The Hiatus

After my 3-week hiatus, I am back. Yes, I was very very busy. I have just come from a series of “going back to the hometown” to “start of the year team building” to “company kick off party” to “welcome a visiting friend” to “spending time with mom before she leaves for a foreign country”. It was a good mix of work and play.

During those weeks, I found out that General Santos has not changed at all. The same warm climate and wide road networks. I was amused though to see a traffic light on my way home from the airport, and then I realized that… yeah… GenSan is still a budding city after all… a far cry from what is Manila today.

In this city, tuna is still golden. I got my fix of kinilaw, which I didn’t stop eating until I left the place. I don’t eat Kinilaw just anywhere. Our kasambahay makes a really good one that you won’t stop eating. It has just the right sourness and spicyness to keep you coming back and eat more. I also tasted the yummy garlic chicken of Chicken Hauz. Unfortunately, Antipolo was closed when I got home and I was not able to salivate on their tasty barbecue. Nevertheless, GenSan is still a haven for food trippers and those who want to catch up with friends. Here’s a few of my photos from home.

When I returned to Manila, I was able to attend my first ever company party in SMX. This was the time to be sociable. An introvert like me would loathe this occasion, but I honestly enjoyed it. In events like this, it’s best to be able to know people more especially those you don’t see on a daily basis. This would mean colleagues from other departments. This may also be the perfect time to rub elbows with managers, supervisors, and what-have-you. Here’s the loner in his first company party. Tip is, if you really get bored, “people watch” and keep it to yourself.

A week later, I went to Pansol, Laguna with my colleagues for our team building. It’s always good to develop camaraderie especially with those you work with. The best piece of advice is: mingle. Know them at a personal level. That day, I was able to know them better and there are some whose stories are so interesting I could write a book about them.

A week later, a friend and my mother arrived and we went all around the metro and ate wherever. The best places we dined at are in UCC Park Cafe (Burgos Circle, Taguig); Mesa (Greenbelt 5/ SM Megamall); and Orchard Road (SM Megamall). Try them out!

Let’s see what’s in store for the coming weeks. How’s your new year so far? I hope it’s well.

Serge

Here’s a peek of a possible adventure within the year:

 

A Look Back in 2011

2011 was a good year. I earned a degree in Communication Arts from a good university, got a job, reunited with very important people, found myself a place in busy Manila, and… gained weight. Let me share to you my year last year.

JANUARY:

My year started off as a celebration of reunited relationships. I was in Manila where I met my awesome relatives from my mother’s side – Tito Lito, Tita Merci, Kuya Michael, Ate Barbie, and Bea – and my best friends – Bruce and Sandi. These were people I have not seen for years. And because of these people, I learned how to play scrabble that month, and got better on how to commute in Manila. In addition, I started this blog to document my musings and wanderings.

FEBRUARY:

Back to school, and the start of my gaining weight. I was drenched in thesis. I thought, ate, and breathed thesis. I immersed myself in a community of Moro Women who try to redefine what it is to be a “Moro” every day. I had earplugs daily, transcribing discussions and analyzing how they made sense of their environment. And when the month ended, I… well… I humiliated myself by singing in public for MOCSTRA.

After MOCSTRA

MARCH:

I don’t recall much about March, except for countless hang’s with Mhea, Ged, Harvey, Shimea, Leo, Rica, Archie, Dora, Maejoy, and Duchess because this month marked the end of thesis and we splurged on food and karaoke. But apart from that, this month was witness to tsunami in Japan, which caused worldwide alarm.

APRIL:

Glorious Graduation. I finally finished college, and I breathed a sigh of relief. After receiving an offer to work in Manila, I flew north a few weeks after the commencement exercises. I had a small shoot for graduating, and I arrived in Manila shortly after. I was welcomed by my papa’s relatives whom I stayed with for seven months! And to cap the month, I met up with Tita Neneng and Ate Kleng who came all the way from Texas for a Reyes reunion.

MAY:

I was part of the growing pool of bums. This was the month I set out for the jungle. I was job hunting, almost desperate to be part of the elusive employed world. And yes, I ditched my early offers to work for a bank and teach just because I thought it was not the right… avenue for me (yet). And so I searched and searched, and my blog posts have become fewer. At the latter part of the month, the Osorio’s arrived and it was such a fun family reunion with my sister, brother and sister in law, and my nephew. We went to Intramuros and dined… a lot.

JUNE:

Finally, I landed myself a job! There was much to learn, and I have to get used to getting up and meeting with traffic on a daily basis. The first weeks were stressful but it taught me endurance and patience. June was also the month when the 9089 Project started.

