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I choose to write because it’s perfect for me. It’s an escape, a place I can go to hide. It’s a friend, when I feel out casted from everyone else. It’s a journal, when the only story I can tell is my own. It’s a book, when I need to be somewhere else. It’s control, when I feel so out of control. It’s healing, when everything seems pretty messed up. And it’s fun, when life is just flat-out boring. (Alysha Speer)

2012 AmCham BOP

I so want to go back to Manila right now for the BOP Awards Night at the US Embassy Ballroom. It’s nice to dress up again, act smart (harhar), and mingle with people who seems to be at the top of their game. Not only is it going to be a fun night (for sure!), it will also be an educational one.

But anyway, I did opt to go to last week’s cocktail party at the residence of the US Ambassador to the Philippines. And while it would be awesome to party at the US Embassy, still, only a handful of regular people like me get the chance to go inside a practically US territory in the home of the country’s highest-ranking US citizen.  That aside, I really just wanted to grab the opportunity to spend some time with my BOP friends.

Here are some of the photos I took last Sunday during my visit at the AmCham office.

2012 marks the 10th year of the Business Orientation Program. The student participants this year are very lucky because I’m pretty sure that the preparations for the celebration of a decade of BOP is/was soooo BONGGA!

We used to stay here until late at night doing our case presentations and stuff.

I think EVERYONE will agree with me. The coffee vending machine is our most favorite appliance in the AmCham office. We practically survived on this after all of our all-nighters during the BOP week!

And finally, there’s me and my batchmate Helen catching up after about a year of not seeing each other!

Awww. All these pictures are making me reminisce!

Summer!

AnI think this has to be one of my busiest summers ever! I feel like I have something to do every weekend – from flights, to boating, to road trips! I guess the lack of international travel (for the first time in 4 years) is a sign that I should spend more time exploring the country instead. Anyway, it’s more fun in the Philippines, right?

I’ve been enjoying simple and not-so-simple pleasures lately. Last week, I splurged: I flew to Manila for the weekend and indulged in some R&R. I met up with friends, I attended a cocktail party at the official residence of the US Ambassador to the Philippines, and I went shopping. The shopping part did me in. It was not part of my plans, but I just had to shop. My next schedule to go there is still in September, there was no better time to check out stores that has my size available.

This weekend, I’m going island hopping around Samal’s Talikud Island for our company summer outing. I wasn’t supposed to spend, but I had to buy a new swim suit – they’ve been challenging me to come wearing a bikini, and I said “sure, why not?” but of course I won’t be playing their games so I am not. I’ll bring a pair though, just in case I get naughty.

Anyway, to end this post allow me to share a picture of an office mate’s pet.

Oh no. You’re not seeing things. That is really a TARANTULA. And yes, it’s alive. And it’s a PET. Somebody is actually crazy enough to have this hairy creepy tarantula as a pet!

Of course I wasn’t very comfortable about it, but I just had to dare myself to hold this monster in my hands. After a few self-motivating talks, I summoned the courage to pick this spider (this sounds too tame to describe the tarantula) and hold it for a few seconds. Let me tell you, it can grip. Like in an only-insects-can-give-you-this-kind-of-creepy-feeling way. The worst – but most exciting – thing about this is that I couldn’t hold it in my palms. I might get the urge to squeeze it to death, and I don’t want to be stung by its venom! I was already patting myself on the back after I let it stay in my hands for a while, but then it started going up my arms and that’s when I panicked! My office mate actually had the gall to laugh at me and taunt me by not picking it up immediately – I think I made such a racket at the office when I started shrieking all over the place and begging my office mate to get it off me!

I swear I’m never touching another eight-legged monster like this anymore!!!!

That said, I think I’m going to bed. I have a 6AM call time tomorrow – I need to be there early because I don’t want to miss this summer outing!

Next week, it’s Camiguin for me and my MBA friends! How exciting!

What’s the Worst Criticism You’ve Ever Received?

In light of my recent reviews and look backs on job interviews and the like, I would like to share my experiences about the question above.

Initially, it came to my mind that I have never been criticized enough about my physical appearance. Yes, yes; I am fat, I have super chubby cheeks, I have really flabby arms, large legs, bulging tummy and other what-nots. I know I have been judged by the way I look, the way I dress, and even the way I speak and relate with other people. However, I realized these things don’t really bother me. I accept all of these things as fact. Given that, I still hope people to not expect from me to hide all these fats in layers and layers of insecurities. I discovered that it’s a big deal among a lot of people that I like wearing fitted clothes that are on the sexy side. I wear a bikini when I go swimming, I swear skirts and plunging blouses and dresses and super high heels, and despite all the jeering hoots I get – I don’t care. At the end of the day, I’m not the one who is afraid and ashamed of what I have to offer the world. I have a brain in my head, and common sense to boot. I may have to make an extra effort to be funny, but I do okay. And most importantly, I may want to lose more than a few inches off my waist, I am happy. I put importance on looking presentable, but don’t expect me to dress according to people’s standards of how someone of my weight bracket to dress like. I would do what I want to do – within respectable limits, of course! – and hope that people would be happier about what they were blessed with. Because in the long run, happier people are more effective in making things happen for them compared to those with low self esteem, and those who are simply miserable.

