Thank You 2011

It's the time of the year once again when we bid goodbye to one good year and say hello to another year.

2011 was a mixed of happiness, pain, drama, stress, struggles, success, celebrations, hellos and goodbyes. I mentioned in my 2010 post that 2011 will be all about RUNNING. And yes, it was a wonderful running journey and despite the negative stuff, I still survived the year and have a lot of things to be grateful about.

Survived being PAS President and left a good mark to the association (I guess...)

Traveled to the beautiful Palawan and Bohol with my loved ones

Having healthy and beautiful children

Having a loving and supportive husband

Healed past wounds and nurtured friendships

Though the year sucks in many ways, I am still hopeful that everything will be great with God's constant guidance. I am still a work in progress and there's still so much room for improvement. 

...and now here's my wish for myself and everyone I love from the words of no less than, Neil Gaiman

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

…I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind." -- New Year's Benediction by Neil GaimanCHEERS TO 2012!!!

Wanderlust: Around the World in One Night

Our company party keeps on leveling up every year and I am more proud being part of the organizing committee. In the previous years, I was tasked to head this committee and I'm just glad that the company finally assigned somebody to handle corporate events. This year, I am tasked to take care of food and the ambiance which is a no-brainer. I promised myself that I don't want to get stressed out in this particular party considering the role I portray. I didn't even take much effort on what I should wear.

Anyway, the party theme is "Wanderlust: Around the World in One Night" and everyone really dressed up for the party wearing national costumes and what have you's. True to the theme, the committee dressed up as flight crews. We distributed boarding passes to our employees as their ticket to this party and our registration was turned into airport check-in counters --- really cool!

Here's sharing some photos swiped from Facebook:

The flight crew ready for take-off

Captain and co-captain

Annual photo-op with our handsome GM

We know how to party too!

PAS Annual Christmas Party 2011

The Christmas season just passed by swiftly and I wouldn't let it pass without giving a run down of how I celebrated it. After all, Christmas is one of my favorite seasons despite the stress on what to wear during parties, what to give, where to get the money to buy gifts and not to mention the traffic and long que in shops and malls.

Allow me to give you a glimpse of what the season has in store for me, my friends and family.

PAS Annual Christmas Party @ Marco Polo Hotel

It's one of those events that totally stressed out the life of me. I have to attend to every detail Guess, it's my last hurrah as this year's president of PAS. Inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge, our party theme is Royal Highness. Everyone, except the male guests, don their fascinators and hats. I am quite satisfied with the outcome of this party despite the glitches and last minute changes. 

This is me giving my valedictory speech...no, I didn't cry!

2012 Officers and Trustees taking the oath of office

with Mr. Hans Hauri of Marco Polo --- our inducting officer

Fun Fun Night

Day 12: If you could wish for anything that would come true, what would you wish for?

If there's one ultimate wish that I want to come true, that would be to win in a lottery and get filthy rich!

BUT with the recent flood and typhoon in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City with hundreds killed and missing and properties destroyed, my only wish would be for the families affected to survive this ordeal and be able to pick up of what's left of the disaster. I also wish for more good Samaritans to extend their help to the survivors. Please click below photo to know how you can help Sendong victims:

Day 11: Who Can't You Live Without?

For now, I can't live without my husband, my children, my sisters and brother and my parents. But I know, someday they will leave me but my world doesn't end there. But for the purpose of this post, I cannot imagine what my daily routine would be without these two "kasambahay" - Anna and Tina.

Day 10: A Dream for the Future

I've been thinking long and hard about this particular challenge. They say that we need to DREAM BIG DREAMS but as I reflect more about it, my dreams are not really larger than life. They're simple, practical and attainable. Allow me to share these...

* To be able to buy what I want and need without looking at price tags

* To finish another degree (law, masteral, culinary or IT-related course)

* To be able to build our dream house in our dream community

* To be able to drive my dream car 

* To live until a hundred years old

* To see my children succeed in their chosen field, settle down and have kids

* To run a successful business

* To be able to publish a book

* To be admired by people I meet in this life

* To travel around the world with my husband

There you go...just a few of my unfulfilled dreams. I continue to dream everyday with a little prayer in my heart. Who knows, they might just come true.

Palawan Experience: Part 3 (The Baywalk)

After a tiring Underground River tour, we were itching to go on ukay shopping. We saw a couple of ukay shops in Puerto Princesa and the ukay addicts that we are, we were giddy! But first, our last dinner in Puerto Princesa was at Balinsasaw again.

We were so full that we decided to just walk 1 kilometer to another famous spot in PP --- the Baywalk.

They have interesting designs for their lamp posts --- I wonder if they're not overpriced just like what we had in Cebu hehehe.

Peacock

Fishes

Rented these old school bikes at P20 per hour...

It's like being a kid all over again!

After cycling around the Baywalk for hours and some minor accidents on the side, we went back to the pension house to freshen up and start packing up for tomorrow's flight. I refused another invitation from the husband to Tiki's bar --- yeah, yeah killjoy! 

Palawan Experience: Part Two (Underground River)

This is the highlight of our trip. Excited would be an understatement. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean National Park is now among the new 7 Wonders of Nature. I say, the place deserves to be called as such.

