tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279089932012-02-19T14:28:32.499+08:00A Quarterlifer's JourneyA heavily sarcastic, mildly psychotic, and humorously realistic account of a Quarterlifer's journey through life.The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.comBlogger1101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-24081054500548418862011-09-15T11:21:00.002+08:002011-09-15T11:21:38.540+08:00My daughter's 1st birthday is coming up in a few days, so the wifey and I are currently in "crunch-time" mode. I never thought that planning for children's parties could very tedious. There's talking to caterers, looking for the perfect host, coming up with a party theme, thinking of the entertainment and a variety of other tasks one no less important than the other. Long gone are the days when The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-65898762067969486312011-09-08T10:33:00.003+08:002011-09-08T11:38:55.990+08:00 Before I saw this film, I've read positively glowing reviews from critics, hailing Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington "the best Filipino movie of 2011" or "the funniest movie of the year". Being the avid movie goer and a person easily influenced by critics, I dragged the wifey to the theater with promises of belly-aching laughter reminiscent to when we watched Kimmy Dora a couple of The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-82805245628984062632011-09-05T10:40:00.000+08:002011-09-05T10:41:07.688+08:00KAINAN SA DALAMPASIGAN
Finding this off the beaten track restaurant was the first task, as you had to veer off the main road and make your way a few hundred meters to get there. The second task was navigating your way through the dark and under lit path from the parking area that frogs have invaded and now call home. My first thought upon seeing Kainan sa Dalampasigan was, "this could be the The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-10102139401368919642010-01-28T09:09:00.002+08:002010-01-28T09:26:26.418+08:00Yesterday was quite busy day for me. It was a good distraction as it allowed me not to feel sad about what happened a few days ago.I went to my girlfriend's house at Quezon City where I had lunch with her family. I had lechon kawali, sinigang, and multiple servings of rice. I can't remember eating that much in a long while. The rest of the day was then spent hanging out with my girlfriend and herThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-24997050517389019052010-01-27T07:53:00.002+08:002010-01-27T08:03:34.228+08:00"Today is the first day of the rest of your life"I love that quote from the movie American Beauty. It somehow gives a person the hope that no matter how shitty your life turns out to be, the following day will always hold the promise of a better outcome. Inspiring eh?So I'm going to visit my girlfriend today. Its a much needed and welcome distraction from the past couple of days. We're probably The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-88998091199059928832010-01-26T15:20:00.002+08:002010-01-26T15:31:54.848+08:00I'm feeling a tad bit more optimistic now. I got an hour's sleep in, which got my mood better once I woke up. I'm also getting exercise, which experts say is a good remedy for the blues. And I'm onto my second blog post for the day. Gotta keep moving! Gotta keep moving!What's better is that I'm not thinking too much about my predicament. I'm actually thinking that my current state might actually The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-77016865318323272612010-01-26T12:17:00.002+08:002010-01-26T12:53:27.331+08:00I was the recipient of disappointing news yesterday. I found out that I didn't get the job I was praying and hoping for since I got back from the States. I'm depressed and hurt about it because I thought I already had it in the bag, that it was a sure thing. Only the tables turned on me. Right now, I don't feel like doing much. I know I'll get over it soon, but the wound is still pretty raw. The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-33890257981754410812009-05-12T19:33:00.007+08:002009-05-12T20:36:51.215+08:00Kalinawan Resort I was recently in Davao for vacation, and one of the highlights of my trip was a visit to Kalinawan Resort, one of the newest resorts in Samal Island that offers unique thrills for the adventurous beach bum. This resort is unique in more ways than one, but what sets it apart from your usual, run of the mill resort is that it channels the weekend warrior inside of you by offeringThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-37925050675542191662009-05-12T17:59:00.002+08:002009-05-12T18:01:52.543+08:00I'm finally back online. After 2 weeks with no DSL, a higher power took notice of my misfortune and misery and decided to give me access to the Internet once again. So, did any of my 4 readers miss me during my brief hiatus?The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-58123567990710121942009-04-27T06:29:00.002+08:002009-04-27T06:35:07.055+08:00I got back from a trip to Batangas last night. Vacation. Today, I'm having an extended vacation, cause you sure well know that you need a "vacation from a vacation" to recuperate and condition yourself that you're back to reality again. I've been cooked rare and I've got the tan to show. In fact, I think I'm still giving off heat from being under the sun too long. I'm looking forward to another The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-50175863767602366422009-04-23T17:10:00.003+08:002009-04-23T17:19:06.594+08:00Christmas is just around the corner.If someone out there really loves me, I hope that person gets to read this entry and decides to give me this as an early Christmas present.I'm currently drooling for the Battlestar Galactica Complete Series DVD. I haven't seen an episode of the show, but the geek in me is telling me that I'm going to like it. I can already feel it in my hands - 25 discs of The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-65703506714468626522009-04-22T17:22:00.002+08:002009-04-22T17:29:55.407+08:00My chef gave me hell today. For almost a week now, I've been assigned as one of the class leaders in the kitchen. One of my responsibilities is to make sure that the mise en place is in place (i'm being redundant - mise en place literally translates to "everything in its place" - hence, the redundancy). When you say mise en place, it involves having everything to do with cooking ready and The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-4393306854281390332009-04-21T18:35:00.002+08:002009-04-21T18:57:33.943+08:00I