Cherish the Moment

Every day down to the tiniest second must be a valued time shared with your loved ones.  I am saying this because you will never know how long each moment will last.  There is no guarantee that the persons around you will stay forever.  The moment may not be happy at all times but the fact that they are with you, there is still a chance to spend the days better.  And each time spent will be part of a treasured memory that will be kept forever.

Being the eldest in the family, I have always been fond of my siblings.  After 28 years since I was born, I never thought that my siblings will be married and start a family.  Two of them are already planning to settle a life with their special loved ones.  Of course I am happy for them.  It was just ironic that they are getting into married life while I am getting out of it.  I am just saddened that they will no longer be with us at all times.  Surely they will be missed.  I told myself that this will not mean a loss but will be a bigger family circle. 

This is an eye opener for me, specially for my baby.  I will surely spend each moment with her and see to it that I am present in every  highlights of her life.  

 

The Package

This my ice breaker speech, delivered for our Toast Masters session last October 21.  Read on, and know more about me...

 

I woke up this morning, trying to get past sleepy mode.  I looked in the mirror and asked myself, how will I deliver this icebreaker speech about myself.  Will I enumerate my characteristics, my likes and dislikes, or let them know bits and pieces of my life?  And I have decided to do them all.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Ann Margaret Danga-Pardo, 28 years old and I am a mother packer!  A Mother because I am a mom of a cute and cuddly 2 year-old daughter, named Trisha Marianne.  And a packer, because I work in a packaging company, that is San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation, for 4 years, seven months and six days to be exact.

Basically, I am a mother packed with super abilities to juggle my career and family life.  A seasoned young lady who has been through an adventurous journey, with ups and downs, bumps and crashes, but always gets back on her feet.  When I was young, I have always been eager to grow up fast not realizing the big responsibilities you have to face when you are a grown up.  But I am always up for the challenge.  As the eldest child among five siblings, I have been taught by my parents to be responsible enough for the whole family.  I have to watch for my brothers and sister and be patient enough in dealing with them.  I was molded to be compassionate, understanding and hardworking.  At times, I may have my mood swings.  I guess that is another reason for being a woman and being an artist as well.  Being an artist just made me express myself through works of art and pushed my creative limits.  I get to know myself better.

As I entered the corporate world, I knew this is another phase of learning.  The real battlefield where only the fittest will survive.  I started from a small company and jumped from one work to another, trying to find a place to fit in.  I worked as a graphic artist, sales, media relations and accounts executive, dealing with different folks of different strokes.  I almost thought of giving up, for graduating with honors from college, expectations from me are very high.  But then I said to myself, I never dreamed of anything I can not achieve.  I worked my way out. Finally, I landed here in San Miguel as an Account Executive under Design Centre here in Packaging, a job that suits me best.

Family for me is my top priority.  Although job may be demanding but when it concerns my family, I have to stop everything I have been doing.  I work to live and not live to work.  Especially now that I have a loving daughter to attend to, I do not want to miss the highlights of her life.  I always wanted to be there for her, for you can only see her as a child once and there is no rewind when you missed a scene.  From work, I may be tough, but at home, I am soft hearted.  I am really sensitive when it comes to family issues, maybe because of my current situation. 

 

But this does not stop me from dreaming, I may have loved and lost but I do not regret the things that happened in my life, for I believe that things have their own purpose.  You may not know it now, it may be hard to understand, but things will work what is best for you.  I have deep faith with God which I trying to pass on to my daughter.

A good package comes in different shapes and sizes.  It was molded and created through good craftsmanship.  A package to survive the test of time.

I am Ann Margaret Danga-Pardo and I am a Mother Packer! 

 

 

 

My Toast Masters 101

Hahaha!  Glad to blog again, if not with the brainstorming I needed for my 1st toastmaster's speech, I guess I will not be here.

Yes, I am now a member of the Toast Masters in our office with members from the Makati club.  I have attended 2 meetings and for our upcoming meeting this Wednesday, I will deliver my first speech.  They call it the Icebreaker, where new members will talk about themselves.  Just to give you a little briefing, this session is held every Wednesdays of the week at 7pm in our office, where members are gathered here to practice speaking in front of an audience.  I believe that this is a good practice especially for people who does a lot of communication in their jobs like Sales/Account Executives, DJs, Hosts, journalists, etc.  What I admired about this club is they correct your grammar, they make you think creatively on how to deliver speeches through their Table Topics and you interact with other people.

