Photoblog - Day 276 Jan 10, 2011

Future Team Leads 2011:

This is a Team Lead School - a two day training for new TLs, to get them started on knowing what is espected of them.

the course is a hodge-podge of many ideas taken form other courses... with the main intent of giving the TLs an idea of what they are expected to do... process to follow and experiences to be shared.

That said, this particular training was different because I mostly sat at the back and acted as an added resource to the training while my partner in this conduct - Lina, went through all modules (a first for her) to see what she could do, and whether she could finally conduct things like TL school without getting away with only the easy modules and letting her partner handle the bulk of the training. This time, the show was in the other foot.

I made it appear that I was there to help - but not handle modules... to interject, but not facilitate. We needed to see if she could really study and conduct the course, and for the most part, she could wing it by redirecting questions from the audience - back to the audience. At the end of day 1, I gave her my observations... for her consideration - and hopefully, a better day2.

Photoblog - Day 275 Jan 9, 2011

KFC Lunch:

This Sunday, we decided to do things a bit different... instead of waking up late, we opted to get up earlier than our usual weekend manner (where half the day is over by the time everyone is up), and go for an early mass (as opposed to going to mass at 6pm) in Greenhills.

Then we'd take lunch and and be done with all our obligations and walks early to enjoy the rest of the day relaxing at home - in preparation for the regular classes and work days.

Now we normally look for a place to have lunch - and we considered KFC an option acceptable to all - hence here we went... to KFC in Shaw Bldv. We enjoyed our lunch... and made true the option of relaxing the rest fo the day. How so? In the kids' case - the usual internet and afternoon siesta... while in Barbie and my case - a DVD movie viewing. We decided to watch Percy Jackson.

All we did was wait for dinner time - while really just enjoying the slow and peaceful day. A far cry from the hustle and bustle of the work days... so I guess I was likewise recharging - after all, at the end of last Friday's training, I already had coughing fits... an itchy throat and really felt dead tired - so I really needed this weekend rest.

Photoblog - Day 274 Jan 8, 2011

Dentist's orders:

Yes, you read right. This was just what the dentist that we went to ordered... after cleaning the teeth of Bryce and Bernice - and having had a tooth (or portions of it) extracted from them, the dentist did say to treat them with ice cream.

Now, since we have not been to Robinson's Galleria for years (we used to regularly grocery there - until Robinson's Pioneer opened... the need to get ice cream was dependent on where we'd find such. Lucky for us all (that is - Bryce , Bernice and me, we stumbled upon 'Carra Mia' - so I asked them if they wanted to eat there and they naturally said yes.

What I have in the picture is a strawberry-banana ice cream cake... with lots of chocolate to go with it. It's taste sort of reminds me of a banana-split. But don't take my word for it... by all means, try it out... either at the Robinson's Ortigas area or at theGreenhills area - beside Amicci.

Yup... 2011 is when we finally decided to go to the dentist and have our teeth fixed, pulled or generally repaired. After all... Bryce will be needing braces.

Photoblog - Day 273 Jan 7, 2011

Shades and Shadows:

This picture won't be possible in the mall's usual working hours... for one, there'd be too many people going around. Two, the sun might be too high so as not to reflect it's rays in the inner corridor of said mall.

That said, I was able to get this picture as I saw the sun's rays shining into the corridor. At first, I was the opposite end - taking pictures of the chairs and tables with the natural lighting. But when I went to the opposite end of said corridor, I was struck with how the lights and shades played with each other - how the arches were emphasized - giving the place a sudden exotic eastern look.

I realized that this was a much better view and had to take the shot. Heck, if I had to consider adding to this, I might think of adding a shapely model standing under one of those arches - letting her silhouette play with the light as well. But as it is... it shows a beautiful scene. Guess there are advantages with coming in real early.

He he... yes, I did have my breakfast in McDonald's - as it was one of the few opened places at that time.

Photoblog - Day 272 Jan 6, 2011

My first comics for 2011:

Yup - another hold-over from 2010... and way longer that that, is my hobby of buying, collecting and reading comics. I still have my usual list of must reads. In this case, I looked forward to Captain America, Green Lantern, X-men, Superboy (surprisingly good) and S.H.I.E.L.D. - easily my favorite in this bunch. In fact, I just might make an inspired review of S.H.I.E.L.D. - just deciding whether to wait for it to end first; or do it now.

