inspiration.
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my last few weeks felt like i was stuck in a slump, its hard to describe the feeling, its like living monotonously, day in and day out. it feels like, its the same day over and over again. my life was boring, uninspiring and unproductive, for my own personal standards. actually, i never thought of those past few weeks that way, for me it was normal, my normal.

after last week, just last monday, i felt inspired.. inspired to do things, to be things, and to dream things. the first sign came, when i gave a damn on how i dress to work. in moments of total bleakness, i would wear my black or dark blue collared shirt (either the M&S or MJ one - my favorite boring shirts) paired with my loose-cut jeans + nike sneakers. i looked like going to school vs joining the workforce, or i even look like i just joined the workforce. HAHA! even our interns, are dressed better than me.

i remember a few months ago, krazy (my ex-colleague) told me that i have to "step-up" my wardrobe since i was promoted to manager already, that i should at least wear polo's and stop wearing round neck shirts with eccentric designs. i never took it seriously. thing is, when am in the mood, i can step-up the wardrobe anyway, but the past few weeks, ever since i came back from manila, i just didn't give a damn.

so now i promise myself to at least present myself nicely in the office. i just made an audit of my wardrobe, i just discovered that i have so much stuff that i don't even wear. you know, out of sight, out of mind, since they are tucked in my closet, i don't even remember them. i will try and document what i will wear to office starting tomorrow, and will upload photos in this blog, it will be some sort of project for me, just to continue the inspiration.

anyway to sum things up, here are few things i will do to keep me inspired

- wear nice clothes to work, i think it should benefit my career and it will keep me inspired, to look forward to what i will wear.

- read more. i just finished reading haruki murakami's after dark. i purchased this at books actually at ann siang hill, i loved the place, and will go back to get another book to read. i am thinking that i need to buy books there, to keep the place alive, its an independent book store, and i love that thought, especially these modern times.

- faith. i go to church weekly now, but i want to buy the booklet for praying the rosary, i want to start praying the rosary again, this am sure will keep me inspired.

- holidays. who doesn't love that? every person in my age range loves exploring and going for vacations. my next is japan in august, and am too excited for that. now, am thinking of places for next year - 1) vietnam - saigon (again, to visit joan) + side trip to cambodia with julette. and 2) new york to visit pau, hopefully joan joins me too, 3) and maybe HK for another family vacation. (i miss HK)!!

- in a way work inspires me, i have to say. whenever i produce great work, i make sure the next is better. one thing i learned about myself is that i love challenges, because if there is nothing new for me, nothing new to learn, nothing to achieve, i would get bored and would need to move on.

- my family and friends inspire me. i feel great when i talk to them, i find inspiration in how they live their lives, and how they achieve their dreams. i like that.


anyway that's it, hopefully i get to stick to taking photos of myself and what am wearing on a daily basis, honestly, knowing me, i won't be able to do this, but then again, i am challenging myself. haha!

excited for japan part 2
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so, okay, now am thinking that i have quite a few things to be excited about - the food, culture, the place itself, etc, but for now, this is what am excited about - the shopping! :) again, anybody who knows me, know that i am addicted to shoes - and thus, this post.

they have a store in japan thats called shoemart - though am not sure where exactly it is, but it is around japan, different cities, i wish its near where we live, or at least we could go there, and i wish the sizes and color i want are there, plus hopefully it still is on sale!


my first pick will be this boots that could pass up as doc martens, but we all know its not. i just like it, its different, and i don't think i have this style - i think i will be able to use it everyday, estimated price at S$60.


my second choice would be this boat shoes, i have one in dark blue (almost the same as the photo here), and if ever i would get the one in dark brown, i want it in neutral color rather than having it mixed up, cost at S$60.


boat shoes in camel, S$185.


this rain commuter boots is super nice, i was thinking i could either use it for formal gatherings, plus it would look very sleek with jeans, especially at S$74.


