Best F-ing Chicken Rice in the World

As with most of the best food in the world, you can't judge it by it's looks...


It's in River Valley Road...

Drain-O

Super drained after 2 days of my OTC crash course here in the summit. In fairness, it wasn't as bad as I expected...(aren't most things we dread?) I think I've been able to follow the discussions relatively well considering I shudder everytime a new active or "molecule" is mentioned--Phenylephrine, Pseudophederine, and a lot more unpronouncable P's. Didn't participate as actively as I usually do...hope this improves with time and experience. Not too great on the social department either. Quite hard to small talk when you come from really different work backgrounds! But if there's one thing I'm trying to learn, it's to cut myself some slack. Ika nga ni Alex, I need to forgive myself!

I also got the chance to meet one of my subordinates and my new boss. I think they're great! Smart, hardworking but not too serious. I think we will work very well together!

Ugh...I'm starving. But have to have dinner with my new Managing Director who's arriving at 8:30pm.

I feel like I'm in Ugly Betty

Shangri-La's The Line Coffee Shop

My Singapore $320 a Night Room

Mood: tense
Music: None. TV is on for background noise...

Tears for Fears

Flying off to Singapore this afternoon to attend a 3 day OTC Summit. I'm freakin' nervous about it because: 1) I hate socializing with near strangers, especially foreigners (I dread cocktails and breaks more than actual meetings) and 2) My knowledge on OTC can't even compare to a kid's. Promise, will crash read tonight. In any case, I hope all the Johnson's meetings have helped make me less antisocial.

My key objectives for the meeting:
1. Meet my new Marketing Director and be his bff
2. Meet my subordinate and make him love me
3. Meet the Gods of OTC and make them remember me
4. Oh, and learn some OTC :)

After which, I stay in Sing for the May 1 holiday before flying off to Jakarta for house hunting and another 2 day strat plan meeting. Will use the free time to go around the city and meet up with friends, or rather, potential friends.

Shit, it's really happening na!

Mood: Sense of dread
Music: The Best of Tears for Fears

Jai guru deva om

I'm all set. Or rather, it has all been set for me. Funny thing about major life decisions...you shilly-shally for months but the moment you say "Yes!" the gods of indecisiveness just take the ball and run with it (probably to prevent you from changing your mind again). And there you stand, dazed and bewildered, not remembering what exactly you were agreeing to in the first place.

This whole thing started with a seemingly innocuous phone call over the Christmas holidays. I was in Tagaytay with my folks having lunch in Highlands' Winter Palace. While waiting for the dimsum to arrive, I gave Lynette a call to greet her on her birthday. As usual, we ended up chatting about work and our careers. She was very quickly moving up the company ladder despite not being sure where the ladder would end up. I, on the other hand, was getting a bit restless, and in desperate need of a major jolt. She told me to reconnect with GRC, especially since she was in Manila during that time. So when I was back at work last January, I dropped G's office to say hello. And that's when the ball started rolling and I'm still running after it up to now.

I will be leaving the Philippines for good in a month's time. I'm scared shitless. The longest I've ever been out of the country alone was 6 weeks in Taiwan when I was still in high school. And now, we're talking about 2 years. That's 98 more weeks than my personal record! It doesn't help that I don't know anyone there, that I will have to adjust to a completely different culture, and that I will be managing a business category that's completely alien to me.

BREATHE...

Choose the good, not the easy.

It's lonely at the top.

If you're stuck with lemons, go make a lemonade. (All from Lynette).

I have to admit though that it's also a very, very exciting time. I've never felt more alive! After all, how many chances in life do we get to wash ourselves clean, scour away all the grime and dirt accumulated through the years, and emerge fresh, pure, new?

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Mood: reflective, sedate
Music: The Best of U2, 1980-1990