On the Day of December 24th

i just finished my Spaghetti and Herb Linguine and taking sip of my Moroccan Mint latte here at CBTL in Trinoma. I'm waiting for my friends, we'll all be going home to olongapo together.

My friend parked his car here in the mall earlier and went off to work. We'll be meeting all here and make our way to olongapo so to avoid the christmas traffic especially along edsa...

i can really feel christmas season, its cold, though am not ok with the drizzling rain from time to time, but you can feel it coz the aura of the environment is so much holiday hehehe...and im also glad that because of this season i can wear my scarves hehehe... i'm wearing one right now from topman, my christmas gift from my dear bestfriend louise...

i just hope we arrive at olongapo in time for the mass...hehehe..

anyway til then...

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

My 2008 Christmas Wishlist

Wish list...wish list...wish list...its already christmas and i haven't done my christmas wish list...

this time around I'm gonna be reasonable and practical hehehe... so here goes:

1. a nice Portable Speaker for my ipod/laptop. - I can't have the earphones plug in my ears all the time when i'm in my room and my laptop built-in speakers doesn't suffice. An ordinary speaker would do, my gawd! i just want to have something to make noise in my room.

2. This Journal Will Actually Change Your Life 2009 - Even if i have my Starbucks 2009 planner already, i want this planner more. It has cool pages and scribbles as well that you could read... some "did you know"'s and food for the brain. I'm planning to buy and just give my starbuck's planner to my sister perhaps.

3. Light-weight Scarf - I'm so freaking in-love with scarfs right now... I love the scarfs from GAP and Giordano, i saw one of Topman's but i guess they just have it online or in other countries. I bought a very nice scarf from GAP as a gift to my best friend. Actually i was split-minded coz i really like the scarf too hahahaha!

4. Book about Personal Development - i'm really inclined right now in reading books under this genre. i just realize that i want to make the best out of my life as early as now and that by reading books as such i would highly have the idea on how to deal with incoming issues and problems. As much as i am enjoying my yuppie days, i also want to prep up for my future.

I think these are all the simple gifts, material gifts that i would want this christmas...

My Early December Tune

I've been hooked up with Regine Velasquez's song "To Reach You". I know its a solitary love song but the rendition of the one I have is different, you can here a chorale in the background singing lines from "On The Wings Of Love" , another Regine hit song..it sounds soothing and relaxing, they made a version.... For the past weeks I've been busy with work, exhausted with love life and fed up with issues among my peers.

"...the anger in my heart has long been gone...", the line from the song that I really really love... i just can't seem to decipher where is it connecting in me but i know there is...

*****

I have done my Christmas gifts for my family except for my mom, haven't seen a watch that would fit her taste. I bought wrist watches for my dad and 2 sisters.

Nice Article

For those IT freaks out there... this one's for you... enjoy! ^_^

15 THINGS EVERY WEB DEVELOPER SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR

A Birthday Weekend!

It was a great long weekend, although there are some sad instances but over all it was still a wonderful weekend for me. I, KM and Dare (her officemate), celebrated our birthday. We threw a birthday party in our house. I was the only one who doesn't have any guest then due to some personal problems...anyway i still had fun because my two bestfriends were there along with our other friends... we digged into the foods and got drunk of beer and vodka all night long while singing our vocal cords out in videoke...hehehe it was really really fun...full of laughters and fooling around...

I feel so dizzy the following day, i needed to get up early for i am going home to olongapo to celebrate my birthday there... It was just a simple celebration but nothing compares the contentment and happiness you feel when you're around your family and relatives...

I am really full this past weekend...bloated with food, drinks and joy...

I will attach some pics when i get the copy of it...hehehe... ^_^

Why Are You Cafe, where can i find you...

Huhuhuhuhu...im so devastated to find this book... i've been calling powerbooks and fully booked for the past month now and it's always out-of-stock huhuhu...

i'm so desperate!!! waaaahhhh... i wanna 'go' to that cafe and experience it... (a thought excerpt)... T.T

Birthday is usually a special day...not this time...

This could have been my fourth day here in my new work but i was absent yesterday due to some water crisis we had , so this is basically my third day at work...and in which my birthday as well...

