25 posts tagged “qotd”

How are you a better person today than you were ten years ago?
Sponsored by Nature Made.

 

I was 17 years old 10 years ago, and these are the good changes that have happened in a period of 10 years:

 

• I can hold my liquor better now
• I have acquired some meat on my bones (although the trick now is to reduce the percentage of body fat brought about by my now-slow metabolism.)
• I dress better (maybe coz I now have some money to shop where I want and a body that can finally fill out the Small size of  Western or European brand names)
• I am not easily amazed by "flashy" people. (By "Flashy", I mean people who look good, talk well, etc...).
• I am totally independent now and proud that I have survived on my own
• I dont sweat about the small stuff as much
• I learned a lot about myself; particularly, my strength to pick myself up again after weathering emotional storms
• I am more appreciative of simple things
• I acquired a nephew! And that is so much better than not having one at 17. =)

What keeps you up at night?

 

METEOR GARDEN Season 1 DVD marathon. Need I say more? =p

Sobfest na naman! =p 

What do you love most about your job?

In my line of work; (click here to know more about my job); there is little to love but these little perks are not so bad:

• Circulating your business card around and knowing that you're networking with top companies (It kinda feels cool to name-drop some huge Clients whose management teams know me by my nickname)
• Unlimited Internet access (officially, we call it desk research; but really, it's more like hopping from one social networking site to another, *sssshhhh)
• Long Client Servicing hours. Meetings, presentations, workshops, etc usually take more than half a day so its actually "petiks" the whole day and when it's done, it's usually too late to go back to the office so; derecho uwi agad. =p
• Client-given perks such as free workshops, corporate gifts, corporate event invites and such. I swear, I must've taken home tons of grocery food items (and even items not yet released in the market) back home for my family to try.
  
• Sorry kung mababaw, but free food during FGDs are always a perk! My choice of restaurant pa! =)
• Travel opportunities! With matching hotel accommodation and a per diem allowance! I'm crossing my fingers for a Morocco trip.
  

What misconception about the place you live bothers you the most?
Submitted by Jessmiloo

There is always a grave misconception that life as an overseas worker is much more glamorous or trouble-free. But what those families back home don't know, Pinoys in Dubai have their share of troubles. 

• Sardines-like accommodation - one room in a flat can contain up to 8 to 10 people. Pinoys buy double-decked beds and instantly, its like summer camp from hell. Lately, Dubai authorities are cracking down this illegal tenancy situation and some Pinoys are forced to move out and look for another flat to crowd into again. Pinoys are forced to live in cramped spaces because flats in Dubai are really expensive. 
• Exiting to Kish, Oman - Just hearing that someone is to undergo a routine exit here gives me the creeps. Some employees are requested to exit to Kish in Oman for a short while while their visit visas are transformed into working visa. While some are able to go back to the UAE, others are stranded by their employers who promised to bring them back but didnt. So they're still stuck in Kish with no job (since they can't apply there since their papers are supposed to be processed) and little hope of ever going back to Dubai. Philippine officials have asked these people to just go home but they still prefer to stay and try their luck in Dubai again... if they can ever go back. 
• Maltreatment by employees - Kelan ba nawala to?  Still, its a pity to know of people who have no rest days, and minimal raise to their salaries. And these people can't leave their dead-end jobs because of fear and the thought of just making do with what they get. 
• Transportation - In Dubai, its a MUST to have a car. Cabs are either few in number or they just dont want you. Buses have long queues in the bus stations. So to travel around, you really need your own car (which I dont have; as well as some Pinoys). I read from somewhere that 1 out of 50 people in the UAE has a car. Imagine that? That's why traffic is heavier and pollution is bad. *sigh, I miss Manila MRT, tricycles, shuttles, buses, jeeps and cabs, Daming options!
  

Everyday, I'm thankful that I have a nice flat and that I'm employed by a big company. Now I think, I really, really have to get a car na. *sigh of surrender*

What first attracted you to the person you're currently dating?

FIRST REACTION? Shet, he looks like.....

MATT TONG! The drummer of Bloc Party! My idol and kras!

Oo na, mababaw na kung sa mababaw but you have to understand I was slightly tipsy when I met him; cradling a cup of stale beer and talking to Lee Nadela of Slapshock. It was Desert Rock 2008 last March. He recognized me and initiated conversation; and I left Lee autographing stuff for fans. I got him to come with me by the loo and shared with him my frustration with tampons. That's within the first 15 minutes of meeting him. And the rest as they say is history...

Since then, the rest of my 2008 was unexpectedly wonderful and crazy. And along the way, I mentioned that the initial attraction was the fact that he looked like my crush. And to quote what Kahlil once said to me,

"Kung ma-meet na nako si Matt Tong, magpasalamat man jud ko bah nga bagsik sya mu-drums nya pare-pareha mig nawng."

