While no one was looking, I flipped through the pages to find the 5th of December, that fateful day also known as my birthday.

 The first statement of the entry reads: People born on the fifth of December are extremely confident of their abilities to get things done.  The whole  entry for the day emphasizes the most obvious strenghts and weaknesses of the those who were born on my birthday. Confident and daring  as the positive qualities; overconfident and unrealistic as the key negative qualities.

However interpreted, the key word here, the most defining quality, is confidence. That feeling of trust, assurance or certainty about one’s own abilities and actions. Things will never go wrong because what I have and what I can do will never fail me.

Impeccably ironic for what I am going through right now.

People who have known me well and for many years would always speak of that natural overconfidence that exudes from my small body wherever I go and whatever I do. Most of the time, my arrogance was justified. And people had to live with it as if it were really part of my genetic make-up, that without being over-haugthy I will no longerbe myself.

I have always believed in my abilities. That all I needed was a great break or a smiling opportunity to come my way so I could unleash my talents in life and make it big in the real world. Not until a gallant truth slapped me hard in the face, for all I knew.

I am disheartened right now to find out how people seem to question my abilities and capacity for growth and development. Like a super tank knight stripped off of all of his silver armors, I am most vulnerable  at this time.

In the real world, it is not always about abilities. Sometimes it’s about the attitude. Life is not always a test of what you can do, but also of the manner of how you will deal with it.

Maybe that is something I need to ponder on and learn to improve today.

However, blogging in English I realized now, was something I couldn’t exchange for anything in the world. It’s the defining characteristic in my blogging personality. It came to mind that I will most likely come back to writing in this language, as I personally share the journey of my life with ease and with heart.

So this blog is reborn, and I would like to welcome myself back to making that smallest difference in the world matter as much.

Everything began with the parties we had for IPVG and e-Games. We tried to be as much lively and christmassy as we could be, putting all the work load aside and enjoying the nights with a mix of childish and grown-up delight.

First off was the IPVG company party we had in Bubba Gump, a resto which prides itself with its delicious shrimp delicacies that I was having a hard time to distinguish from common table fish. Haha. It was said that the place couldnt hold the sum of all the subsidiaries of IPVG, but I was sure that there many attendees from IP-Converge, IPCCO, Megamobile and FVSC too. Of course, e-Games dominated the party and I estimate that eighty percent of the raffle winners were from us. (Heck, I was wishing silently that I would get to win one of the Ipod shuffles which were up for the raffle, notwithstanding the belief that I have been inflicted with the curse that would not make me win raffles as long as I live).

Miss Jane, the one with the wig (from the first photo, left side) was the one who took photos of us during the affair. She toyed with her cam, experimenting with all sorts of wacky and stolen shots which she soon uploaded to Facebook. She was also the lucky grand prize winner of the 32- inch LCD television which none us knew what its brand was and what it look like. (Later on, I boldly commented on one of her photos in FB that if all it takes to win the grand prize in the raffle is to sport a fashionable wig, then I would, without second thoughts , wear the coolest, most trendy wig that I could find in the department store ).

Outside Bubba Gump (G3) after the party

The party that we had with the e-Games employees alone, wasnt much of a big gathering. There were no Christmas-themed programs or events or raffles there, it was more of an eat-and-drink-and-say-goodbye-to-a-good-friend kind of affair. The juicy, moving part of the party was when a video flashed into the screen, with the e-Games people dedicating their heartfelt farewell messages to Miss Grace Ty, who served e-Games ever since inception (as Trade Marketing Manager and just recently as QA Manager). I was fortunate enough to write on the dedication card with a simple message of ‘Thank you for the lessons and Take care’. Indeed, it was her from whom I learned the value of taking care of the community we serve, when she undescored the ultimate rhetorical question: “If we dont take care of our community, who’s gonna take care of them?”

Food was abundant and delectable and the place was totally fit for the mini-affair.