I am trying to squeeze out my creative juices for my working title as well as my intro and my ending.  Whooaah!  I hope I get this right.  I just needed a good start and I know, I can do it!  I'll try to post my speech.  Wish me luck!

A thought of Love

Few days ago, I overheard the TV series of Juday & hubby Ryan, "George & Cecil". It reminded me with two of my friends who ended up together in marriage and are now working in Dubai. I just thought that after the heartache's from their past relationships, the on & off kind of relationship and other sour things that happened between them, they finally made it through. They finally found their match. Someone filled the missing part of their lives that they complemented each other.

On the side, I thought to myself, how long do I have to wait for my long lost love. I've been through a lot of heartaches, learned my lessons well, I even had my baby, when will my night and shinning armour rescue me from my loneliness? When will love find me again? I no longer want to wait for love, I will just allow love to find me.

One of our conversations with my good and very supportive friends, how was the criteria I now have after all the things that happened? Does it become higher or lower? For me, my criteria went higher, for I finally realized that during my past relationships, it was always me who tried to make the relationship work, until I got tired to enslaving myself for their love. I pittied myself for doing this. Now, I know that whoever comes, should love finds me again, it will be greater than the past relationships I had because I know my worth and I am worth loving for.

Baby turns 2!

Last Sunday, we just celebrated my baby's 2nd birthday.  Wow!  Time moves sooo fast, I feel old now.  Soon she'll go to school at 4 or 5 years of age, which will eat up my salary.  Hehehe.  Anyway, going back to her birthday, we went to Aling Tonya's in Macapagal Highway and had lunch with the family.  Marco's GF Frances is our special guest for her to meet the whole family as well - aside from our immediate family, we have our lola, 2 titas & 3 cousins.  Of course the menu, mouthwatering seafood galore!  We had crabs in 2 different dishes, one steamed, while the other with oyster sauce.  Papa asked a co-employee to buy the crabs in Bicol.  Then clam soup, calamares & baked tahong for appetizers.  We also had Shrimps in 2 dishes also, tempura and steamed.  Pork Liempo which my Tita contributed.  For dessert, the birthday cake, we had 2 cakes from Estrelles.  The Caramel Cake for my baby, while the Marshmallow cake for Lola & Zorro.  Super yummy cakes, as its not too sweet with the soft sponge  cake that's just right after having  the main course.  You'll really ask for more, if you're not in a diet.  Since we had 3 celebrants for August.  Everyone's full after that big lunch, wherein we started eating at 12:30pm and finished by 2:30pm.  

After lunch, we strolled in MOA for 3 hours and went to Mass in Malate Church for the 6pm mass.  Really enjoyed the time with my family, so glad to have them around, specially my loving daughter.

Well again, Happy Birthday my dear Trisha!  Love you always, Mommy...

The Man from Never Land

A man once came, whom I thought will be the fulfillment of a dream.  

He is attractively mysterious, playful & magical.  

He comes and he goes his own ways to live by.

He doesn't worry for the future and doesn't dwell on the past.

He just lives for the day and tomorrow is nothing but a blast.

He talks of his adventures, like a bold shining knight.

And takes me away dreamily, under a cold moonlight.

It is like a fantasy that came to a reality.

A man who fights for me against the pirates of the sea.

We share our days in Never Land, with his games and foolish ways.

But doing the same routine everyday made me look forward for tomorrow.

So I have to stop and look at the clock, to see that time has left me behind.

I suddenly came back to my senses, I have to go back where I once lived.

I bid him goodbye keeping his promise, he will often visit and just be around.

Every night I waited, hoping he will be back.

Hours to days, weeks to months, years to decades.

Not even a shadow came by the window panes. 

He must be with the mermaids singing or with tiny fairies playing.

Or he might have been asleep with his dreams in Never Land.

I realized I can not be with my Peter Pan for I am real and he is only a fantasy.

We are worlds apart of dreams and reality.

