I Did It!

Monday, September 25, 2006

Yes, I've finally graduated from AIG Consumer Finance Group's Managament Associate Program aka Camp David. It's officially over and done with. I did it. I feel good and I feel relieved. It feels as if a huge truckload of pressure has been lifted off my shoulder. I had my final presentation piece this morning. It was by far the biggest presentation I've ever done - on my own. Not even our final presentation in Hong Kong (for the Regional execs) last year could even surpass this feat. I worked my butt off for this. I worked real hard. I went through a whole lot of shit just to get by. Buti nalang it went pretty well. I think I could have performed better though but okay na rin kasi I was expecting for the worst talaga. I'm happy because all the feedbacks that we got from both local and regional exceuctives were all positive so I'll take it as a good sign. Sabi ko nga, the future looks rosy for me. Maybe I'm still on a high but really the sun is starting to shine on my side. You should have seen me last week. I was so sabog. Some people in the office even commented that our faces look more "aliwalas" na daw compared to last week. I'm just so glad to have come this far. It wasn't easy but at least ngayon alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko pala.

Come Again?

Saturday, September 09, 2006

I don't see the point of listening to all the crap a person has to say to me, most especially if I've already heard it not just once or twice but for God knows how long. I mean, it's the same crap time and again. (1) I really don't want to participate in all the cursing and shouting. I don't curse to begin with and I was never a shouter anyway. (2) I just don't want to argue anymore. I'm tired of having to defend myself all the time – I sound like a broken record na nga at times. (3) What for if the other person refuses to listen? It's impossible to talk to close minded people as they already have their own pre-conceived notions and judgments. Your opinions wouldn't really matter anymore because everything falls on deaf ears. It's always their way and no other way. (4) I don't want to be part of their negative vibe. There's just too much anger and bitterness that it saps the energy right out of me. Sometimes it's just not worth it to go through all the trouble and hassle because I only end up irritated, frustrated and with a very bad day. So rather than going head to head, I stepped back and made all the effort to keep my mouth tightly shut. I purposely zoned out as I let the other person do all the yapping - as in nothing really registered to me and it felt good. I don't want to get affected with all the negative things being hurled at me. I don't want to bother explaining myself either. So from now on, they can say what they want to say. Kebs na ako. Basta ako...

It's less tiring this way.

Working Blues

Monday, August 21, 2006

From One Tree Hill…

"Everyday is A Sunday Evening"

"You know that feeling you get on a Sunday? When you just have the whole day to yourself, and it's been great, but then you remember you have to go to school the next day, and it ruins the whole rest of the night.”

I never really had a problem about having to go to school but this is exactly what I feel most of the time towards work.

Feel ko lang...

Sunday, August 20, 2006

In my Must Do List right now is WALL / ROCK CLIMBING. I don’t think I have the upper body strength but what the heck, I still want to try it out.

As opposed to my Dec 15, 2004 post, which I’m still bent on accomplishing someday – kahit isa man lang, this one is something that is more doable and possible. But first, I need to find a willing person. Di ko ata kaya ng mag-isa, hehe.

O Nga Naman...

Friday, August 18, 2006

My horoscope for today seems to have hit the bull's eye. Maybe it isn't as bad as I'm "believing" it to be. I probably am making mountains out of molehills. Point well taken.

Kebs AKo

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

While I was walking the aisles of Fully Booked a couple of weeks ago, one of the books that caught my eye was Lois P. Frankel's Nice Girls Don't Get The Corner Office 101 - Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers. Unfortunately as it turned out, this book seems to be describing most of the supposedly "wrong" things that I'm unconsciously doing at work. Read: If you work nonstop without a break...worry about offending others and back down too easily...explain too much when asked for information...or "poll" your friends and colleagues before making a decision, chances are you have been bypassed for promotions and ignored when you expressed your ideas. Although you may not be aware of it, girlish behaviors such as these are sabotaging your career!

