Eye candy @ the Rock

This is where I walk by every single day, and it's a pity that it took me this long before I shared how beautiful the lights are in Rockefeller Center. You just want to smile, listen to holiday music and be a tourist all over again. Aah, Christmas is here.


The Rockefeller Christmas Tree


Snowflakes on Saks Fifth - breathtaking!

Bullet-Pointed Thoughts

Ack. So many things in my head now that I can’t seem to put them together in one cohesive blog. But maybe the good ‘ol bullet points would do the trick.

• NYU is done. It flew by so fast and I am so ready to earn some money and live in NY as I have always dreamed of. But part of me does know that soon, I’ll be missing the classroom setting again.
• After all sorts of physical, mental and psychological preparations in the last couple of years (ahh, good times), I am so ready to be married to next week.
• Speaking of marriage, is there really such a thing as a woman’s biological clock? I may not understand this at 25, but why do women freak out when they are single… and hitting 30? Is it fear of being alone? Fear of settling for whoever is available? Fear of not being able to have babies?
• I am working on this project FOR my boss who is coincidentally 30, and one of the most wonderful people in the whole world. I have been trying to set her up with some friends of friends to see if they find a connection somehow. After one drinks session, I found out that this guy has just recently divorced. Sigh. Dating is tough, especially here in New York. Well, there are other fishes with no baggage somewhere out there.
• With all this work-life balance in a corporate setting, do I really want to work in Madison Avenue? It’s this Passion vs. Profession battle. Let’s see. Do I really want to work with Excel sheets everyday and be analytical? Or eat Powerpoint for breakfast and be more creative?
• David and I made an easy decision on our wedding cake ~ who doesn’t love chocolate? But we’re taking a while in writing our wedding vows, the hardest to fulfill.
• If you haven’t seen “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore, you should. It’s 57 degrees now in New York City, when it’s supposed to be snowing! Global warming is a reality, folks.
• If you are late to the game (like me) and haven’t been following “Grey’s Anatomy”, then you’re a fool. Start watching now! It’s not too late. You will not regret it.
• If you don’t like banking, you might change your mind when you read this article. In a nutshell, if this year’s bonuses at Goldman Sachs is divided equally among all employees, everyone will get a hefty $623,418 each. That is why BMW had set up shop in Wall Street so that IB’s can just cross the street when they feel like picking up a Z4 during their lunch break. Not too shabby.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Harvard-Yale Game

This is handsome Dan - Yale's famous mascot.
There's plenty of them at the game. Cute! :)

Taken at the Harvard-Yale game. Yale won 34-13!
And the Yalies swarmed the field!

To Do List

December is approaching very fast, where did the year go by? It's overwhelmingly exciting how much change will happen in my life in a span of one month! Goodbye NYU, ta-tah singlehood, hello Mrs. you-know-who and Aloha! To give you an idea, this is how my to-do list looks like right now.

1. Graduate (again)
2. Get a job
3. Get married
4. Go on a honeymoon
5. Start a new life as an "adult"

Please allow me to pat myself on the back ;-) At 25, this should be fabulous news. But this is just the beginning obviously. There will be more humps and challenges along the way. But I am very happy, I really am.

I do have so many people to thank for. You know who you are. Without you, I wouldn't have made good choices. I wouldn't be right here. I love you.

The Rockefeller Tree Has Arrived!

Walking to work yeasterday, I chanced upon a pretty sight! The Rockefeller Christmas tree was being put up :) It was gigantic.

Christmastime is coming, I can hear the bells ringing and the angels sing... as I put on my wedding ring. Corny.

Read all about where the tree came from.

Honeymoon!

One of the many things David and I have in common is our passion for traveling. Why wait until retirement to travel the world, when you can do it while you're young and looking great in photos? Hehe.

You can suspect that planning our honeymoon getaway is a fun experience we are delighted to go through! And since we are having two weddings, there are 2 trips to plan!

But let's take it one honeymoon at a time. Because of the visa sh*t, we were left with no choice but to go local. It's not that bad. The US is such a huge country, that each corner is its own beautiful vacation spot.

We thought... warm weather or cold weather? Hmmm...

If it's in cold weather, Utah was on top of the list! It will be a skiing honeymoon in Park City. There are plenty of beautiful ski resorts in Utah, and what better way to cozy up as newly weds than being in front of a fireplace in a nice, warm (and romantic) winter cabin.

If it's in warmer weather, we thought about Hawaii. Aloha! :) White, brown and black sand beaches, surfing, scuba diving, massages. An endless view of the ocean. Aaahh, total relaxation.

Pros and cons. Cons and pros. Thinking. Googling. Checking our bank accounts. Our miles accrued. Coordinating flight schedules. Googling some more. Checking our banks again. Clicking. Calling. Reserving. BAM! And the verdict is out.

Hawaii it is!!! Woohoo! I can already hear the sea calling me and taste the lobster dinner served to us by the beach.

We've booked our hotel and our flights already and I am counting the days...

I am soooo excited. The kind of excitement that only a bride-to-be and a newly-wed can understand and feel.

Pet Haute Couture

Check out how annoyingly acceptable spoiling your pet is here in the US.

Balanced Diet

I just had a nice little salad for lunch, keeping within my pre-wedding diet plan, only to go back to work with a lovely box of Godiva chocolates sitting in our team pantry for us to devour. I had four squares, total calories equaled more than my lunch. Then I’ll hit the gym later to burn one square off. Yeah. I know. But it’s totally worth it.

NY Plane Crash

Yet another plane crash in New York. And this time it’s a residential building.

Let’s see how fast news will get around. This literally happened half an hour ago.

I live 28 blocks from the site, let’s see how hard getting home will get later.

I hope there’s no one injured. :(

The Pom That Was Never Pam's

In the past couple of days, I had this crazy pet adopting itch that I could not get over. I had been searching online for small dogs that are ready to be adopted and want nothing but love and care from a new home. It's a stupid idea since I am about to have major changes in my personal and work life, and having a pet would totally overdo it.

I chanced upon an ad on Craigslist about a 6-month old Pomeranian: very cute, 6 lbs. only and had puffy hair. I thought, awww, perfect! The adoption will include his crate, months worth of food, bed and other accessories. It was such a great deal!

David is supportive but always reminded me of the amount of commitment it entails having a dog here in New York. I didn't heed, I was in the moment of wanting to fulfill a "want". Let me list down what "pet dog commitment" means here in NYC.

1. Waking up earlier than usual to walk the dog in the morning. That shouldn't be a problem, but I almost barely get to work just in time with the amount of sleep I get each night.

2. Potty-training ~ without weewee pads.

3. Travel drawbacks ~ no pets are allowed in any public transportation (unless it's a blind guide dog, or a teeny tiny dog you contain in a travel bag), and most hotels don't allow pets in.

4. Going home after work (instead of going straight to dinner with friends) to feed and walk the dog.

5. Or... giving up gimmicks to stay at home with the dog.

6. If you are lazy, you can hire a dogwalker for $16 per walk. (!@#!$!%#%)

7. Picking up after your dog each time you go for a walk.

8. Last but not the least, your s.o. is allergic.

Suffice to say, I am just saying all the repercussions of owning one, but there are more reasons why people who live in this city still decide to own a pet dog, or three.

I didn't end up taking the dog, because of the above reasons. Yeah, I got over it. I probably will adopt eventually. There is no shortage of dogs in this country, and when I'm ready, the perfect dog will come to me.



Isn't he cute?

Leadership

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. ~ Dwight Eisenhower

I have yet to improve my leadership skills, especially in a team where I am the only person fired up about the job.

I wish we can always choose the people we work with but, alas, the real world is not that way.

To Pinoys: Aim Higher, Dream Bigger

If not nursing, then medical transcription? Is this the kind of alternative doctors have in the Philippines?!

Is P12,000 to P50,000 a month "lucrative" in the eyes of these Filipino doctors?

I know, I know. Who's to say what defines "fulfillment"? But if Filipinos keep settling for jobs like this - how can we progress?

Am I not seeing the bigger picture here?

Are college graduates really bound to take up nursing (and only nursing) to see greener pastures?

