Melancholy

Long have I not shown real emotions inside. Life must just go on. Melancholy wraps around me - of dilemma and uncertainty, of passion and its loss, of seemingly infinite demands and needs, of pressure, of longingness. Time is an abstract fact and distance is a sad reality. Feelings are discarded and overruled. Thoughts are endless in my mind. I am quiet outside, I am shouting inside. Must go on, must move on. I want to do other things but I have no choice - responsibility. I'm torn and I'm broken. I'm tired but I must not be. Happiness has long been a dream, fulfillment seems nothing but a dream. Everything seems to be a dream.

No control of what's happening. No direction where I am going. Or am I just wrong? Hopefully, I'm wrong.

Certainly not me. Somebody save me.

Simply the Best: GBS All Stars!

Last Friday was I think the best night ever since I came in P&G. A ballroom competition to be participated by all P&G business units in the Philippines was set in this year's Pension Plan Night held in NBC Tent, The Fort. This year's theme is 'Simply the Best', showcasing how P&G makes it to the greatest of all time.

Competing groups were MDO (Market Development Organization, the one that's located in 6750), Cabuyao Plant in Laguna, GBS (Global Business Services, that's us in Petron Building), and last but surely not the least, the Leadership Team composed of Jim Lafferty and Patrick Wong, to name a few.

Historically, GBS had never won any Pension Plan competitions in the past. That is why every year is something to be looked forward to from the new hires who, by tradition, are the ones joining the competition. And certainly, this year marked a record. As part of the GBS All Stars who performed that night, I'm proud to say that we made it to the top! We won! And we are simply the best!

<video of the Pension Plan Ballroom Presentation to be posted here soon once made available>

Here are some of the pics that Friday night. Thanks to Richard for these awesome shots, they made us look like real performers on stage.

If there's one thing I will truly treasure from this experience, it would be the friendship gained across different service lines in GBS. I realized the value of diversity and the culture of winning despite conflicts and odds. Because of this event, I somehow found my place in the competitive yet fostering environment of the company. Kudos to the GBS All Stars and I will surely miss our late night practices.

Extra-Curriculars at Work

I spent my whole Saturday outside today. Most of it are P&G but outside-work related. Get it?

Morning:  I joined the P&G group that regularly goes to GK Baseco for the first time and we held arts and crafts workshop and storytelling - pretty much what I used to do before in college. It was fun, the kids were generally attentive. I've been looking for opportunities to go to CSR activities before, but the weird thing is I've felt a certain level of indifference. I haven't explored yet the reason for it may entail a lot of reflections which I fear might end up breaking myself. There's a feeling of indifference but a calling to do more. I know it's quite paradoxical but perhaps I'm just used to knowing the families of the children and having personal relationship with the people. The fact that this is a one-day, one-time event and the feeling of not being able to sustain what has been done might be the reason of such indifference.

Lunch:  Bonding with fellow new hires. Just plain and simple conversations which made us know each other better.

Afternoon:  The whole afternoon was meant for ballroom rehearsals for the upcoming Pension Plan next Friday.  We will be doing swing, boogie, waltz and pasa doble.  The last time I remembered dancing these steps was during High School when we have to do a school play - so long long long time ago. Nevertheless, it was fun and the feeling that you're doing something outside work makes it more reasonable to engage in these activities. It makes me want to love my work even if it is technical.

Evening:  I accompanied my hugmate as she went home to Las Pinas. That afternoon, she came from UP to arrange some school papers. The time spent together was a bit short but it's better than not meeting at all. She's going to Davao again and GenSan, all for the same week. I know she would be busy in the next few days.  I would be busy too (what's new?) for Lunch&Learn and Pension Plan rehearsals on top of projects everywhere. I'm just hoping I can manage my time and workload better. Surely, I don't want to miss those simple yet most important things in life.

No Tickets to Ateneo-La Salle Game?

Yes, but we're there! And yes again, we won! Go Ateneo!

Good thing we're there live in Araneta that Sunday afternoon.  Funny thing was Jekki and I went there with no tickets at all. Surprised how we were able to get in? This is the story:

3 days before the game:

Ka offered us some Upper B tickets from his officemate that were sold at 500 bucks. Now, that's what you call a scalper's price! I asked Harvy, Jeff and Jekki if they're willing to pay for it. Harvy said yes but he already had a ticket. Jeff is not into live games and Jekki said no. Since I'd be alone, my answer is also no, hehe.  We're just hoping there are other options.

1 day before the game:

I heard from Jaymie that Jem has 2 more Upper B tickets sold this time at 300. Cheaper but I didn't know why Jekki and I still didn't get it. Perhaps, we were just waiting for better prices (to think that the game is already a day away). Wishful thinking?

3 hours  before the game:

Jekki and I arrived in Araneta laughing because we still don't have any tickets. I don't know but personally something's telling we would be able to watch the game live. Well, there's always a Gen. Admission tickets and when we asked how much it costs? Only 25 bucks! Haha, we thought of buying it as a last resort, anyway, we can always go to the ticket lady and buy them.

2 hours before the game:

We found a scalper selling Upper A tickets for only 300 bucks! Unfortunately, they were just sold out when we approached her. Damn it! And then we found Bro. Ryan. Eager to find tickets as the game was drawing near, we strolled around the coliseum.  At the back entrance we found Fr. Nemy and the Blue Eagles and there we got a free Upper A ticket! Yipee, one more to go! We found another scalper selling Upper B tickets at 400. Jekki and I just divided costs hence it's like buying an Upper B ticket worth 200.

An hour before the game:

We found ourselves seated at the front-most row of Upper B (It's like Upper A already!). Thanks to Ka, Nina, and Rox for reserving the seats as early as 10am.

Haha, I told Jekki, "Getting an AdMU-DLSU ticket isn't as hard as we thought, right"?

After the game:

Hurrah! Ateneo won! Another miracle shot and we're definitely proud of it. I miss the company of this kind of people. This is officially my first UAAP game as an alumnus. I met many Atenean friends, it looked like a reunion for me. Go Ateneo!

Let’s Get Physical

Finally last Friday, I found myself working out in the gym. Actually, I've been wanting to run and lift weights to take excess calories out of my system, especially now that my face became rounder and my tummy grew bigger. (Do you know that I gained more than 10 pounds after graduation?) Well, it was only last Wednesday that I was able  to buy our gym privilege card in Mandarin Oriental Hotel. And apparently, the reason for both the purchase delay and the gym card is my work.

Yes, it's part of our privileges at work and I know that the company has been stressing a lot about work-life balance.  The price you pay for the card is way cheaper than, say, Golds Gym or Fitness First, but you get to experience high quality service.  What I really enjoyed about going to Mandarin Gym is that you're treated as a hotel guest! The gym personnel are very friendly and accomodating and the whole place is admiringly peaceful. I was even thinking now that if I do this regularly, I might as well do it every morning, so that everyday, I can do morning exercises, then take a shower and wear work clothes in the hotel and after that, walk my way to the office which is only one block away.  So then I get to experience hotel quality mornings and avoid heavy Manila traffic!  We'll see.

It's Saturday today and I spent the whole time playing badminton with my officemates.  We had this tournament for the whole Supply Chain Finsol Group for bonding and of course work-life balance purposes and I really enjoyed the day. Even if I can feel muscle pains right now, I am looking forward to more games because I know this won't be over yet. It's good to know I'm playing badminton again! Thank you guys! Work is more fun with this.

Tomorrow, I might drop by Mandarin again after going to mass in Greenbelt. I'm really getting physical now and I hope this is only the beginning.