What I've Been Into Lately?

Does anyone miss me lately?

Errrrr…my posts? Haha. Well, I had been so occupied the past week. As much as I wanted to write but reading both books and stock market updates & online tools had been the culprits for failing to give this blog some worthy posts.

Also reecently, I’ve been giving more time and attention to my stock market exposure as I’m gearing towards establishing a really strong fundamental and technical knowledge about it. I’ve been doing my own financial analysis plans, working on excel on the updates of my account, computing several valuations and target prices and stuff like that. 

Plus, I have a financial exposure that if one would see will say “Oh, that amount is huge” or so I thought. Well, it’ll still depend on how one consider a huge amount. One reason why I'm so focused in monitoring over these stocks.

Hiatus No More

My almost five months hiatus in blogging had several shares of reasons behind. As much as I am tempted to scribble it here I’d rather keep mum of the reasons tailed on it.

Figuratively speaking, it’s like when God showered me with blessings, the devil worked double time to distract me forcing to experience with like a bunch of concerns.

I thought I was defiant but not.

Admittedly, one of the most vivid reasons is that “I simply lost my usual zest to write”. I’ve tried my hardest to write, to express, chronicle even the not so interesting part of it but I simply succumb to “mental block.

There Is No Easy Way Out Being A Christian

It’s 11:43PM now. 

Surrounding's still cool brought about by the aftermath of a heavy sand storm a couple of days ago. 

Changing weather is beginning to let its presence felt. By the way, weather is constantly changing from winter to summer now. And like anyone who complains about the hot season in Pinas, we too have our own share of agony here. 

Too bad for us because the scorching heat of the sun can reach at a maximum of 50+ degrees. Imagine that? Would you want to still work in the Mid East? 

Well, there's nothing to worry since all the houses here require good ventilation and a heavy duty airconditioning system. 

Anyway, that's not my topic for tonight. This post is about some realizations. Of being a Christian in the most unChristian culture.

We Always Have A Choice

“What has life to offer me when I grow old”? - This is the first line of the famous song "Next In LIne of After Image (I don't remember which year) that literally hit me while thinking of the first thing to write about this post. 

Quite sad isn't it? Well, I won't focus on the tear-jerking thoughts in here, though, maybe along the lines I may hit some emotions. But I'll try to make it as interesting and short as possible- knowing I'm a wordy guy. I wish I could have all the elements in writing to do all these. But heck! I'll give it a try.

Cliche tells us that "life is what we make it". I agree to it. We choose what we want, we choose our decision. Our daily existence is part of how we partake in the banquet of the world. There, we have plenty of choices - and WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOCE! which one to pick up or out, which one to pursue and which one to make our stand for. In life, we are presented with myriad of choices. Choices that sometimes fit or unfit our system.

Assorted Thoughts

Ideas keep fighting over an influential slot in my mind lately. Picture out those wrestlers ready to land their fake punches and throws to their opponents – that’s how I imagine these ideas are like. Full of ideas yet because of congestion no one succeeded to spring out into something worthy.

Plenty of ideas coming in, but I can’t expound, some suddenly go away without even staying for like an hour. Assorted – various, mixed, classified, multifarious or whatever will you call it.

Procrastination - Are You Guilty Of It?

According to Mr. Google--Procrastination is an act of putting-off doing something habitually. In Psychology it refers to the act of replacing high priority action with task of lower priority.

Have you been guilty of procrastination? I bet we are at some point. It totally sucks right? 

I, for one, has fallen culprit of this not so good practice. There are just moments that we just find ourselves doing something that is way out of our priority. That we give more time to other less important things than to those which should be done. 

About "Me Time", of Challenges, and of Setting a New Goal: The End Days of Recurring Indifference

WARNING: This post contains content that is not interesting at all. You are not required nor forced to read this. This is on a personal level only. But if you persist just consult your doctor afterwards - hahaha!.

Recurring is synonymous to returning, frequent occurrence of similar thing or situation and/or habitual occurrences.

While "indifference" on the other hand is a state when someone shows lack of interest, concern, or sympathy over a thing, a person, or an endeavor.

Perhaps you may be wondering why I'm a bit on a senti mode right now. The rain (yeah it rained today here in KSA and is still raining actually) today led me to have my "me time" and to further reflect into my other significant goals. The cozy surrounding is like inviting a melancholic atmosphere in me. 

