I believe I can fly

I received this text message from my new boss in my new job.

“Thank you for accepting our job offer. Challenging job and interesting people. I know you have the talent, interest, maturity, and right attitude. These are important.”

Lovely.

I’m pretty excited and anxious with my new job. The expectations are high and I feel a bit pressured. I’m looking forward to working for another company with an entirely different business nature, different environment, and different people. I know it’s another adjustment but I feel I am ready for this big leap. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long and when it came, I knew it was time.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading on market research, grammar, and leadership. I want to learn everything I need to learn and focus on the new job at hand. The thing is, in spite of the high expectations I don’t feel the pressure to prove myself. Not that it’s a bad thing. I can be really competitive but I just want to enjoy this new work. I’m sure there’ll be politics involved but as what I’ve learned from my colleague Joel, you just need to focus.

There is so much hope in me right now. I know there’ll be roadblocks but I believe that I can hurdle them because I am armed with the trust given to me.

I am happy that my new company saw some potential in me, that I can do the job, can compete with the younger ones, and that I can lead. They looked beyond my physical appearance, my weaknesses. They saw something “within” me.

It’s still too early to say if this is what I really want to do all I know is this is the world I want to be: corporate and gives the opportunity to explore my strengths.

Everything that happened to me in the last two months is a classic case of nadapa at bumangon. In such short a time, I am a new person.

This is a choice I made in spite of the opposition from friends and elders. I’m not going to prove anything to anyone because honestly, I don’t have time for that right now. There’s no place for resentment at this point. I am focused on my goal one step at a time.

I am happy with this choice…really happy.

Firecracker-less society?

If there can be a gunless-society why not a firecracker-less society.

I don’t understand what’s the deal with firecrackers on New Year’s Eve? Honestly, I hate those who invented it and those who started using it in festivities. Call me kill-joy but I despise it.

I started despising the use of it when I saw one of my dogs, James, shaking one New Year’s Eve. He’s very afraid of the loud noise. Reports say that dogs can hear at least 6 times more than humans so you can only imagine how much they have to bear.

This is what I don’t understand. Media may not notice it but they help advertise these firecrackers in the guise of news reports. They're giving it free publicity. Just this afternoon the headlines are all about the firecracker capital of the country, Bocaue, and the rising prices of their supplies. When people see it they’ll know that there are much cheaper stores in Bulacan so they’ll go there and buy.

Then they’ll flash on screen safety tips in handling firecrackers! Ano ba talaga kuya? A friend of mine also pointed out that in what's with the giving of tips on how to handle firecrackers? It's as if telling people it's okay: it's okay to use it as long as you be careful. Nuts.

I admire Davao City because the local government is able to completely prohibit the use of firecrackers. It’s the definitive silent night. It only shows that you can greet the New Year without those loud banging noises. Marikina is following the example of Davao and knowing the residents of Marikina they are compliant with the city’s ordinances. They are the model city for handling stray animals with a very few incidents of rabies.

Now, can Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim who claims that he can stop criminality deal with this?

Here in our place in Gerona, Tondo, Manila, Barangay 87 Zone 7, the police are the main proponents and suppliers of these high-powered firecrackers. Just yesterday, we saw several rounds of Judas Belt being brought to the junk shop just across our house.

New Year’s Eve is NEVER my favorite time of the year because of this. This early I'm already worrying about that night and what should I do with my pets. I'm glad that Dr. Nick Carpio of Vets in Practice Clinic in Mandaluyong City gave me Calmivet to help James deal with the noise.

Every year, we have to endure this and every year, I greet the year ahead with so much stress.

Appreciating parents

It’s interesting to note that when we were kids, teens especially, we take pleasure in defying our parents. We would master the word “no” at an early age, and would go as far as becoming a rebel just so to get a degree in disobedience. We thought our parents were too hard on us and wanted to direct or run our lives for us.

But when they’re gone, we find ourselves thinking: what would mom do, what would mom tell me in this situation, what would dad pick, if they were in my shoes would they like it?

Crazy.