We were picked-up as early as 7:30am. It takes a lot of effort from both me and my husband to wake up that early but we have no choice.Showing again some photos for this experience...

Pit Stop --- stuff sold here are overpriced!

We arrived in Sabang Port after more than two hours. Our tour guide tried to get us to the next boat ride to the Underground River but was told to go back at 11am. So, we're having early lunch then the tour. 

For lunch, we were brought to this stretch of resorts and restaurants in Sabang. The lunch wasn't ready so we took pictures while waiting. 

Nice beach...I wanted to take a dip but the waves were huge!

A new high-end resort...one of the episodes of Going Bulilit was shot here

This was lunch...yummy!!!

Finally, the boat ride that will bring us to the 7th Wonder of the World...

...and we were greeted by these amazing rock formations!

breathtaking!!!

This is it!

Ready for take off!!!

funny boat man - Piolo

Jump Shots!

Palawan Experience: Part 1 (Arrival and City Tour)

It's one of those less-stressful trips where we didn't pack for the entire family. It's just me and my husband --- thanks to piso fare that was bought sometime in August and the company Thanksgiving holiday, this trip was made possible.

We reached Puerto Princesa airport on a Thursday noon and the weather was just perfect. We had a smooth plane ride and even landed in PP before the estimated arrival time.

The place we're staying has this complimentary airport pick-up but we didn't see the vehicle when we went out of the airport. We have to ask around and we were directed to a certain van. The van brought us to Audissie Pension. It's the cheapest pension house that I found in the web. We were on a tight budget so I grabbed the package of Php4800 for our entire stay including airport transfers and the underground river tour.  Through an officemate, we were able to get a good deal for our City Tour at half the price (from 600 to 300 pesos per person). 

After a hearty lunch at Balinsasaw Restaurant, our City Tour kicks off. I'm just showing off some pictures and some description on the side.

Lunch at Balinsasaw Restaurant...this buko is so refreshing!

First Stop: Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center

Reptiles just freaks me out but lookie-lookie, getting cozy with a baby croc

Mitra's mansion was next --- here with my officemate, Ruth and tour guide, Angel

Then the famous "Baker's Hill"...i fell in love with the place. I could actually live here!

Marilyn Monroe was molested by the husband LOL

Binuatan Creations...feeling tired at this point already!

Our last stop was the Tiangge...I just bought a few pairs of pearl earrings for pasalubong but was planning to go back during our last day. Well, that's the end of our first day in Puerto Princesa. I was really tired that I had to refuse an invitation from the husband to hang-out at Tiki's Bar. So, I just dozed off while he went out for a bottle of beer. 

Day 9: Hopes, Dreams and Plans for the Next 365 Days

It's Day 9 of this 30-Day Blog Challenge that's been running for more than a month already. But I will finish this challenge even if this would take me a year to tick off every list. Anyway, the topic for today is about my hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days.

With just a few more days before the year 2011 wraps up, I think this challenge is very apt. 

My Hopes...

...that our life gets better everyday.
...that nobody in my family will get sick (yeah, not even fever and colds).
...that we pay off our debts.
...that we will be able to renovate the house.
...that I could increase funds in my bank account.
...that work doesn't stress the hell out of me.
...that we will be able to furnish the house with nice appliances and furniture
...that my online business gets better.
...that I will be able to upgrade my gadgets (phone, laptop, camera etc.)
...that I will be able to improve as a professional.
...that I will be a better mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend

My Dreams...

...that I will be able to drive my own car.
...that we will be able to travel as a family within the Philippines and perhaps a country in Asia (for now)
...that we will be able to renovate the house according to our "dream house"
...that I will be able to visit my sister in Italy.
...that I will be able to lose unnecessary weight.

My Plans...

...house renovation
...paying off debts
...get a passport
...get a driver's license
...attend more seminars and conferences
...aim for 21k in 2012 (then gradually increase to 42k)
...eat less, run more
...love more

There you go...just something at the top of my head for now!

Day 8: What's in My Handbag/Purse

I guess true to what my previous post is about on what my worst habit is...I've proven that indeed I'm one great procrastinator and I've been putting this 30-day blog challenge to the back seat. I was busy as hell with Christmas parties to organize left and right plus my trip to Palawan with the hubby (which, by the way deserves a separate post). But I'm back and determined to finish off the list in this challenge!

So, what's in my handbag/purse? I'm showing the latest contents of my bag...I am actually a big-bag person and it's like I'm bringing the entire house inside my bag. Well, that's an exaggeration, of course but party true. 

1. My Current Bag - an ukay find

2. My Kikay Kit - contains make-up and what-nots

3. Cheap Wallet - needs replacement by the way

4. Coin Purse 

5. Cheap Sunnies from IT Park bazaar

6. Current Book I'm Reading - Mockingjay

7. VS Cologne

8. Company ID - else the guard won't let me in the building

9. New Starbucks Organizer

Not in the photo are the following:

10. Bunch of Keys

11. Sanitary Napkin (in case the monthly visitor arrives unexpectedly)

12. Hanky

13. Wet Wipes

14. Some Papers

15. Fan