Love, dreams, LIFE ♥

2010. I still get amazed at how this year never fails to surprise me. Happy, frustrating, nerve-wracking, petty, BIG, liberating  and etc. things keep coming my way. I've never figured this much sense into all the emotions that had me fixated on the why's and how to's of my life :) I'M CLEARLY LOVING IT. 

Since I haven't stayed true to my word of religiously updating this blog, I'll do my usual list of random things for my updates :) 

1. LOVIN' MY JOB. It was just about right for me to get all so hyped up upon starting my corporate career. The whole experience is so fresh and invigorating, I'm like the typical fresh grad yuppie who's very eager to learn. Canon has really been kind to me: the environment, the people (pretty debatable, I'm surrounded by a sausagefest of meanies), the work load, the incentives, the culture, the prestige of the company, the ideals... 

What I love about working is the extra time that I have for myself whenever office hours end - I have time to grab dinner with Ojie and with other friends, I have the energy to work out or read a book since I don't have the burden of extra work that I need to accomplish the next day. I keep my work only where it is needed and I expend all the right amount of energy and excellence to accomplish it. Well, I still have to read some stuff for my revalida now so I have to work on that this long weekend. But you get the drift right? :)

Although, last Saturday when we did the interviews for ASLA, I have to admit that I miss the school vibe. I walked around Ateneo with students lining up for NSTP or heading to the library to beat deadlines for their hell week. I'm in a totally different world now. Nonetheless, I'm happy that I was able to make the most out of it ♥

2. Financial management crisis. Last Friday was my first payday and what can I say, it gave me the ultimate feeling of independence. My hard work is finally converted into hard cold cash. Of course I was also sad at the same time since I can't really get a way with being the spoiled daughter that I am when it comes to shopping and material investments anymore. I am now faced with the words budget, debt and SAVE. I've already prepared an excel file of the all the things that I want to buy for myself and the list just goes on and on! But I've decided that the trick is really, allocating major expenses on a monthly basis so that I can cover the necessary things that I have to spend for. Things like: PERM, Nokia C3, clothes, shoes, bags and a camera become a per month type of luxury. Hahaha. Good luck to me. :) Which leads me to a more crucial type of investment. 

3. TRAVEL. I promised myself that I'd take my go-getter self a notch higher. I love to travel but commitment to work and tight schedules have always hindered me from visiting must-see places. Now I have the money, the companions and the leisure to go wherever I want. I've always been a firm believer that a person has the responsibility to enrich himself by absorbing the different cultures that the world has to offer. I have so much time and so much freedom now to relax and enrich myself by being a mini jetsetter. First stop: Puerto Princesa, Palawan in October :) 

4. DREAMS. When you realize that you are at a critical point in your life towards self-realization, you begin to think of all the things that you want to do, or miss doing because you used to love doing them. I'm now torn at the meridian of the two: what I used to do and what I want to pursue in the future. 

I miss performing - singing and dancing - being in front of a crowd, oozing with zeal and talent, just being on the spotlight. For me, these are the hobbies (that somehow defined me) and things I did for fun, alone or with other people, that gradually lost their spot in my uptight schedule and just seem to have been a thing of the past. Now, I'm slowly having the urge to revive them. I told myself I'd try to get into dance classes as a sideline and an excuse to exercise but I just can't seem to finalize it. Or even if I weren't the one performing, I also promised myself I'd watch as many musicals and plays as I can to top off this 'cultured' and 'sophisticated' me. Hahaha :) I hope still get the chance to squeeze this in. 

