My Most Fascinating People of the Year - Work Category

I have been MIA from my blog for almost 6 full months!!!! Soooo many things happened but I am so grateful that I had gone into sabbatical because I have so much to share with you all.

I'd like to start this new segment of my blog featuring the fascinating people making my life more delightful. I'd like to start with the people I work with.

First and foremost, since I lost my 7-year job to a ridiculous, unfair labor practice (which I won the case BTW), I am so loving my new company now especially the peeps! But the things that happened next are so unexpectedly good -- and I am a strong believer of fate.

Our good God closed a small window but opened a HUGE door for me. I am so blessed! I wanted you to meet these cool folks I am currently working with.

Let's start with my top favorite. Meet Sam aka Ms Giggles. She is our hardworking, smart, smiley Program Lead/SME from our Sydney, Australia branch. She always has a smile on her face and giggles a lot hence the nickname. She is not just my boss but also a friend and I love her forever! We've only been together for four months but we've shared a lot of priceless moments that I consider one of my life's pleasant surprises. She adores Freedom so much she wanted to steal him! She is beautiful in and out, and has a very good heart. Btw, she is such a fast learner she already knows a lot of Tagalog words! Her fave words include charing, ayaw, and tawad which she pronounces tuwad hahaha!. Till we meet again, love! xx

 
Meet Robert aka Beefy Bobby. This hunk is one of our SMEs and is the ultimate heart throb of all GSSC (sorry Bobby!). He remains cool one hundred percent of the time! His favorite word is "Biyernes" and we went out a lot together with Sam and the rest of the gang on numerous Friday nights eating his fave "pulutan" Sisig! But he is not just a pretty face. Behind those pretty boy looks is a family-oriented and hopeless romantic English Bobby who easily remains humble despite his stardom status here in Manila. I'm sure Jo (the gorgeous GF) is pretty pleased with this news!

 I'm excited for this next item (LOL) in this entry. Meet my funny friend, Gio! We call him Giome. He is a self-made man, working while studying and has an International Relations degree. He jokingly claims he graduated from Massachussets State University (it really was Mindanao btw) even though he stil doesn't own a passport yet haha!. He is an extremely talented comedian and is one of the reasons why I enjoy work so much. He never fails to throw funny jokes at anyone and people in the room would just laugh their asses off and for that, I can't imagine to have been enjoying work as much as I do now.

Next! OM Erly as we fondly call her due to her dress-to-kill outfits that entitled her looking like a diva, Madame Operations Manager in the office. She is our bunso (youngest in the team) and loves travelling (so Madame like!). We enjoy going out with her simply because she is always on the go! She is full of life and I so love that about her. She is always there to assist anyone with anything -- she is our go-to girl (no pun intended!). She never gets angry even though the boys in the team always enjoy throwing jokes at her. She is just one confident, awesome girl who's always happy you can ever ruin her day.

And presenting ---- our beauty queen, Yami! She is the sexiest, yummiest and the most gorgeous claims officer GSSC has! She dresses and carries herself perfectly that Gio would sometimes joke about how he would love to push her in the middle of the street with cars and busses running! Haha! She is our inspiration when it comes to being beautiful and sexy! She has the hard-core discipline when it comes to wellness and eating right. There are days though that she so wanted to unfriend us already 'cause the gang just loves to eat all the time. She is the most pleasant person you'll ever meet, never gets angry as well and teaches me a lot of funny lingos I've never heard of before. She tells funny stories all the time. One thing I love about her is her love for her family. She has a very funny relationship with her father who usually cooks and prepares baon for her every day. They always bicker every time his father has a broken heart and acts like a highschool boy! So cute!

Last item on the list but never the least is my ever-coolest TL, Dimples! This small but terrible woman has the cutest and sexiest skirts ramping the GSSC runway! She is our team mother, financier, confidante, friend and driver -- who would not like that? She would come as very strict at first but she is all naughty and nice! She is very kind and you will see the beauty in her once you know her. By the way, her cellphone number is ---- LOL!

I'd like you to also meet these peeps that complete that the team.

 QA peeps, Gelo and Thea! Thea is a mother of two beautiful girls. Gelo is our most awesome QA who's always been kind even though the team keeps on jokingly bashing him whenever he gives QA feedbacks.

