Back to the dungeon next week

Starting next week I will be reporting back to work every Monday. I thought going to the office once a week will be a welcome break from being home everyday (and supposedly being bored) but right now it’s not what I’m feeling. Right now I’m dreading the day that I need to go back to work. I don’t know why. Must be because I learned that Jane, my assistant, is 4 weeks pregnant when she’s only been married for one month. Perhaps because of the incident that happened (non-signing of contract of new employee) before I went on leave. Or maybe I just really got tired of working. I still do not know.

So what have I accomplished for the past 3 weeks? Well, I finished the 1st season of Grey’s Anatomy; read Inca Gold by Clive Cussler, The Villa by Nora Roberts, and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Prachett. I have cleaned and partly organized our rooms and I started going to Baclaran. Currently I’m reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Oh, and I’ve been accompanying my mother-in-law to her medical check-ups and stuff. I guess I have been busy somehow... Yeah right, I am still trying to convince myself.

-chebong

Missed friends are not lost friends

Last weekend I got to talk to one my best friends from grade school via YM. Although I have a pc with internet access at work, a broadband in Pasig and vibe in Las Piñas (this is not too long ago until the pldt line got corrupted around our area in Las Piñas and any dial-up can’t sustain a connection for more than a minute!), I did not install YM because I’m not much into chatting. Last Saturday Buboy had to install it in Pasig because I was waiting for a message from someone who broke my heart (she made me think that she’ll get me to write articles for her, the b*tch!). But then maybe her only role in my life is to link me with my old friend. Well, the moment I was logged in, there was Doc Lani! I missed this girl sooo much! It has been years since we saw each other last because she went to the US. I can’t wait till I talk (or make that chat until I buy a headset and cam for our pc) to her again and make up for all the years that passed. There definitely are a lot of updates to make :o)

-chebong

Liberation day

Today is my grand liberation day! The first day of my long vacation. I know I will have to get back to work every Monday starting next month, but at least I have 3 full weeks for myself. If only Buboy can join me. Hopefully he’ll be able to take a long leave by October too.

So how did I spend my first non-working day? I washed our undies, I prepared our things for Las Piñas (we’re going home there tonight), and prepared Buboy’s reimbursement receipts. I know it’s not much, but I’m supposed to be on vacation, remember?

Actually, a lot of “things to do” are waiting for me in Las Piñas. I plan to start with our closet and I’m sure it’ll take me to a lot more things to do. But I don’t have to hurry and push myself, I can take my time and choose what I want to do first… like maybe write :o)

Life, right now is sweet…

-chebong

Boys Night Out

For months now, Buboy has been a happy and satisfied listener of Boy’s Night Out, a night-time show of the radio station Magic 89.9 FM. The show is hosted by three male DJs who talk about randomly selected (boys') topic each night. Of course, they also encourage listeners to join in the discussion/kulitan. I admit I also enjoyed listening to them because I get a feel of how boys think and because I love seeing how Buboy react to the discussions. I swear there were times Buboy would burst out with loud laughter or join in the discussion by voicing his opinion or side of the story to me. And I love how Brando Braganza say “sexy time” with his deep sexy voice. There are even times I want to hear Buboy say it to me too… in the same deep sexy voice of course. *kilig*

Listening to the three grown-up boys, tony-tony, slick rick and king dj logan, has been a nightly habit for us. We listen to them as we drive home from the office. Yesterday, Buboy told me that king dj logan left the station (and the show) for another FM station. Everyone was surprised, including the two other hosts of the show. Logan’s absence was noticeably sad (?) as he was the ring leader of the boys. He has the strongest personality and his co-host and listeners alike responds to his jokes and teasing so well. Last night was the first time the show seems dull. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not because tony-tony and slick rick are not competent hosts. They are a couple of intelligent djs but something is missing…

I hope they get a new ring-master to save the show. And I hope they get one soon. I miss “sexy time” already.

-chebong

Flixster

Flixster is a site for movie fans. It’s a fun site where one can read the latest movie news and gossips, learn about new releases, take or create movie quizzes, watch videos, browse or upload pictures of different actors or review movies. That is aside from being a place where one can chat with people with the same interest. Click here to take a peek of the site.

