TV game shows

It's been 2 days in a row that I ate my lunch on some Filipino restaurants just outside the processing zone. A good get-away from the usual pentang meal at our buildings basement cafeteria, plus a relief of that ever fishy smell after which...ha ha...Nothing really beats our own taste of Filipino dish. Yesterday, I have Embutido (grounded pork with egg, carrot, raisin, etc) and today Adobong Pusit (onion fried squid sauteed in soy sauce and vinegar) as viand, so delicious.

While savoring the moment of that break, the store was also equipped with air-condition to be free from the outside heat. At the same time, they had satellite to show Filipino channels on the TV screen. It's been a while that I haven't watched any, aside of course from the help of the Internet, so thanks to the computer geeks who discovered it.

Anyway, it was Game Ka Na Ba of Channel2 that was on air, now hosted by Edu Manzano. In fairness, his a good host, a capable replacement of Kris Aquino. On the side, I can't help to laugh realizing that he needs to do some dancing move to please the viewer's...ha ha, it might be call of duty. The shows motif has also changed from the one I've seen couple of years ago, so this is like my first time watching it again. Yesterday, I've only seen some part and today is like the continuation of it.

So the winner yesterday is Vannie from Los Banos and there are 2 challengers to get that position. The final round was naming the latest 12 senatorial electorates, so Vannie started and rest follows. The winner should be able to answer when it's his/her turn which is under time pressure. The 2nd person miss the 3rd round, while Vannie lost the 4th round and the winner is the boy whose qualifying answer to the final round was the question: Imbey was short term for gays which actually means: Imbyerna, with matching raising his eyebrow with one hand...oh oh! it seems like his one of the federation...ha ha. Anyway, it just make me think at some point because when Vannie lost her turn, there was a pause when it's the boy's turn to answer the question. It actually adds to his time to collect thoughts and answer the question. Not mean anything here, it's just plain observation for my 25cents worth.

Anyway, the show is entertaining and informative to sum-up.

Times of Reflection (part2)

Good that my browser is now functioning properly and can key-in the title text field. So, this post is supposed to be the continuation of my previous post entitled "Times of Reflection", and as much as I wanted to write part2 there was a delay.

Life is really ain't easy, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that is having difficulty at the time. It maybe much more harder for other people.

So, the following days was a struggle of holding on and letting go. Setting my priorities straight has been a work in-process. It's like trying to meet east from the west, a total no no. But I got no choice, I have to change my perspective, otherwise it will eat me alive.

The discussion I had with my boss was an eye-opener and I hoped you could also get something from it. It was more than a 2 hrs discussion and truly you can't see yourself clearly unless from another peoples point of view. And this is what I've learned about me: He told me that I'm someone who does & tries everything to make the work polished. And because the supposed collaborative effort is not working, I put the pressure on myself and thus left me so frustrated because it's still not working.

Initially I don't know if I'll get upset or encourage hearing that criticism. But soon I bursted out my complains which I rarely do so to be honest. It's not my style to whine, if I can do it, I'll try and I will really try hard. So, don't tell me now as if it's my fault, hello, I'm already brain drained here coz of this issue, can't you see there is problem in our system that's why I need to do this & that...blah blah blah. I cried so hard and I don't care if it's right whining at the time, but I wanted him to know how I feel, how hard I'm pushing myself just to close this issue and tell you what a relief, refreshing afterwhich.

For a fast paced working environment such as mine, time is crucial especially this case I'm handling is our leading customer, which only means there are plenty of eyes on me. Theoretically, subordinates should always deliver a good job to their respective bosses and I may have overestimate this assumption, that I also raised high expectation. The fact that I'm a foreigner with define communication gap and quite different paradigm among locals are sure pressure adder.

So does it mean I'll just be lax and wait everything to fall on my lap, definitely not. But rather to extend my horizon of understanding that I can't expect things to appear just like how I want it to be. But the best I've learned is not to put that pressure or burden only on myself. I'm not saying that I could handle it now more wisely, but I'm sure I won't dwell on it just like before. In the first place I have put so much attention on it.

Neglecting the Bible's reminder: "Where your treasure is, there your heart as well". So this time, I will start to pay attention and use that time and energy to the things that are critical to my happiness which are: my loved ones, my dreams, my faith, doing things that I love, time for myself, mentoring others and taking care of my health. To be a good steward of the talents and blessing that God has entrusted to me. Afterall, where not working only for ourselves but for the One who has made us.

