kAtAkAwAn

hay.. tinatamad pa rin ako. kahapon, nagblog hopping lang ako. may dapat gawin ngunit sadyang wala ako sa mood. wala kasi ang TL ko, kaya pwedeng petiks muna. pagbalik niya, saka na ako magkukumahog. :-p

habang namamasyal ako kahapon, may nabasa akong entry about pinoy foods. bigla kong naisip yun mga namimiss ko ng kainin. ang pangit kasi ng pagkain dito. (one time may lunchout kami sa isang local restaurant, wah! isinusumpa ko ang araw na yun. hindi na ulit ako sasama sa ganung lunchout kahit treat pa ng managers. duh!) walang-wala sa pagkaing pinoy.

buti na lang at nakakapagluto kami sa bahay ng pinoy na ulam. at least, di ko masyado nami-miss ang sinigang, nilaga, tinola, adobo at bistek. saka nun isang araw, nakapagluto kami ng pansit bihon. pero gusto ko ng lumpiang shanghai, kare-kare, crispy pata, lechon kawali, tuyo, biko, suman at iba pang kakanin, palabok, banana que, turon, lugaw, tokneneng, saging con yelo, purefoods hotdog, isaw, ulo ng manok, adidas, bituka, indian mango, boy bawang, clover chips, piattos, vcut.. hay.. nakakagutom..

eto naman yung hinahanap kong pagkain sa fastfood/restaurants:
1. kare-kare, sisig, green mango salad, crispy pata sa gerry's
2. chocolate mousse ng red ribbon
3. ensaymada sa goldilocks
4. chickenjoy, spaghetti sa jollibee (nakakain ako nito nun umuwi ako pero gusto ko pa rin)
5. hot and spicy chicken sa kfc (di masarap yun sa kfc dito)
6. bacon cheeseburger pizza sa pizza hut (puro chicken ang topping ng pizza dito)
7. burger sa brother's burger
8. teriyaki chicken sa teriyaki boy
9. spaghetti at hawaiian pizza sa greenwich
10. lunch combo sa shakey's
11. halo-halo ng razon's
12. barbeque ng ineng's
13. pasta sa sbarro
14. pizza ng yellow cab
15. chicken at pancit sa max's
16. beef tapa sa tapa king
17. tocilog, bulalo sa pares
18. tempura, green mango salad sa dampa
19. tempura, chili crab sa seaside
20. pansit ng Leoj (hahaha! fave to ng DCS..Ü)

pero eto talaga ang namimimiss ko. San Mig Light! Badtrip naman kasi. Bakit walang san mig dito?!?!?! Hmp!

hay.. sana pasko na para makauwi na ako ng pinas.. ay mali! after pa pala ako ng pasko makakauwi. konti lang liv ko eh. (saka magtatago na rin.. hehehe…)

Advice on Career Decisions

Just want to share this forwarded email from a friend. With the recent resignationS from my former company (with a capital S because there are already 11 resignations this year alone.. and counting… hehe..), I think it is worthwhile to share this for people who are in the midst of confusion in making decisions for their career.

AN OPEN ADVICE ABOUT CAREER DECISIONS:

Several of my staff has approached me lately about their career decisions.  I really appreciate my staff opening up to me. It is quite reassuring to know that they're still having second thoughts about leaving. Here is part of the email I sent to a "confused" staff:

I have worked for more than 5 companies already so I guess you might be correct in saying I have had considerable experience about leaving and moving on. I will not stop you nor tell you to leave, though of course it
will be better if you stay. In any career decision, leaving or staying I believe, based from my personal experiences and as an HR professional, should only be done for the right reasons.

For one, you shouldn't leave because you don't like several people in the company, nor should you stay because of the friends you have made here. At the end of the day, it is your life. Your friends or "enemies" should not make or break your career. If you let them be the deciding factor, then maybe you should think twice. You are the craftsman of your fate and the captain of your ship. Captain Hook shouldn't be one of your worries!
(Leaving your friends is really one of the hardest parts of leaving a company. I must attest to that fact. It is painful to leave good friends especially those who have made a difference in your life.)

