Europe Trip 2011 Checkpoint :)

OK, to say that I'm excited about this trip is a DEFINITE understatement. Counting-down-the-months-psyched is more like it :)

I have a confession to make. A good number of my time at the office these days is spent looking up activities we can do, filling up our itinerary and putting together hotel options. I also can't wait to read the guidebooks we have on Paris and Rome - the two destinations covering Europe Trip 2011 (I'm so excited that even my Windows password in the office is Europe2011 :P ). To take stock of the trip-planning progress so far:

1. Tickets: We have all the airplane tickets already - from Manila to KL, KL to Paris, Paris to Rome, and the other way around.

2. Hotels: Only the KL room has been booked so far. I'm still working on the options for the others - it's harder to finalize if you only have a certain budget to work with (yet you also want a good location and breakfast to be included)

3. VISA: We've made a booking already with the French embassy, which is notorious for being both slow and busy. It takes about a month to get a schedule, would you believe?! Good thing I'm a planner, so we have more than enough time to secure a VISA.

That's about it so far. I'll make another update in a month's time (or sooner, depending on whether or not I can hold my excitement) :P

stained glass bulb

I'm really liking this! Hopefully, one of the hardware stores here start to carry it. I think it'll suit our lamps at home :)

biz talk

One of my reasons for taking an MBA is to better equip myself when the time comes that I want to venture into entrepreneurship. Now that I target closing out my MBA career by the end of the next school year (essentially, by March 2012), I'm now hard-pressed to think of my business idea and concept. I know these things don't just emerge on demand, so I want to start thinking of it as early as now. And if possible, I'll make my Strama (strategic management) paper on the business topic I settle on, so that the effort becomes even more worthwhile, since it'll be truly useful to me even after graduation.

But what is this elusive idea?! I've been racking my brains since early last year but have been more purposive in thinking of it after I got married. What do I want to get into? I know for sure I plan to keep my day job, so definitely it has to be something I can either manage remotely (like online, for example), something that I can confine my free time to (i.e. only do after office hours), or something I only need to jumpstart but can run on its own afterwards. Also, I don't have millions to invest,so something that can start off with a manageable amount would be best.

So what is this idea? I came up with an idea late last year but not sure where to take it afterwards. I'm also not sure if I need partners to make it happen.

Ho hum... Think think think... Hopefully the answer comes to me in a dream or something. Hehehe.

P.S. Can I just add how SUPER DUPER ADORABLE my husband is? He was thinking of ways to augment our income that he signed up for paid surveys! How cute is that?! :)

Goodbye 2010! Hello 2011! :)

As this fantastic year comes to a close, I look back at all the milestones that made it super special and one-of-a-kind. Not only did I marry the love of my life, I also went through so many transitions and saw a couple of friends do the same. A lot of blessings marked this year, and for that, I am truly grateful. I know that 2010 was not always about positive things - there were tragedies too like the hostage crisis - but at least for my personal life, it was nothing short of perfect. Thank you to God and to the universe for gifting me with the glorious year that is 2010. And a big hello to 2011! Here's to a more love-filled, blessing-full and happy year ahead, dotted with many travels and many new experiences :)

the award goes to.....

Today, I was hit with a thought. Maybe everyone feels this way about their husbands, but if there was ever a BEST HUSBAND contest or search, I'll enter mine in a heartbeat. I'd challenge anyone else's hubby to prove themselves more devoted, more understanding, more thoughtful, more selfless, more emotionally mature and more pure-hearted than my husband. I love love love love love this man to bits, and even then, even as I strive to love him in deeper, richer ways than I did yesterday, he always seems to do it better. I don't know how else to express it- just that I definitely lucked out and got the best husband anyone can ever dream of :D

And with that, Merry Christmas to one and all! Hahaha! And most important of all, Merry Christmas to the best Christmas gift I have gotten and will ever hope to get in the years to come. You are the biggest blessing in my life.

change upon change

Had dinner the other night with a friend who's recently married (about 6 weeks married) and who is also newly pregnant (9 weeks pregnant) - Yeah, do the math ;) - Anyway, she was just telling me how overwhelmed she feels, having only tied the knot and gone on her honeymoon. She hasn't even had the time to feel married yet, and now there's a new adjustment to tackle - one that had its own clock and cannot be ignored. While she's ecstatic over the baby and being a mom, a part of her cannot help but feel that things are moving way too fast and wishes she can pause time to be able to have the chance to enjoy each new change, before the next change came along. She and her husband haven't even found the time yet to move into their new place, and they're currently staying at her folks' place, because she doesn't feel very well during the day while he's at work so he didn't want her to be all alone in their new townhouse. So again, no time to feel totally and truly married. And now, there's a bun in the oven.

I totally understood this point of view and immediately felt grateful to have had this time with Dennis to feel truly married. As I told some girlfriends this afternoon, there's a slight chance we may end the year 2010 with another piece of news, and if it does happen, I'm okay with it since we've had these 3 months of marital bliss. I can't imagine not having had any time to go through this transition in to being a wife, and be able to only focus on that transition and relish it.

Speaking of which, can I just say, how annoying I find it when people try to "scare" me into having a child already, by quoting other people's experiences and difficulties in conceiving. Believe me, my sympathies are totally with these people. I can only imagine the disappointment over not getting something you truly truly want, or worse, the heartbreak over finding out you're physically unable to give your partner a child. I do not wish it on my worst enemy, and pray that neither me or anyone close to me would have to go through such an ordeal... But please, don't use these as scare tactics or worse, say things like "you're making a mistake and you don't even know it" because they do not help anyone at all. None of these comments are ever solicited, and for that, I now pledge never ever to comment on someone's childless marriage. It can only be either of two reasons: the couple doesn't feel ready to have a child or they are unable to, despite the desire and intention to have one. Either way, it's not a topic for public consumption and it's definitely something to bring up in casual conversation. If it's volunteered, then that's a different case. I just feel it's insensitive and maybe now that we've been married for 3 months, I've noticed the increase in such comments and questions. And strangely, they all come from people I barely even know. Geez.

Ok, let's end this with a positive note. It's 16 days to go before Christmas- my first Christmas with Dennis as his wife- and I can't wait to spend the holidays! I'm on break starting 21 and am now thinking of ways to fill in this time, as Dennis still has work. I plan to cook and/or bake, finish up our holiday shopping, deliver our gifts and maybe plan for our France trip :) I've already shortlisted some hotels, and need to put together our VISA requirements. Exciting!!! ;p

WE'RE ALL MARRIED!

FILC is now composed of 4 "misis"-es :) What a cool way to cap off 2010 :)

PARIS!

We're headed to Paris in April of next year! Woooohoooo!!!

Thanks to Air Asia, we're flying there from KL at a super low price, and during Holy Week pa! I can't believe our luck! I loooove low-cost airlines! More money for hotel & accomodations :)

I especially love this trip because we've been hoping to be able to take a long trip somewhere far, like Europe or NYC, before Q3 of next year, which is when we plan to start getting pregnant. BUT we also don't want to spend too much, keeping in mind our other responsibilities.

So this chance couldn't possibly have come at a better time, at a better price or for a better place! What better city to visit than Paris, to "cap off" the time in our marriage when it's just the 2 of us? :) Perfection! I LOVE IT!

well-maid

This is what happens when you employ someone whom you need more than she needs you. The househelp we have now used to work for my mom when I was still in high school and college - she left us about 4 years ago to get married and get pregnant. She now has a 1.5 year old kid, whom she and her husband had to ship off to Davao so that she can come and work for us. My and my mom's spiel to her to convince her to come under my employ is that she will be able to save money for her son's future education. We reminded her that the work involved in being our maid is not that big - our condo barely needs an hour's worth of cleaning per day, and she and her husband will still be able to see each other every weekend (yes, I let her go home every Saturday morning and have her back by Monday morning the following week).

It took some discussion for her and her husband to finally agree to this arrangement. They had to take their son to Davao to leave him with his parents, and then she finally started with us about 3 weeks ago.

This morning, she tearfully told me that her mother-in-law reported that her son has been having a hard time sleeping at night, and even has on-and-off fever, presumably from missing his mother. He would cry out at odd hours at night: "mama!" Her husband is also facing some changes at work, and after some thought, might end up earning even less from his current job. Hence, they're now entertaining the idea of just going home to Davao and settling there. Either that or they bring their kid back to Manila and just find some other work here that will enable them to be together as a family.

As much as I feel for her, especially since her baby is still so young and she's a first-time mom, I also can't help but be a little selfish in this instance. I know I don't need a full-time maid, and can even manage with a stay-out, but I need someone I can trust.. someone I can leave my home with during the day and trust that nothing will go missing. And that's the part that's tough to find.

Oh well. We ended our talk with me telling her to discuss December plans with her husband this weekend. I ended up allowing her a week off in December too - told her to pick between the week of Christmas or the week of New Year's. I hadn't run this through my husband yet, but I figure at her current state, I had to make a concession to allow her to see her baby. I also told her that I can allow her another week off in April when her baby turns 2.

