My Attempt at 101

Building on the one I did last 2009 called "My Attempt at 100", here's a list of things I'm thankful for this year.  It's surprising how I didn't need to "scrape the barrel" to reach 101. And to think the year's not yet over, so there'd be more to add later.

1. My mother got a good bill of health from her doctor re: her breast cancer up till her next check-up next year.

2. I got promoted to Senior Manager…during the exception promotion period.

3. I managed to not be in the bottom 10% of my new peer group during performance evaluations, even though I'm fairly new.

4. I managed to get nominated for a leadership award for senior managers in my company, and got a small plaque for it (and a night of free food and showbusiness), even though I'm fairly new at it.

5. I got to start 3 new teams successfully this year, despite challenges.

6. Just when I thought I wasn't going anywhere, I got sent to Malaysia for a training session.

7. I got to go to Aquaria, Kuala Lumpur and saw this cute turtle, like the Dude turtle in Finding Nemo

8. I managed to complete my Christmas shopping before the crazy shopping period started.

9. We got the microwave oven we've been planning to buy for some time, and also some neat stuff: can rack, painting for the living room, etc.

10. Through my company's points system, I was able to redeem 1 radio-alarm clock, 1 oven toaster, and one wooden table. It's already for delivery next year.

11. My mother seems to have a good conscientious doctor for her diabetes, enough to write me a letter about how important it is for old people to have companions when they have check-ups, and force me to go to the clinic on a workweek.

12. I managed to get Brief Lives (volume 7 in The Sandman Series) through Kris Kringle. Four more volumes to go to complete the collection.

13. A friend gave me Train Man and Hunger games as a birthday present. Good books! I don't normally have good judgment on what books to buy.

14. I got to watch STOMP! live, even though I let dozens of foreign acts pass.

15. I decided on a more shaven haircut and everyone says it suits me better than my old look. So I'm sticking to it 'til I get bored again.

16. My doctor's advice was a good justification to buy this expensive Wegner trolley bag.

17. I got to experience a House M.D. moment (i.e., gone through MRI). Results were normal.

18. I've been postponing the purchase of it, but lo and behold, friends gave me a laptop case as a Christmas gift.

19. I joined the Twitterverse and now have 54 followers.

20. Rico Blanco and Kelvin Yu (of Itchyworms) RT'd and replied to me on Twitter.

21. I can do Facebook and Twitter from my Nokia E63.

22. I learned to check for free Wi-Fi in restaurants, malls, etc.

23. My ringtone is now Sandwich's Two Trick Pony and my message alert tone is Adam Levine's Moves Like Jagger.

24. I'm not a gadgeteer, so all this news about IPhone 4S, Blackberry, IPad didn't damage my savings.

25. I got to put in internet connection in my house via SMARTBro Canopy

26. The skills competency area group that I lead won "CA of the Year".

27. I found another route to the office, via taxi, and I can afford to take it everyday.

28. I got to eat at EDSA Shangri-la's H.E.A.T. buffet restaurant. Yum!

29. I got to treat out my relatives in Tong Yang (another eat-all-you-can place) during my birthday week.

30. I got myself new lunchmates this year: Roy, Anna, Hans, Carlo, etc.

31. My relationship with my client counterparts remain strong, and I really feel that I have their support.

32. Crazy schedule notwithstanding, I got to go on dates this year. And they were good dates.

33. Met new office friends in my Malaysia trip both from Manila and from other offices.

34. I got to experience owning a labrador, even though Mateo died after a few months.
35. None of the post-dates cheques I issued for the housing loan amortizations have bounced so far

