Pic(k)s of the Week - March 22

I am perfectly content with the way my wellness program is progressing. My next review will be in three weeks—so in three weeks, shall I update.

***

I was looking for a particular photo to use in my send-off postcard to a dear friend who will be leaving for a special assignment real soon when I stumbled upon these:

Impromptu dinner on the night before I left for SG @ Cafe Mary Grace, Alabang Town Center

Dinner before heading to Starbucks Monday @ Cyma, Alabang Town Center

Almost New Year Mongolian Dinner @ Hacienda Dela Fuente, Tagaytay (Photo by Paolo Dela Fuente)

Ria wins the bet. Sunday brunch @ Spiral, Sofitel (Photo by Van Abrenica)

Pia and Mike's Wedding in Tagaytay (Photo by Joe Joson)

2008 Christmas Party.. May mumu sa likod! Haha (Photo by Dee Borromeo)

Notice the color-coordination? Well, most of our photos seem we're always in uniform.. These were unplanned (except for official activities) and we only realized our monochromatic color scheme when the photos were uploaded. Well, “great minds think alike,” they say..

I really miss my Kinse Loves!

4 Kilos and Counting

Yes indeed! I have dropped this much a month after I posted my self-imposed wellness commandments and strictly abiding by it. This is a safe number considering almost all of these kilos were taken from fat (as proven by the in-body analysis) and not muscles (that's why crash diets don't work!).

How I did it?

1. Detox program for 2 weeks - made me really cranky and crave for Mexican food, macarons, souffle, and bolognese

2. I walked and walked.. Ran and swam.. and spent 2 Saturdays biking at the East Coast Park

3. Cheated with KFC, Tita Nanec's molo soup, mint chocolate, Marty's, chili crab, and Candy's pasta -- just made sure they were worth every calorie!!!

4. Read and researched, checked food labels..

5. Followed the health commandments.

Now I'm on Phase 2.. New program.. Let's see in a month's time!

10 Commandments Minus 10 Kilos

Truth be told, I have gained another 3kg in 2010. (Additional 3kg to the 15kg I gained in 3years while I was working for San Miguel).

Likewise, my Manila vacation last week proved to be detrimental, not only in keeping the weight off but also in not gaining unnecessary calories. So, in one beautiful evening in Cafe Breton, West Gate, Alabang, 5 friends and I signed a ‘formal contract’ to signify our fitness commitment. Drafted by Atty. J (yeah, that’s how serious we are!!), the contract stipulates the following clauses:

      - That I, Atty. J, and R commit to lose 10Kg. By May 2011 (2lbs a week is healthy)

     - That if Atty. J loses the necessary inches to fit into a Hugo Boss suit, he will be entitled to the aforementioned suit to be purchased by the other 5 signatories

     - That if I and R lose the same amount of weight, Atty. J shall fly all 8 of us to Vietnam and Cambodia

     - **Legal and healthy method only

In my commitment to pursue a lifestyle change, I have drafted the personal commandments I intend to follow to a) Shed off the 18Kg I gained in the last 4 years and b) Keep them off for as long as I live. Hence, my 10 minus 10kg commandments:

1. I shall learn to unlove dairy-based desserts. (This is number one because this is the most painful of them all. I literally stalled after typing this to convince myself that this is the right thing to do).

2. I shall run and swim at least 4 hours a week.

3. I shall keep the ratio of fruits and veggies to meat to 3:1

4. I shall only consume rice and pasta on days I am going to do heavy workout.

5. I shall take the public transport, instead of hailing a cab (unless it’s midnight).

6. I shall ditch any mode of transport if travel is within 'reasonable' walking distance.

7. Following rule 6#, I shall wear, or bring comfortable shoes wherever I go. No excuses.

8. I shall make a conscious effort to drink plenty of water (and avoid milkshakes, milk tea, and coffee in plastic packet).

9. I shall only consume a maximum of 2 glasses of wine per week (only if I have to).

10. I shall not go clothes shopping unless I reach my ideal weight.

I have also been doing research on accupuncture treatment for weightloss. (Yes, that’s how desperate I am to bring back the beach-bod silhouette I donned some time ago.) But in doing so, I have to shell out some funds amounting to these:

Yes, indeed. That's how pricey the treatment would be.

Sigh. Looks like you babies would have to wait looooonger.

.

Welcoming 2011

Moments from the SILOSO BEACH PARTY. 31.12.10

Arriving early in Sentosa to avoid the influx of party people.          

    

               

Hoping for a greater 2011.

       

       

Waiting for the countdown..

     

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 ..

The 12 Lessons of 2010. The Year that Was.. (Part 3 of 3)

New country, new life, new job, new industry. It has been a dithyrambic journey. I have discovered skills I never thought I had and new opportunities I never thought were available. I have met a few Pinoy clients who were very supportive of me, a technical newbie. I have a boss and teammate who are experts in the field yet always willing to share their knowledge and expertise.