Do not leave nor stay because of the "brand" of your company. If that was the case, I would have rushed off and sign my JO in "C"! Ask yourself whether you want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a bigger pond. Know your priorities. Only you can answer that.
(Hmmm… Makes me think.. I want to be a big fish in a small pond.Ü)

Do not leave the company because you're so damn frustrated about the way things are being run, or stay because you have this "messianic complex" that you can change things overnight. Be realistic about the things. Learn to accept that there is no perfect company. Be accepting that change is a slow and painful process at times and be thankful that you realize and act on things that can be changed and improved.
(I came to this point with my ex-company. Things are not run fairly. I must admit that this was one of the reasons I left. There is no professional growth. And with the kind of attitude and mindset they have towards their employees being pirated and all, I don't think there will ever be growth there. Goodluck to those who are still there. Hahaha!)

Definitely, do not leave or stay just because your parents want you to. I know I am advocating obedience to parents but again, we are talking about YOUR career. But learn to value their wisdom and discern well.
(Hehehe.. Is this really happening? Well, good thing my parents let me decide..)

Money isn't everything. The package being offered now might be better but look at the long-term prospects. Do not leave or stay just solely on the compensation package. Look for growth prospects and review their career plans for you. Your immediate gains today might actually be a loss a few years from now if you do the Math.
(Ouch! It hit me right in the head. This was one of the main reasons why I left. I already did the Math. I have to work 3 years from my former company - or less a few months because of the bonuses - before I earn what I will earn in a year's contract. And good thing, they actually renew contracts here. I just don't know if I'm still interested when that time comes for me.Ü)

Boredom is another challenge all professionals are faced with during lull periods in their career. Do not leave because you have become so bored with your job. Do not stay either because you want things as they are. Change is inevitable in any organization. Talk to your boss. Ask for more responsibilities or other tasks if you're bored. Enroll in a special course. If you're satisfied with the status quo and is just waiting for retirement hoping things will stay the same, you're in for a big disappointment - either you will be forced to change or you will be forced to leave. Be ready before that time comes. Boredom or complacency is a perennial battle most professionals have to deal with. Arm yourself with creativity everyday!
(Correct! Boredom will really challenge you. Doing the same things, same routines.. Especially with programmers like me who maintain/support a system. It's just up to you how to overcome it.)

Tonight I suggest you rest well. Sit still and listen to what He is saying. PRAY. I have always made my career decisions through His guidance. He was and still is my Career Adviser/Talent Manager. Your work, our work, is a vocation. He knows us more than we know ourselves so trust Him for whatever plans He has for you. You can never go wrong.
(This is really the best thing to do. Pray. Ask Him for signs that will help you make a good decision. He has planned the best for you. You just have to wait for the right time, for His time.)

And remember: Use your head to get to the top. But use your heart to stay.

the grand finale

dahil hot as in hot pandesal pa rin ang balitang ito, nagdecide na akong makisali.. hehe.. well, gusto ko din ishare ang insights ko about this fight. wala lang, baka gusto niyo lang malaman.Ü (eto ay pawang kuro-kuro ko lamang. walang motibo na may masaktan o masagasaang panig. blog ko to eh!)

much anticipated. ito na yata ang best phrase to describe the fight. hinintay at inabangan hindi lang ng mga Filipino kundi maging ng boxing afficionados all around the globe. syempre, eto na ang deciding na laban. kumbaga, wala ng makakapagsabi kung tsamba lang ang nakaraang mga panalo. kung minalas o sinuwerte lang ang magkabilang panig. sabi nga, this is it!

pay per view. nung una, nalulungkot na ang daddy ko at si paul dahil akala namin ay hindi ito maipapalabas dito sa Malaysia. Una, kilala kaya nila si Pacquiao? O kaya si Morales? Pangalawa, alam kaya nila kung ano ang boxing? Hahaha! Kasi naman, soccer country ito so malay ko kung trip din nilang manood ng boxing. Anyway, to make the story short, may offer ang cable provider namin for this fight, pay per view nga lang. pero dahil nga sa hindi nila kilala ang 2 at di sila mahilig sa boxing, mura lang. RM40, around Php 600 lang. (I wonder kung magkano ang pay per view sa  Pinas.. hmmm…). So nagsubscribe na rin kami. Good thing, may nayaya yun hausmate namin na mga Pinoy din na makinood at syempre, makishare sa bayad.. Hehe.. Mga RM15 na lang ang babayaran namin. =p