How can we make Filipinos aim higher, when even the President is recommending doctors to become a step below their profession?

And our national hero is a boxing champ?

How do we change this "Hanggang dito lang ako." mindset?

(I'm sorry, I just feel strongly about this - no offense, really)

Hahahahahahahahaha!

Thanks to my friend Kateh, she totally made my day with a forwarded email with these attachments. I thought I should share them with you.


In English: Retainer - Braces on your teeth


Pinoy Converse


This is my favorite! Make sure you follow the rules to be follows!


In English: Sweat Shirt


In English: "Ded Shit" (or dead shirt?) depends on the kind

Let Me Be A Bride Again Before It's Too Late

When a decisive couple decides to marry, a wedding can be organized within a few days. (Or within minutes?) I am obviously talking about David and I - but nothing Vegas.

We decided to have two weddings. We want both our families to witness our joys in saying "I do." The more family, the more tears, the more love!

For wedding #1, we opted to make things easier for us by picking a wedding package that is a tad bit customized to our taste. After scouring for different options and working with different budgets, we ended up choosing to have our wedding on board a private yacht - that will cruise around the Bay Area. Is that neato or not? Ok, maybe a little cheesy but it should be fun for all.

Wedding #2 will be more traditional and fancier - with more guests and flowers and candles and tears. The whole shebang. That would take more than just a few days to prepare.

Each day, it just sinks in more and more... I will have to learn to deal with someone else's dirty laundry and morning breath forever... aaahh, the beauty of it all. ;-)

Pure excitement.

Capstone

I feel a little bummed out that my Capstone topic was not approved by my professor. She did have a point, but it felt pointless to put together a 10-page paper that you've worked hard on so badly, only to be shot in the middle of a presentation.

It's all good though.

I still have it easier compared to one classmate who *didn't know* there was homework due on the first day of class. Yikes.

I Want To Be A French Fry

Click on this link. I love it. I almost died laughing.

Puerto Rico

I had so much fun in Puerto Rico, I could not even bring myself to explain how much. The place and the Puerto Ricans are just beautiful.

I traveled with two other Asians, and we obviously did not look or sound like locals. No hablo Espanol? We rented a car and drove around the northern part of the island (no, there were no problems).

We drove to the Bacardi Rum Factory to learn about the history of the company and how much they have changed over the years. Not really. We drove persistently to get hammered and buy inexpensive alcohol. But a 20-minute drive took us an hour, because we got lost a lot.

It didn't matter that we got lost as every road is scenic. And whenever we stopped for directions, the locals were always very patient and willing to help out. The service for both low and high class restaurants was par excellence. We wouldn't even scrimp on tipping our hotel waiter. It felt like home a lot.

At night, we chanced upon attending the launch of Hypnotic in the hotel we're staying in. It's a trendy new mixer/liquor brand that tastes very good alone or with other alcohol.

And what do they say about trendy drinks? They are drank by - yes, the most beautiful people I have ever seen. It felt like a catwalk all the time. My friends and I were just sitting there with our cocktails in awe, paying attention on the beautiful women, even more than the men.

Overall, it was a very good trip. It was hard to go back our our daily grind but we took plenty of photos as I show you below. I am definitely going back.


Old San Juan view from the plane.


El Yunque rainforest


Leaves bigger than a fan


Soaking in the stream


El Morro


Colored houses in Old San Juan


Just a few of the rum selection at the Bacardi factory


Dinner

Internship Wrap-up

I have been extremely busy wrapping up my summer internship, only to realize that when I go back to work in the Fall, I already have a bunch of projects waiting for me. Sigh. But it’s good to know that I am “needed” at work.

I had my performance evaluation a couple of weeks ago with my manager, and it went very well. She laid down all my areas of strength and opportunities for growth. She said that overall, I am doing outstandingly well.

What an encouraging feeling!

Especially when out of the summer interns, only 2 of us got an offer to stay on. (Note: One is an undergrad and not from Harvard ;-) ) I guess in an environment as objective and mature as my company, they care more about how much you can deliver than the fluff in your resume. But of course, that argument is debatable.

Lunching with the Bosses: Part 2

I am waiting for the Super Shuttle to pick me up from my apartment, and may not have time to share the blow-by-blow account of my lunch with the Prez. Let me just share some key points :)

1. As I asked my "intelligent" questions, I knew what to expect he would say. He can answer everything even in his sleep.

2. We talked this way: 80% about our personal lives, 18% about the business and the industry, 2% about his kids.

3. It was very refreshing how someone at his level would have a different point of view about career and retirement. He said in 10 years, he just wants to retire and play golf everyday.

4. He's a geek in that he would like to do his predictive modeling for the stock market as a hobby sometime.

5. He talked a lot about the importance of work-life balance. (That is so embedded in the company culture!)

Whoops... Super Shuttle is here! To be continued....

Girls Weekend Out

Post immature boy-crazy stage, I had told plenty of my closest friends that we have to travel all over Europe or take a cruise in some remote area in the planet before getting married. Alas, that hasn’t happened yet, and I am already a few months away from saying “I do”. I needed to take action! Fast!

Therefore, as an equally exciting alternative, I am heading to the Caribbean this weekend with a couple of single girlfriends. I know it’s no match to a month-long Cote D’Azur escapade, but it should still be fun!

Oh, and Shakira should be with us all night as we shake our bikini-clad booty to Hips Don’t Lie in San Juan’s beautiful beaches.

We might even chance upon this lady.

Lunching With The Bosses

I am very picky with bosses. Either I have a boss whom I can look up to, or I'll quit corporate and be my own boss. It drives me nuts if my boss does not know what the difference between you're and your. It happened in the past. I just couldn't stop rolling my eyes. Am I bad?

This time, I allowed myself to get sucked into New York's definition of a corporate life and I embraced being this fish in a big pond. I allowed myself because I know that bosses here will challenge me a lot, and will not make my eyes roll.

As I had said how I love the culture where I work now, I love the lunch culture at best. A couple of days ago, I lunched with the VP of Consumer Marketing at this nice Japanese place a few blocks from the office. I have to admit, I prepared for that meeting and wrote down "intelligent" questions to ask about the business and the industry... peppered with a little bit about personal life. It went pretty well and our talk was very fluid. I like this big boss. Her smarts shone through even without her trying. She even paid for my huge beef salad! :)

I had been taking advantage of this lovely lunch culture, that I keep on looking up the "big names" in the business and try to network as much as I can. I mean, why not?

I took a chance at setting an appointment last week with the President of Consumer Marketing. According to people, he is the busiest person ever. It will take me many bump-offs and rescheduling before he can accept my invitation. More like months. So I thought, I'll just try and see.

Incidentally, on my way out of the office today, I bumped into him in the elevator alone! I introduced myself and acknowledge that I knew him, and that I had sent an invite to have lunch sometime... and that I understand that he's busy... no pressure whatsoever.... that we can reschedule... blah blah blah. I was totally caught off-guard, that I blabbered defensively. He was so calm and just said, "Hey it's no problem. It's in my schedule, we can do it tomorrow." My jaw dropped... oh my God. He said yes! (Thought balloon: I'm not worthy! Hahaha.) But I thought, this is great and I am looking forward to it.

I hope tomorrow's lunch will go well like the one a few days back. I have got to prepare even more intelligent questions (whatever those are), so our time will be worthwhile. Hopefully, one day, I will be in his shoes - paying lunch for an intern, or just being the boss people can look up to.

An Irony

You enter a relationship to be more free.

The Great Divide

I had been doing a lot of research about the Philippines for my Global Marketing class lately. For our final paper, we were asked to research about the ways marketing is being done at a country of your choice. I obviously picked my country and it was shocking to discover many different facts about the current state of the Filipino poor.

According to a recent article from Xinhua News Agency, the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila is 325 pesos -- less than half of the estimated daily cost of living for a family of six in the capital region, which is 654.96 pesos (15.59 U.S. dollars) a day.

Filipinos who live below poverty line live on an average of Php 35/day, or $0.68 US cents. And according to an independent research organization, 83% of Filipinos live below poverty line. That's 8 out of 10 Filipinos who are living off of much less than how much you tip the bartender in the Meatpacking district who prepared your martini in one night!

