Much ado about ALL things...

Unthinkable, unforgivable

In a span of one week, I’ve read two incidents of infanticide — one was consumated (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101640/Baby-girl-dies-after-being-hurled-from-9th-floor) and one, thankfully, was not (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080620-143697/Baby-thrown-from-cab-now-out-of-danger). As a mother and as a human being, these two stories will undoubtedly haunt me for the rest of my life.

For the life of me, I would never understand why women (they do not deserve to be called mothers at all) can do these sort of things. These babies, planned or not, are and should be considered as blessings. WTF were you thinking??!?!?!

To the heartless bitches who did these, shame on you. You were supposed to protect them and keep them safe from harm. These babies do not deserve you. And you don’t deserve them.

My second coming

I haven’t been able to update this blog as often as I used to. In fact, I havbe not stayed true to my promise of making this a mirror site of my blogspot one. I intend to change that. And I wanna start today.

And we’re off to the US!

Barely 2 days after getting our Visas, we were told that we are REALLY going to Chicago. Talk about planning a trip on short notice!

Ok, just a quick update on our team’s US trip.

1. Tickets has been booked (finally!) last night. We are taking the Manila-HK-LA-Chicago and back route. Roughly about 16 hours of flying. Yes, it’s more than half a freaking day up in the air but hey, what can you do right?

2. Hotel has been booked. In Chicago, we will be staying at the Swissotel — about 3 or 4 blocks from the office.

3. Travel insurance form completed and submitted to our admin.

4. Shopping for travel essentials partly done. Packing them, well, that’s another challenge. I will get to that on Friday.

So. We are leaving Manila on April 19 at 6:30am and then arrive in HK around 830am. We are expected to arrive in Chicago on April 19 somewhere between 8 and 830pm. Whew. It will be a really long flight. I am just sooo glad Carrie and Rese will be travelling with me. I will not want for intelligent conversation. Hehehe.

Ok. So, once in Chicago, the team has decided to make the most of the following Sunday to do some serious sight-seeing (ooohhh, Badj will love the alliteration on that sentence!) before plunging into work on  Monday, the 21st. For five days, we will be immersed in finding ways to communicate the Firm’s new brand messages and ofcourse, in coming up with new materials for the global practice groups. But, I don’t want to go into that. It’s boring stuff really except for the part when I get to see my cousin, Patrick. I hope we can do some catching up while I’m there.

What I am really looking forward too is the trip to LA!

Yey! After 5 long years (has it been really five??), I will get to see my brother and my sister in law! Yahoo! I have about a week to spend with them as well as other relatives in LA whom I miss dearly as well. This being my first time to travel in the US, I will savor the sights, the sounds and the taste of America. Wow, first world! Can you imagine that? I will be escaping the scorching heat of summer in Manila for two weeks!

I know there is so much to look forward to but I still can’t help but feel a little anxious about leaving the little boy. I know he will be in very good hands and will not want for love and attention while I am away. Still. This will be the longest time ever I have spent apart from Anton. I will miss his little body sleeping warmly and peacefully beside mine. Those cute little thumbsucking sound. Argh. I have to stop. Otherwise, I won’t have the nerve to make that trip to the airport!

Ok. Keeping my eyes on the ball now. And the opportunity that lies ahead. Oooh. And most especially the experience of being in another country for a couple of days. Definitely worth looking forward to.

Guess who’s holding a US VISA?

Yep, you guessed right. It’s moi! Can you believe it? Neither can I. And what’s amazing about this whole thing is the fact that they gave me a 10 year, MULTIPLE entry to the US. Talk about lady luck smiling widely at me.

Here’s the full story: About three weeks ago, our team got the shock of our lives when we were told that a writing workshop is in the works for all regional marketers of the Firm in light of the Branding Project. As part of the Global Writing Desk, we were expected to help in the preparation and facilitation of the workshop to be held in Chicago. So, to make the long story short, a colleague and I had to renew our passports (which entailed waking up in the wee hours of the morning and queing at 4am at the DFA so that we would be included in the 450-applicant cut-off for the day) and get a US visa real quick.

Since our company is enlisted in the Priority Interview Program of the US embassy, our team was immediately scheduled for the visa interview. My interview was scheduled last April 9 at 9am and after four hours of wait, I finally faced the consul. She looked at my papers (which the company had prepared for me) and then asked me a few questions.

Consul: What is the purpose of your visit to the US?

Me: (Thinking disneyland but answering…) Basically for business. Our team has been invited to attend the Global Marketing Summit of the Firm. So…

Consul: Who’s paying for your trip?

Me: (Thinking ofcourse hindi ako!) The company.

Consul: How long have you been with the company?

Me: Almost a year.

Consul: How much do you get in a month?

Me: (thinking, not much really) Ofcourse I gave a number but I won’t put it in this entry hehehe.

Anyways..

The interview took less than 3 minutes. When I held that yellow slip of paper in my clammy hands, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. So now I am an official holder of a ten year multiple entry visa to the US. I still am not sure if that will affect my life or my career plans but one thing is for sure. After 31 years in this planet, going to Disneyland is now one plane ride away. Awesome!