The World of Second Chances

The Performance Bonus

May 13, 2016

Career, Finance & Product

Boss went to my cubicle just a while ago to ask if I’m aware of the performance bonus that’s scheduled to be given (through payroll) today.

Boss: Are you aware that today is the release of the bonus?

Me: Of course, Sir—look at what I’m doing.

I gave him a glimpse of my online banking then minimized the screen.

Boss: How was it? It’s not as big as last year because the pie also decreased.

He sounded curious and sympathetic and in my most cheerful mood, I replied.

Me: Sir, I’ve never complained about my bonus ever since. Big or small, I’m always grateful. What I want to achieve for 2016 is to be more productive and useful and the reward will just follow.

Sounds fake but I really mean it.

Money is not everything, dear!

I am happy if I am productive and useful.

Thank you, Lord for the gift of gratitude!
Bataan Winners:2016 Election

May 11, 2016

Life & Love

BATAAN CAPITOL-Reelected governor Abet S Garcia ran unopposed, together with his father Enrique Tet Garcia also ran unopposed for vice governor, while Geraldine Roman won in a landslide victory against her opponent Danny Malana in the battle for congressional 1st district in Bataan while Joet Garcia, won in Second district being the lone candidate. In […]

via Bataan winners — Bataan Peninsula Times
Princess

May 3, 2016

Life & Love

She was my BFF from 2007 to 2009. She was like my younger sister. She was sweet but

could be bothersome at times. We became close after our boyfriends dumped us. Misery

loves company–well, that’s true on our case.

We would dine out every night except during weekends.

We would go to the mall; me for a much-needed facial while she, window-shopping.

We would talk about boys, both admirers and those that we did not like.

She would push me to be in a relationship with a guy that she felt was right for me then

I would scold her for being too comfortable with a common friend who was committed to

another girl.

We would cry over our heartaches; well, she had a harder time moving on so she

shed more tears than I. But just the same, feeling her pain was enough to reduce me

to tears.

We had a company outing at the beach and both of us rocked in our own way.

I miss you, Princess and all the crazy things that we did.
Summer Love(s)

May 2, 2016

Life & Love

Blame it on the intense summer heat; I’m forced to reminisce my happy summer days during the late 80’s ,early 90’s and early 2000.

My first summer love happened when I was 11. He was a neighbor that went away then came back for good. The first time we saw each other again was just accidental. Our eyes met and then there was magic. I was so confused; I was always mad at him. I felt weird being attracted to a person who I grew up with (despite his absence). It was a love-hate relationship, if you can call ours a relationship. We were frequently admiring and putting each other down. It was one of those weird feelings as a pre-teen; that feeling of helplessness and hope because I surrendered my heart to a person who’s not even my boyfriend. Years later, we did not end up with each other but continue to be friends—just friends.

The second one was my bestfriend’s ex. Actually, he came a month after the first summer love. It was one of my cousin’s prank that led us (me and the 2nd summer love) to being phone pals. Yeah, those were the age of landline phones and beepers. LOL. That cousin was playing with our phone and then volunteered to call up anybody that I wanted to talk with. I mentioned that I have a crush and I knew his number. She called up that number and asked for him. That was how we started. He was brave and aggressive. He even went to our house and casually talked with my unsuspecting father. I was forced to tell my father the truth about his presence and he was very mad at us. The courtship, if that was considered courtship, ended briefly and bitterly. We could have been housemates in college but fate did not allow us to meet again.

The third one was the one who gave me cold sweats and sleepless nights. I was always wondering if he liked me, too. I was easily intimidated by his piercing stares. A glimpse of him was enough to make my day. He dated one of our neighbors and my first reaction was to move on.

The fourth one was my first boyfriend. It was a romantic night with full moon when we became a couple. All the summers that I spent with him at his father’s hometown were the best because we were so in love with each other. I miss the scent of tobacco leaves at his grandparents’ house. I miss eating with his relatives.