While I terribly miss seeing colors, creative copies, and photoshoots, I am trying to enjoy this newfound career while the scent of flowers still linger.

I thank the Lord for the gift of new friends. I have only known them for a while yet I already consider them my family. Both SE and LOJ played a major role in my decision to take that big leap of faith. Together with my family, they were the key people who prayed for me (and my survival). They also taught me the value of community, of sharing yourself, of being each other’s reinforcement. I believe we have already formed a bond that will last us a few hundred years more.

 

I was once a contrabida and I seriously regret being one. It has been 2 glorious years since sanity took over. The wounds have been healed already and fondest acceptance has been extended to that part of me I used to hate. In an unexplainable way, that experience has molded into someone I will always be proud of. I am that someone whose spirit remained unscathed, no matter how torn I became emotionally.

I am now living my life the way I should have had (sans the unexpected turn). I am happy. Mistakes can be corrected and one can be restored, indeed.

I believe I have transitioned to a different person and this is because, over the course of this year, I have experienced love in so many ways. Divine love, parental love, sibling love, platonic love, and romantic love—I have experienced them all this year (and still experiencing them right this very moment). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: My love tank is full.

And I intend to continue spreading the grace of love.. because I can give.. because I have.

Year 2010 had been a series of love-hate relationships with people, career, and my own self. I have discovered new strengths, and weaknesses. I thank God for the wisdom to have been able to discern the right path and for the flexibility of being able to journey through it. To end this note, let me post the top seven blessings I am thankful for this year:

1. Family

2. Nikki, Joni, Mia, Cli

3. SE family – sheps and best friends (you guys are too many)

4. LOJ family – Alde family and best friends

5. Arvin and Candy

6. GFS Family – bosses and teammates

7. My current boss and teammate

Looking forward to more blessings this coming year. Love you guys!

The 12 Lessons of 2010. The Year that Was.. (Part 2 of 3)

My sister had her church wedding. And it was also the month when I have officially moved to Singapore. I came here with a one-way ticket, with no guaranteed work, and with just enough money to pay for 3 months worth of rent, transportation, and other basic needs. Despite knowing that my parents are just a call away should I need extra cover, I have placed my hopes on God who never fails to respond on time. Just in time.

And because I have been surrounded by uncertainties, my hope remained firm. I knew I had nothing else but hope.. that I have a BIG God guiding my every move. In a special way, I would like to honor my parents... You guys are the best!

 

This month I received a divine message: “Welcome to the next level.”

The last 3 years seemed to be a struggle to get back on the spiritual track. Level 1 was all about healing and forgiveness and Level 2 is about embracing service wholeheartedly.

Service allowed me to experience the joy of selfless giving in a different way. At that time, I didn’t have extra money to contribute but I had all the time in the world to share what I know and do what I can. Eventually, being penniless in this shopping-inducing country made me appreciate the simple things in life even more.

I am still a fledgling in this area but I am looking forward to greater opportunities to share my time, talent, and treasure not only in my spiritual communities but in all aspects of my life.

On the verge of living in poverty in a new country, I had nothing to hold on to but faith. I badly needed to start working, or else.. I never planned on leaving Singapore, which would have been an easy way out, because deep down, I knew I was where I was supposed to be.

Indeed, everything happens in God’s perfect time. At the right moment, I have received two job offers. So I prayed again for guidance:

“Decide and have faith.”

It was God’s way of reminding me that he gave me the freedom to decide for myself and my future.  And that He trusts my abilities to make a sound decision, and placing this decision in His guiding hands.

 

“What are your priorities?”

It was God who has asked me the same question over and over: in my prayer time, homily of every mass I have heard that week, through facebook application, and dialogues with people.

It was my big 3-0.

 One good thing about celebrating birthdays is that you get to talk to your old friends at least once a year. “At least once” because there are still some who get in touch during Christmas, New Year, and V-day. But the bulk of them remain in oblivion until your well-celebrated natal day. And this year, my good friends practically spent their hard-earned money for an overseas call, while my family flew to Malaysia to be with me. I felt loved. I felt extremely happy.

So I guess the answer to the above question is Relationship. My priority is establishing and maintaining good relationships with God and with people despite living in a faraway place. No doubt, my happiness highly depends on it.

[To be continued..]

The 12 Lessons of 2010. The Year that Was.. (Part 1 of 3)

Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire. ~Virgil

2010. A year of good intentions and its realizations.. The year when I have fully exercised maturity and independence. As I come to the closing hours of this year, I’d like to summarize the lessons of 2010 in 12 words:

I clicked that “register” button one lazy Saturday morning and that was how a mere fraction of a second changed my life forever. I will never forget what my good friend told me about discerning our destiny. He said “there is a grand plan for everyone, but it is up to us to determine the course we will take to get there.”