Sometimes being nice just isn't enough anymore. It's not that I have to exert effort to be nice. What can I do if everything is really honest to goodness okay for me? I really don't see any reason to complicate things any further or make things difficult for others. For as long as it's something that I can do and I'm comfortable with, I'd be more than willing to help or share. It just takes a whole lot to piss me off. My patience can stretch the mile when it comes to dealing with difficult and/or stupid people. I can shrug at crappy insensitive jokes all in the name of "fun" or camaraderie. Really, I don't get irritated easily. I can't even remember the last time I was fuming mad. Ganun lang talaga ako, I guess.

However, a recent experience at work has made me come to the realization that nice girls always finish last. Being nice doesn't cut it anymore. Henceforth, I've resolved to consciously exert more effort not to be nice at work. Even if it's really okay, it's no longer going to be okay anymore. I'm not going to be as considerate anymore. After all, most people aren't really that considerate anyway. Bastusan na kung bastusan basta I'm going to be "kebs" about everything at work - a term I'm borrowing from my sister, a term she uses for I don't care or I couldn't care less or wala akong pakialam. So kebs na ako if I'm on the bad side of my boss. Kebs ako if I piss her off because of some mistake I made. Kebs ako if I always come in the office last (hello, everyone in my tiny department comes in on average at least 30mins earlier!). Kebs ako if I always leave the office first (hello, try working in a tiny department where on average everyone leaves way past dinner time). Kebs ako if iba ang trip ko sa mga officemates ko. Kebs ako if I don't do the usual things that my officemates do. Kebs ako if I'm out of the loop. Kebs ako if I'm not the best employee. Kebs ako sa lahat - n.r., walang pakialam, don't care.

The Why Are You Still Single Test

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Candice, you're single because you don't want to slow down...

Whether you're working all hours, busy with school, or planning a cross-country move, it sounds like you just don't have time for anyone else in your life...right now, that is. Your timing may be off in other aspects, too. Chances are, you've met that perfect person who just so happens to be married (ed. or attached) or planning their own cross-country move. So take a step back for a moment. Is there something underlying this?

Could it be you're afraid to get involved for some reason or another, and are therefore attracted to people who are simply unavailable? Whether you're secretly sabotaging yourself or not, try a little exercise. Open your mind to those who are around you (and available!) right now. Then let up on your schedule to let that someone in. That is, unless you want to get married to your goals, and not Mr. or Mrs. Right.

Omg, is this a sign? Interesting result - but definitely in a negative way. Actually, I wasn't really surprised anymore with the results of this test. In a way, subconsciously alam ko na rin and in denial nalang ako siguro. Maybe it's about time for me to reassess my situation and take a different approach naman or do something about it, I guess. This is one of those wake up calls that I have to make to thy self.

K.I.T.

Frustrating as it is, I think relationships are harder to keep as we grow older and as priorities start to change. Often, we busy and exhaust ourselves with work and other things that relationships start to take the back seat. I personally feel that it takes tons of effort to keep in touch on a regular basis especially if there's no everyday physical contact. Although communication is made easier with the help of modern technology, for me iba pa rin talaga kapag in person and face-to-face.

Despite the absence of constant and physical communication though, it's good to know that friendships have still remained intact. I honestly miss the good old days when we'd see each other everyday (in school). I miss the times when we'd get to talk to each other anytime or just hang out. I miss the jokes and kalokohans. It's really nice to have the feeling of familiarity and the closeness of their company. It's funny though how the experiences that we share are somehow on a more grown-up level now. It's strange how we've all suddenly grown into these so-called matured adults with a much more different take on life. As the general sentiment of this entry is about rekindling old friendships, the reason being because incidentally for the last two weekends, I met and caught up with a couple of friends from high school and college whom I haven't seen in ages. All were very pleasant dates. If only we could all squeeze in more time together and make this a regular thing and be part of all the changes in each other's lives.