Anything goes...

 Change is constant, so they say.  A new Assistant Regional Director has come our way after that Ma'am Fhat has become full-fledged, it is but natural and common in the organization that they get transferred to different regions.  And for me, that is a sign of a new adjustment.  I don't know him personally but people say he was mabait. He is. Silent but cheerful.  I do not know what to do of his character, I cannot read him yet, but I hope he will carry us through a different kind of management, one with integrity and honesty and one that serves the people more than that who serves the politician.  It's quite a busy state here in the office, and I am going nuts about things, but I pray that things will be better soon, and that my health does not fail me. So help me God. 

 I don't! When I was younger, times have been really hard for our family. There were times when even our breakfast had to be "utang" from the nearest neighbor's store. It was tough times when my Mom and Dad had to do so much just to tide things over.  And seeing my Mom get in so much financial troubles have been a letdown for me and my siblings. It was disappointing, and very bothersome to our mental health. We have also experienced going to school with very limited allowance for snacks, and wait, I had to walk from school to our house because I lack money for fare! That was how terrible life was back then.   And Mom getting harassed because she cannot pay for her loans, that was so sad.  So no, I imagined a life well-lived, completely different from what my parents have experienced. I never borrowed despite the hard circumstances I was bombarded with. And I used my wits and writing skills to earn money and LIVE.  So NO! I don't remember loaning money becau...

Ahhh February! My birth month, my favorite month of the year! I am welcoming this new month as if this was a fresh year. Like January has been a long while ago, with so much stuff happening, so many new tasks I couldn't even learn yet, but I do anyway.  It was like January has been too long a month. Overwhelming! Three major events, and 1 horrible cry.  I am once again, moved to a different cocoon. I only stayed for 9 quarters in my DOLE Gensan Family and after 2024, I started with the Technical Support Services Division (TSSD) due to the retirement of its former boss.  I used to believe that TSSD holds the most engaging positions as it is quite known to be the think tank of the regional operations. I stand corrected. While it is true, it remains as the think tank of the DOLE operations, in my first month, I could say it is the most tiresome office where your brain cells forever function even when you are asleep.  I may be saying this just now because it is my first ...

As a leader, you are expected to be on top of every situation, no matter how minor it is and even more so when it is huge.  December is a month of breaking barriers, utilization of funds to zero and making sure that every target is hit bull's eye.  And yet, there are personnel who, no matter how long they have been doing the job, can't seem to give focus to the requirement.  I cannot simply ignore the fact that a direct report has been repeatedly giving me headaches, here and there since the start of my stint. If that was deliberate, I do not know, but in my mind, that was a low class act of incompetence and inability to cope to change and to pressure.  I am a person who wants things done in a snap. I do not delegate much. In as much as I can do it, I will do it, and do not leave things be in the hands of my staff who are not technically equipped to do such tasks.  This December has been tough! But what can be tougher than a subordinate who doesn't do justice to...

On November 17 at about 4:14, I was just lying on the bed reading Kevin Kwan's The Crazy Rich Girlfriend on my phone when there came a sudden jolt, and what was a simple shake turned into a crazy frenzy of tremors up until its first minute.  My first instinct was to go out even if I wasn't really clothed properly since I just arrived from a meeting and just wanted to lie down and take a good rest. But I couldn't get myself out of the house since the shaking has disturbed my peace of mind.  I was trying to open the latch of the door to let myself out but I struggled with it. And for a while, I thought it would be the end of the world.  While we in Mindanao have been experiencing normal shakes here and there, this was quite a different experience; it was the longest one minute of my life, and it was by far the strongest one I have experienced.  If you follow me on Facebook, I have posted a similar experience while we were in Baguio City. It was a M7.2, Intensity 4 kind...

I have not been much of a reader nor a writer in the past few years. Read, yes. But I would confess, it's not as always as it seemed to be. I hated the fact that I can no longer read a full book in one sitting. My latest book is A Man Called Ove, and I have not even finished t yet.  I have a friend who always gives me e-books, I ask him for e-books and yet, I just have them ready in my collection. Even the real, tangible books I have are quite ignored for some time now. For some reason, I have become lazy. I have become the person I didn't want to be, maybe because of the busy schedule at work, or have I been too complacent with a lot of stuff? Just this morning, as I have always planned it to be, I finally got the urge to get my Bob Ong box of cards. This Bob Ong's Aba! are a set of cards with questions or tasks that you can answer or that you can follow. I vow to at least answer one card every week, or the most often that I can do it because I need to sharpen my brain cel...

