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what colours have you seen today?
August 18, 2008
Frighteningly Lonely
Posted at 11:10 PM in Life as I Know It
Here's another entry posted from stolen time. OMFG, here comes a truckload of emo-ness.
T: So how have you been?
M: Fine.
T: But you are alone. Aren't you lonely?
M: Frighteningly lonely.
T: What do you mean? "Frighteningly lonely?"
M: It's like when we were younger, we were so lonely because we didn't have a lot of friends. And now that we are grown up, loneliness seems, just so much worse.
T: Why is it so bad for you?
M: I don't know how to explain it.
M: So I have one question. If we can love someone so much, how will we able to handle it the day when we are separated? And, if being separated is a part of life, is it possible that we can love someone and never be afraid of losing them? That's my loneliness.
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August 18, 2008
8 Golds in 2008 Beijing Olympics
Posted at 09:13 PM in Life as I Know It
I have so many things to do right now, pero I just have to sneak this in. I'm sure a lot of you know that the Olympics in China is upon us (it even had its opening ceremonies on my friggin' birthday. haha). And I just read this article that an American athlete - the swimmer, Michael Phelps has won 8 gold medals in China - the first olympian to do so in a single olympics!
Overall, he has won 16 Olympic medals all in all: six golds and two bronze at Athens (2004), and eight golds in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He won the gold medal in the following categories:
1. 200 m Freestyle
2. 100 m Butterfly
3. 200 m Butterfly
4. 200 m Individual Medley
5. 400 m Individual Medley
6. 4 x 100 m Freestyle Relay
7. 4 x 200 m Freestyle Relay
8. 4 X 100 m Medley Relay
And take note, 7 out of these eight are current World Records, with the other one being an Olympic Record. Can you say, CAREER!?
And take note, he is said to have earned an estimated $5 million per year on endorsements, plus because he won eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympic Gold Medals, Speedo gave him a $1 million bonus! San ka pa!? And finally, did you know that he eats 12,000 kcals each day? That's about five times more than the average adult male. But then he burns the calories with his training and all that.
Without a doubt, this is definitely a glory moment - adding to the pile of gold medals the United States has.
On a completely related note, there's this archipelago in south east asia that has yet to win a gold medal. Go Team Philippines! Hopefully, we win our first gold medal soon! (Although sa contest na ito, wala nang text votes at wala na ding Ms. Photogenic. haha)
That's it! Ciao!
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August 15, 2008
Patience is a virtue!
Posted at 11:02 PM in Life as I Know It
It has certainly been a while. Oh yes, i guess working really does take its toll on the number of entries I can dish out. But anyway, I've got some highlights that happened this week.
The biggest highlight of this week: I finally got my very first "real" paycheck. Well, technically, my first ever paycheck came from my Unilever internship, but this time, its not just an internship allowance. Anyway,I just noticed something funny here in singapore. I mean, hindi same yung size ng bills nila. For example, big bills like $50, $100 and even the $1000 (oh yes, there's this piece of paper that is roughly worth Php32000) that are literally "big" in size! I mean, if you compare the $1000 with the $2, its like David vs.Goliath! haha
Anyway, another highlight of this week is my very first Citibank Checking account. yay! haha A little bit of back story - the first time that I was able to get to Eastwood was way back 3rd Year high School with Daniel (FMS) and this lil' ol' bee. Given my measly allowance, I had to withraw from my ATM just to eat in Eastwood. So, I withrew from the nearest bank then - which was Citibank. And I totally loved their ATM Machine - why? two words - touch screen. I was totally impressed. And then I really wanted to open an account there. And so I entered the posh bank, in all my AHS uniform glory (clutching mg back pack in my right hand and my coleman in the left) and asked for the requirements to open a bank account. All was good, until I was told about the maintaining balance needed. So, sad not-so-little Aldrich left the bank, making sure that I'm going to get my babangon-ako-at-dudurugin-kita moment soon enough. And yes, after roughly 6 years, I got that moment. yay. (ang babaw di ba? i know.)
I think another highlight that I have to talk about would be that this week, specifically yesterday, August 14, I finally have my own post paid line. Oh yes, gone are the days of prepaid load (specifically, the lack of it.) haha I mean, if you personally know me, you would know that as a person, I reply to texts quickly, if I have credits. But the unfortunate thing is, I hardly ever do. haha So during the lull times in Unilever - I was thinking about what the first gift I would give myself once I earn my first real paycheck - and there it was, I wanted to give myself the gift of my very own post paid line. And this is it, over one year in the making. Patience is indeed a virtue.
