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— Charlie Oracion (@zarlyo) December 3, 2013

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— Charlie Oracion (@zarlyo) December 3, 2013

Paying the Price of Yearning to be Home...

Journal of a Weekend Traveler… I wrote this last Saturday and was posted on Facebook.

Typhoon Santi is raging Manila and nearby provinces since yesterday with not so heavy rains but gusty winds. Oh yes, adding to that is the observance of All Saints Day that falls on a Sunday and All Souls Day on Monday… as usual a long weekend, but unfortunately not for me.

With the typhoon and a long weekend, I already expected it would be a bit chaotic and with bigger chances that I would be standing on the bus on my way home. Hay ang kulit kasi ng lahi! I don’t know, just really want to be at Los Banos and have a real good rest.

I was already thinking twice if I would go home in Laguna since last week, actually went on to decide not to go home when I got a text message from my sister that the typhoon has hit Laguna. Marketing peeps were already even planning to go look for a Videoke place, but seem unfortunate and I must say I was a bit choosy too! Haha sorry, I felt I wouldn’t be much enjoying it with my voice still cracking up due to colds and cough. Later, some felt lazy about the plan including me and I finally decided to pursue with my weekend travel back home since it was already sunny before I left the office.

11AM. Going with my usual routine, traveled to Robinsons Galleria where I would wait for the bus. Had lunch first and bought English muffin and water, back up food just in case travel time takes too long. Waited for already 20 minutes but no bus going to Sta. Cruz and even other provincial bus going to South is showing up. Bad, bad, bad… really not a good idea to wait. Usual routine FAIL.

Almost 12NN, rode on bus going to Buendia to then proceed to the bus terminal. Hay, another FAIL! When I arrived at the terminal, I think there’s more than a hundred people lined-up waiting. Hala, no available bus yet! I didn’t have the patience to wait. I turned back and started to comprehend of either an alternative route or go back to Pasig instead. No! I really wanted to be in Elbi this weekend.

12:30PM. There is another bus terminal just beside the first terminal I've checked, but they don’t have a bus going to Sta Cruz. An alternative is available though. VOILA! Hmmmm, when I’ve learned that there are no people lined-up and certainly would be comfortably seated, sige go to Balibago, Sta. Rosa!

No traffic, already at Sta. Rosa by 1:30PM. Now time for a jeepney ride to Calamba via SLEX. It started to rain again and got bored. Naman! What a slow jeepney ride, there was no instance the entire travel that it has overtaken another car! Zzzzzzzzz… let’s add another boring moment. Got stuck on traffic near the tollgate for almost 30 minutes.

2:30PM finally in Calamba. Ok, one last bus or jeepney ride and I’m finally home. Chose to ride on a bus even if I would be standing, just to be safer from flood just in case. Good thing it wasn’t traffic and Pansol area is not flooded.

By 3PM, finally Home Sweet Home! I have to pay the price for yearning to be home and literally, that ride going home was a bit more expensive than the usual. Though tired, but I guess it’s worth it after all. Now I can relax and have a good rest, TV time, cook… name it all! Simply, nothing beats the coziness and calm sanctuary of our own home.

Facebook vs. Friendster

My Facebook account is about to equal and for sure overtake the 700 friend connections I have in Friendster... Poor Friendster, losing my attention... It's just too old school and can't cope with the interactive platform of Facebook...

10 Years na.. May Get Together ba?!

10 years... Last July 1, SEMPHIL 3rd Batch turned 10! We haven't had a celebration yet, but hopefully one of this days...

It all started 1999, July 1st to be exact,with 22 innocent (not sure of this one, hahaha!) Engineers all excitedly accepted the call of the SEMPHIL workforce. A week after, all clad in RED, with a "Let me fly to Korea" drama for a life changing experience. Technical training on weekdays, Korean Language class, an almost weekly trips to Everland, drinking spree at Temahof to name a few.

Last 2004 was the last time that majority of us have met for a small reunion... that time there were 10, after 5 more years 5 remains...

What's up with the gang... Ei let me go Taglish on this section... hahaha... just wanna put some inserts here at para comedy na rin...

