Practicing my craft

I didn't start out as a marketer and I never imagined myself being one in the past. I have always described myself as a writer. A creative writer. Or an artist. When one looks into the job of marketing, though, one wouldn't wonder why a writer would actually survive/ thrive in such an occupation. It has to do with vision and strategy, after all. More than the numbers, really. It's the other side of advertising and I was more or less, trained in that field when I was in college.

Just this morning (and over lunch) I attended a mock-copy session where we went through 4 print advertising campaigns. Before this, I was going through the previous advertising evaluation materials and thinking of my own feedback skills. I used that stock knowledge and proceeded with the exercises, alternating among the roles of group head, product manager and marketing manager. I got a lot of good feedback from our group facilitator and I realized that I am really getting better at my craft.

I've gained more confidence from my previous projects and I've also learned a lot from my very capable division and department heads (through example). There was a time that I would get anxiety attacks because I felt that my being from a different field put me at a disadvantage whenever compared with my peers. But to hell with that. :) I am only as good as what I aim for. And I will aim for the best.

Nicky-isms

Recently had a pantry lunch advice-giving session with Nicky S. Here are some gems (which includes advice given in the last session):

- Invest in rocks (a.k.a. a girl's best friend) if you don't invest in a business, anyway
- Do not mislead your spouse into thinking that you are not interested in rocks
- Land is a personal investment ("tinitirhan") and not a business investment. Advice originally given out by Lucio Tan daw.
- Think through living arrangements with in-laws. There will be trade-offs.

More to follow...

Exercise, Kill Bill 2 and Marriage

Walked five kilometers around the Bellarmine field last night with my Dad. In full walking gear, hair ponytailed, I faced the prospect of eight rounds of cramped muscles. But I persevered. First of all, it was good to share the exercise with my Dad who badly needs the exercise. Secondly, this was an opportunity to meditate.

Well, what did I end up meditating on?
1) The numbers 1 - 8 in English and German (well beyond the number 5, I sort of made up the rest in German> sex, sept, oct. Haha).
2) Kill Bill 2 (so as not to spoil it for those who haven't watched, I'm not giving much away, okay). And ...
3) the upcoming scenario of married life.

I combined meditation topics 2 & 3 to come up with: The cruel tutelage of marriage. Though marriage may come tinted in pink and packaged in spotless white in Bridal Magazines, we all know that marriage is not a bed of roses. It is, I predict, almost similar to my brisk walking exercise.

#1 - I chose to give up an early bid for beauty sleep in exchange for excruciating exercise.
#2 - I was ready to do repetitive movement for 5 kilometers at least
#3 - I was ready to do this side by side with my Dad without necessarily talking to him and engaging in pleasant conversation
#4 - I was ready to give up by round 2 but I was determined to pursue my goal to the end
#5 - I ended up tired but fulfilled because I knew I had accomplished (a) something with intangible but positive effects and (b) the same applied to not only myself but to someone else

So there. Okay... "cruel" might be an extreme word. "Difficult" is more like it. I may still have romantic notions, not having been married before. But I will try not to hold on to any illusions.

This sounds like a bleak picture. But I know that everything balances out too. There will be as much happiness in my life.

Being a kid at heart

Just had a picnic party for Vier at the Ateneo high school soccer field (near Moro Lorenzo) last June 26 (Sat). This was a birthday and inaugural boomerang throw celebration. In the morning, we all thought we would have to cancel the picnic due to the rain. But towards lunch time the skies started to clear. The picnic was originally supposed to be at the college soccer field but we changed venues so we would have a place to run to in case it rained again.

Of course, I spoiled my own surprise by getting a call from one of the picnic participants while V was with me. Grr. I brought lumpia (Lei's fresh lumpia ala Globe Restaurant of Binondo), 2 litres of Coke Light and all the plastic forks and paper plates. By then, since V already knew about it, we bought all the stuff together. We walked around the soccer field area for a while and settled for a space near the Moro Lorenzo gym. Great planner that I am, I totally forgot to bring a picnic mat. So I ended up putting my picnic basket on the cemented area near the gym.

