Busy, busy...

This week has been extremely busy.

A lot of things have been happening, a lot of things are going to happen.

There's a lot to write but I just really have to find the time to sit down and compose my thoughts.

I'll prolly do that later or over the weekend.

In the meantime, I have to head to the first of three meetings for today! TGIF! :)

Busy, busy Tuesday...

Today was an extremely busy day.

I woke up around 7AM, which was a bit late. The reason was I got up at 430AM to go to the toilet and it took me awhile before I managed to go back to sleep. I didn't get enough sleep hours because I stayed up til 1AM finishing the last two episodes of Agents of SHIELD season 1. Hehe! Good finale!

Anyway, when I finally got up, I realised I forgot to do two work-related things that I should've done over the weekend. That was because the deadline for the aforementioned work stuff is tomorrow! Yikes! I managed to finish the tasks by 9AM. I am hoping that the system will generate the report by tomorrow afternoon. I'm crossing my fingers that the system works on a UK timezone.

Aside from that, the rest of the day was devoted to tons of emails and the usual work tasks. There are a few new problems that came up as well so I had to deal with those, too.

In the afternoon, I had a conference call with my manager. It was our fortnightly one-on-one meeting.

Because of the amount of work that needed to be done, I was in front of my work PC until 720, I think. Earlier in the afternoon, I thought of going for Pump at Westgate. I decided I should stay home to work more.

What I did manage to do was to go to Metropolis for hatha yoga. It's been ages since I was on the mat and tonight, I felt that very much. I wish I can really bring back regular yoga practice into my schedule.

On the way back, I was just chatting with Tey. She was on sick leave today. Thankfully, it was because she just needed some personal time.

I got home about fifteen minutes ago. I had some fruits for my dinner. Uhm, I'm slightly tempted to watch the first episode of Agents of SHIELD season 2. We'll see. Hehe!

But I definitely want to sleep before 12 because tomorrow and the next few days will be tons of work. Yay! Haha!

Rants on a Tuesday afternoon...

I got angry today.

In the almost four years that I've been with the company, today was the only day I got this angry.

Out of heavy frustration, I was on the verge of being nasty. The good thing was the other person was in another country and in another time zone. Haha!

Still, I fought very hard with myself not to write a nasty, emotional email on why this person would be the cause of my early death. Lol!

There have been major delays with a project I recently took on. The delays were understandable because of the deliverables needed for the project. What was making me furious was that this counterpart has no initiative to keep me updated on the status of the tasks assigned to their team.

Dear counterpart. Meet the word "pro-active." It might not save your life, but it might save your job. Harhar!

At one point, I turned to my team mate next to me to rant. "You know, I can choose not to care and I won't be on the brink of a cardiac arrest any time now." We just both laughed.

The thing is, borrowing Grace Coddingotn's line, "I care about what I do. I do, or I still won't be doing it."

Maybe tomorrow would be a better day. Maybe tomorrow that person would already have been replaced. Lol! In that aspect, I couldn't be bothered and I couldn't care less.

Uneventful Monday, yay....

Quite uneventful Monday.

The day (or the week) started at 530AM. I had a brief struggle to get out of bed. Haha! I finally got up at 540AM and rushed out before 6 to head to the gym.

I'm glad that I was able to drag myself out of bed for Body Combat. The usual teacher wasn't around. The substitute teacher was just as good. The best part was that there were only 8 of us in class. That gave everyone enough room to kick, punch and move all around. It is so much better than evening classes in which you have always have to look behind/beside you to make sure you don't kick someone.

I left the gym feeling very energised for the day/week.

As for the entire day, it just went by without much fuss. I should be grateful for that. Perhaps, it's because it is still a weekend in the US. Tomorrow is when all the emails will come in. Haha!

There's a slight issue I'm dealing with thanks to a vendor who's not performing very well. I've been tempted to write an angry email on so many occasions. I decided to just finish this one project first and afterwards, I will write a detailed email enumerating all the "what could have been better" items.

After work, it was either I head back and keep myself busy with something or do something else. I chose the latter. I met up with Mon and Richie for dinner and chit chat.

On the way home, I continued reading the Pulitzer winning novel "The Goldfinch." Hmm, the pace of the book is a bit slow. I was tempted to read something else, but I decided that I must finish it. (Great! I just saw news that Warner Bros acquired movie rights to the book. All the more reason for me to hurry up reading the book. Haha!)

When I got home about an hour ago, I just did my usual house chores. I'm just going to finish this post and then it's off to lalaland. Waking up early tomorrow for yoga.

Twice as good...

For some reason, the week that just ended was just a string of unfortunate events at work. It is supposed to be Christmas and yet, I felt like the mood was that of Good Friday.

