I will take note of yesterday (July 19) because it's one of the best days of my life. The day when I received the answer to my question. I was requested by Dra. Diane Sarmiento, my ob-gyne, to come to her clinic yesterday because of a call from my office's HR department. Our HR manager wanted her to revise the medical certificate she issued, allowing me to work from home. Dra. Sarmiento said she wanted to check me up first before she will issue the new certificate.
So I went to her clinic, expecting a regular checkup. When she summoned me to her room, she waved at Mama as well. She wanted Mama to join me. I thought it odd, although I recall that during my last checkup, she also inquired about Mama and why she didn't join me in the room. Anyway, she asked me about my stitch, how I felt, etc. She then examined my wound and conducted IE. Then she told us to sit down and said, "I'm obviously trying to delay what I'm about to say."
Then she showed us the biopsy report from the lab and asked me if I had seen it. I said yes, and I have read it, but because of the technical and medical terms, I couldn't understand a thing. Ok, she said. The mass that was removed from me was given a biopsy procedure. She said they cut it up to many pieces and from each piece, they took a sample, placed it on a slide and looked at the sample through a microscope. There were 12 slides in all. Dra. Sarmiento said they found something inside the uterus. It was microscopic, not visible to the bare eye, but it was unmistakable.
It was cancer. Cancerous tumor on their early stages. I had cancer of the uterus.
At that point Dra. Sarmiento cried, even ahead of me. She was filled with emotion because she knew all the doctors who handled my case were guided by a Divine hand. They tried so hard to simply scrape the myoma but they couldn't do it; I was starting to bleed. They waited desperately for Mama during the operation (she was on her way to the hospital) because they thought I was too young to lose my uterus. But when Mama arrived, Mama told them the decision is theirs, whatever they think is best. She signed the waiver and allowed the doctors to do what's best. They decided to remove the uterus.
Doc was crying because she thought: What if she had decided to do something to save my uterus just to allow me to have another baby -- only to find out after the biopsy that she had signed my death sentence by saving it? What if she had retained the uterus, and had to cut me up again to remove it after finding out there were malignant cells in it? What if she had retained the uterus and someday I would come back to her bleeding profusely with the cancer spread out already? Or what if the pathologist was not thorough enough with his procedure and happened to have discarded the samples with the cancer cells on them? She said it could have been missed! It wasn't impossible if a lazy pathologist handled the job.
It was now clear why Makati Med was taking so long to release my hospital abstract and biopsy report. The pathologist who handled the case took care not to release information that will unduly distress a patient. After his findings, he referred the slides to the department head -- who was semi-retired and was no longer looking at slides, according to Dra, but he looked at them for a second opinion -- and the head agreed it was cancer in the early stage.
Dra. Sarmiento and the other doctor had removed my cancer without knowing it. I had the answer to my questions.
After the operation, I asked God why He didn't grant the petition that we were all praying for. All of us in the family and my friends were all praying for a simple myomectomy, to allow me to have another baby. I was wondering what life-changing purpose a large myoma had that God allowed it to grow in my uterus to steal away my happiness over a brother or a sister for Marthe. And now I know.
It's true, everything happens for a reason. And the reason is not always obvious at the start of a long process of understanding. But eventually, be it sooner or later, the reason will surface. And when it did for me, inside Dra. Sarmiento's clinic, all I managed to do was open my mouth, stare at my doctor and let tears streak down my face freely. I couldn't utter a word. I was more shocked at the sudden realization of why one thing led to another, than at the knowledge that I had cancer and it could have spread somewhere else.
For now, it was enough for me to know that it was there, in my uterus, and some medical angel had removed it without even knowing. I saw an oncologist after my session with Dra. Sarmiento and she assured me that the operation was indeed adequate, and that the cancer has been localized to the uterus and removed. No chemotherapy and additional cancer treatments required, and no likelihood of it spreading to my ovaries (which are still here inside me).
When I first heard the word "cancer", all the things I won't be able to do when I'm gone flashed in my mind and I panicked at the thought that there were plenty of things I would leave unaccomplished. But as the doctor explained to me that her oncologist friend said the hysterectomy was adequate to stop this kind of cancer, I realized I still have time. I won't wait until I have none.
Whatever happens in the future, this still serves as my second chance at life. I should choose my activities well and dream the dreams that are worth running after. I should take on hobbies that will fulfill my soul and relish the moments of every single day. I should nurture my friendships and deepen the ones that are quite shallow.
And I should continue to ask the questions that bug me, though they may remain unanswered for some time. Because God will give me the answer in the end. Only, He will give me the solution first, and then He will answer my question after He has solved my problem.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
On the sex and cash theory
RETROSPECT
On June 13, my office friends and I had an email discussion about the sex and cash theory, which states that creative people maintain a stable job that pays the bills but requires another one (whether permanent, full time or part-time/freelance type) that allows them freedom to experiment, create and express, even if it doesn't pay much.
Here's a draft reply I wrote but never got around to sending that day. I'll just post it for whoever finds them here one day. ;-)
*****
I used to run around the country and outside, having free lunches and dinners, business class trips and executive club rooms, watching plays and ballets, driving homemade planes, riding yachts and cruise ships, and swimming with the fishes at no cost on my part. Then i get to see my articles printed and my bylines all over the pages. And when I walk into a room and introduce myself, there's recognition in people's eyes. HEAVEN!
On June 13, my office friends and I had an email discussion about the sex and cash theory, which states that creative people maintain a stable job that pays the bills but requires another one (whether permanent, full time or part-time/freelance type) that allows them freedom to experiment, create and express, even if it doesn't pay much.
Here's a draft reply I wrote but never got around to sending that day. I'll just post it for whoever finds them here one day. ;-)
*****
I used to run around the country and outside, having free lunches and dinners, business class trips and executive club rooms, watching plays and ballets, driving homemade planes, riding yachts and cruise ships, and swimming with the fishes at no cost on my part. Then i get to see my articles printed and my bylines all over the pages. And when I walk into a room and introduce myself, there's recognition in people's eyes. HEAVEN!
