Hello Ber

The hectic August zoomed past without leaving a trace of reminiscence.
Three groups of visitors, Boracay, back-to-back events, endless reports, decks after decks of powerpoint slides.
The adrenalin pump was sensational. Honestly if it's not for the boost, I might have punctured before reaching the finish line.
Midway through the race, I recalled making a momentary remark "hey I like this feeling". I guess I like to see things move, move quickly, rather than futile planning and wait till the cows come home.

Having friends around me played a big part. They somehow balanced the equilibrium and made things lighter.
Playing host was darn fun, more so when I have a pad of my own.
And  the Philippines Tourism Department should be thankful that I made its capital seemed so attractive and liveable.
Not mentioning a good 9 months of scanning and filtering to derive the final set of worth-visiting places. Of course, I customized itineraries to match the target audience. That's my job.
However, I'm glad to add on Boracay to the list of must-visits because it was simply stunning.
For a non-beach enthusiast, I was completely won over by the water and the charm of the little island.
Bintan, Batam (omg!) and East Coast (I'm sorry)?? Serious??
Alright, perhaps I should keep my mind open since I haven't seen Bali and Phuket. Very open.

Made some new friends at work and unfortunately, still no Filipinos.
New friends are from the various attractions back home and they were in town last month to join me in my effort of promoting our country.
Such energetic and fun bunch of people and it reminded me of the orientation camp in junior college. You have the centre-of-attention group and the not-so-happening outliers whom, sadly, were too serious for the industry.
Having said that, I have always been the outliers during school days. Yeah, unbelievable I know. :p
Anyways, if the relationships can go beyond official businesses, that will be one of the greatest returns in my stint.

As we enter into the Ber months (how pinoys categorize the final quarter of the year with the months ending with 'ber'), I hope the festivity will make my life easier as I countdown to my 1st anniversary of independence.

National Day

Being a known patriot, i've never left home on National Day but having said that, spending the nation's birthday away for the first time was indeed a memorable experience. 

It was even more exceptional being at the front line now, not at war, but representing my country in a foreign land. Very noble huh.

It is an annual affair that the Singapore Embassy hosts dinner in celebration of National Day and this year's was held at the grand Shangri-La. 

I had the virgin experience to be part of the official picture with the Singapore Ambassador and the fellow comrades from the Singapore Embassy. Just too awesome imagining myself in the framed picture hanging on the wall of the state building.  

Other than the Singaporeans residing in Manila (or even other parts of the Philippines), the invitees list had also included diplomats from other nations. I was especially attracted to one from the Embassy of the United States who approached me and exchanged name cards. I wonder if he would call. *wink* Anywayz..

As part of the protocol, the Philippine national anthem was played first, followed by ours. Boy, i missed our Marikita! Wished the pledge was also recited but i guess it was too show-off.  

For the rest of the night, it was a lot of chatting and flirting networking with people, unfamiliar yet sharing the common camaraderie. 

Almost a week later, the celebration continued with a Ladies gathering hosted by Mrs Ambassador at her residence. It was so grossly huge that i wouldn't even wanna think about the rooms i couldn't get to see.

And there i was introduced to Mrs Indonesia Ambassador, Mrs US Ambassador so on and so forth in this genre. Seriously.

Mrs Singapore Ambassador was highly eloquent, high EQ and socially...smooth! I heard she used to be a teacher before turning a diplomat so just imagine Mrs Bala (that's her actual name in fact) jumping out from the Basic Reader textbook. 

As she was addressing the ladies, i couldn't help but toyed with the thought if there's an approved set of pre-requisites for Spouse of Ambassadors. Gee....tough. 

The reception was organised by SLC (Singapore Ladies Club), run by a group of tai-tai (mainly spouses) who are enjoying life here while their husbands are slogging away. Their mandate is to expand their database and organise chichi events for tai-tais. I mean who else can attend high-teas on weekday afternoon? 

After 9 months of falling through their cracks, i was cornered this evening and forced to pay 1,000 peso (appx SGD30) to join the triad. Damn. 

Am already looking forward to the celebration next year. I'm sure i will do better. 

Count on me, Singapore. 

Me, Myself and I

While leading a carefree life, I'm asking myself if I'm really enjoying it.
I'm not envious of friends who can't go on a vacation without considering for their husband/children/dog/cat in addition to the official leave application at work.
Neither do I understand the "joy" of having your kids. I mean yes, (some) babies are cute but leaching you 24/7? Nah....
I totally appreciate the flexibility of booking a promotional air ticket immediately upon receiving the EDM.

