tatlong pelikula

Since we got back from the Philippine Islands, B and I have already watched three movies! I love summer in the US. Ang daming magandang movies from Hollywood!

Movie no. 1: The Incredible Hulk

This movie isn't as 'wow galing' as Iron Man but I definitely liked this version better than the first one. Hindi mashadong madrama, walang father issues. Mas nagfocus ito sa pagkatao ni Bruce Banner and how he strove to control the monster within. Nagustuhan ko din ang performance ni Edward Norton at ang cameo ng hottie na si Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Starks. Can't wait for the Avengers movie. And Iron Man 2!

Movie no. 2: Kung Fu Panda

This movie is super funny but it also had heart! I love it! Wala akong ginawa kundi tumawa ng tumawa sa antics ni Po. Maganda ang story at maganda din ang animation. Must-see ito.

Movie no. 3: Wanted


Trailer pa lang astig na! I didn't know James Mcavoy was hot! Yum yum! At super astig din ni Angelina Jolie, reminded me of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Ang cool ng stunts at effects ng movie na ito na talagang mapapatigil ka sa pagkain ng popcorn. Wag niyo na lang pansinin yung plot. I think killing people just because a loom told you so is shallow. This is just eye candy. And a delicious one I must say. Entertaining. Good enough for me.

Tatlong tulog na lang!

At lalayas na ako sa opisinang ito! Yahoo!

I'm happy I'm leaving because I must admit, accepting this job was a mistake. But it's not so bad because I learned a lot. Now I know that I must stand up for what I really want and for what I'm really worth. Finding work and accepting offers have become more than just about who will offer me more financially or who will offer me first. It's about whether I'm really interested in the job and if it would be good for me in the long term.

Moving here and finding work here have been really challenging for me. But everything I've gone through has made me wiser. It has given me more experiences and allowed me to commit mistakes to draw lessons from. 

It hasn't been easy coping with failures, rejections and regrets but all these made me tougher. It stopped me and in doing so has forced me to look inside myself and look for my strengths and to rediscover what made me good. Now I'm ready for anything!

As the very lovable Po said, "There is no secret ingredient. It's just you."

 

And that other thing I was talking about

I resigned from work today. My last day here will be on the 27th. Yey!

I accepted an offer from another company where I will be working as a copywriter. The position is contractual pero tinanggap ko kasi gusto ko yung skills na maaacquire ko (copywriting, writing for a travel site, writing for the web). Siempre mas mataas din kahit paano ang offer. But that is jsut secondary. Ang aim ko talaga is ienjoy ko yung work na gagawin ko. Mukhang okay naman yung magiging boss ko. Lucky ako so far sa Caucasian bosses.

I will miss Arianne and Sharon, the two Pinays I'm working with now but I have to leave. We all move on naman.

Ayun. Happy. =)

And we're back!

Ambilis lumipas ng nine days namin sa Pinas! Kulang pa ang oras to meet up with all of the people we wanted to see.

I'm so glad (and relieved) that we were able to accomplish a lot of things, like:

1. Find someone to make my gown. Noel "Lola" Villanueva was recommended to mommy by her friend. She was also the one who made my friend Grace's gown last year. Ok naman ang output niya and madali kausap. Lola's assistant, Sherwin, made a sketch of the design for me based on a photo I brought. Inalter lang nila ng kaunti para mas bumagay sa built ko. They'll be getting my measurements daw sa September. (Yey! May time to slim down pa!)

2. Hire a coordinator. I decided to get a coordinator from San Pablo para less hassle. Lola recommended Sir Egay Victorio to me. He is a teacher at a local school in San Pablo but he has been coordinating events for 10 years. Ok naman ang feedback and sa nakita ko, organized naman si Sir Egay. He gave us a list of things to do, a program, text for the missalette etc. Kampante ako at siya ang kinuha ko. Siya pa talaga ang pumupunta sa bahay namin for meetings.

3. Book a florist. Ryan is one of Lola's "girls." He gave me a really good price for flowers sa Cathedral, reception venue at sa entourage. He was also the one who arranged flowers for Grace's wedding.