I have made myself quite anxious for a month now. Well, almost.  I applied for a position that I really wanted but since this is a government post, I have undergone the tedious process of selection and promotion - exams, interviews, and the paranoia of waiting for the result.  Of course, it is a valid feeling when we get excited for the result of something we have been waiting for.  Just like this promotion, I guess I am excited because I want the anxiety to end. I have been sleepless for a number of days last week, and have been fighting the urge to wake up in the middle of the night overthinking about my actions. Did I sound good in the interview? Have I made myself clear in my intentions? Was I articulate in my answers? Did they see me competent? And many others...  The election ban is nearing (March 25) and we are all waiting for the 4 positions to be filled, as appointments are actually made by the Central Office.  I may also be under a lot of stress l...

So after less than three months, the husband flew back to the concrete jungle of Metro Manila for work as he was quite needed there. No, not quite. I guess he was really needed there.  And so, after eighty-four (84) days here in Gensan, 14 of those days spent in quarantine when he arrived, I am back to being alone with the kids and trying to live.  While he was here, he was the same man I married, that guy who would do the laundry, sweep the floor, do carpentry, clean the bathroom, fix some broken things, cook, and most importantly, clean the car! He was also home to drive me back and forth to the office, or the grocery. And spoiled I am, 'coz for a short while, I was able to just lay on the couch while I watch him do the dishes, fix the table, and wait for him to call when dinner was ready.  But lo and behold, some things are meant to end!  So on Friday, January 15, I brought him to the airport. It was painful, but I have to admit that he is doing this for the famil...

Their Recognition Day was set on May 24. I wasn’t there even if parents were supposed to be present. I was attending a Supervisory Training for 5 days in Koronadal City where, had she called for me, I would have immediately came.   She didn’t call me to join her, so I thought it was just fine. I understand that recognitions in Pisay are hard to achieve. Their standards are quite high. So I settled with the fact that she didn’t get to the cut.   Then on May 30, the teacher sent a SMS and e xplained how she made this huge mistake of not sending my daughter on the stage for her winning moment on the fourth recognition day. Turned out that she submitted a wrong file to the awards committee hence missing out my daughter’s name. She was very apologetic.  I called my husband after having received the message and both of us were in unison of thoughts that we shall dismiss that part on the neglect of the teacher to submit the name of our daughter to the award...

I could last all day just talking about how I am feeling lately, but things are supposed to get back into its fine mode once I get my strength back. I'm not busy,  but I sure feel tired every day. I have been given one additional hand in finishing up one program but the rest of my programs are still handled by me alone. The funny thing is, I'm really not yet as busy as the past few days has been. I have actually stopped being the hero that will answer all concerns because I think that each employee given their own share of tasks are supposed to take care of their programs, and they are answerable to it. Still, I just can't help it that I have to give a hand each time there's a need to. I am such a natural hero.  I am feeling unhealthy.  The past months as I quietly breathe by my lonesome, I feel the need to consume more and more calci-blockers because the BP is way too high. Even if I don't feel any symptom at all, I feel paranoid that one day I will jus...

I have nothing but great appreciation to male buddies who are supportive to their female partners especially when they have their monthly periods. As we all know, these monthly visits are quite the contrary of "comfort". But what really does happen when Aunt Flo has come? When we women, have our periods, sometimes we get a little "moody". Sometimes too, a little is just an understatement. To understand our body better, and what makes us a little cranky during those visits, here's a short but simple way to describe it. The Beginning ●         Days 1-2: The first day of your cycle is the first day of your period. Tissue and blood lining your uterus is the blood otherwise known as your period. Estrogen is low and women often experience fatigue and cramps. You might not feel like it but these days would be good days to exercise. Your mood might not be so great and your energy level is low. Feel Good ●      ...

Happy New Year! It's a new year, and they say it's time to start right! And because I wanted to start right for 2019, I am facing my fears!  And when it comes to facing fears, one of mine is being able to face my monthly visits with a twisting pain because of menstrual cramps due to dysmenorrhea. And a bad case of reds can stain the car seat. Darn! So when Jeunesse came into my life as introduced by Chiclet, I was amazed at how efficiently it helps in controlling/managing girl problems. And here are the reasons why you should believe me! 9 Reasons To Use Jeunesse Anion Sanitary Napkins 1. Special Anion Chip Each Jeunesse Anion Sanitary Napkin has a special anion chip that brings a lot of advantages, and most notably of which are: helps prevent bacteria during menstruation, helps reduce feminine discomfort, and helps eliminate unwanted odors. Click here to read the full  benefits of Anions . 2. Beneficial Ions Upon getting in contact with moisture, th...

