It's New Year at The Square!

It was a feel good day even if I am working on a holiday, took wifey & my little girl with me to Lancaster Square so they can watch the Chinese new year celebration which the commercial team prepared for everyone in the area.  I first left them in the play place inside Leighton Hall while my team mates & I rounded the homeowners to do our day job.  Come late afternoon, we gathered in The Square to wait for the traditional lion dance and of course, the highlight of the celebration--- fireworks display.

Many people gathered in The Square to patiently wait for the start of celebration.  Unfortunately, the group that is supposed to perform the lion dance got stuck in heavy traffic and wasn't able to arrive on time.  As a result, the fireworks display was showcased first (yes, the lion dance group arrived and performed after the fireworks display but most people already left.)

It was awesome witnessing the fireworks display at the nearest possible spot where we are still safe from the 'fireworks debris.' We had to look up to witness how spectacular the heaven was being lit by colorful lights.  Seeing the people around, all were delighted seeing the more-than-5-minute fireworks display--- compensating the couple of hours waiting time for the late lion dance group.

Lancaster Square is located at the heart of Lancaster New City, the flagship project of PRO-FRIENDS.

Coy...see you very soon, kapatid.

It has been a day since I've learned of Coy's passing thru Joriben... but still in disbelief up to this moment.  Coy & I never had that many times together but our communication automatically connects with a few common links:  First, he's a brother in faith.  Second, we both became KADIWA presidents in our respective locales.  Third, we're both bloggers.  Our communication through text messages or through phone calls is much greater than our meet-ups.  I can only recall a couple of personal meet-up with him, one, when he invited me to be the guest speaker in one of their KADIWA monthly meetings in the locale of Molino (Bacoor, Cavite) in September 2008 (barely a month after I became a Buklod member), and two, during iBlog5 in May 2009.  Aside from those two, I don't think we personally met again on any occasion.  But yeah, communication remained.  It's flattering to discover that while he has touched many lives and being looked up to as a "kuya" to many, I have been his "kuya" in the very essence of the word.  I am one of those he consulted if he'll push through a career in Cebu and migrate there for good.  I supported that thought.  It was one decision that he didn't regret and blessed him with greater opportunities in terms of his career.  And there he continued on performing his duties as a very active youth leader.

Our third meet-up could have been great, as professionals in our own fields, but the next set of communication with him revealed something you would admire him for... his bravery.

...that was the last of our conversations.  Yeah, I feel bad for not being able to visit him while he was confined here in Manila.  But having known a brother like him, and being considered as one of his "kuya's" is already something I am thankful for.  Coy... see you very soon, kapatid.

1st Local Trip of the Year

Waiting for our flight back to Manila, from an unexpected trip to Iloilo.  My 2014 started a little unfavorable at work.  First work day of the year, I needed to commute to BIR in Malabon/Navotas just tohave my records updated from the previous employer.  It is my FIRST TIME to actually attend to this matter as my previous employers' HR Department takes care of EVERYTHING.  I just can't understand why the employees need to personally update when in fact, the BIR staff who received my documents didn't even bother to ask any identification cards from me.  Imagine the time I wasted spent just by traveling to and from that distance.  Yeah, my workplace is in Kalentong.  Good thing an LRT ride back to the office is neat.  Anyway, I'm just thankful that I was able to update my record which is supposed to reflect tax deduction adjustments on my payslip.  I'm currently being taxed as married with no dependent/s so the deduction on my gross pay is sky rocketing.  Now I just need to cross my fingers and put my wavering trust to our HR department that the changes will be in effect very soon. And yeah, I am also hoping for a HUGE tax refund due to this.  I've been working for almost two years now in this company and only now that this error has been rectified, but yeah, hope more because the changes are still not in effect.

This trip to Iloilo came very short-noticed.  The more difficult part is not to know what exactly is going to happen to an event which was already organized, but details of it were not really cascaded to you and you were assigned for to "supervise" it.  It's a bit annoying.  Looking a day back,  I'm just thankful that generally, everything went well, even if there was a miscommunication with the media invitees who went to (and immediately left) the event.  Their call time was freakin' 1pm for a 6pm event! Didn't bother asking who did the media invites but yeah, he/she's too excited.  Anyway, the program went smoothly, the press conference was scripted (which i preferred that time) and was able to talk to media friends.  Controversial typhoon Yolanda reporter Atom Araullo of ABS CBN hosted the event.

Presscon:  PRO-FRIENDS Iloilo launched it's "I Want Happiness" campaign during the event.

Just got an announcement that our flight back to Manila is delayed.  What's new, Cebupac?  Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy the time and this cold coffee while waiting for the aircraft.

Happy New Year! ;)