Having said that, since I do not have a family burden, I had to place focus, somewhere.
I'm not an ambitious person by nature but it seems that my career is the only natural aspect which I can cling on.
Well, at least I work hard, I earn my moolah and lead the life of my desire.

This is it. For now.

心痛的李大仁

又遇到难关。很自然的传了简讯给“李大仁”，
原本只想发发牢骚，结果闹得不欢而散。
折腾了一晚，心痛收场。
对一些不会改变的事实，没有必要再多说。

为什么会这样？
回头想想，“不见了”，好像还好一点。

嗯。。。当我没说过。

還我李大仁

我曾經也有個＂李大仁＂。
曾經也被呵護過，疼愛過。
痛時能喊痛，樂時能享樂。
也因為他，我從來都沒覺得自己孤單。
即使相隔十萬八千里，一通電話就能拉近任何距離。

但是。

不知曾幾何時。

我的＂李大仁＂不見了。

可以把我的＂李大仁＂還給我嗎？

我真的很需要他。

好朋友只是朋友

聽你說什麼我都很快樂

接近你連影子都微笑著
幾千隻紙鶴你都耐心地陪著我折
卻怎麼都折不掉那道無形的隔閡

越懂你陪著你就越寂寞
靈魂那麼美我卻碰不得
感覺再熾熱也不能讓飛蛾去撲火
靠近你的夢難道就能不失落

好朋友只是朋友 還是朋友 不能夠佔有
好朋友瘋狂以後 就一個人走 無所求
好朋友只是朋友 只能保留 一點點溫柔
我知道什麽時候回頭 不打擾你的自由

認識你也許我就足夠了
緣分的深淺我都不管了
可能你感動也看不見我心如刀割
哪怕很痛過 至少就不算錯過

愛人不是最好的朋友
朋友再好也不能牽手
感情在天平兩頭 誰都怕太沈重

心鎖

最近鎖又開了。
這幾年來我一直都把它保存得好好的。就在那小小的角落。
只是還是很犯賤，偶爾會翻出來，回味下，感動下，讓心痛一下。
放下了，真的。但不想忘記。
時候到了我又會把它鎖上。
繼續我的人生。

就這樣生活

一個人生活其實也很不錯。不需要無必要的發言也不需要委屈求全。
或許我越來越不會與人供事。完蛋了。孤僻潛伏期症狀。
倘若哪一天朋友一一離我而去，應該不難理解。

離開家，也就想重新開始。
脫離責任，以及所有朋友之間產生的包袱。
我再也不用愁找誰作伴，因為再也不理所當然。
今晚的飯局很平常但很悠閒。
只是兩個在異鄉的孤獨人，想找人說說（費）話，發發牢騷。
想說就說，想笑就笑，想吃就吃。
以現狀來看，這樣就夠了。

撇開屎一般的工作不提，這樣的生活，很舒服。

The Classics

Since young, i have developed a habit of watching the same show over and over again. Of course, the ones i liked. 

Especially on flights, i would hardly tune into anything that i've not watched before. For the record I watched Friends with Benefit 5 times for 6 consecutive flights over 2 months. That missing once was when i decided to re-watch a Chinese film. 

For that reason, SQ would always be my preferred airline as no other airlines' in-flight entertainment can beat KrisWorld. 

As i pondered, i concluded i guess it came about from my unadventurous and knowing-what-is-ahead personality. 

One of the comfort habits living alone is watching the classics i've collected and still collecting. The dramatic love fantasies somehow remind me that love still exists in this present world. Very worldly i know.
Otherwise, they are just great shows for couch potatoes. :) 

忍 is the key to success

I have always thought that back-stabbers only appear on TV, especially the HK ones.

Little would i ever imagined that i would be stabbed from the back. 

Very painful indeed. For a moment, i felt that i was drowned in a spirit of unjust and i was helpless and speechless.

I was too appalled to realise the existence of such a jerk (i couldn't find a more suitable word than this).

I couldn't utter any words of explanation although deep within, i was dying to defend myself.

Retaliation, though tempting, was the last option because by doing so, it puts me down to his level.

I suddenly thought of a phrase a friend said in school...忍 is the key to success. 

Demureness Cultivation

Weekends are my favourite days of the week (i mean who would contest that) even if i have to work at home on Sundays. 

But as far as possible, i keep my Saturdays free. 

