Philippine fields forever

Hello there! (the angel from my nightmare.. sorry had to sing hohoho.)

Am currently here at Pangasinan for work. This month our MT program involves us doing fieldwork. Was assigned under the North team *jackpot!* so i get to travel up north and explore (di naman. nadaanan lang. drama lang ang "explore") norte. That's an "at last!" check for me as I really don't get to travel much. And since sagot ni company ang accommodations and food, well halo! Nakangiti ang bulsa at katauhan ko. Hmmmyey!

We've been going to the different areas of Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan, visiting stations and talking to dealers (of stations, dear friend) and doing our job. Dapat lang naman di ba. Hah. One thing's for sure. The stations in the provinces (to where I've been to, at least) are way better than our branches in Manila. By "better" i mean they look cleaner, are a lot bigger, and have that "maaliwalas" look since the sun shines brighter doon (dito) (chos).

I will post a few photos next time. Am too lazy to transfer files from ze phone to laptop. Just wanted to write an entry dahil ambilis ng internet dito sa Regency Hotel (Pangasinan)! Pero it's not a beautiful place (harsh ghoent!!). Greenland Leisure Suites in Nueva Ecija, where we stayed last night, was gorgeous (taray!)! I posted a few photos from there in my previous entry, but will look for more shots on my phone to share. Hihi.

I really hope I can get to travel more this year. My roadtrip adventures this month made me realize and re-realize that

(1) I suck at Philippine geography
(2) Cowboy mode is always a handy trait
(3) I haven't been to a lot of places (manila area included)
(4) I really like photography
(5) I love the Philippines

Grade 4 palang ako, alam ko nang mahina ako sa geography. I will never forget, naka-line of 7 ako sa Philippine geography nung grade 4. My teacher had to talk to me (dahil nadisqualify ako sa something something because of this) and i cried (a crybaby here!). I have no plans of memorizing our map, but being more familiar with what goes up north and what goes down south is a good start. Naman.

Am a cowboy and a girly-girl. I get that every now and then. Chameleon lang ang peg oha. Its nice to be able to be both, so I get to do and enjoy more things. Char. (I think idagdag narin natin ang bading sa listahan ng multiple personalities ko)

I.must.change.this. Manila, and all (wish lang naman, pangarap) of the Philippines, I will try to conquer a few of your kingdoms this year!

Thank you dear cellphone. I have no budget for a "nice" camera right now but your services are much appreciated. Cheers to more photos ahead!

This one is a giveaway. Ang puso ko will always be with the Philippines, kahit na maraming "kahit na" na karugtong ang sentence na to. Karinyong brutal and trato ko sa Pilipinas pero still, it's a form of love! <3

2012, please cooperate! I have high hopes. <3

Spikes of appreciation

Shiz. It's been 2 months since I last wrote here! Sorry for neglecting you dear blog, you know how lazy I can get sometimes.

So, how are ya?

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Thank you digital diary. You don't accumulate cobwebs nor dust else I would've been even more lazy to "clean" you up and make an entry. Hey, low maintenance. What a catch.

You've missed a lot since the last time I updated you. Sorry about that. Adventures, late nights, work, and some little things that make my life interestingly normal. Take note. I have a few "late nights" whipped under my bank of memories now. Am still the same cinderella but ze parents are a little more lenient now (i think). Dang ang saya pala!

The thing about my work now is that the thing I like about it is pretty much the same thing that I don't like about it. This just says how much of a walking contradiction I am. And how much I use the word thing. dumbwordalert.

Work is spontaneous -- in terms of schedule, of what we do. Almost day to day, lucky if we know exactly what's in for next week. And i love that! Before reality (ghoent code: reality = life after school; hence Jump to Reality) fell from the sky and into my lap, I was as OC and stiff as your typical control freak. But I like contradicting myself and have recently started to learn to always explore new things, to appreciate new perspectives. And this is really something that I am enjoying now.

Am learning so much more with this "yes man" attitude. Thankfully my work is cultivating this seed in me, making me enjoy life better and experience the most trivial "adventures" that kids today get to do without a hiccup. Although I must admit, I don't always love this setup. My old ways of liking structure and planning is still very much in my veins; and I have no plans of completely removing that. So it can get a little frustrating when I can't commit to things because my current list of priorities places work on top of the list. Ya know. Responsable mode on syempre.