Any tips? :s

8 weeks to go...

until this year is over! I can't believe how fast time flew by this year, more than any other year (that I've been alive, that is :P )

We've also been married for 7 weeks now (which reminds me, I need to follow up Pat Dy on our wedding photos), and I must say, it's been quite a happy ride. I'm just allowing myself these next 8 weeks to acclimatize and get used to being a wife, but as early as now, I'll lay out my goals for next year. I've put the key words in highlight, just for emphasis. Hehe... here goes:

1. Learn to cook. Not just heat things up in the oven.
2. Seriously keep track of our expenses (I've stopped monitoring since the latter part of the wedding planning process since the numbers kept increasing and it was getting quite depressing) and strive to maintain a healthy savings rate.
3. Work towards my promotion to Senior Manager. I know this may not entirely be within my control, but I want to make the effort anyhow. This way, even if I don't get it, no regrets. I'm still happy with my company and my job, but we need to move forward, not stay still :)
4. Go back to teaching and finish up the remaining 3 terms for my MBA degree.
5. Get preggers (Q3 2011 onwards!)

8 weeks to go til 2010 is history, but I figure for the above tall orders, I need these 8 weeks to ready myself :) I CAN DO THIS!

The Return of the Yoga

So, I have even more reasons now to go back to yoga, principally to ready my body for a child-bearing future ;) The trick now is to muster enough effort to jumpstart a yoga pattern all over again, and STAY ON IT. The trouble with me and fitness is the consistency - I've tried going to the gym and doing yoga, but the problem for me is keeping it up. Hopefully this time it'll stick. I do love the practice, it's just that sometimes lethargy and laziness get the better of me.

But now I have more reasons. So hopefully the return of the yoga doesn't involve stopping at a later date. Cross your fingers!! ;P

Back to regular programming...

OK, so our two weeks worth of honeymooning is over and we're now back to regular life. I must say that while the actual trips that make up the "honeymoon" are over, we're still at the honeymoon stage, and I really really like it. Wish there's a way I can extend it over months and months and months to go. I love the excitement I feel whenever I get back to our condo after work, hoping to see Dennis already there or getting excited over setting the table and heating up our dinner, so that when he does step into the condo, warm dinner is there to greet him. I'm so amazed at the many things I'm discovering about him now that we live together - small things that seem insignificant in the overall picture of life but are amazingly adorable nonetheless (at least for me, the woman who swore to love him through thick and thin).

Many people have asked me if (1) I'm pregnant or (2) I have found things about him that annoy me now that we live together. The first question is often asked by people most remotely close to me, so usually it doesn't merit an honest answer. But if you do wanna know the real score, nope, we're not yet pregnant because we're making sure to follow our plan. We'd like to get pregnant no sooner than Q3 next year, in time for 2012 - which is both a dragon year and the year I'm done with my MBA.

As for the second item, I find this quite funny everytime someone asks me. If forced to answer, I'd attribute the one and only annoying "discovery" to his snoring. The first few nights of this marriage were all about sleeplessness to me, because it was tough getting used to this constant stream of noise next to me, when I've been used to a quiet room all my life. It wasn't that bad- mind you- but again, if forced to answer, I would say it's that. Apart from the snoring, nothing else has grated on my nerves, at least not yet. Let's not discount any possibility of that happening when the HM phase is over. Hahaha!

And now back to my original point, we're back to real life. Back to being just a regular husband and wife, not anymore googly-eyed honeymooners greeted by the hotel concierge nightly or congratulated by the front-desk staff. We're settling into a routine of our own and having our nightly rituals of watching teleseryes (for me), getting massages, playing family computer or having movie nights. I must say, marriage is an adjustment, but it's a fun one, filled with new experiences and discoveries. Plus, the newly-acquired independence is very liberating, albeit a bit scary. Proven by our first night back from HM Phase 1 in Singapore when Dennis pulled something in his back, woke up in the middle of night almost crying with pain, and I had to bring him to the ER of Makati Med. I performed quite well, if I may say so myself, but having to be in full charge of someone, without the constant help and guidance of mothers, is quite daunting. I hope I learn fast, and get the hang of things soon enough :) Or else, poor husband :p

That's it for now. Can't believe I'm now a "misis". Whoever says married life w/o kids feels like bahay-bahayan is either underestimating the fun-ness of married life or has a boring husband.

Haha!

MARRIED!!!

I love it! I highly recommend being married :) I love love love love love it! :) We've never spent this much time together, yet it doesn't seem to be enough :)

last single weekend :)

It's my last weekend at home (at least when I can still call it my one and only home), and my last weekend as a single person. Quite happy too that Noynoy made it an official holiday, so the weekend lasts a little bit longer :) I guess most girls who get married go through this period of sentimentality too. I realize I will no longer have a room all to myself now, and I will definitely miss this room I grew up in. Last night, I was fixing my desk and found so many old cards and letters - I just got sentimental over everything that went down in this room- all the sleepovers with friends, the nights spent up studying or watching tv or just chatting away at the landline. While I am excited over the idea of starting a new life together with Atty, I also can't help but feel wistful over the life I'm leaving behind. It's been a good 27-something years indeed :) I thank God and my family for it :)

17 days to go!

And the list of small things just keep on piling up.

FIGHT! :)

17 days to go til I become Mrs. Chan! :)

frenemies

Is it normal to have a friend rub you the wrong way or get on your nerves so many times over a period of a few days?

Hehehe.

A love entry for my room

OK, three weeks to go til the big day! I realized a few days ago that one of the biggest things I'll miss after I get married is my room. I think it's the best symbol for my single life - it bore witness to those late-nights of studying for classes, movie marathons and hours and hours on the phone with Dennis. It houses all of my (precious and not-so-precious) possessions, and things that I have to show for my almost 7 years of working. It's my "safe place" for the past 27 years of my life, and it's where I go to unwind and relax and just "be" after a long day. I'll miss the routine I have every morning after waking up and every night before going to bed. I'll miss the silence and the occasional noise created when one of my brothers or parents burst into the room with some piece of news or kuwento to share. I'll miss all those times I had this room all to myself, because 24 days from today, I won't have a room all to myself anymore.

If I could just hug my room, I would. :p Hehehe.

Home Stretch!!!

I know we've been engaged for more than a year, but it's like I blinked and suddenly, we're one month away from the BIG DAY! OMG!

Glad to report though that most of our action items have been accomplished already:
- Condo just needs to have furniture delivered by Sept 8 and then we're complete.
- All big items in the wedding preps are done. Invites are also given out already. Just need to :
(1) Create and finalize seating chart (2) Print misalettes & menu cards (3) Have final fitting (4) Meet Li and Karen when they come home and go to fittings with them (5) Buy bible (haha I almost forgot about this item)

- Dowry stuff is more or less ready. Just needs to be wrapped.

I'm pretty proud of myself. Definitely NO 3-week panic.

Can't wait for 9/19! :)

Project Home Wrap-up!

Glad to report that Project Home is now 99% done! Save for : (1) delivery of maid's room bed and cabinet ; (2) replacement of insect screen of guest room ; (3) overall general cleaning of the condo, we are done! Yahooooo!!!! It's such a great feeling and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment - to know what we started with and see how far we've come! I also learned so many lessons along the way, which made for good practice for the time in the future when we'll build our house.

1. Cheap is good but ain't always the best way to go, especially with people : We've been blessed with a good contractor- someone who's honest, straightforward and very easy to talk to. She not only takes the time to explain details to me, she also makes it a point that we work within the budget we have yet still get the best options available. She also has "malasakit" which is 100% important when you're doing anything construction-related. Since we're not experts in this field, having a contractor that genuinely wants your place to be as good as it can be is probably the most critical factor.

2. I am proud to say that I know so much more about construction that I did coming into this project. I now know how waterproofing works, what kind of tiles work best, how bathroom fixtures are installed, how lighting should be distributed, etc. We also learned the hard way that there are many possible materials to use for furniture and not all are of good-quality, even if they may appear to be so. Lessons learned.

3. You can't go wrong with classic. If in doubt, go for simpler or plainer designs. You won't regret it. Just like with fashion, I guess. Coz you have to live with your place every day, all day, so make sure you won't get sick of that design or that color scheme :)

That's it for now. I'm so happy with how Project Home turned out. And let me take this chance to say a huge THANK YOU to You Up There for showering us with the means to put together this project and make it happen. I'm also so proud of us for having pulled this off on our own. We did have a bit of help here and there from our parents but the bulk of it is off of our blood, sweat and tears, and while we're coming out of this definitely poorer (and with credit breathing down our backs), I'm so proud of this home that we can proudly call ours. OURS. You and me.

Hope I can post pics sometime. Let's see, where's my camera??? :p

it's really happening!!!

Holy crap, the invites are here, and my first reaction: OMG the wedding is really happening!!! :)

Hahaha! I know it may sound weird, but it was unexpectedly one of my biggest kilig moments throughout this planning process. Apart from the dress fittings, this is one of those rare times when the wedding seemed so "real". The other stuff just seems like normal planning moments for something "in the future" or "far off".. The invites arriving today in two huge-ass boxes just made it solidly real.

It's really happening! As Dennis frequently says, I can't wait to get married. To you. :)

tradition shmadition....

Most days, I love my culture and all its richness, but today is not one of them. I was just informed that, in order to maximize and preserve the "good luck" that we'll receive as a newly married couple, after the wedding, I am NOT to wear black AT ALL for a significant period. Like six months.

WHAT?!

D ko gets.

Hay.