But, like I told Rose earlier, during those times I had never spent a decent summer or Christmas vacation with my family; no two-week leave during which I could go island-hopping without deadlines; no looking forward to non-working holidays or extended weekends; no concept of overtime or undertime or office time. I was working almost 24 hours with story ideas swimming in my head and I didn't mind.
My vacations were tied up to my work and my companions were always my colleagues. Back then, when you're single, it was OK. It was fun, no matter how small your basic pay was. You don't feel the smallness of the salary because your junkets were all paid for by your interviewees. You don't feel the need to consider the cash part because you have no responsibility to put food on the table and pay bills.
It was OK to work during holidays because you were always in the center of activity and you thrived on the fast-paced life. It was OK to get really serious about that investigative report you're writing, and time could fly by for all you care, because your focus was on how to squeeze the truth out of that travel agent who stole her clients' money and was being sued for estafa. I could have jumped from 21 to 71 years old and I wouldn't even notice.
My vacations were tied up to my work and my companions were always my colleagues. Back then, when you're single, it was OK. It was fun, no matter how small your basic pay was. You don't feel the smallness of the salary because your junkets were all paid for by your interviewees. You don't feel the need to consider the cash part because you have no responsibility to put food on the table and pay bills.
It was OK to work during holidays because you were always in the center of activity and you thrived on the fast-paced life. It was OK to get really serious about that investigative report you're writing, and time could fly by for all you care, because your focus was on how to squeeze the truth out of that travel agent who stole her clients' money and was being sued for estafa. I could have jumped from 21 to 71 years old and I wouldn't even notice.
But today, can I go a whole year without having a vacation with my own family? And go swimming and cruising and dining with only my colleagues as company? Each time I'd go somewhere, I'd probably wish Mel and Marthe were there, then I'd get depressed that I'm far from them. Can I live on a starting salary of P4,000, when one week's groceries already cost almost P2,000? Can I agree to be paid a P9,000 salary as section editor, as I used to, with Marthe going to school? Can I forego holidays and warm moments under the Christmas tree, and the opportunity to whip up a good New Year's Eve meal?
More than the cash, it's also the thought that you have a routine and a solid schedule around which you can build other plans. There's more to life than your 8-5 job and it's the more that counts most in the end. It's about you and everything you really care for.
Maybe back then, I chose the sex because I was young and free and raring to conquer the world. Maybe now I still want that because I don't feel the least bit old. Maybe back then, the cash could be had if I had wanted it but I was busy with the sex part to seriously pursue it. Maybe now what I chose was stability and the cash came with it but the sex did not.
Whatever, I agree with the sex and cash theory and the points emphasized by my friends Jason and Rose.
I'll be on leave from work from June 25 to August 24 to have a surgery and to spend time at home for recovery. During that time I will have less of the cash, but I'm dead set to pursue the sex part. Who knows? The cash might come with it too. =P
More than the cash, it's also the thought that you have a routine and a solid schedule around which you can build other plans. There's more to life than your 8-5 job and it's the more that counts most in the end. It's about you and everything you really care for.
Maybe back then, I chose the sex because I was young and free and raring to conquer the world. Maybe now I still want that because I don't feel the least bit old. Maybe back then, the cash could be had if I had wanted it but I was busy with the sex part to seriously pursue it. Maybe now what I chose was stability and the cash came with it but the sex did not.
Whatever, I agree with the sex and cash theory and the points emphasized by my friends Jason and Rose.
I'll be on leave from work from June 25 to August 24 to have a surgery and to spend time at home for recovery. During that time I will have less of the cash, but I'm dead set to pursue the sex part. Who knows? The cash might come with it too. =P
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Marthe's Toddler Photos
Just to clear up some of the space on my PC. I'll post Marthe's old and recent pics.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The ITK Principle
Yesterday, another storm started to brew in SP. The storm has not hit land yet, but it's already picking up speed. As of yesterday afternoon, it already promised to claim at least two casualties. But I will not let the storm rage to uncontrollable levels. The storm must be calmed, if we cannot divert it.
But if it should hit full-force, I will stand by my ITK Principle and implement it in full as well. Here are five, initially:
But if it should hit full-force, I will stand by my ITK Principle and implement it in full as well. Here are five, initially:
- I will teach the basics but not more than that. What I know beyond basics is something I learned on my own.
- I will protect what I know because what I know will protect me in times of crisis.
- I refuse to do any hand-holding. Teachers can only show the way.
- If the person succeeds without my help, he is worthy of my admiration and respect. If the person fails without me, then I cannot trust my career to him. If he cannot take care of himself, he cannot take care of his team--and that includes me.
- I will continue acquiring knowledge--knowledge that will help me gain a better working environment, knowledge that will help me gain respect, and knowledge that will help me gain my boss's position if he refuses to acquire knowledge himself.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Juggling
March 6, 2007
Last Saturday, a local variety show had two amateur jugglers for guests. One was in his early 20s and the other was a child -- both males. The older guy was better at juggling three bottles, while the young boy showcased his talent with a bottle and shaker glass. While the older sailed smoothly through his act, the boy dropped his bottle twice. He showed promise, though. With a little training, he could become better than his older competitor.
It’s not about the holding; it’s about the juggling.
Everyday, we juggle many things. We juggle money, roles, tasks, jobs. We move from place to place, person to person, dream to dream. And many times we drop one and pick another.
These past days I’ve been juggling my money to pay bills, buy personal needs and survive the daily gastronomic requirement for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Screw taxes! Screw the deductions that never get back to you as benefits! Salary raise? Whose salary? It’s not about the salary these days, it’s about buying power. Nobody can buy anything decent with just a few hundred pesos nowadays.
And it’s not just happening in the Philippines, according to my aunt, Tita Yorn. Even in South Africa, it’s the same thing. Their family lived there for five years. Things used to be better. Now she said prices have shot up. If you can buy a loaf of bread for One Zimbabwe dollar in those days, now it costs about 1,000 Zimbabwe dollars, she said. WHAT!