Moving to another country was just an idea I’d usually toy with when I was stressed. However, I didn’t put much thought into them and I had all the excuses not to. I was living “the life” back home. I have a healthy relationship with family and friends. I was financially stable. And regardless of how stressful work was, it was within my comfort zone. Likewise, I didn’t really know what I wanted. I just wanted to do something different, something grand.

Not knowing what you want usually spells danger. But in this case, it was the driving force that led me to do something I have never done before: Pick one, do it, and think about it later.

Life presents us many options. There are too many good opportunities that greet us each waking day. Once we recognize them, we are either too lazy or too scared to act on them. I am one of those people who often suffer from, what my former GM calls, “analysis paralysis.” I tend to over think things and I seem to have a knack for confusing myself.

For a time I got distracted by too many good alternatives--too good that I was tempted not to pursue the “crazy” idea anymore. But then again, the curiosity for the unknown squeezed its way in. In the end, I was more at peace with “crazy” and “unknown” than “comfort” and “certainty.”

 

There is truth in the saying that “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it!” I have learned that the innermost desires of our hearts were placed by a powerful force of love (aka God) together with the tools to turn them into reality.

When I offered my decision to move, everything fell into place. Blessings, both big and bigger, came my way even before I asked for them. Indeed, all things are possible with God!

The perfect formula for the success of every decision always includes a cupful of risk. In my GFS despedida, I remember being asked this question: “What do you think are the most important characteristics one must possess to survive GFS?” I answered, “tigas ng mukha and tapang ng lobo.”

I guess this response does not apply only to my former company but to life itself. Too often we avoid a grand decision in favour of security. Being the planner (and control freak) that I am, packing my bags without any concrete plan is something I have always avoided. I have always been ten steps ahead and I have been planning my life ever since I can. But for the first time, I have fully let go because I wanted to be more open to God’s surprises. I have stopped planning my life and just followed my intuition. It frightened the crap out of me but this, I believe, was the best decision I  made this year.

(To be continued..)

Christmas 2010

Family was here to celebrate Christmas with us..

Christmas Eve at the Marina Bay Sands Skypark + Home (to open gifts)

Christmas Dinner at Dempsey Hill

Of course, dessert came first

 ..followed by a yummy Mexican dinner + Margaritas

Indeed, the most wonderful time of this year!

I agree with my sister’s statement: “Sulit ang 2010.”

Last night, I have completed Simbang Gabi. This is the first time I have ever done it and it wasn’t just because of the lack of Christmas parties to attend, but more on the desire to dedicate this all-time favorite season to the One who stood by me throughout my life, especially in this very challenging yet awesome year.

2010 has been my spiritual year and I have never been happier. I have never felt more loved and blessed. And this overwhelming feeling drove me to make this Christmas a spiritual celebration, rather than a commercial one.

I love everything about my life now!

Cheers to a Merry and Wonderful Christmas!!

Three Simbang Gabi's in a Row + Crispy Pata

This is indeed a milestone.. I have already completed 3 consecutive Simbang Gabi's (going 4th today) and simultaneously, I am able to tour the different Catholic Churches here in Singapore.

We were a big group last night for a dear friend's despedida..

That's just half of the group

Afterwards, we trekked the East Coast Road for unhealthy servings of our favorite Pinoy food. Truth be told, I haven't tasted sisig and crispy pata in the last 8 months!!! I felt so much deprived!!! Imagine my delight when these were served:

Off to my 4th Simbang Gabi!!!

Photocredit: Lean Tibia

On the First Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me

It’s in the air (thanks to afternoon rains), the cool breeze of December has finally graced the country. As I have mentioned in my other blog over and over, Christmas is my ultimate favourite holiday. I feel extremely happy whenever this time comes. The excitement.. The anticipation.. Everything feels great. I am high! I can't define what brings the bliss but I seem to find good in everything-- even if it means having empty pockets, squeezing through crowded sweaty body masses, and lining up long hours at the cashier. The things I hate eventually become part of the things I love whenever it's Christmas.

However, I am a tad disenchanted to be celebrating the entire Christmas season in Singapore. Because unlike the Philippines (with exception to Orchard Road, the malls, and the main thoroughfares), not all streets of Singapore are covered with colourful displays, dancing lights, and multi-sized Santas prancing to the melody of the Jingle Bell Rock. In my beloved country, I can see the creative efforts of Pinoys to dress their houses up with the little means they have.  For most Pinoys, Christmas brings a sense of hope that at least for one day, one week, or one month, we are all happy.