36.  I have discovered a new favorite drink in my nights out with friends/officemates: Mojito

37. I always have my Nanay Aida and her family's support

38. Through my MBP, I got to load my Nokia E63 with tracks from my CDs so my morning commutes are music-filled.

39. I managed to stay away from collecting stamps for coffee shop planners this year.

40. My salary is enough to buy the medicines that my mother needs for her cancer and her diabetes

41. We discovered a new weekend pasyalan place: Resortsworld

42. We got to watch KAOS! in Resortsworld in pricey seats.

43. Me and my team got to watch a movie at Resortsworld's premiere cinema, complete with drinks, popcorns and waiters.

44. Bon Chon Chicken opened in Manila. Megamall specifically.

45. I got to sing with a live band for the first time. The song was "The Man Who Can't be Moved".

46. My project had one helluva year-end party, 70's themed, and I found a good costume for it.

47. I realized that David Guetta tracks are cool.

48. How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Glee Project, Kitchen Musical entertained me this year.

49. My project is growing, not as big and as fast as other projects, but it's growing a lot considering our circumstances.

50. I don't have sunken cheeks anymore.

51. I'm now 120 lbs, from 95-100 lbs last year.

52. My waistline is now 31, which meant buying new pants, my new Levi's 501 jeans being one of them.

53. I am an only son, but my mom and I have other "family members" whose ties are not based on blood, but based on something much more lasting. 

54. I feel that my responsibilities at work is growing but I know I have the support I need to do these new stuff well.

55. I am able to help out relatives through personal loans from time to time.

56. I got to dab into cooking during my birthday week: baking brownies using our gas oven, and cooking phad thai. Results were encouraging.

57. I got to treat some friends out at Inagiku, Makati Shangri-la and did not cringe at the sight of the bill.

58. Ate for the first time at Yakimix with my UP friends. I seem to be getting the hang of eat-all-you-can places.

59. Got to go back to U.P., ride the IKOT jeep, and be nostalgic even for just a few hours.

60. I was still able to give some gifts (inexpensive though they may be) to some friends and relatives on birthdays and Christmas.

61. Even though SLE came back this year with more potential health threats this time, my doctor detected it in time and got me into pulsing treatments early.

62. Though there are less holidays this year (and some holidays we had to go to the office), I don't have to work on weekends, December 24, 25, 30 and on New Year's Eve.

63. I still have some time to spare to play FB games: Cafe World, Farmville, Yoville.

64. I managed to close one of my credit cards. Now I only have 2! Yay!

65. I got to buy expensive clothes for myself this year, stuff the stingy me wouldn't dare buy: from Hush Puppies shoes to Fred Perry shirts. The focus is now quality than cost.

66. I finally found that watch box I wanted.

67. I got to be a speaker in a school for team leads and associate managers.

68. I attended several events in Shangri-la (Makati and EDSA), from award ceremonies, invitation-only events, to core schools.

69. Several of my project members were recognized in different recognition programs of the company this year.

70. My project made it as a nominee in the company's Gantimpala Awards, Bayanihan category, aside from winning as Incredible Implementer.

71. I manage to stay sane (bordering on sociopathic tendencies) despite the problems I have to deal with in running my project, and commuting to and from work.

72. I am able to delegate some of my admin work to several of my associate managers like call cost sheets, food orders, etc. BIG YAY.

73. I got selected to participate in this INSIGHTS training which reaffirmed my self-awareness as a worker and as a leader.

74. My friends and relatives are doing well for themselves and have a good life (at least based on their FB posts).

75. I got introduced to Deal Grocer :)

76. Three pulsing sessions and no gagging after each one.

77. Had a lot of videoke times with friends this year!

78. Didn't spend a lot of time with usual friends at work but there's comfort in knowing we're still friends even after not seeing each other a while.

79.  It's not that lonely, despite what other people say and do. I feel no pressure. This must be contentment?

80. I got certified as a presenter for the SAP practice and already did 2 presentations for client visits.

81. Even though a visit from our client VIPs didn't push through after days of preparation, me and my project enjoyed the events after. There's always next year.

82. I earned enough Globe Rewards points to redeem a USB flash drive.

83. DVD/Movies that made a dent this year: 500 Days of Summer, Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

84. LVP, HSB, AB.

85. During my birthday, Sanuk gave a me a 50% discount on my second item purchased.

86. The remaining balance of my housing loan is now below 1M.

87. My project team knows how to have fun, and knows when its time to take work seriously. I'm happy to be their manager.