Some problems came up with some of the projects I was working on. What should have been a smooth sailing workflow suddenly entered a stormy sea. Rarely do I feel stressed at the office and this week, boy did I feel something happening on my nape. (Hypertension, is that you?)

Friday was the worst I guess. One, a project that was almost done is now facing a slight delay all because of a simple request to add a small detail. Two, I missed including important dates in a report that I wrote. An email from a higher office sent a chill down my spine. Strangely, I am somehow thankful that a team mate got a similar email. It may have been a joke. It may have been not. But it was enough to remind me of a friend's advice when I was still planning to move to SG.

When I got home close to midnight, I turned on PG Boy's laptop to check some emails. I was very happy to see three emails. While composing my reply, I was telling PG Boy how I'm kicking myself for the few hiccups. He told me that I was putting too much pressure on myself. #justsaying And I told him that surely, he must understand where I'm coming from.

"Why should you be chosen?"

Sheesh, I've been overanalysing things that a scene from the first episode of Scandal season 3 played in my mind. It is definitely good reminder to keep me on my toes.

Let's hope the coming week and the whole of 2014 will be awesome.

On a bigger picture, I think I really have to find time to sit down and work on another project. It's time to set things into motion.

Whatta Monday...

I dun really have any issues with Monday. I dun really have Monday blues. I dun mind getting up early on a Monday to start the week. In fact, I always try to get up early on a Monday so that I can attend the 7AM Body Combat class at the gym next to the office. The Combat class + seeing the sunrise + endorphins almost always results in a happy day and thus, sets my mood for the week. Haha!

But today, I was just so tired. LOL!

It felt that there was so much to do. No, scratch. I didn't feel it. There was really a lot to do. I was still going through the million emails in my Inbox when I saw that it was already 4PM. Whattashet! Where did the day go? Haha!

I couldn't stay back today, even if I wanted to because I met up with Jeaners. Our former colleague from UP is here for holiday along with her family. Jeaners and I promised to meet up with them.

So the plan is just to do the major OT this Wednesday. Hehe!

It's all good. Definitely not complaining. I had a very good weekend, so nothing to complain about.

In other news, I just saw the photos of what typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda left behind. Heartbreaking, just heartbreaking. The Tacloban photos look like a tsunami hit the province instead of a supertyphoon.

Relief operations have begun left and right. Foreign aid is starting to come in. I hope that all the donations and assistance meant for the victims will reach them. I also hope that other areas that are not getting as much media coverage but are just as heavily affected will also receive attention.

Prayers for the country and the people. I have no doubt that the country will surpass this.

Hello, January...

Even with that particular challenge that welcomed me and a bunch of people back in the Phils. this 2013, the first month of this brand new year is still an exciting and a busy one.

On top of the volunteer work I'm doing with this particular group which takes up two nights every month, Wednesday nights will also be quite busy (for the next three months) because I registered for a language course at the ERC Institute. It's quite a challenging language to learn, but we'll see, we'll see. Haha! I aced my Spanish courses back in uni. I learned Nihongo quite quickly after attending a few sessions. We'll see about this one. Haha!

Workwise, things are also quite busy. My team lead signed me up for two trainings, which will take up three days all in all. Uhm, it should be okay lah. Training is always good and will definitely be of use.

The one thing with work that is causing me stress at the moment is the impending renewal of my work pass. I am praying double, triple hard for the renewal. I don't even care if my work pass type is downgraded. As long as the work pass is renewed, I will be one happy boy. I'm not ready to go back to the Philippines. There. I said it. And I have my reasons. Hehe.

The other two major things happening this month are two trips. One is to a beach place I've never been to. The fact that it will be with some good friends from Manila makes it really exciting. Another trip will be happening some time end of the month. That one is also worth looking forward to, at least for me. No deets yet.

So, yeah it's a busy January.

How is your January looking?

How to say hello in...

Happy email received yesterday!

Where is this, ey?!

Whoopppee!

Moving... to a new work area...

Today I moved to a new work area.

My team lead feels that I sit quite far from the rest of the team, and I guess she sort of feels sorry for me that I am separated from my team mates. (Or maybe it's just becoming too troublesome always having to call me every time there's a team meeting. Hehe!)

If it were up to me, I'm perfectly okay with my work area. I dun really like moving. Whether it's moving homes or moving to a new work area, I'd avoid it as much as possible. Hehe.

Since I don't really have a choice, I went to work quite early this morning, packed my things and started moving my boxes.

After transferring the boxes, the first thing I did before setting up my PC and arranging things was to take out my iPhone, and launch this app MkSurf8 shared with me and Chris.