Toasted to a year full of surprises and twists and bad a woman goodbye and goodluck in her future career in Canada…

Tradition ran through the office with a small exchange gift activity the community team had together with Product Team. (Last year, I got a silver bracelet from Mike (GM Chromium to gamers) which still dangles in my right hand up to this day). This year, Ced gave me the one which I wrote in my christmas wishlist: a small, black Cabal AON Shirt, which looks like this:

Aside from the shirt which i got from the mandatory exchange gift activity, also got the following from office friends…

The word ‘Ninja’ means ‘Patience’ thus, the most distinctive and appealing quality of the shinobi is that he knows how to wait and to strike at every opportunity at the right time. Thanks Gelo and JP for the meaningful mug!

The fancy cp accesory from Jay Ramos just above perfectly captures my equally cute exterior. Haha!

Christmas eve rapidly came like a sudden blow of strong wind. Good thing I was able to get through the shopping rush and gift-wrapping in time for the celebration. Wasn’t able to budget properly so the gifts I gave weren’t of much value, but decent, useful and well-thought of nevertheless .

The photo that follows is a family pic taken during Christmas eve, inside one my grandparent’s original house.

The house will forever be close enough to my heart. As well as the people who have dwelt inside it. A lot of my exciting childhood days were spent on it, together with my cousins and titas and titos and ninangs and ninongs on my father side. During Christmas, it was a custom to gather there to greet each one and exchange gifts and partake of the food in the table. It was a practice that have been brought down from our immediate ancestors, a culture that is truly Filipino. I’ve grown up enough to finally stand apart from most of them, living my own professional life away and with a new set of families. But blood is thicker than water, so they say, and the calling of the family will always be strong especially in a family drastically tested by time. I am extremely proud of being part of this extended family, exalted with the affinity and the bonds that exist within each members, that no matter what tough complications come, the family will always find a way to be together especially on Christmas day.

I went to church on Christmas eve and heard the priest’s sermon with my mind and heart wide open. And I prayed to God. I realized there were so much things that I need to thank him for during the past year. Things that I weren’t able to fully appreciate or accredit him for. For the wonderful adventures I had, for the stable health, for the fantastic friends and fun at work and home, and for keeping me alive and well and away from death-defying danger.

Christmas was spent at home together with family again. Visited the families from my mother’s side whose houses were in close proximity to us as well (like 30 normal footsteps away haha).

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under the tree, “ shouts a cousin of mine in Facebook. I didn’t receive too many gifts this time compared from yesteryears, yet I feel equally or even more fulfilled this time. The thought and actuality of togetherness, I guess, were more than enough a gift this Christmas. Perhaps I am starting to learn the true value of yuletide, and growing up to be a better ‘kid’, one whom Santa Claus would be more than glad to give a gift on Christmas day.

]]> http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/christmas-2009/feed/ 2 VinsentValentine 16233_214212542610_539237610_3625451_7527383_n 16233_214212702610_539237610_3625473_2423065_n 16233_214213022610_539237610_3625495_5452035_n 16233_215248042610_539237610_3628928_8186917_n 16233_215248137610_539237610_3628938_2663527_n 16233_215248207610_539237610_3628946_6246578_n DSC00364 Image022 18472_1193816529550_1352530891_30516395_207959_n xmas1 http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/christmas-in-my-eardrums/ http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/christmas-in-my-eardrums/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:01:19 +0000 VinsentValentine http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/?p=277 ]]> The finest things in life often come during the Christmas season, where almost everyone I know and see is filled with the spirit of the season. The nights are getting colder, but the thought of spending the times together with my dear loved ones embrace my heart with such warmth that I am starting to feel more excited about Christmas than I have been when I was a little younger. 

One of the fantastic things that I love about Christmas is the wonderful collection of songs that go with all the celebration. I remember singing ‘carols’ when I was young, together with childhood buddies with our own improvised instruments in our hands, creating a kind of unorganized yet beautiful music that earns us a couple of pesos. In recent times, the culture has dwindled, and I see less children roaming the streets singing Christmas carols, but the songs of the season are still the same, rich in both meaning and melody. 