don't know why I'm reviving this blog again. A light switch came on in my head, and I suddenly remembered, "Hey, I had a blog, didn't I?". So after more than half a year of not posting, I once again find myself spilling my thoughts onto this online page, for everyone (who am I kidding, I'm probably the only one who remembers I had a blog to begin with) to see and scrutinize. This time, I'd The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-72593795126941885012008-09-25T20:28:00.002+08:002008-09-25T20:32:04.331+08:00I've got a practical exam tomorrow morning on Knife Skills. And I've been cutting up carrots, chopping onions, and turning potatoes since Monday. I'm hoping that I do fine tomorrow. I'm not going to rush my cutting, or else I'm bound to lose a finger. Tomorrow's strategy is to work a steady pace, but work accurately. I'm not planning on joining a speed cutting challenge anytime soon, so I don't The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-60071124086550314882008-09-15T20:02:00.003+08:002008-09-15T20:09:01.312+08:00I'm On A HighWoohoo! I got my test scores back today, and I couldn't be happier with my grades.Basic Stocks - 44 /45HACCP - 77 / 80Stocks and Sauces - 60 / 62Kitchen Terminologies - 29 / 30Kitchen Organization - 36 / 36I got an average of 97%! I didn't even get grades like these in college. All those days spent studying don't feel like a chore all of a sudden.The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-21953153278106731822008-09-10T20:41:00.002+08:002008-09-10T20:46:43.192+08:00I had a tough set of exams today. It wasn't hard in the sense that I couldn't answer the questions because I didn't know it - it was tough because it was long and tedious to answer. I felt battered and tired right after taking it. I needed a good pick-me-up, so I decided to watch a movie to lift my spirits. I watched Hellboy 2, and it was one of the most visually entertaining movies I've seen The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-11166268309921456672008-09-08T16:30:00.002+08:002008-09-08T16:41:42.671+08:00I've been trying to make a habit out of cooking at home whenever the weekend rolls by. Weekends are pretty much the only free time I have from the busy week at school, so I try to make the most out of it by practicing my would-be craft. Anyway, I prepared a couple of things over the weekend. Last Saturday, I made a Pesto sauce and a Pesto Butter. I didn't know that pine nuts were expensive, untilThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-65810943207289593742008-09-05T20:59:00.002+08:002008-09-05T21:03:09.060+08:00A week of kitchen work is finally over! Its been both fun and exhausting. As I type this entry, I can barely keep my eyes open from fatigue. The hours working in the hot kitchen, where aching knees and feet are commonplace are over for now. What's to look forward to in the coming week? A 4-day weekend, an exam on cooking methods and a recipe quiz, and 2 days of lecture that will run from 2 - 8 PMThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-51236000914434570692008-09-03T20:04:00.002+08:002008-09-03T20:08:35.133+08:00Being a chef is physically demanding. Its the third straight cooking day, and I feel physically tapped out. I've felt pain in my legs, knees, and back for the first time. I'm probably going to run on fumes for the rest of the week and suck it all up. In the future, I think I have to condition my body to be able to withstand the physical exertion that working in the kitchen demandsThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-11969054907294442512008-09-02T16:41:00.002+08:002008-09-02T16:50:10.897+08:00Today was a good day as the kitchen session was not as hectic as the day before. We were cooking ahead of schedule, so Chef Uli gave us a couple of long breaks that allowed us to catch our breath and rest our feet. Today's recipes consisted of Cream of Tomato Soup, Buttered Vegetables, Buttered Parsley Potatoes, and Pork Ragout (Stew). I was assigned to prepare the Potatoes ala minute, which The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-87106364148876599662008-09-01T16:17:00.002+08:002008-09-01T16:25:23.855+08:00Today was my first day back in the kitchen after the week-long break preparing for and taking the exam. I was a bit slow in adjusting to the frenetic pace of the kitchen today. I tried my best to keep up though. Anyway, it was officially the first kitchen day where we prepared the meals for students and the staff to eat. They also say that its one of the most important weeks in class because theyThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-88032961901292403542008-08-29T06:32:00.003+08:002008-08-29T06:42:07.117+08:00Today's the 2nd day of exams. Yesterday's tests were a breeze, actually. The whole class finished in under an hour - and we were given 4 hours to do the test. My hunch was right - the exam can't be that hard. And here I was, preparing for the worst and the hardest. Sometimes, more that actually studying hard, its more important to be confident that you can ace the exam. I saw really bad nerves inThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-37162194451232307442008-08-27T16:11:00.002+08:002008-08-27T16:21:12.492+08:00My 5-day "week-end" officially ends tomorrow as I return to school to take the first month exam. I've been stressing over that test since it was announced 2 weeks ago, but now I've learned to accept the fact that whatever happens tomorrow is out of my hands. I've done my part to study, but I know that my mind can only take so much information. Now, I'm trying to be mellow about this test and The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-71414456335413340772008-08-26T09:58:00.002+08:002008-08-26T10:04:01.348+08:00I cooked up a storm yesterday...well, not really. However, at the current level I'm at, cooking more than 2 dishes at the same time would qualify as a storm. My relatives came over for a visit and they wanted to try some of the dishes I've learned in school so far. It was nothing fancy really, as I prepared no-brainer dishes that even the most amateur of cooks couldn't mess up: Creamed Potatoes, The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-52405318098808450362008-08-21T16:29:00.002+08:002008-08-21T16:34:17.106+08:00Today, I had a taste of how the culinary profession is like. We had our first cooking session and I had to stand all throughout the duration of the class, which ran from 7 AM - 12 NN. It didn't end there though, as we