And then there’s the matter of juggling my roles as a mother, wife, daughter and employee. And even in the role of employee, I had to juggle deadlines between deliverables for SP, ELEC, Training for the New Hire, and Style Guide Review. In just one day, I experienced running to the office to beat the time, having lunch with Mel for one hour, rushing back to check the lasers for SP, doing the backlog new product reports for ELEC, meeting up with the SG committee, and going to the grocery for home supplies.
It’s so tiring!!! Sometimes, I pity Marthe who’s working to corner me for a game with her dolls or a round of SIMS on the computer. I’m busted. I just lie down in bed after dinner (or in the sofa in front of the TV) and doze off. And Marthe will wake me up when she’s ready to turn in to bed and I’d jump up and realize I’ve missed all the teleseryes and it was midnight.
Juggling….keeping control…not letting things drop. It gives me migraine all the time. And yet, I just have to do it to survive in the long run. Otherwise, I’ll be dropping everything…including myself.
Last Saturday, a local variety show had two amateur jugglers for guests. One was in his early 20s and the other was a child -- both males. The older guy was better at juggling three bottles, while the young boy showcased his talent with a bottle and shaker glass. While the older sailed smoothly through his act, the boy dropped his bottle twice. He showed promise, though. With a little training, he could become better than his older competitor.
It’s not about the holding; it’s about the juggling.
Everyday, we juggle many things. We juggle money, roles, tasks, jobs. We move from place to place, person to person, dream to dream. And many times we drop one and pick another.
These past days I’ve been juggling my money to pay bills, buy personal needs and survive the daily gastronomic requirement for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Screw taxes! Screw the deductions that never get back to you as benefits! Salary raise? Whose salary? It’s not about the salary these days, it’s about buying power. Nobody can buy anything decent with just a few hundred pesos nowadays.
And it’s not just happening in the Philippines, according to my aunt, Tita Yorn. Even in South Africa, it’s the same thing. Their family lived there for five years. Things used to be better. Now she said prices have shot up. If you can buy a loaf of bread for One Zimbabwe dollar in those days, now it costs about 1,000 Zimbabwe dollars, she said. WHAT!
And then there’s the matter of juggling my roles as a mother, wife, daughter and employee. And even in the role of employee, I had to juggle deadlines between deliverables for SP, ELEC, Training for the New Hire, and Style Guide Review. In just one day, I experienced running to the office to beat the time, having lunch with Mel for one hour, rushing back to check the lasers for SP, doing the backlog new product reports for ELEC, meeting up with the SG committee, and going to the grocery for home supplies.
It’s so tiring!!! Sometimes, I pity Marthe who’s working to corner me for a game with her dolls or a round of SIMS on the computer. I’m busted. I just lie down in bed after dinner (or in the sofa in front of the TV) and doze off. And Marthe will wake me up when she’s ready to turn in to bed and I’d jump up and realize I’ve missed all the teleseryes and it was midnight.
Juggling….keeping control…not letting things drop. It gives me migraine all the time. And yet, I just have to do it to survive in the long run. Otherwise, I’ll be dropping everything…including myself.
Lynnie's Birthday Surprise
February 23, 2007
We planned Lynnie’s birthday surprise today. In her car at the basement car park of Antel. The surprise consisted of letter cutouts of “Happy Birthday”, to be placed on her car hood.
Stephen Yeo, who lives in Antel and who owns the car park slot Lynnie is using, accompanied Cecile and Marco in the afternoon to paste the letters. Stephen wrote a “Wash Me” on the dusty windshield glass of the car with his finger.
Monch and I were busy with EPP, and we also had to keep a ‘busy’ front so as not to attract Lynnie’s attention.
-----
Nina arrived at 9:00 am.
I had an early lunch with Rech, Jason, Nina and Monch. Marco opted to eat at 1:30.
After work, I had dinner with Mel, Monch, Lynnie, Cecile and Marco at Mixxlada. Our orders were in pairs: pasta, sizzling plates and toppings. I ordered a Beef Champignon, Melanie ordered Thai Bagoong Rice, Monch ordered T-bone Steak sizzler, Marco ordered Beef Tips sizzler, Cecile and Lynnie both ordered pasta dishes, which I forgot to ask. Melanie secretly asked the waiter to give our plate gift to Lynnie.
Sadly, we couldn’t think of a reason to accompany Lynnie to her car just to be able to take a picture of her surprised face. So we each went our ways—Cecile and Melanie to Buendia to take a ride to the MRT station, and Marco and I to Ayala. Monch stayed behind to have a smoke with Lynnie.
As we walked away, we secretly smiled at the thought of Lynnie wondering what those papers were doing on her hood, and realizing that it was her birthday greeting.
Oh by the way, we would later learn that Monch, after restraining himself for so long, finally said, “Let’s go. I have to take a picture of your surprise.”
And nobody would know exactly when Lynnie’s stunned expression began.
We planned Lynnie’s birthday surprise today. In her car at the basement car park of Antel. The surprise consisted of letter cutouts of “Happy Birthday”, to be placed on her car hood.
Stephen Yeo, who lives in Antel and who owns the car park slot Lynnie is using, accompanied Cecile and Marco in the afternoon to paste the letters. Stephen wrote a “Wash Me” on the dusty windshield glass of the car with his finger.
Monch and I were busy with EPP, and we also had to keep a ‘busy’ front so as not to attract Lynnie’s attention.
-----
Nina arrived at 9:00 am.
I had an early lunch with Rech, Jason, Nina and Monch. Marco opted to eat at 1:30.
After work, I had dinner with Mel, Monch, Lynnie, Cecile and Marco at Mixxlada. Our orders were in pairs: pasta, sizzling plates and toppings. I ordered a Beef Champignon, Melanie ordered Thai Bagoong Rice, Monch ordered T-bone Steak sizzler, Marco ordered Beef Tips sizzler, Cecile and Lynnie both ordered pasta dishes, which I forgot to ask. Melanie secretly asked the waiter to give our plate gift to Lynnie.
