Maxie

We love you, OG pweentheth!

I am deeply saddened by the news of Maxie's passing. It was so sudden. I woke up from a brief snooze and read the text that she was being rushed to a hospital. I could not go back to bed until I received word that she was gone. Every now and then, I still find myself staring into space and tearing up when thoughts of her come to me. I browse through the photos I have of her to cheer myself up. She was the best dog for us. Maxie was playful, emotional, and potty trained. I did not like touching or playing with dogs until I met Maxie. I mean, I had no choice. She liked sitting next to me on the sofa and following me around waiting for me to throw Bandit (her raccoon toy a.k.a. her bestie) her way. She was one of the reasons why I look forward to going home for the holidays. I guess holidays will never be the same.

Thank you for giving us eleven awesome years, Ate Maxie. You will always be in our hearts.

CNY walwalan and food coma

In keeping with our tradition, my friends and I got together to celebrate our favorite holiday. None of us have Chinese blood, but we have been doing this for so long that we could very well just inoculate it into our bodies to make things official and authentic. Kidding aside, I believe the beginning of the lunar calendar and the changing of the Chinese Zodiac bring in some unexplained energy and hope. As we always say, "wala naman mawawala kung susundin naten yung practices nila." So, every year, we feast and get drunk on Chinese New Year's Eve.

This year, instead of the usual celebration in Davao, we decided to celebrate in Manila... for a change... and for Kim Seon-ho's fan meet! No shame there. He's a good actor with a popularity that can sell out the entire MOA Arena. No biggie. After a thorough search of venues where we can have a proper New Year's Eve dinner, we ended up at a Seaside dampa-paluto restaurant... and I loved it! Nothing fancy. It was as close as we can get to a homecooked meal. I'm sure it was not cheap (thank you, sponsors!), as the dishes were served like as if we were in a buffet. 

What came after the meal was nothing I expected. I have never consumed as much margaritas as I did that night. I was not drunk, but I felt the buzz and I could not stop smiling. I liked that I did more listening than talking and that I did not feel awkward at all despite being the newbie in the group. The celebration even spilled over the next day... Brekkie with the Mariano family. Coffee at the Chairman's office. A successful fan meet and law school recruitment (hopefully!). Onion ayuda and bonggang loot bag. If this weekend is a harbinger of things to come this year, then 2023 will be truly hectic and unforgettable.

Tada! Pickled onions! So proud! Thanks YouTube!

Third's a charm

New year, new boss, quite literally. Bryan's first day as Region Chief was on my last day of work in 2022. I had to squeeze in a last-minute call with him before going on a break to introduce myself and to let him know where Armond left off. In three years, I have had three managers. Not because the previous ones had left the company, but because of internal movement like reorganization and promotion. Bryan, himself, was promoted from being a legal counsel with no directs to heading our team. And Armond? Well, he is now the GC, the head honcho, the one calling the shots. It is nice to know that people can still rise from the ranks, not because of politics, but because of hard work.

Quickly, changes were put in place. Vital and crucial changes. Changes that will hopefully increase team engagement, lessen occupational burnout, and break down workplace silos. The changes look promising and the new leadership, refreshing. They came at the right time and just in time. Perhaps because our new leaders were once one of us and had been on the outside looking in, that they appear relatable and empathetic. At least for now.

Despite the apparent stagnation of my career, I still consider myself lucky to have the privilege of working with exemplary bosses. Maybe I should stay for now, go along for the ride, and see where this goes.

Bringing passions to life

My sister's vineyard in St. Helena

My sister's family moved six hours away from the place they called home to start living their dreams of becoming grape growers. For years, they have been making wines from their home and have been spending a lot of time exploring Napa. They introduced our family to wine tasting, wine appreciation, and wine collecting. I learned almost everything I know about wine from her husband. 

