You are the best one...

...of the best ones. Last December 12, Paul and I spent out 4th anniversary as a couple and I could still perfectly recall how my man stole my heart. We spent a few days in Tagaytay since the place is very much special for us (we spent our 2nd year anniversary here as well). We stayed in Taal Vista and had the most relaxing and romantic staycation. Sharing to you some pictures and Paul's ever funny gift presentation.






So Paul got me a gift...


I was laughing so much since I opened a lunchbox..


With another gift inside..


A gift of time..more happy times!


Walang iwanan.. tayo lang forever! I love you 💜💛💚

Thankful and Grateful

2016 is definitely the best year by far. Career, family, love and life-wise, this year has been nothing but good to me and the people I love. As a matter of fact, I can really say I'm extra blessed in where I am in my life right now. Today, we have received the memo of the promotes for the year. And you guessed it right.. I'm promoted! I'm now promoted to Team Lead - not to brag but I got to this in just 5 years ;) Now, being a lead in a I.T. type of work is no easy task. Basically, you get to handle a team of more than 10 with people of different personalities and different priorities in life. I could choose to look at the negative, but I'm choosing to look at the positive.
Today, it's month end and it's raining issues in the department of Finance.. but who cares right? There will always be issues, there will always be hardships. But believe me when I say that a right and positive mindset followed up by an action alongside a powerful prayer is all you need to succeed. And along the way, don't forget to share your success to other too.

P.S. My housekeeper was very kind so I gave a little tip just to thank her and also to welcome December 1 with a little thoughtfulness. Look at what she gave me in return :)

Xoxo,

Ellie

Life Lately 2

I want to start off this post by saying I'm SOOOO CRAZY ABOUT COLDPLAY. Like who wouldn't be right? It's fuckin' COLDPLAY! So when the news came that they're coming to Asia, that they're coming to the Philippines, I was in complete panic because I already know that my luck when it comes to rush buying of online tickets is very low (I have proven this a couple of times on the Cebu pacific promo ticket sales lol).

Anyway, I just proved that right because I did try the Globe pre-selling and Citibank pre-selling. Not to mention that I tried (alongside some friends) to purchase tickets from Singapore! Even on the Day 2 selling I WAS NOT able to get any tickets. So it's safe to say that at this point, I was really frustrated. I even got into a point where I was crying while driving and listening to Coldplay (crazy? yeah).

I kinda have accepted the fact that I will not be able to see them play live and I was kinda okay with it. Although 'OK' does not necessarily mean you're really okay. I still discuss it alongside my "same crazy" group of friends who weren't able to get tickets as well.

Then one day... someone came from North Pole and probably asked Santa to give me my gift early! The best boyfriend in the world got me tickets!!! I went from semi-crazy to tremendously crazy when I read his comment on one of our discussions on  my page. Aww right? AWW.

I never pressured the man to get me tickets to see the best band in the world, but he did anyway, because he's just that great. I then told him that the only reason I want to go to Coldplay is so our first concert together would be Coldplay. I could imagine us singing along to Yellow, Everglow, Fix You, Up and Up and more!!! I can't wait for April! I am so giddy right now! Thank you, my love Paul!

And it doesn't end there! This guy has actually won the 'Best Boyfriend' award! On the day before I left for India, he did all my lengthy and crazily exhausting errands with me and ensured I got everything I need. He's just the best and I'm so lucky! Here we are and our 'LDR' situation which will last for 2 weeks. I can't wait to go home and spend time with him, we have so much exciting plans for our 4th anniversary! Yay! <3

Xoxo,

Ellie

Life Lately

Hey guys! So how's life lately? Well for me it's been extra well. :) I'm currently typing this blog in my very posh hotel room in Bangalore, India. Yes! I'm currently on a business trip and as much as I want to tell you more about it, I'm currently occupied with so much work-related activities that the only thing I could think of right now is how great would a chill time in my bath tub would be. Lol! I promise to write about this when I get back (I'll be staying here for 2 weeks and today's my 3rd day already) but for now, I'll give you a sneek peek.

This is Bengaluru Airport - we arrived at around 10:50pm and the weather's very much comparable to Baguio.


Preview of my really awesome room here at The Zuri Hotel Whitefield. I plan to do a review about this do stay tuned.


