What My Lunch Made Me Realize

So today I went to the mall to buy a gift for my Dad this Father's Day. After an hour of searching, I finally settled for a McJim Leather Belt which I know my dad would use very often.
After looking around (kasi I don't have money to shop) I felt I was already hungry and went to Pizza Hut for lunch.

I was almost tempted to go for my usual order: Spaghetti and Iced Tea. Why? Because first, it's not that pricey and second, it's safe and convenient. I'm pretty sure of its taste, I'd never have to wonder whether I'd like the food or not because I've tried it a hundred times and for me it's good enough.
But a thought changed my mind. I realized It wont hurt to try something else.
I ordered for a Fettuccine Ala King and a Tropical Fizz. It didn't cost me that much but I've tried something new and realized something too.

It's supposed to look more delicious than this but camera phone sucks.

Here comes my latest realization.

I have always been the type of person who always stays at the safe side. I rarely risk. Oftentimes I over-think things. I hate being caught on situations unprepared. I prefer knowing before-hand. I'd spend more than an hour looking for a movie to watch: reading plots, watching trailers going through reviews and comments. It happens to me all the time. My night would be wasted trying to find a good movie just because I don't want to risk my two hours on a non-sense film. Little did I know, I was already wasting too much of my time by endlessly searching.

Why can't I just sit back and relax and try something new and not worry about whether the movie will turn out good or bad? Why can't I just go with the flow and for once, try something new? Why can't I break-free from my daily routine and my usual patterns? Why can't I just try something else? Because I am seriously getting bored of the USUAL.

It never occurred to me that a bunch of Fettuccine and a Tropical-whatever-drink would somehow make me think about a lot of things. This instance is just a tiny little thing, actually. I can choose not to reflect on it, but I realized it's worth pondering on. It's not much of a big deal if I'm a play-safe-person kasi that's just one part of my personality. But this whole Fettuccine thing really did me good.

Now that I'm writing this blog, it came to me just now... I realized that this whole boredom-of-my-usual-preferences-stuff has been bugging me for several weeks now. It's just today that I started to be serious on acting upon it. But unknowingly, I have been actually doing something upon it, I remembered that for the past 2 weeks, I have been ordering different flavors of milk tea; which is new for me since I have been alternately ordering coffee konjac and Tapioca Black for the past 2 years EVERYDAY.
 It really doesn't hurt to try something else. If it tastes bad, it's worth the experience, if it tastes good, then I got myself a new addiction!

Besides, how would you know if something better is out there if you won't try and find out for yourself?

I found that with little things, I can make myself happy by exploring and knowing what else is out there. From now on, I choose to explore. I'd go out there with openness while embracing the possibilities... BECAUSE IT'S A VERY FREEING WAY TO LIVE.


So that's what I've learned today. Never thought that food and drinks could actually make me realize a whole lot of things. :)

My Internship @ JobStreet.com

Total hours required: 200 hrs

Company: JobStreet.com Philippines, Inc. (Marketing Dept.)

20/F Cybergate Tower 3, Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City

Date Started: April 10, 2012

Date Finished:  May 18, 2012

I was on LRT EDSA station, roaming around, running late for my first day of work, not knowing which way to go, completely lost in the midst of rushing people in the hugeness of the Metro. I went out the train station, giving up the hope of getting to my workplace on-time after seeing that kilometric lane of people at the ticket booth. So I tried my luck outside, confident that I can always catch a taxi anytime. After an hour of walking and waiving, I finally got a cab to take me to my workplace in Pioneer St., Mandaluyong.

The Office

When I got to JobStreet’s office, people were already going home and the place seemed untidy and flooded. I thought baka nag-lilinis lang. But after a few minutes, the HR told us that the place was actually flooded after a faucet was left leaking during the Holy Week holidays. Unfortunately, computers were broken and papers were wet. It didn’t take long when my boss, Ma’am Cai, called me to give me some take home assignments since there will be no office for that day.