Why is it that when they’re already gone, that’s the time we realize how valuable their words are. And sometimes, you find yourself doing the very same thing you hated about them. There was a saying I heard from a friend that most daughters, more often than not, turn out to be an exact replica of their mothers’ habits and attitudes, even if some hated it.

We should treasure our parents, especially our mothers. What did Billy Bob Thornton say when Angelina Jolie’s mother passed away? “Some things don’t get better by the days,” or words to that effect.

Our parents only want the best for, and from, us. I wish children would have the maturity to appreciate that at an early age because we wouldn’t be here without our parents.

Christmas 2007

It was only last year that I started going out on Christmas Day. Normally, I would just be in the house like it’s just another day: eat, sleep, read, and watch TV. But since I noticed that my nephew was not having fun, I decided to treat him out on Christmas.

This year, I wanted to bring him to Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong because of my experience last year at the SM Mall of Asia. The throng made me sick and claustrophobic so I assumed Shang would have fewer people as it always is. Unfortunately, it’s closed for the day so we ended up going to, yes, SM Megamall.

This year, after we heard Mass and visited my mom, we watched a movie. We had lunch at a Japanese fast-food restaurant and I allowed him to do his ultimate chore in life: play videogames at Timezone.

Christmas, as everyone knows, has been utterly commercialized but I guess that’s just the way it is. Kids are having fun and everyone is in the festive mood. No matter how you try to avoid it, you’ll be infected by it.

I’m just a little concerned about the way Filipinos practice their faith. Yes, they go to Mass but there were very few who understand the solemnity of the Mass. One young lady was not allowed to take her communion because her outfit is too revealing (read: improper for the service). This attire issue had been debated when the Catholic Church issued guidelines on what to wear and proper observance of the Mass. When the Church was not doing anything to salvage the decreasing number of Catholics, people talk, now that the clergy did something they criticize it. Whew! Must be hard on the people of God.

Also, I see children playing toys, running around, elders talking. It just irritates me. I don’t see these scenes during the Iglesia ni Cristo’s service (on TV). How come Catholics couldn’t do it?

Now why would you bring a months-old baby inside the cinema? I just ignored it when the poor baby started crying.

There are so many people in the arcade and kids and adults play their hearts out cleaning up their purses for the exciting games.

Christmas is another reason for families to go out. Why not on ordinary days? Because it’s a special occasion. They have different reasons and varied degrees of the day’s significance nevertheless it’s still great to see how they celebrate it. Like celebrating someone’s birthday which actually it is. They may not be aware of it but they are celebrating the birth of Christ in such a festive mood. And that lifts up our spirit.

So this is Christmas…

…without mom and dad.

This is my first Christmas without my parents. I’ll be observing (not celebrating) it with my nephew and nobody else.

I love Christmastime. It’s my favorite time of the year but not this year. I didn’t get into the spirit. It’s Christmas Eve and I don’t have gifts for my friends yet. I just don’t feel it. The closest that I got into the festive mood was when I bought my nephew some stuff. My house help had to take charge of decorating the house ‘cause I was not in the mood. S

Noche Buena? Very simple. It’s the first time that I’ll be in charge of a “feast.” Usually, it’s mom’s turf so it’s kind of nerve-wracking because I’m not really a cook in the true sense of the word. I can toss and whip up something for everyday meals but not for a feast.

I just miss mom and dad so much, and my sister too.

‘Batanes,’ the movie

I always wondered why some Filipino filmmakers don’t make use of the wonderful sceneries in the Philippines as settings in their movies. I’ve always envied Koreans as well as Kiwis (New Zealand) for being proud of the many scenic spots in their countries by “exploiting” them in their films.

Many thanks to prolific Filipino director Adolf Alix for using Batanes as one of the “central characters” on his movie called, well, “Batanes.” It is not the first time Alix made use of the province as a backdrop to his movies. The location of his “Kadin” (which I failed to see) is also in Batanes.

“Batanes” stars Iza Calzado and F4 heartthrob Ken Zhu.

Simple but memorable is how I will describe the movie. Not since “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” have I fell in love in a movie; something that I want to watch over and over again; something that was etched in my mind…and my heart.

