A Minikin Piece of Heaven Amidst the Tumult

Back to movie madness

2006-03-15T21:07:00.000-08:00

I used to be an avid movie goer... hey I'm a Communications Arts graduate, it's only natural... but lately I'm limited to my home video collection which is not so bad, at least I'm relaxed and I'm comfortable... and MATIPID! =) but sooner or later... it can get a bit sad.

Earlier I went to ATC with some of the peeps from work, again the nostalgia of going out purely for fun was so overwhelming! I miss the feeling, I really did. Maybe I'm too focused at work and the ladder I already forgotten to enjoy all the blessings that I have.

I am thankful for the team that I have now... of course no one will top Team Cassiopeia, nor will be as controversial as Team Roulette... but right now it's all laid back. Maybe it's not just the people but the account itself. I feel like I have more TIME... and that is such a relief!

Dreamy Calaruega

2006-03-03T02:06:00.000-08:00

2 words... "ang GANDA!!!"

let me tell you... the straight from shift ,long hour drive was so worth it!!! bangag looking photos nga lang, pero the background of our pics are so nice!!! the church was exquisite, the flowers were amazing and whole place was a dream! And to make things even better.. there's a souvenir shop! grabbed a few things for my team and of course a very, very cute bag for myself! haha!

haay... I miss this spontenous road trips, haven't done them in a while. The whole Tagaytay trip made me remember how fun it was to leave your organizer behind and take things as they come.

The mushroom buger restaurant was an educational trip on its own. Wendy's reaction to the "tenga ng daga" mushroom was a classic. (TIP: when you go out of town, hold on to your cameras, you never know when kodak moment will come up! haha!)

Being spontaneous meant not planning the time as well, so what supposed to be a couple of hours "dadaan lang tayo/sisilipin lang natin road trip extended to noon. We ended up eating lunch at Leslie's, with it's great view, wonderful set-up and beautiful huts it's almost perfect... sana lang masarap ang food!! Promise, I have never seen so much garlic in my grub... ever! The rice... the molo... shucks! even the SISIG! I guess it's safe to say that the food sucks!

The trip home was a scrap book moment all on its own. Wendy who was driving was so sleepy she can't hitch us back to Alabang anymore, so she suggested that we just ride a shuttle. Grace and I was soooo tired we couldn't care less. I had the movements and decision making no better than a drunken fool. I rode a van, with no clear idea where I was or worse where it was headed. I woke up one hour after still in that van, still with no idea where in the world I am. Asking Grace doesn't help either, though she's much more decent than I am that time she doesn't have any idea! All I could mutter that time was... (in a very bangag voice) "alam mo, kung san man yun... ANG LAYOOOOooo!"

91m11's Team Building... literally the first of many!

2006-03-02T02:14:00.000-08:00

February 28th came and we are off to Pansol!

Our team partnered with 91m07 and rented out a pool in Pansol,Laguna for a night of pure bliss! =)

Everything worked out fine... I got to know my team better... especially the girls. Intense discussion about life, career and L-O-V-E. Hay ang corny! =) I love hanging out with them and deeply appreciate their company and concern. Sana lang walang lasing na gagala gala! hehe!

Love the salbabida that they bought (Sweldo kase!)... John was in his feminine mode and particularly requested for the one with the most color combination! tsk! tsk!

Ate Pinky was in her maternal mode and cooked fried chicken as a midnight snack and pansit the following morning. SARAP! she's teaching me a couple of tricks on how to cook (properly!) so watch out!

As of writing, another out of town activity is in the works. EXCITING!!

**note to self: bring a good variety of food... ayoko na ng ISDA!!! =)

Vienna Lyrics

2006-01-23T05:59:00.000-08:00

Slow down you crazy child
You're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart tell me why
Are you still so afraid?
Where's the fire,
what's the hurry about?
You better cool it off before you burn it out
You got so much to do and only
So many hours in a day

But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you can just get old
You're gonna kick off
before you even get halfway through
When will you realize...
Vienna waits for you

Slow down you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic
on the borderline tonight (tonight)
Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself
That you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong
You know you can't always see
when you're right(you're right)

You got your passion
you got your pride
But don't you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on but don't imagine they'll all come true
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you

Slow down you crazy child
Take the phone off the hook and disappear for a while
It's alright you can afford to lose a day or two
When will you realize...
Vienna waits for you.

