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!
Monday, January 30, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
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.
***
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.
Friday, January 27, 2006
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.
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.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
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!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
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. :)
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. :)
Thursday, January 12, 2006
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! :)
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! :)
Friday, January 06, 2006
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?"
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?"
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
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."
"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?
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?
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