Balikbayan

Olongapo City is the place where I was born and spent 14 years of my life.The last time that I was here was Summer of 1997.I was really excited of going back here, revisiting the places where I have been and reuniting with some of my friends from grade school and high school.I have been planning to go here for some time but because of my busy schedule and work, it took some time before that plan finally happened.

I did not stay in bayfront Hotel.Nagpakodak lang hehe

I was there for three days on the last week of January.I am really having a hard time describing what I felt when I saw the place again after ten years, but I am sure it was a very good feeling.Of course I was surprised with the changes.Angdami ng nabago sa Gapo.There's a lot of commercial establishments,gimmick places, bars and restaurants around the city.Mas lalo ring gumanda ang SBMA Freeport Zone.

City Hall

Ulo ng Apo, where the name Olongapo was derived

Jollibee, Ulo ng Apo and me

Although marami nang nabago, masarap pa rin balikan yung mga lugar na pinupuntahan mo nung bata ka pa.Kagaya ng Wimpy's restaurant. Namiss ko ang hamburger nila.

Classic

Napakaikli ng tatlong araw para pasyalan ang magagandang lugar sa gapo at sa loob ng SBMA.Pero hindi naman pamamasyal ang ipinunta ko rito.Totoong namiss ko ang lugar pero mas namiss ko 'yung mga tao na nakasama ko nung bata pa ako.Namiss ko ang mga pinsan ko at iba pang kamaganak.Namiss ko rin ang mga kaibigan ko nung elementarya at hayskul.Sila ang dahilan kaya muli akong bumalik dito.

I know I have given my friends a very short notice that I will be in the city on weekend.Still I am glad that despite of their hectic schedule they were able to come and spent time with me.

With my cousins Marvin and Marissa

I decided to stay at a relative's house somewhere in Sta. Rita.I was able to spent time with my cousins Marissa and marvin.After lunch, Marissa accompanied me to some places in Gapo.She also brought me to City Mall.While boarding the jeepney, we were talking about the changes that happened.we also reminisced our childhood days.

On Saturday night, I was with my grade school friends Wela, Dang, Janet and Maan.We went to boardwalk in SBMA Freefort Zone and hang out in one of the bars there.Since none of us has a car and there's no available cab, we just walk going there.It was really a long and tiring walk but I didn't notice the time since we were all chatting.

Reunited with my old friends Dang, Janet, Wela and Maan

We were able to update with what's going on in each other's lives.We were all laughing our hearts out when we talked about our old grade school days.I impressed them when I told them stories and I can still recall the names of our teachers and some events that happened when we were young.They were actually surprised when I showed them our invitation on graduation day.We checked on the list of our classmates and talked about where they are right now.

Since it's more than ten years since we last saw each other,our stories were endless.Each has a story to tell.In between our conversations, we take pictures of ourselves.Dang also brought a camera with her.We went home 2 in the morning.It was really a long day for me.

I woke up 12 in the afternoon the next day and sent Ferdie a text message.I asked him to meet me at Mocha Blends by 5pm.While waiting for him, I went to an internet cafe and I was able to catch Aubrey on YM.Aubrey is a classmate from highschool and a vocalist of a band.She told me that she has a gig at MyxmuBar 830 that evening.I told her that I will go with my cousins and Ferdie.

Moi and my good friend Ferdz

I finally met Ferdie.He has not change at all.Physically,he is still the same cute guy from Highschool.We went to Mocha Blends inside SBMA and ordered Mocha Frost and Nachos.I promised that I will be the one to treat him but he insisted that he will be the one to pay.And because of that, I can say that,Ferdie is still the same generous and friendly guy I know.hehe.

Ferdie also keeps a blog so somehow I am already updated with his life.This time we just talked about our Highschool classmates.He was also suprised that I am more updated than him about the whereabouts of our classmates.Ferdie and I decided to go to boardwalk just to pass the time since Aubrey's gig will still be at 9pm.He told me that he will be meeting Rita and Dave,batchmates from Highschool, at City mall and they could probably join us to watch Aubrey.
Again we walked miles from boardwalk to Citymall.It was tiring but I would not think twice doing it again if it will still be with Ferdie.He gave me a short tour around SBMA.

Rits and Dave

At citymall, I met Rita and dave.Rita know me because I added her on my friendster but dave actually could not remember me.I told him that I could still remember him.He was the guy who brought a blanket in one of our field trips.He also opened the stinky Humpy Dumpy Chips that made everyone mad.He just laughed and was glad that I could still remember that.

The whole high school gang watching Aubrey's gig with her band at Myxmu Bar,Magsaysay Drive

Together with my two cousins,Rita, Ferdie, Dave and I went to Myxmu Bar in Magsaysay Avenue.We were able to catch Aubrey and her band performed live.It was a thrill seeing her again.I was impressed with her singing voice.Wala pa ring kupas.I was also able to talk to her after the first set.