Realization

I had an epiphany today- It's usual perception that the toughest part of the marriage vows to adhere to is one of these three: (1) "for better or for worse" - because life does have its healthy (and sometimes unhealthy) share of difficulties, and sometimes it's far too tempting to walk out and go ; (2) "for richer or for poorer" - more or less same reasons as (1) ; (3) the fidelity clause - also self-explanatory

I realized today another part of the marriage vows that may not be as much of a deal-breaker as the first three I mentioned, nor does it seem to be that big of a deal because it sounds so mundane and a bit obvious. But I think it's the one part in the marriage bond that will probably be challenged the most often and hence deserves attention too. While it may not be devastating in huge, earth-shattering, marriage-threatening ways, I think it's just as difficult to overcome. Major loads of maturity are needed, if you want to stay sane. And stay married.

This such part is where you vow to love the ones that he loves, on the day you agree to become his wife and swear in front of God and all your loved ones that you will be together forever and ever. It's a promise that can easily escape your lips, again because it sounds so obvious and hence so easy (oh how naive you are, dear bride!). After all, his family is good to you and they approve of your marriage. He loves them, and hence how hard could it be to love them too?

Suffice it to say that I've had a fair look at the challenges that can rock this particular corner of the matrinomial vow. It's not as easy, in fact it's probably one of the biggest and hardest adjustments to make. You can bounce back from a fight with your own mother, because she gave you life and can forgive you for anything and everything. Someone else's mother though, even if she happens to be your husband's mother, is an entirely different story. Whether you annoy her or she annoys you, the loser in the battle ends up being your husband. It's rarely about who's right and who's wrong, mind you. Almost all of the time, it's about two different upbringings, two different queens and two different emotional states. So declaring a clear winner in such battles is rather gray. But what's crystal clear is the suffering husband in the middle.

So, I lectured myself today on this particular issue and told myself that, for as long as the matter at hand is not that of life and death, or anything concerning children, values, religion, and deeply personal parts of our lives, I will let these "difficulties" roll off my back and focus on what's critically important - that I have a peaceful relationship with my in-laws and that my (soon-to-be) husband can sleep soundly at night. In Tagalog, kung hindi ko naman ikamamatay yung ipinaglalaban ko, wag nalang ilaban. Choose your battles carefully, because there are battles you need to lose, so you will win the war. And mind you, by "war", I honestly don't refer to my mother in law. Hahaha!

Another point I'd like to make: I believe in karma. I know that my family, with all their virtues, is far from perfect and in the future, two daughters-in-law would also have to "pakisama" with them. I would hope and wish that these two girls would also extend to my family a rich amount of patience, understanding and love. Because I'll be leaving my family behind soon. I'd want these two girls to care for them as if they were their own blood and flesh. To do that, I'd have to "plant" seeds of karma now. How can I expect from others what I cannot ask of myself?

Lastly, at the end of the day, I love him. And part of that love is loving those he loves. Maybe at the start, I'm loving them because he loves them. But hopefully, as we go through life together as family, I'll grow to love them without needing any other reason.

:)

iffy

If you didn't buy the place and didn't spend much on its renovation and furnishing, would you feel it's okay to be the first one to spend the night there and use the facilities, appliances and furniture?

I'm so iffy about this whole thing, but I'm just trying to be patient, for fear of being OA and being perceived as "territorial" or "selfish". But truly, I find the whole idea very strange and kind of offensive. Maybe they feel it's their son's place too, ergo they have as much right as him to spend the night. I really don't know. I don't understand this kind of logic, so I guess I really shouldn't see it from their point of view.

Ugh.

yet another checkpoint and... a baby!

OK, tomorrow is the last day of the month so I thought I'd do a recap of my almost-accomplishments and see what I can tick off my list:
1. Invites: Finally, after some headache with our supplier (Hay, sometimes this is the hidden cost you pay with "cheap" suppliers), finally, our invitations are ready for printing! We should be getting the first batch next Wednesday! Isn't that so cool? To say I'm excited is an understatement, definitely.

2. Marriage banns have been posted, and we now have all our requirements! Just need to turn them over to our planner and we're done! :)

3. Prenup and trial makeup/hair : CHECK!

4. Invitations list: Semi-check, because we still don't have my mother in law's list. Hay. Oh well. Small glitch.

5. Shoes: CHECK! They're now sitting comfortably in Richie's atelier and are ripe for embellishment. Another point of excitement for me. I can try them on again when I have my 3rd fitting next week!

On top of the above, we've made the hotel reservations for the night before and night after the wedding. I've also collated the addresses for the invites and I've also finished off the neckties and gifts we need. We already have all the suppliers we need, and our misalette has been approved already by our officiating priest!

All in all, July has been a fruitful month. August should now just be a month of finalizing, readying the balance payments and getting final fittings! :) This bride feels rather accomplished :) Hehehe.

Oh, and the highlight of this month is the birth of my soon-to-be first-ever goddaughter - Tala! She's the cutest ever, and is such a goooood baby girl, not giving her mommy and daddy a hard time. Welcome to the world, Baby Tala! Can't wait to see you again! :)

Gadget love!

OK, I know I registered for a travel steamer in Rustan's, so if someone got me that as a wedding gift, I wouldn't complain. But if I don't get it through the registry, I just might buy this one because it seems to perform better than the brand that Rustan's carries --

Innotec handheld steamer

http://www.shopcrazy.com.ph/2010/07/gadget-love-innotec-handheld-steamer/#more-9475

:)

Not now. Thanks but no thanks :)

So, just when I'm definitely not thinking about exploring other career opportunities, that's when options come knocking on my door. While there was one recent call that I was unable to turn down, I still stand quite firm on my stand that I'd really rather stay where I am. There will be some big adjustments to be made in the personal side of my life in the coming months, and I don't particularly feel like adding a professional adjustment to my list. I also can't wait to live out my lifelong desire to finally live *nearby*. So, for now, stay put. :)

Almost-accomplishments

A few days to go and I can tick off some items off my list and add them to the "accomplished" pile:
1. Invites: We received the sample already and made a last pass of revisions. HOPEFULLY it's the final set of comments already and we can finally start production next week. This means we'll have the invites before the month ends! Please, Lord! Konti nalang :)

2. Wedding requirements: Next Sunday is the last of the 3 banns we have to post at the Binondo church, and after that, we would have finished all the church req'ts already!

3. Our prenup pictorial is also scheduled next week- at the same date as my trial makeup. Once those are done, they're 2 more things to tick off the list!

4. Dennis and my guest lists have already been translated into invitation lists. The next step is to add addresses so the transport of the invites can be arranged. After this step too, we'll have to fix the seating chart but that's not until end-August or early Sept.

5. My bridal shoes have been fitted and save for a few minor changes, they're all ready for embellishment!

Hay, when you're a bride, life becomes just one big checklist of things to do and things to accomplish. I must say though, the control freak in me feels mighty proud when things get ticked off the list, esp if they're done so way ahead of time. My planner was telling me yesterday that she's very pleased with me, because even before she has to remind me about a wedding item, I'm a few steps ahead of her and would've already emailed, texted or sent her a document already. What can I say, when you're OC, there's simply no other way to do things :p

blackout!

I didn't know we can last this long without power. At the time of this writing, our house has been power-less for about 36 hours already...and counting. Huhuhu. I'll never take electricity for granted again!

I also realized the vulnerability of condos at a blackout. A friend was thrown out of his place last night because, due to lack of power for more than 24 hours, the building's genset finally died and no elevator service was possible. Scary! Imagine being stranded and forced to be a refugee when you have a perfectly good home, just floors above the ground. Hay. Must make contingency plans when we live in our condo already :s

major ACTION ITEM

for this month is: Invitations!!

Lord, please help me finalize the invitation draft and get the final list of addressees. Yon lang po. Thank you.

:)

Project Home Checkpoint

Went to visit the condo today and I think we're making good progress. The wood flooring is being sanded down now, and the paint work is 80% done. Electrical work is all laid out and the waterproofing is done. Tiling is about 50% done with the kitchen and master's bath to be finished within the next few days. The doors and doorways also look perfect- precisely what I wanted!

A cool thing about our condo is the little free things that we get here and there from well-meaning and generous uncles. We got free cabinet handles, door knobs and door locks from his uncle, as well as free outlet covers and switch plates from mine. We also got a good deal on lights because of another uncle. I love it! :p

I also understand now what they say about a house being a budget waiting to bust :p I encountered some more unexpected items that need to be paid for, that were not part of the original estimate. They are important things though, definitely cannot be missed out on, so I just handed over a check without complaint. It just taught me that when it comes to anything real-estate related, you really need a buffer budget, because it's inevitable that you would need some additional materials or replacement items or even added labor that wasn't part of the work scope initially planned for. And you wouldn't want to run out of money midway, because that will be an even bigger problem.

Bottomline, Project Home is going very well. And making good time too. It's set to be done in the next 3 weeks. This weekend, we need to buy some cabinetry already, which we need them to install next week. The shower heaters will also be installed next week. I'm excited! It's all coming together :) :) :)

Song and Invites: Semi-check

I think I've found my bridal march! After having some interesting contenders (including a waltz that I still really really love), I think I found it tonight. Serendipitously too, I may add. It's a song that's been in my ipod for the longest time, and I don't know why I didn't think of it. Then tonight, when I put my ipod on shuffle, I stumbed upon it and voila! Lightbulb moment! I just hope Da Capo can perform it :)

Invites are also a semi-check, because we have the FA already and is now up for sample-printing. I hope to receive and approve the sample in the next week or so, so we can get that out of the way already. Just have to finalize the guest names now, so we can turn them over later on for printing on the envelopes :)

That's it. Bride signing off for now :)

WEDDING LICENSE: Check!