still had to do our debriefing and mise-en-place for tomorrow which wrapped at 3 PM. I guess God really did listen to my prayers to take me out of my boring desk job, and decided toThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-9670164583829530432008-08-20T19:35:00.002+08:002008-08-20T19:43:27.710+08:00I learned how to truss a chicken and a tenderloin today. To truss something is to tie up a particular ingredient using string in preparation for roasting. It helps to keep the shape of products such as chicken or pork loin or beef tenderloin, for example. Otherwise, your meat would just be splayed all over the food pan with no fathomable shape to speak of. Our chefs vividly demonstrate how an The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-38814870666227461312008-08-19T09:16:00.002+08:002008-08-19T09:32:24.243+08:00I love being a student again. The rules of the "adult" world simply don't apply to a student. Today is an example - I don't have class today. While the rest of society are back to work after a 3-day weekend, I'm still here at home, taking the time to blog. Ahh, the simple pleasures in life!I've been practicing cooking at home for the past 3 days. Its more in order to gain the confidence in the The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-76501772669139939372008-08-15T20:33:00.005+08:002008-08-15T20:43:57.483+08:00I got so worked up with vegetable cuts yesterday, so I decided to continue working on it at home. I asked for rotting vegetables at the neighborhood store and got to try out my new knives on mushy carrots and potatoes. Doing these cuts on my own also helped me memorize the different sizes. Although I still need to work on my measurements, the cuts you see here are pretty much what they are, give The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-57761804568906818072008-08-14T18:20:00.002+08:002008-08-14T18:27:56.489+08:00We had a lesson on vegetable and potato cuts today. I must admit that I had zero knife skills before the class, and my inexperience was evident all throughout the day. I've had different people give me tips on my knife work. First, Chef Jay taught me how to use a vegetable peeler as I couldn't even use a goddamn vegetable peeler correctly. Chef Manoj also dropped by my station to show me how to The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-14814765003229195472008-08-13T15:58:00.002+08:002008-08-13T16:02:57.065+08:00Tomorrow's our first day in the kitchen, and I'm excited for it! I've had experience working in the school kitchen when I took the fundamental course, but tomorrow's session feels different. I have mentioned that the first few weeks of school have been the happiest I have ever been. I feel that tomorrow will be a validation that I am where really want to be.The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-47847568330724422672008-08-12T16:04:00.003+08:002008-08-12T16:11:19.409+08:00There are a total of 14 cooking methods in Classical Cuisine. 14?! Before this course, the only cooking methods I knew were boiling and frying. Now, I have to slowly ingrain these 14 methods in my head: Blanching, Poaching, Boiling/Simmering, Deep-Fat Frying, Pan Frying/Sauteing, Steaming, Roasting, Butter Roasting, Grilling, Stewing, Braising/Glazing, Baking, Glazing Vegetables, and Gratinating.The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-36571157245711121572008-08-11T16:05:00.002+08:002008-08-11T16:12:26.845+08:00I bought my first starter knife set today. My haul: an 8-inch Chef's Knife, Paring Knife, Turning Knife, Vegetable Peeler, and Leather Carrying Case. The damage: 6,200 pesos. Its really not that expensive considering that I've seen knives cost twice as much as what I paid for - and its just for one piece! I guess those MAC or Global knives would have to wait for now. Anyway, all the chefs in The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-25483963636978720882008-08-08T15:55:00.002+08:002008-08-08T16:04:09.548+08:00Today's session seemed more like a science class than a cooking lesson. Our topic was on the properties of water, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Chef Gerd demonstrated a number of these properties at work in the kitchen. We learned a lot of basic stuff like combining hot and cold water to flour and starch, and how these two thickening agents behave differently. I also found out that our The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-66550823644273947532008-08-07T20:08:00.002+08:002008-08-07T20:17:46.251+08:00My Chef's Jacket Has Magical PowersSince I started wearing my chef's jacket / school uniform, I have noticed that people have been paying more attention to me. I get double takes from random people in the street, on the train, and in the mall. I have experienced total strangers blurt out "Hi Chef!" in my presence. There are even people who obviously stare at the name tag affixed on my jacket. The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-79271633965707703032008-08-06T16:17:00.003+08:002008-08-06T16:44:10.303+08:00My Attempt at Holland-Daze SauceI was inspired by today's lesson about Sauces, plus the fact that Chef Manoj in his own way "ordered" us to experiment on sauces at home. I experimented on making Hollandaise Sauce. To the uninformed, Hollandaise sauce is a butter based sauce, which is part of the 7 Mother Sauces. From the 7 Mother Sauces, which includes White, Brown, Butter, Tomato, Oil, Pureed, The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-12605405775286178122008-08-05T15:22:00.002+08:002008-08-05T15:28:35.702+08:00We had Chef Manoj again today, and we were finally subjected to his famous recitation sessions. I got off easy as my question was this: What are chemical hazards? Hahaha! That was it.My other classmates were not so lucky. Some had the tougher questions, some plainly blacked out, while there were some who simply chose not to study.Today, we started our lesson on stocks and sauces, which is tough The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-6643944442866872022008-08-04T15:56:00.002+08:002008-08-04T16:13:09.195+08:00What makes food good? Is it just the taste? Is it using the freshest ingredients? Does good food always have to be healthy? These were some of the questions that were raised in class this morning as we had a discussion on what constitutes good food.We identified 3 basic factors that have to be achieved in order to be able to say that the food one prepares is good. Its not to say that these 3 are