| on my last email from urc |
[27 Sep 2008|11:43am] |
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 nostalgic |
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I sent this email to my close friends in Brand last saturday, september 20. my last day in urc.
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"Hi friends,
This will be my last email from URC that I will send. First of all, it's been really a great 2.5 years working here, full of ups and downs. Lots of learning experience. Moments of serious in-the-zone work, pagtatalisod (including the pagbuhos ng Nips), pagtatawanan over email threads (sina Melofilo, Terenaida, Jack 'n Jologs brands, etc), and of course, growing up (and growing big) and maturing. You have all been a part of my journey here in URC.
With my farewell email, I will revive what others have done way back when they do their farewell mails to Brand people. Here goes...
Anj - Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito. At dahil doon, nagpapasalamat ako. Kung hindi mo ako sinabihan na may opening dito last December '05, wala ako dito ngayon. Maraming maraming salamat sa lahat, lalo na sa pagiging isa sa aking mga sandigan. From kabarkada to ka-officemate, you have been there always. And yes, like others have told you before, you will surely go places here. Go future cat head (or MD). =D
Mich - Gorgeous. Remember that I used to call you that when I was new, lalo na yung times na nag-aagawan tayo sa phone. Salamat sa isang pagiging mabuting seatmate noong assistants pa tayo, at sa pagiging isang kaiyakan noong nabubugbog tayo sa trabaho at ng mga boss. Pati weekends dito sa office, pinatulan natin. Salamat sa lahat, sa pagiging kaibigan dito sa URC, lalo na noong mga araw na iniisip ko nang umalis noong bago pa ako (i.e. due to your best friend APT, hehe). For sure, magkikita ulit tayo. Sana matuloy ang mga regular na night outs na inaasikaso mo.
Jenny - Evil girl. I will miss you terribly. For sure, wala kang katulad doon, o kung saan man ako magpunta. Tanging ikaw lang ang lamang-lupa na napamahal na sa akin. Wala na akong kukulitin at aasarin. You know that my pang-aasar sa iyo just shows how comfortable i am with you, just for being myself. And I know for a fact that you will miss me. And people will miss our kalokohans. Di bale, magkikita rin naman tayo pag gabi (huwag ka lang magkaroon ng curfew). MAGKA-BOYFRIEND KA NA!
Joey - Sa 9 months mo dito sa Brand, parang ang tagal na kitang kakilala. I didnt expect that from someone na kararating lang last January. Shows how great and true you are as a person; and for that, saludo ako sa iyo. Salamat sa pagiging kaibigan (at sorry din dahil sinundan ko si Karen sa pag-iwan sa iyo, hehe). Sayang din na hindi pa natutuloy mga inuman sessions with Ia. Sayang din at hindi na matutuloy ang tag-team hirits kay Ia. Please continue that legacy. Hehe.
Carol - You've been a great co-worker and partner in Pretzels. The shy, silent worker is finally blooming! Magpatawa ka lang lagi; it always surprises us na kayang-kaya mong hiritan kahit sino man. Continue showing your (evil) self. Continue to surprise us as well. Behind that shy smile, I didnt know that there was this thoughtful girl. Thank you for the little gifts. Like before, don't be afraid to ask me something even if I'm not around anymore. Good luck with Pretzels. =)
Tin - I'll put it into writing - You made my roadshow life traumatic and miserable. And you know I am always kidding. Im so sad na wala na akong ma-aakbayan at kukulitin doon sa lilipatan ko. Continue being the great worker that you are - smart, OC, but simple, humble, and responsible. And you may now wear your eggplant blouse again (kasi wala nang mang-aasar sayo). I'll miss you (or making asar to you).
Neil - When I began handling Crackers, I felt it was a challenge and opportunity for me to train someone like you - like reigning in a horse from the wild. You've got passion, and never ever let it die. Try to learn as much when you are here - i hope you learned from me. Always keep in mind what I've told you about dealing with support groups - pakikisama, not too aggressive. But when you leave for a multinational, forget everything I've told you, except for being more sensitive to people and situations. And remember that Ria is not reporting to you. =) Good luck with Magic.
