Here are photos from the American Idol/Philippine Idol-inspired birthday party...

Published Friday, September 29, 2006 by Clayman. |

Highlight of Tuesday was meeting Ella and Thea for dinner.

We met at Greenbelt 3 and had dinner at Cafe Bola. Thea had the Adobo Flakes on Rice, Ella had a Penne with Tomato Sauce, while I had my usual - Carambola on pasta with Parmesan Cream Sauce and Ham. For appetizers, we got the Banana Heart Spread with Crostinis. Yum yum!

It's always a joy to see these two friends because we always have a good time. Our lives may have its low points, but whenever I get together with these two ladies, we just seem to forget everything and we manage to laugh at even our biggest booboos. Hahaha!

From Greenbelt, we went to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf branch in Salcedo Village, where it was much quiet and much relaxed. We just continued about various things from parenthood, partners, being single, body clocks, birdwatching, employee benefits of a particular logistics company, among others. Hahaha!

By 10.30PM, we decided to call it a night.

Lucky me, I got to catch the last bus at Makati Stock Exchange so I got to be home and fast asleep a little before midnight.

Good Tuesday night.

Published Wednesday, September 27, 2006 by Clayman. |

Yesterday was the birthday celebration of three dear friends from work - Weng, Cathy and Shy.

They hosted a lunch party at their office, and friends from other departments joined the get-together.

Weng brought delicious pasta, while the rest of the mouth-watering dishes were prepared by another friend.

Things were quite toxic that day so the birthday lunch also served as a very short breather. Hahaha!

As I've said earlier, the celebrants are three dear friends at work.

Weng is a manager, but you'll never be scared to approach her. She has a petite frame, but she has the most boisterous voice in their department. She is always a source of energy in get-togethers, and everyone just enjoys being with her. Of course, she's also dear to me because we came from the same university and with the same degree. Hahaha!

Cathy is the one responsible why I and another hundred people have jobs with the Company. She was the one who interviewed me, and she processed my papers. Oftentimes, I forget that she's still very young because she looks mature (in a very good way) for her age. People like her because like Weng, she is also fun and full of life.

Shy is one of the very few Maria Claras walking on the face of the earth. Hahaha! She's very softspoken, and she never gets angry (or I have yet to see her get mad). Because of her simple beauty, she's been gotten as a face of the Company posing for the different marketing collaterals of the Company. Hehehe! She is much liked by everyone for a lot of reasons. I like her because we shared a common experience this year. Hahaha!

When I took this corporate job, one of my biggest apprehensions was finding true friends. The corporate environment is just so different. I have no idea who I can trust, and who's just being nice because we need each other.

But these three ladies are among the very few who I'm quite sure are really friends. I couldn't be more grateful for having met them.

Happy birthday, Weng, Cathy and Shy!

Published Tuesday, September 26, 2006 by Clayman. |

Yesterday was a mixture of disappointment, frustration, stupidity, happiness, and excitement.

I left the house past 10 to catch the 11AM Mass at Lourdes. After Mass, my itinerary for the day was primarily to look for gifts for three friends who are celebrating their birthdays.

So from church, I went to Shangri-la to do some gift hunting. After three hours, I finally found what I thought would be liked by my friends. So I bought the gifts, had them giftwrapped and walked out of Rustan's.

I've been wanting to watch Step Up and there was a 5PM screening at Shang. Instead, I found myself boarding the MRT to head to Gateway to catch the screening of a movie that I've already seen two times.

After the movie, went home and just stayed up till 12MN. I rarely stay on the side of the bed beside the wall but last night I did and I really slept well.

I'm also glad I went to Sleepcare and bought that fabric spray. Hahaha!

I'm not making any sense here, am I? Haha!

Published Monday, September 25, 2006 by Clayman. |

Yesterday, we had our birthday get-together for the Company's August-September birthday celebrants. Our theme for this celebration was American Idol-inspired.

Hahaha!

I got to download the opening theme of American Idol (how can you not fall in love with the Internet?!), and I also had the songs of Carrie, Kelly, Jasmine, Jon, and other AI contestants playing in the background. Our gimmick for this birthday get-together was to have our mini American Idol competition.