But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you can just get oldY
ou're gonna kick off
before you even get halfway through
Why don't you realize...
Vienna waits for you
When will you realize...
Vienna waits for you

I'm leaving with flying colors... as promised! =)

2006-01-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

Just heard the good news... my former team was able to get the highest qualified CSAT score for Bellsouth Dial!!! which means... an overnight accomodation in Puerto Galera for the whole team!

After months of hardwork I can truly say that this kids deserve it.

I may not be able to join them to celebrate, but that doesn't matter... all I want to see now is for them to enjoy what they worked hard for. All the effort to ensure the highest quality and exert extra mile truly paid off.

Reviewing the December scores made me realize that we were able to hit all the targets that we set at the beginning of the month and I'm just so damn proud! =)

I'm a bit sad that I had to leave just when everything was warming up, but I know... as I've said when I announced that I'm leaving... I provided you with all the knowledge that I can share... I wish you'll just have the discipline to sustain it... everyone in that team deserves to be succesful... and mark my words you are all headed there! =)

Congrats team roulette! will miss you terribly! =)

just wanna go home...

2005-11-10T05:34:00.000-08:00

Funny isn't it? whenever you pour your heart out over something, it will almost always never turn out as what you have planned.

Hilarious isn't it? that when you believe in something it will almost always deprive you of the joy of success, but instead finds happiness by making you suffer.

I once dreamt of becoming an inspiration to someone, no not a hero, not an icon, not even a mentor. I just want to become a person whose opinion matters to at least one individual.
I thought I was able to achieve that... until recently. When all the hardwork, sweat and tears that I used as the foundation of my career crumbled down on me. A certain sabotage that I didn't even expect from my biggest competitor. It was such a dirty game, and I applaud her or them for being able to pull it off.

Too bad for them, they haven't realized yet that I never give up. They may have damaged my career, my credibility and worse my reputation that took me two years to establish in this company. But I do know one thing, I'm leaving with my head held high, cause whatever decisions I have made for this team, I can look anyone straight in the eye and tell them, I performed my job with integrity, and far more respect for them than they will ever deserve. I've done everything as honestly and as fair as I could, I'm well conscious about everything that happened around me, I knew the risks, thus I'm prepared. Even for something as unfair as this, I can meet them head on.

I may have made bad decisions, but God knows I also surely made great ones. I know what I can and cannot do. I can turn a team around, I just can't do magic. Motivation comes from within, all of us has it. Some of us acknowledge it, while a good number of people I know would rather choose the easy route, which is to act STUPID!

It's a small world after all!

2005-11-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

Just came back from the CVG's inter-site battle of the bands... and yes! our band rocked! They were able to get the 3rd place... which is hey! not so bad! I mean the top two bands were honestly amazing! They don't sound like amateurs at all. In fact all the bands showed huge potential. (I'm actually getting jelous... Santa Claus for Christmas I want a really nice singing voice! hehe!)

Anyways... you might be asking why I said "small world" in the title... well, it just so happened that while I was listening to the last band from Alabang... I caught a glimpse of the drummer... and my goodness he looks so freakin familiar... He looks like one of my classmates way back in elementary! after a few minutes of shock... I'm alsmost 100% sure that he's a guy from my childhood past! It was so awkward!!! I don't really have any bad moments shared with him before... but the fact that he at least has an idea of how disfigured and immature is enough to send chills down my spine! It's so amazing... just when you thought you've already ran from your past... it really finds a way to hunt you!

…heaven’s missing a star

2005-10-31T18:11:00.000-08:00

Last night, as I was commuting towards work, I suddenly I had a ‘sad’ moment. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, WHAM! Tears man! So you can just imagine me there beside the window… a crazy lady with tears rolling down her cheeks…alone.