So I went home and did that take-home task and went to office the next day. A week went on doing writing tasks like letters, articles and also assisting the bosses. I was already having fun when a project was assigned to me, The I Found Mine Campaign.( I will kwento about this in another post.) I began to have even more fun.  

Preps for IFM Launch

After the IFM, I was assigned to another task: updating the School Database. I was calling up some 218 universities around NCR updating their contact details. It seems like it’s an easy task, but believe me when I say that it’s crazily HARD. People on the phone are not always kind, sometimes they lose their etiquette, and my patience wasn’t that long. Also, I wasn’t really used to using the Microsoft Excel and with that task; I was forced to learn how it really works. The tiny letters and the “nakakalito-ness” of the whole thing have actually stretched my patience and logical skills. I’m glad na-kaya ko. I was able finish it with the help of my fellow interns and Ma’am Kheng, the Marketing Assistant.  After NCR, north and south Luzon naman. Then after updating those databases, I sent invitations via email to school administrators, including those in Cebu, for the upcoming Career Congress on June. I follow up and receive confirmations and file piles of documents. It took me several weeks to finish it. Some random tasks were also assigned to me like inquiring for Pep Squad services, answering phone calls and one time, I assisted for a shoot for an interview with an HR Officer of JobStreet with a TV5 morning show. Some random secretariat tasks, attending meetings and preparing for events were the things that kept me busy for weeks. 

On my last day at work, when supposedly I was to be in office for only 3 hours to complete the required 200 hours, I ended up spending 11 more because we went to an event, a job fair in Clark, Pampanga. I could have just stayed in the office for a half-day but I couldn’t let the chance pass without ever experiencing how it was to organize an event. So even though I was tired the whole day and though my whole body is shouting ouch, and my mind wants to go blank for lack of sleep, I pushed through because I was happy with what I’m doing. Work doesn’t seem like work at all. I was inspired and happy and inspired and happy. You read it right, not a typo error; I was really very inspired and happy.

w/ Ma'am Shella, after Pampanga event

w/ Ma'am Cai, the best boss :)

During the one-hour lunch break everyday, I eat at the Forum mall near the Cybergate Tower 3 where foods are actually good but are a little bit pricey. Sometimes I eat with friends who were also having their internship near the area. And sometimes, we interns, would eat together with the Marketing department people. During this one hour break, I look around me and lots and lots of thoughts occupy my mind: about what will happen to me after graduation; about the hundreds of employees I see and whether they are happy with their jobs or not; whether I would work in that same place in the future or not; and how I can afford to eat out in pricey restaurants with big meals someday. Lots of questions, indeed but honestly, the last one mattered the most than others. Haha. I  Have this bad habit of buying myself large and delicious meals as a reward for working so hard and for waking up so early in the morning. Food is my one and only vice. Food sips out my allowance really fast.

the window view

Though the hours were long and the tasks were exhausting, days went on fast because I enjoy the company of people I work with. They are really fun to be with. The laughter and smiles,  their jokes and teasing around made my day. But it never cease to amaze me how such cheerful people could be so smart and professional at the same time. One thing is true, they are good at what they do, and someday I want to be like them too. As they assign tasks to us, they assist and teach us too. They help us learn and understand  how things really work, especially Ma’am Cai. And though she’s really busy, she takes time to help me learn things not only in the business world but lessons about real life.  I owe her a lot of thanks.

Over-time, fun times...

My journey to the office, that one and a half hour everyday, and that very long bus ride, with the traffic and the pollution; I used to hate them all. But now, I miss it… excluding the terrifying part of walking along Cubao at night, that, I won’t miss. Never. 

A lot of people were asking me why I opted to have my internship with JobStreet, why not in the country’s leading TV Networks, why not in any other company which is closer to my major. I say I have been studying advertising and production for how many years already, and though I would want to practice them, I prefer to widen both my knowledge and skills by not concentrating in only one field. And I was right when I chose JobStreet, I learned production, advertising, marketing, and writing altogether. I was never asked to make coffee, not a mean word was said to me. I learned and had fun more than I hoped for. No regrets, just a huge pile of thanks.