So off we went today to the Manila City Hall to get our wedding license. I was prepared for a long wait, with matching sticky heat and having to bear with bureaucratic processes. After all, I've only seen the Manila City Hall from outside, and it certainly didn't look like an efficient place to me.

So imagine my (pleasant) surprise when I discovered that it's actually very organized inside, and people were friendly and accommodating. True, the fact that Dennis is a lawyer and is a familiar face inside the city hall by this time, with all his hearings there, certainly helped. But I also think that the overall process is really relatively painless. In less than an hour of being inside the place, we were all done! Our license will come out in 10 days!

Our planner also took care of submitting our docs to the church and getting the permission slip to be able to get wedding banns issued at our Binondo parish. After that, we just have to get our license picked up at the city hall by Dennis' messenger, and we're all set, legally speaking, to get married. YEHEY! :)

CEFAM: Big fat check!!!!

We're sooooo glad that CEFAM is finally off our list of things to do for the wedding preparations. Granted, there were some parts that were helpful but on the overall, we were (1) sleepy because of the early hour and the fact that ADMU is an hour away from our homes ; (2) kinda annoyed by some annoying personalities who joined us in the CEFAM sessions ; (3) bored by some of the segments of the seminar ; (4) tired afterwards but had to brave the rains and floods caused by late-afternoon rains.

The highlight or best part of the seminar were our sessions with the counselor, because not only was she very open, helpful, easy-to-talk-to and very insightful in her questioning, we also felt that it was the time when our particular setups and life situations were discussed and hence the topics at hand were the most relevant. We had already talked about most of the pre-marriage topics anyway, so it was a breeze to go through, but we were glad to get affirmation on things that we had previously discussed. And it was nice to see and hear another person's perspective on our lives, particularly since there are things in our lives that I feel we may take for granted or have already forgotten. It was good to have a fresh take on things, and an objective one at that.

So net takeaway, I think the church should just change pre-marriage seminar to pre-marriage counseling. I feel the topics discussed at the lectures were vague and didn't really appeal to the audience. Might as well go right to the heart of the people's lives and give them advice accordingly.

That's just me :P

I'm just glad we got that over with and we can now proceed to schedule when we'll head to the Manila City Hall to get our license done! :) Yahooooo!!!!

I really like....

this thing I found online--

Ceylon Pitcher

Lately, I've been more into looking at stuff for the house more than shoes, clothes and bags. This one looks so cool, you can flavor water w/o having annoying bits of mint or lemon mixed into it. Love it!!!

103 days to go!

It's like I winked and now, I'm 13 weekends away from my wedding. I'm busy for the upcoming 3 (gonna be in HK this weekend, then CEFAM next weekend, then Kayers' baby shower the weekend after that), and then, June is over. This leaves me with 10 weekends to plan everything else that needs to be done for the wedding. I have a count of the days to go before the big day, but I have to remind myself from time to time to only count the weekends, because really, that's the time reserved to do wedding planning stuff. The rest of the week (which is really the 5 other days that not part of the weekend) is pretty booked for work and the condo-related items. With budget planning season coming up at Smart, I expect work to be extra hectic in the next few weeks. And, beside the fact that I pretty much have no other choice but to put in the required hours at work, it's really not my work style (nor my work ethic) to give in less than what's expected of me. I don't think it's right nor fair, for a company that's been way too generous to me the past couple of years.

So with that said, I'm now researching what shoes to finally decide on, so I can ready it for my Solea visit. :p Time is ticking!!!

peg for our bedroom

Love it! :)

Project Home checkpoint

So far, here's what's been accomplished in Project Home:
1. All old tiling and fixtures have been taken out. New tiles are currently being put in as we speak, and the new bathroom fixtures have already been delivered.
2. Paint has been approved (by me) as of today. They made special mixes for me, to get the tones that I want. The paint in the guest room turned out lighter than I thought, but I figured it's better to have something lighter (or weaker in color) than the opposite where you almost get heart failure for walking into a room too bright for your tastes.

Good progress for the past 6 days they've worked on the condo. Up next are finalizing the shower enclosure and shampoo caddy in the bathrooms, starting the waterproofing and starting the electrical work. Also, we have to buy new pinlights, door handles and blinds.

I'm bleeding money, but my heart is giddy with excitement and fulfillment. They're right. Buying your own place is bittersweet. While your wallet aches to no end and your budgeting skills are challenged almost on a daily basis, the feeling of achievement definitely cannot be overestimated. :)

118!

My friend Anna got hitched last Saturday, and up until then, her impending wedding has overshadowed the fact that mine is just around the corner as well. But now that her wedding is over, I have just realized that it's my turn next! 118 days until my wedding!!!! Aaaaak!!!!

leave of absence

So, I won't be posting any MBA updates for a while because I'm taking a leave of absence from my schoolwork. Reasons are:
(1) For this upcoming school year, my wedding date falls in the middle of the 1st and 2nd terms. Which means that when the finals week of 1st term rolls in, I'll be in the home stretch of my wedding planning. Then when 2nd term comes in, I'll be out for 2 weeks on my honeymoon. So I figure, might as well take a break from school and focus on my wedding, my honeymoon and getting ready for married life.
(2) Work is getting heavier, and I admit I am still adjusting to this new work scope. I know that the respite from MBA will do me some good too in this area. Also, my new work entails some going-out-of-town on provincial tours and events, so it would be good not to have school to worry about for a while.

Also, I figure when I live so near to RCBC, I can resume school w/o any difficulty. My mom is worried I may not go back after the wedding and honeymoon, because a lot of people lose that crucial sense of momentum and inertia when they take a break from school. Most don't go back. Esp when pregnancy rolls in.

I told her that, first off, given my personality, I think I would be the first to give myself a hard tiime to leave unfinished something as big and as important to me as this. Also, I am just 4 terms away from finishing my MBA. Which means a pregnancy will not likely affect my finishing. And lastly, Dennis promised her (my mom) that he will make sure I finish school, even if it means carrying me physically into class (haha!) So yes, I hope there are enough measures in place to prevent me from permanently slacking off from schoolwork.

There you go. No books, exams, readings or class presentations for 7 months. Hope I miss it so I'll be in 100% "ganado" to resume school in Jan :)

Til then, books! :)

Project Home underway!

By next Tuesday, the condo renovation crew will move in and start the work on the tiling and bathroom fixtures. Then after that, they'll move on to the kitchen and parquet floors. The aircon will then be installed, then the sanding and relamination work will follow. The electrical work will then ensue, followed by the waterproofing and painting. Hopefully, by end-June, the place will be ready for furniture and appliances to be moved in. I can't wait!!!!! :)

a not-so-new tomorrow

I must admit I am saddened by the results of the 2010 elections. While it's good that the automated process worked, despite the many glitches and problems, and that the results seem to be clean and uncontestible, I am saddened by the confirmation that the Filipino electorate is still mostly very immature. It's politically immature thinking that led the majority of the populace to believe that a good father sires a good son, and if someone pledges to be incorruptible, that alone makes him a good President. I'm also sad that Filipinos opted for Erap as a second choice. Again, very politically immature. I honestly don't know how we can progress from this point. This has *got* to be a new low. Even for the Philippines. The change we all want is still an elusive dream.

But then, if I really believe in Gibo and have faith on the ideals he was pushing, I need to set these "nega vibes" aside and still wish the new administration the best. Perhaps we will be given a miracle; after all, no matter what we get into, we as a nation always survive. We may not always emerge better or wiser, but we always live to see another day (or another administration). Knock on wood, hopefully, Homer's parents will indeed bless him from up above and guide him throughout his 6 years in power. And hopefully, his youngest sister does shut up for good, pack up her things and move away just as she promised she would.

And maybe, just maybe, we'll see the day when our nation will finally elect officials based on merit, on qualifications and on track record. If not, we may one day elect Baby James because of his grandparents. If that happens, I may just push Atty to run for mayor. Or President. Haha!

There's still hope, people. Let's all pray for a better tomorrow for all of us. Even if it has to be achieved in spite of our newly elected leader.

Mabuhay ang Pilipino!

May 10, 2010

Made my vote count today, despite almost 3 hours of waiting and falling in line, after a failed attempt earlier this morning at 7am. Thank God I was able to successfully feed my ballot into the machine. Now all we gotta do is wait.

Win or lose, GT, you should be president.