When people ask what I am passionate about, I get stumped and end up saying common and obvious topics like food, travel, law, or books. Surely, there is interest, but to say I am passionate about them is more like describing my exposure than my burning desire. Can I abandon everything in pursuit of mastering any of them? Do I intentionally seek them for self-actualization rather than for pastime? Are they a must-have or a nice-to-have in my life? As stoics would say, we become what we give our attention to and where we put our attention is our life. Having said that, I guess it is natural and inevitable that my sister and her husband become vignerons. 

I would love to live in my own coffee estate or pomelo orchard someday. However, apart from drinking coffee on a daily basis and giving pomelos as pasalubong, I have not really made any effort to bring them into my life at a conscious level. I do not obsess over farming or living the rural life. I am scared of leaving my comfort zone called corporate life. I am clearly not passionate about them. But seeing my sister take this bold step in her life makes me excited about unraveling my own passions and pursuing them with courage and joy.

Holiday cheer

Holidays came and went like a tornado. But instead of debris, it left pixie dust filled with happy memories. I visited my folks in CA again this year, but unlike the past two years, I was on PTO (not working remotely) and hell-bent on completely ignoring all work emails. Although not entirely successful with the emails, I can say that this year was the best holidays I've ever spent with them in a long while. Family getaways leveled up. Food and drinks were consumed in insanely copious amounts. Family dramas abound. I like that Andy, Olivia, and Ryan can now carry some grown-up conversations. I am glad that the Auties have gotten off their high horses and come to their senses. I have never been happier to see everyone's authentic side (no matter how unpopular or disliked it would be) and maturity to resolve misunderstandings and accept outcomes. 

Perhaps my overwhelming joy came from having little expectation. Other than preparing the pasalubongs, I did not contribute much to the planning of activities. I know that we will be going around downtown LA for the museums, shows, and shopping. I know that there will be at least three birthday parties and two family dinners. I was informed that we will stay two nights at Santa Catalina Island and four nights at St. Helena. All those boxes were ticked and then some. My wallet was drained, but my heart was full. It's a good trade-off.

I now see that I approach holidays like how I approach life. All in and all out. It is hard to do it any other way. My parents are now old. My sisters and I are all living far from them. We do not want the next generation to grow up not spending time with their cousins, because our generation knows how that felt and turned out. After the pandemic, I now consider holiday gatherings as a privilege. Why not indulge in holiday cheer while everyone still can?

What I am grateful for (2022)

2022 brought so much personal growth, realizations, and changes. I am not sure if 2023 will be able to exceed it, but I expect nothing less. The changes had been long overdue, and I am glad that they happened when I was already prepared and decided. 

Travels - I completed my PH travel bucket list (finally! after so many years!). I visited five new places this year - Boracay, Coron, Iloilo, Batanes, and Camiguin. I realized that solo travels are still fun but traveling with friends elevates the experience and helps the budget (lol!). 

Writing - I revived this blog and started writing food/restaurant reviews in Google Maps. It helped that I know my "Why" or purpose. It also helped that I write only as a form of hobby; it takes out the pressure of writing on a regular/periodic basis and seeking external validation. Writing also motivated me to read and think more.

Health - This is probably the catalyst for my self-improvement this year. I just wanted to move a little and control my calories. However, this led to other wonderful habits like regulating sweets, water and alcohol intake, monitoring my step count, and maintaining a sleeping, eating, and walking schedule. It was inevitable that I found time for other things to do and did only those activities that support this priority.

Finance - I increased my investments to 53% of my portfolio, majority of which are still in conservative investments (bonds, MP2). I made significant strides to maintain my budget and establish additional income streams. 

Relationships - I opened up again to people, new ones and those from my past. I learned a lot about myself -- I doubt myself as a default; I tend to be agreeable (at the expense of being authentic); ego still gets me sometimes -- and this self-awareness has been a gift that keeps on giving. I am grateful for friends who believe we deserve each other. I am grateful for work colleagues who push me to do my best every day.