Kapihan Session for the Month of May

Everyone was ecstatic. A prestigious guest was invited to speak for our company’s Kapihan Session last May 23. Weeks before the said session, emails were already sent out to mark the calendar.

Then a miracle happened: my officemates were already in the Boardroom minutes before the activity. You see, we are not always this punctual. Our HR officers will do the rounds for at least 3 times before we move out of our desks to attend any activity.

May, Cindy and Marcy.

From the Audit Dept: Roselle, Karina and Arlette.

Arlene and Dong.

The speaker is sought by many. He gives over 300 talks in a year, inspiring and motivating people from different industries.

He is the President of Success Options Publishing Company and of FunWorks Inc., a member of the Canadian based Mad Science International Group, the world’s number 1 Science educational-entertainment program provider for kids.

He is a founding member and Director of Inspire Leadership Consultancy.

He has extensive work experiences in manufacturing and retail as he help founded a popular clothing company (Company B) and ran a retail chain for many years (Replay).

He is a Philippine Star columnist and a regular guest of Umagang Kay Ganda (every Thursday).

It’s Francis J. Kong in the house!

Some said he looked like Jose Mari Chan. Others claimed he looked like Richard Poon.

FJK talked about “Managing Perspective for Success”. He explained the Knowing-Learning-Doing theory, and emphasized that there is no shortcut to success.

One key to success is faithfulness. Employees of a company who have been in the service for 10 years or more must be recognized. These are people who devoted their lives for the betterment of the company, who served with utmost enthusiasm and dedication for being able to stay that long.

 

That's my boss (in white barong), Atty. Ram.

“Wherever you are, be there”. Focus on your job. Work hard, even beyond your comfort zone. Even if you are working on the same thing for years, love it...for if you love what you do, you are no longer working.

Facial expression + delivery + language = Entertainment

You cannot succeed alone. Work as a team, succeed as a team. Be a team player and develop people-skills.

Mesmerized....

 If you keep telling people who you are, then it's not who you really are. People need not be told, they will know.

Full packed. Not the usual attendance during Kapihan.

FJK was well equipped, with anecdotes and jokes. We were laughing the whole time he was talking. He is a total performer, with a knack for timing and delivery. 

I was totally floored!

I'm happy for this rare opportunity. 

Happier that the company could afford FJK (he is expensive!).

Happiest that everyone appreciated the company's effort to motivate its employees to do better.

Sir Threeks, Ms. Gina, FJK, Sir Edgar Generoso (company President), Sir Randy, Ma'am Carmen (my former boss) and Ms. Meg.

So guys, are you motivated now to be more successful?!

Seeing Adam

I am not referring to the character from the Book of Genesis. I’m not that ancient.

I am also not referring to the apple that is a prominent feature of the human neck.

Nor I am referring to the Wedding Singer.

I am talking about this Adam:

Monday was manic. It was Maroon 5’s second concert in Manila.

We were in SMX MOA at exactly 8:00. The concert started at 9:00. I was with Davao friends, the Bee and the Jay.

People were still milling along the halls when we got in. The line was long, but movement was very quick.

Excited much!

Inside the well-lit hall:

Others were still having a quick bite from the McDonald’s stall inside.

Huge crowd!

Then the lights went out.

People screamed.

We positioned under the huge monitor.

Then came Adam Levine!!!

Sexy! I swear. Sizzling hot.

The band performed a total of 17 songs. The 8th song was its own version of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You”. I loved it! Everyone was singing along.

Next song was my favorite. And the crowd’s as well. I mentioned in my previous blog that I felt the song was especially written for me =)

Adam singing "She Will Be Loved"

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved

I loved the part when Adam divided the audience into 2. One group to sing “and she will be loved…” over and over, the other group to sing the lines “I don't mind spending everyday, out on your corner in the pouring rain..” over and over. Then blended. It was harmonious. I was screaming and singing at the same time, hahaha.

After singing Sweetest Goodbye, Adam said goodnight, and the lights were turned on. But the people chanted “We want more!” So out they came back on stage to perform 3 more songs: Hands All Over, Makes Me Wonder and Sunday Morning.

It was fantastic. He danced, in a goofy way. He stuck out his tongue in a maniac sort of way, and the ladies screamed. And I couldn’t forget his kembot. Such a bad boy. And I love him!