Bottomline though: I love my work. Where I am now. And the people around me. Work's too happy it's scary. Been having that thought meddle with my good vibes recently, counterintuitive if you think about it. But seriously, I am enjoying exactly where I am now, that Iv'e been brushed to this direction by north and south winds; those that I tried to go against and those where I completely let myself go and just embraced.

I guess what im saying here is. I am at a place where there's so much to be thankful for. So, thank you.

Thank you, more please. If you will.


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photos by me, from my trustee cam phone (as always). photoshopped, of  course.

The day(s) I was a gas girl. Seriously.

Wooozah! I can now cross out being a gas girl off my list of adventures to try. I don't actually have a list; but loading jeepneys, tricycles, motorbikes and private cars with gas/diesel is too interesting to not be part of a list to cross out. Oo na lang, di ba?

Some of my MT (Management Trainee) batchmates

We had a 12day workweek from December 5-16 so to say that I was busy was dead true. Even had to skip my friend's wedding (which was scheduled since last year!) because of schedule conflicts.

Anywaaaaay.

Part of the MT Program is the immersion of the MTs in gas stations. I won't go into the details but the bottomline is we were assigned at different Seaoil  stations (depending on our location) to perform Service Crew (aka gas girl/boy) and Cashiering duties. We underwent training and even took a finals (hands on and written) exam to validate our knowledge. C'mon. I perfected the service crew hands on exam! HAHA. Potential career!

Seaoil - Nangka Branch

I was assigned at Seaoil Nangka with Eric and Nico. Saturday, I worked the first shift (6am-2pm), and Sunday, the 2nd shift (2pm-10pm). People there are extremely nice! I enjoyed my whole stay and I think we'll be back on January to fulfill more duties! Egzoiting!

Extreme 97 for Sir!

Ma'am Mary (the cashier for our shift) was too kind and called me from the cashier's booth (I was the cashier for that day!) and volunteered to take my picture filling gas to a customer. Mabait at game si kuya so great! Hohoho.

Totalizer Reading

Dipstick Reading

Counting money as we turn over for the next shift

Too bad I was alone on my 2nd shift when these pics were taken. Nico and Eric took the first shift that day. Next time, I'll take pictures of the three of us!

Seriously. My MT friends and I already miss gassing up in stations! I was able to experience all types of vehicles except trucks. Scuuured. Haha. I now have a whole new level of respect for the work that they do there. It's not as easy as you think! But it's way more fun than it seems. Hahaha. Whats!

Rules of engagement

One less to the unemployed statistic, cheers! And the celebration doesn't stop at being employed; but extends to being hired at a position, and industry, and more importantly, company that I am happy to work for.

I have only been "working" for SEAOIL Philippines Inc. for 3 days now, but in that 3 days I can say that this is going to be a long-term relationship that I intend to take care of.

Rewind: Yes, I have really wanted to work in the energy sector. And yes, an oil company is as lucky as I can get. And the best part, is that I am a Management Trainee here; a post that will allow me to learn a lot and explore different paths. It's really an opportunity that I am thankful and grateful for. (Sobra!)

Working for SEAOIL is a whole different story. It's one thing to be happy that you are doing what you love, and a whole new bonus to work for a company that you believe in. I did not know a lot about SEAOIL prior to being an employee (except for their history that I reviewed for the interviews, syempre), but knowing and experiencing their core and culture has just been overwhelming.

It's probably one of the many reasons why every day I fall more in love with SEAOIL. It's because our values are so much aligned (read: INTEGRITY, among 6) that sharing the same path with them is not just career and knowledge enriching, but also individually reinforcing.

I say (write) "working" with quotation marks because honestly, I think I should be paying SEAOIL for teaching me an immense amount of knowledge in just a span of 3 days. Seriously. Didn't feel like work at all. It's like attending a seminar that's of great value. I expect no less in the coming days (adventures - literally up for next week!), and I look forward to every single day ahead.

My official first day at work was last Friday. But a day before that, Thursday (apir Rebecca Black-ish!), my MT batchmates and I (there are 9 of us) had lunch with the Chairman (founder) and VPs and Senior managers/officers of the company. It was an intimate meet-and-greet (artista lang!) slash welcoming (i think) to the company. The 9 of us were seated a seat apart, with the VPs and officers/managers seated in between to chat and enjoy over lunch.

Florabel, The Podium.

Us MTs were early so caught the setting up stage. The only pic I took, of course.