The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-6300531753676173172008-08-01T19:55:00.002+08:002008-08-01T20:19:04.888+08:00I can't believe that another week has passed. Those 5 days flew by so fast, I hardly had enough time to breathe. Its has been a very busy week in culinary school, but besides being busy, it was also the most fun and enjoyable 5 days. I say "so far" because I'm definitely sure that the weeks to come will be great, I can feel it.Today we had Culinary Terminologies. We were introduced to more than The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-91022671936268175122008-07-31T15:38:00.002+08:002008-07-31T15:46:56.723+08:00We had Chef Manoj to wrap up the HAACP lecture today. The whole class was prepared for the worst, as we heard stories of how the chef would conduct a "Circle of Death", where he would make the class go in a circle and ask each student questions related to the topic at hand. Pity the student who wouldn't be able to come up with a coherent answer. But thankfully, we didn't have that today. I guess The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-15279828248818008022008-07-30T19:21:00.002+08:002008-07-30T19:28:11.081+08:00Not much to write about today. It was just the continuation of our HAACP lecture.I've been constantly reviewing my manual every single day because of the voluminous amounts of information there is to remember. Right now, my mind is filled up with characteristics of bacteria, viruses, and parasites; 7 Points of HAACP; How to prevent the spread of bacterial microorganisms; The different kitchens inThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-50666839770137250022008-07-29T16:03:00.002+08:002008-07-29T16:12:29.582+08:00Our lecture on HACCP started today. Its a pretty scary topic considering that we discuss how food gets contaminated by bacteria and such. Its a chef's worst nightmare to find out that people got sick because of the food you prepared. Proper sanitation is something I will have to watch out for from now on.On a side note, we had a surprise mock-quiz today on yesterday's topic (Kitchen Organization)The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-37475495912909741212008-07-28T16:00:00.002+08:002008-07-28T16:14:48.012+08:00The first day of lecture was great. We had Chef Pauleen, one of the 2 Filipino chef-instructors, as our lecturer for the day. They say that you know within minutes if something is for you. I knew within the first minute that I made the right decision to be where I was today.We briefly discussed the history of Culinary Arts from Catherine De Medici, to Careme, to Escoffier. My eyes lit up when The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-67629707642125692772008-07-25T18:52:00.002+08:002008-07-25T18:55:22.687+08:00Today was a total waste of time as we just had a 10-minute fire drill then we were dismissed. I commuted for an hour and a half, waited for an hour for the class to start, waited for another hour and a half for the fire drill, only to go down and back up again. That was my whole school day today.My lunch with Pam made up for the nearly wasted day.I hope next week will be better, as regular class The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-21239936000275443782008-07-24T15:52:00.002+08:002008-07-24T16:00:25.093+08:00We were made to sit through a lecture today on Fire Safety and Prevention. Its an interesting discussion...if the contents of a Portable Fire Extinguisher turns you on. Otherwise, its the same series of pretty boring lectures.But fire safety and prevention is important, especially since I'm going to be working in the kitchen soon. But having to sit through a harrowing lecture won't make things The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-62058675363254805822008-07-23T15:58:00.002+08:002008-07-23T16:08:39.043+08:00Today was the Red Cross Orientation and First Aid Training.At first it was a bit painful to sit through the class because of the proctor who tried to make his lecture come off as funny and amusing.First, his lecture was filling to the brim with sexual innuendos. Second, he was seemingly tried to hit on a female classmate and made fun of another who was on the heavy side. Third, his English was The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-12527075137209864352008-07-22T19:39:00.002+08:002008-07-22T19:49:36.847+08:00Today was the first day of school.Class was due to start at 3 PM...I was there by 1... Call me excited.I saw a lot of young faces, most fresh out of high school. Great, I could be one of the oldest students in the batch.Then I saw a fifty-something in the crowd. I can relax now.The duration of the class was a whole 1 and a half hours discussing the student's manual. Mostly boring self-explanatoryThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-52767735566880000662008-07-21T09:11:00.002+08:002008-07-21T09:17:28.650+08:00Everything comes to a head tomorrow - the first day of the rest of my life.Finally...the path in the forked road has been chosen.Lets find our happiness, shall we?The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-20681561355907834682008-07-14T14:02:00.002+08:002008-07-14T14:27:41.794+08:00I saw the film Stand By Me the other day, a coming of age tale of friendship and self-discovery adapted from a Stephen King novella. After watching the movie, I felt an emptiness that resonated from within that has kept me in a funk that I haven't been able to fully shake off as I write this piece. In the movie, 4 young friends go on an adventure the result of which can be one of two things - itsThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-76919731364650573402008-07-09T22:25:00.005+08:002008-07-10T16:19:54.463+08:00This idea for a blog entry came to me while I was sitting in a Starbuck's in Katipunan early this morning, while waiting to pick up my school uniform. I realized that I haven't written anything about movies in my blog, despite being the avid movie watcher, frustrated movie critic, and die-hard DVD collector that I am. I can't believe that I haven't professed my love of movies in this blog, ever!The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-89758275041358287672008-06-30T15:48:00.002+08:002008-06-30T16:09:31.049+08:00This quarterlifer is embarking on a new journey soon. Where I will be going, there will be heat - lots of it! No, I'm not going on a sabbatical to the Equator, and neither will I be passing through the highway to hell. During my journey, I will be exposed to the world of stocks, spices, and meat cuts. My new vocabulary will include big words such as