Times of Reflection

My daily routine has turned back once again of working till midnight, skipping dinner on time and if have luck, eat finger foods at my desk just to use that extra time and for what, for working as usual. So absorb attending to work issues, that I failed to recognize that I'm forgetting to take care of myself.

I do love my job, no doubt on that and it's the main reason why I am working so hard. Always a team player, always doing my best in resolving process issues. But this time, it's different, it hit me so hard, so hard to consider giving up and leave everything behind, the things that I have worked so hard building. It's the time that I felt so down at the wire.

I have come to the point of giving up, yes, not because it is too hard, too difficult, I wanted to get out, I can't do it anymore, maybe, just maybe...but, the main reason I believed I have come to this thinking is because I realized that what I'm doing is not the bottom line of everything.

What's the use of being able to buy things that you want if your going to loose your health. What's the use of getting recognition if your going to loose valuable time with family, losing time on the things that will make you happy. What's the use of being up in the ladder if your going to be all alone.

Those thoughts has struck me more that I ever imagine. I am putting myself on unnecessary stress and pressure that I'm forgetting the things that will really make me happy.

To be continued....

p.s. If you've notice, I put the title inside of this post as my browser can't key-in the title bar. Not sure though what's wrong. Appreciate if anyone can advise how to fix it...thanks

It's raining time again

I fortuitously neglected this page for a while and felt good somehow that I was able to catch at least the last day of the month, my 2nd post entry for June.

So where was I these past weeks you may ask? I was deeply, as in deeply engross to the torrent of activities at work. Even this humid Saturday morning does not left me go to the office to catch-up with the activities and multi-taskingly write this stuff while having my short meal break.

With only two hands, one body and one mind...ahhh! has definitely left me worn-out each day. And from the way things appear, this sting will be running till next month. Oh oh...it's raining again, and when it rains, it pours, and it pours really hard. But, there's always rainbow after the rain right?

What amaze me though is that even if my personal or social life was at stake because of the current scenario, I still love what I do and I mean it , I really do love my job. It's one thing that I'm able to do at my best, it's my passion, my obsession.

And it pays most of the time, just for example the GAP bag I received from my recent US customer visit, plus the big bang of happiness after my boss confirmation that I'll be promoted next month...yahoo!!!

And in all these things is because of God's grace, to God be all the glory.

Memoirs of June

This is my first blog entry for the month of June and despite the fact that the past days had been one of a hectic week at work where several topic can be a subject for posting, I never come out to anything in particular to share with or maybe, I just don't want to go over on work matters again. Hence, I choose instead to reminisce on the D-day's this month. Those events that my memory will serve me well and try figuring out plans of making it more worthwhile.

1. June15 is my twin kuya's (older brother's) b-day and just this afternoon, I chatted with sister and learned that they will have a small gathering. A typical pinoy style b-day which is usually composed of the immediate family members plus nearby brothers friends or repapips. Thankful though that I won't be seeing the drinking session, plus the singing as if concert Ala king...ha ha, I can't help not to have that wistful thinking that I won't be celebrating with them. My family is one of the ordinary class and though our b-days are not celebrated with grandiose, we make sure that this day was spent as always as one of the most important days in our lives.
   Well, as the occasion means gift giving, I just hoped that my brothers won't ask too much...ha ha, actually they are not that bilmoko nun type, sound good for me right and even hesitant telling what they really like. So this time I just left them buy for them selves. Happy B-day to you my Bros...^^


2. June15 is also the end of my working contract and I should be going back home a week before this day. But then I was blessed as the company renewed my contract. Yeah, will be here for another 3 more years. We had done the contract signing last week and my residence permit and visa are on-process at the embassy. I could actually now avail my yearly vacation, but I prefer to use it instead on December for the holiday season.



I have experienced Christmas in Taiwan once and though most of them are either Bud dist or Atheist, they were already westernized in many ways. And during this time, decorations can be seen everywhere to join Christians all over the world in celebrating this glorious event. But truly, I could say that there is no other place to spend Christmas among us pinoys than in the Philippines and I'm sure that most of the pinoy expats will agree to me on this matter regardless of the potential cost.


