SARAH and SYDNEY
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my friend sarah came back from her 2 week holiday in SYD. and guess the present i got from her:


"This is for when you visit me.. Hehehehe. Mwah, Sarah XX"

i want to visit her, maybe in CNY 2010. i am focused and channeling that other trip, i am planning. anyway off to BKK, am excited to see my the TH SSM team.

i cooked again.
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i love staying home, it is really my thing. i could just lock myself up in the house, and just do whatever i want. right now, i am blogging, surfing the net, checking out NYCGO.com, chatting with some friends, at the same time watching TV - talk about multitasking.

i thought of having dinner near at west mall and go get some stuff as well, but i chunked that and just went to buy some groceries and cooked dinner.


nice spiral pasta in different colors.


i made red sauce today - sauteed garlic, added ground pork until cooked, and button mushrooms. its good.

oh anyway, no cooking for me next week, i'll be off to BKK and hope to have a blast.

out of boredom.
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i am bored, though i will be quite busy this afternoon - i have a 2pm, 3pm and 4.30pm. next week will be quite busy too, i have to do some plan alignment and work on my end. i would also need to buy a few stuff from bee cheng hiang before flying off to BKK.

i also have to complete and buy some stuff i need before i fly back to manila. speaking of flying back, i am not sure how everything will go - SMG has paid for my tax this year already, so i don't know what will happen to contract, EP, etc, i will wait until monday and talk to JK so i can also book my flight back home.

i also have to go out this weekend and buy a few stuff before i head home:
1. clinique happy for dad
2. buy dad a shirt from AX as birthday present.
3. tita beb's essential oil in lemon and lime or was it lavander?
4. get SK-II for marj.
5. others i have already completed and EX in my list.

this weekend will be pretty packed for me. am shopping with ryan tonight (orchard road) - hooray! then on sunday, am meeting PS for dinner with the rest of the CG, then off to A's place to visit her new born baby.

anyway, i love this 2 bags. i think they would suite me perfectly. i think i'll ask mom and dad to give me an early xmas present.


the new monogram macassar keepall 45.


damier graphite keepall 50

which do you think is better?!

sunday dinner.
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i made dinner last sunday, and here are some photos. the photos are blurred, i don't know how to make it not - maybe it has something to do with macro and micro shots. i don't know, i have yet to study photography. HAHA!


i made sauteed asparagus and mushroom with shrimp.


another shot.


i used penne and spirals as pasta - i was supposed to use green ribbons which would look much nicer since its white sauce on green pasta. i will make that some time.


i also put some mushrooms and tuna as part of the sauce.

anyway, i don't think i will cook for the next few weeks. i was still sick when i made this, and i had to cook for 6 people, after this, i was more tired then usual. HAHA! anyway, i enjoyed it and till my next kitchen adventure.

so, am staying.
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so with the recent turn of events, i was convinced to stay, and i have the following reasons (everytime, i think about leaving, i should remind myself of these reasons why i should keep on...)

1) i like my work - i like working with P&G, and i like the brand i am handling.
2) i am blessed to work with people that i work with - from client, to SSM (local) teams, GBU, MDO, etc.
3) i am comfortable here - i can say what i want, and do what i want
4) CCT still has some great people, and still i do have really good friends there - ryan, on top of that list.
5) they are giving me what i want - despite of global recession, etc
6) they are giving me what i asked for - and its a 2 months worth of sabbatical leave. actually, i really need to take some time off.

anyway, i'll be out from august to september, and will only be back in action in october 2009. i can't wait for that. i have to make sure that i use my leaves well. some of the things, that am thinking of going are the following:

1) aug 5-9: hk-macau with mom (again!!)
2) aug 10-14: pagudpod and vigan with lester would be fun
3) aug 19: chicho's birthday
4) aug 26: dad's birthday
5) sep 10-13: boracay with my cousins is being planned.
6) sep 17-21: taipei is a definite go with cho.
7) NY to visit paulo - but i am afraid to take 17 hours in the plane. (not sure)
8) sydney to visit sarah and ahya ichi and achi michelle. (not sure)

well, lets see, i have one more month of being here in SG, and i can definitely plan to go wherever i want. anyway, am also booked this july, am flying off to 2 destinations