Painful Goodbyes

Have you ever lost anything or someone so valuable to you?   It can be an object or a special person who can be a family member, a friend or a lover?

While driving for work this morning, i heard a topic in RX 93.1's Morning Rush with Chico & Del, about why is it sad to let go or when does it hurt to miss someone.  They said, 'when you know he or she is not going back'.

True enough, YES, when somebody leaves for abroad, perhaps a friend or a special someone, who leaves due to unavoidable circumstances, its sad because you know you're going to miss them.  But then, you know they are just around and will be back for sometime.  You even get excited to receive messages through calls, cellphone, email, etc., specially now that we're living in a hi-tech world where communication is very easy.

On the other hand, when somebody leaves because its their time, death for instance, it pains because you know they're not coming back.  It may be scary to have them around but seriously, you're in 2 different worlds, the living and the dead.  There is no other way of communication but only through prayers and reminiscing the good old memories you've had.

The most painful of all is seeing the person you longed to be with but you know for a fact that he can no longer be yours.  It goes with the saying 'So near yet so far'.  It's the same feeling you  have when somebody dies.  What hurts more is you can still see him around and knowing that the pain he left behind is still there.   It may take sometime to fully recover but life has to move on.  The song below is a personal favorite, read on & reminisce the love you once had but can never be...

GOODBYE

Airsupply

I can see the pain living in your eyes 

And I know how hard you try 

You deserve to have so much more 

I can feel your heart and I sympathize 

And I'll never criticize 

All you've ever meant to my life 

I don't want to let you down 

I don't want to lead you on 

i don't want to hold you back 

From where you might belong 

You would never ask me why 

My heart is so disguised 

I just can't live a lie anymore 

I would rather hurt myself 

Than to ever make you cry 

There's nothing left to say but goodbye 

You deserve the chance at the kind of love 

I'm not sure i'm worthy of 

Losing you is painful to me 

I don't want to let you down 

I don't want to lead you on 

i don't want to hold you back 

From where you might belong 

You would never ask me why 

My heart is so disguised 

I just can't live a lie anymore 

I would rather hurt myself 

Than to ever make you cry 

There's nothing left to say but goodbye 

You would never ask me why 

My heart is so disguised 

I just can't live a lie anymore 

I would rather hurt myself 

Than to ever make you cry 

There's nothing left to try 

Though it's gonna hurt us both 

There's no other way than to say goodbye

Sick Leaves

I am sooo glad that my diarrhea is over!  Special thanks to Diatabs.

I had a bad tummy Tuesday last week, at night that I wasn't able to work on Wednesday and I even missed the Thanksgiving dinner given by our bosses to the Sales team (where i am part of).

I think its because of the rich and creamy sauce of the carbonara we ate over lunch last Tuesday.  Then at night, i had to goto the CR 2x and 4x during the wee hours of the morning.  I just don't like to go back to the toilet and release all the food i got.  Although it made my tummy smaller.  Hehehe.

After recovering from diarrhea, i just had a fever last Sunday, a couple of cough and colds as well.  I wasn't able to join my boss to our trip to Cebu for 2 days, where we will have a business presentation with 2 new clients.  I guess i only needed enough rest to take good care of myself and to spend more time with my baby and my family.  I have to  take 2 days of Sick Leave this week and tomorrow I will be fit for work again.

A Bollywood Night

I haven't posted for the past week coz been busy with dance practices for our Bollywood Night, which was held last June 19 in Taboo.  Every quarter, we have this awarding ceremony for the the top sales group and last Friday is the 1st Q awarding.  Aside from that we always have this presentation per group with the assigned theme for the said Awards Night.  

Inspired by the Slumdog Millionaire movie and  Jai Ho Song, we have to come up with a presentation with a plot, a song and dance combination.  Of course there's a criteria for judging that our group strictly followed.  Hahaha, biased noh.  We conceptualized and thought of a good story with comedic character names that will catch the audience attention.  

The plot: A beautiful princess named Princess Mahatma Gandha, with her chuby but charming jalalay Madambha, from a faraway Indian kingdom is in search for her prince.  With the blessings of her father, King Haringking King, they searched for princes who will capture the princess heart through a dance showdown.  The 3 princes are the twins Randjhit Anghit and Kuhtesh Galesh, and Kharima Rhimarim.  Eventually the princess has chosen Prince Kharima Rhimarim.  Only to find out that the real Princess Mahatma Gandha is the chuby charming jalalay Madambha.  

