Reminiscing Grade School Days

My batchmate, Ayebee invited me last June in yahoo group where the members are my grade schoolmates in Assumption-Davao as well as their high school mates (unfortunately, I continued my high school here in Manila).

Surprisingly, most of the members who are my classmates before still remember me.. the ballerina, smart, cute, petite, charming and most of all, girl with gorgeous smile (har har har)..kidding aside, they really remember me especially the boys ;-).

I had the chance to meet some of them last June when I visited Davao for business trip. We were just less than 10 but it was such a wonderful get together as we had all night sharing our past experiences when we were in grade school.

Here in Manila, I had the chance to meet too some of the Manila based friends. Gladly, they are also successful in their own way. Last July 26, we had my post birthday celebration in Metrowalk. Although I was not really feeling well as I had been celebrating my birthday for the last 5 days with different groups, hence, the saturday gimick was memorable as I met my old friends again.

My message, thanks to the internet technology. It gives us the highway to meet our old friends whom we never expect to see again. Here are some of our pix.

These are my friends who are now Finance Consultant, Doctors and Officer in Airport.

The Doctor, Finance Consultant, Sales Officer

A Reddy Christmas

My family always have a color code on christmas day. This year, we are on our favorite color, Red. As usual, some of us don't listen and looks funny on our family wacky picture.

This year, we were incomplete and only me who went home in Davao. But this didn't stop our happiness of spending the christmas eve. With our usual parlor games competing for P20 awards and the song and dance of the kids and never forget the opening of the gifts, christmas day will always be memorable to each of us.

From all of us, wishing Happy Christmas and Great New Year to all of you !!!!

A Cool Trip in Beijing

My blogmate Wats0n eagerly requested me to blog my recent trip in Beijing. We were in RCBC Plaza watching the stage play, Avenue Q. Initially, he was teasing me that I no longer write on my online blog. Hence, I told him I did since I have time when I transferred work last September. I have ample time now for my "extra" curricular activities and one of those is writing on my blog. So Wats0n, here it is..

Last December 2, I flew to Beijing for my 5-day training. Of course I was excited since this is my first time to see the place. First place I visited is the famous Great Wall of China. From the hotel I stayed, Crowne Plaza, it was 1 1/2 hours drive. When we reached the place, we rode the cable car and opted to walk going down where the entrace. My experiece of walking on one of the wonders of the world, I will never forget it because we took an hour and a half to reach the end point and my goodness, my left knee was really aching terribly. Most of all, it was so cold and freezing to death. I bet the temperature that time was 0 degrees.

Other places we visited were the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven.

When I was in Forbidden City, I imagined that I was Mulan...hehehe..whatever you saw on the cartoon movie, that's the exact view, so many palaces and the biggest is the Imperial Palace. Well, such a huge place you would imagine.

For Tiananmen Square, it's like our Rizal Park. It's just across the entrance of Forbidden City. According to the local, this place is very historical to them and it's also considered to be a tourist spot like Forbidden City.

Last place I visited is the Temple of Heaven. Just like Forbidden City, it's also a huge place where there are series of palace inside. But the said temple is very famous since this is where the Emperor pray for the good harvest of the China.

Well, my trip was exciting like my other trips. Although, I had fever when I was there due to erratic weather but this didn't stop me of seeing the famous places. Thanks to Biogesic, Tempra and H20 ;-)

Riding cable car in Great Wall

Exact Great Wall path

Entrance of Forbidden City

Inside Forbidden City

The famous Imperial Palace which is under renovation

Strolling in Beijing

In Temple of Heaven

In Tiananmen Square

Forbidden City at night.. at -4 degrees

10K Finish Line

Last Sunday, Tony, Aileen (my friends from Avaya and Lamco) and I joined the New Balance Power Race 10K/25K in Clark Pampanga. Of course, we were just in the 10K run.

I was so nervous before the event since it was my ever first marathon. All my life, my sports are on the softer and finesse side such as dancing, yoga, and golf. But because of the unending influence my colleagues in Avaya especially Tony and Rico, I have committed eventually.

We started running around 6:45 AM at the Clark Freezone. Around 500 participants were there for both 10K and 25K. We were amazed on how other people have the passion on this sport. In fact, we even met a guy around 64 years old but mind you he's registered on the 25K category. "Laban ka?".

My first 1K run was a bit stressfull since that's the time I'm struggling to get enough air and I was told before not to stop because eventually you will get your second wind and everything is light already. With the second wind, all your muscles are already formed for running as long as you can. With my experience, it really happened. And that is the reason why I was able to finish the 10K run. My time was 1 hour 23 minutes and 44 seconds. Well, it may sound so long to finish but I do not care. What's important is I did reach the finish line non-stop and still with extra energy. Most of all, I feel great and proud of myself.

After mentioning the happy experience, the sad part was my whole body ached as if I could not walk properly in late afternoon. Still I drove from Pampange to Makati. Upon reaching my place, I went straight to Blue Mountain, my favorite massage place. I had sauna to soften my muscles and the aromatheraphy massage for 1 hour and 30 minutes. I was shouting due to pains. As what the marine says, "No pain, no gain"...

