Project Runway Philippines

       IMHO, PRP is by far, the best among reality tv shows adapted locally. It was able to stick to the original concept and at the same time infuse our own culture.       The people selected to represent the show did justice to their roles. Jojie Lauren as a “mentor and tormentor”  fits the role more than anyone else would. You couldn’t wish for a more credible and helpful teacher. Rajo Laurel and Apples Aberin-Sahdwani were excatly what the contestants needed. They know what and when to praise, and who and how to push people to their limits, at least this is as far as fashion is concerned. And oh, Theresa Herrera is a dream. With her poise and bearing, articulation, she’s one of those Filipinas who makes me proud to be one.

      The show also stayed true to its word when it said it’s a nationwide search as the contestants selected came from literally different parts of the country, not to mention from different age groups (her her!). There was only one qualifying factor, Talent. The participants all have that and more. Each episode showcased each contestant’s range, strengths and areas they could still improve. The challenges, albeit similar to past challenges of the Project Runway US were incorporated with our own scene that made each episode better than the last.
     I am just surprised that though the Department of Agriculture has made a showing of indigenous materials to be used for fabrics in one of the episodes, there hasn’t been much support from the government. Was it just my imagination or were’nt we trying to boost our economy by building up on the nation’s tourism. Fashion design might not be one of those tourist spots but it will remain a tourist attarction. And cuirrently, it’s tourist attraction yet to be explored much in the country. Let’s hope we don’t let go of another Monique Lhuillier who made her name outside the country. Here’s to hoping after this first season, people in specific posts would forward much more needed support to push this industry, and make it internationally acclaimed. We already have the talent, they just need to provide the means. Who knows, it is not impossioble to be another Paris or London.
    I am not exaggerating when I say the first season is a success. I just hope this sets a standard to succeeding ones instead of being the opposite. I am off to watch the replay of the first of the two-part Finale. And yeah, if anyone is wondering, I’m rooting for Veejay, he may not be the most popular choice, but I have my reasons. One of those ishe’s got that ability to make his client feel beautiful when wearing his design. And really, from a designer, what else could you ask for?

the magic stays with you

so true.almost 24 hours after, i am still elated. relaxed and energized enough to finish everything i’ve got to do at home and come to work hours early to accomplish things i need to do before my new team gets in. i am slowly transcending from “all work and no play” to “much work and some play.” thanks to that fan fab trip i had with the team and with my family. whoever said one can’t do family and career all at the same time is mistaken. at the end of the day, it all comes down to priorities, and how you manage them. i’m not saying i am perfect at it. right now i am just happy i am able to do it, and feel the magic as it happens. and after it did.

note: though some sites are growing rusty and old, some infrastructures need update and we’d appreciate if the ticket accomodates ALL attractions, and the mascots are now exclusively for paid photo opps, EK is still sort of a time warp. just like the time being, not perfect, but it still rocks!

at long last..

dang…has it been 3 months?
had I been that Busy? apparently, I was.not until a colleague asked me in passing “ei, you still write?” did I remember. then I was like ” oh shit, that’s why my notepad’s running out of pages. as embarrassing as it is, i have taken to pouring my thoughts on the pages of my notebook, together with my evaluation and training notes. that was how the last three months have been, filled to the brim that twas all i could do to document all the overflowing thoughts. thanks to the old school method of keeping journals, that now i have time with my good ol’ PC, i still can save those thoughts. the story, that little did i know, would lead to where i am right now.