Meanwhile, I have things in mind that I'm seriously preparing to pursue: cooking and being and entrepreneur. Cooking because it's my newfound love circa 2008 when I realized I enjoyed cooking gourmet meals for my family, friends and the boyfriend. Doing business because I really wanted to build my own empire in the next 10 years or so, but with a twist of public service :) 

My cooking career isn't really the type that can be stretched into the certified chef or restaurateur. I just want to take cooking classes that will help me garner a gourmet mom pedigree. I'll make sure that when I have my own family, I'll cook the best meals even on an ordinary day to keep them healthy and happy. But that doesn't mean they'll have to be picky on foods because they have a 'gourmet palate.'  I shall also ensure that they know how to eat the simple tapsilog, bopis and tuyo-egg-sinangag favorites :) 

Entrepreneurship brainstorming has also started with the potentials partners that I have been eyeing for long. The HoneyMaid jam had so much potential but since my partners and I have pursued our different corporate lives, I know that Vitabee Inc. is facing a pretty bleak future. So I took what's left of it and decided to pitch it with associates that are ambitious enough to juggle it with their corporate lives (like me) and now we already have a work in progress.

5. LOVING LIFE.  I can just attest to how much life there is after a huge storm that wrecked almost everything I had. SERIOUSLY. You know when you're suffering because of something and you just want to fast forward to the time you'll be okay? THIS IS IT. The wait and effort were all worth it. I've never had so much direction and meaning in my life. I've never felt so fulfilled and accomplished in 21 years. 

With that said, here is my goal (that was suggested by a GS friend of mine in a causal conversation ing FB one time): To be one of the most successful *toot* in my twenties. 

Lots of people have done it and I know I'm not some sort of mediocre who just wants to party and have senseless fun. This is me, I am made for this kind of greatness :) 

More posts soon ♥ 

FIRST DAY HIGH :)

I feel so giddy and excited (despite the fact that my manikurista backed out on our mani-pedi session :|) all because of TOMORROW :)

After the long wait, the rested months and this fabulous start-of-month-celebration, I am now underway to taking my journey towards the corporate world. On the one hand it means:

- Not being able to finish my unfinished business over the summer and beyond.
- Cramming little things to make time for my new schedule.
- Squeezing out extra juices of creativity to dish up corporate outfits, or lack thereof.
- Saying hello to caffeine, stress and sleepless (plus bf-less) nights and days again.
- Weekend 2-day cleansing schedule postponed till end of August because of prior appointments.
- MORE.

On the other it means:

- Love.Work.Love.
- New friends, new environment.
- Gym membership - SERYOSO.
- New lady-like material and non-material things. Hahahaha.
- Self-sustenance and motivation to work for my loved ones and my new life :)

I wish to take pictures on the first day but too bad my Sony camera can't afford to be thrown into nearby bodies of water. Hello.

Wish me luck. And hello, I will try to religiously update this with all my new adventures ♥

RAINY DAYS ♥

It's times like these when you just want to escape to the nearest coffee shop or cook some warm chicken noodle soup and curl up under warm sheets with a good read. YES. It's been halfway through the year and after all the chaos, it's JULY already. 

What have I been up to? 

After nursing what I thought was the worst broken heart I've had (that took a week), I went on to grapple with more bad news as my dreams of entering my desired adagency turned out to be... a flop. Like the others. Like the others where I came so close to giving my sweet YES and then there appears to be some kind of unidentifiable problem. I don't want to elaborate further on that. Maybe when I get a career for myself already. But heck, I only did what I had to. Pick up myself and head on to execute a back up plan. 

Things are beginning to get better. Ojie and I have never been greater - dealing with problems, patching things up, picking emotions where we left off. And I'm fastening myself to what could possibly be a career in real estate. IMAGINE THAT. That's like on the bottom of my options list, well a level higher than banking maybe. But hey, if it's still in the line of sales then I do what I do best - deal with people and use the power of persuasion to eventually cater to what they need. 

This post is quite vague I know. But I'm keeping some things on the low. I am hoping that everything will look up by the end of this month. And then, hello it's August :) 

Will continue other posts and restructuring of blog tomorrow. I have a big interview coming up tomorrow. 