We had Filipino food c/o our pinoy colleagues here. Yum!


Look at my cute sleeping mask that Paul got for me. Namaste!


I will have a part 2 of my LL column. Wait for it? :)

Xoxo,
Ellie

Life Lately

I have soo much good news to share but since I don't have time yet to post, then I'll share for now an achievement picture which Paul took when we crossed a very rocky (I actually have a couple of bruises) low-tide sea. It looked easy at first but when we were in the middle, there was actually nowhere for us to go but forward. This man right here ensured that I got to cross successfully with him. I actually wanted him to carry me but I'm too heavy! Lol jk!:) I'll miss this guy when I go out of the country next week for a business trip... which I am excited to share to all! Stay tuned!:)

Gantimpala 2016

Being with Accenture for 5 years, I always knew that being awarded in Gantimpala would be a very big deal. The first time I stepped into the project I'm currently on, they were having their mini-awards. The winners in this 'mini' awarding would be our project's nominees for the quarterly Gantimpala awards. If by any luck, the screening team (usually managers and above) would like/approve the write-up for you, then you will be named as winner. The quarterly awardees would then again undergo another round of screening and if the write-up is really exceptional, the person could win the Annual Gantimpala award.

Luckily, I was one of the awardees (200+ out of Accenture's 50,000 employees in Philippines alone).
Pure luck? Out of humility I would say that. But then again, I would have to thank the awesome write-up of my colleague which thankfully put me on this spot. So here's me holding my ever precious 'Kalinga' award.



The awarding happened at Marriott Grand Ballroom last October 14. The best thing about this event was that if you happen to win, you get to tag along a plus one to witness the awarding sesh and your 15-seconds of fame onstage. I brought along my Mama and I was really happy because I know I made her proud. Sharing some random pictures:

With Mama and Det (my brother's girlfriend; their team won 'Bayanihan' award)

 With my friend Jan who won Agila or Business Operator award

Posing pa more, Ma! :)

Mama and I posing with my 2 mentors, Eric and Thet 

I got it from my momma who looks like Dawn Zulueta (as per Papa! haha)

She's her own kind of beautiful <3

Me and Thet, my manager and friend!

And oh here's my award :)

Here's a closer look at my 'awardee look' (haha im really enjoying the awardee thing). I got my hair curled in a salon near our house - Acro Polish (pun intended as it's situated in Acropolis Mandaluyong). My make-up was done by my sister Lai. Ugh I love her work! I wanted a simple but glamorous look for the night and I absolutely got it! :)

I've always been a people person. I can easily relate and befriend people, most probably because I am super talkative. But recently, I have learned the art of being of friend and a leader as well. I always try my best to empower people, to make them see the best version of themselves and to establish their faith that they can do anything they set their goals upon as long as they work hard for it. It's not easy of course, but I'm not a quitter (maybe in Clash Royale when I'm losing haha). I don't quit on people just because they're hard to deal with. I help them get over themselves and just move on from the shit they're experiencing.. and together, we deal it in style. :) Work could really get the best of us, but if we learn how to separate it from our personal lives, then trust me, it will make things a whole lot easier! :)

Have a good start of the week everyone!

Xoxo,

Ellie

Sanity

So I had a really good day today and I just want to share some realizations out of it. And I know I've been off the blog for a few weeks now but I'm just really busy with all the stuff at work, though I promise to make it up to you guys on the upcoming weeks. I should be able to catch up.
So since I already mentioned work... I'm in a place right now wherein I am actually happy with what I do no matter how busy I may get. This is because I actually feel so much appreciated to the extent that it motivates me so so much more! That's the good side of it.. the downside, on the other hand, is that I'm not able to pull up the people who helped me along the way because it seems like the spotlight's on me. Okay..don't get me wrong, who doesn't love having his/her shining moment tripled, right? I'm normal, of course I love it! But you see.. I just wish that for every appreciation given to me, I'd be given a chance to appreciate those that have helped me as well. Although I do it privately, I still think they should be recognized publicly as well. I keep on thinking why my mindset is always like this... most probably because I grew up bearing in mind that all should be fair. The reason why I'm bringing this up is because my love, Paul, just had the best response to this drama I'm having. He told me that if you do believe that you're worthy of the recognition, then there's zero reason to feel bad. Not being able to pull others up to the stage and into the spotlight is never a bad thing, as everyone will have their own spotlight when the right time comes. As long as you don't forget to acknowledge the help they have given, give them credit for it and say thank you, then that's enough. He also added that should there be a chance that I could voice out the help done to me, I would surely do it. And you know what? I know I'll do.
Now talking about the recognition I have been getting, I'll tell you more about it in my next posts. For now, here's me and the best person in the world, dining at TGI Friday's earlier c/o the company we work for. I got this dinner for two award and I chose to share it with Paul because no matter how awkward, impatient, moody and hard I am to deal with most of the time, he's sticking around. Stickin' stronger than a mighty bond. That's my Paul. If you ever get to read this love, I love you so much and thank you for being there. You.. you are what's keeping me sane in a world full of disdane.