• stress anyone? ( 08.13.08) i am now on the verge of challenging that anti-stress ad endorsing that tablet that claims to erase all signs of too much work. only thing holding me back is knowing it would not be able to win the bet and would just add to the amount of anxiety. yes. me-”the-all-work-and-no-play-is-good-for-you-girl” is officially stressed. yeah, there’s the usual fact that i have my hands full of the workload the bosses have so diligently handed. those things used to inspire me. used to keep me going. but now i find myself longing to shout for a good long break. as i’m one of those people who would be hard pressed to admitting to stress, i had to ask myself why. and voila, i realized i am also not motivated. ever since i have known how to write and read, this is the first time i have ever felt that thing. and it’s quite uhmmm, refreshing. i had to ask myself what difference it makes, feeling that thing. well, mainly, it made me see the real reason i am tired. it isn’t the amount of work, not even the pressure of meeting expectations. it is actually the fact, that when i look around me, the people who are supposed to be showing me the good example are running to the opposite direction. it’s now that i see, and this took quite a while, that my workload is such, because the one who’s supposed to be carrying on has done so, by delegating them to me.i live by “practice what you preach”, ” the leader adjusts the sails”,’ “a good leader is a good follower” and all other clichés to that effect.and i have reached a point when i can’t deny that my current superior simply doesn’t live up to that. the person i am pertaining to is good, brilliant even and she/he got my respect. though i have to say that now, i am fighting tooth and nail not to loose that.
• anxiety attacks (08.25.08) i’ve been coming home late for several weeks now. i sleep with the guilt that i am unable to spend as much quality time with the family i have worked so hard to keep. i sleep nowadays knowing that telling them i really wanted to be home as much as i can would not possibly suffice. having a 6month old and an almost 4 year old and 31 year old partner is supposed to be bliss. they are the inspiration that gets you thru the day. don’t they deserve much more of your time and energy. so why are they not getting it? are your priorities still on track. you very well know that of all things you have spent, you can never take time back.so what the hell are you doing? you convinced that at the end it would all be worth it?it’s your move, your call.
• bliss(09.10.08) “of all the things i’ve ever done, finding you would prove to be the most important one” cheesy i know. i am not even sure i got the lyrics right. but right now, this is exactly how i feel towards my partner, who has proven to be more than someone i can count on. he’s my fountain of strength, in his most unusual ways. he’s my source of confidence right when i felt i am loosing it. he’s the only thing certain when i am not sure of anything. in those rare moments of him being very sensitive, he goes all the way. and i couldn’t ask for more. really.
• i thought you’d never ask(09.11.08) i have pulled up all the courage to try out for this thing i have been eyeing since i started out a career in this industry. with all the might i could muster i announced i would be vying for it. and it prompted a heart to heart talk with my current boss. true the circumstances were quite controversial(in our own little world known as the company), and such is inevitable in an environment so small. though i have to say, the talk was all i ever hoped for and more. i would have to say, that for the record, my superior redeemed herself in my eyes. right there and then, i understood why and how things were the way they were. they just had to be. us being her subordinates need not stay where we are. we could grow. we cannot be complacent. and without her pushing us to move towards that word, we would just be idle. i am glad we had that talk. more than the understanding, it’s the lessons that should i not land the post, would make applying worth it. i thought i already had the best of bosses. i have to admit now it pays to have a boss who believes in things you don’t necessarily buy, it forces you to see the what’s on the other side.it pays to have a superior who would not allow you to stay within your comfort zone, it would make you realize what else you can do. it pays to have a boss who cuts you off midsentence every now and then, it makes you learn how to listen…more. it pays to have a boss who is not necessarily what you expected, but turns out to be exactly what you need. for the record, regardless of the outcome, i am grateful i have been under her wing. for the record, had she asked me to stay with the department during that talk, i would have said yes.
• at long last (09.15.08) TL. who would have thought that that blundering, stuttering, at-the-verge-of-tears tech support rep from 3 years back would be given such title? apparently, some people did, because those “some people” did not stop believing. apparently, my partner did, what with his proclamation that nobody else qualifies. apparently, i did, otherwise, i wouldn’t have tried out. though i would like to say, it has not been easy. i had to take each and every step to work towards this post. as obsessive compulsive as i am, i had to make sure that i have taken each measure to make sure i am right and i can do the job. i had to endure all those tests just to prove how ready i am. i just had to. cause i know i would not forgive myself for getting something i do not truly deserve. and i know i could only truly celebrate when the reward is the authentic fruit of my labor. and those of other people. yes. this is not only me. this is also those people who did not stop pushing and asking for more, because they truly believed i had so much more to give. this is those people who did not stop steering toward the right path, who did not stop talking whenever i go astray, those people who did not stop listening when i just had to bicker and vent. those people know who they are, and they would always be cherished. this is not only me. it has not been easy. and i know this time it would also not be easy. but just now, i am taking time to bask in the glory. i am taking time to thank the One up there who never stopped providing and guiding. thanks for the opportunity, thanks for the people. thanks for putting me here. i am not promising to be perfect, heck i am not promising anything, only that i wouldn’t let anybody down.

