The Cebu Adventure

“What?! Our flight to Cebu is at 5:00 AM?!”

OMG.

Shoot the moon.


Friday, October 19

I had to literally drag myself to the airport due to lack of sleep...err, I haven’t slept at all. Due to the hectic preparation schedules for this trip, I only had the chance to think about my what-to-bring and what-to-wear the night before the trip. Luckily, my dad accompanied me to the airport so as not to look like a lost-haggard-where-am-I girl while waiting for my boss to arrive. However, my plan to catch some sleep during the flight didn’t materialize. More chicka, more fun! Hehehe…

After getting some 3 hours of sleep, I went to the branch to prepare for the 5:30PM training. Lunch at Lemon Grass was superb! The food was sumptuous and the lemon grass drink was really refreshing. At around 2pm, I received a text message from Jan that there was an explosion at Glorietta II. I immediately texted our colleagues and thanked God that nobody from our officemates were there when it happened as our department head called for an emergency meeting at that time. The incident sent shivers down to my spine when I got to realize that I was there at CD-R King, Glorietta II the night before it happened…literally a few steps away from the blast spot.

The first day of training went smoothly as the participants were very cooperative. We had dinner the barbeque place near the branch. Next stop: a coffee shop “not found in Manila”…Starbuck’s! Hehehe…



Saturday, October 20

I received a call from my satchi, Rachel. Worried about the news, she called to check if everything’s ok since she knew very well that Friday lunch-out is a common ritual in the office. Again, more chicka, more fun!

Today’s training wasn’t as enjoyable as the previous day. Thanks to the unsolicited advice and derogatory remarks of a training participant. A helluva ***** !



What really saved the day was the dinner we had at Mr. A. It’s a restaurant with an overlooking view of Cebu in its grandeur. It’s happy fiesta once again!


Sunday, October 21

Last day of training…err, not exactly training, though. It was more of “looking after” the participants as they go about their conversion thing. Since it was Sunday, we decided to hear mass prior to our actual agenda for the day. We went to Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino de Cebu and had visited the historical Magellan’s Cross. After mass, we went straight to the branch to facilitate the participants.



We were done by 4pm and that was the only time that we had the chance to buy our pasalubong: danggit, dried pusit, and shamrock otap. Later on, we had dinner at one of the famous Su To Kil (it means Sugba, Tuwa and Kilawin….Inihaw, Tinola and Sinukaan in Tagalog). restaurants in Lapu-Lapu City. The place is similar with Dampa and Seaside where you can order your fresh sea-foods and they will cook it the way you like them to be cooked. Then, there was this man who played the harp. Amazed as I was, I asked him whether playing the harp would be as easy as playing the piano. According to him, the harp is much easier to learn as compared to the piano simply because it only consists of the “KFC” (pronounced as is but literally meant “key of C”).

Final agenda for the night: hand & foot spa and manicure plus back massage. Talk about pampering one’s self!


Monday, October 22

After 3 days of work, we finally managed to have our much-awaited post-work getaway.

Our target destination: Plantation Bay.

The resort is located in Marigondon, Cebu, about 30-minutes away from the hotel where we stayed. After settling our bills (we got the Day Tripper Package which costs Php 2,000 per person, inclusive of lunch and access to all amenities) and securing our luggage at the resort’s reception area, we headed for the day’s main agenda: to relax and unwind.



The place was simply breath-taking. Truly a sight to behold, albeit its man-made edifice. Too bad we had very limited time to explore the entire place since we need to leave at 2pm in order to catch our 4pm flight back to Manila.

After having lunch and loading our digicams with lots of scenic shots (ourselves included in the pictures, of course!), we headed to the airport. Next scene: we were practically running all the way from the airport entrance to the aircraft because we arrived 15 minutes before the actual take-off!

