February 2009, was a blissful month, where money is very abundant and work was just like a walk in the park... It was my first annual bonus at HSBC.
It was the month were I bought my very first expensive jacket worth 6k pesos at Cielo and yes a very proud owner but I was a bit apprehensive because of the fact that I could buy a lot for 6k. I wore it proudly during our annual 'townhall'.
The coming months was very busy but not because of work but because of the coming Singles Encounter on May 2009. It was perhaps the greatest achievement that I did for my ministry. It was my blessing. Money was never a concern because I knew that the job that was given for me was given for this purpose.
When May came, it was the month of pure greatness and thanksgiving. It was the month of our sponsorship... In the past, my batch suffered a lot but I personally think that it was part of the process of our journey. We are all different and in this way we have brought hurts and misunderstanding, but in the end, it was a glorious day for God and to everyone who served.
June 2009. I turned 28 years of age. I celebrated my birthday with my co-workers at Learning E at Splash Island. Overall experience?.... super extra fun XD. I got to thank the guys for a fun treat.
August was the time I started running marathons. As always, there's never an outstanding run without good friends and good bonding moments. This was also the time where I got connected again with my Track and Field team during college.
Had this shameful incident in this event. Look for my previous post for the full story but to make the story short, I just asked the organizers that I wanted to ask for a public apology because I was a complete jerk to this lady who offered me a drink. I was not in my perfect sense that night.
Yes, I was granted the chance to speak up but I blew it, leaving me with looks saying 'what a complete idiot'... this things happen to me more than once in this lifetime and remembering them just irritates me to the spine.
Moving on.... September 2009, after more than just a year, I was able to go clubbing. It was Chie's birthday and I was invited at Hierarchy. A great night and another bonding moments with some of my office mates.
Adidas: King of the Road was my next 5k run (I never run more than 5k). Gym friends, officemates, varsity team during college was there, and with just an hour of sleep, my time was 26min. Not bad, although I was not able to compare it to the Kenny Rogers Urbanite run result, I knew I still have the touch just like before.
October 2009. This month onwards was the most eventful. We had the HSBC team bonding at Casa De Las Palmas. A great night to be sober and karaoke.
It was my third year in joining the body combat event and this event was the most promising. Members from team Alabang and Southmall last year are now merged to form the new team that was later called the Southern Archangels.
We meet, we trained, we compromised most of our priorities just for this competition. Van was the most dedicated. We both had the creativity to make a wonderful perfomance. The team had conflicts but we were able to somehow resolve those conflicts.
It was pure hardwork. I think, one should give respect in giving feedback to our creativity, dedication and the difficulty of our task in bring this up. It was the passion for body combat, it was my passion for creative inputs. We did not get any support and funds comes from our pockets but it was something that I did enjoyed.
Here are the final products of our labor and hard work.
When this first came out. People are making fun of it. Giving me names that I think not appropriate and most disrespectful. I do not think the whole concept's intention was to demoralize or to offend. It was for showmanship. Jayven who is our teamleader was a professional drag queen and a body combat instructor and what do you expect from the output of his works?... how I wish everyone could see his hardwork too.We did not win. According to the judges, we lost because of a 10 point deduction. It was because our team leader wore a black brief-like costume... It was unfair. We played by the rules and was too cautious to in breaking the rules. It was more of personal issues rather than professional judging.
But at the end of the day. None was able to beat our performance that night
November and December 2009, was a month full of reunions and Christmas parties. The first reunion was with my co-workers at Learning-E, it was also a pre birthday celebration of Noreen. I miss the little family I left behind because of my search for greener pasture.
The people here are the most understanding group of friends that I have. We enjoy on the simple things and we never give much attention to any faults.
By the way, I got my 2010 planner of Starbucks. :) I only bought a few stickers and the rest was help from friends at the gym and office. I'm hanging around with coffee addicts. XD
Next was Jef's home coming. A dinner with college friends at Gilligan's. These are the 'married and soon to be married groups'. I enjoy the company of these great gentlemen because of the similarity of interests. I know video games was one of the common ground.
We had a Track and Field reunion last December 5. Met my old teammates and also met the new ones who were currently representing my Alma Matter. It was a great night for beer and silly conversations.Looking at the picture, I just wish to go back when I was training and competing. The sport was a life changing thing for me and these people were part of my change and I am very much thankful for being part of the team.
December 13, my team 'the Southern Archangels' held our Christmas party at Jayven's place. The party was very organized, there's was never a dull moment and Lady Gaga was there to give us a gaga presentation. lolz
There was a game, that yours truly participated. It was like 'who is the most beautiful drag queen', haha, well our master makeup artist was the one who did our diva looks. The pot prize rose to 600 pesos. The team chose 2 representatives (Me and Angelo).
Well, the judging came to a tie. For Jayven's hardwork, the 100 pesos was given to him and the rest of the pot was given to us. Gelo and I decided to give 100 pesos each as 'balato'.Well definitely the picture came to an attention to the prejudiced mind but what can I say, everybody is entitled to some degree of reaction. It was a great night for everybody nevertheless.
The year is God's blessing for me. Next year is a whole new story. I hope to meet great new people, big or small and I want the real ones. A makeup is not part of the true face, those who can't see beyond that just missed a great point.