 Arni is our SME from Victoria, Australia. The team is always eager to listen to his interesting stories. He adores his 4-year-old daughter and I also adore him for that.

And to complete the team  --

The Krukuto boys!!! They are the hotties of our team. Remember when pigeons make "krukuto sounds" every time you feed them? These hunks are mimicking that sound every time they hear crumpling plastic wrap of food (junk food) ready to be opened. They're also the ones who always provide food for the team in our sleepy, after-lunch witching hour.

The Melmo tandem! Mel and Lae Telmo. Kurukuto boys gave this tandem name. You cannot separate these two. They sit together, they lunch together, they almost do things together at work.

 The beautiful girls of the team! Tin, Lae, Thea, Berna, Mel and Katz

Beautiful faces.

When our GM, David Hampton, visited us in Manila! He is such a joy to be around. He is so funny and very down to earth. We miss Simon though!

I'd like to make a special mention here of Simon. He's the one with a golf club in the caricature photo. Simon is our National Claims Manager who trained us for the first two weeks. If David is our team grandpa, Simon is our team father! He's so cool and has a very calm demeanor and he also adores his 3-year-old daughter.

And since we've been spending a great deal of time when Bobby and Sam are still here in Manila, here are some of the photos showing how fun we had and would still have in the future.

  I've been searching high and low for a picture when we met Sam's love, Matt, but failed. This one was when Matt visited Sam here in Manila and they went on a holiday to Boracay! Matt is so fun to be with, smart talking guy, and tells a lot of interesting stories. The Mister wished he stayed a little longer in Manila though :(

 Bobby, Jo, Moi, The Mister

When Jo visited Bobby! They are a power couple! Jo is a Venezuelan-Colombian gorgeous fashion designer from UK. She used to design baby clothes and I was so thrilled to know this since I was itching to start Freedom Fashion since the start of the year. Jo is a very nice girl and I truly enjoyed the short time we spent talking to each other when she was still here.

 Showing Bobby and Sam how to eat "balut."

Look at Bobby's face! Haha

Lunching at Le-Ching when we brought Bobby and Sam to Greenhills for some Christmas shopping.

The gang went to Intramuros!

Freedom was wondering why Sam has green eyes and blonde hair!

Far left is Veen (our smartest transition specialist) with his pretty daughters, Ivy and Iris, far right is TL Ana

Yami, Erly, Bobby (jokingly posing around)

Brunching at Ilustrado (their New York Cheesecake and Beef Mami are a must-try!)

For Santiago, Intramuros

Off we went to China Town!

Afternoon coffee at Bayleaf.

With Veen's daughter, Ivy.

Checking out the nice view .

The team lounging at F1 Hotel (Sam's farewell party)

Giome goofing around.

Sammie in the house!

The fabulous people I get to work with every day.

Ken, Erly, Mel, Yami, Troy, Tin

With Sarah and Heath (Sam's fellow SMEs)

After pool swimming.

With Yami, Bobby and Erly

Yami, Dimples, Gio

The past few months have really been awesome because of these fascinating people that I've been with. Old friends are forever precious in my heart but meeting new friends are always a delight.  I'm glad that I got the opportunity to know them. I thought losing my job was one of the lowlights but I was so wrong. This detour was one hell of an adventure!

Next on my list -- My Most Fascinating People of the Year - Fellow Mommies Category!
                           My Most Fascinating People of the Year - Personal Life Category!

Summer Fresh

Second OOTD for Freedom Fashion Week 2!

Actually, we are just on our way to Tita Olive's condominium for a visit and a swim. While walking to  Dolora's Pancit Malabon to pick up what we ordered, he saw the graffiti, struck a pose and I don't have any other choice but to get a photo of this cutest.

DIY tie shirt by Mom, Landmark summer green shorts, Toes shoes, Cotton on Kids shades

 

 

The Nerd Punk

As promised! Week 2 of Freedom Fashion. Here we go....

DIY mustache shirt by Mommy, Lipton Baby orange cargo shorts, Fashion Market red espadrilles and red spectacles

So man like! My baby is growing up so fast.

Khaki Kool

Second Freedom Fashion OOTD of the weekend!

