Welcoming 2011, farewell 2010

Year 2011 is very fast approaching, with just 23 days left, we are all looking forward to a whole new beginning, or a continuation of the good things that happened in the previous year rather. With this busy Christmas season of love, giving and forgiving, one should also start planning for next year.

New Year Resolution is a thing of the past, the more important thing now is to strategically plan your future, as they call it properly, SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-framed.

How time really flies, the busier you are, the faster it flies.

But before moving on to Year 2011, it is also significant that we reflect on our present year on both the negative and positive aspects of our lives.

Career wise, I must say it was a turn of events, a test of character and spirit, and a challenge of patience.

Year 2010 started with a bang, knowing very late that my former team lead was resigning, and I was the last one to know. It was a test of character and spirit because of constant squabble with the team manager until I reached the boiling point that I erupted and resulted to walking out of the conference room. That I think was the most unforgettable moment for me this year, it was a clash I never thought could happen, my colleagues and friends were astounded by my reaction, igniting and revolting. It was also the day that the new team lead witnessed our fight.

Year 2010 was a turn of events because from Muslim-Christian like relationship I had with my manager, it turned out to be the opposite. Former enemies now allies, so to speak. Irony of the ironies, who would have thought that from the original 5 leads, the team is now down to two individuals, myself and my team manager. My co-leads were re-assigned to other teams. I think no need to state the obvious.

Year 2010 is a challenge of patience because handling India Market is the most stressful thing about it. The market is too demanding and know-it-all and more often, I was arguing against them. Glad that I can over-power and over-rule them, with no escalations.

Year 2010, speaking of career, is a journey as I developed my leadership skills, as I improved my behaviour, and as I prepare for bigger tasks ahead. Who knows?

On another angle, Year 2010 was emotionally and financially catastrophic, on a personal note.
From day 1 till now, I was financially challenged, trying to meet all needs of our family and myself too. Fortunately, help always come along the way and I managed to help others. Difficult indeed but rewarding.

Emotionally because of misunderstandings among family members and within circle of friends. When you learn to humble yourself and find courage to admit your own faults, that tells a lot about yourself.

Now that 2010 is about to end, let us bring forward the lessons learned, and keep with us the memories that shaped ourselves to be the better us that we are presently…

Alive at Batulao

It was the grandest view I've ever seen on my life. Over-looking the lakes and terrains, I climbed the summit of Mount Batulao ahead of my friends and companions. I was loosing breath yes, but it was all worth it...
The day before 14th of November, everything was normal. Saturday was fully booked. First schedule was Mark's bday in Cubao, but prior to that was the purchase of LCD TV. In the evening, went straight to Megamall with Sarah and Joan, bought Tribu Sandals, ate at Mann Hann and checked on various stores. It was indeed a packed saturday evening, like there was no mountain climb the following morning.
By five o'clock in the morning, I started fixing my things, and shortly after 30 minutes, already on my way to McDo Taft MRT Station, our meet up point, meeting an old friend Diana and Dennis, her partner; and Sarah, who unfortunately went to another McDonalds.
We dine-out the breakfast meal in the bus, and after several chats, dozed off.
After about an hour, we arrived in Batangas. The climate was so cool, giving you the Christmas Spirit. Few minutes later, we were being transferred by a tricycle to our trail's starting point.
What welcomed us was the picturesque view of Mount Batulao. I began visualizing the journey, and what awaits us there on the top. The trek was my very first, same for Sarah, so we were obviously filled with over-flowing excitement.
The journey was all walk in first one and a half hour, it was nothing challenging nor exciting, haha.
However, we felt or so they felt body aches on the old trail. We were climbing up and down the hills. At one point, you are facing down rocks and mud, holding on to anything, even the grass roots to hold your body safely.
Along the way, you learned to greet strangers, and wish them safety on their way back, and they reply the same too.
Funny isn't it, chatting with people you met first time in your life but I think that serves the purpose of one journey like this mountain climbing, you have to associate with many people, they will be your guide and contact sooner or later.
After passing several camp sites, the summit was already inviting us.
Thrilled by this momentous event, I did not notice I was like racing against the time, running instead of climbing. Carrying one bag on my back and Sarah's bag on my chest, I was embracing every rock and soil of the mountain to the summit. I was looking on my sides, I had no support from any, and I was already on a high elevation, any mistake and I might find myself on the bottom and possibly, San Pedro! hahaha.
For the first time in my life, I felt so energized, and very powerful. Why? It is because I didn't had a sleep that night, and I never had a single experience on mountain climbing, not even on wall climbing.
I was giggling inside while stretching my leg to climb up, every step counts. Sometimes, you have to grab on the tiniest rock just to keep on balance, and if lucky, you get to see a rope.
And there I was, loosing breath but still thankful, shouting on top of the mountain and fell in love with God's gift of nature to all of us.
When I got there, I remembered the movie ALIVE which I just saw recently. It was a story of courage and undying hope and will to survive. Crashing to Mount Andes with no chance of getting tracked from the outside, the survivors endured the freezing death of the icy mountains and the raging storms. No water, no food, who would have thought that these people can live for the next 70 days there?
What inspired me most from this movie is that in spite of tragedy and despair, no one can challenge a man's faith to live. The survivors were forced to eat the flesh of their dead friends, one of the highlights of the film- you don't eat, you die...
If I was climbing only Mount Batulao on a fine sunny day, the Andes Survivors were climbing mountains and mountains covered in ice, and life-threatening cliffs, and to top that, no maps or compass to guide them where to climb next in order to get to the borders of Chile.
My Batulao experience and this story of Andes Survivors should be a reflection for everyone, that no matter how hard things become for us, there will always be hope, just have faith. One of the most touching and awakening scenes from the movie is when the two climbers were atop the mountain, the other has surrendered all his might and hopes, but the second man was thanking God for such beauty he was seeing from the top, the scenery he might not even experience or see in his life if not for that tragic plane crash.
There will always be a ray of light even on the darkest times of our lives...