One Last Look . . .

Last August 03, I said goodbye to Cisco office. It was mixed emotions when I told our boss since Cisco has been so close to my heart...close that I found new friends who anytime of the day even night are there for me. Why mixed emotions??.. there were several feelings inside me that were bursting. Sad because I will no longer be in Cisco office after saying goodbye. Happy because I'll be having a new chapter to work on and will experience new challenges in life. More so, worry because I'll be leaving my customers and business partners who are close to me and I don't know if they will be taken cared of the way I do. We have developed friendships that are beyond business. They became my "pare's and mare's" in life.

But then again, the friendships that I gained will always have special place in my heart. As I have always said to anyone that I bumped on the street, I never regret being part of Cisco family, more so leaving the company as I have gained so much knowledge especially the people that have been and will always be close to me.

I guess, goodbye is not the right word to say but only farewell. I believe it is not always the final road. Who knows one day, I will be part again of Cisco world..it may not be here but in other parts of the world.

To my Cisco family, thank you... As one last look, here are the memories we have developed and will always be cherished...

Commercial Team

Training in Bangkok, Thailand

FY07 Partners Summit in Cebu

Amazing Race, Shangri-la Mactan Cebu

Q3Fy06 Business Planning, Canyon Woods Tagaytay

Best Batch of Cisco Super Heroes

Q3FY07 Business Planning in Mimosa w/ Chot Reyes

In Las Vegas Aug 2006

Cisco Photo Shoot

FY06 Cisco Team

And my dispedida done in Las Vegas, Aug 2007

Farewell, Cisco...

Best US Vacation Ever

I was in US last August and I have visited some of the good places which a tourist should see. Our point of entry was LA and just stayed overnight to prepare ourselves for our trip to Arizona. I was with my Cisco friends. Before we started our 6-hour drive going to Arizona, we attended mass first in Crystal Cathedral.

Arizona is a great place and should never miss visiting Grand Canyon. We made sure that we will see the sunset and sunrise views of the place.

After Arizona, we travelled to Las Vegas as my friends should attend the Cisco GSM. On the way, we passed Hoover Dam which is the boundary of Arizona and Las Vegas. It was soo hot when we were there to have souvenir pictures. As usual, the guys were so ecstatic since this is the place of the movie, Transformers.

In Las Vegas, we just went to the outlet stores and had a great dinner in The Cheesecake Factory. As Larrem said, it was my dispedida.

The next day, I flew to Philadelphia to meet my college friends. I stayed in New Jersey for ten (10) days and enjoyed the famous Manhattan and Woodbury Premium Outlet in New York, NJ Outlet in New Jersey since it's tax-free on any goods that your body wears, Broadway shows, travelling via trains and buses, etc.

Next stop was Seattle, WA. Oh such a great place since there are pine trees all over. Never missed the Space Needle and saw the great view of Seattle downtown. Of course the Pike Place Market where the first ever Starbucks is located.

Never missed to stop in LA to meet my good friend, Gabby and his family. Since I told him I don't want to shop anymore, we went to places such as Yuca's (mexican food kiosk as highly recommended of Mr. Steamy, Eric Dane of Grey's Anatomy), The Pinks Hotdog along downtown where the line whatever time is a mile long, Beverly Hills and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels (where Lea Salonga had her wedding ceremony). Lastly, never missed IKEA, the famous store of housewares.

Too much to share with you my experiences, it is better to show some of my pictures.

Posing in front of Crystal Cathedral, LA.

In Grand Canyon. Taken around 7:00 AM. Awaiting for sunrise to arrive. Taken around 5:45AM.
In Hoover Dam, boundary of Arizona & Las Vegas.A dinner in The Cheesecake Factory in Las VegasOn top of Empire State Building, NYWhile walking in NY, I passed Macy's.The theater of Mama Mia broadway show.Space Needle (in Seattle) as background.First Starbucks Cafe located in Pike Place Market, Seattle WAThe ferry we usually see in Grey's Anatomy TV show.With Pauline at the top of Space NeedleArrived in LAX. Showing all my stuffs that I bought in east coast ;-) with Ginger & GayeHad coffee in Peets Coffee & Tea. Owner of this is the inventor of Starbucks. Bought lunch in Yuca's. In Beverly Hills with Gabby.In Pink's Hotdog kiosk. In front of Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.And my new found friend, Mikey

This trip may be so tiring but it was the most exciting one I had. I shopped till my last centavo and really had a great time every minute of it...hence, it was my best US trip ever!

Best Photo

During our graduation night last week in our photography class, my photo was chosen the best one. I just could not believe when they mentioned it. Actually, it was not only my teachers who were impressed more so my classmates. It was indeed votation and they chose my photo to be best... Well, here it is for you to see the evidence.According to them, the colors are so precise as if you could touch the subject. I use the rule of third technique. Lastly, as our teachers always say, " wala sa pana yan, nasa indian"...