There are a few other titles I might be discontinuing - Secret Warriors (as it is winding down), Avengers... but on the other hand, there are others that look promising, hence my starting them like Batman: Dark Knight. Then there's a hold-over form the holidays - Orange Lantern and the hilarious story in it... no real bother as it's just a one-shot issue.

So... if this is a start - I guess I can imagine how my collection will once again grow by end of 2011... assuming I continue collecting, that is.

Note to self... remove plastic covers to prevent glare - or shoot away from a window.

Photoblog - Day 270 Jan 4, 2011

Back to the grind...

Yup - vacation was over on the 3rd of January, as I greeted 2011's work week by handling a Project Management School training for Accenture. Does this mean I'm destined to teach PM-related stuff for this year? Can this sustain me all throughout the year? Hope it can. Will I change work mid-stride? I am thinking about it.

So the first work week of 2011 found me busy the entire week - since PMS is a four day course... and for a moment, I thought I needed to teach it solo. Luckily, Gina was able to join me in day 2 - with her personal emergency taken care of. By Wednesday, as this picture represents, other trainers were already present in McKinley as well. So yeah... everything was going back to the way things were before the Christmas-break.

If there was any hidden meaning to the fact that PMS was the last training I had in 2010 - and now in 2011 it 's the first... well, I'll just leave that to more learned people. Me... I'm just glad I've got work to ofset all my holiday spendings.

Photoblog - Day 271 Jan 5, 2011

I/ACT pioneers:

Would you believe that there's a real good chance I happen to be the youngest person in the group? I said chance because I was too polite to ask - but one thing is a fact. Everyone - and I mean every single face in this picture with me - was in I/ACT before I joined.

For those not in the know, I/ACT was the premiere computer institute of the 70's - and at it's peak, had branches in other ASEAN countries... and these people were the ones responsible for all this. It was in I/ACT that I started learning my I.T. skills in programming and systems analysis... hence the start of my journey in eventually becoming a facilitator, corporate trainer, coach and consultant.

Imagine that... this particular evening, I was technically representing the 3rd generation of I/ACT. I think others might have come after I left... too bad I wasn't able to rub elbows with them again.

This gathering, is, in fact... an I/ACT pioneers reunion... and I happen to be there as well by simple luck... through Benj Santillan (the guy in front of me) - and if I'm to consider the story right, all these were made possible because of Ime Ponteres. All these people knew Ime... many visited her wake... and were reunited. They kept in email contact - and organized this reunion.

It was nice to meet some people - people whose names were constant mentions to me in my I/ACT days... and I would have stayed longer had I been able to better plan my joining this group's reunion. I also wished I knew more people here... but that's okay, there'll be more opportunities for that.

Photoblog - Day 269 Jan 3, 2011

Need a break?

Break from what exactly? From the holiday rush... from the holiday food... from anything holiday-related? Yeah, there are times I felt like that.

Let's face it, this particular Christmas seemed to have come and gone by so fast, I hardly felt I had time to enjoy it. Oh there were a few days - maybe just one actually, when I would be bale to sit back, relax and enjoy the season - but majority of the time, I felt like being rushed here and there.

Well this particular day was a pre-planned rest day... just stay home... period. If any prep time was focused on, it was to ensure that the 4th (being the official first day of work), would start without a hitch.

As for my picture? It's my way of spreading the news about the new Goya Chunky... it's actually good - with that unique Filipino chocolatey taste as only Goya creates (some of you may vaguely recall the taste - but when you bite into this, you'll be reminded again), plus the added taste of cashew nuts (for those Balikabayans who can still remember Antipolo and the roasted cashews sold there.

Now imagine these in a Goya bar... yeah... Kit Kats are great - but these are no pushovers as well. What I'm showing are the white and dark chocolate variants... there is a milk chocolate variant too - but I ate it before this picture could be taken.

As for the technical details... I wished I had a flash diffuser... the right portions of the bar have too harsh a lighting - so it was hard to come up with a balanced picture showing crisp details and yet have everything almost visible. Either that or take the shot with a tripod next time, sans flash. Lovern - a colleague in training, actually introduced me to this... as it was her gift to us all during Christmas.

By the way... those chocolates under the two bars? They're not real... they're coasters designed like chocolates - a gift from a colleague (Gina Medina) for Christmas. Neat looking huh?

What TV show do you wish would go off the air for good?

drama shows that have little educational or morally uplifting values... the so called shows catering to the masses, thus seemingly dumbing down their plots and characters.

Ask me anything

Do you believe in ghosts?

Oh yeah... seen one when I was a kid.