i saw this quarter polo that has a really nice feel to it, i'd like both colors expect white., S$32 each.

anyway, i hope i find this place, so i can buy a few things for myself. i have to practice my signature, as i will be making use of it quite often in japan, 3 more weeks. woohoo!

excited for japan.
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okay, now i am getting really excited for japan - before, i was just thinking that i won't shop a lot, but will go around to make sure i make the most of it. but now, i have been surfing www.rakuten.co.jp -> the number 1, e-shopping site in japan, and i have seen a lot of things i like - from bags, to shoes, etc. this post will be dedicated to the bags, i have my eyes on.

when it comes to bags, personally, i like MUJI, because they are simple, the colors are very neutral, they are very roomy, it is designed for convenience as well, plus the fact that it is not too expensive, average of SGD 100.


i brought this bag to HK, which is perfect since i do not need to ask for plastic bags when i go shopping.


same bag in KL, it is actually very big, and the best part, you can either sling it, or hold it.


this is another muji bag that i use either as an overnight bag or gym bag, it is very light.


this marc jacobs sling bag, i used when i went to korea, i like black since it doesn't look as dirty as other colors. this one is kind of tall, fits tall envelopes, etc.


porter is one brand, i like. my first and only porter came from aggie and cho, when they asked me what i wanted for my birthday, and i chose a zippy wallet, see photo below. i liked it because, you can just fold your money, put in a few cards, then go, i have used it for quite sometime but stopped due to the amount of cards i need to bring around now. i want to use it again, so maybe, i'll switch the long zippy wallet that i have now (it fits everything perfectly - from cards, cash, coins, namecards, receipts) into 2 wallets - i'll use porter and the other one will be a card holder. i have to think about this, first.



anyway, porter are made in 2 places, one is in japan which commands a much higher price, vs the one that's made in taiwan. whats being sold here in singapore is the one made in taiwan, those made in japan are only sold in japan. when we went to taipei last june, chicho bought one porter bag that i like, its a sling one for travelling. i don't have a picture but he said its a great bag, he used it when he was here over the weekend. actually, i was supposed to buy as well, but i said i will think about it first.


this is similar to what cho has bought, at SGD 359 in japan. chicho bought his at TWD3,750, roughly SGD 150.


this one looks good for travelling, but i don't think you can put much, i have always liked stuffing my bag with unnecessary things. this will cost around SGD 237, all cost are from the said website.


this is almost the same as the muji one i have in black, the difference lies in the price, this cost around SGD 160, while the muji one is around SGD 70.


look at him using the bag, i think the size is a bit too small.


ooh, this one is good, i hope its in leather though, and it costs around SGD 556.


porter yoshida at SGD 335 - i like this bag in camel color, i don't know why, the structure is almost the same as the fred perry bag that i have, quite roomy as well.

anyway, i think i'll head down to porter in wisma atria, and check whether they have these bags, and if its cheaper too.

a year and a half later...
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taking you back in time, to last December 2008, where we last met in manila, i checked my blog history, and the i posted it on the 25th of December, Christmas day.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDp9yT-m1jwSCXOtazxdFyfRu6cqDiPFgwVXHKpwAjTXVFmdZ_v9FxGKsPwkb4GkpG6yNq6W1Ha5OuSF8qmk7ygoFZYftKkWuPevg3iOizjT6HWRpOO98yO2b0QnuL1FY8llA/s1600-h/DSC05923.JPG

it took me a while to compose this blog post, as i want to be in the proper frame of mind when i write this, i want to be focused and be grateful for all the blessings, to be able to see the glass half full rather than half empty. you get what i mean.

joan is now based in saigon, and pau lives in new york, while am here in singapore, i still am amazed that somehow we are still connected. sometimes we skype each other, we do a 3-way call, sometimes video conferencing and sometimes thru facebook. nett, is that this trip made me realize how much i missed them - how proud i am to be their friend, and see them doing so well in life. i have to look at it really as a celebration - celebration of friendship - i know that this is not the last time i will see them, i just know that.

