On Planning

Our department stayed at Astoria Plaza today for our planning session. We spent the whole day there. I thought I would be able to relax, but I remembered I was the one supposed to take note of the minutes. It's okay since I was able to focus on the discussions. I can imagine myself dozing off, especially after lunch, if I wasn't taking notes.

I forgot to take photos of our AM and PM snacks. I was happy with the morning snack - ensaymada and hot chocolate. The hot choco was very good. It was thicker than usual but not so sweet as what you'd expect with thick chocolate drinks. The afternoon snack was a beef shawarma. There's nothing special with it. Maybe because I've eaten in so many yummy kebab places already. This was our lunch: Breaded Pork Chop on Stick

Fish Fillet Curry Roast Beef Dessert Don't know what it is I didn't like lunch much. You can find better food in malls' food courts. This was a buffet lunch but I just had one serving. My officemates said the salad and the pancit was good. I didn't try those because I already lost my appetite. On a side note, my photo shoot will not push through on Saturday. It's a good thing I have a photowalk on Monday so I didn't feel so bad.

Untitled

Today, something weird happened in the office. I took a photo of my officemate. I looked in the viewfinder and thought everything was fine. When I pressed the shutter button, this is the image I saw on the LCD...

Look at the figure in the background

Nahhh...Just kidding. We were just bored after the lunch break. We didn't want to go back to work right away. In the afternoon, I strolled around the office. Since there was a lot of relocation going on, there were no people in the other parts of the office.

Renovating the office

When I got back from my afternoon stroll, this is what surprised me.

Panty Party!

Thongs

These are actually designs of cookies

Cool huh? Not really, especially I'm a guy. Other people might think I'm a pervert. Oh well... Time to sleep. Work again tomorrow! Hope something interesting happens :)

Up, up, and away! (An Impromptu Night)

Pat called me up around 5:30 p.m. and asked if we already have plans for the night. I was just about to go home then. But I couldn't resist an invite from some of my closest college friends so I called up my girlfriend and told her the plans. She was up for it. We met up at The Block since the cinemas in Trinoma were already fully booked.

Friends and girlfriend lining up at the ticket booth

My girlfriend at the Sky Garden

Kia wanted to paint the walls of her condo so we went to Ace Hardware at the Annex to buy paint.

Escalators at SM North Annex

On our way to the cinemas, we chanced upon Russel. He looks like a real boy.

With Russel from UP!

One last shot before I surrendered my camera to the security guard.

Wearing the 3D glasses A bit disappointed about the movie

Since everyone wasn't ready to go home yet, we decided to go to Starbucks. Unfortunately, it was still a weekday so they closed at around 1 a.m. We were still not ready to go home. We decided to have a drink at Kia's condo unit. Passed by 7-11 to buy drinks. (I didn't know there is a curfew in Katipunan. You can only buy alcoholic drinks up to 2 a.m.)

Using Kia's brand new uber colorful 7-11 umbrella Lots of drinks to choose from Last woman standing...

...because she's still doing her paper due 7 a.m. (This was taken around 4 a.m.)

Lunch Out Thursday

It has been a tradition in the department to treat the birthday celebrants out to lunch. The celebrant requested that we eat at Komoro Soba. I remembered when I used to eat there often, I would always go with their Katsudon. I thought I'd order something else for a change. So here's what I ordered.

Chicken Kara Age Bento Box

I am not very happy with my food. The macaroni was far from what I expected. It needs more flavor. It tasted as if I was eating just the plain macaroni. The chicken was overcooked. I didn't want to finish my food but the celebrant might feel bad that I didn't like the food in Komoro Soba. Maybe it's just my food because everyone else looked satisfied with theirs. I'll try to eat there again some time. But not anytime soon. Because I wasn't satisfied with my food, I had froyo for dessert. Yum!

Original Yogurt with Mango and Kiwi

It's a good thing there's Red Mango at Megamall!

Room Project

Just one more thing... This is going to be my project from now on. Presenting...my room! As you can see, it's very cluttered. I'm also planning to re-arrange the furnitures.