The app name is Geomancy. Based on my birthday and Kua number, it tells me which direction to face using the iPhone's compass app.

From there, I began setting up the things in my new work area.

I'm not really a huge feng shui fan. My Mom is. For as long as I can remember, she's been moving things around the house because of feng shui. When I started working, she brought me to Chinatown so we can consult on what feng shui "gadgets" to get.

Hmm, I'm not really sure if it helps. It probably does. I am in Singapore after all. Hehe!

So I'm really wishing my Mom is here right now so she can help me feng shui my work area.

With the little that I know about how to feng shui the work area, I need a dragon tortoise, a jade cicacada, some crystals, a panting of a mountain, a mirror, to begin with. All these things I had back in Pinas. I wish I brought em with me.

I'm not on the verge of freaking out but this new work area is quite a challenge to feng shui. There are a number of so-called poison arrows I have to remedy. Sigh.

But for now, the best I can do is to face my Personality Development direction. It's impossible to face the direction for Success but at least it's to my right. Hehe!

Indirectly behind me is the window, which is not really good. But at the same time, behind me is the Total Loss direction. So I'm just telling myself that it'll be okay because I'm turning my back on the Killings and the Total Loss directions. Hehe!

Next, must find time to head down to Chinatown this weekend to get the "gadgets." Hehe!

Toxic for the next two weeks...

Still unable to post anything proper.

This week has just been really crazy.

I'm getting a new assignment at the office, which meant that I had to do endorsements of my current work load to a bunch of other people. Preparing the endorsement materials has been taking up so much of my time. On top of that, I have the regular day-to-day things to take care of at work, which I have to do while I haven't done a handover yet.

At the same time, it's been a pretty week with other things - two nights at Chinatown because of volunteer commitments, a doctor's appointment, among other things.

Oh well, it's good to be busy, I guess. Otherwise, not busy means no job. No job means no moolah. No moolah means no so many other things. Haha!

Hope to be able to post something more substantial soon.

Random blah...

It's been a busy week. :-/

Monday night, for the first time, I stayed back at the office til 7 plus. Yeah, that's how busy we were.

The company had a townhall meeting in the morning. By the time, we got back to the office, it was almost lunch time and there were 100+ emails waiting for my attention. Haha!

I've been wanting to write about things, but I haven't really been able to.

Sigh.

I should really find the time to write more.

This is why I decided on changing my sleeping time to 12 midnight. For the past several months, I've been sleeping at 11PM and sometimes, even earlier than that. I know, I know. Ano ako? Lola?! Hehehe!

So anyway, I decided to push my sleeping time to midnight and wakeup time at 6AM, 615 max. This was how I was in Manila, so I'm sure I'm going to survive with this here.

Okay, back to work.

Please visit our photo exhibit next week...

Hi, everyone. Hope you can drop by our photo exhibit next week.

Photos by Apple Tapan, Jake Verzosa and Jo Ann Bitagcol will be on display.

Smart Internet for All - A Different Kind of Exhibit
March 24 - 27, 2011
Shangri-la Plaza Mall Atrium Area

Leave a comment on the event Facebook page at the exhibit area, and you get a chance to bring home a premium item.

Thanks.

Please spread the word.

Busy with "The Project..."

So things have been pretty crazy at work this past week. It's going to be like this until the end of November.

On top of the usual daily grind, I was given a project in support of the company's battle cry to have "Internet for All." It's only logical. The "Internet for All" vision, I mean.

Fifteen or so years ago, the thrust was for every Pinoy to have a cellphone in his or her hand. Now that that seems to be a reality, the next move really is Internet connectivity.

Going back to the project, it was originally meant to be implemented during the first half of the year. But due to some uncontrollable circumstances, the journey to launching the project took time and was peppered with challenges.

At some point, it becomes frustrating. Getting a US visa was much easier compared to getting the correct recipe for the project.

But just like what Robin Padilla said, "Tink pasitib. Wag kang aayaw." LOL!

Two Fridays ago, the project was "unofficially" launched. The next two weeks are very critical for the project because the output this November will depend on the material to be generated these two weeks.

Excited. Anxious. Looking forward.

One thing's for sure. I already know it will be successful. It is already successful.

This is the part where I tell the universe what will happen. Hehe!

I've been asking friends to pray for the project, and I know they've been doing that. I am grateful.

One of the best things about this project is that I'm working with three of the country's most respected individuals from this particular industry. I have faith in their five sidekicks and I know they will deliver.

The other thing that I really liked about this project is that I met a lot of individuals with their own stories to tell. A mom working doubly hard to feed her family. A teacher who leads his students in being proud of the local culture. A group of strangers who became friends because of a shared passion for traveling. Just to name a few.