Since Rita, Ferdie and Dave will still have work in the morning we decided to go home in the middle of the second set.

I really had a good time seeing Aubrey and being with Dave , Rita and Ferdie that night.Aubrey was right, parang walang nabago.Parang mga bata pa kami.
The next day before I went home, I visited a relative somewhere in New cabalan.Unfortunately, I was not able to see my cousins but only my aunt and uncle.They were also surprised to see me after all these years.I went home 2 in the afternoon.

There are still a lot of places that I want to go and people that I want to see.Three days is really short and limited.I promised myself that I will be returning to Gapo.There's still no place like home .

***More pics posted at my multiply site.

Reminiscing 2006

The year 2006 I can say has been a very good year for me.Looking back, I could not help but be grateful for all the beautiful and painful things that has happened - the lessons I learned the hard way, the wonderful people I met, reunited with friends,relationships formed and the feelings I felt, were just amazing and were all worth to be remembered.On this entry, I wanted to tell how my year has been.

During the first quarter of the year, I felt discouraged, burned out and unmotivated with the work that I was doing.Technically,I was already promoted to a higher position .But I was not happy.Our team was tasked to answer difficult and stressful calls.We were being placed in another split where calls were surging.Overtime became required.Sure were no longer called regular agents, but what's the difference anyway?We received the same salary as regular reps.Our position is not being recognized by the management.There were no perks of being "promoted" at all.Not that we were simply whining because we dont get what we want.Don't get me wrong. Most of my teammates were already tenured and senior agents and have waited so long to be promoted.We all wished we were never promoted at all.

There were issues about our salary and our position which was not being recognized that time.There was I time, if I remembered it correctly that half of the team submitted their resignation letters just for the management to see how dissatisfied they were with how the things were going.Would you also believe that there was also a time that we all planned to log out and stop taking calls because we no longer can take the ugly treatment of the management.

Cliche as it may sound, changes are really inevitable.Major changes happened when the team was assigned to Senior TC Daniel Mercado.I am totally loss for words to describe how TC Daniel brought a lot of changes to our team.He showed us an awesome management and leadership skills.He made sure that the upper management was made aware about the team's issues.He coordinated with the team and the management and find ways to resolve these issues.He executed things as planned.These things benefited us big time.From the work responsibilities ,to our positions, to our salary.He was really a big blessing to us.Above all things, I was really grateful that there was a person who finally listened to our grievances.At the back of my mind I can still hear him say,"Make the customer happy!","Sell your sincerity!""If the customer ask, then say,Daniel said so."I so miss those days.

Now that my dear team captain has resigned already, I felt that the company lost a great leader.I am not looking at him just as a leader but as a friend or brother because he has been like that to all of us.I know there are greater things in store for great person like TC Daniel.I can only wish him good luck for all the great things that is yet to happen.
---
Because of what TC has done, I stayed with the company.No more passing of resignation letter either from me or my teammates.We were all happy with what happened.I still continued taking stressful calls and still look forward of going to work every night.I recognized the value of my teammates and some friends from the office.I know that things can get tough sometimes but what makes every thing easy is that I was being surrounded by people with good soul and aura that made me feel motivated.I am glad I have friends who never get tired of listening to my rants.

This was also the time that I vowed never to enter another serious relationship.I became cynical and I felt like I became numb which it comes to romantic relationship.Probably because I was not able to meet a person who was able to knock me off my feet.There were few encounter but they just ended up either a one night stand or simply an acquiantance.The old hopeless romantic and idealistic in me also started to vanish.So in my love department for the year 2006, there's really nothing to be told.Moving on.

The second quarter of the year was the time when I went out a lot - beaches, night out and parties.I went to Puerto Galera for the first time with Meg and some friends.I really enjoyed it and I am planning to go back this summer.I also had a reunion with some college friends.I had the chance to catch up with what happened to them after we graduated two years ago.I also revealed something to them which I know they were longing to ask me but don't have the courage to do so.I am just so glad that their response to that was very positive.I am going to reveal that in my blog but not now because that deserves another entry.

I also remember that this was the time that I applied for a higher position but unfortunately,booted out.I felt discouraged on that time but looking on the brighter end, I felt that my worth as a person cannot be measured just because I failed to get into a career that I wanted.I know I did my best but like the song said, it was not good enough.

Another not so good thing that happened was when my bestfriend sarah got pregnant and got into a big fight with another friend.After she broke up with a boyfriend of seven years, she dated this new guy in office and we , her friends,were the last one to know that she was already pregnant.We were living in just apartment but she did not confided to us what her problem was.She tried to solve it on her own.She probably thought that getting another boyfriend was the solution to her problem but it was not.She also became careless of her actions so she got pregnant.

