Rise of the TIGER

First Meeting of all Managers and Supervisors with the GM.  The PANAs --- on with their usual "pasiklaban" acts.  The NOYPIs --- listening intently, not mindful of them. 

Then came a comment from the GM in front of all the listening crowd.  "He is like a TIGER.  Doing his job, making follow-ups and he had just recenly made an excellent observation about our website.  My hat's off to you!" 

Countless remarks suddenly poured in --- very good observation, that was very good, congratulations! 

He even received an e-mail with this photo:

   "Well done Mr. Tiger.  Keep it up!" --- from the Production Manager

The gentleman that he is, he replied:  " Apparently, the Tiger has a very good trainer --- my boss."

He doesn't want to keep all the glory to himself.  Kahit na alam nyang walang pakialam ang boss nya sa kanya.  Ang mahalaga, alam na nang GM ang kapasidad nya at kung ano ang kaya nyang gawin!

Mabuhay ang mga NOYPIs sa UAE!

**** thank YOU for letting my light shine in my workplace :D   to YOU be the Glory!!!  ***

Day 20 - ASAN ka na??

300 USD --- not bad (as in NOT BAD!) for delaying your flight and have it re-scheduled the next day.  How did it happen this time?  And why does it always happen on you?  Almost 15000, you are truly blessed!

So pano, libre mo ko ha :D  Nagluto pa naman ako ng Lechon Paksiw at madaming kanin.  Akala ko kasi dating ka ngayon.  Ending, napanis ang kanin, haaay!

Hmmm, maya konti andito ka na.  Ang weird lang kasi hindi man lang kita masundo.  Hindi ko nga alam kung natuloy ba talaga flight mo this time or meron na namang irresistible offer :D

Marami tayong activities tomorrow but I'm not sure if you'd rather stay home and rest.    Birthday kasi ni aphz, mag-night-swimming daw mga Singles.  Pero dapat magsimba muna tayo before anything else ha.

Welcome BACK Aimee!

Day 18 - Washing MIRACLE

Had too much of the day.  Too much stress.  But not much work.  Too much laundry.  But our washing machine, too much problem!  It was one Friday morning, clad with my best "kuskos-piga" skills, the dial of the washer suddenly snapped.  Result:  I ended up manually washing my clothes. 

Two fridays already passed since then. 

At around 7pm today, I obliged my self to start sorting laundry and pulled my self to start washing.  The washer dial, which used to have automatic timer and spinwash, has to be manually maneuvered and has to be held until your forefinger and thumb starts to hurt.  After this, you have to untangle the clothes to make room for another spinning.  A tiresome and waste-of-time routine because you don't have time for other things (as I used to multitask when doing my laundry).  No time to cook either so I only had bread, 2 bananas and strawberry milk for dinner.

To save time, I usually start rinsing the first batch manually.  As I was doing it, which meant the washer is not spinning, I rotated and bent over to reach the dial.  This time it snapped again.  For a while, it seemed that I broke this darn machine again.  It totally stopped spinning even with my aid.  When I was about to give up, it started washing on its own.  Miracle!  Siguro naawa na si Lord sa akin :D

So dalawang tulog na lang, andito ka na ulit!  I pray that you'd have a safe and relaxing journey going back here.  I pray that your vacation has given you renewed strength and rekindled your motivation to work anew.  See u very, very soon Be! 

Day 17 - How Quickly TIME Flies!

Got this photo from Arbee after I treated them for early dinner.

My 1st month salary treat with Arbee, Kuya Jojo, Jane and Aimee.

Tapos pang-3rd month ko na dito!

Ambilis talaga ng PANAHON!

Day 16 - WEIRD Officemates

Just recently, a lot has been happening in our company due to the sudden death of our Managing Director. 

The new General Manager is implementing different instructions that is unappealing to "the oldies" and is a constant laughingstock nowadays.