Five months into the new environment, still friendless, i didn't have a problem spending time alone. I was surprised at myself to, given my extroverted personality. But i guess it's an age issue.

I've set a weekend routine for myself which is comfortable for now and i will be rather annoyed if anyone were to interrupt it abruptly.

I concluded, by the end of two years, i will have a complete transformation from my clamorous image.

Counting down five hours to the start of my demureness cultivation. :)

It's Feb

The regional people were in town for the past week for our annual retreat. I supposed it's annual although i have no idea when was the previous one. 

The offices of Jakarta, Sydney and Manila form the ASEAN (islands) & Oceania division and till now, i still have no idea how could that happen when proximity doesn't even exist. 

Jakarta and Manila were not connected by any direct flights and the Indonesians and Filipinos require visa to Australia. 

Therefore, i heard, for the past years, the regional people only gather in Indon or the Philippines. How fortunate are the Aussies.
Held at the Marriott Hotel located at Resorts World Manila, i was really glad to escape from the office for those two days and finally experience the feeling being a regional officer. 


It has been rather suffocating, with the endless tasks that flood my to-do list. 
Honestly, i'm still trying to enjoy the so-called dream job which most Filipinos were telling me. 
But the fact is, i can hardly find a breathing space to stop and feel. 


Met the (Singapore) Ambassador (to Philippines) for lunch today. 
Wow... uber big shot i thought. Ex-president Nathan was an ambassador to the United States before he became a president. 
I was a tad nervous but it all turned out to be unnecessary. 
The Ambassador is really a nice man with no airs and very down-to-earth. 
Being a typical Singaporean, his sharing was structured and impactful. Even if they are just day-to-day stories.  
It's really a comfort to have such conversations with fellow comrades in a foreign land.
It's a conversation of "we know what you are going through" and every comment was really a hit-on. It could drive me to tears. Happy one.
But the highlight was when he shared that we mustn't be too caught up with the fuss of when or how the train will arrive at the next station and forget to enjoy the scenery along the way.
I shall include this as one of my MVV for this stint. 

First i didn't realise January was over and now, i just realised we have crossed mid February. What's happening??

潜意识

二月了。怎么夜晚依然这么凉快？
好想在外头散散步。危险！算了吧。也没什么好看的。

整个星期没说多少话，但内心不停在嚷嚷。
自己跟自己的对话一直没停过。

我娘细心打包的招牌梅菜扣肉和炸五香成了我这个星期的精神粮食。
它们给了我无比的力量。
肉干也顺理成章的变成世界上最好吃的肉。
黄梨挞则太甜了。牙齿受不了。
娘有心了。

走路回家时看到两个热恋的大男人当众手牵手。
世风日下。*呕*

情人节快到了。
心型物品淹盖了各商场，洋溢着甜蜜的气氛。

终于遇到洋人邻居，不错看哦。
应该是好人。我看人挺准。

堕落了。越来越懒得去健身房了。完了。
以压力为借口，放纵的暴饮暴食。
有一天我将变成一个动弹不得的大肥婆。
没人娶。孤独过一生。
那天的烧猪可真香呀！

疲惫的身躯，好像被揍了两百拳。
我用尽拖牛的力推开办公室的玻璃门。
再不离开，我可能就会当场睡着。
眼皮就像举重般的随着地心吸引力往下垂。
折腾的有够累的。

家乡传来了则短讯。有人要帮我“赎身”。
哇，感动到暴！五位数的赔偿，不是盖的。
如果他单身，高一点，帅一点，眼睛大一点，或许我会以身相许。
可惜我婉拒了他的好意。
因为我犯贱，喜欢被折磨。