Sadly, we couldn’t think of a reason to accompany Lynnie to her car just to be able to take a picture of her surprised face. So we each went our ways—Cecile and Melanie to Buendia to take a ride to the MRT station, and Marco and I to Ayala. Monch stayed behind to have a smoke with Lynnie.
As we walked away, we secretly smiled at the thought of Lynnie wondering what those papers were doing on her hood, and realizing that it was her birthday greeting.
Oh by the way, we would later learn that Monch, after restraining himself for so long, finally said, “Let’s go. I have to take a picture of your surprise.”
And nobody would know exactly when Lynnie’s stunned expression began.
Rush, rush
February 22, 2007
Marco’s birthday. I was wearing a blue linen dress and a denim bolero.
Rech and I had lunch together. Jason followed, he was finishing Mayann’s send-off powerpoint. Topic was about sins, 10 commandments, being a kept woman, etc.
Mayann’s send-off: 15/F conference room. Jason’s send-off slideshow was great! Tugging into your heart at some points, making you laugh at other points. The pancit palabok and barbecue from Ambers were delicious. Cecile ate platefuls of palabok, ignoring most of the other fare. There was also puto, lumpiang shanghai and cake.
Nina was not in the send-off party. She wasn’t feeling well. We saw her and Emper peek at the conference room but backed away. When we came down later, I saw Nina briefly and then she disappeared again. She was absent for about two hours and we were getting worried. Her bag was on her desk and it appeared that she had not shut off her computer.
When I went to the ladies room much later, I saw her shoes from my cubicle. She was in the next cubicle and seemed silent. She had vomited and was there all the time.
We took her to Makati Medical Center after work: Emper, Jenny and me. When Nina’s husband, Knell, arrived, we stayed for a while at the waiting room and left after about 30 minutes.
Emper showed me the SMS she sent to Jambi when he started getting sick of chicken pox. And she showed his response too.
The three of us went to KFC at the PeopleSupport building. I bought a chicken burger meal and a chicken burger solo for Marthe.
I walked back across Buendia and through the Makati Fire Station, and took the tricycle home. It’s not safe to walk here alone late at night. I won’t do this again.
----------
By the way, tonight was also the night the pregnant Kris Aquino was rushed to the hospital when she collapsed. Her husband’s “other woman” Hope Centeno has agreed to be interviewed on GMA-7’s Startalk. This was too much for her.
Marco’s birthday. I was wearing a blue linen dress and a denim bolero.
Rech and I had lunch together. Jason followed, he was finishing Mayann’s send-off powerpoint. Topic was about sins, 10 commandments, being a kept woman, etc.
Mayann’s send-off: 15/F conference room. Jason’s send-off slideshow was great! Tugging into your heart at some points, making you laugh at other points. The pancit palabok and barbecue from Ambers were delicious. Cecile ate platefuls of palabok, ignoring most of the other fare. There was also puto, lumpiang shanghai and cake.
Nina was not in the send-off party. She wasn’t feeling well. We saw her and Emper peek at the conference room but backed away. When we came down later, I saw Nina briefly and then she disappeared again. She was absent for about two hours and we were getting worried. Her bag was on her desk and it appeared that she had not shut off her computer.
When I went to the ladies room much later, I saw her shoes from my cubicle. She was in the next cubicle and seemed silent. She had vomited and was there all the time.
We took her to Makati Medical Center after work: Emper, Jenny and me. When Nina’s husband, Knell, arrived, we stayed for a while at the waiting room and left after about 30 minutes.
Emper showed me the SMS she sent to Jambi when he started getting sick of chicken pox. And she showed his response too.
The three of us went to KFC at the PeopleSupport building. I bought a chicken burger meal and a chicken burger solo for Marthe.
I walked back across Buendia and through the Makati Fire Station, and took the tricycle home. It’s not safe to walk here alone late at night. I won’t do this again.
----------
By the way, tonight was also the night the pregnant Kris Aquino was rushed to the hospital when she collapsed. Her husband’s “other woman” Hope Centeno has agreed to be interviewed on GMA-7’s Startalk. This was too much for her.
Making a difference
February 21, 2007
Today is Ash Wednesday. Many of us managed our workloads in the morning in order to have time for mass at noon. Len, Emper, Ria, Nina, Regie of EETA and I heard mass in Chinabank. On big church events like this, the mass is held at the penthouse (looks like a conference room or executive lounge). There were plenty of people but we were able to stand near the front where we could see the priest well.
The priest had a funny story about a local priest who made one of his Ash Wednesday masses memorable for those who attended. Our priest did not know if that priest was licensed to do what he did but he did it anyway because that was his nature. The priest in the story is Fr. Sonny Ramirez, who usually holds masses for showbiz celebrities.
During one Ash Wednesday mass, he asked the people to line up for the imposition of the ashes on their foreheads. But instead of dipping his thumb on a small container of ash, he placed a large bowl of ash on the altar table, dipped his whole hand in the ashes and applied the handful of ash on the faces of the people. According to our priest, this was the traditional way of imposing ashes on Ash Wednesday in the old days. Fr. Ramirez then requested the surprised mass attendees to bring out their handkerchiefs and wipe the ash off the faces of the persons beside them.
Thankfully, our priest did not imitate Fr. Ramirez. =)
After mass, Nina and I waited for Rech and we all joined Len, Ria and Emper for lunch at Chowking. Regie went out of the mass early but we didn’t see her outside.
---------------
We are all excited about what we plan to do for Marco’s birthday tomorrow. We had agreed on a scavenger hunt and the clues will be given to the five accomplices: Van, Rose, Ria, Emper and Nina, in that order. Why them? Marco had played the biggest practical jokes on them in the past and they would have been more than willing to get back at him.
