I Blog, Therefore I Am.

:: THE MANANSALA ::

I probably heard "Manansala" sixty times today. The Manansala Towers at Rockwell is one of the best upscale condos around Makati that will soon open in December. They are also one of our numerous commercial clients and the Sales Engineer sitting behind me is the one in-charge of the account thus the repetitive mention of the name. Ahhh...work!


The Manansala Towers @ Rockwell

Monday is the ultimate killer in any workday and today is no exception. As early as 9:00 am, phones were already being slammed and tempers were already rising up since there are so many stuff to do this week. Today was also also the launch of one of our numerous products so everyone is rushing except good ol' moi (and Aimee). I was actually bored...and desperately looking for work! Heck, they are not paying me good moolah for nothing. Hay! My boss gave me some stuff to oversee for the launch but it was quite easy and everyone seems to know what they are expected to do. They definitely don't need for my constant nagging. After checking the delivery of the posters, flyers and tags, I even volunteered to help in the sorting but we have a pretty dynamic support group who are pretty capable in doing such that doesn't need extra help.

The highlight of my day was probably when the Network Administrator came to our office to configure my new work e-mail. Haay, boringness! I hope that things will start picking up tomorrow. Ohhh! One thing that shocked me was the ordering of business cards. Guess who's one of the suppliers out for bid? None other than Primex Printers! Geeeez! Primex prints Honda brochures not Honda business cards. Hah, big timmmeee!

P.S.
Oh! Some blind item. I got an interesting call from one of CROs in one of our Honda dealerships who's also a friend of mine. After the usual howareyous, she told me that she's quite uncomfy with someone from my old office. One of her staff even complained about this certain new girl's b*tch*n*ss when they met with her last week. Hmm, quite interesting but definitely not surprising. Sino kaya yon? Hmmm. Your guess is as good as mine.

:: ANOTHER DROUGHT ::

The Athens 2004 Olympics came to a close last night and Team Philippines once more failed to bring home the much-coveted Gold medal. As expected, our taekwondo jins and boxers played magnificently but were once again unfavored by judges' decisions. Our best ever finish was 16-year-old Toni Rivero's semi-final stint in Women's Taekwondo where she lost to a Greek opponent last Saturday. It was such a heart breaking lost that would have given us at least Silver if the circumstances were different. She delivered several blows and even knocked-off her opponent thrice, but was not given the points she deserved! She's truly great but was not given a fair playing field (Heck, they are in Greece for crying out loud!). Well, at least Toni will be more prepared for the 2008 Beijing Games.

BRONZE ELUDES NEVER-SAY-DIE RIVERO, GEISLER
ATHENS, Greece -- Their bodies were beaten but their heads were
unbowed and their spirit unbroken. That's how it ended for the brave
taekwondo fighters who put up the Philippines' final stand in the 28th
Olympic Games Saturday. It was a dramatic end to a roller coaster of a
day-the courageous Donald David Geisler III being taken out of the arena
in a stretcher and the youthful Mary Antoinette Rivero putting up a never-
say-die fight against a vastly superior opponent.

Read it all here.

~*oOo*~



ATHENS "IT" BOY
The golden boy of Athens is American swimmer Michael Phelps who took home 6 golds and 2 bronze in various events. This child prodigy, who was first expected to upseat Mark Spitz on his world record 8 gold medal wins in the 70s, was the star of the 200m and 400m Individual Medley, 200m and 400m Butterfly and the 4x200m Relay Medley. He won his last and sixth gold while warming the bench since he gave his Butterlfy slot to teammate Ian Crocker (he swam in the heats and the semis thus he was also awarded). Michael's Athens waterloo was the highly charged up and exciting 200m Freestyle where his rival Ian Thorpe was proclaimed king. The much-celebrated (and only) swimming duel between the two magnificent tankers was also shared by Silver medalist Pieter van de Hoogenband of The Netherlands. Phelps received his other bronze at the 4x100m Relay Medley.



Michael Phelps

SWIMMING GREATS
I truly love the swimming races at the 2004 Olympics. The Australia, US, Japan and The Netherlands Team dominated the Aquatic Center on the first week of this great celebration of humanity. I love the Australian Women Swim Team who are so talented and also good-looking than their counterparts from other countries. There's also a new batch of swimming darlings like Aussie's Jodie Henry (who won the 100m Free beating Inge of The Netherlands), Leisel Jones, Brooke Hanson (a perennial finalist in several swim events who looks like Donita), Fil-Am Natalie Coughlin (a Fil-Am who's now being asked to represent the Philippines in the SEA Games next year and Asian Games in 2006) and returning champion Inge de Bruijin of The Netherlands (who got long nails to help her in "touching the wall").