Rest Day, New Eye

Today, I didn't go to the office. I'm not really sick but I wanted to rest. The fact that I wasn't doing much at the office lately probably added to my not wanting to go to work. Imagine wasting your time in front of the computer for 8 hours, pretending to do some work so your boss wouldn't get the impression that you're just slacking off. That's my office life lately. When I woke up this morning, it was raining! A perfect time to spend the whole day sleeping. And so I've decided to continue my sleep. My mom was asking me why I wasn't going to the office. I just said, "Hmm...mmm...ehh..." Then I slept. Haha! You didn't expect me to say that I just don't feel like going to the office, did you? I got a new camera last week. One year overdue, I know, but at least I got one already. It's a digital SLR. I like taking snaps of landscapes but I still lack the complete kit to achieve almost surreal photos. I still have to get a sturdy tripod, a wide angle lens, filters, and a wireless remote trigger. I think that would cost me around P30,000 to P40,000 depending on the brands I would buy. For now, I'm just taking snaps of whatever things interest me. I'm still getting used to the camera. I am actually hoping to have a small shoot. Maybe do portraits of some friends who are willing to pose. Time to sleep. Back to work tomorrow. Boo.

Plantation Tour

The trip to the three San Fernando plants was just what I needed to be inspired again. I saw the difference between the environment there and the environment in the head office, where I work. I must say that working in the head office is easier because we don’t have to get involved with the operations. But I want to try working there for a short period just for the experience of it. I’m not ready to leave my city life, at least not yet. I’ll get bored with the lifestyle of the people there. I think it’s too simple. Correct me if I’m wrong, that’s just my impression. Maybe, when I get old, I’d prefer that kind of life too. I don’t know. But for now, while I’m still young, I want to remain here in the city with my family and friends. Going back to what I was saying, I was inspired again, mainly because I felt more involved in the company. I felt I was an important part of it. That’s what our president always says, that every employee is vital for the success of the company. It didn’t strike me when I first heard it. Only when I was immersed more in the company did I really understand the meaning behind those words. The plant managers and the other staff introduced themselves to us. I recognize some of the names because I encountered them when I was reviewing a capital expenditure application. One even mentioned that I processed the project he submitted. It gave me a good feeling when I saw that even though we’re miles away from each other, we are working and operating in conjunction with each other. Anyway, the staff was very welcoming and I did appreciate their preparation for our arrival. Everything was in order and they presented the processes in a way that a person not specializing in their line of work would easily understand. I think that was one of the most important things they did for us. Another interesting part of the trip was our lunch! Wooot wooot! Buffet lunch for us again. This time, it was all Filipino food. The food was very good and it was unhealthy! Haha! Yes, very unhealthy. Imagine eating unlimited chicharon bulaklak and all its cholesterol. Add to that unlimited regular chicharon. It’s a good thing they didn’t have lechon. I might not get out of there alive if they did. Haha! I slept most of the time on the road. I stayed up late the night before so I made up for my lack of sleep. It’s a good thing our van was the Toyota Hi-Ace Super Grandia. We had separate seats so I didn’t have to worry about falling asleep on someone. I was a bit disappointed though with the travel time. We only traveled for an hour! Is San Fernando really that close? I felt I just went to Alabang. The trip back was better because we were stuck in traffic upon reaching EDSA. Haha! The trip was just what I expected. It was very informative for us who are working in the head office. We’ll have a better understanding now when reviewing and processing some of their requests. You may notice that I didn’t relay concrete things I learned from the trip. That’s because it’s top secret. Haha! Sorry no pictures too.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Something interesting happened today in the office…we ate lunch at Saisaki! It was my two bosses’ treat to us for their recent promotion. Congratulations! There were a lot of food to choose from. Being the usual takaw tingin that I am, I squeezed in as much sushi, maki, and sashimi as I can on one of my plates. Yes, plates. I got fried rice, baked salmon, katsu, and breaded kani on my other plate. I also ordered bottomless iced tea, which comes with a free stuffed toy! Surprisingly, while I was finishing my first batch, I was full already. My plates weren’t even that big. How can this be? I used to finish six servings of rice in Tokyo Tokyo. I just ate a small bowl of noodles and a puto this morning so I can’t still be full. Has my stomach gotten smaller? Haha! I wish! I was a bit productive today compared last week. I got so many calls!! Grrr! I hate using the phone. I’d prefer speaking to them in person than converse over the phone. I also don’t like speaking to people before lunch. I’m still sleepy. Haha! Tomorrow will be an adventure day. We have a plant tour! Oh yeah! We’ll visit three plantations in San Fernando. I’m out of the office once again. I always look forward to these kinds of activities. I like to travel. I like being mobile. I don’t like being idle. Consequently, I don’t like being stuck in the office. I don’t like working 8 hours a day in my office table. Anyway, going back to the plant tour, we’ll first be visiting a beer plantation. We’ll be able to taste freshly brewed beer! Yeeeaaaahh meeeenn! According to the plant manager, it’s very good. I’m excited! Next stop is a beverage plantation. I think we’ll be sampling juices here. Third will be a recycling plant. It’s a plant where you recycle things. Err…But mostly PET bottles. I should know this because I handle this business. Haha!