Vena, Mona, Dyoks, Mike and French - Kudos to these guys! Wow, solid 10 years! Who will be the ultimate survivor?! Ang Institusyon ng SEMPHIL... Meron na bang rebulto to recognize your achievements?! We hope to see one of these days :) Managers na lahat kayo di ba? Ang balita ko e nagkukuripot sila... whehehe, as per Mona, na kahit sila daw e di pa nagcelebrate ng 10 years nila sa company. Kasi daw mga pamilyado na sila at si Mona na lang ang single. Hay, kayo pa naman inaasahan namin na manlibre sa amin... hehehe... Ei, respond naman kayo sa invite na inoorganize ko na get together, KKB po yun ok?! So who's in and who's out?

Meet the Global Pinoys... hehehe, haven't got much update as to what your fields are right now... give us updates, ayan puro location lang halos nalagay ko, tried to squeeze my memory as to what fields you are, sorry kung may mali.... balitaan nyo kami... Maann - enjoying being a housewife in Austria or meron ka bang sideline dyan? Clark - He's in Dubai any update, what's keeping you busy? Edward - After ko mabalitaan na nanlimas ng ginto sa Saudi, e sa Malaysia naman siya naka-assign ngayon. Bryan - in Kuwait working for a Telecoms Company. Ferdee - currently in Spain hay, etong taong to e ginagawang bus ang eroplano, minsan makasalubong ko na lang sa Shangrila at MegaMall at minsan e mabalitaan ko na kung nasaang lupalop na. Jaz - I don't have any other details ang alam ko nasa New Zealand. Ruby - Ay tagal na niya sa Singapore ang recent na balita ko e nastart na maadik sa Facebook, hehehe. Kakachat ko lang sa kanya, at aside sa work niya e busy rin siya sa kung ano ano activities, di yata nauubusan ng energy. AJ - Not much news as well, Singapore pa rin ba? - Dapat magsabay-sabay kayo umuwi at ilibre kami... whehehe

As for the rest of the guys, here's the last update I've got from them. Cheche - working sa SLEX, este sa Amkor pa rin di ba at payat na daw?! Girlee - the last time I saw her was more than a year ago at MegaMall, still on Manufacturing and she already has twins. Juanito - just got the info on the yahoogroups email that he's looking for a job. Any available job for Wato guys? Rica, bumped into her last month in MegaMall as well with her son. She's a Financial Adviser for Pioneer Life. Francis - the frequent traveller, hehe sa MegaMall ko rin last nakita - he has an office in Ortigas. Ferdie - eto mahaba pa rin ang hair, whehehe, usual din na makasalubong ko sa MegaMall working for Telus at king of OT na yata to, balita ko kasi lagi siyang late nakakauwi. Rex - Haciendero ng Zambales, hehehe. He just got married last May at opppps... di ako nakapunta... peace! Busy rin siya sa family business at sa kanyang Mac. Joel - Working for Lufthansa at busy sa pagpapalipad ng airplanes... hehehe. Isa sa mga purdisigido sa reunion natin... wala naman ako halos maibigay na-update kasi nga parang 5 pa lang kami sa sigurado. Charlie - Siyempre ako ang last, hehehe. Hay halos 4 years nang panggabi, kasi support ako for PC Mall a US reseller of computer parts - I work as Marketing Manager for Software Category. Ayun, adik sa facebook, twittter, linkedin at kung ano-ano pang social media sites na sikat sa US kasi part din siya ng work, busy sa kakokontak sa vendors at web development projects, pero wag ka di pa ganun kataas ang sahod... May alam ba kayong opening? hahaha... Recession season, tiis-tiis muna...

Pasensya na sa pictures na posted dito, di pa ko nakapagscan ng mga classic pics natin e... Sana matuloy ang mini get together... kung kelan di ko pa alam... Happy 10 year of friendship and kakulitan... At dahil dyan, hope you enjoy these videos from Uhm Jung Hwa, for sure naaalala niyo to! Keep in touch guys! :)

Lola Funny Commercials

Yikes it's been more than a year since my last update! Let's make it a little different this time... It would not be all about me but more of the things that's happening around us...

For a comeback blog, I just wanted to feature two (2) funny commercials recently... absolutely creative... hope you enjoy as I did... :) Mabuhay si Lola Techie!

Meet Techie Lola... Better poke her back!

Lola, Gaming Addict! Flash Bang, Flash Bang!

Video Credit: youtube

Saturated?!

Saturated? I might have reached that on some point and things on my life recently. For one, it’s pretty much obvious that my blog has been silent for almost 6 months. Too ironic that my blog should have been more louder and excited this year since I have my MacBook with me. What happened to me after being sprained, you might ask?! I would probably just give that a deep breath... inhale, exhale! 