They would each keep an item that will be taken from Marco’s desk and when he comes to claim it, they would make him do something as ransom payment for his things. And after claiming the item, they would hand him a piece of paper containing the clue to the next item he was supposed to search. Everything was set. We just had to wait for him to leave—which took some time, because he was preparing for his training session with Chie tomorrow.
But it did not turn out the way we planned. It was better. The accomplices were willing to take part in the game but in the end, they had second thoughts about making him suffer on his birthday. Good girls. They agreed that once he figures out who’s holding what item, he’s free to claim it without a “ransom”. In addition to the five girls, Monch also wanted Dennis to be part of the scavenger hunt as an accomplice and Cecile will be the last person in the list, and the one who will hold his gift.
I started preparing the clue sheets right after Marco left. Monch and Cecile went off to give the thing-nap items to their respective keepers. As we were doing this, Allyn came to Marco’s workstation and decided to rearrange his stuff. Moving some of his things on one side, she got Lynnie’s stuffed toys and Melanie’s bonsai plant, Harvey, and transferred them to his desk.
Other officemates, seeing what she did, volunteered their own desk decors—stuffed toys, picture frames, pen holders, small pillows—until Marco’s monitor and keyboard was surrounded by several mementos and desktop personal items. It began to look like a girl’s desk. But it was so pretty we had to take a photo of it.
Unfortunately, we’re not sure if any of us can come to the office early enough to capture Marco’s expression when he marches into the office and sees his desk all dressed up.
Today is Ash Wednesday. Many of us managed our workloads in the morning in order to have time for mass at noon. Len, Emper, Ria, Nina, Regie of EETA and I heard mass in Chinabank. On big church events like this, the mass is held at the penthouse (looks like a conference room or executive lounge). There were plenty of people but we were able to stand near the front where we could see the priest well.
The priest had a funny story about a local priest who made one of his Ash Wednesday masses memorable for those who attended. Our priest did not know if that priest was licensed to do what he did but he did it anyway because that was his nature. The priest in the story is Fr. Sonny Ramirez, who usually holds masses for showbiz celebrities.
During one Ash Wednesday mass, he asked the people to line up for the imposition of the ashes on their foreheads. But instead of dipping his thumb on a small container of ash, he placed a large bowl of ash on the altar table, dipped his whole hand in the ashes and applied the handful of ash on the faces of the people. According to our priest, this was the traditional way of imposing ashes on Ash Wednesday in the old days. Fr. Ramirez then requested the surprised mass attendees to bring out their handkerchiefs and wipe the ash off the faces of the persons beside them.
Thankfully, our priest did not imitate Fr. Ramirez. =)
After mass, Nina and I waited for Rech and we all joined Len, Ria and Emper for lunch at Chowking. Regie went out of the mass early but we didn’t see her outside.
---------------
We are all excited about what we plan to do for Marco’s birthday tomorrow. We had agreed on a scavenger hunt and the clues will be given to the five accomplices: Van, Rose, Ria, Emper and Nina, in that order. Why them? Marco had played the biggest practical jokes on them in the past and they would have been more than willing to get back at him.
They would each keep an item that will be taken from Marco’s desk and when he comes to claim it, they would make him do something as ransom payment for his things. And after claiming the item, they would hand him a piece of paper containing the clue to the next item he was supposed to search. Everything was set. We just had to wait for him to leave—which took some time, because he was preparing for his training session with Chie tomorrow.
But it did not turn out the way we planned. It was better. The accomplices were willing to take part in the game but in the end, they had second thoughts about making him suffer on his birthday. Good girls. They agreed that once he figures out who’s holding what item, he’s free to claim it without a “ransom”. In addition to the five girls, Monch also wanted Dennis to be part of the scavenger hunt as an accomplice and Cecile will be the last person in the list, and the one who will hold his gift.
I started preparing the clue sheets right after Marco left. Monch and Cecile went off to give the thing-nap items to their respective keepers. As we were doing this, Allyn came to Marco’s workstation and decided to rearrange his stuff. Moving some of his things on one side, she got Lynnie’s stuffed toys and Melanie’s bonsai plant, Harvey, and transferred them to his desk.
Other officemates, seeing what she did, volunteered their own desk decors—stuffed toys, picture frames, pen holders, small pillows—until Marco’s monitor and keyboard was surrounded by several mementos and desktop personal items. It began to look like a girl’s desk. But it was so pretty we had to take a photo of it.
Unfortunately, we’re not sure if any of us can come to the office early enough to capture Marco’s expression when he marches into the office and sees his desk all dressed up.
Rock It
February 19, 2007
Today, I wore a rocker’s outfit to the office. Black leggings, white sheer see-through dress that fell down to my knees, black thin leather jacket with a fur collar. It attracted everybody’s attention. I don’t normally dress much at work; just the usual acceptable “professional” attire, with a blazer to make me appear ‘serious-looking’.
But today, without the bosses (they’re on vacation because of the Chinese New Year), I fancied a little spice in my get-up. And I was pleased that everyone else noticed. Fortunately, the boys were also in shirts and ties. Not all of them, just some of my friends—Marco, Monch, Ren and Aldwin. They had talked about dressing up like salesmen on a Monday several days ago, and today happened to be that day. I wasn’t out of place then.
Lynnie saw me while I was walking down Makati Avenue and she told her cousin “that girl’s attire is cool.” She was so surprised when I walked into my workstation. Hehe.
Nina didn’t see my outfit. She was absent. She sent an SMS on Sunday that she was in the hospital, having herself checked. She had eaten something on Saturday dinner that produced rashes all over her face. It must have been her allergies, which began about two years ago when she had a business trip to China and ate too much mushrooms and chicken.
The new hire for the EBU Content Development team—the new team where Lynnie will be moved—arrived today. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why the boys are in ties. =) Her name’s Kristine Sales but she is known as Chie. There are now two girls named Chie in the office. Lynnie and Cecile took her out to lunch as a first-day privilege.