1) bkk, july 10-13, i booked this apartment called ROYAL PRESIDENT (www.royalpresident.com) - seems to be a good place, recommended by a thai friend, it costs around 7,500THB for 2 nights, with 3 beds, am sharing with simon and sarah. simon and sarah leaves on sunday night, and i will be staying until monday, so i booked myself (so excited) at lub'd (visit www.lubd.com) which is a boutique hostel in bangkok. please go and visit the site, i was so excited when i saw the place, one bed costs around S$30, i can't believe i will be staying in there. i mean, i have never done that before, and this is just so exciting. first time for everything as they say. YAY!

2) kota kinabalu with mech on july 23-26, we haven't booked any hotels yet, but we will try to settle this by tomorrow. but what we are looking at is:

1st night - shopping at city center
2nd day - island hopping and beach escapade
3rd day - nature park, reserve, trekking, etc

and that should complete the trip, and the back to manila, where i will stay for 2 months. YAY :) big grin.

client update.
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so i had a chat with my client earlier today.

Client says:
separately Anton, I hope everything is working for you on a work and career standpoint, let me know if you need to talk

Anton says:
oh, thanks. appreciate it a lot. so, i guess you know already?

Client says:
tell me...

Anton says:
oh... uhm, J spoke to me already, and i said that i won't be able to stay.

Client says:
are you very sure Anton?
are they still not able to meet your expectations?

Anton says:
well, i told her that as of now, yes. because i was very tired already (not from working on P&G). i told her that it is unfair since i could not give my best to both starcom and P&G.

Client says:
but what are you looking for? what do you want?
have you found something better?

Anton says:
honestly, nothing yet.

Client says:
I would like to know wat you are looking for and see if P&G/Starcom can meet it
tell me what you want Anton.....

Anton says:
i just wanted to have a break, some time off to clear my mind.

Client says:
seriously Anton, if there is something u are looking for, let me know, cos I really want to ensure, we have done what is required to see if we can meet them
I want to ensure you have thot thru, explored all options and not making a rash decision

Anton says:
thanks. i think i need a break to clear my mind. i hope you understand that my issue is never with P&G.

Client says:
thus more so reason why I think you should think carefully. Do you need some time? I can talk to J again.

Client says:
Don't worry Anton. Just call me if you need to talk...

Anton says:
ok thanks. i would think about it

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and now, i am rethinking. OMG!! can someone help me?!

i love sneakers.
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i love sneakers. i saw this nike hi-cut sneakers in full black and pink soles that i would really like to have, its just that it costs S$150 - normally, i would not have any problems with that. its just that now, i don't want to have unnecessary expenses, especially that i don't know what my next step would be. all i know is that i wanted to take some time off and rest for a while, meaning bum/jobless but thats cool. i am in no rush to find something new.

anyway, i love what i got in H&M SHANGHAI, its perforated, blue sneakers.



apart from that, with just a few weeks left (i have to really update my blog with whatever is happening, but i just want to update the final ones and not every small thing) - i have to do a few more things before i leave, its written in this small yellow notebook of mine. HAHA! some things on my list are the following:

1) go to woodlands and eat my favorite roasted chicken rice with charsiew.
2) buy lao hu tzi comic books for domi.
3) go to orchard and get boxes so i cah shift my stuff back to manila.
4) fix my credit card and phone bill statements
5) book the hotel for my bangkok trip
6) buy bak kwa for colleagues in bangkok.
7) shop for good finds in bangkok/jatujak, need to buy lots of boots no.7 products.
8) fix prices on clothes i have to sell - back in manila
9) shop for more finds in singapore
10) once am back in manila, i have to plan our taipei trip with my cousins in sep. thanks to achi michelle for giving me tips and contacts. i just have to fully utilize that.
11) and of course, enjoy the hk trip i'll be having with mom come august.

anyway, i still have a lots of things to do, and being the OC that i am, i can't wait to scrap them off my list. HAHAHA!