 

A series of songs were combined to link the story matched with a rhythmic dance number.  The song list as follows: Dhoom Taana, Single Ladies, Let's Get It On, Stop in The Name of Love, The One you love, Careless Whisper, Poker Face, Jai Ho (orig), Krazy and Dhoom Taana. 

The dance number is great, even if its not that synchronized, but still we won.  The prize, a lunch date with the bosses.  Well its quite okay, although the group would still prefer cash prize.  

We had 4 consecutive days rehearsing and completing the dance steps.  The Hindu dance is surely difficult, so my team mates and I had to simplify the dance moves so everyone can easily follow.  

Part of the criteria is the costume.  I was surprised with the effort and creativity that the whole group showed.  We didn't expect that our costumes will be as colorful and as realistic as the Hindu costumes.  With all the skirts, blouses, shawls and other accessories for the ladies.  Also the guys costumes their head gears/turban, tops and pants.  For the ladies, it wouldn't be complete without the beautiful make up thats attractively great on all of us.  We also drawn mustaches, beard and thicker eyebrows for the guys.

This kind of awarding we have is a break from the hectic work schedule.  After all these awarding, its party time again, with drinks for merriment.  Everyone danced the night away up to the wee hours of the morning.  We ended the party at 2:30am.  Really enjoyed this!  A clean fun!  No worries, no tears and no fears!

Tagaytay Get Away

It was a very refreshing Saturday we had!  Family went to Tagaytay and visited places to relax and enjoy the scenery, food and of course each other's company, our bonding time.  First stop is at Paradizoo.  We came there around 11am, i guess, and we were the first visitors to arrive.  It's a farm with domesticated animals you can take photos with up close.  Well my mom and our helper didn't enjoyed it much since they've grown up in the province and its not that spectacular for them.  But my baby surely enjoyed it.  She was very friendly to everyone, posing for pictures everywhere, with us, the view and the animals.  At first, little girl is scared touching the goats and the pony but later on, she even took a ride from the pony.  Funny though, the pony stepped on my toe.  Maybe it got irritated with us, hehehe.

Next stop is lunch time at Josephine's.  We spent 2 hours for lunch.  The menu: Crispy Kangkong, Baked Tahong and Talaba, Bulalo, Crispy Pata, Kare-Kare, Beef Tapa, Bibingka and Puto Bungbong.  Mom and I had 2 cups of Hot Taragon Tea.  Actually, one serving is good for 4 cups, we thought that 1 cup is only good for one person, we even shared the tea to everyone.  Our British visitor can't eat the Talaba and Tahong, it makes him sick.  But he ate the Crispy Kangkong and he also liked the Puto Bungbong than the Bibingka.  He did enjoy the meal.

Then, after chatting and resting in Josephines, we moved to a relaxing moment at Sonia's Garden.  All of us had the Sonia's Signature Massage and take note that even my little kid had her own massage in her bahay kubo.  She did enjoy, according to our helper, who stayed with her while we're having our own massage.  She even fell asleep and when the massage is done, she woke up and started to look for everyone.  hehehe.  Good thing her Tita finished first and checked her out.  Then all of us followed one by one to her kubo after the one hour massage.

The scenery is very relaxing.  Inside the massage rooms, I liked their shower room coz it has a window with running water flowing so they won't see you naked outside.  Music is calming and their soap smells good.  How I wish I can have that kind of shower room when we get to have our own house.  hahaha.  We also bought pop beans, fresh salad veggies, salad dressings and cheese hopia.  

We passed by Caleruega to revisit the Church and the place where we had our retreat back in High School.  Well, a lot of things has changed, 12 years ago.  Wow, that long means I'm getting older.  My 3 other siblings also reminisced their high school days retreat.  We were pointing at places where we had the star gazing, pictorials with our teachers and friends, etc. 

For our last stop, we had coffee and apple pie in Bag of Beans.  They serve this specialty coffee, Coffee Alamid, coffee beans are being pooped out by Civet cats.  Well, it surely tastes good, just don't mention it came out from the cats.  Hahaha.  A friend says that their Chicken pie is a must try, maybe in our next visit.