Brand Camp

I got sent to the first PANA Brand Camp, along with another colleague from SMART last Thursday-Saturday (yesterday, actually). Just want to jot down some thoughts I had during the 3-day competition, which incidentally ended with us bagging 2nd place, despite us not even putting in 100% effort (as in, cruising lang talaga and eating the free food) and sleeping early the night before the actual competition. Anyway, some thoughts:
1. Ran into a former classmate, who was also a delegate to the Brand Camp. Funny because some things don't change (he's still a pompous, irritating ass, just like before) yet some things can still change, believe it or not (he's actually a worse ass than before, because he has upped the ante on ass-ness).
2. Some people are so intense. They're so competitive (even at this age ah!) to the point of not talking to other delegates, not sleeping (or only sleeping 2 hours) before the competition, and (horror of horrors!) not eating due to "nervousness". C'mon, guys, this is NOT a matter of life and death, and it is DEFINITELY not a reflection of how far you've gone in your career or how far you can possibly go in the future. True, it would be GREAT to get to go to Cannes to compete and represent the Phils (which was the top prize), but you guys have got to learn how to CHILL. Otherwise, you'll get wrinkles at an early age or, worse, develop some awful heart disease. Plus, you have to learn that there is a healthy way to compete, and the way you're doing it is totally wrong.
3. Strange how FMCG guys can "look down" on telco marketing guys, thinking that telco guys don't do "real marketing". Funny, because the 1st and 2nd placers in the competition are both from telco teams. Only the 3rd team came from FMCG, and the 8 non-placers are all from FMCGs. Hehe. One word: Karma.
4. It's nice to get away, even for a few days, and even just to Tagaytay. Mental note to do this with Dennis when we're married already. A small, short getaway can do wonders to your mental well-being.

That's pretty much it. Am I sad we didn't place 1st? Really, no. Again, it would be nice to get to go to Cannes, just for the experience. But in any case, we can't go even if we did win 1st place, because my partner is currently 5 months preggers and will not be able to travel in June. I'm perfectly happy too with 2nd place, because I seriously did not put in that much effort. We even watched the evening teleseryes and took our time with the shower-and-get-ready-for-bed routines. We had relaxed meals, took our leisurely pace and didn't even really listen to the speakers who were "training" us. I just really took it as a small vacation. When it came to the presentation, we did have to cram our thoughts into 8 slides (to be presented in 5 minutes) and kinda struggled with Keynote (the only "accredited" presentation software in Cannes) but that was pretty much it. I also do not take it as any sort of validation of my "marketing cred", because I don't think any one convention or competition can do that. It's reality that tells you how well you've performed or how much farther you can still go. This competition is just really a recruitment process for a team that will compete in France. That's all. Some people need to learn to relax.

I was also thinking back at my college days and when we first learned how to live with "competition". I'm glad to be looking back at those days and see how I've grown with regard to how I treat competition and how I've learned when to draw the line and distance myself from my work. Don't get me wrong, I'm still as driven as when I was 18 years old and learning how to write ad briefs and make marketing presentations. I'm still as ambitious, in that I still want to push forth with my career and work towards being an even better marketing professional. But I guess I've learned (and still learning) to strike a balance between work and life. And see work for what it truly is- work. Not "just work" because I don't mean to trivialize work. It serves a purpose in life and deserves its proper attention, dedication and energy. But it's not what consumes us or represents what we are. It's just what we do. :)

BTW, in unrelated news, today marks the 1-year anniversary of when Dennis asked me to marry him. :) I'm not sure if it's even a valid or real occasion to celebrate, but it's nice nonetheless. Not everyone has a year (and more) to go from engagement to wedding, and I think it's nice that we get to have that. Even just for one year. (God knows I have NO desires of stretching it out further. I'm happy to have had the time.)

:)

May 10th

It's not my intention to make this a political blog. I just realized that this 2010 elections is probably my first time to feel this strongly about a candidate, believe in him so much and want him to win so badly I'm thinking of ways on how I can volunteer for him without compromising my safety or my schedule. Whenever I listen to Gibo, I am in awe of his vision for the Philippines and inspired by the clean, honest and respectful campaign he has run to date. I am not surprised at all at his 90% conversion rate- meaning, when people listen to him in any forum, they are convinced 90% of the time that he is the best man for the job. And truly, if you are open-minded and you give him the opportunity to tell you what he has planned, you will be just as convinced as me that he is the best option we have. I think he will represent us very well internationally, and he has a plan on how to move this country forward. He also oozes with sincerity whenever he speaks and I think it's commendable that he has mounted this campaign WITHOUT mudslinging, digging up dirt about opponents or talking badly about them. He keeps positivity at the heart of his campaign and as such, he has garnered the support of the youth. It's also worth considering that not one of his opponents have anything bad to say about him. In the way that Phil politics goes in this country, that is a feat in itself.

I wish soooo badly that he wins on May 10th. To the point that I pray to God that He helps Gibo win. I want this country to be better, to be safer, to be richer and to be stronger for my and everyone else's sakes, including my future kids. Let's vote green! :)

5 years na!

By next Wednesday, Atty and I would have been together for 5 years already. This will also be our last boyfriend-girlfriend anniversary, and that makes me feel a bit sentimental. I remember when we first started going out, the little discoveries we made of each other and the little adjustments that we had to make to make space for each other in our (already quite full) lives. I remember the days when we just met each other, our long talks that go late into the night, our first dates, the first time he met my family, the first time I met his and the first time we went to the temple together. I'm getting a bit wistful going through memory lane, thinking of the journey we've had and how everything has brought us to this point in time, 5 months from getting married and moving into our first home. I'm so grateful I met him. Life certainly became a whole lot more worth living :)

this week...

was one of the most tiring weeks of my life. Emotionally tiring, that is. I hate politics.

the big picture

You can't always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you find, you get what you need :)

The past few days have really been a growing-up period for me. First off, I had to adjust with the revelation at work that meant I had to get out of my comfort zone and dive in head-first into an unknown area of business and try to perform as well as I possibly can. All this while juggling my other considerations and leaving behind the team that I love so dearly.

Then yesterday was a day of reckoning in terms of my personal life, specifically our expenses and how our financial outlook as a couple will be in the next few years. I crunched some numbers and had the sinking realization that I could either get the honeymoon of my dreams or keep significant cushion money (aka buffer money) for our little nest egg to grow, given that the expenses we'll have when we get married practically equal what we bring home on a net basis. I knew I had a choice-- either I push for the honeymoon I want but pay for the price of uncertainty because that amount of money could've been our safety net... or I could postpone this dream of a trip and relish the security of knowing that I have some stash of money hidden away for a rainy day. I had to weigh my options and to be honest, at the core of me, I knew what the right thing to do was. It's the bratty side of me that was adamant on being able to go where we intended to go, but the mature me already knew what I had to do. Also, when I talked to Dennis, I was also given some discoveries, such as the fact that he had actually not minded where we go for our honeymoon, it doesn't have to be NYC. He just wanted to celebrate being married to me, and he only wanted to go to NYC because he knew how much I wanted it. Even if it meant forcing the issue financially, he would do it because he knew I wanted it and he already felt like I made so many compromises by agreeing to marry him (which, for the record, is sooo untrue). He said he understands our predicament but would support me in any choice I make.

I felt so bad that I had kept my eyes solely on the goal of going to NY that I had totally forgotten about the big picture. That we are in this to build a life together, not just a measly 7 or 8 days abroad. And I realized that the dream already is right in front of me, which is the dream of building a life together with the man I love and putting up a home to house that love. Everything else is a bonus, an optional thing, gravy or the cherry on top. I already have everything I need when I have this man who's willing to do anything he can to make me happy.

So without even waiting for him to ask me again, I've decided to forego the original plans and go for our Plan B, which, I must remind myself, is not that bad and is in fact pretty cool. We've decided to go to Japan instead, and this may actually end up being as good an option as NY, because not only will we be able to indulge in our favorite food (after Chinese, of course), we'll still be able to go to a cold place (which is what Dennis loves) and we will actually be going to a place that neither of us have ever been to. The downside of our original plan of Sing + NY was that both places are not new to me. With this new plan, we get the best of both worlds- Singapore is the place mired with personal history for me, yet we also share the experience of first-time travel in Japan. I don't at all feel shortchanged that the original plans won't push through. I have to admit, I spent the better half of yesterday and today feeling like I lost a dream, but now that I've allowed reality (and maturity) to sink in, I actually feel really good about this decision. This whole thing may turn out to be a blessing through and through after all. I not only feel better because I'm being more responsible, I am actually starting to get excited :) Which is what any honeymoon should be about anyway.

So yeah, this brings me back to the first sentence that starts this post. In the process of not getting what you (originally) wanted, you may just find that you instead just got what you really really needed. And at the end of the day, you find that what you've been reaching so far out for has always been within your reach. Right by your side.

:)

change is good? always?

A new change is upon me. Just when I thought I had enough on my plate, I now have to adjust to a TOTALLY new job effective April 15. I honestly feel torn over my reaction. On the "happy" side lies the opportunity for learning and the chance for professional growth. On the "unhappy" side lies the following:
- The new job is TOTALLY out of my comfort zone, i.e. I may not like it.
- The new job may entail A LOT of local travel, for which I'm not excited. It also can potentially be unfriendly towards my MBA schedule. Not to mention my bridal errand schedule.
- I am required to leave behind my team- composed of people who are not only dependable and loyal but who have become very good friends of mine over the years. This physically pains me, as in I feel a sharp ache in my heart when I think of the prospect of leaving them behind.

I've heard that change is good more times than I care to count, but sometimes I'm not too sure it's always applicable. I'm not sure if change for the sake of change can still be good, because I fail to see how having no rhyme or reason over a certain change can bring about any kind of (deliberately planned) good. It may accidentally become beneficial in the end, but would it be responsible to leave such a consequence to mere chance?

