PCC: Milka Krem

I plan to go to this place for sometime, but they say it's good not to plan or else it won’t push through. And I guess for now, I'll take credit for that. My boardmate just picked me up from my office to go to church, and we just decided to go to Milka Krem right after seeing her friend at church who's working at Philippine Carabao Center. I've always wanted to buy their chocomilk and get a discount, which we can have since along with us is an employee of PCC. A perfect timing isn’t it?

Well, Milka Krem is like the business center of PCC, where all the dairy produce are sold. They got plenty of dairy products to choose from, from carabao's milk (with different flavors) to pastries. It is also one way of promoting the nutrient factor of carabao's milk which they say is more nutritious than cow's milk.

So this is their logo which speaks for itself, I even took a picture of the description of each color but it was really blur. Let me just explain it, Purple stands for high standard quality, white for purity, and gold for the wealth of good health.

Glad I managed to take a clear picture of the logo's explanation. :)

So this is it from the outside, but don't mind those tricycles :)

This is just the café' part where all products are also displayed. But the building extends further to the right side where all the machineries are transparent from the outside - they got huge machines. :)

Interior-wise, it looked like fast food chains -like McDo and Jollibee. And they got this artistic picture inside. :)

Chairs and tables- aren't they nice? This is the newly done extension, it's easy to take pictures cause people are not around. :)

 

A slight glimpse of their milk products - different colors in different flavors. But I still like the chocomilk, nothing can beat it. :) I wanted to take some pictures of their pastries but employees gather there, I don't want them to glare at me. :)

They have this collection of carabao figures inside maybe to make people  know it's carabao's milk? Hahahahaha.  But I bet it's mainly for accent and design. :)

This figure is what I liked most. :) Experienced riding that bamboo-carriage, which is the bumpiest ride I had. I tried riding on carabao's back too, and I tell you it pays to hold tight on its horn or else you'll slide off everytime it swings from left to right. :)

I did get the choco milk I wanted. And it's free. I'm suppose to pay for it but Kuya Jeff, paid for all.

Had this vanilla ice cream too, it is so sticky/creamy like the dairy queen. It didn't melt easily in my mouth plus yum, yum, yum!!!

How's that pose from a friend of mine?

This is the nearest I could get from the camera cause I'm not much of a selfie person. :)

And our group picture.. :)

Got this one great pose for the finale. :)

My Hangul Class

Who have thought that working here will fulfill one of the items on my life's checklist- going to Korean Class.

Working back in Manila, I remember myself going to Korean Cultural Center to see the possibility of enrolling to their Hangul lessons. But it didn't happen, my work shift never permitted me to. But the thought never faded, and it so happen when I'm already here they are doing it for free (I was like, OMG!!! I could've paid a thousand when I was in Manila and here its for free) I was in a totally EXCITED MODE(my mind was repeatedly saying, "YOU SHOULD ATTEND!"). A week after that I found myself asking a Korean Intern "Is this the Korean Class?" I was so early that time.

Our class picture (not all were present though). From left to right: Cathy, Juvy, Kuya, DJ, Heather (Hyekyung), Me, Woody, Daisy (Suhee), Joko

Then my Wednesdays end at 7pm, (I don't intend to OT for work on this very day). And I go home pronouncing the words I learned to my boardmates. Hahaha. They think I'm weird sometimes but it doesn't matter, I love doing it.

I asked, "How do you pose in Korean?" and they taught us this.  Korean pose, everyone..!

But, apparently, the class started November last year and I have just attended their January classes. I am way to late, right?? But those Korean Interns understood that, so after our last class, they emailed us with the previous lessons to study on.

 I had so much fun learning and meeting new people!! :D 

What's on my desktop

Yeah I miss them! So to always remember their faces I put them on my desktop. :D VSO-ICS team VI021 definitely made an impact in my life- and I'm glad it did. For if I wasn't a part of it, I might still be closing all the doors of opportunities that come knocking on my way. :D

First week at Nueva Ecija

Assuming that all my requirements are done, my idea of going here was to work immediately,. But it didn't seem the way I expect it. And so, one day after arriving the HR told me that I still have pending matters to submit which I was quite surprised cause he didn't even reply to my text. And there, in my first two days, I found myself going back and forth from Muñoz to Philrice then Cabanatuan. It was an exhausting walk and patient waiting, just to get it all done. But I like travelling (which in here sounds like commuting hahaha), it gave me a chance to look around Cabanatuan that I've never been to. :D

I like places that implement plastic-free campaign. In Pacific Mall, Cabanatuan where I processed my requirements, I bought some stuff and they use paper bags. Quite delightful to know this, I've never been to a place that uses paper bags except from some parts of Quezon City, and my School in College. I wonder what it takes to do this in our own barangay! Haha!