Each of us has our "me time". A time when we are lead to think of things on a deeper level. A time when we are squarely confronted by different thoughts that has been bothering us for quite sometime. And yes, I feel it today. Despite a euphoric , ecstatic, and joyful celebration of the GA (General Assembly) and the baptism of my first born yesterday I went home feeling so tired. I just don't know why I suddenly felt it. It's like I was carrying the weight of a mountain that my emotional defenses suddenly broke down. I don't even know either if it was triggered by physical exhaustion. All I know is that I'm a bit sad for no apparent reason. 

Oh Hiatus I Long To End Our Days!

Perhaps, some if not many, are missing my posts here.

I too miss to post but my hiatus is work related. If you’re reading my previous postings I’m sure you have the concrete idea

Let’s call it hiatus.

Forced hiatus to be exact. And who’s the culprit? Work, work and work.

The Pressure of Purchasing

Part of my working space in Procurement Department .
Messy right? Indeed--just for today

Today, I feel like I just needed a breather. A slap of fresh air and a breakaway from all the office work pressures. If you happen to be working in the procurement department maybe you can closely relate to every inch of stress that this kind of job brings. 

It was a whole day of chaos in my department. Admittedly, we are under staff compared to other departments in our company. Adding to my pressure was the recent resignation  of one member of my team. Well, he'd got a new job in an investment bank with a much higher renumeration. Who won't be tempted to quit a current job if the offer from a new prospect is something highly irresistible? Everyone right? 

Samu't Saring Pagmumuni-muni - Version 1.1

Mga ilang araw din akong nawala sa blog na ito. Isa lang ang kahulugan nito. Walang bagong blog entry. Sa ilang araw na iyon anu-ano nga ba ang mga pinagkaabalahan ko? 

Ang totoo niyan marami akong mga bagay na ginawa sa loob ng ilang araw na iyon. Kung aking bibilangin, apat na araw din pala akong nag-hibernate sa blog na ito. Katulad ng ibang masipag na Juan (masipag daw oh! haha! oo, masipag ayaw ko kasing maikumpara kay Juan Tamad), punong-puno ang aking iskedyul. Umaapaw nga eh pero ang lahat ng mga iyon ay pawang mahalaga sa akin.

O siya! bibigyan ko na nga kayo ng ideya kung ano ang mga pinagkapaguran kong gawin sa loob ng apat na araw. At eto ang mga mahahalagang bagay na aking pinag-kaabalahan:

Krispy Kreme - Krispi Na! Kreme Pa!

I'm not really into sweets! o kung sa sariling wika ko isasalin ay ganito lang naman yon: "di ako mahilig sa mga matatamis na pagkain".

Cakes, pastries, candies, tarts, and doughnuts - Oh boy! don't gift me with those or else your effort will just be wasted and disappointment would just slaps you right in your face. So, never ever give me one.

FOR THE LOVE OF "Starbucks Mugs"

She has a collection.

She marveled at the sight of it inside their house.

And so I am granting again another wish or shall I say humble request from her.

In one of our chat conversation through Facebook and before we flew in back in the Mid East, these were her wishes and humble requests.

“Jay, don’t forget my mugs from the Mid-East ha!, don’t have any of them yet, plus, the “ref magnet” pahabol at nakangiti niyang sabi. 

Who would resist granting these requests if the favor comes from someone as sweet and bubbly as my good friend Kay? I bet no one would especially if the request comes from her tender voice and disarming smile. Naks, disarming talaga..hahaha!

Randoms @ Khobar

As part of our tradition, whenever someone from the group goes for vacation, it is our custom (though at some occasion we tend to miss) to honor him as a send-off gesture from us. And tonight is my lucky night. Hmmm...am I really lucky? (ako ang taya..waahhh)

Since Satty McScotty has his car, he's used to fetching us up from our respective location, some from the office while other from their flats. We finally completed at around 8pm. From Dammam we drove through the traffic-free highways of Dammam heading to Khobar at a speed that only consumed us thirty minutes.

FIRST STOP:

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Since I need to claim my plane ticket from Ted (youngest brother of my fiancee) in Hail Center in a nearby Rakkah. It was the first stop of our so called race. A race of fun, bonding and food tripping. We reached the place and luckily I didn't find it hard to locate where exactly Ted parked his car. So after a short chit-chat, we headed to another location and it's our second stop of the night

SECOND STOP:

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We need to drop by at Jarir Bookstore. For what reason? Well, I need to return a D5100 Nikon Camera manual since when I bought the camera last October 21 two Arabic language manual was mistakenly inserted in the box. And so I need to ask for an English manual since my Arabic know-how is far from an ace grade in college. And it was both funny and irritating since I need to exchange few hard words to a Filipino salesman due to his suspicion that maybe I'm just fooling him over. And I told him, how come I would really pay a visit to their store if my intention wasn't pure. I understand his predicament since a month had past before I came back to had the manual exchange. In response, I told him that I find it hard to visit due to my hectic office schedule plus the fact that I'm miles away from the Jarir Store where I bought the said item. Eventually, he gave in and handed me over the English manual. After that quite heated scene we left the bookstore and proceed to our third stop.