208 hours or a month and a week, I learned too many things.  If only Mandaluyong City would be one ride away from my place here in Cabanatuan, I would love to work until the last day of my summer vacation. I thank JobStreet.com for giving me the best internship experience. They truly deserve to be the No.1 job site in the Philippines for they give a lot of Filipinos better lives through better careers. 

Before I went for Jobstreet, I was praying for another company to accept me. Of course I was depressed and disappointed after knowing that I failed to get in. But after several weeks, I realized JobStreet was well worth it. 

Internship may just be a 3-unit requirement, but its value and importance to students is immeasurable. It is far more important than other irrelevant subjects and others  taught by lazy and inconsiderate professors. 

After eleven months, I will be graduating from college and then I would look back on my journey to that special day. I’d be thanking God for bringing me to JobStreet and not anywhere else.

Welcome me back, blog! :)

It’s been a while since I last wrote here. I have to admit, I have been crazily busy and lazy these past few months. If anybody happens to read my blog, please forgive me for not updating this since forever. School, internship, Sims 3 and sleep took much of my time. 

Anyway, since it’s already untimely to blog about the things I have listed too many months ago, I will only blog about the most recent adventures I jump into. I have to say this: it discourages me every time I see the list of all my unaccomplished posts, those that will only remain to be titles forever. Sayang, if only I wasn’t that busy and lazy, I could have gathered some more blog traffic.

There’s one thing I’ve learned from both blogging and writing on my planner: that you cannot actually bring back time, both literally and figuratively. 

Literally: although Mr. Einstein already started the possibility to time travel, until scientists get a little bit smarter to continue that, we will still be unable to bring back nor advance time. 

Figuratively: It is hard to write about something that is not already fresh in your memory. I learned that it is important to write about things while you can still say “it just happened” while you can remember every detail vividly, when you still feel that feeling, while all the thoughts are still accurate; because if not, you will end up being too lazy to write about it anymore for you have already lost the excitement and momentum.

Bottomline: Whether it’s laziness or busyness that keeps you from writing, if you feel that you really have to write about something, PLEASE DO. You can never write as beautifully as while you are IN THAT MOMENT.

So I’ve learned that already, not promising that I won’t stop blogging again, though. But expect me to write more this time. :)

Thanks, friends!

-END-

PASKUHAN with Abz :)

Normally, people would go to UST Paskuhan with their college friends and acquaintances, but I do just the opposite -- I went with my High school friends. And just like every night-out with them, we had so much fun. :)

Not that I hate my college friends, or I don't like being with them, because I do. It's just that it's been a tradition for us, Manila ABZ, to attend Paskuhan and sleep over in someone's condo after.

Sobrang daming tao, ang hirap maka-contact at ang hirap hanapin nung place sa field. Ang hirap tumapak sa manila paper ng my manila paper. ang hirap sumingit, mag-cr at ang hirap maligaw -- my annual Paskuhan Problems.
But despite those, I still arranged everything for ABZ. I posted sa group namin weeks before, even advertised it para mas nakakagana. I bought manila paper, mineral water, some chips, and chocolates. I coordinated kung sino pwedeng umampon samin and kung kaninong condo pwedeng mag-sleep over. and just like last year, sobrang sakit ng paa ko dahil sa pabalik-balik sa gate sa pag-sundo sa kanila kasi iba't ibang time sila dumating. The time and the effort -- but then worth it pa rin lahat.

The laughs. The reminiscing of old memories. The good conversations. The singing with the band. The fireworks. The pictures.  The long wait in KFC.The journey to Timog. The long walk. That madaling-araw meal.The horror movie. The few hours of sleep. And the missing USB. :)))
They're surely worth the pagod and the inis of setting up a get -together.

I dont know, but there's just a feeling that I feel that whenever I'm with them, everything odd fades -- and everything good shines like a dragon firework. :))

I love you guys.. sa susunod na Paskuha ulit.