...randoms

There is no proper way to start this at all, I am lost for words, and yes, I am distracted. I was supposed to be busy at work, and even though I am finished with my taks, it somehow feels like it is not.

What's happenning to me? --- that's Potter's line on Order of the Phoenix, when Voldemort is getting access to his mind and led Harry to taking the Occlumency lesson with none other than-Professor Snape. Of course, there is no Lord Voldemort on the real world! but the feeling is almost the same, despair and uncertainties...

Writing is becoming my passion recently, nothing professional but self-expression.

I have long planned to do this and glad that finally, I was able to scan one of the best memories of my life, that very day- July 29, 2009.

After a year and 3 months, this very letter still touches myheart the way it originally did when I first had it my hand. I am thankful to have these sweet messages from my friends and no so friends who dedicated their farewell message to me on my last day in Accenture, on my way to Shell.

I missed Accenture for the intelligent and well trained people.

I missed the SMEs, the United Colors of Bennetton, instructors of different nationalities, languages and characters.

I missed Accenture for the open communication and equality

And definitely, I missed Accenture because of my friends, strong circle of friendship bonded by experiences and differences.

But to each is a piece of the puzzle where decisions have to be made and had been determined.

We run in circles, separation is only by distance and not by heart, and where does this article is going, if I might add?

Answer: nothing specific, as I said, my mind is so occupied.

I do hope that my current team here with Shell will have the same journey of friendship and unity as a whole. It is far from realisation but we're slowly getting there.

Now, I am curious how I should put title to this?

Behind the campaign...

I wonder how many have exercised their judicial right to vote. In a very corrupt country like mine, does vote still count?

Vote Wisely, as the campaign goes... Sadly, the electoral process in the Philippines was tarnished long time ago due to prevalent vote buying and un-educated masses when choosing their respective leaders.

Philippines, being a third world country itself was out-performed by neighbouring countries in the Asia Pacific. Years and years of corruption had destroyed the once powerful and humble country of heroes.

On my way to the office, my eyes were feasting to what soon will become additional garbages, colorful fliers and posters of candidates.

I have many times asked myself, why seek for a position in public office knowing the salary is below par? Perhaps, I neet not answer as this will only raise arguments.

Again, VOTE WISELY...

Never Say Never?

See I never thought that I could walk through fire.
I never thought that I could take the burn.
I never had the strength to take it higher,
Until I reached the point of no return.

And there's just no turning back,
When your hearts under attack,
Gonna give everything I have, It's my destiny.