Not that I am ignorant about how poor many of my fellowmen are, but it is just shocking to see the real numbers in your face. It is crazy how the great divide between the rich and poor is too evident in this world, and it is upsetting to see how the spoiled little rich kids are not aware of that.

You just thank God you are lucky, that you ended up with a life better than most of your fellowmen. And you join nonprofit organizations -- and make one life a little better every single day. ;-)

Miss Universe Let-down

I can't believe our very own Miss Universe Philippines, Lia Ramos, did not even make it to the first cut!!! (9:40pm ET)

Wow, she won Miss Photogenic!!! Woohoo! (10:24pm ET)

A Wonderful Feeling

Yesterday, I had an appointment at a fancy bridal gown shop on 5th Ave. to try on some wedding gowns made by different upscale designers. I just wanted to see which style I like best and which one highlights my assets ;-) You just have to be beautiful on your big day!

I was supposed to go with a friend of mine, but she cancelled last minute and I ended up going alone -- which was a little sad for a first-time bride. I had a fabulous experience nonetheless.

My "gown assistant" sat me down and asked me what I wanted in a wedding dress. I told her everything, and we looked like two friends giggling about a wonderful idea. I put my imagination to words... A-line, lacey, dropped waist, chapel train, silk satin, ivory and strapless. I thought it ended there, but there were several other questions about details I didn't even know about! I was impressed. She knows her sh*t. Apparently, she was a Georgetown Law graduate who wanted a career shift to the wedding industry.

She let me scout this huge room of wedding dresses made by different designers. They had it all - at least based on my taste and opinion. There was nothing tacky there, just those in the SALE section. ;-)

My assistant asked me if I wanted a strapless bra and some shoes to wear, and I was delighted that it was part of the whole service! I found 8 different dresses that I wanted to try on, and was pretty excited about them all! The very first white dress that I wore was beautiful. It was a $5,000 gown from Priscilla of Boston. With that price tag, it better be good!

As I went out of the dressing room and looked at myself in the mirror, it struck me right into my head, "I'm getting married!"

My assistant asked me if I wanted a veil to match it, and she put one on me. There it was, the whole shebang. White dress. Veil. Wedding. Marriage. Goodness gracious! ;-)

I shared that moment with nobody but my stranger assistant. I wanted to take photos, but they would not allow it. We tried on the the rest of the dresses, and each dress gave different levels of excitement! Some styles I picked had plenty of chantilly lace, french lace and silk satin. You can see that they are all well-made as all the silhouettes tucked my tummy in very smoothly. And I personally think, that's a challenge ;-) Hehe. Some felt so right, some didn't. I loved it! I felt like a princess! It was a wonderful feeling.

I left the store with a grin on my face, imagining what it would be like when I finally walk down the aisle in a beautiful dress, with my groom waiting at the other end. I could not afford the dresses they had there, but wearing them felt like hitting the jackpot.

I called my mother-in-law after and shared the news, and then we talked about wonderful feelings.



*Shot inside the dressing room.

Lessons from a CEO

Today, I had the privilege of listening to Ann Moore, Chairman and CEO of Time Inc. She spoke in front of all the summer interns, a bunch of idealistic and ambitious hopefuls.

I like her a lot. She is very smart, but very down to earth. She does not try to be high-faluting, her intelligence and sharpness just shone through. I want to be like her someday - perhaps not in the same industry or level, but I would make her one of my (many) role models in career decision-making.

She talked about the current state of the company in a very entertaining way. The powerpoint presentation had more visuals than words, which appealed to us all. Her silly banters were quite witty. For example, she quizzed us on which InStyle Magazine cover sold more copies: Queen Latifah or Gwyneth Paltrow? The room murmured "Gwyneth" in sync. But then, she said " Na-ah! Gwyneth may be a hollywood princess, but Queen Latifah is the Queen!"

I took down plenty of notes and would like to share what I took away from her after that one valuable hour.

a) Do not torture yourself with a job you hate. If you don't like numbers, don't go to a bank. If you hate people, don't get into sales.

b) I've been to Superbowls, the Oscars, you name it! I didn't look too crazy on our 25th anniversary reunion. - (After finishing b-school in Harvard 29 years ago, her classmates were "horrified" and thought she was crazy to get a job in Time Inc. She was offered lower pay, despite getting 13 other more generous offers.)

c) Be patient. Don't be afraid of career jogs. Fill out your dance card. I am now at the top of the pyramid, but I didn't go straight right away. I zigzagged all over the place! And I did for 25 years!

d) Not everyday is a picnic, but that happens anywhere.

e) You all have an obligation to train your replacement. - (On succession planning)

f) Plan long-term. 25 years go by in a blink.

There was also something off-the-record about her experience with the First Lady on board Air Force One. But I'll save that for next time! :)

Coach Bag Monogram

I went inside a Coach store on 5th Avenue with a friend a few days ago. Not to shop, but to windowshop and see how far a disposable $50 can go. (Answer: No, it doesn't go very far.)

What is so irritatingly amusing is that people swarm the store to buy overpriced merchandise. I was checking out this China-made $398 travel tote, and the sales assistant happily approached me to see if I needed assistance. I said no, and we were just looking around.

As she was trained to do so, she went on and showcased that that bag I am looking at has a special feature. I can personalize my Coach bag by putting my initials in it for (only) $25 and 10 business days! I pretended to whisper an ooohhh, followed by an aaaahhh. But I thought, what a rip off! That's almost $425 plus tax for a bag that will go off-season in a few months. Not only did the monograms look cheap to me, I thought it is lame to put initials on your purse to "own" it.

I left the store with nothing and a thought. Sometimes fashion is really lame, but there are plenty of lame suckers in this world.

Here's a photo of the bag.

The 4 C's Primer

As I am in the market for a wedding band, googling "diamond wedding rings" will take you to a million different places. Of course, I always stop by sites that showcase beautiful engagement rings. And those that have educational tidbits about the quintessential 4 C's. Therefore, I learn.

As I learn more about diamonds, I came to realize that Carat should be the last C to consider when choosing a stone. I used to think the bigger the diamond, the better it is. It is really not the case.

Take note that Carat does not refer to the dimensions, but the weight of the stone. Why the distinction? Because weight can hide in different parts of the stone. You can have a) well-cut, b) deep, or c) shallow diamonds. Some may appear larger than others due to its cut.

To me, I think Cut is the most important because it determines the diamond's sparkle and brilliance. With an ideal cut diamond, rays of light that pass through the stone reflect back to the eye. They call this "maximum light return". A poorly cut diamond does not reflect light well, therefore appears a little darker than it should.

Of course, Color is important too, so if you have the budget, avoid anything faint yellow or lower (K-Z color). As for Clarity, you can get away with this in lower grades so long as the diamond is eye clean.

Most importantly, make sure that your stone is backed up by a Diamond Certificate issued by a reputable gemological laboratory (i.e. GIA: Gemological Institute of America). In laymen's terms, they are the "authority" in determining your diamond's true 4 C's, which obviously affects its actual price. Many diamond sellers fool buyers with fake 4 C ratings, jacking up the actual price of the stone. So, be careful.

However, at the end of the day, it does not really matter what size or color or cut your diamond is. What truly matters is the pure intention of the person who has decided to give you something to symbolize his everlasting love. (Cheesy!)

Lunch

It's interesting that an hour and a half of lunching with half-MBAs from Harvard, Yale and Stanford made me realize many things, those that I will just keep to myself. ;-)

Daily Words

Leverage: "You may use the same copy and language that was approved by legal, but we would like to leverage the new design of the creative."

Back into it: "We can use these results and back into the latest click through rates for the hottest bachelors campaign."

I hear these words every single day at work, that they had become part of my vocabulary.

Hello, how is your leverage morning. I am sorry I am back into it today, I guess I need to use the bathroom and leverage myself. I'll be back into it with you.

Yikes.

Birthday Haiku

Twenty-five candles

ignite bittersweet tastes of

another birthday.

In Love and In-Law

Being somebody's fiance/e is a joy if you get along very well with your potential in-laws. I guess I got lucky that David's folks are gems in their own way. (And of course, on his end, David is very lucky with my parents!)