Yes it's my birthday...and guess how am i feeling right now...sadness and loneliness lingers...

I ate my packed lunch here in my table ALONE...

I got no one here to tell and celebrate my birthday with...ALONE again

I won't see jnan coz no means to get here...ALONE again...

This is an odd celebration, comparing it to my past years. I feel empty... I don't feel anything special today... I'm floating, waiting to hit onto something so that i can have a direction...

I'm planning on going to the mall later again so that to treat myself to a small gift...just to make today my birthday even if in essence only... Oh well... Happy Birthday to me!

Lagalag: the Traveling Journal of Filipinos

Have you heard of this traveling journal of filipinos? It started last February 2007 by a man named Wilfredo Pascual. These 2 journals have been travelling around the world since then until last July 27, 2008 finally these two moleskin diaries finally meet again and reached their final destination, in the hands of Daphne Osena-Paez.

It has been handed down, delivered via mail or courier by 40 people to each other, after filling up their allotted four pages in the diary. It contains stories of different people, strangers to each other...entrusting their special memories and mementos in these diaries.

Everytime i think of it, it gives me shivers for these diaries are so precious and important. It contains other people's kept moments that they treasured very much. Some of them attached their old passports, train tickets and other small yet very meaningful things. Scribbles can be found on each page expressing the person's thoughts.

W.W.Y.D? --> What.Would.You.Do?

Hmm... well what will I write in and perhaps entrust in that diary if ever i had the chance to be part of it? Good question, i need a lot of thinking to do because i want to make use of that 4 pages, i wanna make sure i'll write something that i can share with other people...something like a life-long learning experience...

...i think i already know what to put in their... something about the heart...heart of a person like 'me'. There are still a lot of people who doesn't understand others, the way they are as an individual. And i think that's worth the 4-pages in that diary...something about acceptance, cruelty and discrimination... proving oneself's worth amidst all...

See you again...MCLSD Team :)

It took me a lot of courage to decide and leave these wonderful people... true friends...

==========================================
Dear MCLSD Team,

It was really a pleasure working with you all. I met more than officemates; I made not only acquaintances but real friends with you all.

to Sir Oweng, The very bubbly Sir Oweng, hehehe… thanks for the good laughs and comforting words… will miss hugging you.. hehehe :)

to Ma’am K, Thank you for listening to me during those times :). And I will miss our chismisan. Hehehe… ung secret natin ha! “CONFIRMED talaga yun!” hahaha…

to Sir Rostum, Hehehe…you already know everything since from the start and up to the very end…and thank you for that…I appreciate it a lot. Thanks for being a good friend. :)

to Ma’am A, I learned a lot from you as my IS, all those palo and points taught me a lot, thank you... thank you for the guidance and mentorship.

to Sir Glenn, a person to look up to… the team is so blessed to have you as the head of MCLSD...and I’m glad to have been part of that team…thank you Sir for the words of wisdom.

to Arvin/Karla, I may not have the chance to really work with you sa mga projects, but thanks for the friendship and the best laughs. Will miss the times na sabay tayo umuuwi, hehehe…

to Ehm, for being so energetic so as to make a day’s work light and less stressful with your jokes and funny moments…will miss hearing them… goodluck ‘girl’ ! hahahaha

to Eunice/Sir Gener, I’m glad to have worked with you on the projects that I had, thank you for helping me. Will also miss going home and buying lunch with you, Eunice… hehehe…

to Joan, even if we didn’t work together on the same projects, thank you for being patient sa mga pangungulit ko just to ask questions about some unix commands and processes. Will miss having lunch and small talks with you hehehe… I wish you goodluck sa ‘love-life’ syempre! Hehehe… balitaan mo ko kapag meron na ha? Hehehe…

to Lynch, the ever feeling may crush ako sa kanya! Hahaha… will miss the times na kukulitin ka out of nothing… hehehe... I’m sure you’ll miss hearing “Hi Lynch :)” that you used to hear everyday hehehe…and ung pag-akbay ko sa arms mo hahaha! Don’t worry was just fooling around kasi nakakatawa ka kulitin… hehehe…

