Quingdom.com

The Nokia E71 It Is!

I gave in to temptation twenty-one days after professing my desire, and it's the Nokia E71 that completely won my heart. The decision was made easy by my father who obliged to cover half of the cost.  It was clearly a deal I cannot resist.

It was a surprise I got from my parents yesterday. They told me they were going to Robinson's Place Manila, but I only thought they were only getting Emily a book.  I didn't have the slightest idea that they were buying it already!

I'm just so happy I am now a proud owner of the Nokia E71.  Now I have to think of name for my new friend. Suggestions, anyone?

And Now, the End is Near.

In a week, I'll be unemployed. Not so good to hear, but on the brighter side, I'll be free from the chains of slavery. I can't believe I was able to take all the pressure, the unjust treatment and the unhealthy environment for more than a year! This is the end that I have been waiting for. I have chosen to leave the company and move on with my life and career.

A lot of my co-workers think that I'm so fine with my decision - one which they think is unthought of. They say to never leave without having another job waiting for you especially during these times when the world is in the period of "recession." I do understand their point, but my disinclination toward the work supersedes all the recession worries.

It may seem that I'm so giddy and excited to finally end my stay, but I cannot erase the fact that I feel anxious about what my life would be after the resignation. There'll be no steady income to start with. How can I maintain this blog? It might take me some time before I could find another job, hopefully one that I really like and enjoy. There's no telling what the future will be.

The decision has been made. All I have to do is face the consequences of my decision and prove to everyone, and most especially to myself, that I've made the right choice.

Bow,

Earth Day Today!

Show the Earth some love!

Whether you're planning to Go Green, or not, now is the perfect time to start.  It's about time we start taking extra care of our planet.  It is our only home, and it will still be for the coming generations. If you haven't noticed, we have been experiencing some crazy climate changes. In the Philippines at least, the rainy season doesn't come until the end of May, but we've been experiencing rainy days already.

Having a green lifestyle, doesn't happen overnight, but you can start with small things like using scratch paper, switching to fluorescent lights, and conserving water. Start being conscious of your actions and think of the consequences that could affect our environment.

Back to Bagac

I just returned yesterday from my second taste of beach! Last Saturday, April 18, I went to Montemar once again, and spent an overnight stay with office mates this time. It was a team outing with some other colleagues. It really felt weird, yet extremely fun and exciting, going to the same beach a week after having been there.

The plan was to meet up and leave Manila at around 7:00 am, but because some of us two of us arrived unforgivably late (you know who you are! Hahahaha!), we left at 9:30 am. We kept our fingers crossed on our way to Bagac, Bataan because of the unexpected rain showers we experienced during the trip. Fortunately, the weather was fine when we got to Montemar. However, the sea wasn't as calm. There were relatively big waves, but still tolerable for swimming. After dinner, our group had nice discussions about everything under the sun (or should I say, under the stars). I was impressed with the exchange of thoughts and debates about things we don't normally talk about - from ghost stories, to matters of faith, and to all branches of sciences! It was one of the highlights of the outing and it was an chance for us to bond and to get to know one another more.

The next day, after checking out of Montemar and having lunch, we went to Mt. Samat and visited the Dambana ng Kagitingan. We wanted to go up and see the view from the inside of the cross, but unfortunately, the elevator wasn't in good condition and we weren't able to get tickets because touring hours were about to end. We ended up taking pictures and marveling at the towering structure of the Dambana ng Kagitingan and enjoying the scenic view from Mt. Samat. Too bad the batteries of my camera died just before we left Montemar, so I wasn't able to take pictures.

I will always remember this trip and it will always be one of the highs of my first working experience. You may have read my entries about my distaste for my job, but I think the purpose of having my current job is to meet the people whom I have gained as friends. Considering I'm resigning from our company in a month's time, this may be the last trip I'd have with them as their colleague, but I'm hoping we'll keep the ties and still see each other once in a while.

We still have CamSur next month, right?!

Keep Distance

If you're following me on Twitter, you probably have an idea what this is all about. No, it's not about people, as you might probably suspect. It's the VERY unfortunate incident that happened to me this morning.

I was on my way to work, about to turn left at an intersection to Kalayaan Avenue, the motorcycle in front of me suddenly stopped to avoid a speeding SUV, which was coming from the right to turn left. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to hit the brakes on time.  As a result, yes you guessed it, I hit the motorcycle. Now, there are ugly scratches on the front of the car and damaged grilles on the bumper. Ack!

You might be speculating that this is one of those texting-while-driving incidents. It's not. I swear, I wasn't even holding my phone.

Lesson learned. Always keep distance.

Bow,

Holy Week at Montemar

Filipinos are so lucky to have easy access to beaches! To enjoy the treasures of the tropics is just a road trip away.  During holy week, my family goes to Montemar in Bagac, Bataan to have some summer fun.  Since I haven't gone with them for the past four years, I dropped everything and made sure that I joined the trip this year. And I'm glad I did.

This year's vacation was extra special because it's Julia's first beach experience!  Our baby easter bunny loves the water and the rough sand, but she obviously doesn't like the heat of the scorching sun.  Who does, anyway? We had a hard time making Julia smile for the camera when it was time for their family photo shoot after breakfast because it was intolerably hot for her.  We had to do it later in the afternoon, just before sunset.

Aside from the holy week being a family bonding occasion, it was an opportunity for me to take some time off work, relax and enjoy life. It was priceless. I've realized the importance of vacation most especially now that I'm working. Everybody needs a time off from stress every once in a while.  I'm happy I just had mine.

Before I end this post, I'd like to say that I'm now a fan of Backyardigans and I sometimes find myself singing "The Castaway Song" in my head!  It's more than an L.S.S. !Hahahaha!

Here are the highlights in pictures:

Visit the full gallery here.

A Career-Related Reading Material

The moment I saw this book resting on a National Bookstore shelf, I knew I just had to grab a copy; however, it wasn't until a week after that I got my hands on one. For the record, it wasn't me who bought it, but my mother. And I have to give her props for successfully for finding the book.