I've been in Taiwan for 4yrs and honestly, there are only a few places that I have visited so far. And so I said to myself, these next 3 years should be a breakthrough for that delay in exploring the country. The fact that my mandarin skills is still on phase1 (basic) should not be anymore my long time reason for fear of being lost. Also, the courage to travel alone though it would be better to have companions sharing the experience should not be anymore an excuse. So, I decided and determined to take that risk. And well, in life we need to have some right...Aja Aja fighting...^^

3. Lastly, after being a colony of Spain, Japan and Americans, the Philippines will be celebrating it's 109th Yr of Independence this coming June12th. Now I'm not surprised why upon seeing the natives of Taiwan just make me think that they look very similar with pinoys. Why you may ask? because majority of our ancestors came from the Austronesian from Taiwan. If you don't believe me, then you can check Wikipedia and hit Philippines as key word. And now, I'm also not surprised why J.Rizal has Chinese blood...ha ha, small world isn't.

Now more that ever, I realized how important learning mandarin. How many times I tried, really, but my tongue just goes nowhere. Oh well, it may not be too late. I still had my 3 years in the row...Aja Aja fighting...^^

Practice perfect

I went to bed early than usual last night. I need to wake up early and have that energy for the next day's big event. It's so important, so so important and I'm excited of the outcome.

Today, I just had a meeting with our new European customer and discussed our capabilities in supporting their product. Off-course, it's a matter of new business pull-in and in times like this , it only mean one thing...brain draining.

For a technical job such as mine and an environment dominated by man, I need to be effective and assertive. And well, after the whole day's presentation and table discussion, I received a very good feedback, what an accomplishment. Ang saya saya!

Actually, last week I also had one of my US customers visit the factory. It's our first time to meet in person after having that bunch of e-mails going back and forth. And since I've been working with them for a year, the agenda mostly covered project updates and road maps.

Confident to present my part with expertise, deep inside, I felt guiltily that I had taken it too easy. My workaholic me is out of sight, a seemingly odd situation of myself especially when it comes to work matters.

Do I just sound so hard on myself? hmmp, I don't think so, because I think the main reason of not having that momentum last week is my being fancied of what I'm watching last week (see my previous post)...ha ha. Anyway, so glad that I'm back to my old self and now you know why today is so darn important.

I've learned in school that practice makes it perfect and have spent so many sleepless night in practicing mathematical equations just not to have that singko. But now, I can't stand of not having at least 5hrs of sleep...Gah! ano ba ito, senyales na ba 'to ng tumatanda...ha ha

Tonight, I ate my lunch with my dinner, see how it did affect me. Anyway, it was a long day and have to pamper myself, so I ate in my fave resto. I actually would like to take pix so you can peek on the dish, but I don't have my camera with me. Next time, I'll do it and that would be all for today folks.

Recent viewed et al

It was more than a week after my last post and just in case your wondering where am I, not sure though who you are but thanks anyway. I've got pre-occupied watching a Korean Telenovela...ha ha, yep, pathetic it may seem or jologs, whatever, I don't care. For me, it was blissful.

Contrary to the usual happy endings of Filipino Telenovelas, the Korean Telenovela I just saw ended up with lovers separating their ways. The girl died due to a terminal disease leaving the boy...her husband...her childhood sweetheart.

I believed that stories, especially love stories are usually ideal and dialogues are well scripted and edited which will made you long for to be heard or said to someone. Anyhow, I know that everyone has a romantic side and need to be tapped once in a while. Otherwise, life will be so dull and boring, right? So allow me to rate this love story as remarkable, because one of the lead roles give up his life in order to let others live happily even if it'll mean for just a short period of time. Isn't it awesome? a one of a kind love. OK, I think that will be enough for now and I don't want to be mock further...ha ha

P.S If you wanted to know the title of that Korean telenovela , just let me know...^^

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Moving forward...last Monday was our country's National election and since it's a relevant topic, thought to add it on my post.

Aside from the stagnant voting system of the country, I assumed that the latest absentee voting of pinoy expats is an added opportunity for the parasite officials to delude. I actually received an electoral mail from COMELEC couple of weeks ago, but I rather choose to ignore my right to exercise.

I stopped voting even when I was still in the Philippines and for sure one vote will not have a significant impact as winners may have been defined long before the actual election. So, why waste time filling-up the ballot and go to the post office, it was also not a payed to envelope. Paying the stamp is not the matter OK, it's a just a small amount, the point is was there an assurance that my vote will be used correctly? Apologies for being cynical, I stopped believing this system for quite a long time and hoping for a time to regain back my trust on the government. When will it come? I just don't know...maybe if the total outcome of this election winner turns good, it will be soon, all hopes!