Friends and other Painkillers

I don't know how they do it, but there are people in our lives, in mine especially, who never fails to just be there and love you all the way. During the sembreak, we had plenty of random dates and meet ups, we used to do this but not quite often because we're school busy.. but in those 2 weeks, it felt like time won't end.

It's the feeling that whatever happens, i'll be just fine because they are there. the comfort, the ease, the absolutely-no-judgment guarantee, that even with my make-up smudged or even if I fart out loud, or even if my hair doesn't look nice, and though I rant about the same things for several years, despite all the unlovely things about me and all the stuffs that I cannot do, we're still friends.

If the world is a big department store, i think FRIENDS are the best and the ultimate freebies that you get.
Lorraine, Trizian, Kim and Kimmie, you know I love you guys, i tell you that a lot.. so less the drama, I'm gonna tell you I miss you and I'll see you soon! :) <3

SEE US IN OUR NOT SO GLAMOROUS PHOTOS. :))

Mommy, Daddy and my Pink Tooth

I thank toothaches for moments like this. Mommy and Daddy taking me to the Dentist, isn't that sweet?

It was Sunday when my wisdom tooth started to give me pains. I took pain relievers until the next day. Tuesday came and the pain worsens. Mommy decided to take me to the dentist referred by my friend Trizian. We were in the car on the way to the clinic when all of a sudden a felt a cloud of appreciation in my heart. Yes. Haha.

I was last on the list so we have to wait in a long line of toothache and braces people. I was sitting between mommy and daddy. I was nervous, afraid, scared, anxious and terrified all at the same time.  I have always been afraid of Dentists, the odd metal and whatever instruments they stick inside people's mouths and the way they demand people to say 'aaaaaaaa' for 96 hours non-stop. Hahaha.I have never been comfortable being around medical people. Ironically, I feel threatened and scared. That is why I really appreciate mommy and daddy accompanying me to the clinic despite the fact that their daughter is an 18-year old grown up, living in Manila alone for 5 days a week. It may seem ridiculous, but to me, it's sweet. Right there, sitting next to them, on that horrible moment of my dental life, I felt thankful for having such sweet parents who never gets tired of being there for me. Once again, I felt like their little baby girl. And it's an indescribable feeling of being sandwiched by my parents love. And then all of a sudden, I felt thankful to a toothache that reminded me how blessed I am for having my parents around.

While we were waiting for my turn, Daddy keeps telling me how he had to undergo a surgery just to get rid of his wisdom tooth. You have no idea how my Daddy tells a story, he tells it very well, I can picture the scenes quite vividly! As what he usually does during medical matters like this, he's been scaring me, telling me that I would have to go through the same surgery because my Ate also did. I was all the more afraid. I gave him sweet punches and mild 'kurot'. HAHA.

I'm going to make the long story short, after the dentist saw what she has to see, and after seeing my dental X-ray,.. guess what? Dad was right. I would have to undergo the same surgery. There's something going on within my teeth. A certain tooth named 'Pinktooth' has been stuck under my gums all these years. My wisdom tooth has been preventing Pinktooth to grow and be a normal one. All these years he has been hiding under my gums just because wisdom tooth won't let him out, and that's quite unfair.. and painful in my part! Hence, the surgery.

I can't imagine that fateful day when that dentist opens my gums and do justice for my stuck tooth, that would be equally relieving and horrifying. I don't know how I'm gonna get through it. But one thing's for sure, as long as I got Dad on my side and Mom on the other, I've got nothing to be afraid of.

I am 18 and I'm brave. I can do this because mommy told me that I can. I will get through this because daddy taught me how to be strong.

It's just a tooth after all, A TOOTH!

Trizian's 18th: Sisters Reunited

October 8, 2011 at La Parilla Hotel.

My Sister, Trizian Gloria Lacson, turned 18. Last na sya na magdedebut sa Abz, sad. Anyway, Icanstill remember it quite vividly until now, this night was a super fun night. Dahil wala naman talagang boring kapag kasama ko sila. Sana kahit wala ng mag-dedebut maulit parin natin happy times like this. I miss you all!