The SUMMER that was 2010, in 20 photo mementos :)

I've been gone for SO LONG that I missed another milestone of my life worth writing. What have I been doing in the past 3 months of supposedly going through this big transition phase from school world to the real world? Well let me give you a glimpse, since a blow by blow account won't really do at this point. Here are the highlights of my summer 2010/coming of age/most eventful summer out of school of my life in still photos with scribbles and captions to give you a taste of that specific moment. :)

1. My GRADUATION

The final graduation of of my whole schooling life was rather painful because of the wrong choice of black heels that I bought. I totally had the wrong hairdo made too because no-bangs made my face extra plump with my purple tube dress. Nevertheless, it was as memorable as it should be. The videos, the messages, the oath of loyalty, even the dragging diploma rites for 1000+ students for our batch had us hanging on to our seats until the last minute. And then it was time for us to throw the dummy diplomas up in the air and cross aisles of seats just to give hugs and kisses, and to get pictures taken. The night concluded with my parents and I (no brother, strict OJT schedule) having dinner at Serendra - with some overpriced steak meal and pasta (I won't say where). 

   That's where I got the FAB news: Dean Ang was giving away MVP's free concert tickets to Justin Timberlake and Timbaland's at the SMX Convention. Of course Sam, Raymond and I being the best pals of the Dean,  received the VIP invites via text, and were keen on first dibs so we texted right away and agreed to meet the next day. 

2. The CONCERT 

    It was really awesome. Although the VIP 'moshpit' that we were at was really FAR from the stage already, and forgetful me forgot to bring my glasses, it was one groovy experience that really capped off the graduation vibe. Teeeseees ze life bebe :) 

   The next shot was taken by Ojie (who, after the concert, rushed to celebrate post-grad inuman with me and my friends since he wasn't there on grad day) at Lanna's house for her grad celebration, wee hours in the morning. Heehee. 

3. The BIRTHDAY

   Alongside juggling McCann sessions for Brandstorm and Brandstorm meetings after graduation, was the rather stressful decision on whether I should throw a party for my 21st or not. REALLY NOW. I don't really celebrate my birthday extravagantly. As a matter of fact, I hide from people and choose a select few to celebrate with. For 20 years I never really threw a party except for my 18th so I thought that in the midst of stress and all the festivities, I should have a peaceful dinner, an impromptu one. So I had Ojie help invite and gather up his friends for a joint dinner/inuman salubong night with the best barkada for me and mind you, even the bill was worth it. Outrageously though, I turned into a crying maniac come midnight (because I got SO DRUNK with that overpriced mixed drink fishbowl) so I had to be hushed and taken care of by everyone. I felt so OLD but hey I'm lawfully legal everywhere baby. :) Birthday day was celebrated with pizza and movie all with the best boyfriend in the world. <3 

To be continued...

Angels Cry

Mariah:
I shouldn't have walked away
I would've stayed if you said
We could've made everything OK
But we just
Threw the blame back and forth
We treated love like a sport
The final blow hit so low
I'm still on the ground

I couldn't have prepared myself for this fall
Shattered in pieces curled on the floor
Super natural love conquers all
'Member we used to touch the sky
And

Lightning don't strike
The same place twice
When you and I said goodbye
I felt the angels cry
True love's a gift
We let it drift
In a storm
Every night
I feel the angels cry

C'mon babe can't our love be revived
Bring it back and we gon' make it right
I'm on the edge just tryin' to survive
As the angels cry

Ne-Yo:
I thought we'd be forever and always
You were serenity
You took away the bad days
Didn't always treat you right
But it was OK
I do somethin' stupid
And you still stay with me

But you can only go for so long
Doing the one you claim to love wrong
Before too much is enough
You look up
Find your love gone
And

We were so good together
How come we could not weather
This storm and just do better
Why did we say goodbye

'Cause lightning don't strike
The same place twice
When you and I said goodbye
I felt the angels cry
True love's a gift
We let it drift


In a storm
Now every night
I feel the angels cry

Mariah & Ne-Yo:
C'mon babe can't our love be revived
Bring it back and we gon' make it right
I'm on the edge just tryin' to survive
As the angels cry

Baby I'm missin' you
Don't allow love to lose
We gotta ride it through
I'm reaching for you

Baby I'm missin' you
Don't allow love to lose
We gotta ride it through
I'm reaching for you

Lightning don't strike
The same place twice
When you and I said goodbye
I felt the angels cry
True love's a gift
But we let it slip
In a storm
Every night
I feel the angels cry

I have nothing to do in the ungodly hours of the morning (well, for a girl who's supposedly done with school anyway).