88. We managed to get the courage to go into unchartered territory --> Opus, Marriot.

89. Tasted my new favorite beer: Hooergarden.

90. I maintain a good relationship with several of the people who resigned from my team/project.

91. (I'd like to think that) My project team can stand alone without me.

92. I got to take a look into other projects (and their problems) this year, making me appreciate my project more.

93. One more year and I'll be entitled to endowments from my insurance policy.

94. I was allowed and able to work from home when I needed to.

95. The elders in the family are still fairly healthy for their age.

96. My project prepared a very touching birthday video greeting for me, complete with Anne Curtis and other showbiz beauties.

97. I can still do gimmicks with my friends/my team up to the wee hours in the morning, despite my age and despite how far I live.

98. My client counterpart told me that I need to go to Barcelona, Spain next year. Processing work permit requirements now.

99. Met a few more friends on FB this year.

100. The Arroyo family is being persecuted and humiliated like the criminals that they are. Hooray.

101. Despite my negativity most of the time, I'm was reminded, one way or another this year, to not lose hope.

Maharlika Nominee Me

In the last company-wide award season in August, I got nominated for the "Maharlika Award". It's the ultimate leadership category for managers/executives in the company. Of course I felt honored. I just got promoted to senior manager last March 2011, so to be noticed and short-listed amongst n hundred senior managers was a feat for me. I knew how the selection and deliberation process worked for the recognition program (I was part of the deliberations group for non-executives this season), so I knew my nomination had to go through a lot of scrutiny and peer-group comparison so make it to this year's list.

Being nominated doesn't translate to any monetary award, but at least there's the award ceremony at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel (read: free hotel buffet food). It had a Filipiniana theme (with instructions for men to wear barong tagalog) so I thought hey, I'm just a nominee so I'll just go in office polo barong. Man, people in the office do take this awards night very seriously: Barong Tagalog and dresses all around, like it was a wedding reception. Worse part, it was announced that nominees need to go up the stage to be recognized. Anyway, here's how I looked while accepting the award from one of our Directors. Program finished around 10 in the evening. 

Little surprises like this are the most treasured, as they are unexpected. I have always conditioned myself to do my job well, recognized or not. A win is not important because the nomination is bonus enough.

The Birthday Foodie Experience (PART TWO)

Continuing from part 1 of the food adventures during my vacation leave, it's worth noting that all of the events below happened all in one day.


Food adventure 3: FELY J's KITCHEN

My mother and I decided to eat in Greenbelt 5 after my scheduled cyclo session in the hospital. We arrived there starving, since the session finished around 1 p.m. My mother wanted rice, and recalling the reviews from Chico and Delamar (of The Morning Rush fame), I herded her to Fely J's Kitchen. Place looked comfy with old framed pics to it. Menu was mostly seafood though but luckily for me, modern Filipino restos normally have pork sisig on the appetizer list. Aside from that, we ordered Sinigang sa Bayabas na Tiyan ng Bangus which was served in a heaping vat instead of the usual small claypots in other restos, and Chicken Inasal, which was comparatively smaller than what's served in other restos as well. Taste was better than the normal Dencio's as it should be, given the prices. Hehe.


Food adventure 4: INAGIKU

After lunch I saw my mother off to home and waited for my dinner with some close friends. We planned it before: a meal in Makati Shangri-la Hotel. We just didn't know which resto to go to until I asked one of them while waiting, "Any preference on the food?" and got a reply of "I'm feeling Japanese". That meant Inagiku, located at the second floor (and all the while, my brain was saying ditch the idea and have an eat-all-you-can at Circles instead). Anyway one of my friends came on time and so we started ordering already until the rest arrived. It was a really fancy place, but as one of my friends said, Inagiku is relatively affordable compared to RED. I really don't remember the names of the dishes but they were good: the tempura containing ground shrimp, the breaded chicken bits, the sukiyaki, and the tofu. Yeah, normally the only tofu I can tolerate was of the now-phased-out dish in Chowking, but the one in Inagiku was great. I don't remember the rest of the dishes though. I was so full, typical when I eat out Japanese. And we didn't even order maki.