to Kha, my sister! Hehehe… thanks for being the first person to make me feel at home during my first week here…Thanks for the time when I needed an advice… keep that high-spirit attitude…I will definitely miss you! :)

to Gelo, braderrrr! Hehehe… thank you sa lahat lahat ng tulong as in… brother-at-arms and a friend… promise ndi ako magtatago sa ym hahahaha! Will miss you brader! Ingats lagi and bawasan ang cholesterol-foods… :) hehehe…

to Paul, the one who gave me the name Dominador Ylescupidez Pagkalinawan III aka DOMI…hehehe… thanks for all the concern, asking me if I’m okay and everything… I appreciate all the help and guidance… I will definitely miss our gym sessions and the kwentuhan we had after it… I wish you goodluck and keep that witty and funny attitude along with Ehm…hehehe :)

to Rhaids, ang buntis ng MCLSD, hehehe… Salamat sa pagtitiis sa mga pangungulit ko and for the advice whenever I tell you something... balitaan mo ko kapag buntis ka na ulit ha! Hehehe! I’m gonna miss you mommy rhaids! Hehehe! Ingats lagi! :) Walang kalimutan ha! :)

to Stacky, killer! Hehehe now Everytime I will encounter that word, ikaw ung maalala ko, not literally but because u had most if not all of the admirations from the ISG guys hehehe… and syempre because of your dog Killer! Hehehe… I will miss our chitchats and lunch together. Thanks for sharing thoughts and listening to me. Thank you for the advice. Thank you for the friendship. Will miss our bonding moments during the team building. Walang kalimutan ha! :)

and lastly to Louise, thanks for being my seatmate, breakfastmate, lunchmate, gymmate, ‘check’mate, and a very dearest and sweet friend… thank you for lending a shoulder...from the ‘tears’ mode to the ‘laugh’ mode. Thanks for spending time…from simple to bizarre moments. Thank you for the thoughts and advices you’ve said… I will miss those non sense talks we had :)… Thanks for being there to make work easier than it seems to be… Of course will definitely never forget you...and will always be in touch… if your mind’s in a haze, just give me a call and will try to help you out, you know naman how my mind works, no holds barred…hehehehe :) take care, good luck and always remember “happiness” ! :)

I’ve learned a lot, both professionally and morally. All of which, I will bring with me as I venture into the new environment that I am to partake.

Thank you for all the memories, whether good and ‘not so’ good. :) Will definitely miss all of you! And I hope to have more good memories with you all despite of this step that I took.

I wish all of you the best in all aspects of life! God bless always!

Like ‘someone’ said before, it is not really a goodbye from Domi but more of a see you all again next time. :)

Have a safe and great weekend team! Goodnight! :)

Regards,

아드리안

Adrian Del R. Alfonso ^_^

Globe Telecom, Inc.

3 Red Flags That You're Headed for a Breakup

Nice article for those who are in a relationship and would want to have it last long...took it from a bulletin post in friendster...

When it comes to breaking up, hindsight is 20/20. But wouldn't it be nice if you could tell that you and your partner were headed for a falling out before it happened?

Fortunately, you can predict a break up. And with just a little bit of tweaking, you can get back on track and rescue your relationship before it hits the rocks.

Red Flag #1: Tuning Out

One of the most common reasons relationships fail is because one or both partners is tuning out. It might sound minor, but in actuality, few things are more hurtful than being ignored by your loved one, whether that is accompanied by emotional neglect or physical distance.

The Cure: Take Down the Wall

Tuning back in is easy. All you have to do is agree to listen to your partner's feedback and dedicate time and emotion to the relationship again. Start taking down the emotional wall, brick by brick. Look at your partner in the eye when he or she speaks (even if it is not what you want to hear), make physical contact daily (even if it is just holding hands), and re-commit to the relationship.

Well for me, who says love conquers all even distance? It's really hard for love to remain and hold-on if the presence of one side is lacking...i mean yeah LDR(long-distance relationship) still works just like in those who are separated abroad...but still even if the relationship entails that sacrifice, both should see to it that the presence is still there...it may not be physically but the emotional assurance should be there...