But what I could not understand is that they seem to ridicule even his instruction of keeping Saturday, the other is Friday, as another non-working day --- another OFF-day.  What??  I really can't dig it.  Why can't they just be happy and obey him?  I am happy!  So happy that as early as now, I am already planning on how I could use that extra day for recreation or maybe for rest.  I'd like to obey..  But my boss told me that I am not yet entitled to it because I am still on probation for the next 3-months.  What a pity!  Oh well, at least there is another thing, aside from regularization increase,  to look forward to after my probation :D

You know what, I think they are sick!  If only they could open their eyes some more and see that there is more to life than work!  If only I could share to them the happiness there is to life than confining one's self inside the office for countless hours and days!  Hey officemates, we were created not only to work but also to live! 

Hindi naman ako galit ha, nagpapaliwanag lang :D

Lastly, I could still recall a story about our deceased Managing Director.  While inside the ICU, he suddenly got up, removed all the tubes inserted in or poked on his body and while wailing he said, "I like to see my daughters!"

Remember that in your deathbed, your work will not cry for you.  (It will not even shed a tear for you.  In fact, it could easily find someone to replace you.)  But your FAMILY surely will.

Day 15 - A LOVE Letter

AIMEE,

Nakita ko iyong mga litrato mo, ang saya-saya mo.  Ngayon lang kita nakitang ganyan kasaya!  Parang mas masaya ka pa nga dyan kaysa noong kasama mo ko dito, hehe :D 

Kunsabagay, iba naman kasi talaga kapag kasama ang pamilya.  Walang pagsidlan ang kaligayahan.  Nag-iiwan ito ng pitak sa ating alaala at habambuhay nang nakatimo sa ating puso at isipan.  (Parang ang korni ano, pagbigyan mo na lang ha at lulubusin ko pa.)  Ito rin ang nakakapagpaalala kung gaano tayo kamahal ng Diyos --- dahil biniyayaan Niya tayo ng pamilyang mapag-aruga at pamilyang laging nakasuporta sa ano mang desisyon natin sa buhay.  Hindi ba't sobra-sobrang biyaya na ito?

Ang ganda ng mga kuha nyo sa Sagada.  Kitang kita ko na talagang nag-enjoy kayo.  Na kahit pagod na sa kakalakad ay walang kapaguran pa rin sa pag-Jumpshot.  Kaka-adik tumalon ano?  Kasi kapag tumalon kayo, parang iyon na 'yong kabuuan ng iyong nadarama.  Maligaya, masaya, pagod, 'di mapakali.  Basta, hindi maipaliwanag.  Kaya nga't daanin na lang sa pagtalon.

Binabati ko nga pala kayo sa pagtapos nyo ng Cave Connection.  Alam ko namang kaya nyo 'yon.  Walang pagdududa.  Kaso nga lang, bakit parang wala kayong masyadong litrato sa loob.  Sayang naman kung ganoon, kasi maganda ang mga rock formations sa loob.  Maganda sanang alaala.  Na minsan, kinalimutan nyo ang lahat ng inhibisyon at kaartehan sa buhay, para lamang makalabas sa kabilang bunganga ng kuweba!

Nakita ko rin 'yung litrato mo sa bahay kubo natin sa Batangas.  Ang saya ninyo doon.  Parang bayanihan ang dating.  At ang sipag mo ha.  Kunsabagay, paborito mo talaga ang maglinis.  Sana ganoon rin tayo kapag tayong dalawa naman ang magtatayo ng sarili nating bahay.  Kaso paano iyon?  Hindi ba't condo ang gusto natin?  A, ako lang pala ang may gusto.  Basta, pag-usapan na lang natin ulit pagbalik mo. 

Nakipaglaro ka rin pala kay Chloei.  Mabait siya ano?  Kaso isa lang talaga ang alam niyang laro --- ngatngatan :D  Pero may mga bago syang tricks na alam hindi ba?  Hay, ang laki na niya.  Sana kilala niya pa rin ako pagbalik ko.