I got invited to flixster by a friend. Honestly, I joined so that I can invite Buboy who is a real fanboy of movies and comics. I wanted him to have a place where he can express his ideas, meet people with the same interest as his and be creative. Buboy joined flixster more than 8 months ago but he didn’t get active until about after 5 months from signing up. And now he’s the one reminding to me visit my account! *sigh*

I really want to write a movie or book review someday so I’m holding on to my flixster account and maybe start by writing comments on the hundreds of movies listed there. But right now, I am content using it to communicate with Buboy (chatting) and in getting to know more about him through the insights he shares in the site. *wink*

-chebong

Resignation... put on hold

Well, I approached my boss, the President, to formally tender my resignation on Friday, May 25. He did not approve my resignation. He instead offered to allow me to go on a long vacation just so I’d stay. I tried to explain that I don’t want to inconvenience the company of my long absence but he insisted that if my only reason is my fertility treatment (which is what I said in my resignation letter), he is willing to accommodate my need to rest by allowing me to go on leave. Frankly, I’d rather resign but that thoughtful gesture from my boss, the President nonetheless, made me feel valued and trusted in the company. It also made it embarrassing for me to push my resignation. I just had to reconsider.

I discussed it with Buboy and he understood my situation. So it was agreed that I’ll be filing my leave for 7 months, 3 months of which (July, December & January), I’ll not report for work and 4 month (August, September, October & November) I’ll report only once a week. The reason for the once a week reporting is because my Nexus assistant will be going on maternity leave around that time.

All our previous plans will push through though. I’ll still have time for them as my work schedule is reduced dramatically anyway. Besides, I have confidence in my two HR staff that they won’t need much intervention from me during my long leave.

I take this as one of God’s blessing. At least I know that there’s still something waiting for me when things don’t go well. Now, not that I know things are not going to be well as I’m willing to work hard on it so just it’ll succeed, but since this is a first time venture into business for me, one can never really be that sure.

I still need to submit to my boss the proposal as to how the HR department will manage without me. That is still what I am working on. Should he not approve my proposal, I guess it’s a sign that I really should go. Let God’s will be done.

-chebong

Resignation coming...

Today I will inform the head of Admin and Finance that I am resigning… and tomorrow I will formally tender my resignation letter to my boss, the President. I have already discussed my resignation to my two staff and I’m touched to see that they were sad about my leaving.

Although it’s still 5 weeks before my resignation takes effect, I can’t help but think about the things that I need and want to do once I’m free. Of course there’s the business that we’re starting, but since we will hire someone to man the booth, Mox and I have time for other activities. And those activities are already waiting for me. Here they are:

- clean our rooms (LP and Pasig) and organize our things
- read books we have that I haven’t read
- write… anything…
- organize our pictures
- start a scrapbook
- learn something new, a craft perhaps
- finish my cross stitch
- renew my driver’s license
- apply for a passport

I know lots of other things will come up. But with this list alone, I know I won’t have time to be bored for awhile. And that is a good thing, right Buboy? :0)

-chebong

How lucky can a girl be?

For several days now I have been reminiscing old times with my girlfriends. Maybe it’s the weather that is making me miss them quite a bit… I have been fondly looking back at nights spent hanging out at UP Diliman, or playing pictionary in Tagaytay, or the indoor deep talks about life and whatnot, or club hopping for bands and music, or planning surprises, or out-of-town gimmicks, or crazy laughing spree, or simply eating out… Moments spent with my girlfriends.

I have lots of girlfriends. There’s a couple from HS, a bunch from college, and dozens from work. And these I got are the best. And I don’t mean because we never disagree or even fight, because we do. There are times my best buddy from HS and I would not speak to each other for months (because we disagreed/fought about something silly) but when one of us needs help or comforting, we’d run like hell to be there. And friends are great with surprises too. My college girlfriends are very good at planning surprises (but not as good in keeping the ideas until the event though) complete with themes and props, you’d think we're professional party planners. And who says those friends you meet at work are not for keeps? I have a lot of friends I met from the many jobs I had, including volunteer work. And though we don’t regularly communicate, whenever we get a chance to get together, we just know that time has not altered our friendship.