Ohwell. It's not like I have a choice in the matter. The alternative (i.e. protesting against the change or fighting for the status quo) will only make me look immature, not to mention unprofessional. So I just have to suck this up and HOPE that it goes well in the end.

i think i found my wedding shoes!

*just us*

I have a confession to make. These days, the wedding doesn't excite me very much. At least not in the way people would normally expect it to excite a bride-to-be. I don't know if it's because it involves so much stressful discussions, like what color does my MIL want for her dress or whether the cake we're eyeing is worth the cost or when the suits of the male entourage must get done. It may also be because I feel like the wedding is a (happy) occasion that we have no choice but to share with others. Don't get me wrong; I do not feel forced to share our big day with others. It's just that I'm taking it as a matter of fact (and a matter of life) that it's not just the 2 of us who're invested in the wedding. Our parents top the list of "other people who care about the wedding", followed by close family members and friends. And I don't mind that at all. I really don't. I love the fact that there are a lot of people who can't wait til our wedding. It would be really sad if otherwise. But, I can't help but feel then that the wedding is not "just ours", and to be honest, these days, the details about the wedding don't get a "woohoo" out of me as they would normally do.

What does get me excited though is the honeymoon. Imagining us on going to Singapore for the first phase of our honeymoon gets me excited like you wouldn't believe. Dreaming (and hoping against hope) that we get ourselves to NYC shortly thereafter gets me even more excited! So excited I could jump out of my bones in joy! Apart from the honeymoon, I can't help but find myself planning future trips together- I imagined going to Macau for Valentine's weekend next year or maybe even Japan for Holy Week 2011, if we can afford to. I guess it's also partly because up until we're married, Dennis and I haven't been anywhere (far) together, much less abroad. The farthest we've been to together is Tagaytay, and that was just a day trip. Because of our culture and the conservatism it espouses, we've really had overnight trips anywhere, so I guess this also contributes to my enthusiasm that, after Sept 19 this year, we can go anywhere we want to together :) The freedom and the opportunities it offers just can't help but get me really riled up! I can't wait!

Another reason is, because of how certain things panned out in Dennis' life so far, he hasn't really been to many places. In fact, when it comes to going abroad, he's only been to Taiwan and the States, and these trips happened when he was a little boy. He's never been to Singapore or even HK, much less other places I've been to like Canada, the Middle East, Australia, Hawaii or even China or Malaysia. Part of me feels really bad for him, because it seems unfair for him not to have had those experiences I've been fortunate enough to have. I know he doesn't agree, because those hard times in his past fortified him and made him every bit of the great guy he is now. I know those times were instrumental in making him the responsible, strong and grounded person I love so very much, and I'm very grateful. But all that doesn't change the part of me that wants to let him in on those travel opportunities I've had. I want him to see why travel is such a passion for me, how travel can change perspectives and mindsets, and what travel does to a person. I want us to jumpstart our marriage with adventures and discoveries- kickoff our union brimming full of experiences and rich memories. It's not about luxury, that's the least of my concerns, nor is it about indulgences. Far from it. I want to infuse travel into the early part of our marriage, because I know it'll be good for us. It'll be a great foot to start our life off on. I know it'll only be "just us" for a short while, before concerns about baby formula or playschool fill our conversations. So I'll know we'll be grateful to have had a good run at "just us", when we could :)

I don't know where all that outpouring of thoughts came from. I just updated our travel itinerary to Singapore (actually, I just bought us reserved seats), and got to surfing through the rest of Cebu Pac's website. And I got to thinking about this picture in my head of us having the adventure of a lifetime.

I love him. So very much. And I can't count down the days enough until "just us" starts :)

the happy decision

Reminder to self: Happiness is a choice- a decision- and has less to do with circumstances but more to do about your attitude towards circumstances.

MBA updates

OK, I'm wrapping up my 7th term as an MBA student (wow, has it been that long???) and just enrolled into my 8th term (FYI- after the 8th, there are 3 more to go until graduation! CAN THIS BE OVER ALREADY, PLEASE!). While it seems like time stood still for the longest time because of my seemingly unending MBA journey, the rest of my life seems to be going by in record time. Before I knew it, I'm about to enter the 5-month mark until our Mr-and-Mrs Day, and in about a month's time, we would've been engaged for a year already! How fast! Also, in a month or two, our condo would've been renovated already and it's time to bring in the furniture. Again, how fast! Next thing I know, it's my FILC bridal shower, then it's September (which is also budget season in Smart) and then the big day is here!

Anyway, this update is supposed to be about my MBA. Sometimes, I really have doubts on why I'm on this particular uphill battle, when it's completely optional. In fact, an overwhelming majority of my friends and colleagues do not carry MBA degrees, so there are days when I question myself and ask why the hell am I subjecting myself to this kind of torture. Why would I want to stay up some nights and study or read or write papers, when I could be out enjoying the last few months of singlehood? Why would I choose to wake up at 7am on a Saturday to make it to an 8am class in Taft, when I could be blissfully slumbering 'til a more decent hour and enjoy my weekends in full?

Believe me, such doubt-full days have come and they have come aplenty. But in the final analysis, I guess I am doing this for more than 1 reason, and these are all good reasons (at least except on days when I'm tired and stressed and overstretched and I'm cursing myself for being a masochist). These reasons are:

1. While I love my undergrad course, I do feel there are serious limitations and weaknesses to it, the biggest of which is the fact that marketing is not a stand-alone skill, especially when you intend to go up the corporate ladder and be a director or head in a business or corporation. It takes more than just marketing to make a business run, and I feel that a marketing background alone is not enough to arm oneself in debates in the boardroom or even civil discussions with colleagues in the elevator. I feel an MBA will make me more qualified in the next corporate progressions to come, and I want to be prepared. Granted, I still do feel that marketing is my biggest and best skill, but that doesn't mean I have to confine myself with marketing.

2. I do plan to have my own business in the future, so a holistic management orientation would definitely be helpful. As it is now, I find myself understanding the business side of things better than I did when I only had an IMC degree. So I think it's surely an advantage. I hate not being able to understand finance or HR or even operations when they discuss their issues with me; so what better way to understand them than to study what they are talking about. Not because I just want to know, but I feel that to have my own business in the future, I need to know what the other branches of management are dealing with.

3. I want to do this now that I am still single (not for long, I know) and without a baby in my life. I know that my priorities are bound to change and there will come a time when myself is not the only thing I have to think about or take care of. So now that I have the luxury and leisure of doing so, I figure, why not pursue something I've wanted for myself and something I can be proud of as a good, solid achievement? Something I want to be able to anchor myself on when a baby gets too demanding or sacrifices need to be made. I guess, bottom line, I do not want any regrets, which is why I'm pushing myself to make it to the MBA finish line. If I don't, I know I'll kick myself and live in regret in the future. I don't want any what-ifs. I don't want to live halfway.

There you go. I guess that's it. I need to be reminded of these things when I'm sitting at home on a Saturday working on an MBA paper when my friends and colleagues are at the JT concert. Haha! Ok, back to work :P

i surrender..

all my worries and troubles to You. I know You know what's best and I'll trust You'll only give us what we can handle and what we deserve.

Amen.

needs to be met

I know I'm blessed in so many ways, so please do not misinterpret this post as an ungrateful, selfish one, because it's anything but. I do not desire for more than I need, nor do I carry selfish motives in asking for this need to be filled. I just want a comfortable, pleasant home to come home to every night and face the day with every morning. And I believe this is not an overly extravagant thing to wish for.

So, in Chinese and Buddhist tradition, I pray to the God of Fortune to please help us secure the financial means to do the condo renovations and all accompanying costs they necessarily carry. I do not wish for over and beyond the basic things included in our scope of work for the condo. Please please please.

And thank you in advance :)

GIBO!!!!

I know that he's not the most popular candidate, nor the most funded one, but I am proud to tell whoever cares to ask that I'm voting for Gibo. I am a fervent believer that integrity is not a good-enough reason to vote for someone, and integrity isn't even a platform of government. I believe that any government position should be regarded as a profession, on top of being a calling. The "calling" part is hard to validate, as this is something that only the person concerned and God will know for sure if sincere. But the profession part can definitely be checked and ensured. And I know that I definitely look for credentials and competence when shopping for a doctor, for a lawyer (well, I don't need to shop for this, but you get my drift), and even a secretary! So why not expect the same from a president? And by competence, I don't refer to Gibo's Harvard degree or anything on his resume. All one needs to do is to bring an open mind to any of the debates and you will see what I am talking about. This is the guy who has a plan for the problems this country has, and he articulates this in such an eloquent manner that I know he'll do a great job in diplomacy and international relations, something that our country is in bad need for, since we need aid to be readily available for our economy and for disaster relief when needed. Some people have asked me why I didn't choose Gordon, and my answer is, if Gibo weren't running, I would probably be behind Gordon. But since he is, the reason I'm not choosing Gordon is the eloquence part. His verbal style is very abrasive and quite condescending. I don't know if he means to, but he strikes me as a professor or lecturer when he talks, and God knows that's not good for diplomacy. Also, the fact that he cannot endear himself to people by virtue of his dryness does not appeal to me. And it's not because of anything superficial, but I believe public office is also about managing public opinion. In short, you must know how to make people feel better during dire times or make them believe you. And I feel Gordon doesn't do a good job at that.