Another thing I will miss is the company of friends whom I love so dearly. Christmas is usually the time for reunions and get-togethers. A time that everyone sets aside to tell each other a year’s worth of stories and/or reminisce the good ‘ol days over a good meal complemented by wine and dessert. [Not to mention the gifts I would be getting from them if I were home. =p] But this year, I will be survived by new friends who will also be staying and celebrating Christmas expat-style. Old memories would have to give way for new ones, at least for the mean time.

And oh, there will be Simbang Gabi’s. Not that I have ever completed one but the traditional Simbang Gabi here is celebrated every 8PM. Literally, gabi. The good thing is, I now have a fighting chance of completing the Simbang Gabi and wish for something. Though I am not sure if my fellow Pinoys who are organizing the masses will be serving the holiday favourites bibingka and puto bumbong. I just hope they will.

But then again, I am most favoured by my family’s decision to fly here and celebrate Christmas in Singapore with me and Giselle. We might be away from most of the people we love but as long as we’re together (and can skype with Gracee and Bong), nothing in this world can drive these good vibes out!!

I truly looooove loooooove you Christmas! You give me immeasurable joy!

Thanksgiving Day 2010

Exactly last year, I celebrated Thanksgiving with my sister in Chicago. It was also around that time when a strong urge to live in another country found me-- although at that time I haven’t figured out where I should relocate. I just knew I had a vast expanse of options other than my home country.

Fast forward to a year, I honestly believe I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Of course I miss home but living far away makes me appreciate what I had and what I have, the good and the bad. I may still be far from living the life I have dreamt of but it doesn’t stop me from savouring every moment of it. Afterall, I have everything and everyone I need now.

I am living happily, one day at a time. And I remain hopeful for the coming days.

To the One who made all these possible, THANK YOU.

I Made Friends Today

Naturally, I am not the friendly-type. I am (or at least try to be) kind to 90% of the people I meet but it would take me a tremendous amount of effort to go up to a person I haven’t been introduced to and strike a conversation. Believe it or not, I am shy. Although most of the time, I’ve been mistaken for a snob or a prude. I may appear confident but deep down I cringe at the thought of approaching someone I do not know. Once I get acquainted, the walls go down and the trust goes up.

Unless I am working.

I morph into a different person when I am in business meetings / gatherings. I don’t understand why but shyness deliberately leaves me during these times. I am definitely more comfortable in business situations than in personal interactions. But today was different. I genuinely offered to share my umbrella to a fellow foreigner on my way to work. We shared some basic info during that 10-min walk to our building and I even invited my new friend to have lunch sometime. [Woah! I just asked someone out! But don’t get your hopes up, she’s a girl!!]

I realized that living someplace else can act like a placebo to counter an involuntary social discomfort. If I were home, I would probably just shift my umbrella to her direction without uttering a word. I have a handful of people I am close to in my new home. I am doing great. However, I still miss just bumping into someone I know almost always whenever I am out.. Or getting my free days packed ‘because I need to meet up with a ton of people’ from every aspect of my life. Plus, it is always a good idea to expand my network of good people.

It’s a big world and everyone is going global, so must I.

Love.. The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection

(No.. not that emo-inducing, spine-tingling feeling whenever that someone special walks by..)

Love.. Everyone’s favorite subject matter. Love is our ultimate reason for being.

In the bible, Christ teaches us how to love perfectly despite our imperfect state.. to love beyond our human capacity—To give love that transcends our predetermined boundaries. Jesus gave us His greatest commandment, that is, to love God above all and to love one another.

To love God with all our being is to completely surrender to His will. He doesn’t want an empty worship nor a lip service, He wants all of us. He doesn’t want just an hour of prayer, He wants to be present in our workplace, our commute, lunch break, when we do our laundry, when we’re out with friends--all our activities. There is no such thing as compartmentalized life when we decide to fully love God. To give ourselves to God is to allow Him to work in us and through us. Likewise, to radiate this love wherever we go and whatever we do.

To love one another is easier said than done. How can we possibly love our boss who torments us day and night (even in our dreams)? Our nosy colleague who constantly seeks our failure? How can we love a friend who betrayed us? A disrespectful cab driver?

I’ve read somewhere that Christian love is not a feeling, but a lifestyle. I guess this means that we must do all things out of love. Demanding, don’t you think? But imagine this: if we can love those who make us miserable, then we can love anyone. If we can understand someone with opposite belief as ours, then we can understand anyone. If we can show compassion no matter how inconvenient it may seem, then compassion becomes natural.

To love like Jesus is to let Him to love on our behalf. This only becomes possible when we give our entirety to Him. When we surrender, we accept His love. His love is then planted in our hearts to be carried out to one another. And in loving one another, we express our love to God.

Indeed when perfected, God’s LOVE goes around, comes around.