For the men's division, there was Sydney champ (and my favorite) Ian "Thorpedo" Thorpe who defended his title in the 400m and 200m Freestyle (who also got a bronze and a silver in other events), Pieter van de Hoogenband of The Netherlands also managed to bring some of the limelight to him when he won one of the best swimming events - the Men's 100m Free. Other favorites are Aaron Peirsol of the US (100m & 200m Backstoke Gold) and marathoner Grant Hackett of Australia who won the 1,500m Free. One of the swimmers who stole the show from Phelps and Thorpe was Gary Hall and his resplendent American flag-inspired robes which he wore for his 50m Free event which he eventually won. That definitely gave me a good laugh.


Brooke Hanson and Leisel Jones of Australia

NOT SO DREAM TEAM
Allen Iverson must be crying buckets at this very moment. Imagine, a bronze for Team USA Men's Basketball? Geeez! That's quite an unacceptable but nevertheless humbling experience for the great nation. What surprises me is not actually their poor finish but Argentina's win. I was expecting that Lithuania will bag it once the US was out of the way. Too bad. Their lost to Italy was unexpected and Italy's lost to Argentina was unerving. Anyway...Argentines all over the world are probably all out and celebrating right now since they also won Men's Soccer. Evita is definitely smiling on her grave.

As the Americans, the Chinese and the Australians celebrate their outstanding performances...
...as the Greeks mourn for their several 'fallen' (read: doping) athletes...
...and as the Filipinos reviews the current "sport & training" situation (again) here in the Philippines...
I have nothing more to say but SEE YOU ALL IN BEIJING!

:: I FINALLY ARRIVED ::

Tales of my first days at my new work. Read on.

DAY ONE - August 25, Wednesday
The last three working days were my first days at my new work. I officially started last Wednesday, August 25, 2004, amidst the heavy storm in the Metro. Aside from the usual filling-up of forms, reading of thick manuals and company policies, code of ethics, and do's and don'ts in e-mail (yeah, believe it or not), I also started familiarizing myself to the numerous brands and products that we are offering. Gee, what a toughie. Learning about cars and engines are definitely easier. We carry four brands and they have about 30+ products altogether. That's a lot! Plus, they all have different markets which made it so confusing.

Based from the first tasks which were assigned to me, my work will be centered on Marketing Services with a touch of Sales and Product Training. My first assignments involve a corporate exhibit/trade fair in October which I have to plan and prepare for; approval and presentation to management of proposed brochure designs from the ad agency (Heck, brochure designs were outsourced? Woah!); and finalization of advertorial pages for a big society magazine (I love this one!). Gee...and this was my first day? Well....WELCOME ABBIE! You definitely arrived. Sheesh.

DAY TWO - August 26, Thursday
I'm getting bored and it was only my second day! There was the Internet but I just cannot surf all day, can I? My dilemma was solved when our Product & Specs Trainor asked me to come with her on a Product Orientation at Shaw. It was killing two birds with one stone - since I'll be learning the product and at the same time familiarizing myself with how things are being done in the trainings. Stuff about our numerous products became clearer to me after attending the seminar. I downed two instant coffees to keep me awake all day. I also met several interesting personalities in our office through the seminar who would be working closely with me in the future. They are all nice to me and all are willing to help and support in my future endeavors. One thing that I remembered in the seminar were the overflowing food and goodies that we had. Super dami! Ohhhh! There goes my diet! We also had some chewy choco crinkles which are pwede na compared to ADB's crinkles (This is the BEST! If you know where to find other chewy crinkles...do tell me!). My favorite in our vast product line-up are the hi-wall split types and the casette. (Pats, if we have FABE there...they have FABG here. Almost the same premise.)

DAY THREE - August 27, Friday
My third day and first casual Friday was definitely not casual. After endlessly chatting with Aimee (my new sparring partner) in the morning about questions regarding work, I had a very eventful lunch with my new officemates at the cafeteria. Since Aimee is also new, the boys oriented us on several do's and dont's (whom to avoid, etc) and some office social policy. I find them all nice and amusing. The boys are not actually with us in the department (they are with Applied & Commercial Sales) but we share office space with them (ratio is around 10:5 = men:women).