And I began my first day of work. Hiyah!!! One of the bosses said that employees should also visit the field to be familiarized. Well, then I'm going to visit- but not this time. So I just took a picture of the road going to the field.

Above, is the road I usually walk on when going back and forth from work. :D 

Found this Japanese doll at my friend's office (I call him Takahashi). Isn't it cute??? (sorry for the blur picture). I always visit her office and stop by at this figure.

Apparently, rice isn't just a food subject. An artist from where I work found an amazing art out of rice grains. These tables consist of rice grains variety-filled into shapes. :D I asked about the price too, half the size of these two tables might cost 3000 Php. :D

This is just one of the pictures I took when I visited the Rice Museum. I think this painting gives us a clue of a chid-story right?? Ants and the grasshopper

This is a whole new different place. I was on my first week and my boss took me to travel related to the project I'm involved in. This dark view with city lights was in Angeles, Pampanga. This was on our first night.:D

Another view, this time,  from the top of the hotel building. I did make an effort to reach the top to get a view of this but I don’t think it is something that I did great!! Hahahaha (it is so blurry judging from a phone camera that I used). But I love the top of it, it is so calm and windy. It gave me time to think for a bit. :D

I didn't have a nice sleep on our first night. So I ended up waking up so early in the morning to see the sunrise. This is the view of the city from the room I'm staying in. :D The bluish mount Arayat can be seen from there. :D

A new place, also means new people to be with. So here are my newfound friends on our first night out together. :D 

Relief Op with Pilar LGU

Yes. That was a month ago. But I still can't believe how I did it on my own for the first time. Right after the house-to-house collection of relief goods I did with the VSO-ICS team VI082, the morning after, I headed to Loon to distribute it. I was also in hope to see Rex, a VSO-ICS deaf volunteer, living in Loon to hand some of the relief goods we collected.





Me together with Pilar youths






Other group bound to Inabangga



Around 8 o'clock in the morning of Oct. 24, 2013, I got on the dump truck bound to Loon. With me are some of the youth groups from Pilar and a few Municipal Officials to accompany us on our route. It was also my first time to finally see Loon before and after the earthquake. On our way there, we are welcomed with series of damaged houses, fallen rocks, landslides, and broken bridges. And as we got to the place where all goods were deployed, I had the chance to take a closer look at the damaged house of the Brgy. Captain of the place, and ask a few questions.








Filling the water bottles of the Brgy. Captain's Wife








Me: Te, pila namo kaadlaw way tubig ngare? 


Captain's wife: Sukad ra atong paglinog day. Naa man pod mi tabay nga among kuhaanan ug tubig, pero nalubog man sukad pod atong nilinog di na namo mainom. Daghan man gani tig kawsanan diri sa amoa before sa linog kay tin-aw man unta nang tubig sa among tabay.


Me: Unya te, unsaon man ninyo pagkaligo?


Captain's Wife: Manghimasa ra mi day usahay kanang gikan sa tabay nga tubig. Bahin ug imnonon magsalig pa jud mi karon sa ipanghatag.


During the time we were there, the captain was out attending another relief distribution in another area so their barangay could also benefit. Her wife was left in the house to stand on his behalf in case of help comes. The captain's house was seriously destroyed yet amidst the tragedy he hasn't forgotten his responsibility with the people in the place. It was known during those times the relief goods hoarding, that only people close to government officials are abundant beneficiaries of the help received. I think it was also an advantage that goods were directly given to barangays instead of going to evacuation camps, at least there was an assurance that smaller community far from the relief distribution areas were regarded as well.












There were two more barangays we've been after our first stop. And as I see the goods slowly vanishing, I figured I would never have the chance to see Rex as all the goods we have are all accounted for and our route was slowly moving away from where Rex is. The bridge that broke down also hindered us from going to Loon Poblacion or Proper, where Rex is living. I let the chance pass as I cannot insist on my own intentions of being just a volunteer. I informed Rex about this and was glad enough he understood my reasons.