Tonight, the Christmas Party Committee of 2006 had dinner at Dad’s/Saisaki/Kamayan in Glorietta 3. Blue plate. Yummy. I ate mostly Saisaki fare, especially the tempura and the salmon. I loved the chocolate ice cream and the brazo-de-mercedes like dessert with a chocolate syrup inside. I got a yellow duck with soft hair and an orange beak free from my bottomless iced tea. Marthe was happy. ;-)
Mayann announced she’s leaving for Singapore on Sunday. Still in GS and the same department. It’s kinda sad but it’s also for the better—she has been dreaming of this for some time, and she also wanted to be back in tradeshow marketing in the future.
Mel fetched me after the dinner.
Today, I wore a rocker’s outfit to the office. Black leggings, white sheer see-through dress that fell down to my knees, black thin leather jacket with a fur collar. It attracted everybody’s attention. I don’t normally dress much at work; just the usual acceptable “professional” attire, with a blazer to make me appear ‘serious-looking’.
But today, without the bosses (they’re on vacation because of the Chinese New Year), I fancied a little spice in my get-up. And I was pleased that everyone else noticed. Fortunately, the boys were also in shirts and ties. Not all of them, just some of my friends—Marco, Monch, Ren and Aldwin. They had talked about dressing up like salesmen on a Monday several days ago, and today happened to be that day. I wasn’t out of place then.
Lynnie saw me while I was walking down Makati Avenue and she told her cousin “that girl’s attire is cool.” She was so surprised when I walked into my workstation. Hehe.
Nina didn’t see my outfit. She was absent. She sent an SMS on Sunday that she was in the hospital, having herself checked. She had eaten something on Saturday dinner that produced rashes all over her face. It must have been her allergies, which began about two years ago when she had a business trip to China and ate too much mushrooms and chicken.
The new hire for the EBU Content Development team—the new team where Lynnie will be moved—arrived today. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why the boys are in ties. =) Her name’s Kristine Sales but she is known as Chie. There are now two girls named Chie in the office. Lynnie and Cecile took her out to lunch as a first-day privilege.
Tonight, the Christmas Party Committee of 2006 had dinner at Dad’s/Saisaki/Kamayan in Glorietta 3. Blue plate. Yummy. I ate mostly Saisaki fare, especially the tempura and the salmon. I loved the chocolate ice cream and the brazo-de-mercedes like dessert with a chocolate syrup inside. I got a yellow duck with soft hair and an orange beak free from my bottomless iced tea. Marthe was happy. ;-)
Mayann announced she’s leaving for Singapore on Sunday. Still in GS and the same department. It’s kinda sad but it’s also for the better—she has been dreaming of this for some time, and she also wanted to be back in tradeshow marketing in the future.
Mel fetched me after the dinner.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Guangdong Update Day 3: Touch base with friends
Guangdong Update Day 3
Pre-Day 3
Last night, I went to that drugstore at the back of Oriental Ginza, the one I think you’re referring to. Wala dito ang sketch ni Cecile. No signs that there’s a second floor, unless I missed it. But there was nothing in the drugstore that indicates an entrance to a second floor. So malamang, hindi yon ang drugstore na tinutukoy mo. But it’s the only one on that street, facing stalls of fruits, kalinya ng stalls ng mga hardware, cheap clothes, beauty products, Chinese medicines, and isang maliit na sari-sari store. Dito sa huli ako nakabili ng noodles and rice crackers (na hindi ko pa nabuksan ngayon so hindi ko actually alam kung the same ito sa Wan wan).
On my way back, I looked around for some place to eat but the prices advertised outside didn’t look enticing. A place that looked like a fastfood had its menu displayed outside. RMB18! Sabi ko ok ‘to. Pagtingin ko sa picture, 4 pcs of siomai. No thanks. Baka maliit pa yung pieces na yun. I looked around a bit sa mga tiangge-type na tindahan before deciding to have my newly-purchased noodles for dinner. Kasi super laki ng lalagyan. True enough, maraming laman, at busog na busog ako. Sulit yung RMB 3.50 ko. Nalimutan ko nga pala banggitin na nung naglunch kami yesterday ni Tyler and Mr Déjà vu sa KFC (of all places), nabusog na ako sa sandwich kaya ni-take home ko yung shrimp “shots” (fun shots pero shrimp, parang mini-tempura. Do we have this in Mla? Parang wala.) Ito ang partner ng noodles dinner ko kaya busog ako. Masarap yung shrimp shots.
Day 3
This morning nagmadali ako sa breakfast, kaunti lang nakain ko kasi feeling ko late na ako. 8.20 na yata ako nakaalis ng hotel. Ang usapan naman namin ni Tyler 9 ang alis sa office so before 9 ako dapat dumating. Pero para sure, buti na yung maaga-aga. Bago ako nag-breakfast, I emailed Talline and Marion na I’m in Shenzhen. Pareho silang sumagot but I never got around to reading it dahil umalis na ako. Later ko nalang nalaman.
No special incident in the subway this time. Proud ako. =) Pagdating ko sa office, busy pa si Tyler. So naghintay muna ako ng matagal. I later learned na nag-cancel pala yung unang company na naka-schedule (gas detector company) kaya naghahanap si Tyler ng replacement. Pero no success. Umalis kami past 10 papunta sa 2nd company for the day.
After the interview, Tyler dropped me sa may tapat ng office building kasi may next appointment pa siya. I found my chance. I went up to 34th floor instead of 36th, and went straight to Talline. Tamang-tama naghahanda siya for lunch. From there, tinawagan ko si Kevin. Nung una, panic siya. Sabi niya “May, why are you in office?” Pero nung inexplain ko na tapos na yung interview namin sa morning at iniwan na ako ni Tyler, nagrelax na siya. Pero nagtatanong pa rin kung bakit ako pumunta daw kay Talline. Sabi ko binisita ko lang siya. So, nagset na kami ng time na dapat akong bumalik sa office to meet Dean, the 2nd AE for the day. 1.30 ang call time namin.
