplanaden for our group picture!!!

That’s me and Sushil among the big crowd of 360!!!

Cheers to the SEA graduates!!!

… And cheers to the only graduate from the Philippines!!! I could not have forgotten to take this picture in front of our headquarters in Esplanaden!!!

After the group photo session, we prepared for our final graduation dinner and ceremony at the Danish National Gallery. We spent an hour of networking with the Top 100 Maersk executives (I can’t believe a lot of us were just star-struck with Eivind Kolding, haha), then the next 3 hours having dinner, presentations from my fellow trainees, and networking with an executive in each table… but after the grueling dinner we were off to K3 in Copenhagen for our final par-tayyy!!!

K3 was actually a cool place– everyone was on the third floor with the R&B music, but the techno music downstairs was much much better! I didn’t have any other pics of the after-party except one with Joost, haha! We spent most of the time at the better techno party downstairs, despite there being about 3 other people on the dance floor (ahhh, only real party people know where the best music is haha!)!!! I wasn’t able to spend as much time on the after-party with my SEA friends, but I’m sure they understood haha! :) I tried to dance a bit on the crowded dance floor on the third floor but it was just hopeless with everyone pushing everyone else with their dancing! I left at about 3:30 with Pai and Yim and we had early early breakfast at McDonald’s in Stroget.

Good times!!! The next day we were all off home, or for most of us, to our vacation countries!– Greece for me! I wasn’t gonna fly in 2 days though, I spent the weekend in Copenhagen with Ria, Alma, Kit, and Mark, getting my much-needed rest, a nice dose of Pinoy food, and a sunny Sunday in the park!

Until now, I can’t believe I’m finally over with MISE!!! I have survived 2 years of work here in Logistics, Customer Service, and now in Sales… and academic work of assignments, forum participation, group tasks, and of course exams! It’s gonna be a new feeling every weekend of not having anything to do at all, going out all I want, and sleeping all day haha! But of course I’ll always miss my fellow MISEs, whom I’ve made such good friends with over the past 2 years… and Copenhagen was the last time I was gonna see most of them, unless we all plan another trip again or something, sniff!

My (gossip) girls Anna and Ashleigh! Who’ve always been with me since Module 1

My fave Dutch party friend Joost

Sushil! Despite being with him only on Module 1, my constant best SEA MISE guy friend

Pai, my Paris & Amsterdam sidetrip partner

And of course my other dear fellow SEAns (haha we couldn’t get everyone in one pic so we had to make do with a foot shot!), who have always been there throughout all the Modules, who served as constant companions, gossip-mates, and study-mates… It’s been almost 2 years since we all met in Bintan and had team-buildings in Singapore. Despite not having a graduation thing this year, I’m sure we’ll find a way to celebrate elsewhere! I love you guys, and thanks for the great 2 years! I’m sure our friendship will not end with MISE…

I love this day!!!

I feel so so so gooooood today! Good vibes man!

First off, there wasn’t too much to do so I was able to catch up a bit on the lagging work. Then in the morning I had a good coaching session with my boss, about how I’ve been performing at work lately, what I wanna do in the next months, and most especially feedback about me… which I really wanted to hear. Can I just say I looooove my boss! :) First of all, she believes in me, trusts me to undertake things, and acknowledges me for a job well done, to say the least. She said today she was gonna make me GAP, and though it’s a bit far-fetched for now, it’s unfair on my part to NOT believe I can do it when everyone else does right? And today I have newfound inspiration, both from my boss and my colleagues at work (and of course our HR manager Martin– since before), to take on the challenge to be GAP this year. Well it has been a record that all batches for the past years have had at least 1 GAP, and this year it’s only me, so guess who right?! I really will work hard to ace my exams and do well in my job so I will not let everyone (and myself) down and be the only MISE this year to graduate… and as a GAP, which is even more superb!!! I have newfound inspiration!!!

Next thing, I feel so good about being the process owner in Davao for this new pricing process we’re undertaking as Sales people. My boss isn’t much of a systems person so she assigned me to take on the task and so far I’m proud of how I’m doing. I’ve made myself familiar with the process, am asking the right questions (and was acknowledged for that), and am on top of things here in Davao! I love it, I’m so glad that my boss trusted that I can take on it… and I’m also realizing that it isn’t too hard as I thought after all!

Things, “things” are also falling into place. Great!!! My plans are like, going the way I want them to! And things are just getting better…

… And by the way, did I mention that I’m about 30+k richer today (but only until next week…)?! I just received my performance-based variable pay which is supposed to be 1.5 of my current salary… I mean my performance wasn’t too stellar in my last rotation (but that’s comparing to the highest expectations of me being a MISE) but it’s all good! I’ll be using the cash for my plane ticket to Greece after Module and the money will go POOF! by next week, but hey! You don’t get this much in one go!

Ah basta, I feel good today. Me and my officemates went drinking tonight (just a little bit, though), and it was my boss’s libre! Heehee! Didn’t have to pay anything. Ah, I just love today!

GAP GAP GAP GAP GAP!!!