So we traveled back home but we also checked out the sale in Adidas and Lee in Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Laguna.  My brother and his gf bought some jeans and some other items.  It's 50% off the regular price.  Too bad, nothing fits me.  I guess I have to push through with my exercise to have my waist lower at 27 or 26 inches.  Wonder how long do I have to go to the gym?

Anyway, that's it.  What can I say but 'ANG SAYA SAYA!  Lalo na kasi LIBRE!'

  

Gymboree

Finally, i went back to the gym today.  I've been trying to visit the gym at most 3 times a week, pero most of the time once a week lang.  Bakhet?  Kasi nga hectic ang schedule.  Sa dami ng workload you have to attend to.  And most of the time, i want to go home agad to be with my little darling.  I've been trying to get up early para mas refreshing and i don't have to stay out late.  Kaya lang its difficult.  I really need to discipline myself.  Nagagawa ko lang gumising ng maaga pag coding ako.  Ayun nakaka-exercise ako ng umaga.

Siguro if i can go to the gym 3 times a week, baka ang seksi ko na ngaun.  Hehehe.  Sabi nga ng baby ko 'uy chechi', meaning 'uy Seksi'.  Told my baby 'sige anak, paninindigan ko ang pagiging chechi.'

Kaya balik na ulit sa GYM!

A Day Out of Work

Well, I took a leave from work coz its my day today.  I just want to spend my quiet time with family and my mini me.  Still, can't stop myself from checking my email coz I got calls and text messages from clients whom I have to attend to immediately.  Tuloy pa rin ang trabaho kahit nasa bahay ka!  Iba lang ang venue!

My sister's bf is here today. He's a British and he's good, he mingled with the whole family even with my baby.  Nosebleed na nga kami kaka-english and british accent pa. Hehehe! Pero okay naman, he doesn't mind that we speak tagalog around him.  We all sang using our Magic Sing Videoke, and it was fun.  Finally, he got the highest score of 97 after several trials.  hehehe.  And he loved Red Horse Beer which we served him.  He said he would like to take some at home. The alcohol content isn't that strong for him.  Sabi niya, there are other beers back home that's stronger but not that good as Red Horse Beer.  Siyempre 'Ito ang Tama'.  He also drinks San Miguel but I think its a Mexican brand.  I should let him try the other San Miguel Beer products we have here.  He actually had the beer as his water.  Ewan ko nga kung naka-ilang Red Horse beer in can na siya.  And so are my siblings, they've been drinking now while playing the Rock Band.  Ayos na trip diva!  

Crush just Puffed!

"Waaaah!  Wala ng Crush!  Sabi ko na nga sa sarili ko ayoko na magka-crush! Kasi nag crash lang din ang puso ko!  Pathetic!"

I just found out that my not so serious crush (i hope) already had a gf.  And they just celebrated 1 year.  Well at least he isn't married.  Unlike me who's got a complicated side of life.  I am married and have one kid, my precious baby girl.  But yeah, I'm living a lonely life, with no husband by my side.  I'm going through annulment and hopefully it will be over in 6 months or a year's time.

Well a crush is just a crush, as i tell my friends, he only makes my day a little brighter because he really reminds me of my ex bf.  The way he speaks, his voice, his gestures and his actions.  Are they twins? Naah!  I guess the man of your dreams will never be the one, he'll only remain in your dreams.

Okei lang yan! Hanap na lang ulit ng iba!  Hahaha!  

Happy birthday to ME!

Happy B-day to ME!

YES it's my 28th birthday, June 8, 1981.  I've decided to create my blog on this day as a fresh start.  A way for me to recover, rediscover and re-live my life to the fullest.  An outlet where i can write my thoughts, share my dreams, and surviving the day to day living.  

I used to have a blog years ago, i think its 5 years past, and i can no longer locate it.  Probably it was erased since i haven't posted for the longest time.  Years pass so quickly that a lot of things happened.  Im sure that if i'd locate it, my blog from before is far more different compared to the new blog I'm going to do starting today and the succeeding days.  

I think I'm going to like this stuff again!