But the harder thing was actually choosing which new phone model I would want to come along with the line. Grabe, ang confusing. And I brought one of my new P&G friends along - who made the choice even more difficult (haha!). To be honest, nahiya nga ako kasi I made her wait for like 1 hour and 30 minutes (or possibly longer) while choosing for the perfect phone. I'm usually very decisive, and I stick to my decisions.But this time around, its like I had no convictions. I had the option to choose between a Nokia phone and a Sony Ericsson. I even had it narrowed down into two. And did you know what my deciding factor was? The box. haha Oh yes, I'm weird that way. haha I loved the Nokia box, and thus, after 2 years, I am now a Nokia user again.
Anyway, one other thing - I'm going to be meeting my previous Line Manager from Unilever tomorrow! Oh yes, Sir Marc will be coming to Singapore from Dubai (for a 10 hour stopover), and we'll be meeting up! OMG, I am so friggin' excited! haha Anyway, I'll try to update more soon. (^_^)
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August 8, 2008
Aldrich Turns 21
Posted at 05:24 PM in Life as I Know It
Today marks my 21st year here on Earth. Yep, it’s been twenty one years and it falls on 08-08-08! O di ba!? Sadly, I would probably not be alive in the next 08-08-08 - which makes this day soo special. Aaaaanyway. To be honest, its been one hell of a rollercoaster ride. And hopefully, my life has only just begun. I honestly don’t want to go all emotional and nostalgic, but I guess this is birthday is distinctly different (redundant?) from all my other birthdays.
For one thing, I’m spending it here in Singapore, far from my family in the Philippines and my parents in Malaysia. And if I really am honest with myself, sometimes I feel so lost in this foreign country. I mean, its all me, with no safety net, no connections, just me. And sometimes it just scares the hell out of me. But then sometimes, I realize how much potential I have – being here, working here and all that. Plus, its like I’m learning loads of things everyday. It’s a whole different ball game. Well, this arrangement, quite like anything in life, has its pros and cons. And this got me thinking. . . Maybe I do have to get lost, for me to find myself. O di ba, next level na din ang drama. Ha ha Also, turning 21 has got lots of benefits here in Singapore. My employment is no longer considered child labor since people become legal when they turn 21 here. I can also apply for a variety of bank loans (not that I need them) and I can also apply for a credit card with a higher credit limit. I can also rent out an apartment under my own name, possibly start a business and all that. In other words, according to the government of singapore, I'm an adult. And boy, being an adult in the "real world" is overwhelming. ha ha
Sa totoo lang, this has been a relatively good year. Good things have been happening not only to me, to my family and to my friends as well. Okay naman lahat sa family ko. As for my friends, they’re more or less finding their own place in the “greater scheme of things.” Masaya nga ako at namamayagpag ang career ng FMS – kahit sa corporate world man yan or sa academe. And I guess, this birthday of mine is more about thanksgiving, of appreciating the things I have, of where I am. Sa totoo lang, isa na lang ang kulang sa buhay ko. At this point in time, its like there’s just one aspect of my life that’s missing. Hopefully, I fill in that gap soon. Ha ha
Thank you to all those people who greeted me – through phone, through YM, Microsoft Communicator, personal greetings, hugs and kisses, and I even got some cake. You truly made my day special.
21 is going to be a special year for me. I’m determined to make my life happen this year.
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your innovations
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
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August 7, 2008
Back from Sentosa Island!
Posted at 07:45 PM in Life as I Know It
Well, today was weird. haha For the first time in a very long time, my inbox reached more than 50 unread e-mails. I don't know why, but I've been OC about checking my e-mail several times a day ever since the quest for employment began. I know I'm with P&G now, but old habits die hard. So anyway, why what's the reason? One Word: Sentosa!
Kasi, nagkaroon ng off-site ang buong Hair Care Team ng P&G AAIK, and they held it in none other than Sentosa Island! Sa totoo lang, naexcite ako. haha Kasi, dapat pupunta talaga ako ng Sentosa, on my own expense, pero sakto lang at nakasama ako sa offsite. Yun din sabi nung boss ko, parang gusto niyang magstart ako before Aug. 1, para makasama din ako sa offsite. So, all is well di ba!? Ang ganda talaga ng timing ko! Kakatamad nga lang magkwento, so eto, bullet points na lang. =p
1. To describe Sentosa, would be to describe an island meant for tourists. As in, halatang naginvest talaga with all the great sign boards and cable cars, and trains. Grabe, I felt so tourist-like again! haha Ang dami ding photo-ops! Tapos, may entrance fee dapat yung island, tapos you get to use all its facilities, which is great di ba? Good thing, bayad na siya, so we were free to roam around the island. Plus, I got this complementary ticket which I could use if I want to go back.
