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Friday, December 27, 2013

DID I LEAVE MY HEART in SAN FRANCISCO?

It has been a long time I have not written any article. So far, this is the second for this day. Hopefully I can write more often, work less I think to better achieve this goal. :P
I have nothing to offer in this article but an experience I have earned from our recent visit to our main office in San Francisco. This is my first time travelling to United States and my first time in San Francisco. I was super nervous and super excited, both feelings made me brain sick for the long days of waiting as well as our departure date from our homeland. I am just one of the luckiest person being picked to fly to SFO, together my buddy, Lissa. We worked as consultants but we never been recognized being so. Remember Jesus of Bethlehem was not recognize as Jesus the Son of God in Bethlehem, as to San Isidro’s expense as well.
March 2012 – The Announcement:
It was not paid off when our manager called us for a meeting, a surprise meeting we did not even expected. We are informed during that meeting after a short update of our projects, that we are requested by our counterparts to visit the main office. Hearing that, my buddy and I gave out soundless-shocked responses which ended up a group hug with our team manager. Then the processes were next.
Agony of Waiting:
As the day goes by and as the details of our flight came looping in our mailboxes, fear and pressure were the next two feelings I’ve felt. I don’t know but those were what I’m feeling. Some say I’m just excited that I don’t even understand my own feelings but to myself I’m really freaking out. These questions: How will I act once I get there? What will happened during the training? How are we going to overcome their expectations? How will we make them proud of the Manila team? These questions…
April 1, 2012 – Lunch Time
I offered this day to my family for a lunch date. We ate at Kanin Club, UP Ayala Techno Hub with my mother, siblings, nephews, niece, and my brother’s in law. It was short but a meaningful event for me. I haven’t eaten my meals for almost 5 years with my whole family. I eat breakfast when they’re done because I always arrive late in the morning. I don’t eat lunch because I need sleep. I eat dinner before then eat dinner because I need to report to work. This whole crazy schedule keeps me from eating with my whole family.
April 1, 2012 – Afternoon
I need to check my documents and my luggage before leaving the house and opt to NAIA. To the last minute, I forgot to print my hotel confirmation so I need to run to the nearest computer shop to access my emails and print my itinerary. I was all sweaty from heath of summer but still there were no feelings of excitement that I’m going to San Francisco. All my thoughts that day was not to miss the flight for me to make it to our schedule on Monday and report to work. This is why I don’t feel the excitement. This is not an ordinary trip for me that I can definitely enjoy my stay because I will be busy working still.
April 1, 2012 – Night
Lissa and I were at the airport (with our loved ones company and they left as we have checked-in) waiting and our trip got delayed for an hour. Note this: ALL flights to US with PAL got delayed for that day. So we stayed there waiting and we have drifted off to sleep, woke up, sleepy again, and woke up while we were sitting on the waiting area’s floor. I don’t want to agree with those who commented that NAIA is the worst airport in the whole wide world but at this moment I am.
We got our call for boarding a quarter late before midnight so we hurried and lined up. Noise were all over the place which made it hard to understand the person and announcements for boarding. I no longer care because this has been a long day for me. We got on board, took out our blankets, checked on PAL movies and sounds, and drifted off to sleep. Then we were awaken by the food served in flights, then watched movies, and drifted off to sleep. This is my routine for the whole trip. The trip lasted for 14 hours and we landed in SFO around 8 PM of April 1, 2012. SFO is smaller than I expected but I’m worried more about being stock with the immigration. Luckily we passed through immigration easily. Yehey! We were able to get our luggage and was shocked when we heard one of the officials asking the guy next to us if he got some “magic sarap” or “noodles” or “pancit canton” in his baggage. We were not asked so we just went through the exit.
We are in San Francisco airport waiting area and we were waiting for our friend and co-employee Louie who promised to pick us up.
Did we left our hearts in San Francisco?
Lissa’s roaming was not working which really sucks, it never worked for our whole stay. This was our lucky day cause by the moment we have opened the exit doors, Louie just got in. As we went out of the airport, then we’ve felt the San Francisco air. It’s like we have entered a butchery fridge…
Louie’s mom was there waiting and we were picked up and brought to Red Robin for dinner.  It was really cold but we felt the warmest welcome from Tita Erika and Louie. This has made SF like home…
The next story after this were all about work, fun, and “gala” times…

Sunday, November 10, 2013

A Vase's Value



A girl who worked for an artifact store found the vase and took it to the store. The store owner then took the vase to the auction. The vase was first called for 500USD. No one called for it as the vase lost its real beauty. There were no bidders who gave money to it. So then put the vase back to the storeroom and decided never to include the vase to the auction anymore. The potters then got a shipment request from the artifact store. So they went and deliver 100 pieces of cloned china vase that will be sold in the auction.  One of the potters then noticed the vase and said “I know this vase. I can feel it’s someone I knew before.” Then he moved closer and he shouted in amazement and called the other potter. The other potter then exclaimed, “It’s our long lost vase. The first that we ever made.” So they have decided to get the vase and take it back home at the price of 1USD.




Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Hong Kong Tour (Day 2) - Mongkok Tour (Part 1)

For Filipinos, Hong Kong is just like another Binondo or Chinatown. We, Filipinos, were influenced highly by foreign countries and one of them was the Chinese. We embodied some of their culture and such Chinese people embody ours as well. Some of the Chinese merchant actually lived in the Philippines after a long trading time. It was Barter then that keeps our relationship with Chinese as tight as it is in a partnership type of business. Knowing that Chinese are into trading and we know they have cool and unique stuffs as well. Off to market is what we planned after our Lantau Tour. We set off from Tung Chung to Lai King via the Orange lane then to Mongkok via the Red lane and Exit on E2. You need to look for "Ladies Market" from MTR so you will find your way exactly in the market area.   

Pinoys out there be amazed as you will find a pimped Divisoria once you laid foot to Mongkok. Below are the things you can actually find in Mongkok. I tell you, have lots of money with you because you really find good stuff – SHOES, and yes SHOES! and more!











Ate some street food for HKD30.00 - a fair priced snack and a rude vendor.



Saw some street performers too.






Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Hong Kong Tour (Day 2) – Lantau Island Tour (Part 3)

Here are additional things you might expect in Lantua Island, the Po Lin Monastery. I should not be writing any about Po Lin Monastery as unfortunate events. To enumerate them:
  1. We can’t right the Ngong Pin Cable Car due to its annual maintenance.
  2.  It was too hot and we don’t have any umbrella with us, something I can endure.
  3.  Po Lin Monastery is under renovation.

It does suck but what else to do but enjoy whatever you can find during the tour. I’m hoping to see what Po Lin Monastery is going to be after renovation though. Something to look forward… J

Even there are some unwanted events going on, I still find some of these things amazing and hope you too:

The Monks

When I was in Thailand I saw some Monks wearing orange cloth around their body and a bald head. Here’s something different. I saw 3 monks during our tour and they wore gray Chinese man clothes but without the intricate golden designs. Just as play as gray.



I saw one wearing a conical hat or dÇ’ulì in Chinese or salakot in Filipino. What made my day was the monk I saw was thumbing his mobile phone. Isn’t it cool?



The Buddhist/s

If we can find Buddha, we surely find some Buddhist and I adore how they show their faith. I even saw a couple who went up the Giant Buddha and they were saying prayers then stop, kneel, and then bend. After which I saw the couple roaming around the Big Buddha while praying. I’m of a different religion but I feel how serious and sacred it is to be that place.



There were also believers who light their incense as offering. For those who have some allergic reactions to the following essence such as cassia, sandalwood, styrax, cinnamon, etc. You might want to bring some antihistamines with you and take them before going to the site.







The Incense Holder

The humongous incense holder and jars were all over the place. This is something you expect mostly on temples and shrines.








The Gods


If you are in any monastery, temple, or shrine; expect to see statues of their Gods. These representations were of reminders to the believers of Buddha and their Gods.








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Thanks and happy reading!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Hong Kong (Day 2) – Religious Tour at Lantau, Hong Kong (Part 2)

To not keep you waiting, after walking the pathway of the Twelve Generals you will find a piazza in front of the Giant Buddha staircase. The piazza has ponds on around the first platform and they were planted with Lotus. We all know that Lotus is one symbol of Buddhism’s fortune which means rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment. There are 2 lotus flower colors that grow in the piazza, Pink which represents the history of Buddha and historical legends of Buddha and Violet which talks spirituality and mysticism.


In front of the piazza is the staircase to a remarkable Giant Buddha statue which is about 268 steps up the mountain top. If you wanted to enter the Giant Buddha's stomach you are allowed as long as you paid for HK$ 30 with free vegan dumpling and bottled water to go.



After going up, we went down another 268 steps while the sun is up and were all sweating and find our way to the Po Lin Monastery. It was an unlucky visit as the monastery is under renovation. Even though, I still took pictures inside the monastery and went in to feel the solemnity of the place. Incense fills the air as those who pray offer it to Buddha.











After the climbing and the capturing every moment we had at the Ngong Ping, we found ourselves enjoying some treats from the Vegetarian Deli restaurant near the monastery.


We went to the shop area but did not get any for souvenirs then head back to the bus terminus and lead to the Citygate Outlets for shopping. I personally did buy any. I can’t find any climacool from the Adidas outlet. I just took my time sitting on one of Pacific Coffee’s chair enjoying my ice cold café latte.



We did went to Mongkok to buy some giveaways <pasalubong time!> for our relatives and friends.



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