Ask me anything

What's the most unselfish thing you've ever done?

as a boy relatively fresh in joining the cub scouts, I once saw a tree that fell across the road in front of our home due to the storm - without hesitation, I put on a raincoat, got a flashlight and stood sentry in front of felled tree to warn motorists.

Ask me anything

Photoblog - Day 268 Jan 2, 2011

Dict's Advanced Birthday:

It was a choice between a picture of Dict blowing his cake or of Jude with cake icing on his face - I naturally opted for the latter. After all, we can always get Dict blowing his cake at another birthday (or year, if you want to be more accurate), but when will we be able to get a picture of Jude Brent smiling with icing on his face?

This will be a classic Facebook picture that his mom will love showing off to his classmates in around 10 years time - and I'm just glad I was around to take said picture. You can see the glee in Barbie's face - plus the mischief in her smile (you definitely know who the mastermind to such an act of putting icing on Jude's face was).

Though Dict's birthday would officially be the next day, we had this celebration in Cavite so his (and Barbie's) parents could be part of the small gathering. Plus we wanted the 3rd to be a rest day for us - in preparation for work and school as ushered in by 2011.

Photoblog - Day 267 Jan 1, 2011

Happy 2011!!!

Firs of all... from my family to yours - Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

As tradition goes, we stayed up until way beyond the midnight hour to greet 2011, and we had our traditional midnight meal - with some bubblies for the adults (Asti Martini). Barbie cooked up a great meal... Pasta with Tuna and Olive Oil and a few herbs, capers, olives - all healthy and filling, without being too filling.

We also had our choco fondue - with pretzels, melon, and marshmallows for dessert. Prior to all these, I made a pitcher of Red Bacardi Mojitos for Barbie, Ben and me, so we really had a good time as we awaited and welcomed the New Year.

After which, we watched a few fire works... thank God there were less this year than last year - hence less smoke and black nostrils in the morning. Some people say it's because of the hardships they've experienced in 2010... me, I think a lot of people are more environment conscious, and less likely to celebrate with fireworks.

May 2011 be a year of goals reached and dreams fulfilled - and it starts with this day.

Photoblog - Day 266 Dec 31, 2010

Ready for 2011!

How, exactly, is this picture representative of getting ready for 2011? Let me explain.

This is a practice we have been...well, practicing for several years now - and I might as well share it with you. The use of these glasses (and it can be any form of glass, shape and size) comes with the belief that if we greet the new year with these four glasses - and their contents, the coming year will be affect in the following manner:

Cotton - to represent lightness of life's challenges in the coming year;
Salt - adding some spice to life... so it need not be boring and dragging;
Rice - so we may not want, as we will always have food to eat on the table; and...
Sugar - to add sweetness to the coming year, and possibly compliment the spice part.

I know... it's a belief, and there really is no evidence to prove it... but in sheer 'The Secret' style, who knows? It may just be self fulfilling.

Photoblog - Day 265 Dec 30, 2010

Auld Lang Syne:

Way back when... in Boy Scouting days to be exact, was when I first got to learn about this song. One that was sang as people in the Jamboree we were attending were parting ways. Back then it did not really sink in - probably because as the first stanza would say 'Should old acquaintance be forgot...' was simply alien to me.

Now I have to admit, I have had some forgotten old acquaintances - some because we were just too busy to keep tabs with, as life (more likely, work) pulled us apart. Well, this picture is of my old I/ACT colleagues - who have made it a point to still keep abreast with each other, and every year-end, they get together for one last hurrah. I used to join them - but as I said, we got too busy, lost touch and contact for such a get together.

I realized this fact upon seeing facebook pics of these reunions - and realized what I missed. Well this year, thanks to FB, I made it a point to be part of said reunion - and keep tabs. I just wanted to make sure that I let 'Auld Lang Syne' be a song... and not a reality.

Photoblog - Day 264 Dec 29, 2010

Cuenca Christmas visit:

This item was long overdue - our visits to Cuenca are planned trips... it's just too far to do on a whim, as it involves preparation of what to bring - and the assumption (though it has not always held, of course) is that we would be going as a family. After all, we may see Bing once in a while, when she travels to Manila, and the same can be said for Tizza - though I guess, in rarer terms. But to see my mom, we have to go there. She isn't well enough to handle long trips to Manila and back to Cuenca... and even if we could come up with a car to allow her to travel, she gets tired and I guess, Manila travel and air isn't too good for her these days (fatigue plus pollution).