i chose to post 9 from the hundreds of photos that we have from last weekends meet up in singapore, i don't have a specific reason why i chose this, but i'll try to write a caption that has captured those moments.


pau and liv, having brunch at PS Cafe, Dempsey. liv is paulo's younger sister. she is no stranger to me, i have met her when i was still back in manila, and it was great to see her doing so good and being so successful in her chosen craft.


canton-i, food. pau, joan and i have always loved food, i guess thatt's our common denominator - we enjoy it tremendously, trying out new resto's, cooking, making recipes. i guess you can say that food is what drew us closer. i still remember when joan wasn't doing the artist chef yet, me and paulo were one of the first that she made a meal for - during my despedida dinner at her old condo.


chicken rice. because pau always wanted to eat this ever since i was based here 4 years ago. it is the one thing that he has always asked of me whenever we talk online.


joan, ainee and pau - they belong to one creative team before, with pedi as their creative director. ainee and i became close during my last few mos in GASSO - we bonded over dreams, and what we want to achieve. when GASSO asked me to stay, ainee was the one who told me to follow my heart, and if i accept GASSO's offer and stay - will i be happy there? so now, i am here.


got this photo from paulo's cam. i don't remember how i got to know joan, the only thing i remember is that we kind of joined GASSO the same year, and we were part of the xmas committee that year. we used to go to SM Makati and buy stuff for the xmas party, and kaya kami naging close. anyway, i am truly happy i met joan - she is one of the sweetest.


joan, ainee and julette - the chinatown girls. haha! si julette naman is a different story altogether. she has been close to me since i started working, i bonded with her since they we were always part of the pitch team - we had this joke before, that we should just jump out of the veranda, since parati kaming busy. i don't see julette often even if she is based here as well, we often have different set of friends too, but one things for sure - whenever we need each other, whenever we just feel like talking and hanging out, we are there for each other.


pearl milk tea evokes good memories for me - i remember during one of the GASSO vacation - where we would always get milk tea in HK/Shenzen, the same group. i love milk tea, i love quickly taro-taro, and stuff like that.


at the singapore flyer, it felt like being on top of the world, the feeling i have when i am with them.


inside the capsule at the flyer - look at us now, as they say, paganda ng paganda ang buhay, and the best part of it, we all are still friends. :)


one thing is sure, just thinking about them makes me smile, and just for that, i am forever grateful. ;)

counting my blessings.
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anyway this post is about really looking at the brighter side of work. i think i have established early on how i really like the people i am working with, the clients to be very specific. they are nice people, and really values me for my contribution to their business.

working on a regional level is a bit of challenge, since you have so much people to work with, 5 local counterparts - adhering to their own ways, practices, etc. you have to work with the regional people (directors, bosses, research team, etc), you have to be involve in every meeting, every conversation. you have to work with regional clients, and managing their expectations and output, you have to work with the local clients and really drive synergies with the regional direction, plus you have to work with regional media managers, etc. it is not the easiest job in the world, believe me... but it all seem less stressful and more fun, when you work with people you like.

Lina, my ex-BM is going back to spain, since she is giving birth, and truth to be told, am sad since i really like her a lot. the team invited us to join them for farewell party + celebration for promotions of other team members. some photos below:


the whole team, Lina is the one beside me, wearing the purple dress.


the one on Lina's left is Bow, the BM she replaced. Bow is thai and is also a very nice person.


everyone raising their bubbly's for lina.. she is super loved by everyone, honestly. there was really sincere moments of tears from most people.


chwee, me and lina - am glad we had this photo. also, since we like her very much, we got her a present, its a green crystal necklace from swarovski, she opened it and loved it so much, and she told me that her favorite color is green. isn't that cool?!

anyway, on her last day, i emailed her a personal note:

Dear Lina,

I think its your last day today, and I just want to say that I will truly truly miss you here at ASEAN. Its true what they say - you truly light up our long initiative meetings, you made our MMRs more fun. Working with you, feels like, I am not working at all. You truly are an inspiration not just to your team - but I can personally say for me as well. I just wish you could have stayed longer, but other things are definitely more important - especially now that you are becoming a mom. Am sure you will be great - just from the passionate testimonials (haha) of your ABMs, and from me as well.