main event. wag na natin patagalin to. hahaba na naman ang blog ko. syempre, kantahan ng national anthem. dito pa lang medyo patalbugan na. at gladly, sarah did her part by singing the Phil national anthem well. then came the entrance of the fighters. una si morales. ang di ko lang magets, bakit kailangang kasama pa si rey mysterio (sa mga hindi nakakaalam, isa po siyang mexican wrestler)? Duh! makisabit pa ba sa publicity? naisip tuloy ng husband ko na dapat isinama din ni pacquiao si batista (isa ring wrestler na may dugong pinoy daw). hala! ano ba ito? boxing o wrestling? anyway, ang background ni morales habang pumapasok ay isang mexican chant or song ata. so eto na. moment na ni Pacquiao. pagkarinig ko ng background, nalaglag ako sa upuan. hahaha! hahaha! hahaha! hindi ko napigilan ang matawa ng matawa. sobrang cool. "laban mo, laban ko.. laban natin ito.." well, this is his very own song from his very own album. naalala ko tuloy si april boy of the "di ko kayang tanggapin" fame.. hehehe.. (excuse me lang sa pacquiao fans, both in boxing and music industry. jologs talaga ang dating sakin eh. at saka blog ko to. gumawa kayo ng sarili niyo. peace! =P ) hay umpisahan na nga natin sa mismong laban. hanggang ngayon, di ko pa rin makayanan eh. natatawa pa rin ako.

round 1. walang masyadong pangyayari. parang warm up lang.

round 2. dito ko napatunayan ang tigas, lakas at utak ni pacquiao. tigas dahil nasuntok siya sa mukha ni morales pero wala lang. parang hello? puro muscle mukha ko no! na-amaze talaga ako na hindi man lang niya ito ininda. lakas dahil nakaya niyang makipagsabayan ng suntok. as in parang suntukang bara-bara. para nga akong nanonood ng away sa kanto habang nagpapalitan sila ng suntok. which is sa palagay ko, maling diskarte ni morales. kasi sanay si pacquiao sa ganun. i mean filipino yan eh, alam ang away-kanto. eh si morales? tingin ko nga hindi yan pinapalabas ng nanay niya nun bata pa para makipaglaro.. hehe.. utak. grabe, mautak talaga si pacquiao. pinabayaan niyang suntukin siya ng suntukin ni morales (syempre, umiilag din naman siya no!) at nang makakita ng pagkakataon.. pow! yun na lang ang narinig ni Erik. binigyan siya ng kaliwa ni pacman na nakapagpatumba sa kanya. Pero siyempre, hindi pwedeng ganun na lang. Tumayo siya ang nakipagpalitan ng suntok kay pacquiao. Pagtunog ng bell, nagkairingan pa ang 2 bago magpunta sa kani-kanilang corner. (ayos! gumaganda ang laban!)

round 3. no one expected na matatapos ito sa round 3 (aminin nating lahat ito). nun matumba si morales sa round 2, i knew it would be a short fight. kasi kahit paano eh nakakawala ng kumpiyansa yun pagkatumba niya. ang tagal mong naghanda tapos round 2 lang eh napaupo ka na. duh! saka it shows na mahina na si erik. hindi niya kaya si manny. pero ni hindi ko naisip na isang round na lang pala. (aba! sayang ang pay per view!) but then, no one can stop pacquiao that time. sa dami ng suntok na pinakawalan niya, hindi ko alam kung ilang beses tinamaan si morales at kung saan-saan. pacman was really in the mood to finish the fight early. kaya hindi nakapagtataka na 3 beses pang tumumba si morales. and on the third time, the fight was declared to be over.

sa totoo lang, seeing morales the third time he fell, naawa ako sa kanya. para siyang nawala sa sarili. as in yun tipong nagkaamnesia. 'asan ako? sino kayo?' hindi ko alam kung dahil sa sobrang lakas ng suntok ni pacman at nahilo siya talaga or dahil hindi siya makapaniwala sa nangyari. kasi in the interviews before the fight, he was claiming na kaya niyang tumagal. but I really admire him for accepting defeat that early. it was not easy considering he was on training for several months. pero sabagay, alam na niya na hindi niya kaya, bakit hahayaan pa niyang mabasag ang mukha at masaktan ang katawan niya? i think it was also a wise decision.

morales' boxing career may or may not end here. but in my opinion, there's nothing wrong if he decides to retire. being defeated 4 out of the last 5 times you fought is clearly not a good sign. anyway, marami na naman siyang pera no!