Food adventure 5 : MANILA PENINSULA











So I paid for the Inagiku dinner, and one of the friend goes "Where's dessert?". Good thing one friend was up to treat us out to dessert. Choices ranged from Haagen Dazs to UCC Vienna Cafe. We initially ended up in TGIFriday's only to bolt after the we found that mudpie was not available. So we trekked to Manila Peninsula. My first time to step foot in it only to see a lot of people lounging there in the lobby restaurant. We got lucky: saw a couple of celebrities like Ryan Bang, Zanjoe Marudo, Vhong Navarro, and Angelica Panganiban (she looks sexier in person than in the TV). My friends seem to be familiar with the place already. We got the banana split and the chocolate fondue, for sharing.


Well, that's one day full of food.

Junior Master (Chef) Me

Out of some stroke of inspiration and a hint of boredom during my vacation leave, I decided to try my hand in cooking, going past just cooking rice, frying stuff, and preparing sandwiches. And why not start with those things I like to eat?

Pad Thai, that traditional noodle dish from Siam, was one of the first on the list. Mainly because I saw bottles of readily-available Pad Thai paste at the supermarket. Although it did save some time in preparing the mix, it was kinda hard to wing the recipe, since recipes on the packaging covers didn't involve cheats like Pad Thai paste. I wasn't even sure of the noodles I bought until I saw a Pad Thai recipe on the packaging. Anyway, I went with shrimp AND chicken, with the optional tofu and peanuts. And with the household tradition of cooking for an army even if we're just two in the house, here's what came after an hour:

It looks better when plated though. And the taste? Nothing a few Chinese chili flakes won't be able to correct.:

Next challenge was walnut brownies, but c/o the Pillsbury Dough Boy. It was just mixing all the ingredients together, without the requisite measuring cups (need to buy some if I am to continue this kitchen madness): eggs, oil, brownie mix and the sachet of walnuts. What really tried my patience was lighting the gas oven. It was our first time to use the oven since I claimed it from the office perks program at zero cost. And since it ran on gas and I had no idea how ovens worked, except the microwave, it took several attempts at lighting the damn burner before I got the flame started. So anyway, after much debate between my mother and me if it was time to take the pan out of the oven, here's the finished product:

Attack of the Indies

If recent events are to be believed, the only chance for independent films ("Indie films") to get watched a lot in local cinemas vs pirated DVDs, if it they stick to comedy. Well, that's what I think because for me, appreciation for these comparatively low-budgeted, shallow-treatment films started with Kimmy Dora, and it being an indie film seems to be still debatable. Anyway, there seems no contest that Eugene Domingo started the renewed public interest in indie films. She was the main reason I watched "Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank", a story about a bunch of indie filmmakers who's casting "the" Eugene Domingo as their lead actress in a poverty film called "Walang-Wala". The story is still, shall we say, very artsy: Kean Cipriano and JM Rodriguez talking mostly in film speak; their joy at having seen the slums, then losing their car to slum goons thereafter; the parallel scenes they depict the story (real, musical, what-not). Still enjoyable, though I think it was a too much too soon for the average masa moviegoer. I didn't hear a lot of laughter inside the cinema until Eugene went on-screen.

Now, "Patayin Sa Shokot Si Remington" is another indie film which just showed recently. The concept was great: Remington boy who used to taunt homos was cursed to become a fag when he grows up. As he approached 21 years, he gets attacked by a demon over and over, slowly changing him into become gay:first, his body hair gets shaved/waxed; then his tongue suddenly gets more eloquent in gay lingo; then he suddenly feels urges for his best buddy Jigs. All of this happening when he was trying to woo the new girl in town, Hannah, and there's a serial killer zapping homosexuals with a gay-animal gun. For me, the writers could have done away with the zombie element of the story and it would still have been funny. The staircase scene alone between Remington and Jigs was hilarious, as with the other scenes when Remington was fighting his conversion to being gay. Anyway, if you don't mind the loose editing, the movie's good enough for a trip to the cinema.