mis-en-place, brunoise, and foie gras. My tool The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-79428301190865505012008-06-25T20:17:00.002+08:002008-06-25T21:15:22.528+08:00A BUM'S GUIDE TO PURPOSEFUL BUMMINGBumming around is one of the few activities individuals of my generation have prided themselves as being masters of. Being a bum is both an art and a skill, and the mere ability to be able to last an entire day without doing anything of particular importance or consequence is a something that requires a certain degree of expertise and willpower. I have been The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-32617916686279963182008-06-09T22:03:00.002+08:002008-06-09T22:15:06.962+08:00I recently acquired a new hobby that's been keeping busy these days. I've taken up gardening, or more specifically...herbal gardening. I'm slowly taking over my mom's garden to make way for my herbs. Where once there were bromeliads and ferns, now there are heads of dill and plots of basil. My lemon mints and pepper mints have started to look like twisted masses of growth. I'm also growing sage, The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-27187854596686544782008-06-04T17:44:00.002+08:002008-06-04T17:59:28.341+08:00I pretty much have it down to a science as to how my typical day looks like.Wake up at 5:30Have breakfast at 6:00Go walking at 6:30 up until 7:30Finish my morning exercises until 8:30Take a showerDo household chores that could be anywhere from cleaning, giving the dog a bath, or cookingTake a showerHave lunch at around 11:00Read a book or watch my movies until I fall asleepWake up at 3:00...or 4:The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-55570540572666249042008-05-30T12:37:00.002+08:002008-05-30T12:56:39.311+08:00Today is officially the first day that I no longer belong to the nation's workforce. Yes, I quit my job and served my last 30 days in the office. How do I feel now that I'm no longer a corporate drone? Honestly, its bittersweet, but the sweet overpowers the bitter. The factor thats making me feel bitter was the money that i'm no longer going to earn. But as I think about it now, if this was my The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-48550618989879753842008-05-22T11:51:00.002+08:002008-05-22T12:14:14.849+08:00Congratulations to David Cook for bagging the plum prize at this season's recently concluded American Idol. Although he was not my first choice to win the competition (as a matter of fact, he was not even among my roster of bets), David C. pulled through with daring and innovative versions of Billie Jean, Always Be My Baby, and The First Time Ever, I Saw Your Face (a personal favorite of mine). The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-18893657734873868172008-04-17T16:52:00.002+08:002008-04-17T17:16:13.796+08:00A "Jet-Setter's" DilemmaI just got back from my trip to Macau last Sunday. Except for a couple of times when we got off at the wrong bus stop, or that one bus which we thought would bring us to where we wanted to go, only to discover that it took us back to where we came from - the whole trip came and went without a hitch. Such are the perils of foreign travel, but I'm not complaining. A week The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-27031355921077494772008-02-12T10:13:00.008+08:002008-02-15T15:00:56.963+08:00Its not a good sign when you're more excited in taking a vacation than you are with working. But come to think of it, I've never met a person who would rather work than go on a vacation anyway. So i'll treat this feeling as normal. That being said, I'm looking forward to go on vacation this April! A couple of my friends and I are going to Macau for the first time! I'm so excited, that I The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-59073133701528074012008-02-06T08:43:00.000+08:002008-02-06T09:41:12.567+08:00I remember making this list when I turned 23 in 2006. Wanna know how I did with my list? See below23 Things I Want Now That I'm 231. Visit another country with my own money - I accomplished this in 2007 when I went to Bangkok with my good friends Pam & Mike. It was on of the best and most memorable vacations i've ever had.2. Take up cooking and see if I have the passion for it - I'm a month into The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-77761210082218679182008-01-31T15:07:00.000+08:002008-01-31T15:30:54.669+08:00I don't know if the people here in the office have started to notice, but i've started to become more carefree with things related to work nowadays. Maybe its this nagging feeling that I have that whatever i'm doing now won't matter to me in a few months time. Its given me this devil may care attitude that quite honestly suits me well. Don't get me wrong, its not that i've become a non-performingThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-19367088395032872602008-01-29T16:37:00.000+08:002008-01-29T17:22:20.976+08:00Its been said many times, "with a new year comes new life". Don't we all deserve a chance to live anew each year? If people are entitled to it, then blogs shouldn't be an exception. That being said, i've decided to breathe new life into my blog, inspired by the fact that my friend Pam picked her own blog from the ashes and started blogging again after many months of hibernation. I'd still want The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-42841079369359937282007-08-01T13:46:00.000+08:002007-08-01T17:46:05.446+08:00Natural High - Walking In The RainI got to experience this first-hand, as I was out walking with a few friends Sunday night. We were brisk-walking around the village, when it suddenly started pouring. I never thought that it would be rejuvenating and exhilarating to be walking in the rain. You don't feel tired at all. You don't feel thirsty of course, but that's beside the point. One of my friends commented that he felt wide-eyedThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-67425532753063788832007-04-20T09:31:00.000+08:002007-05-04T09:37:14.808+08:00BKK CRAZY - DAY 2I've still got the onion taste in my mouth from last night's dinner, even after brushing my teeth 3 times already (what would my dentist say?). Today's itinerary: Jim Thompson's House, MBK Mall, and meeting up with Pam's friends.Feeling traumatized from the first day's almost 3 hour marathon, we opted to take a cab in order to save on both time and energy. First stop was Jim The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-57623472170577890262007-03-21T14:20:00.000+08:002007-03-23T09:07:16.098+08:00BKK CRAZY DAY 