I said before that writing was a sort of stress reliever for me, but it was more stress-free when you don’t think of anything during weekends. A time for myself, family, a good chit-chat with friends whether online or over coffee and best of all, a real good sleep. I am just more of an introvert type of guy this days. 

My 4 year old mobile phone wasn’t that abused that much lately too. I ain’t in the mood of texting or calling, unless it’s very important and necessary...  which is somewhat a good thing since my P500 load now last for more than a month as compared before that I have to reload after a week or two. I don’t know, maybe I already graduated from that “kiti-kitext” stage. Oh by the way, pleaseeee... avoid calling on daytime, especially during weekdays... I want a decent sleep!

Work... as usual loaded. Still learning and enjoying my job though it almost reached saturation too couple  of months back and might have considered a new job. So many things happened in the past 6 months... movements at work, issues, reorganization, promotion and reclassification, interviewing and hiring new people, stress and fun... name it! I must also admit I have been too vocal and straight forward lately on career matters and on things that I believe righteous to be voiced out.

Hey, sorry I need to finish this one now...  Let me savour my last few hours of vacation... It was only now that I’m out of office for five days since I got sprained last January. Well, it feels good that I was able to give some time for my blog... later tonight, I’m back at work!  

Be safe and be blessed everyone. 

Sprained New Year!

Remember in my other article that I said I might be spending my Christmas and New Year at the office? Well, one of these special occasions was granted pardon! I am home for Christmas Eve and at the office on New Year’s Eve. But hours before 2008 hits, something just happened!

I got involved in a minor accident going to the office on December 31st. I was on a bus almost time for me to drop off near the office; I decided to stand since I am sitting near the window on a 3-seater section. There were a lot of people in front of the bus standing and worried that I might get stuck that long getting out. I was located at the back and the area where I am at is a bit spacious. I was still fixing my things when suddenly the bus stops in full break. I fell on the floor and felt the pain in my back and left ankle as I recover myself from the floor. I had no chance to tell the driver or anyone on the bus that I was hurt since it was time for me to drop off. I wasn’t even able to ask why the bus stopped all of a sudden. I just learned later from an officemate who was on the same bus that a taxi went on our way, and our bus has no choice but to fully break otherwise, we could have hit the taxi.

It was really painful as I walk going to the office. It was at the office that I discovered that I had some bruises on my back. I still waited for a while for someone to accompany to the hospital since I arrived too early, around 7:30PM. Most employees arrive past 9PM. Good thing a friend arrived at 8PM and he volunteered to accompany me to Medical City. It was a busy day at the hospital, well, it’s the end of the year, what do you expect?! I was there at the around 9PM and as I have heard that early, most of their patient were children, who have been injured of firecrackers specifically that of “piccolo?!” I think I stayed at the hospital for an hour, got my ankle checked and x-rayed. Findings as of the moment was that, my left ankle have been sprained but was advised to visit again the hospital on January 3 for the official x-ray results and further examination from a surgeon.

I still worked that whole night and celebrated the New Year with my colleagues at the office and called back home to asked to fetch me after work. I was supposed to stay in Manila after work if that didn’t happened since it would just be a one-day off for me. I am having a hard time walking that time and got body pains too, so I decided that it would be better for me to rest my sprained ankle back home in Los Baños for the rest of the week and that I could recover fast.

Yesterday, I’ve had my left ankle x-rayed again as well as my back here in Los Baños. My parents advised to have it done here to avoid the hassle of travelling back and forth to Manila. Well, good thing that the results are okay and was told that healing time would take around 3 weeks. Still thankful to God that it wasn’t that worse.

It’s off for me until this Sunday and it is war back at work on Monday! Whaaaa, as I check my email on outlook web access, there a lot of things to work on! Hopefully by that time, there’s just little pain or nothing at all. As for my bruises, it’s currently in pain still. It’s almost the same color as those who have been paddled in a hazing (as in kulay talong!) and its size is comparable to an adult palm. This one might take much longer to heal and for the skin to get back to its natural color.

Hay, that’s life, on some instances you really never know what’s going to happen next. Have a blessed day!

December Saturdays

December was a pretty occupied month as expected and sorry if I wasn’t able to update my blog. My weekends have been occupied too. Well, during weekdays… busy at work and it is the busiest time of the year for the company. All Saturdays have been booked. On two Saturdays, I am on wedding. I stood as Best Man on my cousin’s wedding last December 8 in Bulacan and as Groom’s Men to a college friend last December 22 in Tagaytay. Too bad I wasn’t able to attend our company’s Christmas party, since it conflicts with the December 22 wedding. Wish I could divide myself but I was really too tired to join the fun. Just really can’t say no to this good friend of mine since he informed me that I would be part of the entourage 11 months ahead of schedule.

