The World of Second Chances

Survivor

November 9, 2010

Career, Finance & Product

Dear Friends,

You know how much my heart aches for what happened to you. The decision to let you go is beyond our captain’s control. The captain, no matter how much he tries to put up a brave front, is still human. He, just like you and me, is vulnerable these past few days.

There are things that are beyond our control and it’s painful to let precious people go. Do we get trapped in this self-pity or do we start to walk out with dignity? The future may be bleak for now, but trust me, anyone who has faith in God and himself has a promise of a brighter future.

Cheer up! Vaya con Dios!
Calamansi as Deodorizer

November 2, 2010

Life & Love

I am neat freak when it comes to my kitchen. I hate to see greasy pans and plates, too. Instead of forever nagging the helper to improve her dishwashing skills, I decided to find ways on how to remove the grease from the pans and plates.

Calamansi is a good deodorizer to remove the fishy smell on the pans and plates. It also serves as a good grease buster.
My Favorite Celebrities

October 19, 2010

That’s Entertainment

Note: List is not in order.

1. Dr. Vicki Belo- Vicki’s aura never fails to captivate me. She has that aura of an 18-year old girl; vulnerable and sweet. She seems to be a good friend and a cool mom. Her achievement in the field of aesthetic surgery and dermatology is something to admire on her. Her vulnerability when it comes to falling in love is what most of her detractors has always been highlighting about her. With or without Hayden Kho, this lady will shine and hopefully, her true night-in-shining armor will come.

2. Amalia Fuentes- You can mistaken her as a member of the royal family once you see her old Sampaguita pictures. Her beauty is just elegant and aristocratic. Much more, she is a responsible daughter and a generous sister to her brothers. On the downside, never underestimate this beauty because she can be very vocal about her feelings; thus emitting venomous words against her enemy.

3. Shalani Soledad- There’s much more to being just a pretty face; a cross between Cristine Reyes and Sunshine Cruz. She is the unassuming ex-gf of no less than the current Philippine president. What is admirable about her is her low profile. She doesn’t need any publicity to win; the people are just hypnotized on her.

4. Miriam Defensor Santiago- Call her lunatic, call her menopausal and for sure, this lady wouldn’t care! She will lash her tounge at her enemy, speaking in straight English. She’s a fighter, sometimes perceived as a trapo but let’s face it, most of what she say is true and the lady is not afraid of exposing the truth. She may not be an eye candy in the senate like the beautiful Loren Legarda but her strong presence can be felt whenever she enters the hall: a serious face, calculating stares…ah, her co-senators are just waiting for her next speech.

5. Susan Roces- She is the face that refreshes. Nobody saw her furious in public until she hit ex-PGMA her famous line,”You stole the presidency not once but twice!” I associate Susan with Boots Anson-Roa; their beauty is timeless. They can be sweet and strict and the public will forgive.

6. Manny Pacquiao- He was just a struggling boxer when I first came across his name on the sports section of my favorite tabloid. The man worked hard to achieve whatever he has today. He didn’t steal, he is not corrupt–his riches are the product of the many arena fights that he worked hard for.

7. Sen. Juan Flavier- he was very effective when he was still DOH secretary. He was the only DOH secretary that was so popular to grade school kids. It must be the height? Joke po!

8. Rosa Rosal- I like her for her involvement in charity. She found her true calling and that is to help people.

9. Vivian Velez and Carmi Martin- There’s limited info about these ladies on google. From what I read, Vivian is now happily married to a foreigner while the still very single Carmi has finished a degree in Interior Designing. I admire these two ladies for their whistle-bait figure. Both ladies posses an aura of confidence and class.

10. Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor- I was not even born yet when these two women became a big star. How many of their contemporaries are still active today? Or how many of them are still remembered today? Longevity in showbiz is what I admire in Vilma and Nora. From being an “artista lang,” Vilma is now a politician. Her “kumareng” Nora has her shares of misfortunes but she manages to bounce back after each fall. Much more, her Noranians love her no matter what.
Wart Cautery

October 19, 2010

Career, Finance & Product

How much does wart cautery cost in your place? I got mine for 300 pesos (US$ 6.5) for first 20 pieces of warts and an additional charge of 8 pesos (US $ 0.17) for each succeeding wart at the Facial Treats in Bulacan. Not bad. In fact, it’s very cheap. The attendant who did my facial was also the one who cauterized my facial and neck warts. She’s very skillful and fast (and she’s a beauty, too!)

Do I hear somebody say “Eeewww, Iris has warts!”

Duh! Almost every body has warts. Mine was not even obvious unless you examine my face under a magnifying lens. I want to achieve a youthful skin and I’m obsessed to always have a smooth skin.