Sina Nanay at Tatay, kumusta pala?  Siguradong tuwang-tuwa sila na bumalik muli ang kanilang pinakamamahal na anak.  Sigurado ring babawi ka sa mga luto ni Tatay.  Kahit ako rin naaalala ko rin mga luto ni Tatay.  Masarap kasi talaga, na parang may ibang linamanam.  Sigurado ring andaming kwento ni Nanay sa iyo.  Atlis ngayon, pwede nya nang antayin ang sagot mo :D

Si Ataleng?  Ang galing! Tapos na kayong lahat.  Ang sarap nga pakiramdam ano.  Ganyan din ang nadama ko noong nakatapos si Giliw.  Ika nga, "Proud na Proud."  O, sabihin mo sa kanya na hinay-hinay lang ha.  Huwag magmadali.  Dahil mayroon talaga Siyang magandang plano para sa kanya.

Naku malapit ka na ulit bumalik dito.  Eksaktong isang linggo na lang.  Dapat ay baunin mo lahat ng magagandang alala ng iyong bakasyon dyan.  Halos isang taon ka muling lilisan para tuparin ang mga pangarap mo sa buhay.  Maghanda ka na ha.  Kasi pagbalik mo dito ay sasabak ka na naman sa walang humpay na trabaho.  Stress.  Mga ka-Pana-an.  Bawal magsick-leave.  Kailangan magstay-back.  Laba.  Luto.  Grocery.  Paulit-ulit.  Parang sirang plaka.

Pero huwag ka mag-alala, nandito naman ako.  Katulong mo ako sa kahit anong bagay na bumabagabag sa iyo.  Sabihin mo lang sa akin.  Basta't kaya ko ay gagawin ko.  Kung hindi ko naman kaya ay kakayanin pa rin.  Para sa iyo.  Para sa atin.

Salamat po.  Pakiramdam ko, mas lalo akong naging mabuting tao dahil sa iyo.  Wala nang iwanan ha.  At kahit pa sa susunod na bakasyon, kailangan, magkasama na tayo!

Lubos na nanabik sa iyo at hanap-hanap ka, McRICH

P.S. (Pahabol Sinta) ... pagkakataon ko nang bumawi, haha, huwag kalimutan ang aking mga padala pagbalik mo dito.  I-email ko na sina Ma para sa mga kailangan ko, hehe :D

  

Day 7 - The MERGER

My loving MA & caring PA with my pretty Aimee :D

My ever ENERGETIC Nanay with Chloei & Pipoy :D

Jumpshot of Leng, Aimee and Arlene in Sagada

Chloei and Pipoy playing :D

Thank you Lord for our FAMILIES!

Day 4 - Cravings

Sobrang nagcrave ako kanina sa Butterfly Prawn sandwich (see photo.  Di ba mukhang masarap talaga?) pagkatapos maggym.  Kaso wala akong dalang pera.  So ang ginawa ko, hindi na ko nahiya sa gym buddy kong mangutang.  E kaso ala rin pala syang dalang pera.  Kaya ayun, minabuti ko na lang umuwi.

Kailangan ko ng madaliang luto kaya nanghiram din ako ng 2 itlog sa ka-room ko.  Define katamaran??  haha :D  Kakatamad kasi na umalis ulit para lang sa itlog.  E gutom na gutom na talaga ko!

Since meron pa ring natirang Corned Beef (hephep, nakapagluto na ko ng nilaga kaya it doesn't mean na ulam ko yung Corned Beef hanggang kanina!), sinangag ko na lang ang tirang kanin at nagluto ng dalawang sunny side up na itlog with matching spicy bagoong bilang sawsawan.  Ayos naman at nabusog din. 

Pero pagkatapos e nagcrave naman ako sa Doritos!  Haaay, grabe na talaga 'tong cravings ko.  Marahil siguro sa pagbubuhat.  Pero ang galing! Kasi yung isang ka-flat namin e may Doritos pala :D  E nabanggit ko sa kanya.  Ayun, binigyan ako.  Ayos!