4. Book a cake supplier. Ms Gem See owns a bakeshop in San Pablo and tinatalo pa siguro niya ang Goldilocks pagdating sa pagsupply ng cakes sa locals. She was also the one who made my 18th birthday cake. Ok naman and sarap. We might also have our edible souvenirs done by her.

5. Book an invitation supplier. I found WINK through the Weddings at Work e-group. B and I went to their shop sa Kamagong and spoke with Daisy. We were so lucky they had a template that matches our motif. Kailangan na lang icustomize ang colors. Ok din and madali kausap.

6. Find a barong supplier. Mommy and Daddy brought us to Lumban, Laguna to find a barong supplier. We stopped at the first shop we saw, Henio's Embroidery. The lady there showed us really nice pina fabric na ang intricate ng embroidery. B chose pina raya, with embroidery at the front and back. Ang ganda na mura pa compared with shops in Makati.

7. Hire an emcee. We need an emcee who speaks English well kasi B's brother-in-law is American. Conscious ako sa diction and pronunciation kaya I really wanted someone good na may proven track record. Buti na lang Sir Egay knows someone. Swerte!

8. Have our pre-canonical interview. Nakakatakot ang paring naginterview sa amin ni B. Di ko alam kung style lang yun or ano. Pero ok naman. We'll have our final canonical interview three months before the wedding.

9. Book a caterer. We love Kusina Salud kaya we decided to have our wedding catered by them. Kailangan na lang ifinalize and menu.

Not bad ano? Makakatulog na ako ng mahimbing from now on. =)

Aside from wedding related matters, we had time to spend with our families, to shop (siempre), and to catch up with some friends.

Hay nakakapagod pero fun naman. Going home is always worth the pagod. =)

No rainbow without rain

Yesterday on our way to work, B and I saw a really huge rainbow. We marveled at its beauty. Nun lang ulit kasi kami nakakita ng rainbow. Parang first time ata sa Singapore. We didn't realise at that time that it was God, smiling at us, telling us that a good life is waiting for us here despite the many things that make us feel otherwise.

Last night, we got the letter we've been waiting for for five months. When I saw it, I told B, "Ito na!." Pagkatapos namin magsampay ng labada namin, nagmadali kami pumasok sa kwarto at binuksan yung envelope. The government of Singapore congratulated us and officially welcomed us as part of their nation as permanent residents.

I didn't realise I would be ecstatic to be granted PR status. Last year I told B there was no need for us to do it. B explained to me of the advantages of being PR (being able to job hop more easily, for one, hehehe) and eventually convinced me. Sabi ko, sige na nga. Looks like we'll be staying here for a while naman.

We have yet to formalise our PR status here but we'll do that when we get back from our real home, Pinas. =)

PS

Today, I have received another great news. Kwento to follow when things have been settled and finalised.

Salamat talaga Lord. Winner ka. =)

 

20 minutes till lunchtime

Here I am at the office, pretending to be working when all that's on my mind is who would be designing my wedding gown. Ha!

I've been trying to finish this report on India's corn, soybean and canola seed market. I started this last week and I still have about 200 words to go. Mabilis nalang yun and my editor extended my deadline pa to tomorrow, 2pm. Alam niyo kapalit? Tanduay. My boss is caucasian and he used to work for the Factory. Small world, huh? But I don't think he knows I know a lot about him na. Notorious kasi siya sa Factory eh. I think he was "let go" because of his attitude.

Anyway, back to my gown.

Just this week I had a dream again. It's the day before our wedding and I apparently forgot to have my gown made. Hahaha. Anubayan. Kaloka. Sana makahanap na ako ng designer!

I checked nga pala sa The Link Wedding dito sa Singapore how much a Vera Wang bridal gown costs. Starting price is S$5,000 (about P150,000). Umaygash. Kenot afford lah. I just thanked the girl I spoke to and hung up. So expensive lah! Ayan ang napala ng bride na ambisyosa. Hahaha.

Hmmm...Bakit kaya di kasali si Monique Lhuillier sa scene na nagmodel ng gowns si Carrie Bradshaw?

Three more days to go!!! Yahooooooo!

happy!

Right now, I feel so blessed and happy. And relieved. =)

Salamat po, Lord.

Can't wait to go home!