V took his first shot at boomerang throwing and I was glad the boomerang actually spun around back to our general direction. General is the operative word. At least it wasn't a rip-off. We had fun throwing the boomerang around, sweating while running after it and throwing it again. At one point, the boomerang landed on the roof of Moro Lorenzo and V had to ask one of the "manongs" to get it (since he couldn't fit in the portion of the ladder that was locked off). He ended up with not only the boomerang but an Adidas soccer ball as well.

Chris showed up first with his gift for V from both him and Prix: a yoyo that lights up everytime you toss it. Then Maisa showed up to save the day with her waterproof mat that somehow never found its way outside her car. Yes!!! She also brought Kobe chips (made in China!) and 4 green granny apples. Yum. Lia arrived with Caramel and Chocolate Fudge McDo sundaes. The perfect ending to our picnic meal. Benjie arrived later, just in time for our games. We played Munchkin (brought by Maisa). V finally won his first game of Munchkin! After Munchkin, we played Bang (brought by Chris). Lia won as the Sheriff but she was really lucky since she played the Dynamite card.

All in all, it was a lovely afternoon and evening. We lay around under the sky and revelled in the grass. We played with boomerangs and board games and ate our hearts out. Afterwards, we all met up for V's wine and cheese party at his house in Morato where we continued the revelry. By then, I was tired out and ended up napping half the party away with Prix at V's room.

It's great to be a kid at heart! And even more fun to have a bunch of friends who are kids at heart as well. :)

Today is V's Birthday

This is going to be a short post. Just wanted to announce V's birthday. Here's to my inspiration and my partner in life! Let's give him one big hip-hip-hooray! I'm glad that he's in my life and I thank God for every moment with him.

He's such a child at heart. He always makes me laugh and he's taught me how to step back and appreciate all the little things that make life great. Some people take the little things for granted. I really appreciate the love, time and effort that he has put into our relationship. Several posts ago, I wrote about how he's given me room to dance. In celebration of this wonderful guy's birthday, I'm posting the lyrics to our favorite song. It's our story, in a way, and it's wonderful to slow dance to (don't mind the fact that there's no spring, autumn and winter here in the Philippines...other than that, you get the idea):

That's All Lyrics

(Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes)

I can only give you love that lasts forever
And a promise to be near each time you call,
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone,
That's all, that's all.


I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall,
And a love whose burning light
Will warm the winter night,
That's all, that's all.


There are those, I am sure, who have told you
They would give you the world for a toy.
All I have are these arms to enfold you
And a love time can never destroy.


If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore
For now and ever more,
That's all, that's all.


~interlude~


If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore
For now and ever more,
That's all...that's all.

At Long Bar, Raffles Hotel, where peanut shells on the floor are encouraged 

At Asian Civilization Museum 

My niece, Yana.  

Sleepy in Singapore

My first trip to Singapore. Yay! But I feel like sleeping off my tired bones here. Had so much to finish the whole week culminating with all the stuff I had to do last night that I felt like I was sleepwalking through my packing.

It's the Great Singapore Sale but haven't seen one good buy yet. I was just so tired going through three malls. It was like windowshopping galore. Very frustrating. The stuff I want are priced at around P4K. Duh. Might as well buy it in the Philippines.

Off to Communicasia tomorrow. Dinner with hosts tonight.

This is sounding like a telegram. I'm. Just. So. Tired.

Great Sale in Singapore and I'm answering office e-mail in my hotel room. Mementos: marble table top at a 5-star hotel (Grand Hyatt), my first Business Class Ticket, complimentary orange and room key.  

Hissy Fit

I read the phrase in one of the bridal magazines I have on my mag rack. Hissy fit. I'm having a quiet one now. I'm feeling uncomfortable and sad and strangely alone in a crowded room. Instead of throwing a fit I am slowly imploding. This was an experiment in posting over the mobile phone. Not as efficient. But just the same... I caught myself in a moment. This moment where I am emotionally weak because I let myself be upset over a little thing. I couldn't help feeling hurt. One can't help it. But I could have thrown it out the door if I really wanted to. Instead I dwelt on the hurt the whole night. A hissy fit. Bawling at V. After that, it felt better. I just needed some release I guess.