Back in 2010 when we had our first second-hand Nissan Altima, I had the guts to try to man the wheel with the husband as my instructor. After a few days of consistent fighting, because both of us could only disagree about mechanical stuff, I gave up on driving.  In December last year, we acquired Sylver, a brand new 2017 Ford Ecosport which the main function is supposed to bring the husband to and from Davao City should he be transferred assignment there. Since the husband's agency doesn't have any inkling of how much we wanted him nearer, and since he is still waiting for that order of transfer, I had to decide in getting educated in driving. At first, I had no intention of learning how to drive because I have had two road accidents which involved the vehicles I was riding. The first one in 2014 in Butuan where we hit a child. And the other one was last year when a vehicle tire came zooming up towards us, I on the front passenger side. Man, those were too traumatic I had...

My friends who have been sharing fake news and confusing statuses with confusing memes have tasted some pieces of good advice from me to stop sharing them as they add to the confusion and conflict in this already crazy world we have. However, there are still some, who, despite their professional statuses, would continue sharing these things deliberately. To what reason or purpose, I do not know. But for me, it is disappointing and shows complete lack of tact, and probably an ignorance of their common sense, if they do have that. Way before bloggers made their way in the government and/or political arena, I have been into blogging and worked in the publishing industry for eight years. Moreover, blogging has become a part of my food on the table, and I have also enjoyed perks that go along with the title "blogger".  And then Mocha Uson and Sass Sasot came into the picture, and even more bloggers... and everything became blurry. They who have been sharing intriguing and...

You know how it is with audits. It gets a little cerebral sometimes. No, not sometimes, it should be most times.  The office's quest towards transitioning from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015 has been exhilarating. While it is true that a good Quality Management System may help tasks to lighten up or be organized, many of my colleagues think otherwise. Yet, we have no choice but move towards continual improvement.  So we traveled from Koronadal City to Tacurong City, that is 4 hours round trip for an audit if you are coming from General Santos City. That was a Wednesday, and come Thursday, I was on my way to North Cotabato, 6 hours round trip travel because again, Audit. And then Friday came, I was the one being audited. As an Internal Quality Auditor (IQA), these tasks are pretty tiring, finding non-conformities or looking for ways to improve the service of the office. It can be pretty taxing to a physical body especially when you are working with your brains and eyes...

Here is a book I just finished reading. It was written by one of my favorite authors, Leo Buscaglia, and this is all about LOVE. Yes, old topic but still a very strong one. I am sharing this here on my blog because I felt the need to share the following few pages with you. It says that when a man loves, he/she may do so, but his/her love could be more powerful if he/she understands the following: And finally! 

When I started blogging, it was because I felt the need to communicate to the world the beautiful things that I have been experiencing and sharing good stuff to people who matter to me, especially family. I also blogged because I have felt the need to voice out my feelings, what my mind dictates me to feel, how I feel about things and where I have been. My family has been my utmost reason that I do this; it is because I wanted the world to know about my beautiful family, one family whose hunger for travel, food, and everything nice is insatiable. My hobbies are also included on the things that I blog about.  But that was before. Ten years ago, only a number of people were lurking on the Internet. You can read about people's lives thru their blogs, and you have to visit their blogs in order to read what has been going on in the lives. This time, it is different, social media has been the "in" thing. Most people have their Instagram accounts, Twitter, Facebook and ...

Only when you see a good life ahead of you should you risk the race. If you slip and fall, get up and bounce back. If things turned out differently, you have prevailed in trying and nevertheless understood that it wasn't meant for you. But reach for it! Risk the race. I did, and it brought me tears, but the sweetest is the JOY when you finish the race.  And after you finished the race, wait for other courses or tracks to open, try them once more. Wait patiently because up ahead is someone who will reward you with what you think has been impossible to achieve, what others have been blind in seeing about you. Other people see your struggles and pains, and they think you deserve better opportunities. Other people just don't care.  inLove them anyway.   Never stop dreaming! You will get to the point that you think you have covered all. That is a lie! Do not dwell on it! Stay strong with your cores, be efficient and diligent with what you do. Procee...

When my very own favorite grandma and grandpa died, we weren't there in Antique. We were not even there to pay our last respects because of school and financial limitations. But before we came here in Mindanao to join our parents, my Lolo and Llola cared for me since birth and until I turned Grade 5.  Entering Grade 6, I left them for Mindanao to join my sister and my parents. It was a heartbreak.  They were already in their Septuagenarian days when we left them. And I remember my Tatay Salus, as we fondly called him, roaming the streets near our house and peeing in his pants; he was already in his incontinent state.  My grandmother, sickly and with an enlarged heart at that time, would carefully and patiently dress my grandfather, bathe him and turned him smelling good again. I still remember the two of them going to church together, and leaving church separately. Nanay Connie would bring me home, expecting Tatay Salus to be home earlier until we had...