Afternoon proved to be hectic since I was summoned by the VP for Sales and Marketing (aka my immediate boss) to his office while me and Aimee were eating spaghetti (go figure!). I was quite surprised when he asked me to oversee several stuff for the upcoming product launch this week. The task is easy but the uneasy part are the people I have to make kulit for the stuff he wants me to do. I am very very fresh and I don't want to come as overbearing to my new officemates. Hmmm, there goes the Honda Specialist Syndrome! Uggh! At least I am thinking about THIS unlike some people at the other side of the road. He also gave me a run-down of his expectations and stuff that I would be working on in the future. He said that I should study closely the marketing of our retail sales and products, sales forcasting and analysis, training of dealer sales, dealers' special project, and the usual event management, and BTL advertising. Whew. Time to hit it.

I definitely arrived.

:: LUCKY MANDY ::

I watch old DVDs by batch according to the lead lady who starred on it. There was Kate Hudson (How To Lose..., Four Feathers, etc), J. Lo (Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan) and even Julia Stiles (Prince & Me, 10 Things I hate...). For the last batch of DVDs for my vacation, I've chosen Mandy Moore. I was and never am a fan of these teeny-bopper singing girls. I even loathe them at times, but I do watch their movies (think Hillary Duff).

Why is Mandy so lucky in her movies? Because of her oozzzing with hunkness leading men! Read on.


CHASING LIBERTY Mandy plays as the President's Daughter who only wanted freedom from her heavily-guarded life. On a state visit to Europe, she met and fell in love with Matthew Goode, (ooohlalala!) who apparently was also on his father's payroll as one of her many bodyguards which she didn't knew. As the title implies, it's full of chasing...and running all around Europe's finest cities. This is a must-watch for people who love the White House (and its powerful habitants) and traveling. Matthew Goode is just so so GOOD looking so I watched this twice. Mandy is also a natural here compared to her previous flicks.


HOW TO DEAL I have the DVD of this movie since early this year but I only watched it last Monday. One word: so-so. I can't even remember the ending. As for Mandy's man, this one got the boyishly charming looks which did not do justice to the supposed "bad boy image" that the movie called for. Trent Ford is just too adorable to be a menace.

A WALK TO REMEMBERI bought the DVD at a spur of the moment but I haven't watched it until this very day. I remembered crying bucket of tears when I first watched this with a friend ages ago at Greenbelt. I don't like Mandy but I love Nicholas Spark and his best-selling novels.

Ain't Mandy lucky?

:: [H] SICKNESS ::

HondaHomesickness is probably one of the reasons why I agreed to come to Kamiyama's dinner last Thursday. After the long and grueling product seminar that I had, I went to Giligan's to have dinner with friends from my old abode. It was a sorta impromptu dinner-gimmick because Mr. Kamiyama, our dear Jap expat during the Makati days, was in town. There were reminiscing of our good ol' days at Salustiana and some 'clicking of glass' for Shepot. Haha. In attendance were Kamiyama (of course), Patty, Van, Ces, Kristine, Xavier, Jen, Deng, She, Gina, Agnes (and her new cellphone c/o Maricon), Grays and Karl. Too bad Kelly wasn't able to come...my bad. SORRY Kells! Blame it on my cellie's battery. Check out the pictures.





Something funny:
Me: Mr. Kamiyama! How are you?
Mr. Kamiyama: Abbie! I didn't see you at Sta. Rosa this morning.
Me: Yeah! Because I am now working at Honda America!
Mr. Kamiyama: Nooooo! No way!

:: LONG MANE GONE ::

Our hair is our crowning glory...as the cliche goes. INDEED TRUE! I had my haircut today at nearby David's and let's just say that I am not fully satistified. Wrong wrong move. It's not ugly, my mom (who's never satisfied with anything about my appearance) even said that she likes it. I just find it so short! I had it layered but I specifically asked the stylist to copy one of Jennifer Aniston's hair at Friends --- long with soft layers and definitely not short. BUT I haven't even finished talking yet when I saw her chopping a good 4-5 inches of my hair! Goodgracious! Upon seeing my shock, she explained that she's just going to style it and will not cut much! Duh?! Isn't a bit too late for that? Grrr!