Gibo may not have the funds of Villar, to enable him to keep his advertising TARPS so consistently high. This is the only tragedy in his campaign, because his conversation rate is more than 90%. This means that for every 10 people who have accessed Gibo's platform and heard him speak, 9 are converted to become his voters. This is extremely high and just shows proof of what the man is made of. It's just unfortunate, because conversion rate is not enough to win this election. It needs to be coupled with awareness, which unfortunately is a function of spend. Hay. Alas, money is what Villar has that Gibo does not.

And don't even get me started about Noynoy. Though I was initially attracted to the whole yellow power thing, now, I am convinced more than ever not to vote for this guy. Not only does integrity not enough for me to pick a president, I do not even think Noynoy has this so-called integrity. He is just riding on the coat-tails of his parents, and who wants a president like that? If all you have to offer is the promise you will not steal, then anyone else on the street can claim that. Not doing something is not enough to anchor a campaign on. And if all you have to offer is your parentage, and your bloodline, then you should just wish we have a monarchy. That way, only the family surname and family tree matters when choosing a president.

Hehehe. That's all I had to say on the matter. Whatever your reasons may be, go ahead and make your choice. As I have made mine too. :)

Corn Silk!

Ok, so a talk with my parents had us rationalizing the work we'll have done in the condo. Essentially, the time-tested adults advised us to minimize the renovation work we'll pay for in the condo, bearing in mind resale value after 5-10 years (our estimated time living in the condo). It's better, they say, to minimize renovation expenses so you don't have to recover so much in total condo expenses when the time comes that we'll be pricing the property for sale. Buyers do not care if you spent a lot in a certain brand of tiles or a certain range of dressers. They also hardly care if you spent big bucks in taking down wall to make the space "breathe" more. For as long as we consider the place livable, we should just do minor tweaks and updates.

They had a good point, no matter how my stubborn bratty side tries to resist it. They've done this before, and their perspective actually comes with a lot of sense. It's just that the girly girl in me got all excited in the renovation and the end-result that the magic of interior design can make you infatuated with. But I guess in the end, practicality wins the game.

Oh well, papel...

So now, I'm occupying myself with going through paint options and seeing what I like and don't like. As of now, this is what I am crushing on as the color of our master's bedroom:

Corn Silk!

Isn't it pretty yet not too girly yet relaxing and shiny & bright? Makes you wanna relax after a long day yet welcomes you into a bright new morning and ready to face the day. :)

Wow, that's a lot of adjectives for a kind of paint ;P

Jute! :)

Got these today, on what was the first shopping trip I've been on ever since 2010 started (clap clap clap!) I only allowed myself to go shopping because we got our 2009 bonus yesterday and I felt like celebrating. Hehehe. OK, enough justifying my shopping urges, here's what I got for myself. I love love love love them. Not only are they comfortable, I love how they look! And, strangely enough, I pictured myself being a mom running around and doing errands as I wear these. Hahaha! I know, how weird :p

P.S. These are called Jute espadrilles and come from Spain. They're made of 100% natural materials, are super duper comfortable and the pricing is pretty reasonable. Super comfy even if they're platform wedges :p

hmmmm

rumble in the jungle???

delinquent bride?

Sometimes I look at my fellow brides and can't help but compare myself with them. Is it normal not to think about your wedding every day? If not, then I'm totally a delinquent bride! I don't know what it is about my personality, but it's just not in my character to focus only on 1 thing in my life at a time. Perhaps that's reflected in how I choose to lead my life, i.e. I am never just about 1 particular thing, even if it means a lot to me. I maintain a good career, teach (half the year, at least), take up MBA, plan my wedding and plan the condo renovation all side-by-side, not just because I want to do all these things, but also because I just cannot stand to "stand" for 1 thing alone. I don't know why, sometimes I do feel I'm stretching myself too far, but overall, I find I'm happier this way.

Which leads me to another topic. Some people have brought up this topic with me a few times, and my answer has always stayed the same. When we do decide to have babies, I do not plan on putting a stop to my career. Not only because of financial reasons (though I admit those are powerful reasons all on their own), but also because I know that it's not the way I'll be happy. I will know my priorities though, for sure, in the sense that I know that my family is the most important thing and the most dispensable thing should be work. I fully intend to drop everything whenever my family needs me.

However, I find that there is more than 1 way to be a good mom, and that does not necessarily equate to staying put at home and mother all day, every day. Don't get me wrong, I respect and completely admire women who make the decision to stay at home. It's just not the way I would do it, because I know I will be unhappy not being productive and my kids and husband will know I'm unhappy. So at the end of the day, it serves no one. To be a happy person, I need to be a rounded person. In an ironic way, to be a good mom, I cannot allow myself to solely be a mom. Does that make sense? Just like, to be a good wife, I know I cannot allow myself to solely be a wife.

I guess the same thing goes for other things in my life. I just cannot stand being boxed into just 1 thing- being a working girl, being an MBA student, being just any one thing. And I guess it looks like I'll carry on living this way even after the wedding and after babies.

Oh, and another thing... It may sound weird, I know, but I also cannot take the fact that both titles- wife and mom- are titles that only exist in relation to someone else. Again, don't get me wrong, I love Dennis more than my heart can ever express, but I cannot live for him and him alone. I suspect the same thing would apply to my children. As much as I love them and would give up my life for theirs, I cannot confine my life to my relationship with them. My relationship with myself- how happy I make myself- also matters. And I happen to think it's only right that it matters. It's not selfish to want things for yourself, to save some hours of the day for yourself, and save some parts of yourself and not give it away to others, even if, by others, you mean your family. It's only right and it's only fair.

OK, am I even making sense?? How did I get to this topic when I was just thinking about being a delinquent bride? I don't remember anymore. The topic just popped back up in my head :P Oh well.

Project Home

is about to start for real! :) I'm soooo excited! Now that we've finalized our interior decoration drawings (thanks to Attorney's cousin, who did it for us for free as a wedding gift!), we're now ready to get the place jobbed-out to a contractor! Yehey! Now I feel like we're actually starting on Project Home already :P

Hopefully, though, it doesn't cost us too much. Within our budget is okay with me; I'm not even shooting for savings. I know that I can't scrimp in areas that need to be spent on (like the kitchen and the toilets), so I'm not going to penny-pinch like I would if we were referring to certain parts of our wedding. I know that it's an investment. I just want to stay within budget so we'll still be able to pay for some other planned items (hint: HM!) Let's keep our fingers and toes crossed! :)

confeeeeermed!

Got confirmed yesterday at Binondo Church. It was an interesting experience, though the seminar was seriously sleep-inducing. I successfully executed my part in the ceremony and even got a gift from my confirmation godparents! :) Hehehe. While it's true that I only did it as a requirement for our church wedding, I must admit I liked the solemnity of the ceremony,and the meaning of the whole thing wasn't lost of me at all, even if I'm not truly part of the faith. After all, I studied it in college. I even remember getting a flat 1.0 in the Sacraments class :)

Dennis was also sweet enough to accompany me through the whole thing, even sitting through a 2.5 hour seminar. He said he wanted to be there with me, even if the task at hand didn't involve him. Guess it's an exercise in marriage too. As my dad says, you don't always like what you do for your spouse, but you just do it :p

ohm.... namaste.... yoga...

OK, I was so tempted to blog about my yoga sessions after, well, the first time I went to yoga class in LKG. But I stopped myself, because I feared it meant I'll jinx this new fitness routine and I'll end up eating my words and doing "ningas kugon" (i.e. never go back after the 1st try). So now that I'm on my second month of doing yoga, I figured it's safe already to formally talk about it (at least as "formal" as this blog goes :p )

First off, I SUPER DUPER love yoga! Because:
1. It's sooo relaxing. It eases your mind of worries or stress and never fails to recharge me after each session. No fail! Since it has a lot to do with proper inhalation, requires tremendous concentration, demands focus on the here and now, and expects you to leave your troubles at the door. It's so calming and has such a nice de-stressing effect on me.
2. It helps my posture. Enough said.
3. It's making me stronger. I don't know if this is just a trick of my own mind's making, but I do feel incrementally stronger since I started doing this kind of yoga. I don't get out of breath as easily or as fast when Guia and I walk to Greenbelt. I can also take the stairs at the office and at home two steps at a time, all in one go (no more than 1 second interval between each two-step). I don't know when I can expect toning of the limbs to happen, but I think the increased strength is such an encouraging result.
4. It's strenuous enough yet it doesn't make you sweat like a pig or get "hingal" in a what-the-F kind of way. Admittedly, these are the main reasons I didn't like the gym. I didn't like how I felt so spent after each time I go. With yoga, I still get those "muscle aches" post-session, but nothing like those I get from going to the gym. So I still feel the workout's impact minus the icky sweating :p
5. There's variation in the yoga poses each time I go, so it never gets boring.
6. It's something I can easily replicate at home, maybe starting my 4th month of doing yoga. I need to get the poses down right first before attempting to do it at home, lest I injure myself. But once I get to do that, I can do yoga in the comforts of my own room. Which obviously, no gym routine can allow.
7. No need for special shoes, clothes or other paraphernalia. Apart from the studio fees, there are no required additional expenses!
8. The center is so near my office (at least for now.. I hear they're planning to move to Rockwell in Sept. Boohoo!). There is no excuse for me to skip my Wed-Fri twice-a-week routine.