We set up one of those videoke machines at the venue, and then randomly selected celebrants who would compete.

This was a great idea, because the celebrants really enjoyed either performing or just watching.

The prizes included Crabtree & Evelyn and Marks & Spencer gift packs, as well as tickets to Repertory Philippines shows.

We ended the party by 7PM, but some close office friends and I still stayed for another hour to enjoy the videoke and just be crazy. Hahaha!

That was really a low budget gimik for a Friday night.

Published Sunday, September 24, 2006 by Clayman. |

In the recent Proenza Schouler Spring 2007 show during NY Fashion Week, Elise Crombez, one of my favorite favorite models, tripped while working the runway.

But just like any great model, Elise picked herself up and continued to walk down the runway with the shoe in her hand.

The last fall that I know was that of Naomi Campbell's. It was during the Vivienne Westwood show in 1993. Who wouldn't trip while wearing a pair of 12-inch platforms?!

But apparently, there are a lot of runway disasters. Here are some that I didn't get to see...

Angela Lindvall tripping at Dior...
Nadine Strittmater attacked by PeTA at Dior...
Karen Elson falling flat on her face at Dior...
Maria Carla Boscono tripping at Alessandro Del'Acqua...

See, it just really happens to the best.

Published Sunday, September 17, 2006 by Clayman. |

One of the highlights of last week was meeting two good friends from college. One of them, I regularly see, while the other one, I haven’t seen for the longest time. So it was such joy to see these two friends. Who cared if it was a week day and I had to wake up early the following day?

Anyway, the friend I haven’t seen for a long time shared that she was currently facing a dilemma. Long story short, she has a medical condition where her capability to bear child is at stake. The first three or four doctors she went to suggested surgery. The last doctor she went to suggested she get pregnant, because that could also help improve her condition.

So that’s what we discussed over dinner.

My friend is in relationship for the past six or seven years, but the guy isn’t really too enthusiastic about the “baby” idea. My friend, on the other hand, isn’t that open to surgery because it is possible that something might go wrong. When I remember the things I said that night, it kind of surprised me because I would never have brought up those suggestions ten years ago. Not just because those suggestions were borne out of practicality, but mainly because, ten years ago our concerns were more about passing our Statisics class, and not about statistics of having a child.

Going back to the dinner, I remember telling my friend, “Maybe you should think about which is more important for you – to become a Mom or to become a wife.”

I really hope things go out well for her, whatever her decision would be.

Published Thursday, September 14, 2006 by Clayman. |

Over the weekend, a friend I haven’t seen for quite some time now and I agreed to meet up to have coffee.

The reason we met up was because he needed to talk to someone. After we got our orders, my friend started to talk. And I basically listened to the things he said. After he opened up, he also asked me to share what’s been going on with me. So I did. I told him that a lot of changes have happened, and that I’m getting used to thee changes. I shared my thoughts about certain things, thoughts which I shared with only one man in the past four years.

After I did my talking, the first words that came out of my friend’s mouth was “That’s just sad.”

This surprised me. One, because I never saw the recent changes as “sad,” and two, I don’t feel sad at all. It’s weird, huh? Could it be that I’m just accustomed to the way things are and I’ve started to think that things aren’t sad, but it really is sad, if I’d only look from an objective point of view? Or could it be that I’m just really okay with my current situation? Period. I mean, yeah, work could be better, but generally, I seem to be enjoying having control of my own schedule.

When I told my friend the reason why I’m not dating, he had this surprised look on his face again. But again, the reason why I’m not dating is something that I think is natural and acceptable.

Weird, huh?

Published Tuesday, September 12, 2006 by Clayman. |

Here's one more thing that I want.

From Style.com:

Models, celebrities, even first ladies—everybody wants to be in Vogue. A new book by Alberto Oliva and Norberto Angeletti chronicles not only the famous faces who made the covers but also the photographers and editors who have shaped the century-old magazine. Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, creative director Grace Coddington, and Condé Nast chairman S.I. Newhouse, Jr., all contributed commentaries, and the lavishly produced volume features a thousand illustrations and photographs by the likes of Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, and Mario Testino. And you thought the September issue was heavy.

It's $75.00, but on Amazon.com, it's currently being sold for $47.25.

