Marc Aldrich Gopal. 22. Novena, Singapore. Filipino. Proctoid. Wanderlust-y. Leo. Atenean. O-C. Sleepyhead. Anti-mediocrity.
Potterite. Pet Fanatic. Acquired Taste. Lives life. Loves life.
You think you know but you have no idea.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma- living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Everything else is secondary.
Loyola Schools have no Final Exams Posted at 08:26 PM in Life as I Know It
Here's a memo from the the the Vice President of the Ateneo Loyola Schols - formally announcing that there won't be any final exams for the first semester. Grabe, I never expected this to happen, ever! I've only read about this happening in Harry Potter! It's just sad that this had to happen all after Ondoy.
MEMO TO: The Loyola Schools Community FROM : Ma. Assunta C. Cuyegkeng Vice President for the Loyola Schools
SUBJECT: After Ondoy
For the past days, we have been hearing stories of loss and devastation experienced by many members of our community. We share in their grief and hope to share, too, in the rebuilding. This aftermath of Ondoy challenges the University?s traditional learning environment; however, it allows us to learn and grow in different ways. Thus, the Deans, Associate Deans, representatives of various sectors, and I have agreed on the following:
1. Unless otherwise announced by CHED, Malacañan, or the Quezon City government, classes will continue until 21 October 2009, but there will be no final exams.
a.The basis of the final grade will be the current class standing of the student. b.If a student wishes to raise his/her grade, s/he will have the option of taking the final exam or fulfilling an equivalent requirement. The deadline for completing INC or NE may be extended.
2.Classes can be used to deal with the aftermath of Ondoy, e.g., apply knowledge, skill sets, and values to understanding and managing disaster, rebuilding and rehabilitation of communities, or organizing and implementing support systems.
3.We are encouraging everyone to assist affected members of our community by volunteering and assisting in any of the following activities:
a.Collection and distribution of relief goods (c/o Ms. Mary Ann P. Manapat, Director of the Office for Social Concern and Involvement, loc. 5090, 5091, direct line: 426-1017, mmanapat@ateneo.edu)
b.Debriefingand counseling assistance (c/o Dr. Edna C. Franco, Chair of the Department of Psychology, loc. 5260, 5262, efranco@ateneo.edu)
c. Accommodationor service assistance to affected members of the LS community (e.g., community/house clean-up, food preparation, laundry, repairs, transport, babysitting, sharing IT and learning resources, etc.) (c/o Ms. Marie Joy R. Salita, Director of the Office of Administrative Services, loc. 5100-5103, msalita@ateneo.edu)
d. Medicaland health assistance (c/o Dr. Raymundo S. Baquiran, Director of the Office of Health Services, loc. 5110, 5106, lshealth@admu.edu.ph)
4. Wewould like to get updates on members of our community who have not been accounted for. You may contact Sanggu (0928 348 1686), Office of the ADSA (0920 914 2372), or Office of the VPLS (0928 503 1248).
I wish to thank all those who have given time, resources and service to our relief operations and look forward to your involvement in the difficult period of rehabilitation.
Hearing: Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill Feelin' calm.
God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference.
Attributed to theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, this prayer was then adopted by AA and other twelve-step programs. This is the prayer I like best.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next.
Sometimes we forget just how beautiful the english language is. (^_^)
Hearing: Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone Watching: Rachel Getting Married Feelin' hopeful.
I don't usually watch movies in Singapore - primarily because they're like 4x what I would usually pay for movies in Manila, but also because I can usually wait until I go back and get another stash of pirated ones anyway. haha
But this time, I watched (500) Days of Summer in Cathay Ang Mo Kio - and managed to convince other folks from the office to come watch it with me. IMDB ratings were relatively high, and well, we all needed something "light" to end the week - and there we were in Ang Mo Kio - barely in time for the movie (after playing one round of Catan haha)
I don't want to spoil anyone. At the end of the day, the trailer for the film was quite clear, this wasn't a love story. It was definitely so much more. And it definitely delivered, oh yes, I got the "light, romantic comedy" fix that I needed - and there some laugh-out-loud moments too.
After all that, all I can say is that do watch this film - I'm not even going to give more details. Just do - it's light, it's funny but its provocative at the same time. And this movie is proof that you don't need special effects or multi-million dollar budgets to have a movie worth seeing in cinemas.
Just see it, and you'll thank me later for the recommendation.
Top 100 Paying Jobs in Singapore Posted at 11:38 AM in Life as I Know It
I was googling stuff in the internet, and found myself in this website, detailing the 100 top paying jobs in Singapore. God, look at what's on top of the list - this makes me rethink career choices... haha, it's the whole why-didn't-I-just-go-to-med-school can reopened once again. haha
There are also some weird entries - Ship-master, chinese physician (traditional chinese medicine), and even ship rigger! Amazing! haha Take note that these are just rough averages - obviously, there are outliers.