Wishing you all the best in life, am sure you will be successful in whatever you will do. And, again, thank you - for everything, for being the best client, and a really good friend as well. :) Hope that our paths will cross in the future.

Cheers!
Anton

and she replied:

dear Anton

thank you for your kind words, you make me cry!

Im sitting here surrounded by boxes and movers and it feels sad to leave as well.

I really hope I can come back and yes we will cross again. I will send my private details and emails etc for you to always be in touch.:)!

As I have said I had loads of fun and I truly believe you guys are the best media partners I have worked with, keep bringing the outside world and ideas into the region we need them!!

Take care and thank YOU!

lina

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i just feel blessed to met and worked with clients like this. :)

out and about
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just updating on a few things:


my new macbook PRO, a good investment.


after going to the gym at FF, paragon, i went to muji and saw these, on sale at SGD 60 (not sure if thats the sale price) - looked very comfy and homey, i like. but i will go back when cho is here, as i have said, shopping is more fun when cho is around.

:)

change.
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there has been quite a bit of change in my life in the past few weeks, things that all of a sudden happened, hopefully for the better rather than the worst. to give a rundown:

- i hear mass every week. you know, i have a lot of faith, and i do pray sincerely and honestly, but never went to hear mass on a weekly basis. hopefully it signals good change. i am also hoping to get a rosary booklet, so i can pray the rosary, plus to spend time reading the bible, even for just 5 minutes a day before i sleep. i think that would be a terrific idea.

- i enrolled myself to fitness first. i know that i let myself go, therefore the drastic weight gain, though i don't really have a problem with it. the reason why i joined the gym is just to be more physically fit, and active rather than spending the whole day at home sleeping or laying down in bed while watching series.

- i try to be more adventurous in experiencing things, i go trekking, and i went to forest adventure at bedok reservoir park, did zip line, and all those things i don't usually do. this weekend, i'll join pau, liv and joan to go singapore flyer, etc - those places i have never been.

- this is the 4th week that i haven't S. -> that is the best thing ever.

and moving on to non-major life altering things, i got my own macbook pro last saturday, i have been wanting one for the past 2 years already. even cho and aggie, got before me, difference is that i am paying for my own. the next few days will be super exciting for me, as in..

- i will see pau, joan and liv this thursday. the itinerary is all set, and i just really want to spend time with them. i. am. so. excited. haha! i have not seen them for the longest time, i think a year plus na.

- chicho will be here on the 22nd! we are going to go ikea, muji, orchard and stuff. shopping is fun with cho around, though am sure he will buy more things than me, but i have this feeling that its my credit card that will get swiped. anyway, am thinking of paying for his stuff, since its his birthday naman sa august 19.

- dinner/gimik with some pinoys from P&G on the 30th - all scheduled. oh, this actually depends, as i might have some business trip to bangkok, end july daw eh. if post 22nd, then i think ill go, but if its around that time, i don't want na. haha!

- i will be home august for dad and cho's bday, then i am off to japan as well, for my own vacation with obee.

- i won the office bet, since i picked spain, and won SGD 60.

- i am waiting for my check to come in from california fitness. it was stupid of me, to not check my balances so thoroughly. they overcharged me, for 16mos worth of gym fees. now, they are reimbursing me. please pass me the check na, i need it for my japan trip. haha!

thank you GOD for all the blessings, i could not ask for more, except to keep me and my family safe from harm, and to take care of our health. by the way, i ask you to support either worldvision or unicef. i am supporting both.