Ms. Rubie - Hindi ko alam dati na nakakatuwa kang kasama. If mas malapit ka sa area namin, for sure kasama ka sa mga hihiritan ko - Tin, Jenny, etc. Sorry at iiwan ko kina Jenny ang Financials ng Biscuits (Good luck Jenny), pati hindi na kita matutulungan sa mga powerpoint ni Teree. But you'll do great. I hope you get the chance to handle a brand as well - ilagay mo sa PA mo. And I know we'll meet again soon. =)
Tep-tep - Too bad that I only had 2-3 months to make asar to you. Good thing or bad ba yun? Anyway, I really think you'll also do well here in URC, especially in Biscuits. Keep impressing us with your talents, that are yet to be discovered, one-by-one (that doesn't mean you'll do a back stroke on the floor right now). I also think that you'll replace me as the resident powerpoint-maker, graphics designer in the group. It's a challenge and opportunity to shine. Good luck with that. Hehe.
Ria - As I told you, handling Crackers will challenge you, and may bring out the best in you. You will be faced with lots of problems, but I hope you would learn how to rise above them. Be on top of things for Cracker projects. You'll do fine. =)
Mommy Ems - Alam ko po na marami na tayong napagdaanan - mula sa noong bago ako't nag-she-share sa inyo ng mga problema ko rito sa Brand, hangga't sa mga tampuhan nating maliliit at malaki. Sa tingin ko, hindi magiging buo ang isang relationship kapag wala yung mga tampuhan - kahit tunay na anak ay minsan ding magpapa-inis sa kanyang nanay. Sana po ay hindi niyo makalimutan ang mga masasayang araw natin dito sa Brand. Yun ang aking dadalhing alaala tungkol sa inyo. Sigurado po akong wala akong makikilang "nanay-nanayan" ko tulad niyo doon sa lilipatan ko. Salamat po sa lahat!
Ms. Buena - Kahit malayo na kayo at hindi maabot (dahil nasa 3rd floor na kayo), siguradong mami-miss ko ang pagbisi-bisita sa inyo. Hindi lang sa kalokohan, sa kamanyakan, pati na sa kabiguan at kalungkutan. Salamat sa LAHAT ng payo - kung paano magtrabaho, kung paano makitungo sa mga tao (maliit man o malaki), kung paano maghintay sa mga biyaya, kung paano magpasalamat sa iba. Sana hindi niyo ako kakalimutan. Mamimiss ko ang paghatid sa inyo (at sa inyong mga chismis) tuwing may event ang URC.
Mely - Before, I was wondering why God didn't put me under Crackers when I entered the company. I realized that if that were to happen, we may not be as close now, because we wouldn't have that sort of "awkward" boss-assistant relationship. Nevertheless, I think that you have already been serving your life's calling - mentoring people to be the best they should be. Even if you didnt become my boss, I treat you as one of my mentors. Salamat sa pagiging isang tunay na kaibigan, at ate/nanay dito sa Brand. Salamat din sa pagtiwala sa akin sa iyong mga kwento. I will miss visiting you in your area.
Ia - No need to send you a good bye note, kasi for sure magkikita pa rin tayo. Basta, thank you for all the great laughs, for sharing all your troubles at work or with William or with your car. Thanks for making me your driver all the time here in URC. And that's not sarcastic because I get to save on gas. Haha. I will miss Simple Joys. And 1.5-hour lunch outs. And yung mga awayan na hindi nagpapansinan na tumatahimik tuloy ang office. And all the inside jokes (skanky bitch, leather shoes, "higs", retokada, humanagemenitismnesity, etc). And have fun with the Pipers twins/triplets. =)
For my two bosses:
Chris - Thank you for being a boss, a mentor, and a friend. Thank you for challenging me - for knowing how I can sill improve, and how I can make my work better. I will never forget, for instance, how you didn't approve of the action plans in the recent Crackers marketing plan and told us to think of Omnibus Magic activities. Becaue of that, I now regard challenges as opportunities for me to show my best. Thank you for the guidance.
Teree - Thank you for still hiring me back in 2006, even if I wasn't your first choice. I know that there are hurdles to overcome when one's new, and I thank you for realizing my potential here in Brand. I honestly hope that our sales and market shares still continue to increase, to make lives better for the people here in Brand (esp when having to approach you for approval). Lastly, thank you for not firing me even if inaasar kita. I was just thinking you needed a laugh once in a while.