Iza is Pam, a city girl who fell in love with Rico, an Ivatan or a native of Batanes. In her visit, she is greeted by the warmth of Rico’s family which I assure you are one of the many traits people in Batanes are known for. That’s genuine and it’s in their nature. That visit marks the beginning of her new life when she married Rico.

Rico respects the sea so much. But the sea that he so loved is also the one who took his life, that is in Pam’s point of view.

In her effort to relive the life he once had with Rico, she often goes to places they once had been. When she spent an afternoon in an island a storm came. Come evening, an unconscious stranger is drifted ashore. And that’s how the love story of Pam and Kao (Ken Chu) began.

It’s not one of those chick flicks that will give the clichéd kilig moments. There are kilig moments of course, otherwise it’s no longer a love story, but they are so natural, so familiar that sometimes I felt I was the one in the movie (yes, I dream of hugging—and kissing Ken).

In the beginning, Pam’s father-in-law opposes the budding love between them but as always, love prevails.

Just when the two are beginning to realize the mutual love between them, Kao has to go back to Taiwan.

In the scene when Pam thought she once again lost another love to the sea, it truly, truly tugs at my heart. Jesus, I cried buckets to think that it’s only like 3 minutes.

Because it’s a feel-good movie, the ending offers hope and more love.

Iza’s acting affected me so much that I forgot I was watching a movie. I could feel her pain everytime she sets the table for two after her Rico’s death; everytime she cries while embracing her husband’s shirt; and everytime she looks at the sea there’s pain in her eyes. There are times though that she couldn’t get enough tears in the most intense moments but still, she pulled it off.

Ken, well, when Taiwanese band F4 was popular here, I was actually rooting for him instead of the other three who are more popular than him, simply because he is the least commercialized, the more intelligent, the more talented (he writes his own songs), he can cook (he wrote a cookbook) and believe me, he’s the most handsome.

I can’t say that much into his acting but he is credible as a stranded stranger. I love that it feels so natural when he tries to explain something to Pam but they just couldn’t understand each other. And I know that unlike his contemporaries, he has outgrown the boy-band thing.

Iza and Ken look good onscreen. Initially, I was afraid that there may not have chemistry but they made people fall in love with them. They’re so natural. Alix brings out the best in the two, and the best of both worlds. The idea (the bold idea) of casting a Taiwanese, instead of a Korean (which is more popular here) or a Western actor is simply laudable.

It is very much evident that Alix loves Batanes by making it as one of the central characters and sharing the spotlight with the two actors. In fact it has as many screen shots as the others.

The musical score by Jesse Lucas is…fantastic! Unforgettable and just amazing because I’m teary-eyed most of the time. It’s just so sad that there are only two songs featured in the movie written by Noel Cabangon. “Hanggang sa Dulo” was by Jolina Magdangal, and the other one which the title escapes me was performed by Cabangon. Simply put, there’s no soundtrack and I cannot enjoy Lucas’ music.

There are reviews made by the more learned which I will try to post in the future but this is my “own take” on the movie. I tried not to be biased because I love Batanes. But if it is still showing after the movie festival this Christmas season, it’s worth watching. A movie that will be etched in my heart (and I hope yours too) forever.

Life’s lessons

Sifting through some month-old newspapers I haven’t read, I came across articles that seem to describe how I’m feeling or how I’m dealing with some issues during the past months.

They are about propriety, self-assurance, and financial stability.

I’ll begin with the last issue. As far as I can remember, I’ve always been worried that my finances would just disappear in a snap. There’s a story behind that. There was a point in my family’s life that we were broke, and that sort of molded me into a cheapskate. Like any Libran, I always weigh things if I would have to buy expensive stuff. It would take weeks and weeks of rationalizing if I really need it. There were times that I would give in and there were times when the fixation just faded. So, until now, I always worry about spending too much, and sometimes, not spending that much.

I also have this issue of why they can save that much and why couldn’t I? Well, if you’re in charge of every bill in the house, and you only earn so much, how can you follow the rule that 20 percent of your income should go to the bank? Or maybe, no matter how I try to be thrifty I’m still a spender. And I would always blame myself for that.