I will never say never! (I will fight)
I will fight till forever! (make it right)
Whenever you knock me down,
I will not stay on the ground.
Pick it up,
Pick it up,
Pick it up,
Pick it up up up,
And never say never.

NEVER SAY NEVER, song from blockbuster hit THE KARATE KID that catapulted Jaden Smith into stardom.

NEVER SAY NEVER, can I really say never?

My heart is grounded into pieces, my mind is trapped in abyss.

Now, I am fighting against my own downfall, losing my self control.

I hate this part right here, convincing myself that the people around me cares what is happenning.

I am screaming to the top of my lungs, I am so pissed off.

I am tired, to make them smile and happy when these same people don't even feel the efforts...

I want to run, run, and run...

Journey with Harry Potter

Nine years earlier, I was just like anyone else, an ordinary muggle as Rowling puts it until I watched the first installment of the movie versions that shook my world from then on.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, from its movie alone, brought immediately that something odd about it, in a positive way and as I haven’t read a single page of its books, I had my full confidence on the film only.

The first movie ignited my curiosity that I repeated it thrice when I was still at school, I was 19 years old then but I was like a kid that started to appreciate how nice to be a kid for the first time. When finally I was able to buy my own copy of the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at only Ph189.00, I was an immediate certified addict. I fell in love with the book and I used to compare it to the movie and realised there were indeed changes in sequences and script that should have been said by another character but over-all, who cares of the changes, I still enjoy the movie, but would always love the books, its wit and humour!

If Harry Potter’s ticket to wizarding world is his letter from Hogwarts, mine, on the other hand, is the movie which opened my senses to magical world, to the characters I consider I grew up with, ha ha.

From Sorcerer’s Stone to the final book Deathly Hollows, my addiction has never ceased to impress me up to now. After almost a decade, I am as hooked as ever to the books and the movies, and even to the actors who convincingly portrayed the characters into life.


As a book reader, I commend Rowling for her un-challenged intelligence writing the novels loved across all ages. The books have magic on its own, it successfully created a world beyond imagination, a dimension where life is at its fullest, where emotions flips out from the pages to the reader. Sometimes, it even made me curious, the books are for young adults, not children...the book is a timeless classic as early as now.

Recently, I successfully re-read all the books and enjoyed every page of it, no regrets all. I can say, I am more than ready watching the Deathly Hollows on November and I wouldn’t care if I will watch it 7 times?

Now, after 9 years, as I journeyed together with the books' yearly released, Harry Potter had been through a lot of challenges and experiences, and always with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. In the same way, I made a fantastic journey too, from university to corporate world. I might not have a foe as wicked as Lord Voldemort but I had had my own shares of bad lucks too but I am glad I have best friends along this journey, from every phase of journey.



The boy who lived’s story has changed people’s lives, mine included. One should remember that even the most adored and loathed characters have transitioned, so as the real actors behind the famous magical names, and so, we shall carry on with our respective lives, bring with us the good lessons of the books to make our lives as perfectly magical as Potter’s, (or choose your own character).

To the boy who lived, long live!

Hear hear!

STUCKED

Open your senses and be amazed of the splending things around...

Have you ever been stopped by unknown reasons in your life? Where you were wanting do something but your mind is completely occupied? If yes, it could be an opportunity to ponder for the time, look around, observe, and appreciate.

When stucked in a slow moving traffic, I keenly observe the driver and passengers. Isn't it surprising that professionals do whine at work though they are most blessed with much cozy workplace while this simple man driving a jeepney eats dust and smells the sun daily? As minutes passed, I am bombarded with so many questions; how much does a driver normally earns in a day? do they own the jeepney? how much can they bring home to their family? how many kids? Turning my gaze from the driver to the passengers, I also press the more intriguing questions; where do they work, what are they in their society, any questions that pop in my mind...

When roaming the mall, and seeing blessed shoppers, I often asked, are they born rich? How big is their house? how much do they earn? and then, on the other end will be the usual window shoppers only, for most often cases, families just loving to be in the mall because it is well air-conditioned. Different reasons for different people.

These are just among the many situations where your curiosity may reach its peak. Should we learn how to observe people, environment, attitudes, places, events, we will come to a point of appreciation that life is majestic, complicated as it is but wonderful.

Right now, I am stucked waiting my outlook to resume working, and I look on my co-shell employees, what do they do in their workstations? are they happy? what keeps them motivated?