Xoxo,
Ellie

Keystone At 10

The project where I currently belong to in Accenture recently celebrated its 10th year of partnership with our client, which means we got to dress up! :) I really liked my dress which I borrowed from one of my best friends. The party was announced late so I did not get the time to shop. But this is why I'm thankful for my fashionista friends and their closet! Haha!

Closer details of my dress and my face (Sunnies: Dana Sunnies Specs in Bellini; Lippie: Happy Skin The Morning After)

My close friends and I then continued our own party at Torre Venezia in Timog where we had a pizza party!

 It was such a fun night! Thank you, Accenture! :)

Xoxo,

Ellie

Kill 'Em With Kindness

I just want to share with you what happened to me last August 21 in BGC. I was about to go home then from a really fun team building in Laguna when something unfortunate came up. There was this small utility hole which was left uncovered along Lawton Ave right before turning left for 5th avenue in BGC. Although the uncovering seemed unintentional, it still poses a big risk to drivers who pass by the area. 



As you could guess, I unfortunately hit it which extremely ruined my left front tire.

Thankfully, a BGC traffic officer named Alex Aniñon was kind enough to help me. It was really an unlucky day for me as my spare tire was also broken so I had to go to the nearest vulcanizing shop (which was somewhere near SM Aura). I had to leave my car and a friend with Sir Alex while I took care of the spare. He, on the other hand, took out my ruined tire, grabbed a cab for me and ensured to give the direction of the vulcanizing shop, watched over my car to ensure it's not towed, assisted me to put in the fresh tire I got from the shop and ensured to take action on the utility hole. Needless to say, I really think he deserves a commendation for what he's done. So I contacted several people to help me reach out to his boss whom he referred to as this certain Manny Blas. I tried contacting Top Gear and James Deakin. Thankfully, James was kind enough to help so I was able to contact Manny Blas via Facebook. Turns out he's Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation's (FBDC) Head of Commercial Operation. I knew the title, but little did I know that he's the big boss of some sort. To give you an idea, he's actually Mind Museum's Managing Director and for newly opened buildings in BGC, he actually gets invited for ribbon cuttings. So yeahhh.

Going back, Sir Alex could have just let me call my dad or anyone else who could help me and not bother at all, but he didn't. Instead, he showed me that in a world where you can be anything, you can be kind. The action shown by this man is a good example of how we can make a difference.

So I bet you're wondering if they did replace my tire? Hehe. I haven't gotten one yet but I have reached out to them already and once I got one, it'll be reimbursed. Apart from that, they scored me free BHS Cinema Exclusive Passes + All Day Passes for Mind Museum! Paul and I already got to use the Cinema tickets earlier, we watched USS Indianapolis in pretty sick reclining chairs! How cool is that?! All of these for free just because I voiced out something positive for a real good thing done to me.  

"Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change."

Xoxo,

Ellie

Bohol 2016

Okay so this is gonna be an incomplete post or some sort of sneak peek of our recently concluded Bohol trip. I, unfortunately, got sick on our 3rd (out of 4) day there and here I am lying in bed and extending my leave for 1 more day just because I was dehydrated. Anyhoos, I'm now recovering thanks to Hydrite and Pocari Sweat! I'll update this as soon as I get the pictures from Paul..for now, here ya go!:)

Xoxo,
Ellie