Let me share to you some of my most favorite songs this festive yuletide season: 

First on the list is Give Love on Christmas Day by the Jackson 5, which basically talks about the idea that love is the greatest gift that you could ever give to anyone on Christmas Day. 

Next is my choice of love song for the season, Give Love on Christmas Day, written, originally sung, and popularized by Mariah Carey. A decent revival was made by My Chemical Romance, transforming it to a kind of rock music that pleases my eardrums as equally well as the original: 

The video that follows features Team GE of IAHGames, singing White Christmas with the pictures taken from community-outreach programs and events they did for the past year. Community-building is the general concept of what I do for a living, and so it wasn’t hard relating to the video and appreciating its real purpose.  The cooler thing about the recorded rendition of White Christmas was that they made it the background music which ran during the Character Selection screen as a season tribute to all Granado Espada SEA players. Ah, such beautiful voices! 

As for me, Hark the Herald Angels Sing is best sang by Clay Aiken live, 

While Josh Groban is my personal choice for the best ‘Oh Holy Night’ singer ever: 

Not to run short on OPM hits, sharing to you Ariel Rivera’s Sana Ngayong Pasko, which GMA 7 turned into a tv series which is currently running on their primetime line-up of shows:  

On the more contemporary pop song genre for Christmas, here’s David Archie’s duet with Charice Pempengco on Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: 

I also feel like it’s the season when it is best to exercise your vocal chords, and sing merrily.

Just like the old times.

Several points of self- transformative reminders to myself on my red-letter day:

Celebrate each day like its your very last day on Earth. Begin each day with a smile, and be hopeful that a colorful experience will greet you in your way.

Live more productively. Set goals and try to achieve it with all your abilities and strengths.

Never burden yourself when you make mistakes and fail at the things you do. Instead, capitalize on them.

Cut down on too much spending. Live within your means. Learn to value money as it is something that you work hard for. Learn how to save.

Spread love all over the world. Begin it in your family. And then in your office. Show your friends that you truly care for them. Make them feel that you exist in the world to help them in their difficulties or share the best things in life with them.

Value your work more and think of ways on how you can improve on it. Take note of all the experiences that you get from it and remember the people that you meet as you go along in your usual day of work.

Seek for deeper and newer adventures. Never lose interest in finding new ways of living life. Discover new cultures, go to places you’ve never been before, try out new games, read other kinds of books, watch more movies.

Take care of yourself, especially your health. It’s the kind of wealth no professional robber can take away from you. Do not tire yourself too much. Sleep adequately.

Watch pornographic downloads less.

Be kinder to all types of people. Listen and understand as much as you can.

Blog more frequently. Make your blog posts more interesting. You’re wasting other people’s time anyway, so do your very best at it.

Eat moderately. Make conscious effort to make your stomach as flat as it could be.

Maintain your laugh-loving personality. Joke around, but think before you jest.

And make people love you more.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Iligtas kami sa marahas na kadiliman,

Kami’y inyong ipaglaban…”

There are secrets hidden inside this van that I can distinctly remember. It bore witness to a couple of sweet times together with the e-Games event Team. Took us to places near and far, in its not-too-spacious-inner-entirety but comfortable seats and over-all feel.

We were on our way to Pangasinan for the Globe-24 Ever Gamefest leg in Dagupan. Inside were Bea, Mike, Sed, Deejay,  Stephie and me, still full of energy and weird ideas. Talking about work and in-game event ideas to fill the event calendar. Sharing the latest scoops and funny experiences with gamers. Ranting about things we dont like. Texting. Listening to the songs stored in our cps and mp3s. Mike was on the corner listening to the Tagalog Maskoman theme song, with the loudspeaker of his phone on. I was listening to it too, and then an idea hit me, and it struck gold. Why not sing the song loudly and gleefuly for childhood favorites’ sake?