For some reason, I talk to David's mom more than he does now. We just keep getting carried away talking about wedding plans and more about David's lovely childhood.

Meanwhile, I got a very pleasant surprise a couple of days ago from his dad in my Inbox. I was so moved. Here was what he wrote:

First of all, I want to let you know directly that I am very pleased
about the decision you and David have made to marry.

As I expect you and David will find out sometime around 2030, there is a
special joy, not unmixed with relief, when your child makes what you
consider to be a fine choice of a life partner. I feel that pleasure now.

I am glad that you are coming into our lives as well as into David's and
I look forward to getting to know you better over the coming years.

With much love.

***

Hold on for a second... 2030? If we have a kid 3 years from now, that's 2009. That would make our child just 21 years old? And choosing a life partner already? Or maybe, he is subtly suggesting that we should get pregnant by next year? That's too soon :) I am probably analyzing silly? Or not? Ah, the little secret wishes of grandparents-to-be! I'm sure my folks would not dare deny it.

Work-Life Balance

Where I work for the summer, the company culture is very particular about work-life balance. They encourage people to have a life outside of work, which is awesome! One of the ways they push people out of the office when the clock strikes 530 is giving a week's worth of free trial yoga classes from this place called Yoga Works. (Yes, it is a marketing ploy to get people to sign up after the trial period, but still, it is free!)

I had already attended 3 and I am beginning to love it. All the instructors are very good. Tonight, I attended the Ishta Level 3 (my very first advanced class!), and believe me, I was sweating like hell. It was good exercise. And I was able to find and make use of my chakra.

Namaste.

The White Dress

I must say that David and I are on the right track with our wedding preparations. Within our two week Manila visit, we were already able to secure a church, pick up the wedding clearance requirements from The Chancery, book the reception venue and caterer, pick a couturier, have my wedding dress #1 made, decided on wedding dress #2's design, narrow down on our photo/video supplier and talk to our priest. Shew. And those were the hardest to get done.

You can totally prepare for a wedding in a month if you are only creative. And if you have a super mom.

Tonight, I was able to see wedding dress #1 on videocam, with my sister modeling it for me. It looks lovely. Lovelier than I expected. I picked the design off different magazine pages - strapless, pick-up skirt made of duchess satin and hints of beads. The veil is made of fine tulle, and the edges have lace. It felt so surreal - I guess more surreal than how my sister was feeling wearing her sister's wedding gown!

There it is, the white dress I will wear when I commit my entire life to David... :) Isn't that pretty intense?

I don't want to be a bridezilla, seriously. I'd like to think I'm not one. Wedding talk tires me sometimes that I want to take a break and just think about life AFTER the wedding... which really is what is more important.

A couple of weeks back, a married friend of mine texted me her congratulations and gave me her unsolicited two-cents, following a lovely wedding - but a failed marriage. She said that no matter how beautiful or not-so-beautiful a wedding turns out to be, never forget that it really won't matter much at the end of the day. It is the marriage that follows after that I should be prepared more for. Your wedding make-up, your 5-tiered fondant cake or your fancy tiffany chairs won't make your marriage last forever anyway. Good point.

Makes me ponder -- what if David and I just head to city hall in jeans and skip through all these wedding costs and save for a big house and a fancy honeymoon? Then, reception will follow at Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Brooklyn? That's barely a $50 wedding! Hmmmm... but then again, there's the white dress effect... hahaha. (I'm kidding okay?)

Smartphone Poll

Vote: Treo 650 vs. Nokia N70?



Sometimes there are just suckers in this world who are willing to sell 2 mildly-used smartphones for $400.

At first I thought he was a Craigslist scammer, but it turns out he's a 20 year-old uber-spoiled model (Dolce, Gucci, Abercrombie and Fitch, T-mobile, etc. etc.) who easily gets bored with his gadget freebies. He's actually nice and shared some very graphic detail on the stereotypical life of an international model: sex, drugs, money and indecent proposals. Yup. He's French and lives in alphabet city. Is he cute? Not my type, but he is to a gazillion girls from his travels who text him they want to f*ck him (another careless effort to NOT delete text messages from old cellphones).

Now, I obviously don't need three phones -- that is why I am battling which one to keep, and which ones to Ebay for a good price enough to make my purchase "free" in the end.

To my Filipino friends (and family) who live in an obsessive environment of cellphoning and SMS-ing, please give me advice which one is the best to keep before I find the next Ebay sucker.

I Hate My Razr

I've only had it for 10 months but I feel I need an upgrade. It is all form, no function. As I browsed through Ebay and Craigslist, I haven't found any good deals on smartphones. Either the posting is overpriced yet legitimate, or undervalued and a hoax.

In any case, I still have to get the hang of using a QWERTY keyboard. I am still having a hard time playing with David's complicated and overutilized Treo.

Back to Leftover Land

I had started my summer internship today and everything is going smoothly. I was fortunate to be in a room full of smart people with diverse backgrounds. I think it will take me another day to get into the New York vibe again, as I haven't totally gotten over my jetlag - or my leaving Manila again.

When I got home yesterday, my friend Rizza gave me a warm welcome. She is one of my trusted friends who carry a spare apartment key, so I let her come in and out of my place when needed. Despite having plenty of food in the pantry (but no energy to cook and wash dishes), we decided to eat out and indulge in giant New York portions. I flew via AA, which scrimps a lot on food and snacks, so I got here hungry!

I had said this many times over, but it felt so surreal walking in my neighborhood again. The pouring rain added to the drama. I convinced myself that it's good to be back again, so I called on my NY girlfriends for a dinner full of catching up. Smelling the pungent streets, seeing my trusty doorman and paying $9.70 for a cheeseburger meal (and eating leftovers for my next meal) had awoken me. I am back in New York, and it welcomes me with glee.

Farewell Manila

The past couple of weeks in Manila went by so fast, that before I knew it, I am flying back to New York again. Each day that passed, it gradually sank in that I have less and less time to spend with my family and friends. And at the back of my mind, it breaks my heart to know it will take another year before I see them again, for us to go to Greenbelt again and together have Chickenjoy again.

Panic shopping and spa-ing aside, there are a million other things I will truly miss about Manila. More than the cheap buys and my regular visits to the salon, I will miss the people I had the littlest, yet most meaningful, memories with. People I grew up with. Sure, I make dozens of friends and good company abroad, but they can't compare to those who had seen me in pigtails, in braces and saw me freak out when I had my period. Those who comforted me when I had my first heartbreak, and were right behind me on my second - or third.

The past couple of weeks, I did my best to make time for the important people in my life amidst my long "Manila to do checklist". I know the time we spent will never be enough to compensate for my year-long absence, but I tried at least. (And took plenty of photos!)

I bid you farewell, Manila. Do not fret though, as I will see you again. It won't be for long.

Post-Finals Thoughts

I haven't really given much thought about wedding planning since I got engaged, since I had to deal with my Finals first and other deadlines. But now that school is over, I found some down time to check online for different wedding options here and in Manila.

It's crazy how expensive weddings can be, so I'm already beginning to monitor my unneeded expenses more closely now. I used to tell people jokingly that I work for shoes and travel. I guess now, I'd have to work for the wedding - and the marriage that comes after that.

Isn't it a little overwhelming how people go through the same stages in life like clockwork? And that priorities change dramatically upon each event? Career plans aside, you find a partner, get engaged, get married, get a house, have a kid, have another kid, raise kids well, put them to good schools, raise them more, stay married ... retire. That process is pretty simplistic, but there are plenty of details in between that people have to overcome - or not. Some people go through all the stages of the whole process, some rearrange the stages, some just don't go through it. Fact of life.

Enough ponderment.

I just hope that I don't become one of those bridezilla freaks who go crazy planning a wedding. There's just one thing I'd want to be impractical with in planning this: the honeymoon! (Did somebody mention Mykonos?)

David Blaine = Insane

Last weekend, I was able to check out David Blaine at Lincoln Center do another outrageous stunt: he was immersed in an 8ft x 8ft aquarium for 7 days (no food or drink, but with oxygen), and on his last day, stay underwater for 9 minutes (a world record). He is insane, but perhaps he's not human?