I'm excited to tell their stories. Wait a couple of weeks and if all goes as planned, you will already know about it.

Dude, are you ready for this?

Sombrero holiday party...

This is a long overdue post.

We had a simple but really meaningful and super fun Christmas party to end the year and to celebrate the holidays as well.

The party organizers decided to do a hat party. Everyone in the team received a plain buri hat, which we were supposed to decorate. Best hat gets a prize. Because we were so busy trying to finish everything before offices and people go on holiday mode, I wasn't sure whether people would have the time to really work on their hats. Some colleagues and I got to work on our hats only during the night before the party.

Man, was I wrong? (And definitely happy about it! Haha!) Once our party started, each one brought out their decorated hats. Definitely impressive and pleasantly surprising! This is one of the nice things about being in the team where I am. Each one has been blessed with a great amount of creativity and skill in the art/aesthetic department. Hehehe! And even during last minute situations, we still manage to find a way to make whatever it is we're working much more creative/better.

It was difficult to judge which hat was the best. In the end, colleague Deivid's was declared winner. He did a Filipiniana theme. Sequins and glitters to form the Philippine flag on the hat. Galing!!!

The other highlights of the party were the rewards & recognition portion and the exchange gift. For the R&R, I'm happy to have received a number of Starbucks GCs and other goodies. The exchange gift, on the other hand, was a bit different than the usual. Let's just say that friendships were put to a test because of a Powerbooks GC. Hahaha!

The year has really been something and the people I work with definitely played a major role in making sure that we all get through the year in one piece. Haha! I'm really glad to be part of the team, and I'm definitely looking forward to having a bright 2010 with these guys.

Two years na kami...

ng work that is. Haha!

July 2, 2007 signaled the start of another chapter of my life. I started working for one of the country's leading companies. Getting considered for the job was a blessing. Getting hired was much more.

Since that fateful day, everything has been a learning experience.I've had the best experiences, and some good experiences.

Yey! Happy anniversary, Smartee! =)

Lights, camera, answer...

Here's the reason why I was at work til a little before 11 last night. Hehe!

We were part of a presscon this afternoon, and I had to prepare some articles related to the activity.

This is one of the things that make work enjoyable. I'm always amused when I attend/watch a presscon, because the room has a tendency to get charged with energy and ideas especially when the topic is kind of controversial. Hehe!

I dunno if the camera flash, the presence of so many TV cameras, plus the media adds to the rush during a presscon.

While I enjoy having these events, I'm also happy just to be a spectator. I can imagine how stressful it could be to answer the questions fielded by reporters. Every word that comes out of your mouth could be interpreted in a million ways. The slightest movement of the lips, the eyebrows, the eyes could be scrutinized. Hehe!

Going back to this afternoon's activity, I'm glad that it turned out quite well. The releases were distributed properly. I got the photo I needed. There were some challenging questions, but as expected, my boss addressed them well.

Just really happy that this over now. Looking forward to see the papers tomorrow.

And I really wish the whole H1N1 issue would just be miraculously solved already.

No weekend for Angelo...

No weekend break for me this week. Last night, I got home from work at 2 in the morning. A partner group is having an event today and the company is one of the major sponsors. So last night, I was at the Folk Arts Theater waiting for the exhibit booth guys to finish setting up the booths. Once they were done, some colleagues and I proceeded to putting up our exhibit materials. It wouldn't have taken so late had the guys started setting up the booths at the area where we were designated. Anyway, even if I finished at 2AM, I had to get up and be at Folk Arts by 8AM for the event. When I got to the venue, I was a bit surprised by the huge number of people who attended the event. It was the 15th anniversary of the group and there were many activities for the members. It was good. From Folk Arts, I headed to SM Megamall to pick up some DVDs. Since I was going to be in the area, I gave Carlo a call and we had dinner and coffee. That's it. It's Earth Hour, too and I'm really glad SM joined the worldwide event. Tomorrow evening, there'll be another event which I have to cover along with some colleagues. I'm not complaining. I'm always happy to have my hands full. Woohoo!

Flying out of Manila again...

This afternoon, I'm flying out of Manila once again. And this time, destination is Cebu. Will be attending a company event so it'll be work again. I guess that's okay. At least, I get to travel. Hehe! It's my first time to go to Cebu so I'm quite excited. I'm also not too worried about the work because I'm quite sure it wouldn't be as toxic as the Dinagyang Festival coverage. But hey, who knows? Hahaha!

Wow! It's only the first month of the year and already I've flown out of Manila for two (going three) times. Hmmm... I guess it's a good sign, huh? That the Ho Chi Minh and Cambodia trip will push through? Hehehe! It has to. It has to. It has to.