Girlfriends since childhood

aellek then and now

halo-halong girlfriends

You know you have great girlfriends when it's no longer embarrassing or scary to let out your bad side in front of them. That’s how my girlfriends and I are. And although regularly keeping in touch may be a bit harder now (with the different lives we’re living) there is a sense of security and comfort that comes with the memories that say our friendship will stay forever, and that whenever I feel down or up or anything in between, my girlfriends will always be there to share my moments.

It’s true what they say, girlfriends are the best. And I’m lucky I’ve never been short of them all my life. And the best part (yup, there's still a best part) is that my girlfriends are also friends with Buboy that I never had a hard time spending time with them with him. How did i get so lucky!!

-chebong

Between a “Rock” and a Hot Place….

On May 1, 2007 for Mox’s bday (advanced celebration), we took her to historic Corregidor where we had a crash course in history while having fun playing print ad models and photographers.

Da Higop Gang Strikes Again!

Corregidor, known as “The Rock”, is a small rocky island in the Philippines strategically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. It was a key bastion of the allies during WWII. Corregidor was the headquarters of the Allied forces and also the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government during that time. This island fortress stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of the Filipino and American soldiers who bravely fought against the invading Japanese forces during World War II.

they say that Corregidor Island is shaped like a stingray... but does'nt it look more like a sperm...err...tadpole?

Our day started at CCP where we boarded a ferry that would take us to Corregidor. We toured the island via “tramvias” (buses made to look like the old trams used in the island during the war) with candid tour guides narrating stories, anecdotes and historical facts along the way. We were shown the geographic sectors of the island which includes Topside, Middleside, Bottomside and Tail end. And visited the island’s landmarks such as the Mile-long Barracks, old Spanish Lighthouse, Pacific War Memorial, Eternal Flame of Freedom,Filipino-American Friendship Park, Filipino Heroes Memorial, Malinta Tunnel (with a 30-minute audio and visual presentation on WWII), and not to mention numerous gun placements and ruins all around the island.

Tramvia Trippin'

We speak softly.... but we carry “BIIIIG” guns!

Paying homage to the brave souls at the Heroes Memorial

Re-enactment of the death march...by the Eternal Flame of Friendship... huh???

"Hi Ho... Hi Ho... It's off to work we go..."

Indiana Jones aint got nuthin on us!!!

The Pacific War Museum... can you guess which ones are on display?

The Lighthouse... The Altar of Heroes... and two “reeeally” weird girls...

Ahhh... the beautiful scenery...too bad these guys are always in the pics...

Although it was sooo hot that day and all the information and facts that we’re getting may be too much to handle at times (as it has been years since we last read our history books), we can’t help but be fascinated and awed by the story being told both by the ruins and the newer memorials built in Corregidor. Truly, this island not only teaches lessons from the past but it also give us a glimpse of the sacrifices and heroism of the Filipino and American soldiers alike.

Fine weather we're having....“nooooot!”

We think every Filipino should include visiting this historical island in their personal to do/to go to list.

3rd Year Anniversary

A week ago Mox asked Buboy how he proposed to me as she has no idea. Well, there weren’t any romantic setting, no ring either. But to me, it was the start of something I know will last forever. Here’s how it goes... After years of fighting, Buboy and I finally broke up on June 10, 2003. It wasn’t a good break-up, by the way, it was a bit messy. By early July of the same year, we were both convinced that we will not be getting back together again. We talked over the phone the night of July 7th and by early morning of the following day, we were both crying, trying to make up. Then he told me “love, ayaw ko ng mawala ka. Mag-sama na tayo”. Of course I said yes. In my mind I was thinking that he is asking that we live together. Months after that, we both transferred jobs and started planning and saving for the wedding.

It may not sound much to others, but for me, that was really the start of our life together. It was then that we realized how much we mean to each other, how we touch each other’s life, how we compliment each other, how much we are willing to do and to give for each other, how lovely life would be with each other, that we belong with each other...

Today we celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. We have nothing special planned for tonight but we have managed to make almost everyday of our 3 years together special in so many ways that no fine restaurant or big bouquet of flowers or tons of chocolates can sum up those years. And the best thing is that we still have the rest of our lives to make special.

Buboy and I after our wedding ceremony

Buboy and I three years after our wedding

-chebong