Three days after the cautery, the affected skin has dried up and nobody even noticed that I had a cautery.
My Nine Year Old Shoes

October 14, 2010

Career, Finance & Product

Jazz. That’s the brand of my 9-year old shoes. I bought it in 2001 for US$ 24 in Olongapo City. It’s cheap, it’s durable, it’s high-quality and it’s not imported. Jazz is manufactured in Marikina City and it’s a common knowledge here that Marikina produces cheap yet high quality shoes. I wonder why this brand of shoes didn’t make well in the Philippine market; I don’t see any Jazz shoes anymore.

Here’s the history of my Jazz shoes. In December 2001, I decided to buy a new pair of shoes for the company Christmas party. You see, Christmas party in Wistron is quite extravagant as compared to the other companies in SBMA. When you say extravagant, you’ve got to dress a little to fit in for the occasion. With PhP 2,000 (US$ 43) in my pocket, I went to a mall along Rizal Avenue and there I saw this black high cut, a semi-boots, and it was even on sale! I wear a size 7 and the shoes on display was my size. The leather was soft on the inside and the sole was light for a semi-boots. I bought it for the Christmas party then.

The major weakness of Jazz shoes is its wooden heels; it has a tendency to loosen after years of using. In 2002, I had a minor bus accident because of this. Just when I was about to step down the bus, the right heel of my shoes was disintegrated and so I fell to the ground while the bus was slowly running. I suffered from minor bruises. My mother told me to throw away my shoes but I thought, the leather was still good, I could have the heels repaired instead. So I had it repaired.

In 2004, the sole of my Jazz shoes had some cracks so my socks always got wet during the rainy season.Again, I sent my shoes to the shoe repair shop for a much needed “change sole.”

Up to now, the leather does not fade; thanks to Kiwi shoe wax. This pair of shoes has been my companion during company events, job interviews, dinner dates, movie dates, family affairs…etc. If I were to compute for its depreciated value after 9 years, would you believe that it is now a negative 600 pesos? (-US$13)

Maybe I am wrong in assuming that Jazz shoes are no longer available in the market. I’d love to buy three new shoes from them.
What’s Eating You, Iris?

October 13, 2010

Career, Finance & Product

Me- the physical Iris
Myself- the mental Iris

Myself: It’s quite obvious that you were not able to sleep well last night.
Me: I thought I could conceal the dark circles under my eyes with my stick concealer.
Myself: Nah, it’s not about your face or your eyes….it’s your gloomy aura today. You’re not being your bubbly self today.
Me: You know what I’m going through.
Myself: Hahahaha! Of course!
Me: And you have the nerve to laugh at me?
Myself: Hahaha… Well, Iris. I don’t get it why you’re so affected with the current situation in your workplace! Hahaha.
Me: And what’s so funny about it?
Myself: Haha…you are like a tamed lion. A wounded soldier who refuses to fight anymore. An exact opposite of who you really are.
Me: Iris, things change. Perspectives change. Feelings change.
Myself: And what’s so good about those changes? Surely, those people around you have changed. Maybe in their eyes you’re no longer value-adding to them. But do you stop there? Now is the perfect timing to showcase your talent, Iris. Iris, this is a war. Nobody is exempted. You have to prepare for this war.
Me: I’ve stopped being a fighter after settling down.
Myself: How demoralizing! But you were born a fighter. You are always a fighter! Don’t let your personal affairs hinder you to stop being a fighter.
Me: I am just tired…I want a life of solitude. I want to go fishing with my family…I am content watching Showbiz Central every Sunday.
Myself: Now you’re being a loser. Who wants a loser in a company?
Me: I am NOT a loser!
Myself: Then prove it to me. Prove it to them. Prove it to the powers-that-be! Iris, this is a war. Don’t depend on your boss for protection. Don’t expect the management to be fair. There will be casualties so make a GRAND escape plan. Or maybe join the war and see for yourself if you can handle it. Now is not the right time to cry, to imagine things and to be lax. Iris, this is war. Remember WWI and WWII.
Me: Thanks for giving me those insights. I am torn between joining the war and making a grand escape plan. But for now, I will shield myself against the enemies and strengthen whatever amunitions that I have.
Tagalog Love Quotes

October 8, 2010

Life & Love

Some Tagalog love quotes that I found online:

Iniwan kita di dahil ayoko na sayo. tinalikuran kita di dahil galit ako sayo, lumayo ako di dahil ayaw na kitang makita, umalis lang ako kasi ayaw ko nang umiyak habang nakikita kang masaya…sa piling niya.

Muntik ko nang ipagtapat sayo ang nararamdaman ko nung magkasama tayo…muntik ko na sabihin na mahal kita…pero nung sasabihin ko na…napatigil ako dahil bigla mong sinabi….”lam mo mahal ko pa siya”.

Mahal kita, mahal mo siya. Siya naman di ka kayang mahalin katulad ng pagmamahal ko sayo…tanga ka at siya naman, manhid….parang tayong dalawa…yun nga lang…ako yung tanga at ikaw naman yung manhid.
TANGA daw ako nang pakawalan kita! GAGO daw ako, mas pinili kong lumisan ka! TANGNA ko daw, pumayag akong magmahal ka ng iba. ULOL SILA! Bakit ko IPAGPIPILITAN ang sarili ko sa taong ‘di naman ako mahal, di ba?