2. In fairness lang talaga sa English ko. haha Kasi di ba, parang two months akong bum, waking up at 11, watching dvds, eating a lot, and sometimes barely speaking at all. So medyo (nakakahiya mang aminin) nagdeteriorate ang aking intellect, at naapektuhan ang aking english level. Oh yes, may mga times na sobrang kinailangan ko na ng blood transfusion sa kakanosebleed dito. Pero, slowly, medyo nasasanay na ako. (aba bakit ba, nakakapagod kayang mag english-englishan 24/7! haha)
3. Parang United Nations ang event. Halos lahat ng Asian countries represented. At may iba pang peeps from all over the world. May kabonding ako na girl from P&G, galing siyang Romania! Sushal di ba!? Siya ang unang friend ko na Eastern European. At take note, Expat siya, so mayaman! ha ha Halos parehas kami ng English level (which is saying something good about her, kasi di ba dapat hindi sila ganon kagaling sa English), so masaya siya kausap. Di ko pa kasi mashadong kaya makipagsabayan sa wit and accent combination ng mga Australians. Not quite yet. Soon. Anyway, ang bait bait niya! At take note, birthday niya today (August 7) at birthday ko naman bukas (August 8), o di ba!? haha!
4. Can I just say, ang taray ng hotel na pinili ng P&G. Sobra. I didn't share a room, which is great. Sa totoo lang, mataas ang standards ko sa hotel. Sa dami ba namang napuntahan kong hotel/resorts dahil kay daddy, I've basically seen it all. Pero, this hotel really did exceed my expectations. Ang ganda ng overall presentation niya. I even took pictures of the CR, para when I get my own place, gusto ko ng exact replica. And there's this regular-looking door (look for the picture in my multiply) na nagbubukas automatically. It was totally a PROMDI moment nung una ko siyang makita. ha ha At take note, ang complimentary water bottle ng hotel na ito ay galing pang Fiji! O di ba, tinalo ang french alps ng Evian. (Although Evian ang water na binigay everytime nagkaroon ng sessions.)
5. For the first time nga pala, nakaapak na din ang havaianas ko sa beach. haha di ba, havaianas are meant for the beach? haha For the longest time, I've wanted to go to the beach, tapos who would have thought, P&G pa talaga ang magdadala sa akin dun!? Medjo white sand na din yung place, pero I have't been to Bora, so I can't really make a comparison. Anyway, me and my romanian friend wanted to swim to this nearby island. From the shore, sobrang mukhang malapit lang. Pero, after mga 20 minutes of swimming, barely haflway pa lang kami! Napakadecieving di ba!? OMG, di ko kinaya ang endurance ng babaeing ito! haha Pero wala lang, kwentuhan lang talaga, kahit feel ko sobrang lalim na nung part ng dagat na nilalanguyan namin. For all I know, may mga sharks sa ilalim. ha ha
6. Ang dami kong pictures! OMG, this time, di ko nakalimutan ang camera ko. Ang daming places na pwedeng picturan! Sobrang tourist talaga ang dating eh. Watch out for it in my Multiply. (^_^)
7. And ang daming pinoy sa Sentosa! Sobra. I mean, yung mga waiters dun sa club, yung housekeeping sa hotel, yung nagooffer ng drinks. Well, ndi naman mukhang pinoy yung nagoofer ng drinks, pero kasi I asked him what juice he was offering, tapos sabi niya, "calamansi juice, sir." O di ba!? Ding Ding Ding! Pinoy nga! nagulat nga siya nung tinagalog ko eh. ha ha Pero not all pinoys work there no! May mga pinoy tourists din! Hahay, parang ang lapit lapit lang talaga ng Pinas, especially since I'm surrounded by lots and lots of pinoys. (^_^)
8. Parang Olympics ang theme nung off-site, so iba iba yung sports na nilaro. Iba pala ang regular volleyball sa beach volleyball. Crap. Magkakaglory moment na dapat ako. Kaso pota, natalo pa din yung team namin. Oh well, winning isn't everything di ba!? Kakainis nga lang yung tug-of war. Ang dami ko na tuloy na blisters. =( Pero ang galing nung first aid na binigay nila sa akin. sobrang amazed ako. One moment, it was hurting like hell, the next, the pain was all gone. the wonders of first-world medicine talaga.
9. Drinking several cups of beer is one thing. But then mixing whisky, dry gin and just a lil' bit of coke is seriously going overboard. Especially if you join several bottoms-up contests, For the first time, I felt tipsy. Tama nga si Kami nung sinabi niyang mahina ang endurance level ko pagdating sa inuman. ha ha I was literally "gliding" on my way back to the room. Sobra. Grabe, buti na lang I went back to my room before midnight. Yung iba, sobrang wasted. Meron ngang nagbabato pa ng ice cubes at meron ding sumayaw sa taas pool table. grabe, pag lasing na talaga, iba na! bwahaha Pero it was really amazing seeing the fun and quirky side of P&G peeps.