It was about lunch when we had a contact coming from Antequera (one of the municipalities severely damaged by the earthquake). Surprisingly we were not there to give out relief goods but to be guests of the house celebrating their fiesta. I found it absurd as we came to the other municipality to help but there we were making ourselves a burden of an earthquake-affected area. But the owner of the house was more than happy to have us there (the way I saw it). You can't see that they were out of something to eat having prepared a variety of food on the table that they shared without hesitation. This is probably one way of showing how important fiesta is for Boholanos, that even in the middle of crisis they will still find a way to praise and thank the saint and the Lord for everything.





 We headed to Tagbilaran after our heavy lunch and we had the chance to pass through few affected municipalities. It was another purchase of additional relief goods for the next batch of relief distribution.

Relief Goods collection with VSO-ICS Team VI082

I've said that I have been helping out with relief operations starting in Ubay. So when I was invited to help out with the current team's Mini-CAD which is a house-to-house collection of relief goods, I didn't hesitate to say yes. This time I helped out as a Returned Volunteer (RV).

I was with Fidel, an RV from the cycle before us. The team never made us feel awkward towards them that we were able to fit in well. Some of them were curious about certain things so some of them asked me of how my volunteering went. While waiting for the dumptruck, we also played the "Indian War Sign", a game where you need to create your own sign and pass it on to another by doing their sign. That was a bit hilarious since some volunteers did funny signs that I was no way of considering doing. Because of this, I didn't win. (Sorry RVs I turned you down) hahaha

I hopped on the front seat as soon as the truck came, and after the bumpy ride we were later dropped off in Brgy. San Isidro, Pilar. Per groups, we were assigned in certain areas by the CAD committee. We started off collecting right away and in our first stop-- we were given half sack of rice.  We went on each houses, gathering different types of donations-- money, rice, canned goods, noodles, and clothes. I saw how generous my fellow Boholanos are, even the place has been affected by the earthquake too, they still have a heart and kindness to share what they have to people largely affected.

We assembled before one o' clock putting everything we have collected. And as the rain poured down while eating our lunch, it didn't bother us as we were more delighted with what we have gathered.

After our relief collection, we did the packing at Pilar, LGU. Everyone helped out that we finished earlier. (With all our hands put together, relief goods were too little for us for packing, like in a snap! Its done!).

Photo taken from Twiggy Gatuteo' Facebook Account

I'm soo happy to be with everyone and looking forward to participating in more activities this team will organize. :D Ajja!

Assessing Her

Probably, the most irritating case is when people look down on you. Being sensitive as I am, this is one thing that I'm always careful about since I don't want to make people feel down about themselves I try not to be treated the same. But being in a place where people have preconceptions of where you're coming from was a barrier in making yourself feel better and confident of who you are. Cause people judge, that's how they are. The challenge is how to break that barrier that limits them from knowing me as a person.

I do judge people, but in most cases I don't want to make them feel that. So in the middle of knowing them in depth, I certainly assess whether I like them or not. I'm sensitive about not making them feel awkward towards me by asking questions they don't want to answer. Cause I feel the same, I don't want to be caught in that kind of situation as well. Just so I'm careful about all this kind of situations, I met a person who definitely challenged my patience on how well I'm going to stand strong to being myself. The feeling of awkwardness and questions I don't want to answer bombard me when she's around. At first I thought, it was just her way of dealing with people that she's not aware of. So the first time she did it to me, I ignored it. Until it kept on happening that I pretended I didn't hear nor feel anything. Of course it was never right but I chose to be quiet. Yet now that I have talked to people who know her better. Maybe what I felt was true, maybe she's really was unfair to me. 

Questions?? Don't ask.

I'm starting to live my life without bothering how people might react to what I'm doing. It feels relieving and seemingly surprising how much burden was taken out of me- it is so much better now, but problems are always there of course. Regardless of how free I am now, I still can't forgo people who question me a lot. Those are the forbidden questions I hate to answer. Like "What are you doing now?, Where do you work?, What would you do next?" Shhhhhhh.. The moment I hear these queries, I want to disappear for a moment. Because I don't know the answer yet and I see judgement in their eyes which affects my optimistic view of life.

So I see avoidance as the most effective way not to encounter questions like those. Cause as much as I try to explain my side they will never understand my reasons. It will be just a waste of time so I decided to keep my mouth shut and talk only to those people who can empathize and understand what I'm doing. I live my own life not to impress other people after all. Might as well do the things that I want to do with consideration that it doesn't get out of the line. :D