In any case, I can't believe I saw David Blaine in the flesh! Wow!

P.S. I couldn't get blogger to upload my personal photos, but check out The Gothamist for more details.

I'm Engaged!

This weekend had just been such a whirlwind that I could not even fathom how I was able to get through it breathing as normal. How can I focus on my Finals this week when 80% of the time, I am just staring at this beautiful piece of jewelry, realizing and absorbing that my life is about to change quicker than I can even realize it.

I got engaged yesterday, and it was one of the most unsuspecting moments in my life. When it happened, the whole world stopped. Seriously. Words fail me now, and I can't even explain best how the whole "experience" fell into place and felt so right, both for David and I. It was very honest and very beautiful.

Again, I'll skip the gazillion details, but it involved a very nice homecooked 3-course Filet Mignon dinner, The Alchemist, the sunset, the perfect timing, the perfect spot, lots of strength and a 14 year-old bottle of Dom Perignon.

I immediately emailed my family and my very close friends, and it was a very good feeling to hear back how happy and excited they are of the news. Some of them called me screaming, and some even in tears. I was also able to talk to my... err... future mother-in-law (woah, did that sound right?) and she is very psyched and told me about how she knew all along - and that my parents knew all along too!

Sorry but I can't help but be cheesy now. But yeah, I guess this is it. David is The One.





David got down on one knee with this. It's perfect. He is so good at taking notes during my girl talks! :)

And now the wedding planning officially begins.

How Fast is Fast?

When you break it off with someone,how necessary is it to give it "time" to be with someone new?

But what if you are the type of person who can turn off like a switch whenever you want? Is there a way to find compromise in this situation?

Wholesome, And Then Some

The Internet is For Porn
For David's birthday, I treated him to a night out in the city - starting from chocolate cake, a nice dinner at the Yale Club, then a broadway musical (Avenue Q). All was nice and wholesome, until we saw puppets proclaiming unabashedly what the Internet is really for, and showing us a little sample show! ;-) Beats the Patpong scene in Bangkok!

Nice and Sexy
That seemed to be the primary theme from today's little striptease/pole dancing class we did for a good friend's bachelorette party. I'll skip the rest of the details and leave it at that. Let's just say, there was an abundance of net stockings, feathers and high-heeled boots. It was fun!

Think

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life (...) Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."
- Steve Jobs, CEO Apple

Blanked

A lot of things have been going on both at work and school, that my mind is going blank and could not think of anything to write. Blah blah blah.

With that said, I shall let Joyce Purnick of Times Select indulge you with this article I read that I found so interesting about New York:

Adventures in the City of Dreams

NOT too long ago, a colleague transferring to the city from a foreign assignment said he looked forward to finally figuring out how New York works. Optimistic fellow.

I've been writing Metro Matters for years and I still haven't figured out how or why New York City works.

Because it does work, when logically a city of 8.2 million people from everywhere should be dysfunctional.

New York thrives on imagination and reinvention. Ever-changing, it is more an idea than a place, a fantasy that has developed the veneer of reality because we New Yorkers believe in the fairy tale. The ultimate urban myth.

A pack of newspapers and radio and TV stations cover our mayor as if every word he utters has earthshaking importance, which it does not. But assuming that it does knits New Yorkers together, gives us something in common — that outrageous or boring or flaky character in City Hall.

Our wondrous subway system theoretically connects us, but even though it jams us against each other all the time, we don't connect much. We just want to think we do, which is grand.

New York City is, of course, a jigsaw of ethnic and racial enclaves, of the rich, the poor and the in-between, of the struggling immigrant and the billionaire businessman and the diligent striver. We occupy our own worlds and know that other worlds live next door — but few of us drop by.

How many Upper West Siders know that a population of Mexicans is growing quickly on Staten Island, drawn to the red-state (for now) borough to tend lawns?

How many young people from neighborhoods just a few miles away from Times Square have never seen it?

Friends who live in Midtown Manhattan recently confessed that they always insist on seeing the outskirts of any city they visit. But they've never been to Flushing.

To qualify for a MetroCard, New Yorkers should have to take the Staten Island ferry round-trip once a year to look over at the Statue of Liberty, and ride the No. 7 line through startlingly polyglot Queens. Getting off at a few stops to look around wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

MAYBE our separateness together is what keeps us going. We clash furiously every now and again, then calm down because we have to.

New York keeps going through bad times, attacks, injustices, fiscal woes and bad leadership — inevitably followed by better leadership. The place is admirably resilient and demanding. New Yorkers kvetch — an admirable survival technique.

So is self-interest. The city always was, and still is, mostly about money. Its economic, political and journalistic establishments demand a semblance of stability and restore it when imbalance threatens the bottom line. Then the politicians have to respond.

Which brings me to a few observations about politics.

¶Those elected officials who would like journalists to go away would expire of neglect if they got their wish.

¶Some politicians do indeed care about the public, but most first care about their own survival. They need frequent, even rude, reminders about who employs whom.

¶Dishonest elected officials who manipulate judgeships and misspend the public's money truly believe they are doing nothing wrong, because in their world, they aren't — which is why journalists must forever invade that world.

¶Advocates for admirable causes are not immune to the hyperbole and distortion we associate with politicians. As effective kvetchers, they are essential — just not always right.

¶Follow the money. Always follow the money.

If all this has been sounding existential, and readers are wondering what's up, it is this: I have decided to move on from this column after nearly 10 years to face new writing challenges at The Times, and my editors have graciously granted my wish.

I think it is essential for journalists to keep reinventing themselves, just as New York City does.

To fellow columnists, one suggestion: Deliver a swift (nonviolent) kick from me to those who say, "Oh, so you write twice a week? Have you ever considered working full time?"

To readers: Thank you for the privilege of letting me write about the city that I love, which I do even though it exists only because we all think it does. Keep on thinking that, New York, and it will ever be so.

--- End of article ---

I specifically love her last paragraph - that New York only exists because we all think it does. That is a very good point and, believe it or not, I think it is true.

Options

We had our class at the Ogilvy HQ today. What's surprising was I felt that being in an ad agency seemed new to me again, like I have to consciously bring myself back into that world again. I have to say, 6 years ago, Advertising is my passion, and my idea of "success" was working in Madison Ave. I even remember saying to my adviser on my very first day at J. Walter Thompson that "JWT is my ideal and dream company!" I did say that with much gusto and it was from the heart - but I was young, naive and it was my first bite at the real world. Today is not 6 years ago.

For some reason, today made me especially contemplative about my career plans. When I was younger and didn't know better, I told myself that I will be in advertising, please my Clients, work late hours, sacrifice my social life and talk advertisingspeak everyday for the rest of my life.

Fast forward to today when I have been given more options, it is hard to just limit oneself to one cookie-cutter future. I feel sorry for the millions of people in the world who are destined to be only one person, to see only one place and to do only one thing. I feel like it is my mission to help others discover new things about themselves, new places, new experiences - and share mine and what I have learned so far - one person at a time. (Yuck, am I an inspirational speaker in the making? Hahaha!)

At this point, I have gotten two very good offers for a full-time internship this summer. And I am crazy to still be actively looking for more options. (Many of my classmates don't even have any to choose from) It is not greed nor arrogance. It is as simple as just checking out options.

When you live in New York City, you never run out of options. Feeling like Chinese tonight? There are thousands of Chinese restaurants, take your pick! Tired of your boyfriend? Single men in all shapes, color, mentalities and sizes are at your beck and call. Where do you want to purchase your vacuum cleaner? Amazon, Home Depot, Ebay, Chinatown, in the streets, Salvation Army, Macy's, etc.? It's so overwhelming.

Despite all this, we learned (in school) and it has been proven, that providing people more options depresses their desire to choose. Present 100 pretty purses to a fashionista and ask her to pick one, she'll get too excited and confused and most likely will hold off deciding what she likes best. Show her just 2, and most likely she will choose something she deems cuter.

