Put on the spot

I hate when people put me on the spot... because I am not given any choice but to do things that I don't want to do.

May 2006 - I was just 3 months old from Intel, I was the youngest and the 2nd girl who joined the Test Engineering group.  It was summer then, what is summer without a company summer outing? (one eyebrow raised).. and they have what they call "Summer Body", it's a beauty pageant in which all the representatives need to wear their summer outfits...(of course).  My boss volunteered me to join in exchange for my regularization, he knew how badly I wanted to work in Intel, it was my 2nd dream company and he didn't leave me any choice. wasn't it unfair?  So then, I joined the contest without telling anyone including my boyfriend except for my sister Mabz.  Good thing, there was no talent portion because I will surely cannot do anything in front of those people.  Apparently, they forced me to exposed my always hidden body but not as bear as the other contestant, let's say I was just wholesome that time.  Luckily, I won the contest effortlessly without wearing any makeup...  Sorry, I kept no picture because until now, boyfriend still have no idea that I had this experience.

December 2006 - Christmas Party.  I was tricked by my boss and my group, they let me take a leave on the day of the party to let me prepare for it... Everyone told me that we all needed to dress for the occasion, so there I was bought a dress and had a make-over.  I was lost finding the venue and I arrived at the place late just wearing a black sando and a torn jeans, the dress and the stilletto are still in my bag.  I was surprised seeing the people in jeans and only those who are included in the pageant (again??!!!) are in gown/dress.  I was so mad at them, I almost cried.  The Emcee saw me and called my name and my team pushed me up in the stage.  I was the only one not in dress but I have to pull a show, I was already on the stage so I needed to save myself... I didn't want to win but I don't want to be a laughing stuff.  I survived the night but I swore to myself that no one will ever do this to me, ever.. again!

Apparently, today I received this news.  :(  :(   :(

Scary Moment

Last Monday night, I went to Sta Mesa LRT2 to meet a friend.  It was raining so hard and I arrived few minutes earlier than our agreed time.  I parked in front of commercial stores that are already closing near the LRT2 station when suddenly a strange man appeared in front of my hood.  He seems to be looking at me so I stopped the wiper from moving so the rain would blur his view.  Few seconds after, I was shocked that someone was trying to open my door, then tried to open all my doors including my compartment.... good thing I made a habit of locking my door and he wasn't able to do whatever his plan is.  I blown my horn several times just to scare the man away but he tried getting my wiper instead, so I had to switch it on again... he then can see me clearly then, so I blown my horn even harder thinking God, please help me and dialed my boyfriend's number instantly.

I wanted to leave the area but someone is standing behind the car so I couldn't move to another place. Good thing, another car parked beside me and the strange men went away. Few minutes after, my friend arrived and I drove so fast away from the area without saying any word.  I thank God for sending the distraction and for saving my life and my friend's life.  

It was a terrible night and I swear I won't park in that area again....

Raffle winning for the FIRST TIME!

oh my... oh my.... For 28 years of my existence, and a thousand or maybe millions of raffles I joined, never in my life I have won any of them.    My goal is just to change my luck so I am still trying to join in raffles even in blogs.  So when I see the word RAFFLE, I will surely join and follow every steps no matter how tedious the instructions are (but only when I have the time) and no matter how petty the prizes are.

Last night, when I was about to sleep, I unintentionally checked my personal mail on my iphone, I saw an email saying I won an e-book.... My eyes couldn't believe what I was seeing.... I instantly opened my laptop just to verify... and whola! I really won... she's just asking the file format of the e-book so she could send to me.  I was so happy and replied back and after a few minutes, I received my WINNING.

I tried reading the e-book because of my excitement.  It is not my genre and it is kind of "sensual", so I stopped reading.. boooh!.  I couldn't recall that I even joined this raffle... hhmmm!
Anyway, the most important thing is that I finally won a raffle!!! Clap! Clap! Clap!

Will there be more winnings for me in the coming months? ... I BELIEVE! :D

Favorite Person in the Restroom

Weird?... yeah, I know but  believe me or not,  I really have one favorite person in the restroom.  She is Aling Milan of Petron SLEX (south bound).  I shared before that McDonald's and Starbucks are the places where I normally grab my breakfast whenever I have schedules in the South.  Apart from these resto and cafe, the restroom is the other reason why I always prefer to stop by in Petron.

The restroom in Petron SLEX is super clean, everything is automated: from the flush, faucets, soap dispensers, and the hand dryers... plus there is Aling Milan, always cheerfully greeting the people coming in, assisting with the Tissue, instantly cleaning each cubicle after every use, and filling the restroom with her timeless songs.