I did try to understand where she was coming from since that's what she needed during that time is a friend and someone who could understand her.I tried to give her pieces of advice and told her that what is important now is the future of her child.She decided to moved out from the apartment and lived with her boyfriend.She left us,her friends hanging and never informed us about her plans.I know she did not do anything wrong but she became cold after that.We no longer talk in the office.Whenever she sees me, its as if I am not existing.It was really hard.I know I am not a perfect friend but I did my best to patch things up with sarah.I sent her an SMS saying that I was happy with her decision and she still have me as her friend.I am just so glad that the boyfriend was man enough to face his responsibilities for the child.Sarah and I are talking now and in good terms.

The third quarter of the year was checkered with both pain and happy moments.My adopted niece, Sophia, celebrated her first birthday.I am just happy that being his Tito and Ninong, I am able to see how she grows and became a part of preparing her good future.I am really getting old.

In August, our company went on an outing to Subic, to celebrate the good results of our customer satisfaction drive.I also became one of the Top Agents for the month.I was recognized and an incentive has been added to my payslip.In the middle of these happy moments,a bad news came.My Team Captain tendered his resignation for reasons that until now I don't understand.It was a big loss for all of us.For one thing he has been a father and a friend,and for another I know that there's a lot of opportunites for him knowing that he is doing a great job for the company.The unexpectedness of that event made me realize that good things never really last.

During the last quarter of the year, I was able to finally see my Idol Regine Velasquez performed live in the big dome.She actually grew up in the town I am living right now.I was also glad that for the first time, I was able to treat my sister for a concert out of the money I worked for.I was able to fulfill my dreams somehow-to see the Asia's songbird and to make my sister happy.

This was also the time that I became so concious of myself.I am talking about my physical appearance.I tried to gain weight and achieved it.I went to a dentist and began wearing orthodontic braces.I went on a regular diamond peeling session.I also bought a digital camera and took pictures of myself.That's how far vanity took me. On an added note,when our company held a party at Timog on the first week of November, I also took that as a chance to show my officemates how fashionable I can get.With the help of my friend Carlo,I was able to prove to them that I also have fashion sense and I am so glad they recognized it.

I was also able to see my friends from my first job (Vertex).It's really a great feeling seeing them after three years.No one can really replace our old friends, they are the best ones.
This was also the time that I finally met my great friend Joms.We have been online friends since 2002 and I am just so happy that I finally see him.I really enjoyed that long walk I spent with him around Makati business center .

Our team also won second place for the best decoration during our Christmas Theme Day.And guess who conceptualized and designed our team station?It was me.I am so glad we won (there's a cash prize for it) and my artistic talent was appreciated by my teammates.Wohoo.

Before I turned a year older and the year 2006 ends, there were a lot of things that actually lingered in my mind.I started to come out with a lot of plans for my career, for my future.I actually asked for a leave of absence and reasoned out that I will be going to school.Yes, I did enrol for a short term course in some IT school, but I also want some time to rest and think what should be done with my life.I want to find myself and see where my dreams will take me.Honestly have a lot of dreams to fulfill, not just for myself but for my mom and for my family.

I know I no longer make sense as usual but I just wanted to share to you how my year has been.So there,I will say it again, the year 2006 has been really wonderful.I know that this year will be as colorful as the previous year was.I am looking forward for a great 2007.=)

You're beautiful like the rainbow

Can I just post this song?Ngayon lang nagsink in sakin 'yung meaning.Ang ganda niya pala. :)

True Colors

By Phil Collins

You with the sad eyes

Don't be discouraged

Oh I realize

It's hard to take courage

In a world full of people

You can lose sight of it all

And the darkness, inside you

Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors

Shining through I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful,

Like a rainbow

Show me a smile then,

Don't be unhappy, can't remember

When I last saw you laughing

If this world makes you crazy

And you've taken all you can bear

You call me up Because you know I'll be there
And I'll see your true colors

Shining through I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful, Like a rainbow
[intro part]
So sad eyes

Discouraged now

Realize
When this world makes you crazy

And you've taken all you can bear

You call me up B

ecause you know I'll be there
And I'll see your true colors

Shining through I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors, true colors
Cos there's a shining through I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors, true colors

True colors are beautiful,

Beautiful, like a rainbow

2006: The year in pictures

I dunno why I lost the urge to write lately.I got a lot of things I am longing to tell but for some reasons I dunno how to start telling 'em.I am currently on a leave of absence so that means I will have plenty of time to blog.I promise that I will write soon.In the meantime, enjoy the piece of crap I made - a collage out of the few pictures I have here in my PC taken 2006.Oh By the way, Happy New Year to You all!