I don’t know what I saw, or what started me thinking, it wasn’t even a clear night with twinkly stars… it’s just there… out of the blue… I started thinking of constellations…

Now you must be thinking, why the hell is this girl crying just because of a bunch of stars???!! =)

Well it just so happened that my former team was named Cassiopeia, it actually translates to “the Queen.” It’s a bunch of stars that if you look closely, it actually looks like a crown. I remember it distinctly cause that’s what we saw when we pointed it out while we were lying down by the shore of Puerto Galera.

There’s so much to miss in that team, but what stands out the most for me is the unity. It is one place where I never remember hate… well sometimes I do… thanks to Benjie and Rico’s petty fights! (haha!) but even with that in my mind I can’t hold back a smile. =) It was during those times that I can’t wait for lunch. That I would rather eat in the pantry (or not eat at all when the food is crappy) just so I can sit and have a chat with them. I’ve come to know them on a personal level, I learned what makes ‘em furious, laugh, and during extreme situations cry.

I long for this group of people’s memory so much I wish I recorded them on tape so I can just watch and listen to it over and over again…

I miss the serious career talks with Ian down at the taho area…
I miss Dhey’s jokes and punch lines that surely cracks me up…
I miss Wella’s kakulitan and frequent calling of “TiEEEEeeeeLLLL??”
I miss Grace’s maturity and level headedness…
I miss Sharon taking picture of us so that she can send it via MMS!
I miss Lei’s innocence… err… or is it ignorance? =)
I miss the sight of Benjie scratching his head in disbelief…
I miss Rico’s pa-banjing banjing ways…
I miss the idea of Nena being our Jane of all trades!
I miss Joyce’s kakikayan with a cellphone constantly stuck to her ear.
And most of all… I miss the LOOOoooooNNNNnnng CAAAaaaaLLLLLllssss!! The AHT, Lord!

I have so much fond memories… I just laugh at the mere thought of it…
I remember Wella dropping the bowling ball with a huge audience behind us!
I remember Dhey’s ‘leche flan’ the he painstakingly prepared for us! (how many eggs/batches again, Dhey?)
I remember Rico’s intermittent ‘pikon’ moments that just makes us laugh more. (it gives you character, Rico!)
I remember Nena being forever late… AND… forever OT… again because of the Loooong Caaallls!
I remember Lei’s Polaroid moments… that camera is a keeper I tell you!
I remember Grace being a record holder of the team’s longest CALL!
I remember Benjie’s story telling about him being an OFW… what chemicals are those again Benjie?
I remember Joyce’s forever KFC for lunch!
I remember Sharon being always on the go, that when I talk to him at the end of the shift it has to be fast forward!
I miss the mini-book club we formed girls
The best of it all… I remember Ian’s Sex Bomb moves in Red Box!

There is so much more running through my head right now… but I’m so busy smiling I want to keep them there for a while. One thing is for sure, it’s truly the team to beat when it comes to friendship, loyalty and teamwork. The sad thought of course is that I may never have a team as perfect and as compassionate, but then again… nothing is stopping me from being optimistic… or is there?

Booorrrriiiing... booorrring!!!

2005-10-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

obvious ba na boring life ko? tignan mo mga posts ko puro links na lang!!!

What is your icecream flavor?

2005-10-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Your Icecream Flavour is...Neopolitan!

You aren't satisfied with just one flavor. They say variety is the spice of life and this shines through in your Ice cream of choice! Just don't eat all the chocolate and leave the strawberry and vanilla behind!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz

My name!

2005-10-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

C	Courageous
I	Industrious
E	Extreme
L	Legendary
O	Old

M	Mushy
E	Enjoyable
R	Radical
C	Charismatic
A	Accurate
D	Dignified
O	Overwhelming

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

Loserville sigh

2005-10-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I updated my blog... I really miss writing, too bad for me there's no more time to do my little hobbies anymore.

They say that the best achievers are those that manages to have a great career and yet still get their "ME" time. If success will be based on that statement, then I guess it's safe to say that I'm becoming a major L-O-S-E-R! For the past few months I slowly but surely got so involved in my work... and yup, I do admit it's getting out of hand.

I can't remember the last time I went out just to see a movie. I envy my colleagues who up to now still has the time to play badminton, never lets a week pass without eating out, gets a regular massage and assures themselves that they can still watch at least two of the latest flicks on their rest day.