FOUR FOUR FOUR FOUR :) 


Four names I go by
1. Daryll
2. Da
3. Darilita
4. Dareal

Four Places I have lived at
1. Camella Homes, Pque
2. San Lorenzo Village, Sta. Rosa Laguna
3. Errr
4. Haven't been around so much have I?

Four Favorite drinks
1. coffee
2. iced tea
3. water
4. Coke Zero (thanks to BS teammates) and Sting!

Four TV Shows I watch/ed:
1. Gilmore Girls
2. Dawnson's Creek
3. Gossip Girl
4. 90210

Four things that make me Happy
1. green mangoes Ilokano style
2. book sale
3. sports
4. coffee dates

Four crazy things I've done in my life
1. Got drunk with my friend Lanna, crossed the street and bumped our heads on the side pavement
2. Slept in a guy's room who is SECRET (don't get me wrong nothing happened) it's just too funny
3. Wore 4-inch heels to an event and ended up tripping almost face flat while crossing the street
4. Scheduled an interview which required less than an hour travel time to beat from Makati to QC and MAKING IT with plenty of time to spare :)

Four memorable places I have been to
1. Iloilo
2. Guimaras
3. Bolinao, Pangasinan
4. Benguet :)

Four traits i dont like in people
1. Lying up to the last minute even if they are so busted
2. Leeching off other people. Period
3. Cheating on partners
4. Being pretentious and all-knowing

Four of my favorite foods
1. Green mangoes
2. Dimsum and pancit :)
3. Beef salpicao
4. Salad with Caesar dressing or balsamic vinaigrette and puttanesca/pesto pasta - ang dami, di naman 4 yan eh

Four things I am looking forward to
1. Bora and summer trips
2. Brandstorm Nationals and PARIS >:p
3. Working a desk and travel job
4. Seeing you every day ;) 

Still so little time. :)

Pardon me for the lack of initiative to actually compose a decent entry when, after all, I am supposed to be doused with so much of my so-called freedom. NOT. It's been a week and in as much as I am enjoying it the lack of structure and academic deadlines, I still have tons of stuff to attend to. BELIEVE ME. So just a quick recap.

My final day in Ateneo marked its end when I took my last Philosophy oral exam. Above are pictures of the Dela Costa cat lounging on the bench in front of me while I was reviewing and my Philo oral exam reviewer, fine-tuned to every last bit of information that I forced to cram inside my head that Saturday morning.

After 15 minutes, that was it. I was FREE. Forever free of any academic requirement ever known to every Atenean. WEEEEE.

So the next week was as hectic with all the McCann sessions piling up, interviews, girl friend obligations, clearance and the best way to cap off the week, my last ever Sanggunian Graduation. :(

[EDIT] March 11, 2010 12:41 am

I just had to postpone the writing spree the other night. I was so tired so I had to put my laptop away. Last night after my jogging spree with Ann, I just had to take a nice bath, eat dimsum for dinner and then crash in my fresh sheeeets. It was heaven.

So just a few random thoughts and updates:

1. I am itching to read Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (sorry, I haven't read it) but I'm scared that if I start I won't be able to stop.
2. I am currently busy with planning trips for the summer and beyond. Yeah, I postponed this until now because I knew that if I tried to multitask during my hell week, I won't be able to make it. So thank God. Bora's the only sure thing for now we're trying Subic and Singapore for the later part of the break. :)
3. I have yet to fully revamp my room because ugh! I keep going out! Haha! I still go to school until now! ARGH right?
4. In relation to that, errands everywhere. Brandstorm, Bora, shopping, etc. Whooo! I'm glad my parents still give me money or else I'll be completely immobile. :/
5. I GOT A NEW DO. All because Ojie was sitting next to me while I was getting a hair cut. He wanted it short like that of Robie's but I've never sported short hair since Kindergarten! So my attempt to get rid of stray hair and to prettify my layers until my designated time to perm became a full blow coming out thing. Like a last hurrah I want to look different on graduation thing. Or like, this is me becoming a woman thing. ARRGH! Hahaha thanks babe!
6. Things to buy: like black shoes for grad, MORE corporate clothes, new summer items and stuff are still PENDING.
7. I am going on a much-needed retreat next week. In fact, I had a pre-retreat workshop the other day where they taught me the basics of 'praying.' Well I found it kind of useless but hey, who am I to contest the Ignatian style of meditating? Ha? Haha :)
8. DIET MODE. Jogging, less carbs, veggie replacements, early dinners, SO ON. Basta, this will be good for me. Changed meds and my body is adjusting well (although not at the beginning). I need all the cooperation I can get from everyone! Heehee!
9. Career-wise on a pause but still digging it!
10. STEADY with everyday. Okay kind of cryptic but I swear, this is freedom personified. No deadlines but WORK and obligations to improve one's life. Now this is THE perfect way to start summer.

Kthanksbye <3 Next time! :)

CRAM

Currently 15 minutes before a prayer session starts. This is a pre-retreat thing so I had to give up my sleep (argh slept at 330am for nothing) and head to school and do errands. Haha. Whuuut. I thought I was over this.

Oh well. Juicy entries soon, and yes Bea I have read your comment. Will reply soon.

Love love! <3

FREEDOM.

And then I start singing the song So Close from the movie Enchanted. So close to reaching the famous happy end... WHOOO. 


FRIENDS, I officially end my academic journey in a matter of hours (and 7 thesis statements). HAHAHA. So okay I'm not exactly off the hook yet. But then!

I swear I'm becoming so anxious about considering myself free of everything! EVERYTHING that's been pressuring me since PREP SCHOOL! Hahaha! Oh the feeling of euphoric liberation! :>

What's also nice about this is I totally have a full calendar even after my crazy scholastic schedule. Like I'm planning here and there on what to do with my free days, the errands that I have to run since they have been long postponed and of course, JOB HUNTING. LIKE HELLO. Haha :)

But before I drown in all of this excitement, I think I better prepare myself and not screw up my last oral exam in Ateneo EVER. I just want the drinks, the beach, a sure job, a driver's license and I'm OKAY.

Oh, WE'RE BACK. Like everyone else had predicted. Hahaha. :>

Summer 2008 - Bora + Iloilo. 

20 lbs lighter. 

Sunkissed and single.

2010 - even better? :>

KAGULO.

It's officially 28 hours and 2 requirements before I attain my so-called freedom. And can I just say, that things are really really really COMPLICATED now. As in super.

Which somehow explains my delusional attempt to fix my dying love life. Then I realized how often I have to be reminded that probably a huge chunk of this insanity is caused by my oral meds (which I am conveniently forced to take). Some people just don't understand. But he should, of all people. Haha.

I'm just so caught up in a mishmash and I don't really know how to fix this. My multitasking abilities are failing me so I just have to resort to postponing, delaying and denying. And for now, they are of least help to my crammed crammed crammed schedule of activities.

Because you see, I finally realize that I am selfish too. And out of frustration, I thought that I needed time to iron out my feelings and risk the complication rather than bearing with unwanted thoughts while silently sobbing and flipping through all my reviewers, very coercedly.

What am I even saying? I can't believe I'm thinking this way. Where's the love woman?!

I am rationalizing right? I do intend to fix this right? Help me :( :( :(

Signal Fire.

I love us. Every part of it. Every minute. Every second. Every smile. Every hint of pain. 

And because I am a changemaker at its very best, I decided to take the risk to try to fix things, differently. 

Because in this way, people grow and people change for the better.