My "now" hair is not actually short. It's still (technically speaking) beyond my shoulders but it looks shorter with the layers and all. Awww! Anyway, I do admit that the stylist did a good job with my hair. It actually looks healthier, trendy and fresh. I just feel so so bad about my long mane that is now gone. All I asked was a simple cut with few layers but she gave me this shorter bouncy one! Ugh! Another drawback are the perennial flyaways that I will get each morning which I temporarily enjoyed in the last few months when my hair was still long and straight...grrr! It's back to the drier again.

Whatever. I'll just grow it back. Mane n' Tail (that horse's shampoo!) was not created for nothing.

:: FIRING THE NEEDLE ::

I had my pre-employment medical exam yesterday at Healthway Medical Clinic at Festival Mall. After my two surgeries last month for my finger, the last thing I want is another needle poking me. But I cannot escape it since it's one of the major things that my future employer is so strict about. So after two days of procrastinating, I went to to Healthway to get it over and done with. It has its usual laboratory exams where another batch of blood were taken from me (much to my dismay) and the chest x-ray exam which took so long because the technician refused to do it unless my hair is on an updo since it gets on the way of things. Whatev. There's a tip...if you have long hair make sure that it's tied way way up (or in a bun) when getting x-rays unless you want to have 'scars' in your chest (accdg. to the technician). The last stage of the medical exam is a consultation with their in-house doctor who poked me in so many...errr...areas. Well, at least I survived. I had lang some temporary scars from where samples of blood were taken. Grrr. I'll be getting the result of my clean bill of health (I pressume) on Thursday.



Speaking of hair. Mine is now on its longest ever and it badly needs a trim. I've been wearing it long and straight for quite sometime and I am thinking of chopping it of a couple of inches shorter and having it layered. I attempted to do it last March at Ricky Reyes Glorietta after dear Isabella's Christening but I chickened at the last minute and got a trim instead. Plus, the stylist refused to do it since sayang daw ang hair ko. Sheesh, makialam ba?



NEW BLOGS AND LINKS
Do check out the left part of this blog for my updated links. There are some new blogs worth checking out like Mitzi's and Darwin's. Tin's blog is also nice but it’s on a "friends only" mode at Tabulas.

:: EUREKA! ::

After two months and two days of resting, soul searching and looking for the perfect career, I am happy to say that I will be back to the workforce soon. As of this very moment, I am still waiting for my best choice but it seems like they are not very eager to hire anyone just yet. The company is still taking their own sweet time to decide. And I'm left in the dark with their replies of "neither denying you nor accepting you YET". Sometimes turning you down outright is better than asking you to wait in vain. Hmph!

ANYWAY, I can't take it anymore and the waiting is killing me. MAYBE God is even telling me that those are not for me and is not part of his grand plan for my well-beling. To cut the long story short, l accepted the offer of my "comfortable choice". It's actually a very good company: multinational, huge American investment (in fact I think it's more American than Filipino), high brand equity (at least people will not ask me "Where is that?!" or "What is that?!" when they ask me where I am working), no debts (I was told) and a definite market leader. People often tells me how perfectionist and arte I am for thinking TOO hard whether to accept it or not. Heck, its a great company and even better than my old one is most aspect. But, I HAVE my reasons and it's not even the moolah part as most expected.

The position is in Marketing (of course) and I will be reporting directly to the VP for Sales and Marketing which is way C-O-O-L. He in turn is reporting to the President so bureaucracy is lesser (Thank God!). I might even get my way with some heavy deciding stuff if I do it right. It's a good position with a lot of responsibilities, scope and challenges (I suppose). As my good friend and ex-officemate/future-officemate Reggie told me, I might even love it there to stay for a long, long time. Just like what I did with my old company. As to the old question of "how much?". Well, what is ENOUGH anyway? Let's just say that it's quite nice but it can be nicer. Patience is indeed a virtue. *wink wink* HAH!