And for all those who have gone ahead of me, and have made a lasting impact as to who I am and where I am today, I would like to thank you, Kate, Donna, Rocky, Leng, Paulo, and Karen, for being there always despite being physically away, for being my pillars of strength while you were sitll in Brand, for constantly inspiring and challenging me, for always keeping in touch. I will never forget how large an impact you've had, during my first years here in URC. For that, I thank you.
Again, thank you for everything. Do always keep in touch for anything - cky_af@yahoo.com. I will email you once I get my new email address.
Singing off,
Chuck Africa
Brand - Magic Crackers
Universal Robina Corporation"
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| on what boredom can bring |
[27 Jan 2008|10:12pm] |
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 bored |
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music |
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blake lewis - break anotha |
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went to embassy cuisine for the first time last saturday. just out of boredom. ia insisted we go out last saturday, as she was bored at home. since i didnt go out last friday and the whole of saturday, i agreed to accompany her. it's been a while since i went out drinking in a bar. couldnt even remember when the last time was.
we met franco santos there, "back from the dead". the last time i saw him was back in 2nd yr or 3rd yr college. apparently he was one of ia's friends from college. just the three of us - two of my friends from different worlds.
fun night. four lychee martinis. one thousand bucks. a wild night when we "stole" one of their platitos. american accent in mcdonald's. 5 glasses and 4 bottles of water to flush out the alcohol. an ugly hang over that 5 am.
****
went through my files earlier. another effect of boredom. dad would reformat our computer, as it's sooo slow now. it's also high time for me to update my resume. as i searching my files, i saw this...
it's a pr article for the 50th anniversary of jack 'n jill, where they got me as a model. i remember, at that time, they asked me if i could model for the article (syempre for free, as we all know, the company im working in is so... barat). i immediately said yes, not knowing that i'd posing as a dad cum boss. haha.
i actually forgot i still had this image in my files. thank you weekend boredom.
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| on going on field to mindanao and the sidetrip to camiguin |
[23 Jan 2008|12:48am] |
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music |
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jordin sparks - tattoo |
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finally...
lessons learned from the five-day mindanao fieldwork cum side trip...
> the urc ID is very powerful when riding cebu pacific - front row seats and late check-ins
> cagayan de oro is one of the cities outside manila with the most gorgeous faces. almost in every place i look. i'd like to live there someday
> anj really knows my type
> mallberry's was a good choice of hotel. dottie's was okay.
> the words "islands apart" convinced me to do something impulsive that would make me feel used afterwards.
> our new hp camera given to us by tita miyam works perfectly
> camiguin = wow. white island was spectacular. but boracay's still the best... so far.
> yes, i am relaxed by being in the beach.
> we were the only stupid travelers on that day who, because of frugality, thought of hiking 1.5 km the mountains leading to katibawasan falls, even if we can take a pakyaw four-wheel ride.
> i could ride a multi-cab, a ferry ride, a bus trip, a taxi, and a plane in one day. it seemed the whole universe conspired for us to get from the resort to manila without any waiting or lag period
> "suka" on a bus seat is a mental / psychological challenge during an hour's non-aircon provincial bus ride. ugh.
> a side trip during an OB trip can get really really stressful - due to the harrassing schedules. a side trip can't be called a vacation.
> i still need a longer beach vacation. when will this be?
pictures: http://chuckafrica.multiply.com/photos/album/39/camiguin_jan_15-20_2008
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| christmas 2007 |
[25 Dec 2007|03:20am] |
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 stressed |
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mariah carey - all i want for christmas |
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this is the time of giving.
this year has been the MOST stressful christmas season for me (so far). two weeks of parties - urc christmas party, bbt thanksgiving, brand christmas party, despedida of paulo. and in most of those, i am part of the programs committee, which i think is the most critical of all fun-related events (i.e. party). urg. even for our college friends christmas party, im still part of the organizing committee. sagad pa sa 23rd, which was a wrong move. right after pa anj's birthday celebration (HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANJ GO!!!)
and i haven't even completed my shopping. grrr. the only gifts i've given out were for my college friends na kinarir ko the whole sunday (kasi nahiya ako sa kapartner kong si anj) and for my monito at the brand christmas party (kasi... hehe...). the rest, zilch. haaay.
with all the stress compounded by puyat and my regular office duties, i even got sick last friday. so i attended my lola's birthday dinner and anj's dinner with a slight fever. my body just had to give up.
i guess, my mind and emotions too, earlier. couldn't resist breaking down earlier while driving to a christmas eve dinner. couldnt exactly pinpoint what caused it. i thought, at the end of all those giving (bakit puro na lang ako ang nagbibigay), can my one wish be granted?
despite everything...
merry christmas to all!