THIRD STOP:

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All are in a very flashy smile mood since they started imagining the food that we're gonna eat. Satty suggested to dine in at Herfy but I refused since the original plan was "Thai Restaurant". And so we headed to the latter near my former place. I used to be staying in Khobar for two consecutive years before I went home and joined back to another company where Dammam is the location. We walked upstairs right through the family section in the second floor of the restaurant. I tended our order and asked them if I could leave for a while to meet up with my "suking barbero". I badly need a haircut since I guess it's been ages when I last had scissor run through my thinning hair. After the haircut session I quickly got back to the restaurant. We had our prayer of thanks and we devour aromatic indulgence. The funny thing was we need to hurry up since the resto was scheduled to close @10pm and we've just started savoring the sumptuous dinner I treated. We had to finish the meal for like 15-20 minutes. Plus we're the last customer of the night. Though a bit agitated about the time, we still managed to enjoy the food. I have been loving Thai cuisines as it really fits my taste buds. Here are random photos we took 

ME and bro. Roel - an HH member.

Feasting on food

Say cheese!

What we had on our table are: Pad Thai Noodles with cashew and "togue", Fried Rice Thai style, Mixed Seafood soup, Deep Fry Lapulapu in Thai style and Bottomless Iced Tea. We have been fully loaded. Whapakk!

FOURTH STOP:

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After the palatable and truly savory dinner meal at Thai Resto, we headed to a mall famed to be the melting pot of lots of pinoys-- Al Rhamaniyah Mall. We decided to stop by just to kill the time and to have the food inside our tummies digest in. We had our window shopping, though bro. Roel can't really resist a Nike shoes being sold at a sale price so he grabbed the chance to buy one at a discounted rate. I guess almost half the price. And while some of us were busy doing some annoying stuff inside the boutique we tripped to take random photos and here's what we've got.

Dammam Boys strike a pose

Doning a Pacquiao- Marquez pose

Teach me how to boobsie...LoL!

Camera shy

And here the main course of the evening. LoL! A Satty McScotty's parody of being a mannequin as he tried to pose in every corner and see if he's fit to be one. And it seems he passed my verdict. His towering height of 6" flat can convince bystanders and by passers to mistaken him as one of them. LoL.hahaha! Look at the photos below for full proof.

Wannabe mannequin

Serious Satty

Now that's a crap! LoL

This one looks real

Is that teach me how to doggie Rob?

Jabawokees minus the mask?

Finally, we got out of the mall and dropped by at a nearby Filipino bakery "Queens Bakery" to buy few breads. And we went straight home at around 11pm.

The Fish Experience

We trooped down to the wet market last November 4 – that was Friday afternoon at the Dammam Fish Market. And these are the random photos I took while walking along inside. Some locals won't allow me to take photos but I insisted. The "makulet" side of me worked. And it ended that some of them even requested me to give them a shot at the camera. Sorry I didn't post it here. Next time nalang. So here are the different varieties of fishes:

Lapu-Lapu

Di ko alam kung anong klaseng isda 'to. Pero edible daw! LoL

Pati eto di ko rin alam lahat

Eto pa..

Pating-patingan..LoL..Pating talaga yan!

Malalaking Hipon 

Lobster (di ko alam sa tagalog)

What we bought are the following: Yellow Fin Tuna, Bigger Bangus, Tambakul, at Hipon. You can't find some from here kasi tinamad na akong mag-upload. Sobrang dami kasi eh.

I was with bro. Satt, Robert, & Herman. I was thinkin’ of taking photos of the different fish varieties including sea foods so I decided to goof around with fish vendors. I begun clicking my phone camera and here's what I had. 

Satty busy sipping his hot "chai tea"

Rob was trying to figure out which one to choose.

And this was our market escapade. Ang daming isda at ang mura. Tapos ang linis pa ng wet market compared sa atin.

And Still ................

The Trilogy Saga Has Just Ended

It's really a problem for people with emphasis to many of our countrymen and even to the world. They have high expectations set for themselves from Manny. Never did they imagine nor realize that Pacquiao, at some point, wouldn't gave them a fight the way they wanted or simply Pacquiao didn't deliver that much as they have highly expected.