Where does this purse purchasing example tie in with my career contemplating? Well, I used to think I only have a couple of options career-wise, and I was only entitled to choose one. Moreover, in my mind, I thought Manila was the only place where I can live - and die. I also thought I was doomed - I mean destined - to be married to an i__e_c__e mama's boy (Am I mean? Hehe). I obviously thought wrong.

I've always wanted to have options, and even if I denied it in the past, I knew in my heart I did. If I don't, I'd get frustrated thinking what I might have missed. That is why I dated [just enough] men in the past, and never packed light when traveling ;-) I am very blessed to have been raised by parents who provided options on my plate, and taught me well enough to know what I truly deserve. They also told me in the past that I can be anybody I want to be, and it's up to me to choose.

Career-wise, I am currently like that girl being asked to pick only 1 among 100 beautiful purses. I seriously do not know what I should pick, so I am holding off my decision until it feels right, until I feel right. I obviously don't have a hundred options, but it feels like it especially if I consider and reconsider me and David's countless options and aspirations, separated or combined. You know... the what, when, where, why and how's of life? But let's leave that for another story. :)

Ateneo Graduation Webcast

It's amazing what technology can do to keep people closer together. It's 415 am ET and I am up watching my sister receive her college diploma and honorable mention award live at the graduation rites of Ateneo. (Go Doyti, we're all proud of you! Congratulations!) Our baby sister has finished college already! And to my dad, she will always be 18 years old.

I was awoken by my siblings in the middle of my deep slumber at 245am and was asked to go online to watch the graduation webcast. As in any commencement exercise, the first few speeches were long, yet inspiring. Manny Pangilinan, PLDT boss and Ateneo fellow, shared a poignant story about his experiences coming from humble beginnings. He ended saying "... I was born poor, but poor is not born in me... you can make it... you must not disappoint." The speech was very long - that I ended up doing my maths and some multiple regression models for tomorrow's class.

Just watching through my computer made me a little nostalgic about my own graduation 4 years ago. It also felt different listening to plenty of Tagalog for the most part of the program. And of course, I heard very strong Filipino-English accents all throughout - which is refreshing and heartwarming at the same time. Not something I hear everyday.

I look forward to marching on my own commencement program for the 4th time in my life in the Spring of next year, and I am very excited and hopeful. And hopefully there needn't be technology involved for my whole family to see me bow on stage. And no more early morning wake up calls.

P.S. Up until this day, I wonder when Ateneans will stop calling their school "THE" Ateneo? Is it hubris? How come Harvardites or Yalies don't call their school THE Harvard or THE Yale. Or perhaps they should start?

A Quick Walk Home

Since I feel I've been lacking exercise, I decided to walk home from work today. The whole time I was listening to music in my iPod and then without an effort, the walk became extra interesting. Heading east from the Rockefeller Center, I saw different things on my way home. Things such as the following:

1. Three disabled people in wheelchairs lining up to get on a city bus
2. A 20ct perfect round diamond from the diamond district
3. A man in an expensive-looking suit... rollerblading on 5th Ave.
4. The Philippine flag at the consulate
5. $1 book sale near Park Ave.
6. Two spiffy men holding hands
7. A policeman patroling on a big, black horse
8. A homeless man asking for change
9. The Waldorf Astoria
10. A big guy walking a tiny chihuahua

Election Results

I had just gotten up this morning and found an email in my inbox - I won the Presidential elections! :) I guess this deserves a week-long celebration of mojitos and other wonderful things.

P for President

So I ran for President for my graduate program's student organization, and being the apolitical person that I am, there was no intense politicking in my team. Neither did the other team. I ran against one of my classmates - a white guy who is a part-time student, smart and charming. And no matter how my loyal friends reassure me that there is no competition whatsoever, there are always no guarantees.

I had been in the program for three semesters and my personal campaign was based on just how people had seen me work in the past. My team did have campaign materials - but it's not as overbearing as back in my SEB days in college. We did have a cheesy platform based on the popular marketing acronym: AIDA - Attention, Interest, Desire, Action - but I still wonder if it's the platform or our warm smiles that would sell us. I think in graduate school, you rely more on word of mouth and popularity than anything else.

Don't get me wrong, I am really not political at all - I just have a vision for my program and for the students in my program. I just want some change done, that's all. And I am crossing my fingers that my reputation - whether positive or negative - will sell well.

Today was the last day that votes were casted - so in about 12 hours, the winners will be announced. We had a social after class tonight, and I still could not get over how all-over-the-place my speech went. (I hate impromptu speeches) But we'll see if that had any bearing on the final vote count.

F*ck that.

And so, the countdown begins...

The Lunch Culture And More

I had complained a little while back that I was being underutilized at Time Inc., but now my coworkers are definitely getting my hands full as much as they could. I actually prefer it this way, because that means that they have a certain level of expectation of what I can deliver for them. And these are very hardworking, smart people who say intelligent things and make intelligent decisions. Do you know that feeling of pressure being around intelligent people? You just can't allow yourself to screw up. Ergo, you work extra harder... and pretend you blend in. Haha!

I have only been with People Consumer Marketing for a couple of weeks, but I kind of get the culture of this side of the business already.

These people have lunches.
I like this lunch culture thing. The way it works is that, since everybody is friendly and approachable and social, but extremely busy, they take the time to ask everyone else for "lunch"- a very important time to network and talk about more personal things. As ironic as it sounds, lunches can tend to become appointments - but equally important as any other office meeting. Hence the overusage of the "Make Appointment" Outlook feature.

I believe the food in the building helps cultivate this lunch culture thing somehow. Time Inc. has a fantastic cafeteria. They have a very wide variety of cuisines prepared fresh as you order. I had South African food last week, and Pan-Asian today. I also can never get enough of their freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, I have it everyday. And it's relatively cheap.

Best of all, lunchtime is strictly for lunch - not doing work (unless it's a work lunch, obviously). Most people will make you get out of your cube to grab lunch - because it is important and you deserve it.

The 5 o'clock deadline.
Having worked in advertising and promotions in the past, leaving at exactly 5pm is very much frowned upon. The 9 to 5 cliche is not really 9 to 5. It's 9 to whenever your boss leaves the office or after. Which can be as late as after dinner.

In Time Inc., people work as efficient as they can to finish everything by 5. Okay, 5:45 tops (give or take all the chitchatting in between work hours). But then, if you leave at 5pm, they will not roll their eyes and whisper "What a lazy underachiever." to themselves. Instead, they will say "I'll see you tomorrow!" with a smile. Knowing that you are responsible enough to finish what you need to do for the day.

A culture of growth and respect.
Not only does the company provide avenues for self-expression for different races, they also make sure they can contribute to the development of your well-being - be it as a student, a parent, or a person in general - straight, bi or gay.

They have plenty of noteworthy tutorial programs that employees can freely attend. They have a playroom for the kids to hang out all day (perhaps for single or hands-on parents) and a library and a book shop with discounted items. They celebrate cultural diversity through events, walkathons and promotions in and outdoor. They are understanding of their employees who are pursuing graduate school (and would even pay for part of their tuition fees). And my favorite, they serve everyone free snacks at 3pm everyday.

From the biggest scenarios to the littlest of details, to me, the company had done a great job in making their people function and grow the best way they can.


I can't say yet that my division is the coolest ever, or Time Inc. is THE ideal "big" company to work for. Hmm... I still kinda miss some things about working in a smaller one - like the past couple of companies I've worked with. I like to have structure, but please ditch the red tape. The "global" feel is enticing, but you still feel "local" working within a small group or department. It's the big fish in a small pond vs. small fish in a big pond kind of argument.

I don't know, I am just impressed with the culture of this company. And regardless if this company is as big as it is, or as tiny as a 10-man team, I would still blog about it because it got the good side of me.

Randomness

Every event has at least two sides, two effects and two endings. Choose which one is yours. Black or white. Yes or No. Dead or Alive. But some people still dare ask why can't there be only just one? You just want to nudge them until they wake up from their idealist eyes. These people have to learn to live away from this perfect world they had long so imagined, but never had.

***

Pet peeve #10: Superficial success metrics. Definition: when you start boasting about your superficial pots of gold, like it deserves to be on top of your resume and unknowingly emphasizing your lack of a brain.