For me, the only dining out experience excitingly involves Jollibee and McDo! …and for someone who loves to eat as much as I do, eating out on styros with plastic utensils might well just be considered a crime! ... for the movies, well let me put it this way... I already have an extensive video collection so that I can just stay home. As for sports... the last mountain I climbed was Mt. Banahaw... now think...wasn't it closed to the public for years already. Yup! That’s my boring life now... and I really, really wanna pick up the pace again and get back to my old, travelling, exciting, "I don't care if I die in this adventure" attitude! oh, well. I'll just update you once I get that back.

7610... the continuation

2005-01-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

I just got my phone back... 2 words... 5th Avenue... don't you ever buy from that cellphone store. They have super bad after-sales service that will get you wanna yell your freakin head out. When I bought my phone they were the nicest, and gigliest girl on the planet,,, well hey, if someone is just about ready to hand you their money wouldn't you either... but the moment my cellphone had a problem, Oh lord! won't someone please bite off their fingers as they were pointing everywhere!!!

Anyways, it took 3 weeks, managerial letters, phone calls, stress and consultation with DTI just to get them pinned down... you know whats the worst part.. they made it seem that they were doing something and they even offered a compromise that doesn't benefit anyone but themselves! They told me that I have to shoulder 50% of the cost to serve as our "compromise," but when I got there they made me cough up P1500 which was the full price that they mentioned before all this problem happened! Claiming that the original price was P3000!!! Liars and bitches!

Bottom line they are absolute liars! They are not worth your emotions, even your anger, much more your money. In my case, I just gave up and succombed to their demand that "I" should be the one to pay for the defective phone! So if I were you just forget about buying from them all together. There are a thousand stores available to us consumers, who can definitely offer a much better service and a high quality cellphone for that matter, who have are being supplied by legal nokia distributors who won't run away from you. So if ever you want to buy a phone and you are in the CyberZone in SM Megamall, look out for 5th Ave... make sure you stay as far away from them as you can.

New Year... New Mind... New Spirit

2005-01-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure where the border of Batangas is, but I swear, the beach we went to yesterday felt like Luzon's southern edge!
We went to the La Luz Resort in San Juan Batangas, and yes people, for anyone who has never been there, it was quite an experience! I'm kinda used to long trips, since my friends are known to be Philippine roamers, as we are on the quest to discover all the beaches this country is bragging about. But last Sunday, I wasn't prepared for any bumpy ride, much less, kilometers of dirt road!
we left Manila around 10am and got there (thank God, in one piece) around 2pm. To be honest, I was quite nervous that the resort I've chosen was a mistake, the road trip wasn't that pleasant and I was already entertaining the fact that the website was a hoax. But after 2 express ways, multiple highways, tons of municipalities, a hundred landmarks and 4 kilometers of dirt road... I finally found peace. The place was beautiful, and welcoming.
The cottages were great, despite the lack of cable tv and low water pressure, it was fine. One thing though... you will get FAT! Well maybe not everyone, especially me, hehe! But they will definitely try! As soon as we got there lunch was served. we were given time to unpack and rest, just when we were about to hit the beach we were called back to the dining area for merienda! We burned all the calories by soaking up the sun and being one with the waves. The current was quite strong, we were literally being dragged to the shore and back to the water! Another thing about this beach that I wasn't quite prepared for is the "sand," err.. I mean "pebbles!" It hurts! So if you are heading for this place, leave your girly sandals behind for they won't last an afternoon!, but instead bring your trusty islander tsinelas... comfort first!
About a couple of hours later, yes people, you are headed to the dining area for it is eating time again!!! They offer value for your money cause they never scrimp on the food, and give their guests choices with at least 4 viands a meal, desert and juice drinks! I just cant walk after every meal, I had to drag my full stomach back to my room and lie down... it was quite a load!
In a nutshell, it was fun, it was definitely cheap, most of all it was a resting experince... if ever one day I wanna head off for a retreat.. La Luz is definitely the first place I'm gonna head for.

Pasko na ba?