That alone is an act that I truly admire. They are the type of owners that you see in the office that actually smile back and really talk to employees (unlike in other big companies where you only see your "big boss/owner" once in your career life, or maybe even never). One of the VPs (one of the Chariman's sons) has actually been our mentor/speaker for the past 2 days; and he is awesome. I don't use that word - ever - because I prefer the word amazing - but he's just freaking awesome. And I don't mean in a Barney Stinson loud kind of way, but in a silent-killer inspiring kind of way. Walang ere. None at all. But very inspiring and has the great balance of knowledge and wisdom. Awesome.

Dang. I hope this doesn't look like a sponsored post. HAHA. I really want to talk about the company and my first three days but I'd like this to be more of an I'm-so-happy-I-just-cant-stop-thanking type of entry. So thank You thank You thank You.

I don't think my words can ever justify how I happy I am and how amazing (see, I like that word) SEAOIL is. Of course, I've only been here three days, so we'll see if I still feel the same way in a few months, or years.

And yes, if before being hired by SEAOIL I can get to pick the oil company I'd work for, it wouldn't be my first choice.

But now that I know and understand a lot more, ask me again and I'll stay with SEAOIL - in a heartbeat.

Now I'm hungry

I cannot say enough on this blog how much I love Mexican food. It's only second to my favorite Italian, but it's a close second that I sometimes doubt which really is my top pick. Yep, problems in life. Whutz.

Last weekend the family went out and landed at Megamall to grab some lunch. We ate at El Pollo Loco, and it is only my second time to eat here. I enjoyed my first go so I suggested we eat here again; so that inay and brother can try it too. Sister and itay already know this place so blah blah blah you get it. (right?)

I'm not really sure if this is a Mexican place (because chicken is the star of the menu), but since I taste Mexican flavors, I guess it is. (Not in the mood to google and check, too.)

So how do I explain this. The restaurant has different plates you can order, and each of us ordered the 2pc Chicken Combo which comes with 2 sides, 2 pieces of tortilla, and salsa. Each of us had rice as one of the sides, and I chose beans as my second. Itay and sister had corn, inay had coleslaw, and brother had potato salad. You have a choice to whether get "mild" or "hot (?)" salsa, and we all chose the latter. You can also either order white or dark meat, whichever your taste buds crave.

2 pc Chicken Combo P185

We asked for another plate each where we can assemble the food. That's my 2 pieces of tortilla.

The chicken skin is yummy (not a food blogger. yummy = yummy like I always say)! It's thin, crispy but chewy, tasty and juicy (hello rhyming words!). I just had to get that out of the way.

The fun part is arranging the food into a burrito! We first layer in a couple of spoons of the moist, delicious Mexican rice that smells really good! Then lots and lots and looots of chicken (so that you'll get to taste it), then the beans (for me), and top it off with plenty of salsa (my favorite next to the rice!).

looking at this makes me hungry

Its a little messy to eat but once you get the hang of it, it'll be a breeze to arrange and gulp down. You'll have plenty of rice and chicken as leftover, so you can order more tortillas or just eat them the regular ulam-kanin way. I also tried adding corn and coleslaw along with my beans, and the sweet touch gives it a nice Pinoy flavor. This may not look a lot but this is a plateful, I tell you. Not for the weak! I couldn't finish my plate (sorry poooooo!) because I was so full. Had some rice leftover and took home my second chicken (inay also couldn't finish her chicken #2!).

Super sulit at P185! We were full, satisfied pigs -- I mean respectable human beings that left the place with a smile (and bulging belly) on our face (and stomach errr). I'll eat here again for sure! When I'm starving, and craving for Mexican food! 

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Naks. I am now putting watermarks on my photos. Kahit pa cellphone ko lang ang gamit ko dyan, they're still mine! So protect protect mode on! Hohoho.

Chapter One

Let's see. I just finished living a book, worth more or less 5 years. It was a great book, my favorite so far, and the unhappy ending makes it even more engaging.

But that's done now. And as much as I love re-reading that story, it would make much better sense if I just live a new best seller.

So, Chapter One.

Last 11/11/11, I got to spend the day signing my job offer in a position and company that I really prayed for. Dang! Talk about closing one door and opening a huge one next.

My blog title "Jump to Reality" suddenly becomes more fitting. As I am now really getting to experience real life pains and happiness. That first heart break. That first job. Madness both, but completely of opposite directions.

Earlier today I got to formally sign the job contract. I am set to start late next week, and I can't wait to finally get this ball rolling. Will share my experiences as the story of this next book unravels. Are you excited for me? To say that I am looking forward to this new life is an understatement. I have high hopes that this new book will be an even better read that the first.

Adventures, oh how I missed you.