Year 2007, In Retrospect

As we bid adieu to 2007, let me just share with you the top 10 list of events in my life this year which I consider most special and some rather unusual (in no particular order):

1. My Vacation in the Philippines (January 2007)
What better way to kick-start the new year? Well, I’ve decided to take a break from work and spent a 9-day vacation to my hometown in the Philippines! Although it was short, sobrang saya naman. What made it more special was that my sister and her husband, together with my brother and his wife went with me when I flew back to KL for a short vacation. I took extra 2 days off. Extended ang vacation ni Inday!

2. Trip to Hanoi, Vietnam (March 2007)
I went to this wonderful place a few days after my birthday with the coolest travel buddies in world – Ben and Millie. I just fell in love and left my heart in Hanoi! The Old Quarter’s old, rustic charm and Halong Bay’s stunning view never failed to amaze me. I will go back there again if given the opportunity.

3. My Birthday Party
How could you tell if your birthday party was a big success? Simple. If it has been the topic of conversation MANY times after the party (over lunchtime). I’m sure all my guests had a hell of a time! 5AM+ na sya natapos. Kung di pa siguro pasikat ang araw, di pa talaga sila mag-uuwian. And since then, everyone else followed (uy, trendsetter). Kahit yung mga hindi talaga nagce-celebrate ng birthday, aba nagpa-birthday party na rin. San ka pa?! :-)

4. Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Etc.
“Once a Titan, always a Titan.” Wherever I may be in the future, I will always bring with me all the sweet memories I have gained from the cheerleading experience. I’ve never regretted having joined the Titans Team (DHL Malaysia Cheering Squad). It was a great experience, albeit the pressure. We knew from the start we had one herculean task taken over our shoulders. But all the hardships and sacrifices paid off; and even those blood spots (ecchymosis) we got from the practices were all worth it as we were declared DHL Asia Cup 2007 Champions!

5. A Slimmer Me
I have lost a total of 27 pounds (12.3 kilos) this year. Hooray! It’s a crowning achievement for me, after fighting the battle of bulge for so many years. Losing those unwanted pounds never became easy. Saying goodbye to chocolates, ice cream and desserts was a bitter pill to swallow. Although I’m still quite far away from reaching my target weight (need to lose 15 pounds more), I’m working on it – slow and easy. Just wait ‘til you see the new me in the next few months, from plain FLAB to absolute FAB! Hehehe.

6. My Mom and Dad’s Visit in KL
It was my Dad’s first visit here and my Mom’s second time already. I truly treasure each day that they were here and I'm missing them already! Can’t wait for my next vacation in Phils.

7. Beach Outing in Terengganu
I consider this time off as our first major outing (DHL Cyberjaya Pinoy community). It was packed with adventure, laughs and yes…. even drama!

8. Phuket and Krabi Adventure (October 2007)
Thanks to Air Asia and their crazy promotions. When the flight seats going to Phuket went on sale, nawindang kami ni Lynn. Mas mahal pa yata ang magpunta ng Cebu eh! Ganun siya kamura. So, book kami agad. And when I told my sister about this, nawindang din sya. Hayun, sumama silang mag-asawa. The week-long vacation we had in Thailand was action-packed and fast-paced. Parang Amazing Race Asia!

9. New Gadget on the Block: A Laptop!
After 3 long years of being outside the information superhighway usually at the moment the clock ticks around 8:00PM everyday (me being computer-less at home in KL), I finally bought myself a new Dell XPS laptop in crimson red. Ganda sya, I’m just lovin’ it!

10. Bloody Story
One day out the blue, my officemate and I paid a visit in the office clinic to get a comprehensive blood test on 5 items: general haematology, glucose, biochemistry, hepatitis serology and lipid studies. Since it’s just free, I’ve allowed myself to succumb to the prick of that hypodermic needle. Arayy! After 3 days, we got the result already.

And the findings…

• Haematology parameters were essentially normal
• Multiple biochem analysis - Passed
• Glucose - 4.2 mmol/L (3.9 – 5.5), Normal
• Total Cholesterol/HDL Ratio – 3.0 (<5.0),>Hepatitis A antibody, Not Detected, need to have Hepa A shot sabi ni Doc

In short, I’m in tip-top condition naman daw. Yey!
Btw, I’m type B+, in case you want know.

That’s it! Happy New Year to all!

In Memory of My Little One

It all started with just having an impaired vision. As early as September this year, my baby has shown early onset of physical breakdown and little by little, I’ve witnessed him deteriorate terribly.