Decisions

Today, my boss announced that there will be changes in the office taking effect probably next year. Some people will retire and some people will be pulled out to be assigned in a different business. For us regular employees, this means promotion. Now, I am asking myself this question: Am I ready? Am I ready to take more responsibility in the office? Do I want to assume bigger roles in the company? You're probably thinking that I'm wasting a very good opportunity; more so, considering that I am working for one of the most, if not the most, successful companies in the country. This hesitation roots from the level of my interest in the nature of work I am in. I applied for this position because I wanted to see if I would enjoy doing it since I am quite good at it back in the university. A year has gone and I found myself asking if I can endure one more year of work in this company in the same department. Some say that I should give it more time before deciding to say my goodbyes. Maybe they're right. Maybe one of the reasons why I disliked my work for the past year is because it was giving me a hell of a time. I haven't mastered the job yet so I had to work long hours in the office. Sometimes, I even bring my work home and work on weekends. Maybe next time, I would find it easier because I have already gone through it for an entire year. Then, eventually, I would learn to like my job. But what if they're wrong? What if I were meant for a different job? A job that I like better. A job that I am more interested in. What if it's out there now waiting for me, and I failed to take it because I chose to stay in this office for another year? I guess that's the chance I'd have to take. Opportunity cost comes to mind. Anyway, I'm just wasting my time again. There's something I have to do but I don't feel like doing anything right now. I want to sleep! I want it to be Friday already.

Hello!

I’m starting this blog because I have nothing to do in the office today. I’ll just update this blog when I have time to waste. This is the first time that I literally have nothing to do. Actually, this is my second time. Yesterday would be the first. I know I deserve this rest since I have been working my ass off since the start of the year. Work is extra hard because I am still in the learning stage. Now, I am in the last stage of the cycle. Finally! (Oof! That means my boss would expect more from me next cycle. NOOOOO!) Completing the cycle in the office is like completing a semester in college. Why just a semester? Because I only work DURING OFFICE HOURS. (I like the sound of that.) Unlike in college, I still have to study and do essays when I get home. Being a student is more tiring! Whew! I’m glad I’m through with that. The weather is weird lately. By weird, I mean VERY WEIRD. Imagine this, I woke up in the morning and noticed that it was raining really hard. I was hoping that office would be suspended (In my dreams!). After a few minutes, I got up, ate breakfast, and showered. When I got out of the shower, HELLO SUNSHINE! (Singing in my head: My shattered dreams…) So I brushed my teeth, dressed up, and just when I was about to leave the house, BOOM! It starts raining cats and dogs! (SUS-PEN-DED! SUS-PEN-DED!)

view outside the office

at another angle

But as you can see, I am in the office now, writing this blog, enjoying the view of the plants out the window, swaying with the wind, singing in unison, and being free from the chains of the terrifying office table. Meaning, the rain stopped. (!@#!@%@#!!**#!) Sometimes, I feel the rain just wanted to slow me down so I’d be late for work. For the past few weeks, I actually managed to keep my tardiness at a minimum. Only once or twice every two weeks! (Do I hear a round of applause? Thank you, thank you.) But because of the rain, I’ve been tardy thrice this week already. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE THE RAIN. Just don’t stop pouring until they suspend office.