bit and pieces

as i write this, i am enjoying a self-proclaimed (thus unofficial and illegal) leave from work. (extra thanks to my dysmenorrhea that makes it an excusable leave.) we just finished the forum i organized with assistance from my co-staff but being on top of things made me feel all the stress as frontliner. what made the "organizing" ten notches more difficult was the fact that it was out of town and participants are from overseas aside from Manila. you can imagine the logistical nightmare. invitees confirm then back-out and the Boss decides on replacements, who either confirm or regrets or confirms then backs out. i think, events planning will never be my career option but it was a good training (of patience, of attention to details, of forbearance.)  it felt nice being thanked (by the participants themselves) for a job well done.  i suppose i did get a good training from PMS for my management skills and SSEAYP for my people-orientedness.


while i know i could pull off another big event, with God's grace, i hope the next one won't be in this lifetime. lol!  seriously, it was nerve-wrecking.  i was even organizing things and ticking off tasks from my TO DO LIST even when asleep.  and i knew that i was a non-performing asset at home, i don't ever want to be an absentee family member again. (insert huge guilt here.)

during the forum, i was reaffirmed of things that i already knew and believed in but have to be reminded constantly about.  first, you invest in people.  you sow good, you reap goodness.  those whom you treat right (even sans the tangible, material things) would be as committed and passionate as you are.  they will be one with you in your goals.  they will have the initiative to do things and will find enjoyment even when doing hard work.  second, you earn respect and trust.  these you cannot buy or bribe out from people.  third, it is much more difficult to please Pinoys. they will always have something to say, and 'thank you' is at the end of that list.  of course, there were a handful who were more appreciative, and i must say, it takes maturity and wisdom to be thankful.  fourth, there is such a thing as teamwork and yes, no man is an island. delegating is key but you should always, always know how to give instructions, treat people and show by example.  others tend to forget how fleeting and only earth-restricted "authority and power" are but some do get intoxicated by it, making them abrasive, arrogant and ostracism-worthy. lastly and most importantly, it is only with God's grace that you are strengthened, empowered and motivated.  there have been times that i wanted to walk out, bawl my innards out, answer back or leave everything incomplete but i am reminded that my work is my way of honoring God, that i should be grateful for work because it does not only provide but builds character.

after today, i should exert effort in more important matters. i should schedule meet-ups with friends. i should finalize plans with my pamangkins for our Harry Potter 7 movie date. i should start drawing my Christmas list and actually shopping for presents. while gift-wrapping was never my strength, at least, the presents i give are always well-thought and carefully picked. which leads me to realize that i am indeed a boring person. i am not creative nor theatrical nor flamboyant. my tastes border on the classic and the "safe". lol! the only thing dramatic about me is my choice of nail polish and sometimes, my FB status.

i read somewhere (from a recent bloghopping) about a number of things that the blogger shared that s/he things that people (around him) do not know about. i would want to start writing that list. i wonder how many people could actually negate (some) items from that list and claim that they knew that (about me) all along. i know that would surprise me! sounds senseless but definitely fun!

i already know what i want (from mr P) for Christmas. he wanted to give me jewelry but i could pick what kind. *happy* he has not yet decided what he wants from me (i hope it is WII for obvious self-serving reasons!). i hope it would not cost me an arm and leg (and innards!) knowing fully well that he has taste. (although a no-brainer pick, my choice, would be a pair of rubber shoes he was eye-ing and would only cost me an arm. lol!)

because i was away for almost a week for that forum, mr p compelled me to "date" (which we haven't done for ages since we had the boys). we ate in Kimpura in Trinoma. the food wasn't a bomb extraordinaire but it was good enough to satiate my Jap craving. he was disappointed that it was kalamansi that went with his tuna sashimi (he was expecting lemon wedges because the tuna sashimi was quite pricey). my broiled eel was tasty but was matinik. tsk tsk tsk.

we are not putting up a Christmas tress for the season but we will be putting lights by our window. i am excited because this means we are going to Ace Hardware to buy these. i like going to big stores that carry (almost) everything because i could buy little things for the house, even when these are unplanned.

i will never watch in any SM cinema again! we got free passes from Star Cinema (mr p does movie trailers for cinemas/TV for them sometimes) for that Kim Chiu-Gerald movie.  while the movie does not require full concentration anyway, i cannot, for the life of me, watch comfortably because there were baby cockroaches everywhere! we were seated at the balcony, and it smelled cockroach-y! nakakalokah! good thing, we didn't bring in any food. (insert gigantic goosebumps here.)

i was able to eat in Army Navy for the first time. i like their fries and onion rings but i had better burgers somewhere else! recently, we frequent Chili's because we find their steaks affordable. nakaka-miss ang chicken barbecue salad in CPK though!

the most expensive hilot i had was for PHP750 in Palawan.  after our Underground River tour (which i didn't enjoy btw. ambigat! basta.), my officemates decided to proceed to the mangrove tour.  i chose to be left behind and get a massage from the nearby Sheridan Resort, a new hotel in Sabang.  i do not remember how it was.  yes, i was sleeping.  i was lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves.  ganun ako ka-plakda sa pagod.

i cannot forget the warmth and hospitality of the staff of RAQ Pension. the secretariat were billeted here but the forum is in Legend Hotel, and we would just request them to doggy bag our breakfast. they would and do more! for example, i would have an American breakfast (bread, ham, egg), and i would find a clubhouse sandwich in my baon. their overnight rate of PHP1,000 for a single room is very reasonable, which also includes airport pick-up (conduct and return). iba talaga ang personalized service, nakakataba ng puso.

i must end this entry .. i still have a lot to share but this is too much info already. lol! (sorry for the bitin!)