Are those reasons enough? Hehe. I'm so happy that, after 27 years of existence, I've finally found an exercise routine I love. In fact, I super look forward to each session, in a way I never ever expected to feel about a physical activity. I never looked forward to gym or to PE. Ever! So this is definitely a good sign. I really love yoga!

HM Planning!!

The past few weeks, I've been jumping from one type of planning to another. First was wedding day planning, especially when I meet up with my wedding planner, then off to condo renovation and interior decoration planning, especially when we got our keys and signed all the documents, then to honeymoon planning, especially when I found a super great deal online for our Honeymoon Phase 1 in Singapore! :)

Anyway, this blog post is about the latter kind of planning. I'm so excited it's actually a bit painful to have to wait sooo long for it (7 more months!). After finding a super great deal on Cebu Pac last Christmas for our tickets to Sing (super cheap- as in, cheaper than a dress in Zara!), I went on a mission to find us the perfect hotel. Given that it's our honeymoon and that we're leaving 48 hours after we tie the knot, I wanted to splurge a bit on the hotel and not book us in a 30-sqm box. If I let budget be the only consideration, chances are, we'll end up in a shoebox-lookalike, given how expensive Singapore is on an average day, further compounded by the fact that September is F1 Race season there too. On the other hand, to sort of temper this desire to go all-out, I wanted to not spend too much on Phase 1, so that we'll have more money for Phase 2 (more on that later). So I surfed the internet more than I care to admit, until tadaaaaa I found the perfect deal!

We are staying here for HM Phase 1:

Conrad Hotels Singapore, a Hilton hotel

Got our room at 50% off in their winter sale last month!! How cool is that? :)

Then tonight, I made another discovery. Assuming we do get to go to NYC for our Honeymoon Phase 2, I really really really hope we get to stay in this hotel:

Room-Mate Hotel Grace NYC

I just love love love this hotel! Not only is the concept different, it looks really fun, the location is perfection, and there is, brace yourself, free breakfast! I thought that was an impossibility in NYC, at least not unless you're staying at a 5-star place. It's also got a nice pool, lounge area, lobby and entrance hall. Service doesn't seem to be a problem either! :) It's not cheap, mind you, as very few things are in the concrete jungle where dreams are made. But it's cheap enough, relatively speaking, especially if you factor in the location, which is the biggest consideration if you want to maximize your time in the city. :)

OK, I should stop sounding like a tour guide. Please please please please!!!!! :) I pray the stars align to give me this one special gift-- I hope we have enough money to responsibly go to NYC, then I hope we find cheap airfare (I have an idea what airline to take, but let's hope it pulls through for us!), then we BOTH get our US visas renewed (this may be the most unpredictable one of all the factors), and finally we get to take leaves off from work to go (this may be the easiest factor naman). Hehehe. I really really hope so. I really want NYC. Cross your fingers and toes we get there in 2010! :)

last call!

This weekend marked my last Valentine's day as a single person and my last CNY at home. Made me more wistful than I expected. Guess this just means we truly must enjoy every minute of every day and cast aside all worries about tomorrow or hang-ups about the past. Just enjoy the present. Because, just like with everything else in life, it's fleeting and it'll be gone before you know it.

Kung Hei! :)

it's REALLY happening!!!!

We got the keys to our condo unit today! Hoooooorayyyyy!!! I'm so excited and giddy, yet nervous all at the same time. Hehe. It's really happening! Once we finalize our renovation plans, the contractors can start work, in time for hopefully a finished place by June, and we can start slowly adding furniture to the place, in time for September!

To say I'm excited is an understatement :p

couch, come to mama!!!!!

Cobonpue: Highlight of Cebu

OK, so I'm back from Cebu, for a sales conference for SMART. It was a 3 day, 2 night trip, and we stayed in Mactan Shang. All I can say is that the hotel is nothing like Makati Shang but for a free 2-night stay in a 5-star hotel, I wouldn't really complain too much.

The highlight of this trip though was visiting the factory and showroom of Kenneth Cobonpue in Mandaue City. It was my boss' idea, actually, to go furniture hunting / shopping on our last day in Cebu, since we pretty much had the whole day (up until about 1:30pm) free and what else could we do that didn't involve too much cost. When she mentioned going to Kenneth Cobonpue, I immediately thought that his stuff probably cost an arm and a leg and for sure I wouldn't be able to afford anything. I had heard of his work and his legions of fans, though, and was actually curious to see his stuff up close and personal. They always struck me as "hard"-looking, like they weren't comfortable to sit on or lie down on, so I wanted to see what the big fuss was about.

After a 30-minute car ride from the hotel, we arrive at the showroom and were greeted rather enthusiastically by his staff of showroom girls who were really friendly and accommodating. We went through both sides of his showroom and I'm happy to report that I was so pleasantly surprised to see how usable his pieces are. Not only are they "impactful" visually, especially the bed and sofa pieces, they are also designed for human comfort. His furniture are all MASARAP to lie down or sit on. MASARAP na MASARAP.

When we were going through the first part of the showroom, I was thinking, wow, I'm actually impressed by his work! But I wasn't seeing anything particularly breath-taking or at least merited a feeling of wanting to take anything home with me.

Until we went to the showroom at the back and I saw THE COUCH. The couch that I would die to have in my condo when we move in in September. It's called the Yin Yang L-shaped couch, and it's HEAVENLY. Not only aesthetically pleasing but also remarkably wonderful. Like I want to sit there all day and maybe sleep on it at night. Hehe.

Alas, apparently, they do not sell the pieces in the showroom. Also, if you want to buy something, upon agreeing to the price quotation (which apparently is only released to you via email and on a per-request basis because the price of his raw materials are organic and thus their prices change from time to time), they will make your furniture piece from scratch. The leadtime is usually 60 days, and they ship to Manila. If you want some aspects or dimensions changed, this means your piece will be "customized". It will be subject to a round of special designing by Kenneth and you will of course be charged a corresponding customization fee. The girls actually didn't recommend customization. If you just want a couch lengthened because you find it a bit short for your fiance's leg length, then you're better off adding an ottoman to your purchase and save yourself a bundle of pesos.

Hehe. That last bit was my only predicament with THE COUCH , which the salesgirl was able to successfully address.

So now we gotta wait. How much will THE COUCH cost kaya? The other pieces there had quotations made out for today, so we had an idea on his price range. I'll tell you one thing about his prices- they are NOT cheap, but they are certainly NOT chump change either. If you consider the amount of labor that goes into the actual materials and the furniture, which we were able to see for ourselves, you'll realize why the prices are the way they are. In fact, you'd even think of charging more if you were Kenneth.

That last bit were my actual real thoughts as our car pulled away from the showroom's garage as we left for the hotel again. Hehe.

For more info on his work, you can check his website. THE COUCH isn't in the catalog for some reason. I kinda like it actually- the thought that it's not published in the site yet, and hence it's still my (or our, including my companions today) little secret for now.

:)

officially a homeowner!!

We got a copy of our condo certificate of title today! WOOHOO!! :p

The feeling is a mixture of a really powerful emotional high and a really freaky sense of anxiety with a helping of queasiness in your stomach that can easily trigger cold sweats. Hahaha! Did I just make it sound so weird? Anyway, the feeling is really a combination of "yehey, we're on our way to realizing our dream" and "what the.. how will we do this successfully?" especially since the place is really still on loan with the bank. While we do have a payment plan, the ultra-responsible and ultra-"praning" side of me can't help but feel the weight of the math computations on the flimsy piece of paper in front of me. What pressure. So this is what "game time" means for adults. Not just simple transactions like shopping or beautification routines that, when charged to credit cards, tend to "surprise" you at the end of the month. This is a true-blue, honest-to-goodness jumping into real-estate-mortgage territory, with serious consequences and pretty much just you and your husband left to your own devices. It's quite scary!

But, as my dad said, it's okay to have that "my heart is throbbing so fast I feel like I'm getting cardiac arrest" feeling. It means you're growing up. It means you're stretching yourself farther and reaching for a dream, intending to make it real. It means you've stopped daydreaming and started pushing the pedal to the metal (oh yeah, my favorite, cough cough, phrase)... and start living your life.

Nice to hear, and probably better savored when the debt is all paid for, but I know it's true. I guess it's also the responsibility of it all that would make it feel so much more worth-it and fulfilling in the end. Just like with anything else in life, the feeling you get after getting something you worked for is so much richer, so much more heart-warming and so much more meaningful than something you got through a dole-out. Not to say that dole-outs aren't good; in fact they are VERY VERY VERY much welcome. All I'm saying if part of enjoying the gain, more often than not, entails going through some pain.

Starting with.. no unnecessarily shopping starting today. I made some progress in January, it being the leanest month (spending-wise) for me, since probably my first few months of working. I just hope I keep it up. Hehe. I have a feeling I will be able to, though. Nothing takes the wind out of your clothes-shopping urges than a mortgage staring at you squarely in the face.

Let's not forget to celebrate too, though. We're officially homeowners! Hoorah! A feat by itself :)