of yayas and predictions

     the past few weeks scary email has been circulating. I’m referring to that of a certain Mr. DaRoose’s (DaLuz in his local) predictions. apparently, he’s been having visions in his sleep of things to come. unfortunately, his visions are mostly about the unfortunate things that would happen in different parts of the globe. it has been claimed (the word is being used in lieu of lack of positive proof) on the email that Princess Diana’s assassination and the WTC 9-11 attack were predicted by himl. and as of recent, the earthquake in China as well. it so happened that he’s also predicted an earthquake to happen in the country. included in the email is the specific date of 07-18-2008 and the claimed demise of thousands.the scare brought about by this email, as early as now, is big time to say the least. for people like us who’s been working the evenings inside the Central Business District’s sky scrapers are foremost to have this fear. I for one, have filed a leave of absence on the said date. there’s nothing wrong in making sure I would be with my kids on that day. God knows almost nobody’s ready. I say to Him that may He not be considering this as an example of a challenged faith. I trust Him. in fact, He’s the only One I truly trust. only thing I would like is for Him to look after us, together. I know everything He does is for a reason. I pray for the serenity to understand, and the courage to face anything head on, knowing fully well, that He would never forsake us. so it was settled, I was granted the leave, and I couldn’t thank Him enough. at the very least, I would have a longer weekend with my angels.
       HR has done their research. they chanced upon Mr. DaRoose’s own blog (in local Brazilian language) and a translation of its content. together with that blog, link of other articles about his predictions were forwarded to us. if truth be told and those articles would be taken logically, the email was a hoax. if it was, I could not think of a good reason why anybody would come up with such.still, I have settled myself with the thought of four days -surely hectic- work and 3 days at home. couldn’t be happier.
       or so i thought.
       the new yaya’s we’ve hired were to say the least, a bit of a problem. one they were guaranteed by the people who got them for us, that they would be paid a monthly amount that is beyond our capacity. more to our woes, they were guaranteed they could take a month’s advance. each. another thing that caused contention was, emabarrasingly enough, food. they claimed they’ve been not fed e nough in the past week they have been here. and unfortunately, they chose to talk about this, with our neighbors(who incidentally were the ones who recommended them). and we found ourselves the topic of gossipmongers talking about how we are not paying, feeding and treating our helpers well. to my discomfort, I voiced out my indignation. nothing was true. we have been very upfront with neighbor from the start. here is what we can pay them, here is how we pay them, and here are the terms. if these people are amenable to these, okay, if not we would understand as well and let them give the would be yayas to other people. eventually the new yayas arrived. and after a few only did i learn things were not clear to them. no, actually, their understanding of our agreement was different, hence the fiasco. now amidst all the sour notes being directed towards us, we’re sending them back. nevermind that we could no longer get the initial amount we’ve put up for their fare, I just want all this to stop. we’ve got our plates full as it is. the only thing I am miserable about is us being forced to ones again leave the kids with my mom.and I have sworn it would only be a week at most. I would be bringing them back to my parents’ house tomorrow, and it’s all I could do to stop myself from crying nonstop. I have only been with my daughter half a year, and my son is only 5 months old. I couldn’t bear the thought of being far away from them. not a day, lest a week. but it’s the best choice we’ve got, while we finalize the hiring of new, and hopefully this time, way better yayas.I still haven’t had the ehart to finish packing the kids’ things. tomorrow morning I would see to it. for now, I would have to content myself watching the angels sleep. I might as well not sleep, I can’t imagine how much I would miss them. people might say I am overreacting since it would only be a week. though to me, it might as well be a year. a day without them is just not the same. granted I get to spend very few hours with them each day when I get home from work, but that’s a whole lot better than nothing. I can only tell myself, this too, shall pass. *sigh*

the month that was

often, one would find himself amused at how much could transpire in so short a time.
last June, I have just proven what people often say, “you can never tell…”
what with the gripes and smiles of the past month, I was hard put to even document them.
hence, this list, just so I would remember.

