Not The Only “Isko” In The Family

As of April 23, I am no longer the only one in the family to graduate from the prestigious University of the Philippines (U.P.).  My cousin Jing-Jing marched during their graduation ceremonies in U.P. Los Baños, finishing a degree in Agriculture.  We’re all very proud of him.  When my mother and I would visit them in their small canteen, I’d talk to Jing-Jing about U.P. stuff.  It felt nice having someone in the family from the same school.  Even after all this time, I really believe in the advantage in being U.P. graduate, so I’m happy Jing-Jing made it.  I bought him a small bag and wallet from MF+G.  He was very happy, since he told me he was actually planning to buy the same items.  He’s off to review classes now for an upcoming licensure exam (Weird, I know).

Leadership Stress

The past week has been HELL in the office.  I remember in the leadership congress that I attended last month, one of the key points was, "A leader first touches the heart before he asks for a hand".  My new boss should've been the one to attend that congress.  Then maybe he'd learn some basic leadership principles.  Don't get me wrong.  I can live with his I-don't-need-inputs-from-you-guys-on-how-to-run-this-project-even-if-I'm-new policy.  It's all a matter of putting up the right kind of apathy force shield around me.  What I can't take is his effect on the other project team members.  If I could just whack him in the head, causing him to at least realize he doesn't live in a vacuum and that he's not that good and well-accepted, then I'd be fine.  The thing is, I get pressure from senior management to help him adjust, to make this leadership change work.  And since it comes from senior management, the option of replying "But he doesn't listen!!!!" and "Why am I going to be accountable for a superior's action, when it will all roll-up to him when we do make this work?" is not an option.  I'm reaching my limit and only a few people know this.  Kung baga, Bi-Bingo na sya sa akin.  Konti na lang, pagsasabihan ko na to ng prangka even if I jeopardize my promotion chances.  Stubborn arse.  Pwe!!!!

Reality Show Favorites

I haven't been watching TV that much due to the chaos called the office, but based on what I've been able to catch on weekends, I've already formed opinions on some of them.  Well, knowing me, I don't need that much time to form an opinion about anything.

For American Idol, it would have to be David Archuleta, David Cook and Carly Smithson.  David has been consistent the whole season I think.  I especially like his renditions of John Lennon's "Imagine", Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" and this week, Mariah Carey's "When You Believe".  Really cool.  David Cook really made his mark with the rock version of Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby". I hope this comes out in a CD or something.  It was the best performance I've seen so far (in watching American Idol).

Now on to the local fare, Pinoy Big Brother.  Of the teen housemates, my vote for the Big Winner would have to be Robi Domingo.  Not really siding with any particular school, but the Atenean showed more character and leadership skills than the La Sallite.  Fearless prediction for the Big 4 would have to be Robi and Josef (since ABS-CBN will need to fire up the school rivalry to earn millions in text votes), Nicole (as the love team for Josef), and Beauty (to generate the same reaction to Wendy's bitchiness in PBB Season 2).

The Breather

I took two days off work since last Thursday. For two days, I just stayed in the house: sleeping, watching TV, sleeping, watching DVD, listening to CDs, sleeping, eating.  I figured I owed it to myself after weeks and weeks worth of issues, leadership changes and adjustments, mentoring, quality initiatives, training coordination, and gimiks with friends.  I can only give so much of myself so I needed some "alone" time.  The alone time was filled with Lay's Potato Chips with french onion dip, some unknown local pizza, mom-made macaroni salad, litres of Coke Zero, green mangoes, ABS-CBN shows, Ratatouille and Hunchback of Notre Dame on DVD.

For today, I went to my alma mater, U.P. Diliman, to finally buy our centennial anniversary shirt.  I was supposed to buy it on the night we attended the centennial kick off celebration but I didn't have that much money with me.  Today I do, so I bought 2 designs.  There was no stock of the red-sleeved shirt I saw last time so I settled for the plain one.  After that, I was off to The Block at SM North EDSA where I splurged on Fullybooked, even if I didn't find any new book by Terry Pratchett.  I went out of the store, to the astonishment of my mother, with a big bag containing 2 of Bo Sanchez' books, Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things, and Dilbert's Cubes and Punishment.  Then there was Fruits in Ice Cream.  Choco mint and Mango scoops on waffle cones.

The last step for this breather is this post, since given the deadlines, to-do's, backlogs, and issues I'll be facing next week, I'm not sure when I can visit an internet cafe again to blog at length.  Anyway, we make do with what we have.  As usual.

One consequence though for taking this breather is that as I write this, I can already see my office e-mail inbox growing to about 200 unread mails.  Hm.  It's relieving to know that despite the knowledge of the backlogs and pressure that awaits me, I practically don't care anymore.

The U.P. Centennial Kick Off

Heck.  I was supposed to use these pics for a post regarding that night when I went out with friends to the UP Centennial Kick Off Celebration but what the heck, I won't have time to blog that long. So here's the pics! (see the U.P. 100 sign illuminating in the background. That's Quezon Hall. In the pics are me and two of my friends Ohbig and Irene.