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| birthday post |
[30 Sep 2007|10:26pm] |
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mood |
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cheerful |
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music |
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fall out boy - the takes over |
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despite me not wanting to celebrate my birthday, thanks to everyone who wanted to make my day a bit more special - from office friends who promised to keep last friday subdued (sans the "fiestas" ala despedida of previous birthdays) to college friends who initiated a get-together just to celebrate w/ me, and my family who can "sacrifice" an eventful basketball game just for our lunch. i am blessed with good friends and family. i thank the Lord for those.
i cant say im really looking forward to another fruitful and blessed year. but i guess my "new year" started with a bang - both in my professional and personl life.
again, thank you.
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| on trying to keep my sanity |
[29 Jul 2007|11:51pm] |
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mood |
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 bouncy |
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music |
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rihanna feat chris brown - umbrella |
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i finally got a pup! it's a pomeranian, turning 3 months, male. i named it Lance - very regal, powerful, knightly name. it was just yesterday, the saturday, after meeting dodra's labrador pixie who removed my fear of dogs and after a week of accompanying anna canales to get her own shih tzu which triggered me to look for a spitz. it's a good thing i now found my own pet.
i guess i just wanted something na pagkakaabalahan ko, aside from work. something that i can take care and call as my own, something that can give me comfort or to play with. i just have to make sure that i am FULLY responsible for the dog - feeding it, cleaning it, training it, etc.
ironic that i named my pet after one of the big bosses of the company i am currently working in and thinking of leaving soon.
without my little pup, i guess i could have "lost my sanity", quit my job in an instant and get discouraged about life in general. it's a now a good thing that i have something to look forward to when i wake up in the morning and when i go home from work... even if it means having to wake up very early to feed it or training the dog to potty properly at night. i guess im willing to sacrifice just to keep my sanity. :)
anyway, i'll post some pics soon... :)
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| on one of my more stressful vacations |
[25 Jun 2007|11:47pm] |
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mood |
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music |
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dashboard confessional - stolen |
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just uploaded the pics from my bohol trip (june 9-12, 2007). white sands, chocolate hills, little tarsiers, historic sites, bee farm, lunches, and lots of group shots :)
http://chuckafrica.multiply.com/photos/album/35
yeah, one of my more stressful vacations. it's not because i had work on my mind (oh no, of course not! work was the last thing i wanted to think about that weekend).
maybe i was just used to my past sun-sea-sand vacations to boracay, montemar, even in la union. my past trips did not have any "strictly" scheduled sight-seeings, swimming cut short by the anticipated mass, inuman-puyatan with 6 am wake-up times, un-airconditioned rooms nor transpo, drinks without ice, ligo sans la tuwalya, beds on the papag, swimming back to the banca sans a lifevest, an hour boat-ride on a wavy-windy sea that's worse than any EK ride, rushing to the supermarkets for pasalubong, my usual ka-praningan with some people, etcetera.
it was bitin. maybe because our trip lacked "chillaxing" moments that we all craved for and got used to in vacations past.
but, it was still fun, of course. it will always be there.
and some unusual moments - the familiar faces during that weekend - from luigi (who i didnt know was our "tour" guide) to co-turistas that weekend like jorel and louie and hans tan and even some people from isd (who even approached me); the real "weirdo" side of miko; the "eeek-eeek-eeek" moment at the tarsier place; calling boholana kate for an hourly update or advice; experimenting successfully with punyeta and tropicana-gin; and for some reason, not running out of cash. :)
one very important learning: a P300-400 one hour full-body massage on a holiday vacation is always worth it. :)
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| my first tvc shoot! |
[17 May 2007|01:07am] |
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last week, i attended my first tvc shoots - one for magic flakes, and the other for magic creams combo. funny lang how i was so excited and giddy to attend those shoots. i was too engrossed with the whole tvc concept - the set, the characters, the idea that what im seeing now will be shown on tv weeks from now (too bad i didnt bring a camera, urg)- that i kept telling everyone that i might not leave the company after all the resigning at brand. little did i know what would come this week...