I had a great bonding with him. He was practically with me every single day to capture life’s kodak moments. He was always there for me through thick and thin. Together, we have weathered many storms and celebrated significant milestones in my life. For the past three years, I have given him nothing but plentiful share of TLC (tender loving care).

And now, my baby has left me. He's gone. My Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T3 digital camera has just died down. Inoperative. Exhausted. Downright useless. :-(

Below are some snapshots I've taken before he met his tragic end.

I'm writing this blog in memory of him. May God bless his kind soul.

A Christmas Diary

Today, 25th December 2007, is a day full of surprises, happiness and sadness.

Let me just recount...

12:00MN
Noche buena was spent at Winnie, Loi and Ben's place in Cyber Heights Villa. For this affair, I've prepared leche flan (first time!) and brought along a bottle of strawberry creme liquor. The party was fun but my energy level was not OK. I guess I'm still feeling glum from the recent "unexpected events." Well, I'm just glad that no one seems to have noticed. Dinaan ko na lang sa pagkanta sa Magic Sing.

12:10AM
Christmas text messages (SMS) came pouring in my cellphone's inbox. Wow, what can I say but my heartfelt thanks to those who have remembered. I was surprised and I really appreciate the thoughtfulness.

3:20AM
The party ended. Everyone else looked just happy.

8:20AM
I received a phone call from my Mom to greet me but I was still sleeping. I think she has noticed that I wasn't in my sound mind yet and so, she decided to finish the conversation and told me that she would just call back later during the day. This was my very first phone call on this important day.

10:00AM
I woke up, took a bath and had a quick breakfast with Winnie and Reg. Our breakfast consisted mainly of leftover food - Ben's uber-sosyal ham (sarap!) which he bought in Mercato (gourmet supermarket in Pavilion Mall); Winnie's award-winning lumpiang shanghai and strawberry ref cake; and some bread.

10:45AM
I went to the office to work (yup).

No one was around on the entire 2nd floor of West Wing building (where my cubicle is) and the silence was just ear-piercing.

02:00PM
I didn't have a decent meal for lunch. I ended up eating the "nakakasuka na" cookies from the office pantry and having a terrible headache eventually.

6:00PM
I was dead tired. I've just almost spent the entire day working in the office. What the %#@&!! I was hungry, queasy and worn-out already.

8:00PM
I've reached home. At last, home sweet home! Yey! But no, no one's around to share my dinner with. Everyone is back in Phils. What a lonely Christmas!

9:30PM
To pass the time, I've decided to write this blog.

I still have 2.5 hours left. Just enough time to make stories of happiness.

In the meanwhile, it's time to call my family, friends and loved ones back home.

Blogging Epidemic On The Rise in Cyberjaya

Just this month, two of my close friends including myself have been infected by a virus deadlier than the H5N1! It’s the blog virus (BV Type 1) and it has gotten into our bloodstream like crazy. Symptoms in humans include minor headaches, eye strain and presence of eyebags!

It’s very funny how the three of us got hooked into this blogging thingy quite late! I mean really late given the fact that all of us belong and work in the world where Bill Gates and Steve Jobs rule. Naabutan pa namin yung 386-based computer systems, so just do the math (LOL)!

Well, it’s better late than never, right?

Actually, I already have a blog site of my own a long time ago. Have created one in Blogger but never updated it! I just didn’t have the luxury of time, me being always on the “i-am-busy-just-talk-to-my-manager” mode.

Anyway, here’s a picture of the late bloggers slash late bloomers slash virus carriers:



Their blog sites:

Mike (in red shirt) – Maikaru[23]’s Abode
Lace – Lovely Lace

CAUTION: The “blog virus” has mutated into a highly pathogenic strain. An outbreak has already been detected within the compounds of DHL Cyberjaya and it’s spreading rapidly through human-to-human transmission. So, to all our non-blogger friends, BEWARE! There is no treatment and no vaccine is available yet as of this time of writing.

Crossroads

Time flies really fast. It’s like a speeding bullet, so fast I didn’t notice it just passed me by.

Three gruelling years. That’s how long I’ve been working overseas already. Being deeply buried into the hustle and bustle of I.T. life, it actually has not come to my sensibility. Well, until just recently. For most people, it may be considered a very short time only. Yet for me, it seems to have been like an eternity. Very ironic, that’s how it is.

Lately, a few ‘things’ have happened to me. Things which are beyond unexpected. And in all of these things or circumstances come valuable realizations. Right now, I just feel that I’m living in a world of great quandary. I’m trapped in a can of worms.

I do not for how long can I still make a sacrifice. I do not know for how much more can I give up. How I wish I knew the answers to a lot of questions. I hope I still have enough strength to believe.

Something is still missing and I’m finding that missing piece.