Salamat Lord sa buong araw sa buhay ko! 

Bukas ulit :D

Time Check:  11:10pm

Day 3 - Remembering MITCH

 

I remember the first time I saw you.  Quietly minding your own, staring at people passing by.  That made me notice you.  Your simple elegance somewhat caught my eyes.  Even then I knew that we were meant for each other.

I remember the first time we had our first stroll.  Did you see how proud I was just being with you?  I hope you did.  'Cause I love how you comforted me.  I love how gently you carried me amidst the chill of the night.  It was as if we knew each other for a long time.  We had fun that night and I was wishing then that we would never part again, ever.

But all is gone, Mitch.

I am sorry that I left you.  I did not know.  I thought you were still with me that morning.  I thought you were just walking by.  Please forgive me.  And now like Solo, you are gone --- gone forever.

Please take care Mitch for I will surely miss you...

P. S.      Hmmm, where can I buy a new JACKET?

Day 2 - Corned Beef Sarap

Wala namang masyadong ginawa sa office.  Tinapos ko lang mga pending reports.  Nag-email-email.  Nag-follow-up ng mga pending concerns sa different departments.  Umikot sa planta.  Nakipagkwentuhan sa ibang mga pinoy (na minsan ay wala na talagang mapag-kwentuhan).  Nagpakitang-gilas sa pagpu-push up (Trivia:  Kahit pala malalaking tao ang mga Pakistani e hindi nila kayang magpush up!) dahil kala nila e di ako marunong magpush up tulad ng mga Pakistani.  Ayaw paawat ng isang Nepali at nagpakita pa ng ibang kahindik-hindik na moves.  Sabi ko nga sa kanya e baka nagtrabaho sya dati sa Circus.  Tawa naman sya.

Ikot ulit sa planta.  Biglang may isang Supervisor na nagsumbong na may isang sub-contractor na hindi sumusunod sa mga patakaran sa Health and Safety.  Syempre punta agad ako para mag-imbestiga.  Pinilit kong pigilan ang operasyon ngunit na-overrule naman ng Manager ko.  So pinabayaan ko na lang sya.  Dahil mukhang okay lang naman sa kanya ang mga pangyayari.  Anyway e malapit ng mag-uwian at andon naman sya kaya umalis na lang ako para magprepare sa pag-uwi.

Pagdating sa accommodation e pahinga lang sandali.  True to my calling ng pagiging Kuracho, e naligo ulit ako pagkatapos magpahinga para sa Prayer gathering namin by 8pm.  Kumain na lang ulit ako ng biscuit para pantawid gutom.

Bandang 9:30 e nakauwi na ulit.  Nagmadaling magluto ng aking pamatay na corned beef :D dahil hindi pa nga ako nagdi-dinner.  Linagyan ko lang ng patatas, aside from the usual panggisa ingredients, at ayos na!  Mabuti na itong dinner at pambaon the next day.

Time Check ngayon e 11:26pm.  Handa na akong matulog.  Ano na kayang ginagawa nina Aimee, Ataleng at Leng papuntang Sagada?  Malamang natutulog.  Mahaba kasi talaga ang biyahe papunta don bukod sa nakakapagod talaga.  Pero ang alam ko, kakayanin naman nila ang Cave Connection Adventure!

Hmmmm, antok na ko. Zzzzzzzzz....

Day 1 - Call me KURACHO

Woke up around 9am.  Prepared the washing machine.  Got all the the dirty clothes.  Spinned the first batch.  Then when I was about to go on with the next, the spin dial seemed to have lost contact within.  Darn.  I ended up manually washing my clothes!  And there were lots of it :(

I did my best to finish by 1pm.  Ate 2 M&S cookies and drank a glass of water just to suppress my hunger (as I no longer have time to cook).  I have to be in church by 2.  So after resting for about 30 minutes, I hurriedly took a bath and dressed up.  I don't want to miss the P&W!