WHAT I WILL MISS
Now that my bumming days are numbered, here are some of the stuff that I will definitely miss:

1. Sleeping whenever I want.
Who cares if I sleep at 4am or if I did not sleep at all?

2. On-line time.
Awwww! Grrr! My DSL provider will be happy again since I will end my 24/7 routine.

3. Blogging & Blog Hopping.
Well, at least I will have more topics to write about than my routinary nothingness.

4. TV and Movies.
My DVD player will definitely miss me.

5. My hair in ponytail.
I cannot do it when I am working or else I have to deal with my giant waves of a hair.

6. The SIMS.
Awww! What will happened to my neighborhoods and families? They will die of neglect.

7. Playing with my niece all day.
Such regret! She’s so cute now with numerous funny antics.

8. Honda.
The day I start my work in the other company is the day when I can finally say I am free.

:: ONE FOR THE BOOKS ::

As I was arranging and browsing my old files and CDs, I saw some of my saved essays and articles which I encountered in the last few years. Some are so-so, some downright mushy & cheesy... and some will just take your breath away. Quite a long read...but what the heck?



People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person. When someone is in your life for a REASON. . . It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON... It is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation... Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.



You might have already encountered this one BUT if you haven't, gee...where are you hiding? Yup, it's THAT piece of Mark Macapagal. : ) The one that was sent a thousand times in our inboxes.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

In your life, you'll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special, ones who will always mean something. There's the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you're with ... and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it's that person with who everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in the person, there was no flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn't fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you're not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn't matter who you're with, it just doesn't work. Small problems become big; inconsequential become deal breakers simply because you're not ready and it shows. It's not that you and the person you're with are no good; it's just that it's not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you're ready. You really are. And when this happens you'll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it'll work because you're ready. It'll work because it's the right time and you'll make it work. And it'll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you're finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there's no telling when this day will come. Hopefully you're single but you could be in a long-term relationship, you could be married with three kids, it doesn't matter. All you know is that you've changed, and for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about.

You'll think about them because you'll wonder, "What if they were here today?" You'll wonder, "What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?" That's what the one that got away is. The biggest "What if?" you'll have in your life.

If you're married, you'll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you're mature enough to realize that you're already with the one you're with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you'll think about him/her every so often, but it's alright. It's never nice to live with a "might have been," but it happens. Maybe the one that got away is the one who's already married. In which case it's the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you're old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it's different. What do you do if it's not yet too late? Simple ... find him, find her. Because the very existence of a "one that got away" means that you'll always wonder, what if you got that one? Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie, it doesn't matter if you've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised, you just might be "the one that got away" as well for the person who is your "the one that got away." If the timing is finally right, it'll all just fall into place somehow and you know, I'm thinking, it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're the one that almost got away."

:: AND THERE WAS HIM ::

:: MOON RIVER ::

Moon river, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style someday,
Oh, dream maker, you heartbreaker,
Wherever you're goin',
I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world,
There's such a lot of world to see,
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waitin' round the bend
My Huckleberry friend,
Moon river and me.


Hearing something? It's Henry Mancini's Moon River.

Moon River is definitely one of the bestest song ever created. It was first heard at Audrey Hepburn's movie Breakfast at Tiffany's in the 60's. I truly love this poignant song especially in the Sex and the City season 4 ender (the one where Carrie danced with Big the night before Big's departure for San Francisco). Since then I've been hearing it in various films like How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days and even in the funny movie Stuck-up.

Some interesting stuff I got from another site:
After the very first screening of "Breakfast at Tiffanys", the president of Paramount Pictures paced around the room, puffing on a cigar, and said, "Well, I'll tell you one thing, you can get rid of the song." Thankfully, Audrey was there and to her credit, she stood up and said, "Over my dead body."

Henri Mancini's "Moon River" won the Academy Award in 1962 for Best Original Song.



This is a yearly post-birthday tradition. The best of the best birthday messages (with some non-sense replies from me). Sucky and lame but read it anyway. Hit it!

Ei, happy happy birthday, Tabbie! I really wish you'll find happiness soon
and I do hope you'll get what you are aiming for. Stay sweet! Love yah!
~ Gee, I already "have" happiness. Who said that I am not happy?

Happy Birthday! Love you! Manlalaki ka tonight! Treat yourself!
~ Huwwwat? Are you ok? Haha.

Happy Birthday Abbiegurl! You are getting younger by the minute, get a bf na! Hehehe!
~ NOT another one.

Abbbbieee!!! Happy happy Birthday! Mwah! Hugz! Another year wiser!
~ This one's from Aileen. Very WISE wish.

Hey Abs! Happy Birthday! My gift is a new technique (aka cheat) for your
SIM so he won't get tired. : )
~ This is a well-appreciated text. Thanks Tin!