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| goodbye to the school bus |
[06 May 2007|11:41pm] |
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 sentimental |
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music |
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blake lewis - when the stars go blue |
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dad dropped a bombshell last tuesday, may 1: "we're selling the L300...". and i was surprised, sort of feeling like "where did this plan come from? how come i didnt know about this before". and so, my dad added, "...we're getting a new car. it's arriving tomorrow." kaboom.
initially, i wasnt feeling that sentimental about losing the L3. it was old and had frequent malfunctions (which caused me to spend some of my weekend-nights at home). also, we really needed another car. so selling the L3 wasnt really super-shocking. i guess i just wasnt prepared for the fact that the van would be sold that quick.
a turning point happened yesterday night when eske asked me if mikael and the others have already realized that we'll be losing THE "school bus." that time, what really hit me was oo nga no, mismo ako, hindi ko pa na-re-realize.
there were too many memories with my friends that were made with that van - first EK gimik during grade 6, all the hatid-sundo with the "barkada" of high school, the 16-in-one-van dinners during high school, the circ-apades of early college, Days/Execom group gimmicks, t1 lunch outs and over nights, the up-binondo-manila trips of the last two years, makati night outs when i'd prefer to use the corolla, the lunch outs with urc office mates, post-work drives with kate and denise, honing my mekaniko-electrician skills with the it, my near-fatal van accident last december, the stalling incident at south super, etcetera, etcetera. it seemed that the L3 was there in most of my group gimiks; it was like the extra member in all of my barkadas - Bboys, Days, Execom, T1, COA, URC. it was as if i was known by friends to bring THE school bus.
funny, as i look back with all the memories made in that van, im becoming more and more sentimental and attached with that eleven year old vehicle, whose plate number had my mom's initials. it was one of my longest friends, who suddenly had to leave without any notice. this time, the words "i didnt have the chance to say goodbye" would be perfect.
too much sentiment for an old car. too few tears for an old companion.
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| despedida |
[16 Apr 2007|02:05am] |
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melancholy |
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chris richardson - tonight i wanna cry |
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it was kate's last day at work last friday. the celebration was just simple - jollibee meals, a palanca letter box, and a simple video presentation. it was something i did not want to think about - something that i kept brushing off from my mind everytime i kept thinking of her despedida last holy week. simply put, i did not want to say goodbye.
for some reason, i did not exert the same effort with the planning of kate's despedida. i did not volunteer to do the video, which i would usually do with the past celebrations. i did not write a letter, even if she gave me one. i did not even leave her with that planned token that would let her remember us. because i allowed myself to be consumed with everything but the despedida to my best bud in urc, i wasnt able to make her last day really special. i feel really guilty.
i spent the past week driving her home from work. of course we relived the post-work dinners at metrowalk last tuesday, the shopping-together last thursday, and the kwentuhan at pioneer last friday. haay, too many memories with kate. it's bad that i didnt spare enough time to share with her all these memories, even on her last day. i hope my actions the past week spoke louder than my words. :) i guess i maybe just rationalizing.
apparently, i am not good with goodbyes.
i guess i have some sort of separation anxiety. since i started working last year, i dreaded the day when all of my very close friends at work would leave me. i wished and hoped that that day would not come - that someday in 5 years, all of us will still be working there. but april 13 brought me back to reality.
and now, im left with my only close friend anj. and a few new friends. and a whole set of brand people to worry about. no more kate to share the everyday tawanan, the iyakan, kulitan, kantahan, ka-weirdo-han, ka-kilig-an, ka-dramahan, ka-praningan, chismisan, the asaran, and all the -ans we've done together.
it will be tough. but i'd just have to think of this as a high school friend who just went to a different college. same old friend, just in a different location. we'll still meet regularly naman e. so maybe, there's no need for formal goodbyes.
so, to kate, who might not have access to read this now, just a farewell to our day-to-day urc adventures. i know this won't be the last time that we'd meet. sorry for the memories missed on goodbye notes not written. i guess a sheet of paper can't contain all of the laughs and tears. thank you for being a part of my early work life. i will surely surely miss you. -chuck
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| milestones |
[25 Mar 2007|06:57pm] |
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thankful |
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music |
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blake lewis - somewhere only we know |
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it's been a while since i last posted here. oh yes, january was my last. a lot has happened since then, like my previous supervisor leaving for another job before feb ended, me transferring to another segment (a much bigger and important brand - ala promotion), that apprehension of having a new boss whom i knew since grade school, and these past two weeks of tiring roadshow-ing for Biscuits (now in the Ilocos-Cagayan areas).
