thoughts, thoughts, and more thoughts...

I have been out of work (by choice) since the new year started. However, I am still not able to do some things, which I thought I could, only if I had more time in my hands. Again and again, I have realized that determination plays a big part in accomplishing any task.

With a new book in my life set to uncover in three weeks, I know I should be doing a lot of reading to prepare myself for it. But then, most of the time, I find myself with random thoughts popping up my mind. Let me share them with you...

1. I am grateful that my Mama has imparted to us her faith ever since we were kids. And I am working my way to make that faith clearer and well-grounded. It helps me keep a balance in my life, in general.
2. I need to learn to be more independent. For more than three years now, I have always relied on my husband to drive me to places and to accompany me when I need to get personal things done. What if I need to ride a bus, a tram, or a train all by myself? Travelling will be one of my biggest challenges, that I am sure of!
3. I need to be more confident in dealing with other people... it is never wrong to ask questions when clarification is needed. Oh, and by the way, I have to get used to that new accent! :)
4. How about Mama? Who is gonna spend weekends with her when I leave? It is a pensive thought...

But I should worry no more. I know that things will turn out for the best... and at the end, everybody will be happier! The Lord is in control! :)

a day at LTO

I had a gruelling day yesterday.

Having spent a few days in my mom's house in Cavite, my husband and I planned that Thursday would be my "license" day, since we could pass by the Land Trasportation Office (LTO) in Binanongan on our way home to his parents' house in Rizal. We have anticipated that it would take us half of the day to finish our transaction. BUT we have anticipated wrongly!

We were at the office around nine in the morning. I have my fully-filled out form with me, which I have downloaded from their website, together with a proof of my tax identification number, which is a requirement to apply for a new driver's license. However, I was advised that the office requires an original copy of the form and that I have to secure one from one of the windows. And so, I had to fall in line and wait for nearly thirty minutes just to get hold of an application form. As soon as I was handed the form, the person-in-charge also gave me a stub of where to go next, to an accredited center for drug testing and medical exam. I filled out the application form as I wait for my turn for the drug testing. After I had submitted my urine sample, I had to wait for around 15 minutes again for the result, afterwhich, I was advised to proceed to the next door for the medical exam. Thankfully, the medical exam was just about my BP, weight, height and vision, and no waiting is required. The doctor filled out the medical exam form and noted a condition, that I can only drive with corrective lenses. Of course!

After the drug test and the medical exam was another queue to the window where I would submit the accomplished application form and all other forms that were attached to it after the tests. The queue was so long, that even if I had already asked somebody to queue for me while I was undergoing the initial tests, I still waited for more than an hour just to submit my documents. Upon submitting the documents, I was advised again to wait for my name to be called, for my turn to have my picture and signature to be captured electronically. Good thing, it only took five minutes of waiting. After this step, I had to wait for my turn at the cashier to make my payment for the written driving test. This took another thirty minutes!

Then it was time for lunch break. We had lunch, and hurriedly came back for my scheduled written test. It only took me thirty minutes to read the reviewer and answer the forty-item test. I thought that finishing the test in little time would make the procedure faster. But I thought wrong. After the written test, I had to wait for the examiner to go with me for the practical driving test. After passing the test, I was advised to pay for the license fee, but had to wait for nearly three hours for my turn to the cashier! Finally, after paying, my driver's license card had been released. It was already six in the evening when we left the office.

It is understandable that many factors attribute to the inefficient process flow in the said office. However, I just hope that the Chief of the said extension office would leave his desk, observe the transactions, and think of the best way to better serve the people. He can also find time to read the suggestions and comments left in the box. Making the people wait the whole day for one simple process is too far from the quality service that they claim they give the people.

There's a better way to do things in that office, I hope they realize that soon.

Looking at the bright side of it, I now have my driver's license again!

Tito Joel

During my childhood, there were a few of my mom's brothers and sisters who have had the chance to take care of me and my siblings. One of the most remembered is my Tito Joel... one of the kindest but definitely among the strictest, too.

It has been over eleven years since the last time I saw my Tito Joel. Yet I have never failed to ask my mom of his whereabouts. Unfortunately, she had lost contact of him. Thankfully, there's Facebook! I got to reconnect with my cousin Guerlain, and from her, Mama was able to get hold of Tito Joel's contact number.

When I learned that Mama was able to talk to Tito Joel again, I called him up myself. And the following morning, I woke up hearing my Tito Joel's voice, with his usual laughter.

It is nice to see him again. He might have been strict disciplining us, but I could say that a part of him stays with me until now. I'm sure my brothers would say the same thing as well. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

As the year 2009 comes to an end, let's look back and count the blessings that we have received, and remember to give thanks to the Lord for everything that has come our way. And as we welcome the new year, let us pray with hopeful hearts that the best of situations shall come our way. God bless us!!!

Happy new year to all!!!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very merry Christmas!!!

Happy Holidays!

For several years now, I have always been telling family and friends that Christmas is my favorite time of the year. It does not only give me a merry feeling, it also allows me to bond with people who really matter. The two-week Christmas break I have been enjoying from the company gives me the liberty to stay at home with Mama, and meet up with friends whom I have not been seeing frequently throughout the year.

This season is quite extra special though. My ASCENT family has thrown a tribute/despedida party disguised as a Christmas party. I was so overwhelmed with all the appreciation that my boss and my colleagues have shown me, and I'm sure to blog separately about that soon. My highschool classmates are able to organize not just one, but two days of get-together (26th and 30th; to all concerned, please do join us), to accommodate those who will be coming home from abroad. After 15 years, we are gathering again to spend our Christmas partIES! My husband's circle of SUPERFRIENDS (as i call them) is also having their Christmas party (on the 26th as well), and better halves are invited. My grade school classmates are also planning our long overdue reunion. It's been almost 20 years since we graduated, and we haven't yet had any reunion (or so I think!). Now is the best time! It's tentatively set on the 24th of January, and I'm really wishing it will push through.

'Tis the season to be jolly! These gatherings will surely be full of reminiscing, catching up, and fun!

I thank God for my families, relatives and friends who never forget. Let us celebrate relationships that have been built, nurtured and grown over the years.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone! God bless you!

resigned

Three weeks ago, I was drafting my resignation letter. And it was just last week that I was able to finalize and print it. However, it was only two hours ago that I was able to hand it to our managing director. I never realized that submitting the letter would be harder than drafting it.

I wasn’t nervous about how my boss would react to my resignation, because I had already informed him four months ago that I would only be staying until this December. I would admit I was really sad leaving the company where I had been working for six years now.

But things happen because they are meant to happen. I am meant to leave the company to experience more somewhere else, and for that, I am truly excited.

I can never tell what is in store for me in the future, but I can only trust that the Lord will always be there to guide me… and I just need to follow.