Common Kindness

I'm still in the office. Why am I still in the office? I don't know. Maybe I'm fulfilling my destiny. Maybe. Maybe it's because I needed to write this:

Common Kindness
(for C)

Walking with you to the
almost empty lot
I did not realize
your gratitude
for my plain
presence.

Darkness, solitude,
the puddled distance
from a crowded mall to
your car,
these things took on a shape
for you
that I did not fully
fathom.

Such a little thing, really.
Amiable company.
Nothing I would
think over.

But your profuse
thankfulness
reminds me
that common kindness
can be so
rare.

And yet
that simplest of gestures
can make
a sturdy bridge
across the widest
chasm.

"Mag-kumot ka"

I am typing this out in V's house. I hope he forgives me for using his Edsamail account to download the hello app and to post pictures saved on his computer. Hehe.

Anyway, this will be a short post. But a very useful one. Manang Juaning, V's sister's 'masahista' just gave me a massage. After the session she asked me, "Nag-kukumot ka ba?" (Do you use a blanket?). What a strange question but I said yes. Apparently I said the right thing. She smiled in approval (as in the smile that says, "I knew it! This girl is doing the right thing!") and began telling me the virtues of using a blanket.

Using a blanket will reduce your chances of getting arthritis, scoliosis (I hope I spelled that right) and varicose veins. Yes, varicose veins. Apparently, exposing your body to the cold will bring out the veins on your legs and feet! Okay, okay, she may have been making it up but no, she says that she has been massaging a number of people (more women than men) over the years and always the lack of a blanket has been the culprit for many aches and pains. She has been conducting an informal study that has led her to this conclusion. Wrapping yourself up at night makes your blood circulate better and makes your flesh and joints more supple. So there. Enough said. Please, please use a blanket. Make the most of our wonderful, warm Philippine weather and put it to good use on your body. We are luckier than most Northern hemisphere countries where they spend big bucks just to keep warm. Put off the aircon and pull up that blanket.

Magkumot ka and keep arthritis away for as long as you possibly can. :)

Yosemite 

Love, above all

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed every morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, what you know that breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love,
stay in love
and it will decide
everything. "

- Attributed to Pedro Arrupe, S.J. (1907 - 1991), Superior General of the Society of Jesus, 1961 - 1984

I read this out of the bulletin board at the Gesu chapel in the Ateneo campus. I was so struck by it that I missed communion because I was so intent on capturing the passage on my phone (I actually had V type it out on his phone and send it to me via SMS).

"It will decide everything." That is so compelling, so true. If you let love rule your heart, you will do everything for it. Priorities will be set, decisions will not be any easier but decisions will be made in the light of your life's direction. I was so affected that I could feel tears forming in my eyes. It reminded me of what was important. Above all, it is a love that is larger than my life. For me, God can only be glimpsed in such love, "caritas," "agape." Love that is not easy. Love that demands only all of your life.

"What you know that breaks your heart." Because of what we hold dear, we open ourselves to the deepest kind of wound. And it's beautiful how the passage describes that what you love will open you not only to beauty and joy but to pain. Not just any kind of pain, but the kind of pain that will break your heart. I remember the passage on pain by Kahlil Gibran. Pain is the other face of joy. Without it, your joy will be shallow. Your greatest experience of joy is measured only by the depth of your greatest experience of pain.

Love transforms you in this way.

And the least I can do is to write this down. To write this down for myself and for anyone who would care to read this.

Dancing Again

I used to dance when I was a kid. I was a spontaneous dancer. Everytime music would play I would automatically dance. I was a shameless dancer. I actually remember that.

Somewhere between the age of 6 and 12 I put away the dancing. Maybe I realized I wasn't any good at it (which I doubt, because I would dance at will, without thinking whether I was good or lousy). Or maybe it was the new culture at home brought on by a new parent (my Dad remarried).

Sometime mid-may, V and I went to an informal Salsa dancing class. Dancing again. It's akin to love. A grace in a blighted world. An expression of humanity that is poetic in nature.

I'm so glad V has the dance-bug in him. It's corny but it's like quoting directly from "The Bridges of Madison County." He has given me "room to dance again."