We went to ABS for the heck of it

Meeting Akiko

JULY:

The all-steady month. I had no other thing to do but work. I was used to just reporting for class 4 days a week because of UP, but with work, I have to report 5 days a week. As if it’s a biggie. LOL! Anyway, July marked the first meal I have ever cooked: Filipino Spaghetti. This month was the month I promised to learn how to cook, and I did (sort of).

AUGUST:

August, August, August… Aside from work and trying to cook, August was an interesting month because of Showtime! We had to dance… you know, all that shiz. I also met with up Duchess and Bataan whom I’ve never seen in months in SM Megamall with Archie.

SEPTEMBER:

September was a reunion with my mentor, Prof. Jeni Eligio. She was my teacher for debate, writing, ethics, and many more. She’s really helped me a lot when it comes to the academe, and I’ve valued all her lessons. As of this writing, I don’t recall anything significant happening in September. I apologize.

OCTOBER:

October was a reunion with my college friends, Jordan, Archie, and Maxine. We dined at Nasi Lemak and had dessert at Jack’s Loft.  This was also the month when I was itching to move out of my relatives’ home because I wanted to be independent. It was my house-searching month.

NOVEMBER:

A month later, I found myself a new home! Aside from getting hired and graduating this year, finding a space to call “my own” is one of my big achievements. I just realized, I’ve done so much this year and I’m excited to do more in 2012! I hope it’s as eventful as 2011. At the of the month, there was another surprise. I got regularized as an employee. Woohoo!

DECEMBER:

And here comes my favorite month of the year because I see the Philippines at its most festive mood. This is the month where people splurge! But for me, it’s not the spending that marked this month interesting. This is the month where I was reunited with my mother… after almost 2 years! Although my birthday this year was too different from my past ones (because I spent it sleeping most of the time), the reunion with my mother was  a great consolation. And because of her, I was able to go back home after 7 or 8 months! Ahhh, December good times.

How about you?

What made your year interesting and what are you most thankful about? I had a contest a few months back about that question and I have chosen two winners. Here are there answers:

Watermelon Princess:

February 25 2011 was the day i decided to really know someone in the most unconventional way… facebook. i was afraid, i got a bit scared and i doubted my feelings but at the same time, i felt happy, glad and loved inexplicably.

Nine months ago i took a chance on a relationship. i feel that up to this day it was one of the best decisions i have made for myself this year. it was the perfection our God has blessed my life with. i met someone who was affectionate, loving, understanding, everything i prayed for and more.

right now, i’m just saying thank u… and i want to let people know. i want to say thank u to a moment in 2011 when a man reminded me of what im capable of feeling, and what i was capable of giving back.

Nine months later, i have not regretted i loved a man by the name of Oscar. true enough, there must be something between two people, even if it’s an ocean apart. there must be something when you end up having conversations where you just feel like running around and dancing and pulling everything out of your cabinet and tell the person “this is all of me, know me, love me.” there must be something when you meet someone who will say he’s willing to be the first and your last. there must be something when even if a mistake is committed you’re willing to overlook it because both of u believe that love keeps no records of wrong… there must be something when both of you believed in taking a chance because both of you know that it’s the start of a life together.

=)

Love Ninja:

Long distance relationships.
Such an unconventional way to stay together, yet far apart. In February 2011 my life changed for the better. in short, i met a girl. online. we shared our stories, made each other laugh. shared what has been happening in our days. we became really good friends. The times we spent online (around 5-6 hours a day) fuelled a growing feeling deep in my heart which was soon going to become love.

Is it love? or just infatuation? all of the above happened in the space of 2-3 days. i’m a 22 year old who’s never been in a relationship before. I was not desperate to be in one. but i said to myself. “I do not want to lose this girl”. She lived in adelaide at the time, and i’m in Brisbane. I know it seems silly to fall in love with someone online, but it felt so real. eventually, i asked her if she would be my girlfriend.

The plan was for her to come to Brisbane to visit me. so we can meet and just be with each other. But she had to go back to Philippines because of urgent matters. Honestly, we almost broke up a few times. saying “this wouldn’t work. the distance is too great”. We decided to stay together and against all odds, we’re still together after nine months. We haven’t met properly yet. but we Skype and call each other when we can. we’re far apart in the physical, but honestly our love feels like its getting stronger and stronger. I’m happy to announce our ninth monthsary which happened on friday.

I’m thankful for someone who i can share everything with. and i thank God that he gave us the ability to love, despite the distance and obstacles. it’s been nine long months. we can’t wait to finally be together. it’s going to be worth the wait. I’m thankful that we stayed together this long. because you know, no matter what obstacle comes your way. love is worth fighting for.

- Love Ninja

PS: If you’re reading this babe, i love you so much. 
PSS: that was to my girlfriend. not you sergei 

Don’t worry guys, your prices are on their way. I’ll stay in touch thru e-mail! Thank you very much Alysa and Oscar.

Have a fruitful year to everyone!!!