Sabi ko suko na ko, sabi ko di na kita mahal, sabi ko malilimutan rin kita, sabi ko di na kita kailangan, sabi ko masaya na ko, sabi ko yun… pero sana yun din ang sabi ng puso ko!

NakakaPAGOD magtxt noh? Lalo na pag… WALANG NAGREREPLY! Pero lam mo? May mas nakakaPAGOD pa dun! NakakaPAGOD magmahal ng taong hindi mo malaman kung sinong mahal…

Ang hirap makipagkaibigan sa mga kagaya mo lalo na pag may nararamdaman ka sa kanya na gaya ng nararamdaman ko sa ‘yo ngayon…

Nafeel mo na ba yung kala mo nakalimutan mo na siya? … as in wala na! Tapos na lahat. Then one day nagkita kayo. Nagsmile sya sa yo. Nasabi mo na lang… “Tangna! Mahal ko pa pala tong gagong ‘to!”
Pa’no mo malalaman kung mahal mong isang tao? Pag hinahanap mo ba? Pag namimiss mo? Siguro… pero mahal mo talaga pag masaya ka basta masaya sya…
May mga bagay na masaya… pero corny… may mga bagay na corny… pero masaya… pero pag kasama kita… lagi masaya… corny noh? Pero masaya…
Kunwari, masaya ako. Kunwari, OK ako. Kunwari, wala akong problema. Kunwari, nasa langit ako. OK lang ba kung isipin kong kunwari mahal mo rin ako? Kunwari lang naman e…
Masakit pag yung taong mahal mo iniwan ka… masakit kapag nakita mong may kasama syang iba… pero di ba mas masakit pag nakita mo masaya sya — masaya sya dahil wala ka na…

Matagal na kitang mahal… alam ‘yun ng iba… ngunit ba’t ikaw? Hanggang ngayoin, hindi pa… nakita kitang masaya at nakatawa… lalapitan na sana kita kaya lang, tangina! Kasama mo sya…
Alam mo miss na kita, kaso siya naman miss mo! lam mo mahal kita, kaso siya rin mahal mo! Siya na lang lagi! Kahit nasasaktan ka niya okay lang kasi mahal mo siya! Ang tanga mo no, parang ako!
If I only have one hour left to live and I’m with you that day…I’ll lay my head unto your shoulders as I feel the breeze touch my skin and say ” pasandal lang po muna ha? matagal po akong mawawala eh.”
Kung mahal mo raw, ipaglaban mo. totoo ba yon? paano kung hindi ka niya mahal? anong ipaglalaban mo? isang pag-ibig na ikaw lang ang nakakadama? mahirap yata yon ah!!! kaya mo ba? pero pag mahal mo talaga, kakayanin mo di ba?
Sana pag nakita mo na yung taong mahal mo, huwag kang magpakatanga, wag kang magpakamartir, wag kang magpakagago…ayokong makitang nahihirapan ka…tignan mo nangyari sa akin nung minahal kita….
Sabi nila, kapag mahal mo, lahat ibibigay mo…lahat gagawin mo…pero paano na lang kung hilingin niya na maghiwalay kayo…ibibigay mo ba kahit mahal mo pa siya?
Paano mo malalaman kung mahal ka niya? Simple lang….tumalon ka tapos sigaw mong mahal mo siya, pero kung di ka niya sasaluhin, wag kang mag-alala, ano ba’ng silbi ko? di ba tagasalo pag wala siya?
Sabi mo mahal mo ko…sabi mo di mo ko iiwan..sabi mo hihintayin mo ko. Saglit lang akong nawala iba na kasama mo. andaya talaga…dahil ba sa mahal mo lang ako pag wala siya?
Ask ko si God, sabi ko “Bakit mo siya kinuha sa kin? binigay ko naman lahat?” Sabi niya “Di ka kasi nagtira para sa’yo” sabi ko, “Ganito po kasi ako magmahal.” sabi niya, “Kaya pala lahat kinalimutan mo pati ako”
Sana akin ka para di ka iiyak. sana akin ka para di ka na masasaktan. sana akin ka para di ka na aasa pa. ngunit ang talagang nais ko’y Sana ako siya na minahal mo ng sobra sobra.
Minsan ang layo ng tingin mo. Sino ba’ng hinahanap mo? yun tao bang magmamahal sayo? yan ang hirap sayo eh! ang layo lagi ng tingin mo, ang tagal ko na dito…di ba pwedeng sa kin ka naman tumingin?

cno mhal mu? a.. xia pla eon.. kea pla nssktan akou.. pro ok lng eon! kce alm kng msya k.. kht mskt.. kce mhal kta..
d kou alm kng dpt akung ma2wa na ikay akin na @ iniwn muh na xia, pro bkt prng d akou lubos na mlgya, dhl b lam ko na hngng ngaun mhl mo p rn xia?