10. One thing about P&G, may budget talaga! Naguusap usap yung mga pinoy kanina, tapos narinig ko kung magkano yung estimate ng ginastos para sa event, and dun ko lang talaga narealize, ganito pala talaga kalaki gumastos ang global na MNC. Di ko talaga kinya ang budget! Hindi lang PHP, talagang Sing$, and lots of it. Grabe. It wasn't all fun, kasi may business ding diniscuss (mabuhay talaga ang Hair Care Team! haha), pero sobrang halatang may budget ang event, jusko, sa venue pa lang, na blow-away na ako.
One last thing, in fairness talaga sa mga Australians at sa accent nila. In fairness lang talaga... ha ha Anyway, try ko iupload yung pics later tonight or tomorrow morning. We'll see. (^_^) Yun na lang muna. Ciao!
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August 5, 2008
[Aldrich Raves About No. 6] The RareSingapore $20
Posted at 09:04 AM in Life as I Know It
After seeing the rare Singapore $20, I of course wanted to know why it was rare and to what extent. Oh yes, I've got the time. I've only just begun working so there isn't really much to do, as of now at least. Soon enough, I'm sure work will come in truckloads, but I'll cross the road when I get there. 
Anyway, the Singapore $20 note is supposedly indeed rare. According to wikipedia, "Only 12,000 sets are available, 10,000 from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and 2,000 from the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board." Initially, I got the part where there were only 10,000 notes issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. But then, why were there 2,000 notes issued from Brunei!?
Well, the logic behind this is that this $20 note was actually issued to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Brunei and Singapore's Currency Interchangeability Agreement. Supposedly, you can spend Brunei dollars here in Singapore and Singaporean dollars in Brunei. This particular arrangement simply amazes me! Imagine two sovereign countries in Asia agreeing to peg their currency with each other. I know this arrangement is not new in Europe, but its just nice to know that it exists right beside the Philippines.
But for one thing, it does make sense. Economically speaking, Singapore is supposedly one of the largest trading partners of Brunei. But this arrangement has more of its roots in history. "The Brunei dollar replaced the Malaya and British Borneo dollar in 1967 after the formation of Malaysia and the independence of Singapore. Until June 23, 1973, the Malaysian ringgit was exchangeable at par with the Singapore dollar and Brunei dollar. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board still maintain the exchangeability of their two currencies."
O di ba, amazing? ha ha
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July 31, 2008
The Rules are Different if There are No Rules
Posted at 10:25 PM in Life as I Know It
I know I never really explicitly said this in this blog, but as of today - around 10:30 in the morning, I am now a resident of Singapore. Above anything else, this implies one thing: I have effectively moved out from my parents' house. From now on, the privileges and responsibilities of living on one's own are in my hands. Yes, this is independence to the next level, in pokemon lingo, naglevel-up na, nagevolve pa. (oh yes, jologs. haha)
To be honest, the reality of it all hasn't really sunk in yet. Having been raised in a Filipino family, moving out really is a very grey issue. I mean, Filipino children aren't as pressured as their western counterparts to move out and live on their own the moment they make dough. Some people even reach thirty and still live with their parents. Some end up growing old with their parents. So, on one side, me moving out feels unnatural. Quite like pre-mature labor. On the other hand, the feeling is overwhelming. Yep, it has its down sides, but the perks are pretty good. All I'm saying is that the rules are different, if there are no rules.
I went out with fellow Filipino P&G peeps last night. if there's one thing about Singapore, its that for a supposedly (relatively) conservative country, its got a larger-than-life night life. Now, reread this sentence. Who would have thought that a time would come that Aldrich would be talking about night life? What more actually have one! haha
So, I went out with my roommate, Clark as well as two Filipina gals from UP. We tried to hail a cab going to the Singapore National Museum, but the line was friggin' long. And the taxis were coming at a rate of one taxi every five minutes. But then, they just called for a cab and after a few minutes, there it was. Yes, that's a first world moment right there. There was a projection show in the museum, and when we went inside, there was this outdoor bar and there we met up with even more Pinoy's from P&G.
I'm too lazy to talk about this, but if there's one conclusion I can draw, its that Oh yes, being young and having lots of your very own money is a very good combination. But I aint speaking for myself. haha At least not yet. But it was fun getting to know them, especially the new hires.
Hailing a cab at 10.
Drinking my first ever Martini.
Reaching the apartment past midnight.
And its just my first day in Singapore.
But do you know what the cherry on top of this cake is? The Singaporean Singer in that bar, after a request from the Filipinos, sang the song "Kapag Tumibok ang Puso". She apparently knows the lyrics by heart. Sushal! Ako nga di ko alam yung lyrics eh.
Anyway, its my first day tomorrow. Who the hell starts work on a Friday? I do. haha
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