Talline, Melvin (from CM) and I went down to lunch. Sa lobby ng building, na-meet namin sina Rina, Marion, Anna and another one. Hindi ko pa alam non na nag-email pala sa akin si Marion. At 9am, she said daanan ko daw siya, pwede ba kami mag-lunch together? Then at 11am, nag-email siya uli na medyo masama pakiramdam niya so magha-halfday siya para makapagpahinga muna. So nung nakita niya ako marching out to lunch with Talline and Melvin, nakasmile siya na medyo confused. Siguro akala niya dedma ko lunch invitation niya.
Talline, Melvin and I went to the Norway Place in Coco Park mall. Ang tawag nila dito Chinese na Norwegian kasi kahit Norwegian ang menu, lasang Chinese. Trulyly. Pero buffet siya at mura lang. Doon din pala ang punta nila Marion. Maglalunch muna bago siya uuwi. Buti naman kasi doon niya sinabi sa akin na nag-email siya at hindi ko nga nabasa. Chikahan blues. Excited sila malaman kung kumusta yung xmas party. Sabi ko masaya, magulo ang mga tao.
Hindi makakauwi si Talline and many other Filipinos for Christmas break coz they don’t have annual leaves left. So they’re already planning their menu. Cordon bleu, boiled and grilled chicken or pork something, creamy corn soup (yata), may dessert pa. I forgot the items na, basta the works. Reminds me of Lou, when she hosted special holiday parties in her flat in HK.
We went back to the office at 1:15, enough time for me to freshen up before 1.30, when AE Dean and I met and went down to wait for the car sent by the next company on schedule. We went to Bao’an district. 1.30 kami umalis, 3:00 na kami dumating sa factory ng supplier. Full speed pa ito, no traffic. Sa kakasilip ko sa landscape and sights habang nasa car, I fell in and out of sleep. Nakakaantok pala yun. With us in the car was the international sales officer, a girl, who kept watching me in the rearview mirror. Nung nahuli ko siya, she put on her sunglasses. Para di halata. So tumingin nalang ako sa labas at yun, nakatulog na ako.
She turned out to be a nice girl, though. When she saw my business card holder, the one with shifting pictures of a pretty Chinese girl, she said she loves it and she’s very pretty (referring to the girl). Then she asked me, “Do you know the story?” I didn’t know that this particular picture had a story. Unfortunately, she didn’t get around to telling me, because we were summoned by the GM to his office for the interview.
The lady acted as interpreter for the GM, who doesn’t speak English. The quote for the day came from her: “We have three flowers.” (Err, flowers?) She gestured above her head. “We have three flowers, all production by our own self.” Oh! She means they have three floors and they’re doing all the production processes in-house. A pronunciation “glitch”. ;-)
After the interview, we toured the factory. And then went back. The sales officer stayed in the factory so only Dean, me and another employee of that company went back to Shenzhen. I slept again. I could hear Dean talking to the other person almost ¾ of the way. Matatag ha. But in the last ¼ of the trip, he dozed off.
Shortly before arriving to the office building, Dean woke up suddenly and realized he was hungry. He asked me if I was also hungry. I said yes. And he said, ok let’s have supper. We arrived in the building at 7pm and went up to get Dean’s laptop. While he was packing up, I went to the ladies room. On the way out, I passed Louie Pilapil’s desk and talked to her. She asked about the party too. The xmas party in Shenzhen office is Dec 22 but she’s leaving for Manila on vacation this Saturday and will be back Dec 26. So malungkot siya kasi wala siyang xmas party sa office this year. First party pa naman sana niya sa Shenzhen. Pero late na na-schedule kasi late din yata na-reserve ang venue. Masama loob niya.
Tomorrow, if the AEs let me off the hook at lunch, Louie asked me to pass by her station so we can dine together.
Dean and I went off to Coco Park for dinner. Josko, of all places na pipiliin niya, Norway Place. I tried to say that I ate lunch there today but he doesn’t speak much English so he missed the point. Surprisingly, the a la carte dish I chose tasted well. Pieces of Norwegian salmon in fried pasta. RMB 24 lang.
Dinner turned out to be an English and Chinese tutorial session as Dean tried to coach me on Chinese and I tried to teach him English. By 8.30, we were making very slow progress and were both tired. We parted by the subway station entrance and I took the subway home.
All smooth on the subway. Am proud. =)
Pre-Day 3
Last night, I went to that drugstore at the back of Oriental Ginza, the one I think you’re referring to. Wala dito ang sketch ni Cecile. No signs that there’s a second floor, unless I missed it. But there was nothing in the drugstore that indicates an entrance to a second floor. So malamang, hindi yon ang drugstore na tinutukoy mo. But it’s the only one on that street, facing stalls of fruits, kalinya ng stalls ng mga hardware, cheap clothes, beauty products, Chinese medicines, and isang maliit na sari-sari store. Dito sa huli ako nakabili ng noodles and rice crackers (na hindi ko pa nabuksan ngayon so hindi ko actually alam kung the same ito sa Wan wan).
On my way back, I looked around for some place to eat but the prices advertised outside didn’t look enticing. A place that looked like a fastfood had its menu displayed outside. RMB18! Sabi ko ok ‘to. Pagtingin ko sa picture, 4 pcs of siomai. No thanks. Baka maliit pa yung pieces na yun. I looked around a bit sa mga tiangge-type na tindahan before deciding to have my newly-purchased noodles for dinner. Kasi super laki ng lalagyan. True enough, maraming laman, at busog na busog ako. Sulit yung RMB 3.50 ko. Nalimutan ko nga pala banggitin na nung naglunch kami yesterday ni Tyler and Mr Déjà vu sa KFC (of all places), nabusog na ako sa sandwich kaya ni-take home ko yung shrimp “shots” (fun shots pero shrimp, parang mini-tempura. Do we have this in Mla? Parang wala.) Ito ang partner ng noodles dinner ko kaya busog ako. Masarap yung shrimp shots.