***

Reese Witherspoon truly deserved the Best Actress Oscar. And Ryan Philippe deserves to receive the Best Ever Supportive Husband Award. The kind of marriage to emanate. I hope they never fall into that Hollywood divorce trap.

Inhaling Vicks And Eating Chinese

That is what I am up to right now. Tucked inside my warm duvet, while watching E! and trying to get well. After trying to push myself too hard all week with crazy meetings, work, school, gym etc., finally my body couldn't take any more. I had to cancel a girl's day out today because I had lost my voice from severe coughing and cold. I have to learn to stop trying to kill myself.

Silent Protest

I feel bad talking about kitschy New York living when my poor country is in shambles. In the past weeks, at least three events in the Philippines made it to the top stories in international papers (all bad news), and I have even been approached by my friends here asking if my family is well and safe.

I keep myself up to date with Philippine current events on a regular basis, and reading about the tragedies, poverty and disorder makes me feel like one of those clueless brats safely tucked inside airconditioned SUV's in Rockwell. Minus the aircon, the SUV and the brattiness, perhaps you would think that living in a place far away from the action adds to the "couldn't care any less" attitude. You're wrong.

Let's put it this way. When you watch the Super Bowl at home, even if you are miles away from the stadium, you still share the same excitement, the same feeling of triumph or defeat, you shed the same amount of tears and the same amount of joy. If your team is defeated, would you recklessly throw rocks on the TV to boo the winning one? Obviously you won't, that's just ridiculous.

The same way happens when you read about people trying to overthrow the Philippine government. You build the same amount of angst like fellows who are actually there first-hand, enough to make you protest, cry and kill like any other. You protest silently, but deep within you, you are bursting with sympathy, anger, disdain and disgust.

I do hope that there continues to be relief efforts in Leyte, that the masses will learn about having false hopes from showbiz personalities from the Ultra stampede, and that Gloria keeps herself together for the good of the country.

Girl Bonding

There is never more than enough girl bonding in my life. I could have it like everyday, just like drinking coffee. I had a dose of it tonight, and it was a pleasure not having men around for a change.

I decided to spend my Friday night out in Soho with the girls to celebrate the big 3-0 of one of my friends. We went to Ghenet, this authentic Ethiopian place at Mulberry Street. We had a huge combination plate of Sega Wett, veggies and different kinds of curry, served with fresh injera (this really soft crepe-like bread that you use as a utensil to eat). We had Ethiopian lager beer in between silly banters and girly talk. The whole dining experience had to be communal, and we had to use our hands - but none of us minded! It was a great night.

Here's a bad photo...



Oh, and this is the cheesecake we shared, very typical.



I ended up taking the last piece anyway. Ha!

Being with people from different places always gets interesting. At one point, we had the restaurant sing a birthday song for my friend, and they served a small flan with a candle on it.
She said, "What is this?" My Indian friend said, "The British call it Creme Custard". My Romanian friend said, "To us, it's Cream Sugar". And then I said, "In the Philippines, we call it Leche Flan." My Hongkongese friend said they don't have dessert of that kind. And then we dove in and finished it.

Sex in Two Cities

People in New York talk about sex, have sex, watch sex, dream about sex, think about sex, love sex, use sex, film sex, pay for sex and never get pregnant. People in Manila don't talk about sex, but they dream, think, love, use, film, watch, pay and have sex... and get pregnant. And then, they start talking about it!

Why is that? Is talking about it the best contraceptive invented?

Lazy Wintery Weekend

A record-breaking 27 inches of snow filled the streets of New York this weekend, which caused plenty of trips, flights and study group meetings to be cancelled. As for me, my weekend plans changed from a drinking birthday party -- to a homemade chocolate fondue surprise! ;-)

Yes, David and I ended up staying at home for most of the whole weekend. We watched 24, yet again, like it's routine - but a very nice routine to do on a lazy, no-homework day. We were watching the 5th season, while devouring on chocolate-covered fruits using this fondue set I got as a Christmas gift, and munching on baby carrots with hummus like it's french fries. Great combo.

Speaking of 24, I never imagined a series could be that intense! I am so hooked that it had already caused me Jack Bauer nightmares! Sometimes, when it's too much blood to handle already, we slow down with some The Office. I love Steve Carrell so much (from the 40 Year Old Virgin) that Rick Gervais (of the British version) can never be up to par! That show reminds me of being back at work again. I've seen characters in real life like those in the show, and it is hilarious as hell. I am in love with it -- finally, I can move on from that SATC stage I took on for a couple of years.

***

I didn't have time to blog about the recent tragic stampede back in Manila, but as soon as I heard about it (just a few hours after it happened), I went online and read more about it in the news. It is horrible. Words failed me.

I received a forwarded email about the incident, and reading it made me feel sorry for my fellowmen back home - at the same time, feeling blessed that none of my loved ones were there. If you have time, this is a very good read you can ponder on when you feel like you don't have enough blessings on earth.

***

Sometime between now and a couple of weeks ago, I learned to accept that people have different measures of success and levels of contentment. Some people are happy and content if and only if they are in investment banking, earning 6 digits a year. Some are fulfilled when they sell enough moisturizing creams to snobby customers. Some just see themselves waiting tables for the rest of their lives. And no matter what kind of "push" or "pull" you do to them, thinking that they can do "so much better", you will get nothing but resistance.

This thought made me remember my Theology class back in college. There was a lesson that tackled Marriage and Relationships, and that a relationship between two people with, let's just say "different goals or aspirations", can never work. For example, let us pair a farmer and a socialite. Although there is dignity in being a farmer, a high-society mogul may not understand this, coming from two different backgrounds. The socialite might resent the farmer if she is not treated like a princess, and the farmer will get very frustrated by her expensive lifestyle. This is of course a very extreme case, but you get the point.

Each person sets his own standards, mostly driven by the people and environment he had grown up to. And if those standards are not met, he thinks he is not getting his money/time/heart/mind/body's worth and eventually breaks away... to look elsewhere for something to fulfill his expectations, whether it's more or less than what he had had.

***

The weather is so cold and depressing now, that I just calm myself with that Kokomo song by the Beach Boys. Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you... to Bermuda, Bahamas... Come on pretty Mama, Key Largo, Montego, Jamaica! That's where we wanna go... way down to Kokomo! Those wonderful islands I will visit not too long from now :-)

A Notable Blog

Chewy is super tech-savvy (and in the know) to be able to start a blog about... @$^#&$*(&%??!

Woohoo!

I just found out 2 minutes ago that I got accepted to Time Inc.'s graduate internship this semester! I am so thrilled!

Beginning next week, I will be in charge of doing the acquisition efforts and marketing of People Magazine, the largest revenue driver of the company. I just need to find a way to get myself paid, since it IS a paid internship. Unfortunately, my visa's got plenty of technicalities, so I'd have to work around it. In any case, I am sooo looking forward to it - even if I kill myself with a full-time credit in school. Argh.

The pay won't matter too much though, as perhaps an unpaid internship will transform into a full-time offer come summer time :) I heard they pay really well, plus I get a chance to come face to face with the Sexiest Men Alive. *Let me faint for a second.* I'm crossing my fingers then!

Scavenger Hunt and Double D's

Just a few things that made this weekend more fun than usual.

***

Together with David and his friends, we went to the Met to play this Scavenger Hunt and solve a murder mystery! It was so much fun! Given the limited time we were given to figure out clues from all over the museum, we did quite well and were able to finish everything! We came up with our own conclusion on who was the "killer" and what was the motive. Out of 13 detective teams, we were tied on 5th place with some other teams!

***

After the hunt, we needed to unwind and so, we hung out at my favorite bar for some yummy fruity martinis and a little dancing. We ended up in a couch beside this well-endowed porn star-looking lady (who looked like a MAN), dancing skanky and brushing her double D melons on the face of the guy she was with. We were a group of 3 guys and 2 girls, and it is very reassuring to know that all 3 guys I was with found the porn wannabe disgusting. It's good to know such behavior is still frowned upon in this city.