The 15th was allotted in buying gifts for my nieces and nephews. Hay, too crowded at the malls for the Christmas rush! I hate the long line and the wait on the cashier. I still wasn’t able to buy my gifts to my parents yet. I was supposed to buy my gifts to them this week, but something just happened (see my other story).

Moving to the last Saturday of December, I was on a post Christmas Party with my high school friends. Well, it has been a real tradition for us to gather after Christmas since usually it’s the only time available for the majority of us.

Sundays of December was allotted for rest and with family and a bit of sideline. Haha, I really need to earn a little extra.I guess that’s it for this article, I have another story to write. The reason why I am on leave until Friday!

Not yet too late! Happy New Year and a Blessed 2008 to everyone! Cheers!

On weekends, savings and busy life...

Nice, really nice long weekend… It was thanksgiving in the US last Thursday and yesterday I was on-leave. Longing for this long weekend and I am just savoring every single minute of it. No other scheduled expensive gimiks except for a much needed visit to friend dentist yesterday to undergo a root-canal process in one of my upper molars. I still have to go back to him next week to finish the process. Visiting a dentist was untimely and out-of budget considering that it’s one of those “ber” months and I’ve allotted my savings on a very special thing which you would know about it in the coming weeks. Good thing that I got a good deal as in “Presyong kaibigan talaga!”, as compared to the rates I got from the surveys I have done on several dental clinics.

Speaking of savings, it was January this year that started to keep 10-peso coins and drop it in a coin bank that I got like 7-years ago in an exchange gift. The size of the coin bank is comparable to a middle-size tin-can of babies’ milk. As of now it is 2/3’s filled and on my estimate, I would have a total savings of not less than P7K by the end of this year. Hmmm, not bad… and would start all-over again this January, maybe P20 bills?! But seems that coins are more exciting to keep… Haha

Monday would surely be a busy-busy day again. It’s really critical to work in a company that has online operations, competition is really very aggressive. It’s also the busiest season of the year for my work, as almost everyone’s rushing to buy things for their love ones and fill their own wish list. Hay, no vacation leave is allowed on December and I think I would be spending my Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the office. I would love to celebrate that time of year with my family… hoping for a miracle and a sweet announcement from the management on that note. Well I think I have to get used to it, that’s the downside of working in an American company and graveyard schedule. For now, all I can do is hope and pray for that good news…

Later… a blessed day to everyone!

Never been this sweet!

It was more than a month now when I turned 30 and was too lazy writing here in my blog. Hay, just want to rest and relax on a weekend. Just like now, not much in the mood to write still.

Anyway, just to give you updates. My birthday last month was more than okay. It was the first time I did celebrated my birthday very much awake at that exact moment of 12 Midnight but was on a conference call meeting with my bosses in the US. It was like after more than 5 years ago last time that I celebrated it in the corporate world. It was fun, it was wacky!

I was trying to keep it like a silent celebration, but there’s certainly no choice! Birthdays are posted on our bulletin board! Even a week before my birthday, there were already some friends who greeted me ahead and some even greet me everyday until that special day. What’s more is that the whole marketing team (including me) is really known to be wacky and loud in the office. You’ll just be surprise of ideas and “kalokohan” if it was your special day. Hay, I’ve been really surprise that they printed out birthday greetings and posted everywhere possible. There’s even one posted outside the office. Hala, my birthday has been broadcasted to everyone!

What other special thing I’ve had that day that my officemates are somewhat envious of?! Well, I got an iPod nano, Quicksilver shirt, some more couple of shirts and other stuff all from my bosses in the US. Hmmm, how sweet! Haha… sorry guys, I’ve just been spoiled by my bosses. I love my job and certainly enjoying it!

Hay, life at 30?! Seems interesting! More to come. My wish?! World peace! Have a great day!

Welcome to my New Blogsite!

Welcome to my new blogsite! For most of you have been a usual visitor of my blog in a community-friends site, I’ve just made a decision that probably would be a little wiser to jump into the new neighborhood of blogging! I hope you would still be a regular visitor and reader here at my new blogsite and still explore life with me.

30 and Beyond… Looking beyond the usual… explore life with me. My life, your life, our life. A Filipino Life...