We normally schedule our Christmas trips earlier, but this year, things were just too hectic for me - so we decided to hit two birds with one stone, seeing as we were going a bit late anyway - and come on Migs birthday as well... I believe, this is a first for us... normally going for the Christmas celebration and well, just telling Migs his advanced birthday greeting.

It may even be better... who knows - I'll see how busy I get same time in 2011. But I don't mind traveling on the 29th... though I would prefer more time to plan things out better... not that this was a disaster (as the picture is proof) - just that it leaves little time for cleaning up for the new years, is all. But still... this trip was purely Kairos time - which is how trips like this should be.

Just what are they laughing at? Who cares, really... the fact is - and the important matter IS that they are laughing. Rare as our visits are, it's situations like this that make the planning and travel time worthwhile.

Photoblog - Day 263 Dec 28, 2010

Christmas done, but not yet gone:

One of the great things about our Christmas season here in the Philippines is that it sort of starts early (December 16th is the official celebratory prep time via Simbang Gabi) and goes on until Three Kings (the first Sunday of the new year). That said, the Christmas decors are set up earlier than usual (compared to the rest of the world) and are not torn down right after New Year's celebration.

This allows us to better appreciate the decors which we may have missed due to all the Christmas shopping rush - which in turn creates the pre-Christmas traffic jams.

After Christmas, though. things look very differently - and it is not a disturbing effort to get from point A to point B in the Metro. That said, take this simple yet poignant display... so simple with all it's white lights - yet elegantly done. I refer to the display of the Podium.

Why was I at the Podium? I was going to get some barongs (office attire dress shirts with a local feel) since some of my older barongs are ready to retire. But since parking in Mega Mall is a nightmare... even in non-Christmas rush days, the Podium offered a saner place to park - and eat. Plus I had to meet my dad, so he could give me something to bring to Cuenca - where I would be going tomorrow.

As for the picture... we definitely don't have White Christmases here - but at least we can simulate it some way... and still keep form freezing. That counts for something, right?

Photoblog - Day 262 Dec 27, 2010

High School BFFs:

Today happened to be Barbie's reunion with some friends she has not met since... well, since high school, if the story is to be believed. I mean, think of it... these are people I've never seen (except for Jay, of course - 2nd from right and not jumping) when I met and courted her. Yet these people had shared a great part of their teen formative lives together. Amazing that after so long a time, they find the opportunity to get together. Thanks in part of rediscovering each other in Facebook.

So when Barbie mentioned this... I could not, in all conscience, say no to her wanting me to drive her to their meeting place - which to me was a chance to do some exploring myself. After all, I did not mind going to Mall of Asia to hang around while they got reacquainted. I got a few comics to read and for the rest of the time... well, I could always explore.

Still, as plans go... this one did not go exactly as planned - so four of them (with me in tow) had to meet Jay in Las Piñas - a place easier for her to go to, given her not too strong constitution. They stayed in Starbucks' 2nd floor - while I made myself scarce, but reachable in staying at the coffee place's ground floor.

I took this fun shot at their request - before they finally called it a day. As Barbie said... seeing your wife happy meeting friends she has not seen in decades - 'priceless'.

Photoblog - Day 261 Dec 26, 2010

Sunday Rest Day:

For the most part of the day we stayed home - aside from the need to get away from all the hectic Christmas-related reunions, my body was in complaining mode from all the food and drinks I took in; so it went to automatic cleaning mode...don't ask. For those of you who seem to get it, yeah... not an attractive topic for a blog, huh?

You can probably guess that going out would therefore be the last thing on my mind... but it being a Sunday and all, we had to go to mass - and since we did not have anyone to cook at home as Ate VIcky was likewise on vacation, we decided to eat at Pho Hoa of the Shangi La Plaza.

I took the safe road... had a sea food bowl with Barbie - avoiding anything with oil. So yeah, this could be considered the highlight of my day. As for the picture, just a shot of Barbie and Bernice while waiting for their order to arrive.

Photoblog - Day 260 Dec 25, 2010

Chocolate and Cheese:

The two things that seem to go so well with wine - and since Barbie and I were planning to have some wine, well... we decided to have both (in this case, some feta cheese and cherry cordial flavored kisses)

Though the 25th may be a day of traditional celebration with relatives, I was just too tired from all the Christmas prep, visits and traffic. So I just wanted to stay home and have some peace in our home as the entire world was wishing peace on earth. I felt I owed it to myself to just rest after all these hectic days.

Did I feel isolated and detached? Nope... thanks to aps like Facebook, I was greeting people where I could.