On the initial set-up, the voices came out naturally, but when the recorders were turned on, consciousness crept back, and we suddenly forgot about the lyrics, laughed at ourselves and messed it all up. Haha!

And Bea was cursing like hell on one of the other recordings I dare not upload! Haha!

Here’s an uploaded Maskoman opening theme video on youtube (the better version haha):

Ngunit sila ang nagapi ng mga kampon ng kadiliman…

There’s an episode in Gokusen III that I can distinctly remember up to this day. It’s the normal story of a boy stealing hard-earned money from his father’s pockets and squandering it all into booze and personal wants. The money he stole turned out to be an important fund  necessary to continue the operation of their family business. When the boy realized this so, it was too late and he had to resort to some kind of loan agency, which proved to be illegal, and he was scammed. Off he went working part-time, hoping he could raise the amount of money he pilfered. Confronting her student and making him realize his fault, Yankumi coined:

“If you can’t value money, then you’ll never realize what hard work truly means.”

There’s that basic, direct truth to the statement that stings me to the point of realizing a fault as old as me.

Maybe this is something that I need to realize as early as I can—I work (partly) because I need to earn money. And in order to give justice to what I do, I need to value money the same way that a director values the movie he directed or a baker does to his baked bread. It’s about making sure that the products of my efforts dont go to waste.

Maybe in the future I’ll improve on this one. I surely should. Haha.

Perhaps I’ll show you some of the photographs we took at the office when they’re ready for publishing.

Tonight a companion’s life ends. He who has been with me through thick and thin, through the adventures and misadventures of the last six months.

Thank you contact lens, for providing me an amazing vision for the last six months. And a wonderful, tantalizing kind of eye to add to that.

Makes me remember: it’s been more than a year since I’ve been using contacts to replace my nerdy spectacles. Might consider buying myself a new pair of ‘extended’ lenses if I have the money. Or maybe that’s not practical, cause I have to increase the lens’ grade every once in a short while. -_-’

]]> http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/it-breaks-tonight/feed/ 3 VinsentValentine itbreakstonight http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/phase-shift/ http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/phase-shift/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:23:13 +0000 VinsentValentine http://asignificantdifference.wordpress.com/?p=216 ]]> Life is back to normal again this November in the morning shift. It feels great to wake up early in the morning when the air is fresh and you feel all the energy gushing into every parts of your body, prompting you to work efficiently and live your life happily. The last time I remember living this way was last year July, when I was still in another Department in EG.

I’ve realized today that the kind of life I have been leading ever since I graduated from college was dictated by work. And the most obvious factor is work schedule. When I moved to community August last year, I started working in the Graveyard Shift (11PM-8AM) for about three months and moved to Midshift (3PM-12MD) for the better part of my GM life. There were some sudden changes in the schedule, like moving back and forth from the vampire shift to Midshift again, add to that, the occasional overtime work that I have to render for events in the provinces and far places. It’s a fantastic kind of work, it absorbs you, eats most of your time, provides for more than your normal stress intake, but it’s the kind of job that makes you feel satisfied at the end of the day— even amidst a complex schedule.

The thing about changing schedules is that it also changes your way of life: life is in its most normal state when you work in the normal shift, you go to the office and go back home the same time the majority of working professionals do; when you work from 3PM-12MD, you can’t watch primetime tv shows but you can still go to sleep before the sun goes up; you work in the Graveyard Shift and you are pretty much a vampire, alive when the sun is down, with less social life and quality time with friends and family.

It’s a blessing in disguise being able to work again during the normal office hours, and though I don’t really know when it would end, it’s cool to note that once in a while, I get to taste the bliss of a well-prepared breakfast and the trouble of getting yourself into congested buses just to get home.

Now I’m stuck with Gelo and JP and Charms and Bea and the other naughty people in the AM Shift…

Good Morning!