1We touched down at Bangkok at around 2 PM Manila time (there's an hour difference in the time, so it was 1 PM in BKK). Suvarnabhumi Airport, when you first see its entirety, can be both impressive and daunting with its modern styled architecture. But once everything sinks in, the exterior looks like a giant, shiny durian. I realized after 15 minutes of walking around that other The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-76783252407862005692007-03-21T10:26:00.000+08:002007-03-21T11:18:04.033+08:00BKK CRAZY March 1 - 7:10 AM, outside the Centennial TerminalI'm already here at the airport. Sometimes it sucks to be the early bird. No, you don't always catch the worm, sometimes you wait...for a long time. I don't remember setting an 8 AM meeting time with Pam yesterday. So here I am, about an hour early, standing right outside, taking in the Manila air, while writing at the same time.I know The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-8614912102224362162007-02-22T09:47:00.000+08:002007-02-22T10:47:03.500+08:00A Yuppie's PredicamentAh...the pitfalls of being in your 20's, working, and having disposable income. Suddenly you have all these issues and decisions you have to make, which a few short years ago you wouldn't even imagined having. Sometimes, I yearn for the days when the biggest decision I would make is what to have for lunch or which TV show to prioritize. I miss the simple, trivial, no-brainerThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-15734024309515039852007-02-20T09:03:00.000+08:002007-02-20T09:07:52.425+08:00This blog has slowed down as of late. The author seems to be in creative limbo at the moment. The supposed "journey" the author planned to take has stalled a bit, hence the lack of articles worthy enough to be crafted and posted. Let's hope he gets his creative groove back soon...The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-39461474799462617402007-02-02T10:48:00.000+08:002007-02-02T10:53:54.244+08:00I'm currently contemplating on whether to give this blog a major revamp. I think that in order for this blog to gain a wider readership and interactivity, some things have got to change. But the question is what do I have to do, in order for this blog to gain a slight notoriety. More biting articles? Profanity? Pictures? Anyway, i'm all up for anyone's two cents worth. I'm posing this question toThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-84434677167606891062007-01-30T15:03:00.001+08:002007-01-30T15:03:15.087+08:00...The past few days have pretty much been a roller-coaster ride of sharp turns, steep falls, and nauseating loops. I don't even know what to feel anymore. I have to be strong and brave...for my family, cause I'm sure that the coming days are going to be rougher and more turbulent. I have to force myself to be happy and keep busy, otherwise i'm going to fold. So what I'm going to do is to hold the The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-81301087408202066052007-01-16T17:15:00.001+08:002007-01-16T17:15:11.068+08:00Congratulate Me!Today, I reached a new milestone in my life - I was actually able to last a whole year working in a company! I didn't think it was even humanly possible. I can finally say that I had the patience to stick to a job, albeit 365 days. Though a year is nothing compared to people starting and ending their careers with one company (That will never happen to me, by the way), I still am proud of the factThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-54267737882637680092007-01-12T16:18:00.000+08:002007-01-15T16:20:16.764+08:00The Problem With Being In The Marketing Industry The title itself is self-explanatory. Working in the marketing field for almost a year and a half now has allowed me to make a few observations regarding this industry , more specifically, how non-marketing people see us.Catching up with different individuals over the holidays contributed to my observation that people who don't work in the industryThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1110311623117720692007-01-11T08:16:00.000+08:002007-01-11T09:01:56.111+08:00The Art (Or Lack Of) Small TalkI went to all of these gatherings and reunions over the holidays, hobnobbing with new people and reconnecting with old friends who knew me from my days as a student. During casual conversations and other verbal exchanges one would define as small talk, the conversation almost always seems to go the topic of work and things related to work. I like to believe that itsThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-2285029972998209142007-01-04T13:05:00.001+08:002007-01-04T13:05:20.828+08:00Post-Holiday FunkI think I've developed a kind of post-holiday depression. Probably from enjoying the holiday season too much. Now that it has come and gone, I feel that my vigor and energy has left with it. The rejuvenated feeling I was hoping for with the new year has not materialized as of yet.For the past days since the calendar changed years, I've been feeling lethargic. I don't want to move, and when I doThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-58156172423465044472006-12-29T08:00:00.000+08:002006-12-29T08:12:07.561+08:00Illusions of Santa ClausEvery Christmas for the past few years, I have been tasked to write a letter to my sister, under the pseudonym of Santa Clause. Its our way of keeping the magic and spirit of Christmas alive for my little sister. But every year, I'm faced with a dilemma though. As she gets older, her questions get more complicated, her requests a little more harder to give. This year for The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-36570759341204247012006-11-22T09:34:00.000+08:002006-11-22T10:39:16.715+08:00AN ODE TO MY IPODWhere have you been all my life? I first met you 1 1/2 years ago. You were given to me as a gift, which back then I was hesitant to accept, just because I thought I didn't deserve you yet. But as the fates would allow, I took you in my hands, and your prisitine and immaculate aesthetic captivated me. I had to have you. You were bought for me, at 0% interest for 12 months. And I The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1163150132834946782006-11-10T16:21:00.000+08:002006-11-10T17:15:33.623+08:00DLSU Survey Non-Lasallians also welcome!! ( ) got caught by the DO (I was a good boy all throughout my tenure. Boring)(x) wore inappropriate attire (I wore shorts during summer classes, does that count?)(x) watched a UAAP la salle vs ateneo game live in araneta (you can't be called a Lasallian unless you experience this!)