倘若有一天不知那道光直射入我的脑门，决定从此不认真干活儿。
可能吗？

困毙了。
此时此刻，我与周公有约。

Imperfection

I say, if i would to complain about anything with my new life, it would be my job. 
Ironically, that's the whole trigger of how this new life blossomed. 
My Monday didn't start off too joyfully and i couldn't fathom the real reason behind it, except to fault it on the colour code for the day i.e. blue. How convenient. 
What's worse, it had to start off with a team meeting, the one which has been postponed for two weeks. 
First on the agenda - administrative matters. Seriously?! Mandating the stipulated working hours, lunch hours, annual leave application is more important than all the real work we are doing?
I, in fact all of us, couldn't care much when she recited the mandates. "You should come into the office by 9am and i can only give 10 min allowance. I got approval previously for myself to start work at 9.30am" "Lunch is one hour. You don't...auwehrhjhahfd" 
I wonder if she could hear me muttering "whatever" under my breath. 
C'mon, flaunting your authority on a morning of the first working day of the week is the last thing you wanna do to gain respect.
For the subsequent agenda, my mind wondered to the Starbucks downstairs, my daily cuppa joint which i had to miss today, no thanks to this crap meeting. 
When it finally got to the last item on the agenda, she pulled another stunt which sort of sparked off my aggressiveness. It seemed that i had been waiting for that venting moment. 
Well, sor-rey if it's a shame for Mon and Monette who had to witness the whole ding-donging between two "HQ-people". But i reckon i had to do it to prevent the "smoke" from getting too overpowering. 
By the time the ordeal was over, it was already noon. 
Good, half a bad day gone. 

I've always thought that my stint started at the most unfortunate phase when everything that could go wrong, went wrong. 
First and the biggest mistake was none other than...ahem. *see above*
And in view of that, the original team dissolved. In simple words, they quit. All of them. At the same time.
To amplify the frustration, the server had to crash weeks before i arrived and every single historical data was wiped out. (Not mentioning that i have to go through the painful process of getting a replacement server. Pui.)
Memory of six years eradicated, along with the crash and the departures. 
What a way to restart the office with a clean slate. 
The sense of helplessness was indescribable and before i could start on a task, i had to play detective; gathering background info across the ocean i.e. the headquarters. 
That was when i realised the importance of developing and sustaining friendships at work. You'll never know when you need them. 
I guess, there's an unspoken empathy.
I'm still far from arriving at Zion to which i convince myself that "if i overcome this, it will be the most satisfying journey ever". I'm still finding my walking stick to help me climb that hill and before that, i have to decide which material should the walking stick be. 
It's really damaging to my mental and spiritual health coz at every hair-pulling event, i have the tendency to be uber impatient towards everything around me. I'm conscious of that. But thankfully, God has managed to hold my tongue. I bite it.
But God has been good to keep the situation under control. At least i only feel miserable when i'm in the office. 
Lunch time is when i can breathe like a bird.

Well, just that my precious lunch today had to be ruined by a solid-rock chicken steak. 
All in one day. Oh well.

Best of Both Worlds

Coming to the Philippines has made me more sociable. 
I wouldn't have a second thought to accepting invitations for any social gathering, not wanting to miss out any opportunity of making a new friend.
That's the desperate perspective but practically, staying out of home means saving a few watts on utilities. So...why not?
So on Thursday, when one of our social media agencies extended an invitation for an after-work drinks, i rejoiced to myself. 
Even if it means business talk after working hours. But at least i get to talk!
Even if it involves PR-ing to which i totally loathe (absolutely). ArD was shocked when she heard about my resistance towards PR and quoting her "it doesn't reflect your personality at all!" Yah right, how much do you know about me?
Anywayz.
Drinks took place at Skye Lounge at The Fort. The open roof-top bar reminded me of the Loof at Odeon Towers but the air is better with unobstructed view of the city. 
It was a windy evening, to the point of chilly. Finally the "supposed" temperature at this time of the year. 
The party was made up of a five-to-four composition, with five from the other side. 
First impression - they all look really good! But that's kinda a phenomenon here. The Pinoys are good looking people, generally. 
I landed on a seat next to the boss of the agency. Jeff, a 30yo chap, Filipino-Chinese, started the business two years ago, grew from a duo to a twenty-three staff strength. Humble, ex-photographer, ex-drummer of a band. Impressive.
Two hours later, after a vodka and a whisky, we were already teasing one another. By the third drink, we were at the top of our voices, shouting across the table. Such a flirt i was. Tsk tsk.
AND THEN, i remembered i have actually met Jeff before! At the first occasion, i was seen to be so tipsy to the point that i couldn't stand straight! 
And that made it two. Omgosh. 
He must be thinking if all Singaporeans are bad-drinkers. 
By the time i got home, it was already two hours past midnight, followed by a major hangover the next morning. Boo!

I was close to zombified throughout the whole of Friday and ArD had to choose that day to pull stunts on me. I mean she acrobats everyday but it was just harder to manage when i was functioning at 60%. 
Just when i was about to pull my hair, i was prompted to log into www.brighton.org.sg to listen to some wise message from my favourite pastor. 
It was really a spot-on as the latest message was on "calling" and how our secular job is a calling. 
God speaks through anyone and any medium and any time indeed. My eyes were wet by the ministry time and i responded, virtually. 
With the spiritual boost, I was even able to gather the concentration to work on some numbers that came in as an urgent request at 6.45pm. Done within twenty minutes!  
Well, the fact was that I had to rush for my first cell group meeting! 