This afternoon, I came across a letter in the Junior Inquirer of 11-year-old Mariefel Nicole Deypalan of Lanao del Norte, saying how grateful she is of what she has after reading an article on children living in cemeteries and could hardly get by. I felt like, whoa! Here I am worrying about money matters when I had an easy time looking for a job when I felt I no longer enjoy my current job. It’s like pow! Wham! Bam! Girl, count your blessings instead. You’ve come a long way since the hard times in the old town. Stop worrying.

I needed these things to wake me up from my deep slumber.

Self-assurance and propriety. I’ve always been shy. I’m not sure if it’s because I was a sheltered child or just plain genetic. Before I decided to take the big leap, (I just realized now) I have been doing things to please others. Recalling the many instances when I do things because I felt that my colleague would approve of it or I want her to say something nice to me. It’s so silly realizing that now! Jesus! There were times when I would buy dresses and think, what would she think if wear this in the office?

But when I made a decision, so huge everybody was surprised, I felt so liberated from those attachments. I didn’t consult anyone about this and believe it or not, I am empowered. It feels like a newly overhauled car.

You see, this decision is something that many in my batch are so afraid to do. The risk is so big: financial security, comfort zone, established friendships and relationships, internal connections, company prestige.

But I did it! Not just because of economics but because I did tread the road less traveled and it feels so damn sweet. It, somehow, boosted my confidence and energy level.

There’s this line from The Alchemist which was rephrased in an article by Gilda Cordero Fernando (How to survive propriety, PDI, November 4, 2007, Page C1): Once you make up your mind the universe will conspire to make everything fall into place.

I’m not a fan of self-help books; in fact I feel that having a professional life coach is a bit preposterous. But come to think of it, our friends and our families are our life’s coaches we just don’t know it. We go to them when we need a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen.

But these lessons in life that I learned on my own are something I am truly proud of. I’ve been submissive all my life, and now I’m learning independent thinking. As I’ve said, I have misses but I also have hits.

My friends thought that I’m just confused because of the deaths in the family; that my mind is not on the right track; that I don’t think rationally as they do; that I don’t even think at all in doing the leap. But hey, it doesn’t matter to me anymore because I am much happier. And this is an achievement I can truly call my own.

New author for Wheel of Time

Now, this is interesting. I'm a newbie in the fantasy genre so I haven't heard of Brandon Sanderson. In the news story on CNN it states that Sanderson will finish (or write) the final book of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. Sanderson is the author of "Mistborn" series and his first novel is titled "Elantris." Interesting titles.

I'm looking forward to it because writing a book of another author is way different from say, directing a sequel. And Sanderson is writing one book preceded by 11 books written by only one author.

WOT has legion of fans (with 44 million copies sold since the first book "The Eye of the World came out in 1990) and I'm sure they are as intrigued as I am as to how the new writer will end the series that have captured the hearts of many. We'll see.

Chefs for fast-food

I think it was 2 years ago when I first heard of British chef Jamie Oliver. The news was about his campaign to promote healthy and nutritious food in schools. As a chef, he felt obliged and responsible for giving people the right choices of what to eat. So, from then on I have this idea that chefs are really serious about their “vocation” and is all for healthy food.

So, I’m a bit puzzled—and surprised—to see three Filipino chefs in a TV advertisement for a fast-food chain. I thought, aren’t they supposed to endorse healthy eating? These are the “so-called celebrity chefs” who have their own TV shows and a number of endorsements. I have nothing against fast-food because I myself is a patron. I have my favorites, actually.

It’s just a curiosity on my part on where does the responsibility of chefs begin and end. If they will only offer fast (junk) foods, then why the heck study in those expensive cooking schools? I myself have the secret recipe of the most delicious gravy of one of these fast-food chains. Why bother?

Fetish for 5-stars

I find this post by Gibbs Cadiz about the now infamous Manila Pen siege really amusing. This is exactly what I thought of the first time I heard of the news.

"You must wonder at these firebrands. First Oakwood, now the Peninsula. They must love the amenities and free toiletries so much. Or the fact that, after all the hubbub is done and they're off to either the stockade again or--in the event that they did manage to oust The Woman--Malacanang Palace, nobody's gonna dare bill them for their stay in the place. Neat."