A few minutes later, we were soaring the skies. While waiting for sleep to dawn upon me, I thought about the events that transpired during the past days. But since the dream fairy didn’t pay me a visit, I just wondered on how things will be when we get to report for work the next day. Hay!

Two Years

Another year to be thankful for...




...the gift of family,
...the gift of friends,
...of earth-bound angels,
...of prayers and encouragement
...and most especially...for the gift of life.

Someone Else's Angel

Twenty years ago I lost a friend.

I remember how we used to spend afternoon weekdays doing our homework together, with lengthy discussions on the recent episodes of Carebears, Smurfs, Daimos, and Transformers. Weekends would mean lots of time outside: playing patintero, tumbang-preso, taguan-base, Chinese garter, and monkey-monkey with the other kids in our vicinity. Whenever we feel lazy going outside, we would play scrabble, snakes & ladders, doctor-doctor, pick-up-sticks, and yes, even jackstone.

June 30, 1987…no classes due to the feast day of our Lady of the Rose, our town’s -secondary patroness. We were playing taguan-base when he was asked to run an errand for his mom. Being a good son that he was, he obediently did as he was told. He profusely bade goodbye and promised that he’ll come back and he’ll bring pandesal for our merienda.

But he never came back.

Later on, it was my dad who told me about the bad news. My friend was hit by a speeding vehicle along Ayala Avenue, near Insular Life building. He died on the spot.

That was how I lost him.

That was the very first time that I experienced grieving over the death of a friend. I never saw him as he lay lifeless on his coffin because I wanted to remember him as someone who’s full of life and candid as ever. It took me years before I finally had the courage to watch the movie My Girl (part 1) because it reminded so much of what happened and what we used to be.

Two decades after that fateful day, I now ask myself: “What’s it like if he’s still alive today?” “How would he look like?” “Are we still the best of friends?” Probably, he could’ve enjoyed watching the Transformers movie as much as I did (he was an avid fan of the cartoon TV series, you know).

He could have been 32 years old now. But I know God had better plans for him.

Now I know why good people die young: to be someone else’s angel.

My Eccentric Family

Meet my three wonderful kids:

My Love…ang panganay kong si Leo…sya ang nagmana ng pagkahilig ko sa computer…Promil Kid…very touchy and thoughtful.

My Honey…ang sumunod kong anak na si Borgie…sya ang nagmana ng aking best physical asset…may phobia sa English…sweet ang caring pero hindi halata.

My Sweet…ang bunso kong si Patrick…sya ang nagmana ng artistic side ko (pero mukhang sumobra naman yata? hehehe)…ang pinaka-bibo sa lahat…cheerful and outspoken.

Syempre, kanino pa sila magmamana ng ganda kundi sa akin :p



Sila ang aking eccentric family…masarap silang maging anak…maloloka kang panoorin silang sama-sama…gugulong ka sa saya...at sasakit ang tiyan mo sa katatawa…