Specialised surgeon - $30,755
Managing director - $24,472
General surgeon - $17,872
Commodities futures broker - $17,464
General manager - $16,667
Company director - $15,513
Creative director (Advertising) - $13,000
Legal service manager - $12,318
Foreign exchange dealer and broker - $11,095
Operations manager (Finance) - $9,808
Legal officer - $9,790
Risk management manager - $9,600
Research and development manager - $9,385
Computer operations and network manager - $9,300
Training manager - $9,000
Computer and information systems manager - $8,930
Ship-master - $8,671
Technical manager - $8,595
Financial futures dealer and broker - $8,447
Personnel / Human resource manager - $8,420
Business development manager - $8,290
Corporate planning manager - $8,290
Fund manager - $8,125
Treasury manager - $8,079
Budgeting and financial accounting manager - $8,000
Marketing manager - $8,000
Power generation and distribution engineer - $7,848
Engineering manager - $7,819
Chemical engineer (Petroleum) - $7,678
Manufacturing plant and production manager - $7,645
Chemical engineer (Petrochemicals) - $7,547
Advertising and public relations manager - $7,533
Advocate and solicitor - $7,500
Operations research analyst - $7,500
Business management consultant - $7,437
Procurement manager - $7,416
Lawyer (except advocate and solicitor) - $7,400
Quality assurance manager - $7,263
Customer service manager - $7,142
Sales manager - $7,100
Logistics manager - $7,050
Operations manager (Commerce) - $6,862
Chemical engineering technician (Petroleum) - $6,696
Automation engineer - $6,680
Instrumentation engineer - $6,616
Book editor - $6,538
Surveyor - $6,523
Industrial health, safety and environment engineer - $6,503
Aldrich and The Great Adidas Sale Posted at 10:11 AM in Life as I Know It
This week was a looong one, and I was more than happy to say goodbye - and of course, hello to the long weekend that is Deepavali!
I didn't plan for any wanderlust travels for this long weekend - partly because I just want to rest and relax. God, sometimes happiness and satisfaction can come from the simplest things.
Take shopping for example. I found this voucher in the office that was for a 40% VIP Discount in the The Adidas Factory Outlet in Velocity - yes, so it's discounted by x% (ranging from 30 to 50%) already and on top of that, you get an additional 40% discount! Amazing right!?
And so, after 13 pairs of shoes (in my defense, only 5 are mine) and Adidas exercise apparel, I left the store with my pockets significantly lighter than when I came in and a smile on my face - that smile that says "Christmas shopping for family has come early this year." haha
And now, I rest. Well deserved, I think.
Hearing: Janet Jackson - All For You Feelin' calm.
I've been meaning to write this post for the longest time. I just wanted to do it justice - not like most of my recent posts that were just sneaked in between my schedule.
I brought DVDs to SG the last time I was in the Philippines - roughly around end May this year. I really wanted to watch Will and Grace! This series was not new to me - after all, this was shown at around 9 pm every Sunday night in Studio 23 when I was in high school. I wanted to watch it from the start, so I bought all 8 seasons and brought all 8 DVDs into Singapore!
One month later, I was down to the last few episodes. Oh yes, I've watched at least a couple of episodes a night regardless of the work load that I had. Truly, when there's a will, there's a way. haha!
Here's a brief overview of what the series is all about - The show is set in New York and focuses on obviously, Will and Grace. Will is a gay lawyer and Grace is a Jewish Interior Designer. There's Also Karen - Grace's assistant and a rich socialite and Jack - Will's struggling gay actor/sing/dancer who had brief careers as an acting teacher, a back-up dancer, cater-waiter, talk-show host and nurse.
Overall, this series is definitely on a league of it's own. I loved the plot, the wit, the language, and of course, the humor! Some series nowadays can barely pass as "amusing", but this one definitely made me laugh out loud. It's so funny that sometimes, I remember scenes while at work, and would just smile out of nowhere. haha I'm hoping no one at work noticed. haha But above everything else, it featured true friendship, the kind that most people spend their lives looking for but can not find.
It's amazing how the series can seamlessly shift from slapstick humor to deep, human emotions all in the span of a few minutes. And there were even some episodes where it was literally in front of a live audience (without any takes.) That's just amazing!
And as I was watching the series finale, I felt what I always feel when I know that one good thing is coming to an end. It was beautiful - even more given that I've watched it from Episode 1. For me, this was definitely a series that ended in a high. Do watch it if you have the chance - without a doubt recommended, and a piece of happiness and laughter for anyone in these troubled times.
It's just another weekend, the regular kind. These days, long weekends feel like regular weekends, and regular weekends, are well,, more fleeting than ever.
Last week was action packed! And that's saying something - given that it was only a four-day week. All I want to do is just sleep and relax - and I shall! And I'll try to sneak some Online Settlers of Catan in between as well. (yes, if you think playing actual boardgames is a one way ticket to loserville, well, playing it online makes me mayor. haha) But anyway, it's fun and strategic at the same time, so sue me if I like it.
And oh, I got a Citibank alert through SMS last night - pumasok na ang sweldo! Pero honestly, super worth it ang bayad sa akin this month. I swear. haha
Anyway, have a great weekend everyone! Enjoy it while it lasts!
Philippine Presidential Elections Posted at 10:10 AM in Life as I Know It
I was born in 1987 - which means I've been through four presidents and 2 EDSA revolutions and some that claim to be. This also means that I've been through three presidential elections, one where I actually went to our nearest public elementary school to vote. That also means, I've been through all of the things that define Philippine presidential elections - from mud-slinging to the cheating controversies. But it's not all bad - in fact, I think it's one of the best and most entertaining periods of any election year! Take this for example:
A pessimist would say that it's amazing how a death could bring another person's political career to life. But to be honest, this particular ad made me feel good, made me feel hopeful about the Philippines and what it could be.
Maybe it's because it's star studded - heck, it's a friggin constellation. (got to love celeb cameos!) But i guess, it's more of the fact that I believe the Philippines needs a president that will unify all of us, lead us to one direction (and of course continue the legacy of PGMA. haha biased much? haha).
Is Noynoy the answer? After seeing this ad, maybe. That's what I have now, a "maybe." If only there's another video that talked more about him instead of his parents, then maybe that "maybe" can turn into a resounding yes!
One thing's for sure, I'm definitely going home to vote. Definitely.
Hearing: Hindi Ka Nag-iisa Video Watching: Hindi Ka Nag-iisa Video Feelin' amazed.