I’m a sucker for bad boys =)

Weekend Foodies

Weekend is a time to binge. Eat whatever you want. Forget calorie counting. Hoard a one week supply of anything sinful. Don't diet.

I enjoy going around the Powerplant Mall on weekends. A treat is always in store for me: the food stalls. AM used to call me "mini-dinosaur" because I eat all the time. I'm not picky when it comes to food, as long as its masarap, I'm willing to pay for it at any cost.

The food stalls offer  a wide array of pastries and goodies for those with sweet tooth. Made it difficult for me to decide what to buy since living alone entails fewer food stuff to store. I can't buy in large quantities, otherwise I'll end up eating them everyday!

 

I didn't buy anything from Empire Cheesecakes. It's too fancy and colorful. Not my type.

Cakes from Kitchen's Best

 Miss Matamis cakes: double decadent cake, banana cream pie, carrot banana cake and apple rum cake.

Choco cake for only Php400

Anything chocolate from Casa Xocolat.

I tasted the tablea choco drink, yum yum.

I bought Brazo from Cukay's. Yum yum. For only Php50, sulit. Not too sweet, just perfect.

Melts in your mouth....

I'll try this chocolate cake next time....

Chocolate cookies of Russian Cookie House. Cute packaging.

If only I have a housemate, I would definitely have this:

Leche flan is my uber favorite.

Since I'm a bread person, I bought dinner rolls from Cakes & Bakes. The softest dinner roll I ever had! Highly recommended. Php70/pack. Also bought the ensaymada, for only Php35. Huge and so soft! Yum yum.

Did I just make your mouth water? hehehehe...

Catch these food stalls every weekend at the ground floor of the Powerplant Mall.

Hope to see you there!

Cheesesteaks, Burgers and Drinks (CBD)

After-office chow again, this time with JR and Marie. Originally, Marie wants to eat at Banapple. Sorry to say, the café was as usual crowded, and we don’t want to wait for an hour for a table.

So we went to CBD.

There were a lot of people inside. But one table was just vacated, so we were immediately seated.

 

It’s a burger place, from the people behind Tenderbob’s. I had high expectations because of that =)

Check the prices.

I ordered the CBD Cheeseburger.

This is The Burger! Huge patty…melted cheese…the works! So perfect at Php155. Plus a side dish of original French fries (Php40)…ultimate dinner!

I have been abstaining from fries, but I couldn’t resist it that night. Good thing it was not greasy at all. Emphasis: not greasy, not at all.

Fries in a cup.

JR had the CBD Burger (Php135). He enjoyed it too. We both like mustard, kaya we slathered it with our every bite…with mayo and catsup pa.

It comes with fries ala Piknik.

Marie, the ever picky, had Hickory Smoked Beef Brisket. It comes with rice and coleslaw for Php170.

Masarap naman daw.

For beer drinkers, CBD has Happy Hours, from 4pm to 7pm, Mondays-Thursdays. All local beers for only Php35.

I enjoyed my burger. I’m going back again  and again…

Five stars for CBD Cheeseburger. .. for meeting my expectations. Yum, yum.

CBD
Cheesesteaks, Burgers & Drinks
Ayala Triangle Gardens
Paseo de Roxas St.
Makati City, Metro Manila

Barangay Fiesta

And then there was silence….

Last week was very chaotic in my barangay. There were too much noise and activities…pageants, singing contests, motorcades, games for the kids, drum and bugle going round and round and round…..

It was the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of good harvest, of the laborers.

The feast is celebrated every15^th day of May. A week long celebration was conducted by the barangay. The entire street of Sandejas in Pasay City was festooned with decors.

A long stretch of silver buntings.

Pink buntings on the next block.

Greetings from local politicians were visible.

Kids had so much fun during parlor games.

Hitting the pot.

Special mass was conducted by Fr. Bernardino Cortez, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila

 

Groundbreaking ceremony attended by the Mayor and the Congresswoman.

Pasay City Mayor Tony Calixto

Congresswoman Emi Calixto.

The musicians.

They look bored....

And one of the contests…..

Organized by the gay community members.

I went home one night amid the screams of people. I checked out what was going on, only to find out that I was just in time for the swimwear competition….

Whoa!!!!

Red na red, parang  mosquito net lang =)

Skimpy na kung skimpy!

White is for purity =)

Then the formal wear....

Green barong with black sando

This contestant got sooo many fans.

He was taking off his mask here. Nag-ala Zorro sya.

Then my camera went dead....batt empty.