Red Flag #2: Fighting Fire with Fire

Couples who fight fire with fire can expect a relationship that is constantly up in flames. Name-calling, sarcasm, criticism, and violence (from throwing things, slamming doors, to actual physical abuse) result in emotional wounds that are hard to heal and relationships that are hard to rescue.

The Cure: Pour Water on the Flames

The next time you feel anger guiding you to say, or do, things you might regret, take time to cool off. If that's not possible, try framing your complaints as requests. For instance instead of, "Why did you forget our date?," you could say, "I feel sad that you forgot our date. How can we make sure this doesn't happen again?" If your partner is the one who is fanning the flames, don't engage in the vicious cycle of insults and tantrums. You can't fight fire with fire if the other person won't engage in the flame-throwing.

You got it so damn right and I couldn't agree more! COMPROMISE is the key, learn how to compromise! It takes a lot of courage to swallow up your own pride, but in doing so it will entail a great reward...

Red Flag #3: Refusing to Own Up

No one is perfect, so why is it that some of us refuse to take responsibility in our most important relationships? Passing the buck and playing the victim are surefire ways to put a relationship in jeopardy.

The Cure: Take Responsibility for Your Actions

The next time you forget an anniversary, or say something hurtful to your spouse, don't try to pass the buck and refuse to take responsibility. Instead, admit where you went wrong and try harder next time. Sounds simple... but it can save your relationship.

One word to make the pain go away is "Sorry", coupled with sincerity...everything will be okay. Sounds simple but hard to do but it will definitely save a relationship. Just don't make it a habit of doing the wrong things and saying sorry for it, as the meaning and sincerity will fade away.

So to conclude, simple things that we do can affect the relationship, we just have to weigh things before we do them. By doing this we can make the relationship intact. Fight and arguements are common to every relationship, it matters only in the way we handle and the way we put closure to these problems. And besides, its these problems, the fights and arguements, that justifies the love between two people.

Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop

Today, Louise and I were supposed to go to the gym coz it's been weeks again since the last time we worked out but because of the stronger desire to just hang out at a near by mall, we changed our plan and headed to Podium.

I brought along with me my laptop, in which i just bought mid of 2nd quarter this year and then after almost a month, its uber 250gb harddisk crashed. Yeah i know the feeling!!! Not to brag about my laptop that has soaring specs, a black dell inspiron 1525 model: 3gb RAM; 250gb SATA HD; Intel Core 2 Duo; 1.83Ghz; built-in 2 megapixel webcam; and wi-fi capable. I had my friend buy it in Canada, and it's really cheaper compared to those laptops available here that are far down with regards to their specs. Well i guess this is the price you pay for having it bought outside because the warranty support for it will be a tedious thing since there's no official Dell support center here in the country, and the only choice for me to avail the warranty included is to ship it back to Canada. No way! I'll just shed some money to have it fixed rather than taking the risk of sending it to Canada with no finite timing when it can be returned to me.

Anyway to cut it short, I went to GTG shop at the basement level of Podium and had them checked on the unit and advise on whether my speculation was true and on the solution. Vern, the guy from the shop received my laptop, and took out the harddisk from it and have it plugged like an external harddisk on a near by pc to check whether he can retrieve my numerous and precious files before reformatting it if it can still be used. We left the laptop with him while he was trying to revive it because it will just bore us out. Instead, he will just text me on the findings once done.

Side story...we left the GTG shop and had ourselves dine on NYPD, that's in the Cinema level of Podium, beside Subway. Louise was the one who picked the place and as well as the food. We pigged out on blue cheese delights. She ordered an NYPD Blue Pizza, Buffalo wings and Clam Chowder soup. I love the unique taste of blue cheese on the pizza, she's hesitant that i might not like the taste of it but c'mon i love food trip. The buffalo wings for me tops it all, i drooled on the sauce, its somewhat tangy and a bit spicy, that really complimented the dip made up of tartar cream sauce mixed with blue cheese. I love the dip! I even used some of it as a speard over my blue cheese pizza. Clam chowder is fine with me nothing speacial but delicious. Definitely i will go back to get some of the buffalo wings again and blue cheese pizza. Ok enough about food! Remember, you didn't go the gym! Hahahaha! Going back to the main topic...