("If I ever meet Matt Tong, I'll really thank him that he plays the drums real good and that we look similar.")

What was the best thing about your weekend?

I celebrated Kahlil's birthday.

Rollei Polly Olly

On the eve of his birthday, he received a Rollei 35S analog camera which we waited for for 3 weeks.

On Skinny Chimney's 31st, he had lunch with me and the gang at Chili's and did not expect at all the molten chocolate cake surprise from the Chili's staff. Of course, we pounced on the cake almost immediately after Kahlil blew the candle out. Tsalap!

Then, because its his birthday, we decided to dress up (me in a green dress given to me by my twin) and him (in a short-sleeved polo shirt; which he usually doesn't wear). We enjoyed happy hour and dinner at Radisson SAS Hotel and watched TV the whole night.

Then, like an old couple, we went to Ikea the next day to pick up some home furnishing items. A lot of new stuff for his place, and new plates and more little items for my place.

Contrary to what I expected, we didn't party like there's no tomorrow and got exceedingly drunk. But I thoroughly loved the pigging out, the conversation and the quality time.

Here's to your Baskin Robbins age babe! *mwah!

Besides yours, who do you think deserves "The Best Mother in the World" award?
Submitted by Connie.

 

Crazy duo

 

 

Hiphop

My twin.

Because she steals Play-Doh from her son, constantly play with said son's toys

and is crazy enough to come up with weird games and weird photo-ops like these ones,  

What's the best thing about your mom?

 

I have always admired my Mom's penchant to over-plan almost anything. She's so organized; that she has a notebook to write in all her errands, which bills have been paid, and what items to buy. She has always been tasked to throw parties among relatives because of this trait. I love it that she's on top of everything; and she never runs out of smiles and energy.

She has got to be the coolest Mom and Grandmom ever.She would whip a pitcher full of margarita for me and my friends and she would be really cross if we didnt drink it. Beat that!

For Mother's Day, my family ate at a Japanese resto (my treat, from miles away). A few days before, my Mom said, "Nak, adto mi Pier One diri sa BF sa Mother's Day (Nak, punta kami ng Pier One sa BF sa Mother's Day)". I told her, "Ma, imnanan man na (Ma, inuman lang meron don)." Without missing a beat, she casually said, "Aw, e di mag-inom mi! (E di mag-iinuman kami!)". She's fun and crazy like that.

She loves us to bits; making sure the house is filled to the brim with vitamins and other food supplements, and the fridge stocked with our favorite food. She cries along with us when we have problems and prays for us, (especially me) when we're heartbroken.

She is the best and I only hope I can be half the woman she is.

Mingaway da kay ako kanimo Ma.

 

 

Here's one for the ladies:  What's in your handbag right now? 
Submitted by Kadeeae.

my balag

Inside my orange Tumi sling bag, I have the following items:

• my huge green purse
• my pink Sony Ericsson Z610i phone  and apple green Case Logic case (now to be used for roaming, starting tomorrow. =D )
• my eyeglasses case
• my new phone (wine red Samsung D900i for Etisalat SIM) + sky blue Case Logic case 
• my People Are People shades
• my ACNielsen access card
• 2 tubes of lipgloss (one to prevent dry, chapped lips; the other one, pang-color lang)
• Listerine PocketPaks
• my mook-up na halos walang gamit (MAC pressed powder, MAC concealer,  Body Shop lip balm, Body Shop facial blotting tissues, Body Shop Cheek Tint, Maybelline cream eye shadow, Maybelline lipstick, Clinique lipstick, Clinique Glosswear for lips)  

Wow. I have a lot of lip products.

Have you ever been on either end of an unrequited love? 
Submitted by 怒涛の鮫.

Ha! What a classic spin-the-bottle question.

Ummm yes.

Me as Clueless Friend: Had a guy bestfriend in the first year in college. We hung out everyday and I shrugged off any clues and questions if we were a couple. After all, he was almost like a brother to me. I absolutely had no idea that he was into me until he told me one night in early 1999. My only reaction when he was crying to me was; "Seryoso ka ba?" Unintentionally heartless. The running joke among my friends was it was his constant hanging out at my dorm that got him kicked out from school because he didnt do any studying to be with me. My friends say that he was still into me for about 6 more years after that. I dont really know if thats true; havent seen him since 2006. He will always be a great friend. Hope he's doing okay.

Me as Spurned Lover: Fell for a boy with a girlfriend. He fell for me too, or so it seems, and I hung on to his every word for the next 5 years. I waited and waited; had relationships that I hoped would put an end to the madness I got myself into. He was actually a big part of my decision of moving here; to get away and start over.

But anyway, what's done is done. The rest of my life is happening now. No more Miss Misery. =)