So why am I even crying to the song The Scientist again? :( 

Because sometimes, the pain that you feel for the person you love becomes hard to bear. Especially if it was a decision that you had to make, even if your heart and your emotions raged odds and wars against it.

Nobody said it was easy. Oh take me back to the start.

For you, I'd do it all over again.

THE FINAL STRETCH.

So, before I totally immerse myself in tireless toiling over the last stretch of deadlines this week, I just wanted to savor the last bits of all-nighters and zitfest borne of academic pressure called SENIOR YEAR. 

Today was such a happy kick off day, had the chance to study, play Turbo Pizza, buy groceries and then have dinner at this small corner near the supermarket, I was a-ok.:)  Not exactly the perfect momentum that I needed in order to go on complete hiatus for my histo and com106 paper but oh well. Every minute well-spent. <3 

I just wanted to wallow on the fact that after this week, I officially move on to solving less mundane problems in the world and all-nighters will be well justified with monetary compensation. After this week, I will have to grudgingly let go of all the things that I held on to for 4 great years in the Ateneo. 4 overwhelmingly great years. 

But before I condition myself into that letting go phase, I can still sulk and bury myself in readings and paper drafts because of all the pitiful requirements that I have to go through before I can formally join the Graduation Rites this March. I-HATE-IT. 

Esp. Pabaon. 

Okay incoherent thoughts now. Back to work.

Cheers to you, Senior. :) 

Guess who's back :)

It is actually sad that I abandon my blog for a long time just so I could make up for lost hours of sleep. I always try to spare some time in between school work cramming and time with the boyfriend to look at tumblr and maybe, just maybe come up with a decent update on what's happening with my life. And here it is.

My life will reach the peak of its stress in two weeks (or not, something will definitely be able to outdo this) and will come to its full realization after 1 month.

This is the info posted on the JGSOM Dean's Bulletin Board near Ching Tan. Oh how fast time flies. GASP.

At the beginning of the year, it was actually me working non-stop, attending to different things every weekend like Brandstorm, immersion, Skills Camp, lalalalala (Will post a stream of pictures below) and everything was just freaking craaaazzzyyy.

Brandstorm (photo upload below) was great x10million as my awesome team moves on to the national finals this April in front of an international jury (uh-oh, time to learn French) and in front of the public in a showcase pitch. After that, it will be bienvenue à Paris! :)

Skills camp was a total blast. Got the chance to listen to professional speakers like Yuri Gagarin (no, not the Russian cosmonaut) of Accenture, the super awesome Carmel Valencia of L'oreal (who's a peacock like me) and Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet. My fellow seniors and I were so hyped up on that trading game that we had before closing the night. Too bad I wasn't able to stay for what I head was a very controversial inuman night.

Immersion was super super super fun (though equally uncomfortable). We were really pulled out of our bubbles to spend 3 days with no bath, no bed, no electricity, etc. in Mauban, Quezon Province. BUT, the food was great, the foster families were really accommodating and the highlight of everything (over and above pulling out weeds in muddy rice fields and dodging horse/carabao crap every step of the way) is LAMBANOG. Good times.

January finally drew its final marks on one of the best days of my year, when I had to execute this 30-minute opman plan to Makati for an interview with Monde-Nissin and head the SOM Games 2010 Bowling Night. It was hella fun with all the SOM people and faculty, pizza, beer buckets and unlimited bowling for 2 full hours. I didn't know they turn bowling alleys into party places come 10pm on a Friday night. Hahaha. :)

Okay that's it for now. I don't exactly know how to give full accounts of all the crazy things that have happened so I just used photos instead. In a couple of days it'll be Valentine's Day. But Ojie and I don't have much of a plan considering the deadlines that I have next week except for a Japanese buffet and movie date with our fave couple Kev and Trini. :) There goes the weekend! <3 It'll be the very first time that I'm celebrating V-day with someone so I hope all goes well. Hahahaha.

Since I've reached my time limit, I shall move on to working on papers and researching for Brandstorm. I will do my best to post more entries now. Weeee :)