I received an sms message from Vern, saying that he could no longer reformat my harddisk and worse, couldn't make it work anymore to retrieve my files. Oh no!Goodbye to my files which includes a lot of pictures, personal stuffs, previous work-related projects, etc...I don't have any back-up of those coz to sum them all would amount to more than 70gb in size. Regrets...regrets...if i haven't deleted the files after transferring them from my old laptop, i should still have them.

The only option left for me was to buy a new hard disk. I went to megamall to buy a new one, instead of letting the shop buy for me which would take a number of days before they can give me back my laptop. I bought a 160gb harddisk. I decided to downgrade it from the previous 250gb to 160gb harddisk because I am afraid that it might crash again and will just make the remaining free space go to waste. I'll just buy an external hard disk so that I can have more than 250gb of space that is separated from each other. So if ever, well I hope not anymore, one of the harddisk crash then i still have my backup stored in the other one. I got my laptop around 8pm, its fixed already with all the packaged installers installed. The total amount i spent for the repair is 5100 pesos, the breakdown will be 1800 pesos for the service fee and 3300 pesos for the 160gb hard disk.

Lessons learned:

1. Always have a back-up!

2. Don't let your crashed harddisk saturated for too long, as early as you can bring them to a repair shop for a higher chance in reviving and repairing(as advised by Vern)

3. Don't be so over confident that a powerful laptop could not be faulty.

Why bother blogging??

It never came to my mind why on earth I started out with this blog a couple of years ago, not until I came to a blog post on wordpress.com. So why did I create this blog in the first place? If I am going to cast a spell to turn back time and be the person I was before when I first started out this blog, definitely i'll say for fun and the trend. Couple of years ago, tech life has been living in its peak and online journals or the word 'blog' as the term the trendy and 'it' people calls it were sprouting everywhere. Lots of websites hosting free online journal are coming out, to date there are 14,500,000 hits when you try searching the words "free online journal blog" using Google. Yes, that much hit is returned, looks exaggerated but true. And because im still young then, almost all the yuppies have their own personal blogs and so i said to myself, i need to have one as well hahaha! Too petty right? I know very much childish and immature!

Anyway going back to present, as time goes by, people change and so as their perspective in things. If I am to ask now why do blog, I would simply say that it's my mirror. Through here I can definitely express myself. I can freely say the stuffs that I want to, no holds barred to everything. I can become true to myself without any pretentions. I can laugh and cry without any hesitations. For the longest time now, I've always try to hide away from what i really feel and who i really am. And it is because of this blog, i can open up. For me, its easier to express whatever is in me thru here rather than talk about it. And lastly full of memories worth reminiscing and lessons that are to be learned from... when i don't feel good, i just revisit my previous posts to unravel my feelings.

With blogging, I can carry out intellectual conversations and opinions on everything. Its also a good way for me to see thru other people's mind from different parts of the world. I consider blogging to be a portal of the heart and mind...a plane worth exploring. :)

Proud to be Pinoy!

It is really sad to know that the foreigners recognize the filipino workers rather than our government does. This is something that our government should work on, improving the lives and welfare of the filipinos, giving credits to them instead of just politicalizing. They are considered as modern day heroes, not only because of the revenue they gave to our country but also because of the loneliness and sadness they have to endure being away from family just to give them a good life. They sacrificed the times where they could be with their loved ones especially during the childhood of their sons and daughters.

The article shows how filipino workers abroad are highly appreciated and given importance to their society, like in Saudi Arabia.

In relation to this, i would like to give credits to ABSCBN's 55th Year Advocacy, "Walang Iwanan Sa BAYANIJUAN" in which it brings back the concept of Filipino volunteerism or the bayanihan that will be the core foundation in launching different projects that will help create a better, more compassionate Philippines that will nurture the lives of future filipinos. The first successful tv campaign with the official theme song "Bagong Simula" really struck the hearts of the youth to realize how it is essential for the filipinos to do something about the current situation of the Philippines if we want to preserve the worth of filipinos.

I just hope that the spirit of bayanihan touches the filipinos in all parts of the world, especially our 'Government' , =P .

Cheers to the Filipinos! WALANG IWANAN SA BAYANIJUAN!!! ^__^

The Day After Tomorrow...