funny, i remember writing down on my notebook before this line from a popular chocolate brand's commercial:
"great things start from small beginnings."
now, i have to say, it's all coming true. i'm not there yet though, but slowly im getting there.
it just feels good to celebrate another career milestone - to stay in the company after exactly one year last march 6. i didn't think i'd last that long, after all the ups and downs. yehey, now i have paid leaves! and yehey, i can apply for companies looking for "one year marketing experience." hehe. ooops.
so to all, please support MAGIC Crackers - MAGIC FLAKES, MAGIC FLAVORS, MAGIC CREAMS!
any feedback, comments and suggestions to improve the brand will be highly appreciated.
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| an early year surprise |
[14 Jan 2007|02:35am] |
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mood |
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 confused |
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music |
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bee gees - staying alive |
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i have to confess - im feeling lethargic or tinatamad at work the past weeks. the passion for my work has waned. may be caused by "personality" by my immediate supervisor (i really don't want to call her my boss).
so i allowed myself to accept the interview with another company.
and it's not just with any company. it's with a direct competitor.
the head hunter called on the first day when work resumed after the holidays. at first, i had apprehensions. "ethics" aside, i honestly felt that i am under-qualified for the ABM position, with only less a year at work. i even offered the opening to my colleagues. but hey, the position didnt require any particular work experience. so why not give it a try? it's an opportunity to skip through years of promotion (and maybe a salary increase).
10 months ago, i didnt imagine myself lying about coming late for work just to attend an interview, or for going on half day for a morning-long test. but things change.
weird though that my immediate supervisor has been going on early off days since i mentioned about my "activities." kate and the others have a theory that she felt threatened that i'd leave her before she leaves the company. may be good, may be bad. who knows>
bottomline is, i really feel tinatamad now. for the first time in how many months, i cringed on the idea of going to work whenever i thought of it during the holidays. it's a first also for me to do an hourly countdown before dismissal ("3 hours to go before 6:30!"). i would always look forward to going home to do my dvd marathon.
oh yes, my dvd's. just an aside: been addicted to different shows - lost, entourage, qaf, and now just started, grey's anatomy. i need to get my new shows once i finish all these dvds.
i've been thinking twice about going corporate for my next job. another boss that i may hate? another group of co-workers to get along with? another set of lunch mates? another adjustment period of paranoia? haaay, i think i'd better follow my dream na.
teach? why not? own my own business? be my own boss.
yes, that's the life.
but whatever i have will suffice for now. :)
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| holiday week |
[02 Jan 2007|12:44am] |
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mood |
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blah |
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too many things have happened over the past 8 days. though, i could say that my holiday week was quite uneventful, that the events that happened over the past 8 days didnt really make an impression. so i guess my holiday season was a series of uneventful events.
( the uneventful events )
oh well... it's good din that i wont be doing my year in review tonight - i might just be too depressed to recount the past year (and think that 2006 was really a BAD year).
i'll just post my "year in review" in my next entry. :)
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| christmas parties and other surprises |
[24 Dec 2006|06:16am] |
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mood |
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 crazy |
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music |
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put a little love on your heart |
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the parties and surprises just kept on coming this past month. just to make kwento:
urc christmas party last Dec 5. even if the venue was at the posh crowne plaza and the theme was "gold", it seemed the event was "tinipid". nevertheless, i loved what i wore - black pants, black polo and black vest, accented by my gold tie. good thing i can wear my "costume" at the gma xmas party that same night, which had a 70s theme.
brand christmas party last Dec 12, or the annual initiation for newbies. as for me, i had to borat for that night. because i was so game to do anything and everything they told me to do, i won rookie of the year. i honestly thought i wasnt that funny. i guess my slapstick-style humor still worked. also, thanks to schedar for the gray suit, jenny for the hairdrier, and my old black towel for my mustache, and to my dvd for the kazakhstan accent. guhrrreat success!
three birthday celebrations. carlyn's was on the 7th, spent at the dampa area near mall of asia. mikael's on the 10th, spent at sched's place (it was on a sunday and i went home around 4 am already. goodness). anjs' double celebrations last 15th at the office and last night at gesu-aveneto (the yearly christams mass cum birthday celeb for anj!). goodness, i've been bingeing on food. gotta go on a diet this january!