These Are The Moments

3:45AM…early birds, este, love birds: Borgie & Joel...5:00 AM...2 flat tires...option 1: gamitin si FatBoy para sa mga gamit then commute ang lahat then magpasundo kay Floryc ng Sunday afternoon...option 2: maghanap ng pampasaherong jeep na pwedeng arkilahin – NOW NA!...6:00 AM...ang jeep na biyaheng IBABAW...ang late bloomer na si Fatima (kumusta naman ang palda?)...8:30 AM...TeakWood Resort...ang malaking aso na si Betsy...9:30 AM…RED, BLUE, GREEN, YELLOW...group color band... Carl's Trust Activity Game...handkerchief..."listen and trust your leader"...obstacles...lunch...pinaputok na tilapia...pritong talong...inihaw na baboy...hotdogs...ensaladang mangga...happy siesta!...teng, teng, teng!...group cheer...best cheer: "Dida & the pussy cats!" with matching kakaibang pose ni Mikey…four-way-tug-of-war...fill-me-in relay gamit ang kutsara! San ka pa?!...karaoke session...commencement exercise: inuman to the max!...dinner preparation...same menu...Patrick's high-blood attack...mathematical equation...dida & the pasaway cats..."ayokong maglaro, masama pakiramdam ko" (naku, ayaw mo lang mag-compute!)..."eh, ako nga ang lider dito eh!"...bullseye!..."exactly what I wanted to happen!"...effective processing...ang kakulangan sa kama..."good morning, sunshine!"...ultra-amazing race...ang ABCD song ni Fatima na 99 lang ang score sa videoke...slightly magulong order ng mga stations...ang itlog..."sisirin mo, baby!"...three-leg race...Borgie & Patrick's English phobia attack...ang kodakan...Ma. Elisa Redubla (kelan pa?)...Chocolate...Buttercup...Leo, Borgie & Patrick's Choopeta dance number by the pool...awarding ceremony...Over-all Champion: B-L-U-E, Blue Tigers Team!...Leadership Award: Patrick...Sportsmanship Award: Ate Minda...Best Helpful: Dida...lampoon awards...OA sa PDA award: Borgie & Joel...Late bloomer award: Fatima…Falling Star award: Leo... ang masikip na jeep...sleep in heavenly peace...kodakan ng mga gising at tulog...isang napakasayang outing..."sana maulit muli!"

Surprise! Surprise!

"WELCOME TO ATE JHIE BIRTHDAY PARTY!"

(di po yan wrong grammar, yan ay sinabi mismo ng party host ng McDonald's!)

(please click the link below to read further details)

http://didagonzales.blogspot.com/2007/04/ate-jhies-surprise-mcdo-party.html

Reality Check

Glorify God.

Sanctify the faithful.

Am I living my mission to the fullest?

How does change affect my mission?

How do I cope up with these changes?

What is common?

What are norms?

How do you distinguish a “sing-able” song?



You may be going round in circles, or beating around the bush, but one thing is certain:

I WON’T GIVE UP.

Thanks for the “one-of-a-kind” encouragement.

I really appreciate it hearing from you and not from anyone else.

Makabagong Salawikain

Kapag maaga ang uwian...tiyak may dahilan.

Ang tunay na anyaya...sinasamahan ng hila.

Ang di makuha sa santong dasalan...isakay mo sa taxi bago pa man maka-angal.

Sa hinaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon...sa Bel-Air pa rin ang bagsak.

Ang taong walang kibo...malamang nag-iisip ng sasabihin.

Ang pagsasabi ng tapat...di lang sa text dinadaan.

Ang damdaming nasugatan..."sorry" lang ang katapat.

Aanhin pa ang damo...kung lahat ito'y nabunot na.

Pagkatapos ng sigalot...magkatabi na ulit sila kay Fatboy.


Moral lesson:
Don't let a little dispute ruin a great friendship.

Ano daw? Basta, yun na yon!



It's to see that the symphonic triumvirate is back to normal.

Goodbye...Hello

Two months ago, we were informed by my boss that she will be filing her final and irrevocable resignation. Well, honestly, I already knew this was coming. After Rachel resigned a couple of months ago, I couldn’t help but think that Ma’am Cris would eventually follow. It has become a trend in the office. I guess, it’s a good thing for those who have left RCBC for the so-called “career growth”.

Hay, I can’t wait for my turn….

Anyway, my incoming boss came in a few days after Ma’am Cris’ public announcement of her resignation. He was told about the situation during the very first day he reported for work. Tsk, tsk, tsk…a very warm welcome indeed.



To Ma’am Cris, I wish you all the best as you end your 11-year career at RCBC and start another chapter of your profession at …ngek, saan nga ba?

And to my new boss, welcome to the wonderful world of Disney,este, RCBC pala! Hindi lang good luck ang hangad ko sa iyo kundi “over-to-the-max good luckers to the nth power”! Ayan, with matching crossed-fingers pa yan, huh?