Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Eiga Sai 2013

My sisters and I have been fascinated with the culture of Japan. Hence, we like to watch Japanese movies and anime.

July of every year, we celebrate EigaSai. It's a Japanese film festival held in the Philippines, where in we can watch Japanese movies for FREE. Yes, you heard it right. :D

The last time I indulged with this free movies was last 2010. It was a blast. We wanted to do it every year!

This year, my sister and I decided to watch one movie a day. We watched PARADE on Friday, July 5 and MAI MAI MIRACLE on Saturday, July 6, 2013. As usual, there was a long line every time there's free. Hehe!

I didn't like PARADE. It's so deep I can't find the sense in the movie. Or maybe I just don't get what the author wants the viewer to understand. I was disappointed. MAI MAI MIRACLE is awesome. I love it.

Here are some photos.

  




We plan to do it every year. Japan, surprise us next year! :D

FBS and Barista Training

It's been almost two months since I last posted on this blog. I've been lazy and busy.

With regards to fitness, I still try to ride my bike with my husband every weekend. Here's our photo.


This June, husband and I decided to enroll to a free Food and Beverage and Barista training for free. If we pass the assessment made by TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), we will get a National Certificate which can be used to apply work abroad.

Though I don't have plans in working abroad to be a waitress or barista, I still wanted to learn and to support my husband as well. This course is really for him.

It was a very nice experience being surrounded with young people. I can say, I excelled and top-notched this short course. What can I say, I always do my best in everything.

It was a 15 day training. I had to sacrifice my sleeping hours just to attend the classes.

With all the hardships, inevitable memorization and countless sleepless days, we passed the assessment. I am so proud of my husband and I am so proud of myself. I  realize, I love the feeling of being pressured. haha. But hopefully not always. I think I just handle pressure very well. I love challenges and I love being motivated.

Here are some of the photos:

Discussion day

Discussion day

Familiarizing China wares and Silverwares



Learning Napkin Folding and Table Skirting



Role playing - wine service


Learning the parts of Dose Grinder


The Class with our trainer

Making Cappuccino

Making Cappuccino

Making Coffee Latte

Making Coffee Latte

Made our batch's scrap book

Food and Beverage Assessment day

Food and Beverage Assessment day

Food and Beverage Assessment day
Wine service and Barista Assessment day

Wine service and Barista Assessment day
Next to my list: Culinary Arts and Bread and Pastry. Yes, another free training from the government! :D

Monday, May 20, 2013

PaceUP Fun Run - May 19, 2013

May 19, 2013, Sunday, at UP Diliman, I ran (more like slow jogged) with my sisters. It was a fun 5k journey. Salve ran 15km and was able to beat her personal record (again!)

We each got 6 eggs and gatorade as freebies. I love freebies as much I love taking pictures!!



We have another fun run event on June. I can't wait!! :D

Friday, May 3, 2013

Weekend Ride

Hello!

I want to make this blog updated as much as possible so here I am posting. :D

After work, husband and I went for a ride. I was left in Greenhills while he went to Antipolo for a longer ride. 10 minutes before my time to finish, I lost focus. I realized I was aiming the fence. I was so stupid I didn't hit the break but try to hold the fence instead! That's when I fell. Then, I found out the chain was dislocated. Hubert taught me how to fix that so I was able to align the chain correctly. I'm just glad I'm not hurt. I only got some small bruises on my finger and right thigh. I went home safe.


Happened on May 4, 2013.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Morning Ritual with Husband

Since I'm dedicated in losing weight, husband is helping me on this journey. I walked 2.5 hours this morning while husband rode 36km. After the exercise, husband made strawberry shake and salad. Look how gorgeous my Hard Rock Cafe glass is!


Tomorrow is Labor Day so we assume there won't be too many vehicles in the street. It's the perfect time to ride my bike!

Happened this Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

Nat-Geo Channel Earth Run 2013

Being inspired by someone, I decided to start running again. Oh no, I didn't run on this event. I slow jogged and brisk walked with my elder sister. Salve was able to beat her personal record. She finished 21km with a time of 2 hours and 33 minutes! Charrie's new PR is 43 minutes for 5km run.