and this month's major suprise was the sudden field work to Bacolod. we planned just the weekend before, and i had to leave the following monday. it wasnt supposed to be me for that area, but since anny couldnt make it, i was assigned to replace her. i thought kasi someone else would be there. hindi pala, bummer. it felt as if "sumabak ako sa gera" without doing some research on the battle.
the early flights brought back memories of the biscuits road show (sigh... when can we do that again?) i went there with rg. funny how the people from bacolod were so maporma and nangmamata as they looked at us from head to toe. apparently, bacolod was known for that unwritten "class stratification" inside restaurants and malls. rg dragged us to see these "happening" and "upper-class" gimmick places (their versions of greenbelt and le souffle), and we were amazed at how the young bacolod people there looked so conyo and dressed up. but once they started speaking, naku, back to the province kami. hahaha! the area was good, the places were great, but their food, even better!
going home, it was just a hassle leaving the airport on a cab and ride the mrt all the way to cubao. urgness.
anyway, my christmas post, to follow.
merry christmas to all!!!
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| to love and hate at the same time |
[26 Nov 2006|11:24pm] |
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mood |
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confused |
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sponge cola - nakapagtataka |
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how can you love and hate something in just a week?
last monday to tuesday's national sales conference at crowne plaza made me realize how i love the company i am working in. i sacrificed my weekend just to finish our team's presentation, with only minimal sleep (going to practice for two nights; going home at 2-3 am with call time at 8 am the next day). monday was fun in itself, with extravagant avp's and dance numbers. then tuesday came, and we were all so proud of jack 'n jill's presentation to the salesmen, especially our own (biscuit's). i still have goosebumps just remembering how our powerpoint and avp on new products amazed our audience (i am so excited to launch our new products). tuesday night was even more fun, with the Big Night, when we had to dress in retro attire (our group was assigned the 60's, so i wore my chaleco, short sleeved polo, thin tie and accented by my thick-rimmed glasses). i was so proud to come back to work the following day that i wore my JnJ baller id (as panata).
because of the event, i thought i'd be working long for this company. then friday came, when i almost resigned.
i was just too fed up with my immediate supervisor. there were minor incidents na before which infuriated me but i just didnt mind so that my working relationship with her wouldn't be affected. but well, i guess masyado nang marami ang mga nangyari which i just kept hidden that's why my emotions blew up. that morning she was already bitching around (which she usually does on bad mornings). but that afternoon's meeting, i guess sumusobra na nga. i couldnt stand being humiliated in front of team members (i.e. binabara ako dahil nagmamagaling siya), being treated like i have no part in the group, being hushed. irkness! that's why right after the meeting, i walked out, furious, and printed out my resignation letter. it's a good thing my best buds kate and mich were there to talk sense to me.
too bad, im writing this entry still angered, furious, a bit depressed. haay i dont know what would happen tomorrow.
tsk tsk. :(
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| horrible saturday night |
[05 Nov 2006|07:59pm] |
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angry |
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it was supposed to be quite routine - drive sis to her gimik, have a hair cut with bro, go home, head to gov maybe.
but no. the corolla had to die down in the corner of libis and ortigas extension.
and good luck to me, in 5 minutes, the raker arrived. stress. my car had to be impounded. the driver of my lola had to pick us up (to bring money as well; much thanks). i had to pay almost P2000 to get it out. tough luck, i only had P20 at that time. can't even buy a pack of cigs. stress.
but 3 hours after, and a thousand text messages with kate (i really thank God for her), we arrived home safely - but sans the overdue hair cut, sans the gov gimik, sans my pride, and sans P2000 (i was even indebted to my lola).
i shall forever remember this day - november 4, 2006. death to you.
haha!
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| on the perfect bora break |
[04 Sep 2006|10:23pm] |
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refreshed |
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music |
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bob sinclair - love generation |
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after three days of marketing plan hell at subic, three weeks of strategy research and preparation, six months of endless working as a prob-y, and a year since our last visit to its white sands, finally we went to bora.
four days, three nights, sept 1-4, 2006. the four of us (carl, pay, anj and i) had to take leaves from work (and for me, without pay). anj and i even had to escape the last day of the marketing plan presentations at subic just to be at bora.
we were actually quite lucky when we were planning the trip. pay had gift certificates for pearl of the pacific, for two rooms, which can be used until november. incidentally, cebu pacific had their piso fares promo, good for august to october (if im not mistaken). so we got the bulk of the expenses (accomodations and transpo) at discounted prices.
if the objective/theme of our first visit last year was "enjoy like there's no tomorrow", this time naman, it's "rest and relaxation." perfect timing just after our marketing plan presentations and my exact six months on probation in urc.