Earlier in the week, i received a call from one of the churches i visited, inviting me to join their international cell group (international participants). At last! After several indications on their prayer request slips. 
The call was made by Ps Jonathan CamCam (so cute), a pastor from Victory Fort Church and the leader of the group. CG is usually held at his home on every Friday evenings. 
They have dismissed for Christmas/New Year break and this would be the first time they are gathering in 2012. 
I was really in much anticipation since the day of the call. 

CG starts at 7.30p.m. but at 7.15pm, i was still waiting for a cab! 
Somehow, miraculously, at 7.20pm, a cab stopped just right before me and although the cabby refused to turn on the meter and asked for a flat rate (part of life here), i had to give in. 
With some traffic, i arrived at Ps Jonathan's home at 7.38pm
It was an old and traditional bungalow near the Fort. Humongous-ly embellished with traditional Filipino furnishing, predominately made of wood and marble. The musty air around the house could almost reveal its antiquity. 
One of his many servants showed me to a room at the basement which i believed it was the designated room for the weekly CG gathering. I thought "Better not be a day where i have to wonder the house alone, or else it would be the day i get trapped in the maze!".
Upon entering the room, i was greeted with a warm welcome by Ps Jonathan, a very charismatic man in his late 30s, and his wife, Joann, an elegant yet amicable lady, and five to six other members of the cell. 
Half an hour later, before i could notice, the room was almost filled, with about sixteen people scattering around.
Armed with an iPad, Ps Jonathan walked around the oblong dining table, asking the group to share on their experience from the seven-day corporate fast which happened just a week ago, as well as some thanksgiving items. That's familiar! Yay!
As I was amazed by their openness, considering that one-third of the group was new, i was even more encouraged by their faith from their testimonies. 
This was what i needed most at this point of my life, i thought. How timely.
After the sharing, we broke out for dinner. How random, i thought, but at the same time, pleased at the spontaneity. 
It was a feast, prepared by Joann. Baked macaroni, grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, bread, brownies...I was just glad that i didn't gobble the cup noodles earlier. 
That was when i realised, having a job like mine made conversations easy. I could see the beam in their eyes when they heard what I'm here for and almost unanimously, they would start recalling when they last visited Singapore. It was smooth after that. :)
Before the night ended, a visiting missionary pastor did another sharing of his works in Istanbul and how tough and dangerous it is to share the gospel in a Muslim society.
Somehow i was reminded of ArD, who is also a Muslim. Hmm. 

I left for home close to midnight and was offered a ride by a lovely couple. Otherwise, i could imagine being stranded in that deserted housing estate. There's no such thing as "call for a cab" here in the Philippines. 
In any case, i hope to return again and hopefully, i can call this my community. 

The Blocks

Having been a "policy person" for seven and a half years, i felt the repercussion finally. 

As much as i've incorporated the inertia and non-adaptability as part of the relocation package during my decision-making process, i was hoping that i will sleep over it eventually.

Honestly, besides feeling the dread, i found myself finding excuses for the move i chose to make. 

I was puzzled at my reaction. Especially when my job sounds really sexy. 

I mean, there are abundance of marketeers out there but how many would have the privilege to market a CITY? Pretty cool isn't it? I bet it would be a dream job to many. 

Don't get me wrong. The passion still exists and i'm still very eager to show the world what my petite little gem country can be. Good things have to be shared isn't it?

When i was in another cycle of mood swing yesterday, i pondered a little deeper at my negativity and i kinda realised why:

1. It was the belief that - policies have the power to influence and impact the tourism landscape of Singapore, that kept me in the same department for so long. Even when i dreaded the thirty-page policy papers i had to write, but it was the belief that kept me going. But when it sounds easier to organise trade events at other beautiful islands of the Philippines and to share the new offerings in Singapore to the trade partners, it is in fact more abominable. Seriously what outcome can you derive from telling the travel agents that Singapore has got a new garden, by the bay? They would probably demand for a fam trip in the name of "better understanding of the product", also read as "a free vacation to the very expensive Singapore". 
2. After two months of market-sensing, I was appalled by the fact that "value" doesn't work in this place. When many of us would choose to pay $1,999 for a Scandinavian tour than $1,399 for a Korean tour, it would be otherwise for the case of the Pinoys. Simply because $1,399 < $1,999. Having the cost of living ranked the top in Asia and no. 32 in the world, with what argument can we have a stand in this price-war. Seriously.
3. Having mentioned the above points, bizarrely but statistically, the Pinoys are still coming! And i wonder how many came because the NTO has done a great job.
4. As if working on a totally different side of the coin is not enough, i had to add on the challenge with an entirely different working culture. Yes i meant the Pinoy working culture, which i could only describe as - blood-boiling. 
5. My neutral-hate (yes, not love) relationship with ArD, which posed as the biggest struggle of all, especially after seven and a half good-bosses years. She's.just.impossible. Haiz. 