for pacquiao, there's a lot in store. but there is really one thing I hope he would not do. do not run for public office please. hindi pa man, eh ginagamit na nga siya ng mga pulitiko. pwede pa naman tumulong sa ibang paraan. i know he has a very good chance of winning. but the admiration he gained from the people might also be lost once he's there. i really really hope not to see the "People's Champ" enter the very, very, very dirty world of politics.

another one to go

when our friend told us that she will be leaving PAL soon, we all got excited and happy for her. this will mean a new, and hopefully better, career for her. but it also saddens me in a way. she is the 4th person from our barkada to leave just within this year. first it was me. then lloyd. then kuya andy. now its chelle.

i thought of only now that we have not been together for so long. except for chelle and i who were batchmates (2001) and lloyd which joined the company at 2003, they all came in on the same year (2004). but a great bond of friendship was created. thanks to our 'common friend' who put us together (though in the end, she left us for some reason.Ü). we've been together every single day. we've eaten breakfast, lunch and merienda together. we've also shared some dinner during special occasions. and the 1-bottle sessions after office hours. maybe that's the reason why I am feeling we've known each other for such a long time now.

some of our officemates think we are 'pasaway' (but i think they just envy us.. hehe…). mainly because they see us differently from them. there's a 15-minute rule during breakfast and merienda but we never followed it. the 1-hour lunchbreak will always be more than 1-hour especially during lunchouts (there was a time when we went on lunchout for almost a month! hahaha! we're not rich, we just enjoy going out). but we don't care what other people say as long as we are doing our job. as i would always say, "walang pakialaman". we would always brag that "wala kasi kayong friends kaya sandali lang kayo kumain". because in every meal that we eat together, there's also so many things that we share with each other. the topics we've had was anything under the sun. from the news inside the company to the news in the country and even the world. from the gossips as to who will resign next, the things that the higher mngt are planning, the 'bosses' who act like a boss eventhough they are not, the gay boss (hahaha!). to the boxing match of pacquiao, the rate of salary abroad, the economy, the declaration of holidays, etc. the list would go on because we would go on talking about anything that slips in our mind. but our friendship is not perfect though. we also had some tampuhan. simple ones like the 'pizza and pandesal' issue. hehehe… but it never get into the way of our friendship that's why we remained in tact.

this is the reason why it saddens me so much that we have to go our separate ways now. Im here at KL, Kuya Andy is in Singapore, Lloyd is in Makati, Chelle will also be moving to Makati but with a different company. And Jen, Sherwin, Jr and Ryan are still with PAL, but who knows, one or maybe all of them may also have plans of moving out. They are the reasons why I cried during my despedida party at PAL. At first, I thought that it will just be okay. But on my last day, I can't help but cry thinking that I will not be with them anymore. i really miss all of them. that's why when we have an email thread, no matter how busy i am, i never fail to give a reply. i miss talking to them. i miss being with them.

but then, i'm really happy that eventhough we've only been together for a while, we were able to create a very good bond of friendship that i hope, and i know, will remain a lifetime. sabi nga ni tito andy sa farewell message niya sa akin, sa pag-alis ko ay buhay ko lang sa PAL ang natatapos, pero ang pagkakaibigan.. nasa puso!

bad day…

Call it a bad day. Had some misfortunes today. I wore my 3-inch high-heeled-stilleto sandals for the first time here in KL. Bad idea. I was still around the vicinity of our condo when I learned that it was not easy to walk down to the bus stop (have to go down on sloping street to get there). Hence I walked so slow that I missed the 3 buses that passed by. When I arrived at the bus stop, I had to wait for 15 minutes again to get a ride. Then after the lrt, I have to take another bus. I was still on the escalator at the lrt when I saw the bus that I was supposed to ride already leaving. I had to wait for 15-20 minutes to get another bus. Also, I am still unable to simulate the CSR given to me after some time. And it's really stressing me now. Aside from this, there's also one pending CSR waiting to be done. And to make things worst, the latest CSR I finished, which was scheduled for aprroval today was put on hold. Duh!

And for the biggest misfortune I had.. It was raining the past days. Raining hard that I had to take a cab almost everyday because I dont have an umbrella. Luckily, I was not lazy to bring our long-handle Giordano umbrella today. Unluckily, it was sunny the whole day. Hahaha!!!

Well, had enough for today. Hope there's nothing more to come. Gtg. Ü