The fifth one was my second boyfriend; the one who gave me the most heartaches. What I want to remember is how we would go to the beach with office mates. I want to remember the days when we were just starting; penniless and carefree. He was the love of my life then. He could hurt me on and on and I would always forgive him. If he did not initiate the break up, maybe I’m still in that pathetic state. I am much better now with my husband. I tried to be friends with him but I guess, exes should stay where they belong. They belong to the past and I wish to lock him in my memory and forget the key. That was what I did last February when I returned his old photos through email and then threw the physical ones.
An Entity In The Dark

April 29, 2016

Career, Finance & Product

Lunch date with office mates.

We discussed about how the ExCom went through yesterday. Nothing juicy about it, the two of them said.

Then one of them remarked that I should also attend the ExCom with my boss.

I told him that I don’t attend ExComs because nobody requires me anyway and I put it that way—no big deal!

He said attending ExComs and being in the company of the top management is a privilege. I agreed to him. They are privileged and the antonym of it is, I am not privileged! LOL.

Honestly, I don’t see anything wrong if I become the “taong-bahay” every Thursday. In the same way that, I won’t complain if my boss tells me to go to the Head Office during ExComs. I don’t see myself as a very important person to protest. I don’t see myself as a somebody at work to be acting like a prima donna.

Being a manager is only a title but it does not define the totality of a person. I just want to help and to serve and be productive at work. I want to learn new things and excel at it. I have personal plans and I think I’m on the right track. 🙂
Go Where The Love Is

March 30, 2016

Poems & Stories

If I don’t communicate with you as often as before, don’t take it against you.

Don’t feel guilty if we’re drifting apart.

It’s just the natural life cycle of everything.

The beginning and the end.

But that disconnection has nothing to do with you.

It is just that I don’t want to force a connection when it’s no longer there.

I always go where the love is.

I know that you do not hate me.

I know that you feel sorry, too.

But we must accept that even the best of friendships fade.

It is as natural as the blooming of a flower then its withering.

Sometimes, it’s like the seasons– time will tell when closeness will happen again.

So we must not hold a grudge against each other.

If the hi’s and hello’s become as rare as the Halley’s comet.

Even nature has its own timing for everything.

So why take an effort to question everything.

Just walk away and go where the love is.

People are so obsessed about connections.

Be it a friend, a family, an office mate or a boss.

You can’t fake rapport when it isn’t there.

Just go on with your daily purpose and enjoy life.

Enjoy life in solitude like the way you do it in multitude.

Enjoy it with people who love you back.

Because always, people who love each other do not force happiness.

So go where the love is.
Breaking the FB Habit

March 29, 2016

Life & Love
I love to read and that includes reading stuff that my Facebook friends post on their wall. I felt like it was my social obligation to respond through every posts by “liking.” I was also the type who would share some not-so private personal happenings for the sake of opening myself to my friends.

I have three kinds of Facebook friends:
1. Those that are under restricted are restricted because I don’t wish to share my posts with them. They are those who offended me in the past and those who are on the habit of putting meaning to my every posts.
2. Those that are under acquaintance are classified that way so that they wouldn’t see my pictures who are reserved only for:
3. ……..my friends.
Facebook is too addicting because it feels so real-time. Like when I leave a comment to a friend’s post, somebody or that friend would react or reply.

Facebook has a lot of information to offer from a jet-setting friend to the current events to travel to the latest in fashion and so on and so forth.

Since Facebook is visual, it is entertaining and before you know it, it’s already 12:00 midnight. Talk about staying late online instead of going home late from a party!

Then two days ago, my Facebook app crashed so I was left with the mobile Facebook that was not as good as an eyecandy as the app. Then I realized that minus the visual factor, facebooking was just another lousy habit. I started reading historical articles again from the dalai lama in Tibet to the great Chinese dynasties in the past. Would you believe that since two days ago that I was inactive on Facebook, nobody really bothered to ask me what happened? It led me to conclude that we are too occupied with our own wall posts and something-to-share about that we failed to recognize the main purpose of this tool as a way to connect friends.

I did a mental calculation of the “friendship” that I would lose in case I discontinue my interest on Facebook and I found out that I only have a few of them that I’m frequently in contact with. Therefore, it wouldn’t hurt much to slip away from this online world.

I guess this is where maturity begins—maturity in terms of letting go of an
“addiction” to pursue greater things in life like being more productive and relevant.