Going back, the worst criticism I have ever received would have to be about my working habits. It was my dad who pointed me to that flaw: that I always start slow, and therefore I have a hard time catching up to reach the top. He told me it’s all about my tendency to be lazy, especially since I am used to the good life, I don’t expect myself to work as hard as other people who works and studies to make ends meet for their families. Moreover, I easily get sidetracked – especially when my expectations are not met and I get frustrated about a lot of things that don’t come together. I have to admit, this is true. It stung, but thank goodness I’m not the kind of person who would take critiques personally against the critic. After I verified this flaw, I know I have to at least try and fix it. There’s no shortage of blind courage from where I’m standing, but self motivation can only do so much. I think this is one of the major factors why I finally decided to leave my first job. I’m still lazy, and I’m still always late – it’s a struggle but I am going to fight it and correct this flaw and become a better person afterwards.

Semi-back

I am thinking about reviving this blog again – just because I’m liking the new layout I’m using, and I am mostly getting tired of using blogspot.

So please give me a round of applause for being back, at least semi-actively! But my official blog will still be http://thetelaishow.blogspot.com.

2011 Wish List

Here are a few things that I am wishing for 2011:

1. World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain

My friends and I had been talking about this since the last half of 2010 ~ and now that we’re halfway to getting there, suddenly attending is not realizable anymore. What I would give to be able to travel to Spain with the Philippine delegates in August. I’ve already imagined myself taking pictures in the streets of Coria Carceres a few days before heading to Madrid for WYD proper; and then afterwards, a trip around Southern Europe with the girls. I’m still hoping to go though, but I’m not getting my hopes up.

2. Travel

I’ve always been interested in traveling, but it wasn’t until 2009 that my passion for traveling to other countries have truly unravelled. So far I’ve been to 3 major cities in China: Hong Kong, Macau, and Shanghai. This year I am hoping to conquer more of Southeast Asia.

I am really looking forward to my trip to Malaysia with a couple of friends from work/college. We’re spending a few days in Kota Kinabalu, and then Kuala Lumpur in mid-March! It will be my 3rd trip abroad if everything goes well!

I also really want to go to Bangkok, Thailand this year. Can’t wait to go shopping for very cheap finds! My friends and I are thinking about going around September.

Singapore is also in our list for December! I hope the cheap flights will keep on coming, because I am so ready to whip out my credit card and book me some flights outside the Flip Side. ^^

3. Lumix LX3 / TX5

Because I can’t stand carrying around a DSLR, I am hoping to buy an LX3 in 2011. Well, it’s cheaper (more realistic) than getting an LX5, so yeah. Included in this “wish” are the wide angle lens, case, and the view finder.

If not the LX3, I am vying for a Sony TX5. One word — WATERPROOF. ‘nuf said.

4. Apple MacBook Pro

Back in college, I remember saying I’ll save up for a MacBook first the moment I start earning. I’ve been employed for 17 months already, and my savings are nowhere near to getting me even half the price of a MacBook. This year, I hope to be able to save up even for 13″ MacBook.

5. Apple iTouch 4th Generation 32GB

One of the two major reasons I want an iTouch is the TapTap app. Yes. I’m addicted. okthxbye. The other reason is Angry Birds. I know right?!

6. An MBA Degree

I really want to go back to school. I’m hoping to get an MBA when the new school year starts. There’s nothing like old-fashioned education to keep me going. I wish I could apply for scholarships abroad on time. Cross fingers for me please!

7. US Visa

(Note: I can’t find a US Visa picture, so I’m using a US Passport photo instead.)

This year, I’m hoping to get at least halfway to the US by acquiring a US Visa. I’ll work on it this summer. I want to go there for leisure / education, actually.

8/9. A Bigger Closet and Wardrobe!

I keep wishing for this year after year after year. A closet similar to the picture above would be great! But an exact replica of Carrie Bradshaw’s new closet in SATC1 would be even better:

And if you throw in Christina Aguilera’s entire shoe collection, it would be EPIC.

10. More than material things…

I wish everyone will have a bigger and better 2011. 2010 had been rough, so I hope the new year would bring an abundance of blessings: happiness and good health to everyone, especially to the people I love. And oh, I wish I’ll finally lose weight this year!

ktxbye,

Telai


DISCLAIMER
All the photos posted above are not mine. I got them all over the internet via Google search. ^^