They should realize as well the it's freakin' hard to stand up there, fight, receive painful jabs, carry the nation's flag and discounting the will to give up just for his country. Even if he is regarded as the P4P King, he's still subject to vulnerability. A vulnerability that could even lead to a loss should he not too careful with his opponent.

And tonight's fight was a classic example that Pacquiao is still human and isn't an invincible creature as touted by some if not many. If some losses their beliefs in the fighting ability of Manny, it's your loss and not him. 

For me, I still firmly believe in Manny and will never change or be lost should a loss lands on his face.  

Plus, these bunch of irksome and cynical craps acted as if they were the official judges scoring the match. When clearly, judges score cards didn't even favor Marquez for once. All that he has is a draw from one of them.

Who says he was robbed of the win? A loser would always claim he was robbed of winning just to compensate his hurting pride and  listens to the sympathy of lots of cynical nincompoops pretentious to know more of boxing rules when clearly they are just bunch of skeptic morons whose knowledge in boxing is insufficient.

So for me, the clear winner...AND STILL the defending champion "The People's Champ" Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.

No one else, nothing more, nothing less!

The trilogy saga has been officially ended. The question is: "Will there be a fourth one? I hope so, it would be another exciting, equally furious & controversial ring meet-up.

A Song For Her

Indeed, God gave me you. And I'm thanking high heaven for a worthy gift of a lifetime.

This awesome and heart-melting song is lovingly dedicated to my fiancee- Milwida Domingo

In 30 days you'll officially be my wife and I am thankful to God for you.

I have been listening to this song by Brian White for the nth times. I just can't get over. It's like my breakfast, lunch, and dinner rolled into one.

It all summed up how our roller coaster kind of romance and love has been, is,  and will be. And ours isn't a smooth one. I'm not even a perfect boyfriend she had and never will be perfect. But through my imperfection, she learned to love me more as she accepted all in me.  She had seen the worst in me for the nth times as well. 

And now, it's time to give her what she's worth. It's time to show 'em the best that I've got.  And only after our wedding will it be realized.

Like the few lines in the lyrics of the songs which says:

For all the times I wore my self pity

Like a favorite shirt

All wrapped in that hurt

For every glass I saw

I saw half empty

Now it overflows like a river into my soul

For every doubt I had I'm finally free

Now I truly believe

God gave me you to show me what's real

There's more to life than just how I feel

And all that I'm worth is right before my eye

To both of us, may God continue to guide us in every step we take and every decision we make. And amidst all misunderstandings that we had and we'll still have, we claim that God will always find ways to lead us back into each other's caring arms.

To my soon to be wife, thank you for the unconditional love you've shown me. 

Game of Words

It's scrabble time.....

I, together with my SFC buddies, Satty McScotty, Rob Cabalsa, Jefferson Alfaro spent our time playing scrabble on Thursday night. Good thing it's Friday the next day and we are all on a rest day.


Below were our recorded scores. Happy to have won in three separate games. But I lost in Game 5 with a score of 75 due to my inattentiveness. I was busy watching you tube videos of Billy Crawford during his stint in France. We all knew that Billy was famous then in all of Europe popularizing the hit songs "Keep on Trackin' and "Bright Lights". It also reminded me of my once presence in his major concert in the Philippines way back in 2006. To know more about Billy, please click this link Billy Crawford

I don't know if this will have a succession. I mean, if we'll still have a round two and so on. I hope so to at least be challenged and maintain my rank. LoL. hahaha! I've always been competitive in any of the sports game or mental exercises I've competed into. I still have this kind of attitude with me due to my stint in quiz bees in my college life.


We finished at around 3am since Rob was a bit tipsy already. Jeff and Rob had their share of  the famous "sadike"--a formulated but not regulated nor underwent quality inspection liquor here. As we all know, liquors are banned here in the kingdom. And if caught in the act, a severe punishment of I guess 50 lashes plus the reality of immediate deportation confronts the offender.


So, for the record, I never tried it and have no plan in the future. Good night guys! Oh sorry, it's good mornight na pala!


