bronze medalist in her class... good job rica!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3575605515882
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3578842396802&set=vb.1445408571&type=2&theater

cooking with Glena

I've been an OFW for over 6 months now and I must say, thinking of what to eat every meal is a challenge for me and my housemates.  During our first month here, we've managed to eat out everyday and all I can say is that it's expensive lah! So I have to be creative in the kitchen and whip a decent meal.  And I'm surprised of my progression as a cook!  I can now cook simple dishes that I don't usually cook in our house in Manila.  Although these dishes are no brainer for some but for me, it's an achievement already.  My Pops will be proud! :)  Sorry, as of the moment the only picture I have was the first dish that I've done which is the buttered shrimp.

                                     

For the others, I wasn't able to take a snap of it.  I will update this entry as soon as I've cooked again the same dish that I will enumerate here:

- Pork and Chicken Adobo with hard boiled egg

- Spaghetti Bolognese

- Pork steak

- BBQ Porkchop with buttered corn on the side

- Pork Giniling with carrots and potato with hard boiled egg

- Lumpiang Shanghai

- Pork with broccoli in oyster sauce

- Tempura

Wow! Thanks to Panlasang Pinoy website for the tutorial videos I was able to cook all those dishes! I deserve a POB (Pat on the Back) :)

...

I'm thinking of where this blog is headed to.  My mind is going nowhere in terms of writing stuff to publish in this little space of mine. I've been on blog break each and every time and I pity myself.  There are a lot of things that I want to write about, but there are no words coming out in my head.  So I just shove the idea and just forget about it.  But now that I have plenty of time in my hands for today being on sick leave... hah! I badly needed this leave.  Having Sundays as my only free day is something I am not thrilled about.  I know this is the life of a Consultant - late night, weekend and holiday work is inevitable in our line of job.   We're always in our toes to keep the client happy and proving to them that we are better than the other Consulting firm.  Hey, it comes with the package right?!?  Although I'm very thankful for this job, I'm still thinking if what I'm doing right now really makes me happy.  Am I doing it effectively and efficiently? Am I at my best here?  I wish I could have the answer.  However, doing this job for almost 10 years taught me a LOT of things:  Dealing with pressure, deadlines, accepting failures, doing things all over again, being responsible and owning a task, the sense of urgency and above all camaraderie.  I've met people of different nationalities and culture and I'm grateful to have met them and made friends with them.  Wow! 10 years is loooong man!  But the question still remains...  Am I happy?  I just hope that I could be able to find the answer someday or better yet stand up for the answer (because at the back of my mind I know the answer, I just don't have the guts to stand for it YET!)  

look who's coming to Singapura

Happy 31st monthsary Dude! I ♥ U

korea in my mind

I'm so happy that this day had come. I'm beyond excited for my next trip. This time it's in the land of the K-pop stars! I admit that sometime in my adult life, I was engrossed to those Koreanovelas being shown in Prime time TV. Blame it on the tear-jerking stories, the flawless skins of the actors and those oh so pretty backdrops/locations. They are so good in marketing their country maximizing all those beautiful scenery that they have. But most importantly, what I'm most excited about this trip is seeing, touching and feeling snow. First time ko bakit ba?!? haha!!! Since Japan is way too expensive to go to, Korea is the next best place to experience winter. Thanks to promo fares here and there we can actually go to the place for a cheaper price.  Wish ko lang na may snow pa pagdating namin dun kundi... I'm gonna cry haha! I hope to see snowflakes coming from above... as in yung umuulan ng snow! Ang saya siguro non di ba? Haaay! Oh well, wish us luck in going around the city with no Korean Tour guide to help us. But I know we can do this! AJA!!! :)

Below pictures are some of the tourist spots we will be going courtesy of Google.

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Changdeok Palace

N Seoul Tower

how to keep up?!?

How do you keep up with all the pressure and the demands of your boss?  Half of the 1st month of 2012 is already done but the workload at the office keeps on piling up and never seem to stop.  I feel like I'm under the gun to complete all the tasks in hand.  This feeling is not new to me but I can't help myself but to be disappointed whenever I fall short and can't keep up with the tasks.  

Once again, I'm  being reminded of what is in the Bible: "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." - Proverbs 23:18

God is orchestrating the events in our lives.  He can see our future.  He desires that we put our faith in Him and not in our jobs.  Thank you Lord for your Word that I can claim and own it in my heart! :D

the mac

So, I finally gave in to the urge of buying myself this super sleek, very mayabang-like and the most expensive gadget I owned.  Presenting, my new 13" Macbook Pro! Woohooo! Sushal! lolz!!!  

I remember the time when I'm still contemplating whether to buy or not.  I know I've saved up for this but will this be worth it?  Almost all the per diem that I've saved will go to this haha!  During the time I was in the store I had a chit chat with the sales man and he said that they currently have a promotion: 60 dollar slash off out of the original price, because the store will be going on renovation and that day was their last day.  Wooaah! not bad eh?!?  After the sales talk, it's now time for the decision making... to buy or not to buy!  After some thinking and contemplating, I finally mustered the guts to withdraw all the mooolah I've saved up just for this.  Pikit mata ang pagababayad ko sa cashier.  And then it was done! This baby is now mine.  I went home with a BIG smile on my face :D  

"The Mac" is now 2 months old, and I'm loving it.  I still have to  learn all the other features that comes with it so that I can maximize it's full potential.  As the saying goes "Once you go MAC you'll never come back! *wink*    

   

a retrospective of 2011

I bid 2011 goodbye with a grateful heart.  

In 2011, I've experienced Highs and Lows. But the highs covered up for all the lows all put together.  First on my list of highs was the realization of my little dream.  I got to be deployed onshore for a project that was scheduled for only 3 months but eventually became a long-term project that took me away from my family and friends.  But it's all good knowing that this is what I've prayed for way way back.  And only now that God answered it for me.  Truly the Lord answers prayers in His own perfect time.  He has His master plan set for me in the way that I could never understand and imagine.  This reminds me of the verse in the Bible that can be found in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I believe that this verse has a very powerful message: God knows us personally, He has a plan for us, and allows us to find hope in Him. 


2011 is also the time I've experienced my first heartbreak.  It was the time that I cannot seem to think clearly about our relationship and just resorted to breaking up with someone whom I loved and cared about.  But then the breakup didn't last long as we were back in each other arms after 2 weeks time haha!  Nagpapapansin lang pala ako sa kanya kaya ko naisipan makipag break lol! Kidding aside, that whole situation made me realize that I should not make decisions based on impulse and that I should think it through over and over again.  Though, it made our relationship stronger and better I guess.  So last August 29, we celebrated our 1st anniversary.  We had our buffet dinner at Hotel Sofitel's Spiral restaurant.  

Of course, travel will not be left behind for the year that was.  In 2011, together with friends and Dude, we went to the northern part of Luzon which were Pangasinan, La Union, and Baguio.  Fun, fun, fun! That's how I can describe that trip :)  And then Dude and I made our way in the south eastern part of Mindanao which is in Pearl Farm, Davao.  For my international travel, we went to KL Malaysia.  Wow, thank you Lord for the gift to travel.  


Whew! That was an amazing year.  So many things happened, discovered new places and gained new friends.  Again, all I can say is to To God be the Glory!    Looking forward to the year 2012 for a life full of challenges and triumphs by God's grace!  Amen! 

and it's a wrap for 2011... and hello 2012!!!

It's a time of new beginnings, so let us grab and take hold of the fresh and new... Let us expect God to do something great in us this year!

Happy New Year everyone!!! From Singapore with love :D

Marina Bay Sands 2011 Fireworks display c/o google