2004-12-18T15:47:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... Christmas is almost here... has anyone seen or even felt that much awaited christmas spirit.. if you have... can you kindly ask him to pass by my house
Gee, I dunno, I guess I've just been so down this past couple of weeks I haven't really felt it. But it's still early right? Maybe one of this days santa will just surprise me when he taps on my window come christmas eve. By that time, this whole festive occassion will hopefully catch up. That's definitely one of my Christmas wish.

7610... so near yet so far...

2004-12-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I bought the most expensive phone in my cellphone ownership history. It cost me a whole 13th month pay to get it and I was just so uber excited!

The phone, in my opinions was great, the only thing that it really lacks that would matter to some people would the be IR and the FM radio. But personally, I don't care about the IR, and the FM radio could be compensated by the MP3's since it came with a data cable, i can download/upload my own music whenever I please!!! The camera is great! plus the video editing feature is so much fun! It's got so many features that I could play with, yet it's not really that complicated... in other words... IT's JUST RIGHT FOR ME!!! =)

So there I was taking pictures and video clips with my new MMS phone... when suddenly I saw a black spot on my screen.. no it's not dust! no it's not a scratch! OMG! There's something wrong with my most loved MMS phone!!!! grrrr! I had to bring it back to the shop and wait for the verdict... it was one of the saddest moments of my life.. ok, ok, ok... I was exaggerating.. pero promise nalungkot ako. Oh well.. i guess there is nothing I could do right now but wait... and pray... and use my good 'ol "reliable" ET68i.

An Early Christmas Treat

2004-12-05T23:00:00.000-08:00

Our first get together as a team, also happened to be our last. It was one of those moments that could be considered bitter sweet... good thing there was so much laughter, hours flew by and every bit of time spent was well worth it.

It was an afternoon packed with different themed parties, we have a christmas party complete with exchange gifts, a birthday party for moi with a cake of course (lecheng kandila ayaw mamatay!) and... sad to say a farewell party.. complete with the iyakan and syempre barkada nights... with our now most popular christmas wish... A MAGIC SING!

The night had to end, but what we had then was enough... I know the smile on my face will already last for a long time.

To Team TKS... thanks for a fun night!

The Name Game

2004-07-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
~~William Shakespeare

As an infant, I was introduced to the Christian world with the name "Maria Cielito Lopez Mercado."Sounds too spanish? well, like most kids, I thought my name was a bit too long. Similar to most girls names, there is that significant ever important " Maria " before my actual "first" name, and like most people in this world... I HATE my name... well I "used" to anyways.

The ethimology of my name is no nationwide secret nor would there be a need for a rocket scientist to figure out the formula behind it. In fact my grade school teachers and classmates realizes it right away, as soon as they take notice of the names of my parents. See... my dad's name is Lito and my mom's name is Celia... if you do the simple math.. you have Celialito... hence the now infamous name which is Cielito.

Maria Cielito just sounds too complicated for most people, especially because there is that word..."lito". It seems that society has injected to us that names ending with the letter "o" will be associated to males since it tends to sound masculine. As opposed to the letter "a" that sounds more feminine... and yes... there had been millions of questions and suggestion that the name that I have should be changed to "Cielita!" And with the advent of Americanized names in the 80's, my name, to put it simple, has never fitted in. Much less can't be handled by a classroom full of 7 year olds.

I have tried dozens of different nicknames just to bypass the dreaded scene when people will actually know my real name... but ALAS! people are smart... they almost always figure it out. I have even considered to have my real name changed. There is a long process though, but for someone as troubled as me... I would almost never mind the sweat and blood that may go along with it!

But that was then... before I figured out the meaning behind my name... and so another chapter of my life was written... one that I will always remember with a smile. It was the summer of 2002, I enrolled my bored self to the Newscasting class of Ms. Kata Inocencio where the subject of names where brought up. To my surprise she translated my then hated name... "Cielito" into such a sweeter phrase in Spanish "small heaven." and thats not all... remember I have a "Maria" for the first part of my name... and Maria is used by Catholics to incorporate Mama Mary to Cristian girls names. So now what I have is... "Mama Mary's Little heaven!" Now isn't that nice. I feel so angelic! Now who would want to change that?! I certainly wont!