I don't know if it'll be available here in Manila. Haaay!

I want.

Published Sunday, September 10, 2006 by Clayman. |

This morning, I received a text from someone who used to be a big part of my life that his grandma passed away.

Hay. What is it about this year? I don't know with you guys, but three people in my life have passed away this year.

First, my Lolo Nonong. Then there was the sudden death of Mang Yoyong. And now, Lola Tuhod.

I hope that that's it for this year.

Published Saturday, September 09, 2006 by Clayman. |

Today is the birthday of Our Lady, and as toxic as I am at work, I just had to find time to be able to attend Mass. So about ten minutes before twelve, I left the office and headed to PGH to attend the 12:15 Mass together with Jean and Reku.

If there is one devotion that I really keep, it's the devotion to Our Lady. On so many occasions, Our Lady has always been my source of strength and hope.

So the least I can do to thank her for everything is to find the time to go to Mass on her big day to personally greet her a happy birthday.

Published Friday, September 08, 2006 by Clayman. |

Ostentatious.

That's my favorite word for the week.

Why? Because it was the word that made me bag first place at the spelling bee contest we had in the Company yesterday. Hehehe!

The Organizational Development unit of the Company organized language activities this week, and I was volunteered to be part of the spelling contest. Hehehe! The language activities served as a post-activity for the Corporate English/International English training participants.

Anyway, believe it or not, the words that I found difficult to spell were the ones that most people would probably initially think easy to spell. Uhm, what made it difficult was because I wasn't sure whether the word was hyphenated or now, whether it was two words or just one word.

I thought I would only place second, but I guess my prayers worked and I managed to get first place.

So, thank you Lord.

Published Thursday, September 07, 2006 by Clayman. |

I don't know why, but I've been watching those cheesy Tagalog movies lately. Hehehe!

The Pinoy cheesy movies I've watched so far were Dubai, Close to You, Moments of Love.

The latest Tagalog movie I watched was Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga's You are the One. Uhm, I'm not really a big fan of Sam or Toni, but there was something about them that made me want to go see their movie.

So last Saturday, after finishing my tall White Chocolate at Starbucks, I headed to Greenbelt I to catch the movie.

I liked it. Not only because it had at the "kilig" factor, of which I am such a sucker for, but maybe because I thought that there was something different about the story.

I was already expecting that it would have the usual Pinoy love story plot (which I don't really mind), but there was a slightly unexpeceted turn of events as the story of the lead characters proceeded. So I guess that's one reason why I enjoyed the movie.

And then, I also thought that the pa-charming personality of Sam Milby went very well with Toni Gonzaga's pa-hard to get character. Hehehehe!

Anyway, the next movie on my to-watch list is Dingdong Dantes and Iza Calzado's Eternity. Hehehe!

Published Monday, September 04, 2006 by Clayman. |

I want the DVD above.



I want this CD too.

Published Sunday, September 03, 2006 by Clayman. |

So I'm breathing again.

For the past month, things have been quite toxic here at the office because we're preparing for a big, big event. Actually, it's a small event that only became a huge one because of the guests.

The Company is inaugurating a new structure just outside of Manila, and the guests who were invited were top industry leaders and some government officials.

You see the photos so I guess there's no need who the most popular and most important among the guests is. Hehehe!

This is my second event with the President, and I'm glad that I somehow already learned how aggressive I have to be in the presence of other photographers and cameramen who are all trying to get a good photo of the President.

I came dressed for the event to run around, to be pushed, and to almost be pulled in by a Presidential Security Group guy because I stepped on him. But I swear I only stepped on and slightly pushed the guy because the Company's President shrieked at me, "Go in front! Go in front!" so I can get a photo of the President with our guest diplomats.

When the President and her party of more than 150 people (Yes!) have left the venue, my manager and I were back to breathing normally again.

But only after we have selected and finished writing the event press release which needed to be emailed that moment to Japan.

The whole thing was really enjoyable. I think I've already mentioned this before, but these events are the times when I really feel like a Corp. Comm. guy.

I wouldn't mind doing the whole event again - but I hope the repeat would be next year. Hehehe!

Published Friday, September 01, 2006 by Clayman. |