~ diamonds and drinks ~

Before anything else, I would like to apologize for the update delay, most of you knew why (and you'll read about it in this post). So here's a recount of what has happened for the past week, on my side of the world.

Prologue: After I leaped out of the corporate world last February, I thought it would be easier for me to juggle grad school and events without having to feel the burnout and stress. Wishful thinking. Even during out of the country (Vietnam) and town (Iloilo-Bacolod-Boracay) trips, we (together with Ria, Jackie, Ace and Dict) discuss and meet over meals, in between boat and bus transfers and before/after sleep. You may find this absurd, but it it more of reality than an exaggeration. An example, when we were in a conversation, we must first state the name/code of the event before we proceed with what we want to say. This prevented the confusion and mixing up of details. And I have yet to start talking about grad school work...

Fast forward to July 22 12:01 am. After a month and a half of planning, we find ourselves setting up for the event. We were surrounded with wood, paint, plexi glass, cds, mini dv tapes, sintra panels, scripts and cheese pimiento sandwiches in the ballroom of Hotel Intercontinental. Our greatest challenge was to execute a program suited for the client's two new diamond couples. By 11am, we were ready for the the tech run, with the venue looking like this (photo courtesy of marion manalo):

To cut the story short, the event went well except for minor technical problems (the wireless microphones had a life of their own!). I never felt so sleepy and tired that I was not much of help during the egress. Instead of staying for another overnight in the hotel, I decided to go home so that I can get a decent sleep and rest. I almost crawled towards my bedroom. With so much effort, I washed up, brushed my teeth, changed into a clean shirt and hit the bed. I didn't even have the energy to wear my pajamas!

Next week, wait for my rants or raves after the post event evaluation meeting with the client.

And you thought that we can rest...no, not yet...

July 27, 4:00am. Again, together with Ria, Jackie, Ace and Dict, we were finding our way out Glorietta after finishing the technical setup in TGI Friday's. It was a long walk and it was not made easier by the heavy things we were carrying (tool kit, boxful of balloons, laptop and printer). Halfway, Ace and I decided to leave the other three to get the car parked in the basement. Upon getting back in the condo, Ria immediately took a shower while I went online while waiting for my turn. The other three...well, they were already asleep on the floor, in their work clothes! I went to sleep with wet hair around 430am, woke up with damp hair around 9am and went back to the venue around 11am, with wet hair! By 2pm, we were all set. The venue was starting to fill up and by 4pm, we started the (design by ace espejo):

This was one fun event and the program went without any hitches. Although we encountered difficult patches with the clients during the planning stage, it was compensated with the chance of getting to know different people and establishing friendships (a shout out to the five bartenders and to jeans!) To cap off the event, we had free margaritas! And did I mention that everytime we were in the resto, we have our fill of yummy appetizers, salads, chicken fingers, desserts and drinks? We do have our perks...

So, there.

Oh, by they way, there's more. In between the two events, I was slaving on finishing my marketing paper. Mom can attest to the fact that I was still awake at 4am last Tuesday for that paper! It was a good thing that classes were called off that day, giving me more time to complete the paper. And it was a group paper...tsk tsk tsk...my groupmates were in la-la land, while I was having a nightmare! This is one loooong term!

Epilogue: After two events and term papers, I find myself home...sick! I guess I have to rest and enjoy this rainy weekend in bed. I will be missing a friend's wedding and a cousin's birthday party, but I need to energy to finish two more group papers and one final paper for marketing class. I cannot let my grades suffer, this is for myself.

Current Rant: Summer Heat

Let's get this straight, I grew up in the Philippines. I should be all so adapted to summer heat. I guess as a kid summer heat didn't bother me since I'd be in the province playing tumbang preso (a game where you try to topple over a can with one of your flip flops, I know Pinoy kids are very ingenious!). Anyways, as i stopped playing street games, my love for the heat is now contained if I am near bodies of water, i.e. the beach!

I'd prefer winter storms than a heat wave. Factoring in humidity and the asphalt laden terrain of NYC, it could have easily been like 100 degrees yesterday.

Now, if only they could find a way to pipe in A/C under the subway stations.

brownout? blackout?

it has been scorching hot these past few days. the weather temperature has been reaching 9o something degrees. over the weekend, it was reported that it reached over 100. yup, summer time is here in new york. with my six years here, i think this is the first summer that the temperature went up this high. i prefer summer over winter anytime anyway.

although last night was terrible. as soon as i got off the train station, police cars are patrolling our neighborhood and two more cops were walking around my block. the neighborhood lamposts and houses were dimly lit. it was scary. we couldn't turn on the lights nor the tv simlutaneously. it felt like usual summer nights in philippines. we were around the table with (scented) candles as our only source of light.