Then came the message about PRAYER.  Simply put, prayer affirms what is written in His Word; so we have to believe and claim His promises in us.  The ABC's of prayer :D

After church, Jane and I went to Cebu Restaurant as she wanted to treat me out.  Talk about answered prayers :D She had just gotten back from Oman (from where she waited her employment visa) and she wanted us to eat as a welcome treat.  She was so happy and relieved that she's back.  We talked about stranded Filipinoes there.  The hopeless case of some.  The hopefuls who are still awaiting a spark of miracle so that they could come back here.  I know how she felt.  I experienced it too.

We departed around 5pm.  I went home to rest.  Ate 1 biscuit for some sugar-rush.  Had to prepare because I'm meeting up with my small group friends.  (Last small group session, we agreed to burn up some fats, sweat a bit and exercise!)  Jeff, Apz and Jim made it.  I did not know what happened with Arbee.  Before I left church, he told me he would come.  Same goes with Martin.  Anyway, I was so glad that I was able to pump up some muscles again after two weeks of no exercise at all!  I took time to teach Jeff some routines while Jim had Apz.  We finished around 9.

Right after gym, I headed straight to the supermarket.  I no longer have rice to cook.  I was so hungry I could eat an elephant!  (Now, I'm exaggerating :D)

Got home, rested again.  Went to the kitchen and cooked rice.  Good thing I still have some eggs for a quick meal.  Then my roomates gave me a pininyahan drumstick.  Maybe they took pity on me after seeing me eating omelet, haha.

Then around 11:10pm, I looked for my sling bag.  Wait.  I left it in the resto!  Huwaaah :(  Hope it is still there.  Good thing the resto was just like some 5 minutes walk from our villa. 

The wind was so chilly.  Freak weather it is.  Just some days ago, it was beginning to get hot.  Then now, my whole body was literally shaking as I walked.  As I approached the resto, I prayed a little to God.  Hope it's still there.  And then --- lo and behold, my precious sling bag!

Time Check:  11:55pm

Call me KURACHO...  Ang Lalaking Walang Pahinga!

Day ZERO

I could still remember last night at the City Terminal.

There we were trying to convince the terminal officer to admit Aimee's 42-kg baggage but to no avail.  Somehow, our power of persuasion was no match to his steadfast adherence to the rules.  We had no choice but to open up the box we painstakingly wrapped up, tied up and tidied up for more than an hour.  And there we were standing on the counter with our ashened face trying to make out what to do next.  But what to do?  

With a lightning speed, Aimee was gone.  Ardee and I were left taking turns to off-load the box.  Trying to figure out which stuff we should unpack.  Cookwares, shoes, clothes, M&S biscuits, etc. --- off you go.  Then as we turned, there we found Aimee with a masking tape on hand and a sack bag on the other.  Only thing lucking now is a cutter.  Thank God for keys!

Back to the terminal.  X-ray.  Sticker.  Weighing.  At last it was 38 this time!  We thought we had almost made it but we did not!  The officer still could not accept it.  But to a high of Php9000 (800 AED), the excess baggage fee was lowered to Php4000 (400 AED).  Still a lot of money for us.  4 thousand is already enough for a nice dinner for 2 families somewhere in ATC.  Again, we had to unpack!

This time we got rid of the Tefal cookware totally.  Also done some trial and error to find out if we had at least reached 35.  Then we called the officer again.  Bore the usual pleading actuations.  Made some babby talks.  Showed some weary eyes.  At last, the officer finally gave in.

24 hours later, here I am alone.  Hungry.  Not in the mood to cook.  Not in the mood to go out.  Not in the mood to do anything else.  Was asked by my roommates to go out with them for a birthday party but I declined.  I am too lazy to party and even too lazy to eat.  All I wanted is to finish off this blog and snooze off to sleep.

But how can I?  I am missing YOU!