(x) ate at AGNO (Even if I know it wasn't clean, what the heck. I'll have The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1163129303121100282006-11-10T11:13:00.000+08:002006-11-10T11:28:24.153+08:00 A BOOK THAT WILL HOPEFULLY CHANGE MY LIFEHere's the book I've been raving about for the past couple of entries. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.I can compare it to JD Salinger's The Catcher And The Rye in a modern (early 90's) setting, given an MTV-esque twist. Its basically a coming of age story of a young boy (I would say young man, given the level of his introspectiveness) The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1163033829297193012006-11-09T08:40:00.000+08:002006-11-09T09:04:49.913+08:00Another moving poem, taken from the book "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. Makes you feel good to be aliveUNTITLED Once on a yellow piece of paper with green linehe wrote a poemAnd he called it "Chops"because that was the name of his dogAnd that's what it was all aboutAnd his teacher gave him an A and a gold starAnd his mother hung it on the kitchen door and read it to his The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1162887206504536892006-11-07T16:08:00.000+08:002006-11-10T11:07:45.766+08:00One of my favorite poems:ChildrenWorks of Kahlil Gibran And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, 'Speak to us of Children.' And he said: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. ForThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1162869002849124652006-11-07T10:10:00.000+08:002006-11-07T11:10:02.920+08:00On Being A WallflowerI read a fantastic short novel over the week end. Its called "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. A friend who introduced me to this book apparently saw me in the main character of the story when she read it, and consequently persuaded me to read it as well. I read this book in one sitting over the course of two and a half hours on a Friday night. The story The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1162547091147861972006-11-03T17:34:00.000+08:002006-11-03T17:57:12.263+08:00I made my Christmas shopping list this morning and I made a realization, though not at all surprising if you knew me well, that made me ponder on the extent of my involvement in all things social: I have kept in touch with very few people over the years. What made me come to this conclusion? I was able to finish my holiday list in about 30 seconds - family and friends included.While people may The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1161336759859710022006-10-20T16:50:00.000+08:002006-10-25T10:21:39.536+08:00What I Did On My BirthdayI turned 23 last October 18. Since that day, people have been asking me what productive activity I did during my birthday. I guess they were expecting me to give an answer like, "I spent the day with friends and loved ones by my side, as I looked back on the past 365 days of my life with them. After which, I had a sumptuous dinner with my family to put a cap on a very The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1161252710645664322006-10-19T17:47:00.000+08:002006-10-19T18:11:50.720+08:0023 Things I Want Now That I'm 231. Visit another country with my own money 2. Take up cooking and see if I have the passion for it3. Become fit and take boxing classes4. Learn to play the guitar on my own (I already bought the book)5. Establish a business, no matter how small it is6. Travel alone for the first time7. Begin playing the "game" in the workplace8. Become promiscuous and play around9.The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1160123972439911772006-10-06T16:16:00.000+08:002006-10-06T18:53:40.746+08:00On Footsies and Being "Sucked"As I mentioned in my previous post, I came back a week ago from a business trip to China, Xiamen in particular. This was a very memorable trip for me, partly because I got to experience many different things for the first time in my life. In this instance, it was my first time to have a foot massage, a pedicure, and a ventosa massage - all in a single night!We had The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1159863369602881752006-10-03T15:55:00.000+08:002006-10-03T16:56:28.066+08:00Power FailureJust got back from a business trip in Xiamen, China last week. While I could say that my first trip to the mainland followed by a one night lay-over in Hong Kong was memorable, I could also say that the scene that greeted me upon my return to the home country was memorable, in a "I wish I could skip this part of my life" kind of way.I came back to the Philippines following the The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1157615667438805362006-09-07T15:19:00.000+08:002006-09-07T15:54:27.506+08:00Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow 1Yesterday I...1. Stayed in the office until 6:30 PM (my officemates thought I was running a fever)2. Walked around the mall for 2 hours non-stop, waiting for my dad to pick me up3. Nearly got into a fist fight with an "orc" at the MRT Station (see my blog post below)4. Couldn't enter the MRT station on my way home because the ticket machine ate my card and refused The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1157503427830355132006-09-06T08:06:00.000+08:002006-09-06T08:43:48.546+08:00I nearly got myself into a fight this morning. I was waiting for the train to arrive at the MRT station, when a couple of "orcs" arrive and wait right beside me, without any regard for my personal space. One of the "orcs" was clearly trying to get in front of me, slowly trying to shove me out of the way, even before the train arrived. And it wasn't even crowded to begin with! It was bad enough The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1156990855234559532006-08-31T09:52:00.000+08:002006-09-01T11:17:33.230+08:00When I Grow Up, I Want to Be...I used to have all of these ambitions when I was a kid, of jobs I wanted to have when I grew up. My ambitions ranged from being a street-sweeper, to becoming a magician, to being the Neil Armstrong of the Philippine Islands. Fast forward to a few years later, reality has finally sunken it. Here I am, in a profession people label as "safe", brought about by a workingThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1156929525329830652006-08-30T16:13:00.000+08:002006-08-30T17:18:45.820+08:00Of Malls and Men Whenever the weekend rolls around, it can only mean 1 thing for me and my family...time to pay our friendly neighborhod mall, Glorietta, a visit. You see, we are your typical, week-end mall- going family. We are part of the statistic that claims malling is the favorite pasttime of Filipinos. Next to our house, we've probably logged the most hours in the mall, doing everything andThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1156227293821334802006-08-22T13:36:00.000+08:002006-08-22T15:15:21.916+08:00I Was (probably am) An Evil PersonThe title alone gives it away. I am an evil person, or at least used to be one in my youth. How evil? I would describe myself to be as evil as the kid from the Omen movies, minus being born from a hyena. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a penchant for murdering the people I know (although I almost succeeded at one point), but i've done my share of evil deeds The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1155774514690295252006-08-17T08:02:00.000+08:002006-08-17T09:27:13.970+08:00Office Jargon I've been working in my current company for 7 months. Now if you've been working this long (or short, whichever way one sees it) you're bound to pick up on commonly used workplace jargon. The kicker is that you ultimately begin to adopt some of the terms you hear and regularly use it even in non-work related conversations. I'm going to shed some light into some of my favorite officeThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1155624408685745132006-08-15T14:20:00.000+08:002006-08-15T15:16:13.430+08:00CONFESSIONS OF AN ASPIRING ALCOHOLICIf you've had the pleasure of joining me on one of my "drinking" sessions, you would know that i'm the type of person who could never...EVER hold his liquor. As much as I would want to be discreet about drinking, alas, my body betrays me. When I drink, numerous chemical reactions take place inside of me that would reveal to the world that alcohol and me would The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1154682772962913642006-08-04T16:45:00.000+08:002006-08-04T17:12:52.973+08:00I'm back. My first post of August. I have nothing in particular to write about. So i'm just going to empty my brain of unnecessary thoughts. I feel busy, though in reality, i'm really not. I'm anticipating events that will be bound to keep me busy in the days to come, and the mere thought of it stresses me out and makes me feel busy. Can someone explain this phenomena to me?I'm genuinely The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1153097917450569672006-07-17T08:39:00.000+08:002006-07-17T08:58:37.476+08:00Today is officially my 6th month on the job! This was quite an achievement for me considering my track record at holding jobs. Here are the numbers: 3 months at Kimberly-Clark (This was an on-the-job training stint) 1 week at New World Renaissance Hotel (I felt a little bad about leaving this one, maybe I should have given this job a chance and seen what I would have turned out to be), and 4 1/2 The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1152750986200418862006-07-13T08:28:00.000+08:002006-07-19T09:38:15.026+08:00My AdvocacySome do it for the whales, others do it for the trees, some do it for the starving children around the world. If I could have an advocacy, a cause that I would fight hard and proud for, a belief that incites my passion and stirs up my emotions, it would have to be...Work-Life Balance.I am a firm believer of Work-Life Balance! A person without it, is simply a tired and unhappy The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1152676951247883612006-07-12T10:43:00.000+08:002006-07-13T08:27:29.513+08:00Simple Joys #1 - Walking In Bad WeatherThe weather has been quite gloomy these past few days. This morning, the weather was'nt just gloomy, it was depressed! People may find it weird that for some unexplainable reason, I feel pleased whenever clouds are overcast like its about to rain. I feel even better when its actually pouring outside! Today was one of those days...and I feel great! Its been The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1152493618635597322006-07-10T08:27:00.000+08:002006-07-10T09:06:58.786+08:00Stress DistressIts that time of the year in the office I'm already beginning to hate...Marketing Planning season! I can feel the stress seeping into me. I can already foresee the longer hours at the office, the lost weekends, the endless revisions, and thoughts of cold-blooded murder! Once again, my resolve will be tested. We'll see who wins out. I hope it does'nt end like the last one. I don't The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1151540216697944022006-06-29T07:49:00.000+08:002006-06-29T08:20:58.856+08:00Of Coins and CashiersLast night as I was leaving the parking lot in the Rustan's open parking in Ayala, the cashier did something that really caught my ire. Coming from a long day at work and leaving my car in the parking lot for more than 12 hours, I expected my fee to be exorbitant as usual. True enough, it amounted to 135 pesos. But it was'nt the price that made me blow my top off, it was whenThe Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1151451566528771322006-06-28T07:35:00.000+08:002006-06-28T07:41:09.643+08:00Rainisms - Another Dose5. I am like a diesel engine...I take time to warm up, especially to people 6. When you meet me for the first time, you'll think that i'm either the perfect gentleman...or the biggest asshole 7. People think that i'm a boring and uptight person..that is partly true. If you're one of those people who think of me that way, we're probably just not close 8. You might think you The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1151304626196331802006-06-26T14:45:00.000+08:002006-06-26T14:50:26.220+08:00Just a thought...I don't understand the phenomenon where its the untalented and undeserving individuals who attain celebrity and cult like status while the most promising people toil in the dumps. We Filipinos seem to adore mediocrity and shun excellence.The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27908993.post-1151283017087241452006-06-26T08:09:00.000+08:002006-06-26T08:52:09.136+08:00I was fortunate enough to attend Laura and Al Ries' Brand Marketing Conference over at the Philippine Plaza last week. For those who may not know who Al Ries is, he is a marketing guru and the co- author of the must read canon for all marketing practitioners - The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing. Laura Ries is Al's daughter who also happens to be a very competent marketing expert and author, and The Quarterliferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946234470386722795noreply@blogger.com1