We bought souvenir shirts. :D

 


 


Happened this 28th of April, 2013.

First time

The moment my boss told me he's coming to Manila, I jumped on my seat. Since then, I couldn't stop thinking what to do and not to do. Yeah, you can say I was overreacting.  I was convenient just to communicate through phone, email and chat. It's different when you meet personally. I know he wasn't joking when he told me he's visiting. My previous boss once told me that they would visit the Philippines, but it never happened even after they had to let me go for a change of career.

Let me tell you how I started working from home. I used to work in a call center where I handled webhosting account for Digiweb and Webprovider. In 2001, the company assigned ZoneEdit  for me to handle support all by myself. It was just me, Erik and Mike. Dan came after me. I handled ZoneEdit wholeheartedly. But due to just handling one small account, I didn't get any promotion nor a raise. I was happy with my account but not with how I was being treated by my local superiors.

Anyway, in 2004, the Taiwanese owner was planning to change again the name of the company for the 2nd time. The other Filipino stockholders didn't agree and they decided to offer all operations staff money (separation pay) in agreement to voluntarily resign. I was very concerned with ZoneEdit as no one will handle support. I informed the guys what was happening in the company. After that, Erik called me and asked me to do support for them and just work from home. I was ecstatic. After 3 years, the founders of ZoneEdit sold the company to Dotster. I was absorbed by Dotster only for a year and a couple of months. I sent email to several resellers of ZoneEdit. Tom was the one who replied positively. I was out of work for only 5 days! :D 

November 2008, I started working for Tom. This is where I belong. I always feel more blessed than lucky. I believe I'm working with the best team who tries to help and not compete with each other. I treasure and respect each of them.

February 2013, Tom threw the bomb on me. I asked several people any recommendations on the restaurants and places to visit. There were sleepless nights on the first week I got the news. I was crazy!

Why the title?

First time because:
1.) it was my first time to meet The Boss
2.) it was Tom's first visit to the Philippines
3.) it was my first time to go to American Cemetery ( I didn't know we have one here!)
4.) it was my first time to dine in Cafe Juanita (serves Filipino dishes)
5.) it was my first time to be a local tourist in Intramuros
6.) it was my first time to dine in Hard Rock Cafe
7.) it was my first time to go to the airport!

I warned Tom that I like taking pictures and that he must bear with me if I ask him to post a lot. :D

On Tom's first day (April 18, 2013), we met in his hotel, BayLeaf, Intramuros.

Bayleaf Intramuros Hotel
While waiting for Tom to go down from his room, I took a souvenir shot in the reception. LOL



Here are some of the photos taken on Tom's first day in the Philippines:
 Target: American Cemetery and Cafe Juanita

Inside the car.
American Cemetery - I was hiding my umbrella. :D
 


selfie :D

We found some Barretts'


He's lecturing me!

No Ghosts!


He gave us Boston shirts and caps! Thank you!

Tom looks so amused in this picture! I like this! (Johnny Rockets). We had to wait for Cafe Juanita to open.We were too early.

Cafe Juanita

What we ate

My sister Salve joined us for dinner. They talked mostly about running and being healthy.

Before leaving the premises.

We tried it on right after we came home! haha. It fits! :D







This is the 2nd day  (April 19, 2013):
Target: Tour in Intramuros and early dinner at Hard Rock Cafe


Calesa



Casa Manila - we can't take photos inside. Bummer!

Casa Manila

San Agustin Church - oldest church

Brothers

Fort Santiago
Balluarte
 
Being cool

Souvenir Shot


He's playing 4 pics 1 word!
Hard Rock Cafe
I got a souvenir glass!!

Best Hot Fudge Sundae
Souvenir Shot with Tom and sisters

I realized that I over think things. I worry over nothing. Tom is a great guy. He is very down to earth. He's a good conversationalist since my sisters enjoyed talking with him.

I can't thank Tom enough for what  he did. I feel so important and appreciated. I have never treated like this before so I'm overwhelmed with this experience. I just hope that he visit again with his family. Maybe PALAWAN or BORACAY? I know they are going to read this so I intentionally mentioned that! LOL :D

Hasta la proxima vez...