Totally negative, i know and i'm still trying to talk myself out of it and it boils down to finding VALUE in the things i have to do. 

With the affinity i have with the organisation and my versatility, i don't see myself taking long to reconcile the disparities i'm currently experiencing before the-world-is-a-wonderful-place again. Maybe with the exception of pt 4. and 5. :p

If not, life is doing me pretty well, living a life of my own. Enjoying freedom and single-hood. So, no regrets lah! 

But i still can't wait to go home!   

Counting down...

it's a New New Year

Metro Manila has a uber strong mall-culture which you could never imagine. In the vicinity of my condo, there are already thirteen malls, within walking distance. Best of all, they are all connected. 
When there's a abundant supply, it's just translated from a strong demand. The Filipinos LOVE the malls, period. For any reason. 
Being a typical city-girl, i have no complaints about this culture at all. With the air pollution and the humidity, an escapade to the air-conditioned shopping malls is awesomeness. 
Riding on the bandwagon, i hopped down to SM Mall Makati on the eve of New Year's eve. SM Supermalls is one of the largest chain shopping malls with forty-three malls across the Philippines. They sell e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g and i mean it. 
For the past months, i have been hunting for a nice and affordable couch and some other furniture to complete my bachorlorette pad. 
To end the contemplation, i was determined to tick off my shopping list on Friday.
In just an hour, i ripped off a 3-seater sofa, a tv console and a 2-in-1 clothes rack. All for a good SGD 613. I is happy.
I got a couple of canvas paintings to replace the ugly portraits of Balinese women in the living room as well. 
Shopping in a country of a lower living standard is really carefree. Everything never seems to cost more than 10 bucks. I've also developed a bad habit of ignoring the price tags, in particularly at the supermarket. Wonder how am i gonna survive back home. 

Fast forward to Saturday, the actual NYE, and i reckon i screwed it by starting the day with work. For the entire day, i felt restless and irritated. 
It was only when i decided to shut the lappy in the evening, then there was a slight liberation.
The facetime session with the Lees was the first highlight of the evening. It was really fun preparing and having dinner "together", ocean apart. :)
The second highlight came when the new year was approaching. It was only a quarter to midnight and the fireworks started from at least two spots at the north-western then the north-eastern, then the southern part from my balcony. 
When the clock stroke twelve, a cloudburst of colourful and flamboyant fireworks filled the dark Manila sky.
It was spectacular beyond words and i was simply awestruck, standing right there at my balcony in my PJ, trying not to choke from the smoke-filled air, half thinking if i had to shower the second time. 
Though i'm not complaining, I wished i could share the moment when someone. 


Sunday, was church day. Visited a new church at the Fort. The third one.
The moment i entered the sanctuary, spirit-filled, tears welled. I really miss worshipping God, and more so, my beloved church at home and i miss my community. 
As much as i had assumed that it wouldn't be tough settling in a Christian church in a Catholic society, it was a judgement made too quick. 
Perhaps i should set the bar lower? But God would only give me the best isn't it? I shall continue to pray. 
Of all the three churches i've gone, Victory Fort could be the better one. Plus i really like the Fort. Heh.
For the rest of the Sunday, i brunched at Seattle Coffee with my Cathy Glass, shopped a lil before i headed back to Greenbelt for my spa massage. 
Being alone is not depressing if you don't intend it to, honestly.   


This is it! 2011 has become a passé in just a weekend. 
I didn't realised i survived four non-working days with less than ten sentences spoken per day.
The only interactions i had, were with the concierge at my condo, cabbies, the salespersons at the malls and my part-time helper. 
It wasn't anything new ever since i started my solo vacations years back but the only difference is to sustain it for two years. 
At this point, it doesn't seem to too tough as i do enjoy the solitude moments. 
But an extrovert can never change her polka dots, i will have to TALK soon.