Green sando top, Teeny Tiny khaki shorts, Sandugo flip-flops, Cotton On Kids Shades

My 2-year-old Bugoy!

Summer Is Here!

I so wanted to do this ever since I've become a mom and finally starting this new addition to my blog called "Freedom Fashion!"

These are simply OOTD shots of my 2-year-old son in simple and cool clothes that I put him on whenever we go out especially on weekends. I'll make sure I'm gonna have an OOTD post of him at least once a week!

This is his first ever OOTD shot!

Week 1: Summer Basics

Summer basics: Plain white shirt, SM denim shorts, Toes shoes, Cotton on Kids shades

You have to admit though, this kid got the attitude! LOL! Way to go, son.

Freedom is 2!

Dearest Son,

Happy Birthday, my little guy! You just turned 2 and nights from your birthday, I switched your lullaby song from "Torete" to "Happy Birthday" medley just because you requested for it. You are so funny that even when your eyes are closed, drifting away to sleep with Mommy's lullaby, you still manage to request what song Mommy would sing for you! Pretty hilarious!

It has been a great journey with you, Anak. The joy you constantly give me and your Tatay is just amazing! Today, we celebrated your birthday with a simple lunch in our small neighborhood. You woke up to Mommy and Tatay singing "Happy Birthday" to you. You can't barely open your eyes then but you were smiling and giggling! 

We started our day at 7am running errands, had some breakfast, took a shower, went to buy your cake, and decorated to make your day more special. Tatay cooked spaghetti for you. Tito RR, Nana and Tita Remy grilled liempo and tilapia, cooked shanghai rolls and pancit bihon which you loved! You jumped, hopped, played basketball and pretended to be Dagohoy in between! But the highlight of it all was you blowing your candles until they're at their shortest! Haha!

 

 These are all Mommy's DIY!

Celebrating your birthday robot style!

Rocking your shaved head on your big day!

Dagohoy on his favorite Minion shirt.

Your Tatay kept on convincing you to blow the candles for the LAST time but you still insisted "more" and since it's your birthday, he let you blow them  like a hundred times! Haha!

This day was so much fun and we are so glad you enjoyed it! 

My Freedom rocks!!!!!

Love,

Mommy

2013 to 2014

As we end this year today, I am very hopeful for the coming new year. And feeling this way is a great sign that life is just getting exciting, better and worth living. I claim that 2014 will be the best year ever. Crossroads will be overcome with God by our side, our hearts' desires will be God-given, our heartaches will all be God-healed.

We hit so many bumps along the way this year (God knows how many they were!), but we managed to overcome them in God's grace. We have learned so many lessons from them and we are more equipped than ever to face this new year's obstacles with God's love as our guide.

Yes, there were many challenges but the blessings were just overwhelmingly, surprisingly huge!

The greatest news? Freedom is at his healthiest this year! No more asthma attacks! Good Lord, thank you for healing my child. I would never trade this gift for anything else! The bestest of God's blessings!

2013 was a year of roller coaster trips to parks and playgrounds! It was a year of quality family time! I can't count how many those trips were as doing so gives me exhaustion from memories of either running and playing with Freedom, playing ball, sword fighting, trains and animal rides, fish and turtle feeding, duck watching, walking meters to miles, pushing strollers.

2013 was the year our home sweet home was turned over! Yeah! This was the greatest accomplishment for me and the Mister. Walking down this road was no joke I tell you, but God is just so good!

And to the love of my life, 2013 was the year I realized that without your gift of love, I cannot do all these wonderful things. You helped me strengthen my faith. You urged me to go back to God. You led by example by taking Freedom to church even without me. I'd be really lost without you. Thank you for everything that you've done for our family.

And to the my Mama and Papa whom I owe everything to, I am forever grateful of how you raised and brought me into this world. I hope that we could spend more time as a whole family in 2014 and the years to come. I am every day praying for your good health and peace of mind. I will forever love you to bits.

I can say that the best thing that happened to me in 2013 was that some time within this year, I renewed my relationship with God. It's the greatest feeling I wish could have happened earlier. But as God always welcomes His children with open arms, He took me back and comforted me in ways I could never fathom. I was blown away.

Thank you, Lord, for taking me back again as your child. My days for the new year will always start and end with you.