'Meri Kidsmas'

It's always a nice feeling to be able to help. Would you like to experience that feeling too? Here's how.

Just buy a T-shirt for only P300 and you'll contribute in giving a memorable Christmas party to some less-privileged kids in Camarines Sur.

The front design is done by Robert Alejandro, and the back design is done by my friend Ray Leyesa.

Call Jules at 0928-5060309.

Tribute to Conde, the horse

One late afternoon a few weeks ago, I received a call from my friend Tin. She was a little disoriented but she was able to tell me the message: A horse collapsed in front of PDI office, still alive but seems to be in a bad shape.

I texted brigade my network of animal welfare activists and veterinarians because I was at home and couldn't think of any way to help.

I texted Dr. Nielsen Donato of Vets in Practice if he could recommend a horse doctor to send over to the site to look at the condition of the horse. He sent a name. But Tessa who is so used to such emergency had the presence of mind to call a nearer vet.

I texted Animal Welfare Coalition's Mona Consunji because Tin told me that the owner of the horse wanted to bring the horse with him. I know Mona knows how to handle this and her very determined attitude to help the animals is enough to intimidate anyone.

I was sitting at home waiting for any news. And Tin told me, they had to put down the horse because he was in a really bad shape. Honestly, I am glad I wasn't there coz I must have lost my wits and could've pinned the owner down and let him feel how he abused the very nice horse.

Horses have soulful eyes and it pains me to think how he must have suffered the past years. Tessa was told that the horse was sold and then bought again because he was not that good enough. Conde, I think was a race horse. This is the problem with racing, once the animal's career is done, he/she will be ditched off like some rag.

It's fate that Conde collapsed in front of our office so that at least on his last hours, he would feel loved and cared for. He is now buried in a farm.

Here's an excerpt and the link to Charles Buban's article.



Conde the Horse finally gets the treatment he deserves

MANILA, Philippines--In what was to be his last hours as a maltreated working horse, Conde finally found a way to get even with his master: The 16-year-old horse collapsed in front of the PDI offices along Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City and found the attention he probably never experienced in his entire life.

The sight of Conde being forced by his owner to get up was unbearable on Saturday as a number of Inquirer employees accosted the owner, 65-year-old Jose Hernandez, who even tried to load the crippled horse onto a jeepney.

“It’s not every day that you see a horse collapse in front of your office. Seeing the owner force the horse to get up is already too much and one just has to intervene,” said editor Aries Espinosa, one of the employees who first rushed to the scene and called a veterinarian.

According to the responding staff of Modomo Veterinary Clinic in Makati, the horse, which was pulling a sulky and heading for the Philippine Racing Club at the Sta. Ana Race Track, was malnourished and severely dehydrated. A sulky is a lightweight, two-wheeled cart usually pulled by a horse or dogs.

“The condition of Conde is so despicable. Yes, the horse is already old with his hind legs showing evidence of fractures. But the evidence is clear that the owner was maltreating the horse,” said Dr. Percy Modomo, who used up eight bottles of dextrose just to revive the fallen horse.

Believe me, please?

Okay, so after many things happened to me this year, I decided to embark to another journey in life. Only a few believe that this is something I wanted to do for a long time.

True, recent career decision has something to do with it but as my friend R said, it happened because there was a reason behind it, that it would pave the way for me to find a new life.

But nobody really believed me. It's not a hasty decision. I've been wanting to explore other career possibilities but it just so happened that the opportunity came when I'm in a crossroad. So I feel that if I didn't go through that episode in my life, I would not have realized that there is something for me out there. That there's another life waiting for me.

Everyone feels that where I am now is the best company. I have to agree because compared with the others in the industry we have the best package. BUT, I have to look at OTHER industries where there are better opportunities.

I'm pissed off when somebody commented that my feelings have to be processed as if I committed a grave mistake. Before this one, yes I have to admit I did. But I learned my lesson and I have a very strong feeling I'm on the right track.

Actually, I feel better now. I feel lighter because I'm looking forward to something very different to my life for 11 years.

Yes, I have misses but I also have hits. I hope people will just respect my decision and wish me all the luck in the world. That's what I need now.

Funny pets

Just one of the many things that makes me happy...