( details of our bora trip )
it was an indulgent weekend, just all to ourselves. eat, sleep, chill, drink, eat more, laugh, relax, eat again. three straight nights of alcohol. two packs of cigarettes for me. 32+ hours of combined sleep in four days. then today came, and we had to return to reality once more. and at least for me, with a fresh mind and rejuvenated body to face the problems at work for the next six months.
the four of us wondered when we'll come back to bora. we concurred (such an office term), late next year. who would've imagined during march 2005 that we'd return one and a half years later.
for pictures, visit http://chuckafrica.multiply.com/photos/album/33
p.s. it's been exactly one year since i came back from the states. wow.
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| anything goes |
[27 Aug 2006|04:39pm] |
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mischievous |
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jimmy james - fashionista |
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random stuff:
> marketing plan preparation almost over! we'll be presenting this wednesday already at subic. after that, it's REST and RELAX weekend at bora. finally!
> vodka-red bull is the best! get the "amats" much quicker. imagine being high and light-headed, with lots of energy. fun! and i was giggling the whole night at gov while i was on it (im even smiling right now just thinking about it).
> first time in how many months that someone approached me in gov (not one, but two). funny lang it happened when i was so pissed at the crowd, who kept pushing me towards the back. i couldnt even dance properly. but eventually, we were at our cozy little corner, dancing til 5 in the morning. madonathon can be such a drag! (pun intended).
> i've slept around 3 am last monday and wednesday night. why? three hours on the phone. long conversations may be fun, but i always get tired the following day. oh well. that's what i get for wishing...
> ateneo loses for the first time (written 2 minutes before the game ends, at OT). to ust. too bad. yeah, as if it would change anything. kebs.
> uploaded new pics to my multiply site (pending pics from montemar and tagaytay). just had time now since we're on dsl already (yeah!) visit them at http://chuckafrica.multiply.com
that's it muna.
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| on being way up and way down |
[21 Aug 2006|06:11am] |
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mood |
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moody |
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music |
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Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous |
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what a roller-coaster weekend this was.
friday night was surprisingly relax-night, as i went home early (without any usual night-outs). was too excited to read the book i bought (by greg behrendt, as recommendd by prinz ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) beyondallrepair).
saturday night started with "home" work, doing the marketing plan strategies part for about 3-4 hours. i was looking forward to that night because of the big event by circuit asia at the phil trade training center. though the event officially started at 9 pm, the crowd was still sparse at 12 midnight. anyway, we (pao, markz, and alodin) just tried to enjoy ourselves that night, even if the music wasn't that too great. saw some familar faces there - jcv, dominic, arthur, some gov guys, marlon, and new friend moks (carlyn's good friend).
then at 3 am, off we went to gov, at the after-party. the happenings there seemed more fun, maybe because of the vodka-redbull i drank on an empty stomach. the feeling was energetic-tipsy -- light-headedness without the fatigue but a continuous rush of energy. i was laughing at its onset(weirdo) like i was on torvs. i just decided to sweat it all out by dancing (i actually hated what i was wearing because i couldn't remove my warm track-jacket, which was the only cover for my thin white polo, when it was getting too warm). anyway, we went home around 6 am na. as usual.
while last night's festivities were festive (how redundant), tonight was hell day. of course i had to finish the marketing plan, as its deadline was after the ateneo-up game. for 4 straight hours, i toiled on it. creating the strategies for your brand was actually fun. but the downside of it all was when my freakin' flash disk "crashed", just when i was about to send karen what i've done.
four hours gone to waste. of course, i had to re-do everything again, without the templates (because everything is saved in my freakin flash disk).
that's why im stll up right now at 6:30 am (i just finished re-typing everything since i started at 11pm, stopped at 1 am and resumed at 3 am). hateness!!!
and what's worse, my plans of working at home on this beautiful monday holiday will be gone to waste. i have to go work later! HATENESS!
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