Keep safe you all. God bless -:)

Torture

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Dito sa loob sa kabila ng dingding

Sa likod ng pinto sa gitna ng dilim

Lumakad, tumayo, humiga, umupo

Isip lumilipad sa malayong-malayo

-----00000-----

Wala doon, wala dito

Wala sa kanya kundi na sa iyo

Ang umaga, ang tanghali, ang gabi, ang hapon

At ang bawat sandali ng bawat panahon

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Dito sa silid sa sulok sa gilid

Sa taas ng sahig, sa ibabaw ng banig

Bumiling biling, pumikit' dumilat

Diwa'y gising at kalat-kalat

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Hindi bangungot hindi panaginip

Hindi guni-guni o gawa ng isip

Sulyap sa saloobin ng isang hapo

Kapiraso ng pangarap na malabong malabo

-----00000-----

Dito sa ngayon, sa harap ng kasalukuyan

Sa likod ng kahapon, ikatlo sa kinabukasan

Nakaupo, nag-iisip sa gitna ng dilim

Naghahanap ng matulis na patalim

Wala doon, wala dito, walang makita ni kahit anino.

An Act of Silence

"I think a man who lives right and is right has more power in his silence than another man has by his words." - Phillip Brooks


And so I set the record straight. I'll pay more attention to silence. Silence will be my company for now. And as the title would speak I'll let it act on its own time. If you'd ask me how long will it take me, the answer is "uncertain". I just let things the way it is now and will just focus on all the highly important elements in my life now.


I am slowly disintegrating myself to what I consider less important. I'm detaching from it. I'm putting myself in isolation. More so like a solitary confinement. 


Indeed, time has flown so fast and like a water in a stream noisily running down through so fast, I can't bring back the time I've lost. The time where I could have said "I could have done this and done that". But, as they say, God has His reason for any single thing we experience. All I could do is to just see the wisdom in all of those things and learn from it. Capture it, hold it, and move on.


And I am moving on. And part of this journey is detaching myself from all the less important elements in me. Part of it is to create separate ways, moving on a separate path.


I'll create another world for me. I'll embark on new friendship. And yeah, I have started already and will nurture what is constantly blossoming.


This is my solid attempt to break out from the monotony of my life. I feel the need to and I will do it. Much has been said, words has its own sour bites in me.


All I can do is to take on a challenge which I will set for myself. A challenge not motivated by the prodding words of people around me. But it's more of a self-cry to change, more of an inner need to face the revolution within me.


And so the silent battle is on.

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The Dryness of Spirit in Me?

Marahil ay di na naging lingid sa inyo magiliw kong mambabasa kung bakit parang madalang pa sa patak ng ulan ang aking entry nitong mga nakaraang araw? or isang linggo na yata.


May pinagdadaanan lang ng personal ang inyong lingkod.


Kagaya ng nakasulat sa pamagat, nakakaranas ako ngayon ng "weakening of the spirit". -- ito yong tinatawag na "spiritual dryness". Ouchh! parang ang lalim ba? Oo, malalim nga yata kasi there comes a point na I feel like my spirit is not ablaze. I feel like I'm so weak inside. All my vulnerabilities attacked me.


Maging ako man ay di ko naiintindihan ang aking sarili sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Maging sa pagsusulat ay biglang di ako naging interesado. Parang ayaw ko ng magsulat.


Sa mga nakakakilala sa akin ng husto, ito'y isang maaaring nakakagulat na pahayag. Batid kasi nila kung gaano ako kakulet or ka "ligalig" kapag kasama nila ako.


Pero, nilalabanan ko naman ang aking sitwasyon. Alam kung pagsubok lang ito. Ang nakakatawa at nakakainis na rin eh kung paanong parang di na ako nasanay sa mga challenges na dumadating sa akin. Parang tuwing may bagong dating, I feel like I'm always a newbie to it. 


Ganunpaman, kakayanin ko ang lahat ng ito. Maaaring nakaramdam lang ako ng mga pressures these past days kaya siguro bumigay ang emotional side ko. Plus, di pa maganda ang pakiramdam ko physically. Siguro nagkahalo-halo na rin.


Siguro nga napapanahon na. Napapanahon ng magkaroon ako ng "unclogging of unwanted elements in me". Kaya I'm looking forward na  to going back sa Pilipinas para makabisita nang muli sa aking favorite spot-- ang Blessed Sacrament ng Nature Church sa Las Pinas -- ang lugar kung saan ako naging member ng SFC (Singles For Christ). Doon ko ibubuhos ang lahat ng mga dapat kung ipagtapat sa diyos. Doon ko nanamnamin ang pakikipag-usap sa Panginoon in silence. Kung saan ako'y magiging isang listener lang. 


Kung nangangailangan man ng pagpatak ng luha ang magiging tagpong iyon, then so be it. Thy will be done!