• Envy- confirmed a colleague has been living in envy. of me nonetheless. for reasons known only to herself. So miserable the degree of her jealousy that the people with whom she’s gabbed-badly- about me changed their minds and finally decided to tell. been making my office life a bit difficult as well that my relief in confirming the real score was immense. though her motives are not quite clear, I could guess a few. age would be on the top of my list, as I am more than a few years younger and she is, well details are too incriminating. let’s just say Katie Holmes to me is Lucille Ball to her.*laughs* we’re of the same post but never had I thought it would be a source of contention.true enough, should there be an opening for the next big step, we’d be the strong contenders, but with the way she’s been swiping asses left and right, she’s got that advantage. all i have is, modesty aside, my brains and poise. *wink* I have to admit I had been wincing at every self-righteous proclamation of accomplishments she tends to broadcast each time there’s a chance and there’s an ear who’d care to listen. I have been patient enough at the veiled barbs thrown my way thinking she might be close to menopausal stage. the two-faced telling of stories to the boss was beyond what I could endure but even that I was able to get past, resorting to tearful venting to real friends afterwards. but hearing her claims how I am a fave so I am not someone to befriend, that I am the boss’s apple of the eye so they have to be careful, is just LOW. before that, I was still able to retain a small amount of respect for her, but now all that’s left is pity. to her frustrations, I was hardly ever provoked. one, I am too busy. two, when I am not busy, my time is too precious to be spent on her. I am affected yes, as I am with every bit of lies and treachery in any way. I thought when I finally get a proof of her backstabbing I would make a move, then I realized I am smarter than that. so I’m afarid she would just have to wait until she does something so stupid I would have to finally make her see what she’s looking for. in the meantime, I have decided to be the brainy, smart ass, bubbly, and young colleague her envy is working so hard to bring down. as the boss see how poised I am despite everything, as fellow officemates realize how big of a liar she is, I would be smiling to her chagrin. I would say, round 1 to me. if she wants some more, bring it on.
• Wedding bells-no.not mine. been out of touch for quite a while now and this online social network was by far, the most effective means thru which I am updated with the latest happenings in my friends’ lives. and lo and behold, a couple of friends from college have been engaged to be married later this year, three high school friends have been wedded, one in church, one in a garden wedding, one in a civil ceremony in Italy.two of the high school recently married friends now have their kids, you do the math. and the other High school friend? well, a childhood sweetheart, the one with whom our teachers back then are betting I would end up with, I couldn’t deny that learning he’s married amused me.  and another high school friend whom I haven’t heard from for so long already gave birth. all in June. all in one month. amazing really.
• 2 front teeth - yes, my beloved son is teething. and we couldn’t be happier. we were scared to our wit’s end that he’d be colicky and sickly as other babies are during the said stage. but he’d just cry when he wants milk, or diaper change or simply wants to be cuddled. on the bed, he’s started to roll like crazy, laughing whenever he’s successful rolling on his back or trying to lie face down. he’s talking, though in the gibberish language babies employ. I have to admit now I have never heard any more entertaining and relaxing language. needless to say, we are hooked by our youngest’s antics.
• “Wala ng bibitaw”- those were his exact words in the midst of one of our most furious fights ever. so furious that I was on the verge of leaving and turning my back for good. articulation is not his best asset, nor are openess and life’s dramas his faves. so I know how much of an effort he’s summoned in order to utter those words. I didn’t take notice for I know he’s easily embarrased by his own outbursts of emotions. he’s wired that way. I know right now he has not figured out the details how we are going to go about it. but his declaration melted my anger and instantly resolved the fight. so that’s what on his mind. been praying even more, that his proclamation would be forevermore. here’s to fighting for the thing that makes life worth living.