Aling Milan is already 14 years with this job and I guess she is happy with it.   She never fails to give assistance and still gives a warm smile no matter what kind of people uses the place, some are really unhygienic but she's still happy cleaning and making the whole place clean.    Her singing voice got my attention last year, I thought it's just a random happy moment for her but everytime I stop by the restroom she's as cheerful as always.  I normally stay for one or two songs and when I get out of the place, her happiness radiates me and her songs are my LSS (Last Song Syndrome).  

This morning, I reached Petron so early, grabbed my breakfast and stayed in the restroom to brush my teeth and do some girl stuffs.  As expected, Aling Milan was there to assist me and she was in the middle of the "Top of the World" song, continued to "One day in the Night(?)", and few more songs, stopping in between greetings for the other guests... until I finished my hair and powder.   I couldn't resist asking for her name and thanked her before leaving the place again.

Aling Milan - a reminder to always find happiness in everything we do.  

Have a happy Tuesday everyone!

Flattered

I know for sure everyone of us had our favorite teacher in school.  I had few teachers that I liked but among all of them, Sir Joel Asubar was my favorite.  I was awed in Electronics when he became my teacher, he knew electronics by heart, not only in theories but in experience.

Sir Joel has previously worked in Nagaoka University of Technology in Japan as a Post Doctoral Researcher and now he is with Research Center for Integrated Quantum Electronics in Hokkaido University as a Post Doctoral Research Scientist.  Grabe talaga! he's a genius!

Molecular Beam Epitaxy

"Ang pinakahi-tech na pagprepare ng semiconductor kasi atom by atom ang deposition kaya nakakagawa ng quantum wells and quantum dots."... Nosebleed? Ako din... hahaha!

2 weeks ago, his wife, the prettiest and the youngest teacher in Mapua during our time added us to a group that are asked to take picture of ourselves holding a piece of paper with the "Happy Birthday Sir Joel" message.  It is for his 38th birthday celebration.

And this morning, I received a message coming from Sir Joel.... I was so flattered to receive this message from him.  He is super my idol until now... this surely made my day... Happy Monday everyone!

Banapple

We found another restaurant along Katipunan, Quezon City and instantly became our favorite.  We discovered this place while looking for a street to avoid traffic in Eastwood.  There are two BANAPPLE branches in Katipunan and they are across each other in South and North bound lanes of Katipunan.

We were so hungry then and the traffic was also so heavy so we opted to grab a meal in this restaurant. We both have a sweet tooth (that was me before :P) and thought the cakes can get though our hungry tummy up to when we find a place where we can have our dinner.

We were surprised that this restaurant has different menu other than breads and cakes, they have appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pasta, rice meals, and of course pies and cakes.

The place is so cozy, the interior design has a homey and young design.
The walls, the ornaments, the frames and the furniture have very soft colors
in which made a relaxing effect when you are inside.

I ordered their Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne (P185) and their best seller Banana-Apple Shake (P90).
My dear boyfriend got himself the Salpicao Rafael (P190) and his ever favorite Ripe Mango Shake (P90).

The pasta was so delicious... I so love the taste of the cheese and the tomato sauce, the Hungarian sausage's peppery taste is a perfect combination and the pesto bread tasted like the Organic Pan de Rica breads from the Regina, compliments well the creamy pasta.

....The banapple shake... OMG! it's heaven! ... no wonder, when we went back here again to dine, BF ordered the banapple shake.

Feast your eyes!

Look at that bowl! The serving for the pasta is good for share but can you believe I almost ate them all?

And for dessert, they have different pies and cakes to choose from, it was really hard to choose but I guess they are all yummy.

My Romeo got the Banana Starry-Berry Custard Cheesecake (P110/slice) and I got the Banoffee Pie (P85/slice).  I must say, the banoffee pie was Ohlala!  It's super delicious I thought I forgot my name for a while.  I am not exaggerating, but this is really a must try!

Oh! Sweets!

They have different branches but the one nearest home is at Ayala Triangle which is always crowded and terrible traffic.  I learned that they will be opening soon in Market!Market! and I am looking forward for the opening. :D

Missed my babies

It was a month ago since I last saw my niece and nephew and I missed them so much.  I was so busy in my running career? (hehehe!) that's why I had no time to see my babies.  Finally, my training schedules were over since Wednesday and I got the time yesterday to play with them again.

Kids are playing trace the blocks.
Their cousin Samantha is doing the traces and
Yanis and Yui color them according to the model blocks.

Ate Yanis needed to go to bed early because she is always having hard time waking up in the morning for school.  So, I laid in bed with her and apparently, I fell asleep too.... :)