it was a little nostalgic of the times when we were still living in galvez compound in pasay. whenever there are power shortage, people would come out of their houses hoping to be cooled off by the cool breeze, kids would still be playing hide and seek, some adults would be gathered in front of the house telling jokes, or some of them would gather the kids and tell some scary stories (especially about the compound). we would usually stay up until the last of the candle wic burns out or finally give into the heat and fall asleep.

last night, we went to bed with no airconditioner and a very, very, very light air from the fan. this is the first time that i ever experience this thing here in new york... and i thought this kind of things doesn't happen to a place of milk and honey.

summer time

my favorite season. growing up, i always see summer as the time to sleep in, play all day, go to places and relax. there was never a summer that we didn't go swimming. my dad, or family would gather everyone and go to laguna and rent a private pool for the day or at subic for overnight.

i remember the first time i learned how to swim. i was around the age of 6 and we were in iloilo. i was left behind in the kiddie pool, freezing and dead leaves would start to stick in my body for it was underneath a big tree. then i finally got really envious and decided to follow my sister and brother in the big pool. my sister would hold me and try to let go of me aside from my screams of pleading not to. it was my brother who taught me how to swim. his first rule - if you drown don't scream, just kick your feet. for if you scream, you'll take in water and you'll really drown. after taking a break from the water, i decided to jump into the pool instead of taking the stairs (because everybody else was doing it!). lo and behold, i almost drowned. with my brother's first rule in my head, i survived and learned how to swim.

ever since then, whenever summer is around the corner i would look forward into dipping in the water. summer never cease to bring me great memories.

~ rain memories ~

It has been raining cats and dogs for the past two days, prompting classes to be called off, including grad school. This gives me more time for me to work on my paper on "Art of War and McKinsey's 7S. That said, let me stop talking about school and continue with my thoughts about the rain...

My fondest childhood memory was having the chance to go out and play in the rain. We used to live in Esmeralda Street in Manila and there, my brother and I had the chance to enjoy the rain especially when we have our paper boats. It was not hard to get mom's permission since I think she was convinced that the rain prevents prickly heat rashes. Oh, what fun it is to be a kid!

In between tween and teen years, rain is another opportunity to have extra sleep when classes are suspended. Or make the entire highschool barkada watch a movie (I have a vivid memory of watching Jurassic Park during a typhoon, because instead of going home we went to Glorietta!).

In college, going to DLSU on a rainy day was an adventure. Better to bring extra clothes and shoes! The dress code then didn't allow slippers and shorts making the students look like drowned cats in jeans and sneakers.

After college and into the corporate world....come rain or hale, there are slim chances of having work called off. There was a time that I was on conference call in the middle of a blackout, due to heavy rains, just to finish a meeting with counterparts in other countries. I was even on a small plane bound to Palawan for a convention and stressing out because the event was supposed to be outdoors.

But then, as time goes by, I still prefer the rainy weather over the summer heat. There are still fonder memories and experiences that happened in the rain. Warmer coffee mugs, deeper thoughts on friendships, happier times with special people and seeing the rainbow after every rain.

I am definitely looking forward to more rain memories.

Food Trip

Food trip, a term coined on traveling great lengths for a certain kind of food.

Filipino families celebrates with bazillion of food. Chinese family has traditions over food. Pull them together, we are what you get. Siblings that enjoy food. From late night tapsilogs (beef, fried rice and eggs) and balut (duck's egg), an afternoon craving of isaw (bbq chicken's intestines), to finer tastes of oysters, steaks and whatnot. We grew up basically around the dinner table.

Could it be the food that brings us together? Perhaps. But essentially its the companionship and laughter during these food trips that makes it special.

~ bienvenu, part trois ~

i'm neither the writer nor the speaker. i may not have the hands to create stuff or program things, but i have the hands that tries to reach out and care.

through this blog you would see the different threads that we bring that weaves our relationship and makes the bond stronger. it is in the differences that makes our journey an interesting one, for we see each other in different lights and experience life in different aspects.

~ welcome, part deux ~

even though i may be listed as first among the contributors, let it not deceive you for i am not the eldest amongst the troika. that being said, let me continue.

this blog allows us to partake on a common project as siblings. growing up, we had each other to play with, fight with and experience life's ups and downs. though miles apart, the bond lingers.

though very much different in personality, very common in a lot of ways. hope you come along for the ride and experience the myriad of ideas that pour out of this blog. who knows, we just might end up with a book!

~ welcome ~

if you take a look into our journey as siblings, you'll be surprise to see a myriad of phases, a kaleidoscope of colors.

if you take a look into our individual journeys, you'll see lots more than what was combined.

we are now sharing our journey into the blog world.

it's our way of keeping tabs on each other since we are oceans, weather and time zones apart. we are more than happy to share them with you.

hope you'll enjoy the ride with us.