Happy Happy Birthday! I just wish you all the best for you! Good health and more
money! Yabz you talaga!
~ I love this especially the moolah part.

Happy Birthday Abbie! May God shower you with lotsa blessings not just because
it's your birthday but because you are special in many ways.
~ Awwww! How sweeeeet. Thanks Rae!

Hi there! Happy happy birthday. God Bless. Take Care.
~ This is one of the best because it's from my former boss. Ye-bah!

Hi! Happy Birthday! Eto totoo na! Hehe! Wish you nothing but the BEST!
~ Oooppps, false alarm kasi eh.

Abs! Happy Birthday! Love ya! I l almost forgot. Miss you. God Bless.
~ Good thing you did not forget...or else.

May birthday thread ka sa HCP and YOU WON'T believe who greeted you there!
~ The WHO?! Hahaha.

Bahe, happy birthday! San nom?
~ Whataclassic! Thanks Zash.

"I wish your "knight in shining armor" would come na and sweep you away"
~ Men need directions most of the time. Naligaw lang siguro.

Happy Birthday Sweetie! Tanda mo na din. Hehehe! Enjoy and have a good one, ok?!
~ Sweetie, how can I have a good one if you are not here. Ok?! :(


There you go. I had one of my quietest birthday ever. I spent it with my family and some close friends. I'll be celebrating later though with close friends from my former office.

:: ALL EYES ON ATHENS ::

I've always been a crazy Olympics fan for as long as I can remember. This passion probably started when I first watched the life story of the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci who competed in the 70's Olympics and won numerous gold medals. I was probably six or seven at that time. The appreciation for the graceful sports of gymanastics were probably attributed to my ballet training then (ah! weird!). It's great influence even made me ask my mom to enroll me in a Gymnastics class rather in a Ballet School. I also remember that I even have a ballet classmate who do ballet in the mornings and gymnastics in the afternoons once a week (Mitz, Ces, remember? The Thai Girl?) . My young self was simply in awe. My request had fallen on deaf ears since my mom believed that Gymnastics would create uglier muscles than Ballet. Duh?

Anyway, to somehow console my little self from the frustration, I watched to my heart's desire the Gymnastics games at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. And since then I was hooked. I fondly remembered watching the LA Games after school and even had replays when dad recorded it in our old Betamax player. There were more memories of the symbolic tiger (the mascot) in Seoul, South Korea in 1988 where the Philippines fought tremendously but failed to bring home the coveted Gold. I even cheered for Bea Lucero and her non-show-up in Gymnastics (she later represented the Philippines in later Olympics for Tae Kwon Do).

The Barcelona and Atlanta Games of the 1990's failed to capture my 100% attention (much to my dismay) since I've became a very busy then. I just recalled the very very long Opening Ceremonies in Spain in 1992 and the outpour of Coca-Cola products in Atlanta, Georgia in '98. The last Olympics in Sydney brought however new interest and access to information because of the Internet. I was ecstatic and delirious. One of our classmates from highschool even scored a part-time job in Sydney at the Olympic Village during the Games. She made kwento of the great games and competition that she was able to watch because of her privileged pass. I was simply envious.





My self-declared hiatus couldn't come a better time. Come Friday, August 13, 2004, all roads lead to Athens as the Olympics goes back to its original roots to the ancient ruins of Greece. Another celebration of life and sports would unfold as we commemorate the homecoming of the Games 108 years after. And I will be on the best seat: in front of our TV. I am really excited that I would be able to watch the Games and the drama behind it in full liberty. It will definitely be a wonderful moment for me. I just hope that we will finally score a Gold this time. *cross fingers* Our taekwondo jins and boxers are expected to make waves and will try their very best to play to their honor the Philippine National Anthem that we are deprived from hearing from any Olympics. After all, the prize at stake for the elusive gold is already P8 million pesos coming from the Philippine Gov't and numerous privately-owned companies. As the cliche goes...GO FOR GOLD, Team Philippines!

More news at the Athens 2004 site.



Oh! Another tid-bit. My friend who's in Beijing right now told me that the Chinese Governement will definitely go all out for the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing. (Their bid for supremacy?) As early as now, they are "controlling the weather" so that they will have perfect sunny skies come 2008! The 2012 Olympics venue is still on bid between New York, Moscow, Madrid, London and Paris.