Opposite A Trust Fund Baby

During the times I am at home cleaning up, sometimes I could not help but turn to TV channels that show these cheesy-and-will-teach-you-absolutely-nothing reality shows. For entertainment purposes, I also sometimes find myself watching "The Fabulous Life Of..." on E! Paris Hilton. The Gastineau girls. The Gotti boys. Ah, it must be fun to be trust fund babies. All you have to do is be born in this world and you'll be okay for the rest of your life. Party here and there, and let mom and pop do the rest. That kind of lifetime security perhaps only a few people can afford to have.

I am obviously not a trust fund baby, and I am glad I am not spoiled. I'm so glad that more than anything, I have nothing but pity for this clueless brood. I wonder what their parents teach them?

1. Just wake up in the morning and figure out how easy life is.
2. It is okay to buy a $150 tank top. 12 of them.
3. You don't need education, you got money already, your future is secure.
4. Airhead-speak. "Like..."
5. Be like me: clueless.
6. Roberto Cavalli or bust.
7. Shop for Ferraris like you are shopping for milk.
8. If you're bored, have your fashionable lives documented and make extra money off your own shallow reality show!

Someday I will have kids of my own and I will want to raise them far, far away from these rich and spoiled stereotypes.

I want them to develop deep-rooted values and principles that will keep them ethically fit forever.

I want them to value education like it's the mandatory way to be successful in this world. But I also want them to know that Success carries many definitions.

I want them to live a comfortable life, but I also want them to learn how to do house chores and manage their own personal belongings.

I want them to understand that not everybody in this world has the same advantages as they have, but everyone deserves the same respect as everyone else.

I want them to feel empowered to make decisions of their own about their future, and always fight for their own beliefs. In their journey of self-discovery, I want them to find happiness in doing what they are most passionate about - and gain respect for that.

I want them to develop a set of skills that can help them in their pursuit of independence.

I want them to read more books, and watch less TV. I want them to eat more greens, and less Mcdonald's.

I want them to be confident and secure of themselves, that when asked to face a big crowd, they will shine without faltering. But I also want them to know it is very human to be vulnerable.

I want them to learn about me and my husband's childhood, our experiences with my families, our "first's" - and reassure them that they need not be afraid of anything, because we have "been there".

I want them to learn how to love, and love deeply. To love their family, their partners, their neighbors - of course at different levels.

And if ever they get a chance to sit opposite a trust fund baby, I will tell them not to be jealous or be green with envy - because he/she is a lot smarter and richer in every respect.

Etc...

I have many things I would want to teach my kids in the future, and a part of me is excited in the feeling of being a mother someday. In the meantime, I want to prepare myself slowly, gain valuable experience, learn from it and make the most out of my own little reality show that is called New York City.

Filipino Pride

I would like the share in celebrating, along with the millions of Filipinos around the world, the victory of Manny Pacquiao against Erik Morales in the recent Las Vegas boxing showdown!

Sweet Scents A-burning, Smelling Like Wild Fire

The apartment two floors directly below me caught fire the other night at 2 in the morning. Thank goodness for jetlag and my irregular sleeping hours, I was still awake at that time.

My apartment apparently is situated beside the emergency staircase, so the night the fire happened, at 2am, I heard what could be 20 pairs of feet running quickly downstairs or upstairs. I also heard firetrucks and policemen arriving on site. I smelled smoke, got out of bed and found my bathroom full of smoke! In a situation like this, trying to think straight is a very difficult thing to do. Panic and fear lets you make stupid judgments and decisions. I just wanted to get out of the building as fast as I could.

I thought, fuck all my worldly possessions. I just took my passport and I-20, picked up my bag (which contained my personal stuff, keys and cellphone), wore a warm coat and dashed outside.

The hallway looked like a scene in a horror movie - it was deserted, grey and smokey. People may have been still sleeping. "Hello?", no answer. I opened the door to the staircase and I could not see anything else but smoke. Going down there would've been a very bad idea, as I can suffer or die from extreme suffocation. I didn't know if the fire was coming from upstairs or downstairs, as when I called the doorman, he didn't say where but said it had already been put out (perhaps to prevent more panic?).

And so, back to my room I went. I breathed fresh air out of my opened window, looked out (... and found about 6 firetrucks, 3 ambulances and 3 police cars! Remember how proactive New York is when it comes to situations like this?) and prayed.

There was a knock on my door, so I quickly ran and opened it. It was a firefighter. A very tall, big man who wore his firefighting suit so appropriately plus a gas mask (Kinda one of those costumes gigolos use at bachelorette parties? "Where's the fire?! It's so hot in here." Hahah!). For one second, my panicky psyche made him look like Frankenstein come alive, but it felt safer when my brain realized he wasn't. Haha. He said I should just stay in the room - which I thought is really the safest option.

It lasted for about an hour, and my neighbors were awoken too, just watching... and waiting. I guess we all shared the same feeling, hoping that nobody got hurt during the fire. I guess no one did. :)

Today, I found out that the fire was started by a small scented candle. Who sleeps with a burning candle on? Perhaps he/she innocently just wanted a fresher apartment smell. But, aren't there scented plug-ins anyway? And yet, after everything that had happened, you just can't help but feel sorry for the person anyway.

The day after the fire, life went on like nothing happened. One apartment got toasted, but my building is still intact. My neighbors moved on (well, except for the unlucky ones surrounding that ill-fated apartment). New York moved on. Ahh, the city of the resilient. It never even made the news, but it made it to my blog. :)

Peanuts and Perrier

It took me over 56 hours to travel from Manila to New York, that being in my lonesome suddenly felt so normal. I missed my connection to New York, so I had to wait another 24 hours for the next one. Sweet.

It is 130am Eastern now, but my body still feels like 230pm Manila time. I was fed constantly on the plane, that I had learned to confuse breakfast with dinner. Suddenly, the plane food tasted the same, and the flight stewards had one look. I kept dreaming about dragging my 2 heavy luggages from the bus station, and finally opening my apartment door with much relief. Total hallucination, that's what it was.

Gawd. I've never traveled this long in my life.

Since my body thinks it's afternoon now, I diligently unpacked my things as soon as I got home. As I removed my clothes one by one, I realize that I bought more than enough pants from Manila. And that I bought all the fashionista bags that I need to last me until all four seasons! (Not really, maybe summer? There's never enough bags. Haha!) Call it panic buying, but maybe it really is. In my mind, I still wonder when will my next jean purchase worth less than $20 bucks be? I even got a pair from Divisoria for only Php150!!! Beat that!

Yes, I wonder when I will see Manila again. When will I collect more bittersweet memories in Greenbelt and Quiapo? And when will I develop claustrophobia and kick myself out of this little box of an apartment?

I really don't know. I will really miss Manila, and I know it will miss me back.

Hunger attacks me now, and I could not find anything in the fridge. Nothing except peanuts and Perrier. And so for my jetlag lunch, peanuts and Perrier it is. Welcome to reality. I am back in New York City again. Fabulouso! :)

Culture Difference

Growing up with Disney cartoons, I never cease to forget what Thumper rabbit said in Bambi, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

I really love that in American culture, people do not pry into your personal life. They keep mum and move on with theirs. Unless you volunteer information, they will not insist asking for any more.

On the contrary, Filipinos just love all the lame gossip and details that are not even important for anyone to hear. Oh how we love to gossip for the sake of talking, as if we had nothing else better to say.

When you encounter this cultural practice, you can't help but just whisper in your head, "So what?"

Hubris Maniac

"Knock Knock"

"Who's there?"

"The best ___ you'll ever get."

"You look too old in your proverbial photo, get over yourself."

"Your supposed to say the best ___ you'll ever get who?"

"Check your English first, loverboy."

What Do You Write About In The New Year?

The past week went by so quickly that it seemed like a blur. Playing ambassador to my own country was a fun and tiring job. And because of this, I had missed writing more about Christmas and the New Year, that this blog entry becomes quite moot.

But what do you write about in the New Year, anyway?

Do you list the coming year's resolutions? Do you fill out one of those crazy year-end surveys? Do you share the sentimental feelings you felt recalling of the year passed, while counting down the minutes to welcome a new one? Or do you just say a silent prayer, thank Him for the countless blessings of the year that was and look forward to a brighter one ahead?