Day 3
This morning nagmadali ako sa breakfast, kaunti lang nakain ko kasi feeling ko late na ako. 8.20 na yata ako nakaalis ng hotel. Ang usapan naman namin ni Tyler 9 ang alis sa office so before 9 ako dapat dumating. Pero para sure, buti na yung maaga-aga. Bago ako nag-breakfast, I emailed Talline and Marion na I’m in Shenzhen. Pareho silang sumagot but I never got around to reading it dahil umalis na ako. Later ko nalang nalaman.
No special incident in the subway this time. Proud ako. =) Pagdating ko sa office, busy pa si Tyler. So naghintay muna ako ng matagal. I later learned na nag-cancel pala yung unang company na naka-schedule (gas detector company) kaya naghahanap si Tyler ng replacement. Pero no success. Umalis kami past 10 papunta sa 2nd company for the day.
After the interview, Tyler dropped me sa may tapat ng office building kasi may next appointment pa siya. I found my chance. I went up to 34th floor instead of 36th, and went straight to Talline. Tamang-tama naghahanda siya for lunch. From there, tinawagan ko si Kevin. Nung una, panic siya. Sabi niya “May, why are you in office?” Pero nung inexplain ko na tapos na yung interview namin sa morning at iniwan na ako ni Tyler, nagrelax na siya. Pero nagtatanong pa rin kung bakit ako pumunta daw kay Talline. Sabi ko binisita ko lang siya. So, nagset na kami ng time na dapat akong bumalik sa office to meet Dean, the 2nd AE for the day. 1.30 ang call time namin.
Talline, Melvin (from CM) and I went down to lunch. Sa lobby ng building, na-meet namin sina Rina, Marion, Anna and another one. Hindi ko pa alam non na nag-email pala sa akin si Marion. At 9am, she said daanan ko daw siya, pwede ba kami mag-lunch together? Then at 11am, nag-email siya uli na medyo masama pakiramdam niya so magha-halfday siya para makapagpahinga muna. So nung nakita niya ako marching out to lunch with Talline and Melvin, nakasmile siya na medyo confused. Siguro akala niya dedma ko lunch invitation niya.
Talline, Melvin and I went to the Norway Place in Coco Park mall. Ang tawag nila dito Chinese na Norwegian kasi kahit Norwegian ang menu, lasang Chinese. Trulyly. Pero buffet siya at mura lang. Doon din pala ang punta nila Marion. Maglalunch muna bago siya uuwi. Buti naman kasi doon niya sinabi sa akin na nag-email siya at hindi ko nga nabasa. Chikahan blues. Excited sila malaman kung kumusta yung xmas party. Sabi ko masaya, magulo ang mga tao.
Hindi makakauwi si Talline and many other Filipinos for Christmas break coz they don’t have annual leaves left. So they’re already planning their menu. Cordon bleu, boiled and grilled chicken or pork something, creamy corn soup (yata), may dessert pa. I forgot the items na, basta the works. Reminds me of Lou, when she hosted special holiday parties in her flat in HK.
We went back to the office at 1:15, enough time for me to freshen up before 1.30, when AE Dean and I met and went down to wait for the car sent by the next company on schedule. We went to Bao’an district. 1.30 kami umalis, 3:00 na kami dumating sa factory ng supplier. Full speed pa ito, no traffic. Sa kakasilip ko sa landscape and sights habang nasa car, I fell in and out of sleep. Nakakaantok pala yun. With us in the car was the international sales officer, a girl, who kept watching me in the rearview mirror. Nung nahuli ko siya, she put on her sunglasses. Para di halata. So tumingin nalang ako sa labas at yun, nakatulog na ako.
She turned out to be a nice girl, though. When she saw my business card holder, the one with shifting pictures of a pretty Chinese girl, she said she loves it and she’s very pretty (referring to the girl). Then she asked me, “Do you know the story?” I didn’t know that this particular picture had a story. Unfortunately, she didn’t get around to telling me, because we were summoned by the GM to his office for the interview.
The lady acted as interpreter for the GM, who doesn’t speak English. The quote for the day came from her: “We have three flowers.” (Err, flowers?) She gestured above her head. “We have three flowers, all production by our own self.” Oh! She means they have three floors and they’re doing all the production processes in-house. A pronunciation “glitch”. ;-)
After the interview, we toured the factory. And then went back. The sales officer stayed in the factory so only Dean, me and another employee of that company went back to Shenzhen. I slept again. I could hear Dean talking to the other person almost ¾ of the way. Matatag ha. But in the last ¼ of the trip, he dozed off.
Shortly before arriving to the office building, Dean woke up suddenly and realized he was hungry. He asked me if I was also hungry. I said yes. And he said, ok let’s have supper. We arrived in the building at 7pm and went up to get Dean’s laptop. While he was packing up, I went to the ladies room. On the way out, I passed Louie Pilapil’s desk and talked to her. She asked about the party too. The xmas party in Shenzhen office is Dec 22 but she’s leaving for Manila on vacation this Saturday and will be back Dec 26. So malungkot siya kasi wala siyang xmas party sa office this year. First party pa naman sana niya sa Shenzhen. Pero late na na-schedule kasi late din yata na-reserve ang venue. Masama loob niya.
Tomorrow, if the AEs let me off the hook at lunch, Louie asked me to pass by her station so we can dine together.
Dean and I went off to Coco Park for dinner. Josko, of all places na pipiliin niya, Norway Place. I tried to say that I ate lunch there today but he doesn’t speak much English so he missed the point. Surprisingly, the a la carte dish I chose tasted well. Pieces of Norwegian salmon in fried pasta. RMB 24 lang.
Dinner turned out to be an English and Chinese tutorial session as Dean tried to coach me on Chinese and I tried to teach him English. By 8.30, we were making very slow progress and were both tired. We parted by the subway station entrance and I took the subway home.
All smooth on the subway. Am proud. =)
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