I have finally accepted the fact that sometimes things are not really meant for you no matter how bad you want it. It has sinked into my mind now that Watson Wyatt is not for me. At first its so hard to accept that coz the way i see it, it will be a very good opportunity for me. My career will really blossom in Watson Wyatt. I'm blinded by the short term achievements and pleasures, coz with them i will be able to go to UK, but only for the training.

I realized that God wants me to look what's beyond tomorrow, He's preparing me into something I don't know what it is and it's making me shiver in a way but I know, like always, He has plans. I just have to put my 100% trust on Him. I've felt a tremendous amount of depression and sadness, I've cried for a number of nights already and that's enough i've already suited myself up with pity and grief of how my life has been doing.

My last day here at work is nearing, and i don't know what will happen to me after. I'll just have to put my faith in Him and be amenable to whatever He gives to me. I've already asked Him a lot of questions that you could ever imagine, and He just answered me with two words.....FAITH and TRUST.

Like everybody else here in the Philippines, I am also dreaming, wanting and would definitely do anything just to have the life that i want. I want to give my family the comfort of life in exchange for the hardships and sufferings I have endowed on them while they were raising me to become the upright and brilliant person that i am now. For me, no matter what, thats how i would want to give them the token of thank you.

Just like the way i uttered my promise that i have fulfilled now, I am going to make the same attitude of statement that I will definitely prove that I stay true and intact with my words.

this is it...i've chosen to take the new path...

Yesterday i have finally submitted my resignation letter. I sit down with my supervisor and discussed her with the new career opportunity that i have decided to partake. I made it in a nice toned manner, carefully selected the words that came out of my mind and heart. We both made the conversation lightly and fun eventhough it was a serious matter. I had the hard time explaining my decision because i wanted to tell her everything in a way that it is not awkward and not offensive, no matter how bad i felt in my stay here i still couldn't divulge it bluntly...it really is in my nature to look for the person's feelings. She took the matter in a very unbiased stand. The main reason is that i wanna go back on the development track. First, it was really the job that i love, second, i can't seem to out-weigh the stress im getting in this kind of job with the previous jobs that i had. And lastly, i don't have the urge and motivation anymore to see myself pursuing this career. I didn't even bother getting into the details regarding our relationship as supervisor despite the initiative she did during our talk, maybe because i want us to go on our separate lives still intact with professionalism just like the way we were when i first set my foot here. There were negotiations but i took the risk of declining them. This is something that i have decided and will definitely have no regrets in the end. I am responsible for my actions.

After we talked, she discussed it with our boss and to the senior in our section. I was expecting a 2nd round with her and our boss but it was just our boss who called me up if i have a minute to talk. As always, he is very heart-warming and very assertive person, he had only one question for me, "Is it still revocable?", and like the person i am, very sensitive and conciderate of other's feelings, i answered, "to much of my regret sir but i have already decided to go for the new opportunity." He understood then, explained that its acceptable but would really want me to stay if there's still a chance. He wished me goodluckand hopes that the relationship, the friendship i've established here will never end by leaving the company...for he politely stated that all the persons i've met here specfically our team were real friends, real people. Having it all heard from him made me sad for the people i already made friends with here will surely be miss.

Very few from our team knows it and i'm sure maybe next week or late this week all of my teammates will know of my decision. I am prepared but sad...i dont have any idea of the people i'll meet but im not afraid anymore...this is the circle of life...i already understand now...

Now i can sleep well although the feeling of sadness still lingers...floating into the vast ocean of mixed emotions...

The time of my life...

...thought i couldn't live without 'you'... its gonna hurt when it heals to...it will all get better in time...

This month is really an emotional breakdown for me...all of the lowest moments came at the same time. Once again, i felt the urge of giving up...to surrender again. The damage is really deep when it is aimed emotionally, so devastating and depression really lingers.

Personally, im still coping up with the recent changes in my life. I can say it straight now that i'm alone but not lonely. I've learned to accept what's God's plan for me. I know there's someone along meant for me.

Professionally, i've been so depressed with what's happening to my career right now. I have so many questions, full of why's... (to be continued...)