Back to regular programming

Rough sketch. Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com
Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com
Building views, Makati central business district. Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com
Poolside. Art and photo by CallMeCreation.com

I decided to make bookmarks and use urban sketching style to draw pictures as I have a lot of board paper off-cuts here.

When Kr and I met last Friday, I gave her the 400 pcs of business cards I ordered for her, the Baguio City pines painting I promised her, and a print out of the yellow bell I painted for my mom. She was surprised that the print was not a real painting and she said I can make Christmas gifts out of such prints. I said I will try making book marks and the original ones I will give to special bookworm friends and the prints will be given to other bookworms. I will have them plastic laminated.

I was inspired by this urban sketcher last night so I went back to drawing again today, even if these are just quick drawings.

I’m not proud to say that I again procrastinated today and was just busy emailing and chatting with people online. Well, it’s still work, right? There are days when creative juices just don’t flow and I needed to seek it elsewhere, hence, the drawings today. Besides it’s a holiday today here in Manila (and the rest of Southeast Asia) so my brain knows I really don’t have to work that hard today.

I read somewhere (I don’t remember if I already blogged about this) that executives and creatives have different workflows. Executives function well if they divide their day according to chunks on a per hour basis. They can easily finish daily tasks like that. Creatives, however, cannot block time like executives do. So when visual artists or writers block their days, they do it by how many hours it takes them to finish because you cannot just cut thought or creative drive like executives cut their calls per hour. That’s why a lot of writers tend to skip meals because it’s hard to cut their train of thought when they’re deep into writing.

It’s the same with starting a creative process like writing. I need to be in the zone to write so there are days that I really procrastinate—which is bad since I’m a manager too. So my days now are filled with executive work that involves talking to a lot of people and emailing, fixing admin stuff, etc. So the more I procrastinate doing executive tasks, the more the creative process gets delayed.

I have to fix my workflow better. This blog entry gives good tips on how to manage your daily tasks. Since I was a semi-manager in the past, winging it was ok. But now I have my entire ass on the line, I cannot just wing it like I did before.

To complicate matters, I must still manage my household like a chief executive, including weekends. Single mom manager and super journo—I don’t know how but I will get through this.

In CBD

Good morning. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

My cats knew we were leaving today. While I was getting dressed, Sushi was lying on my clothes, while Kimchi was lying on my laptop bag. They don’t want me to leave 🤣

However, it took me another hour before I could get away from my table because there were back to back calls with my boss in China and then boss in S. Korea. Then cascade the info to my reporters in Manila and Kuala Lumpur. 🥴

Before that, I had a one-hour interview with a CEO who was in New York so I had to compress everything because he needs his rest.

Rushing work at the dining area. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

After checking into our serviced apartment, I rushed to edit two stories, ordered food via room service, then I let the kids jump into the pool.

A living room with no purpose. It became the alternative dining area while I worked. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
With Ate C. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

It was good that Ate C came with us because I had to hop immediately to an event somewhere also in Makati. BUT BUT BUT it was hard booking Grab 🙄 Oh yeah, seems like pandemic is over. I had no choice but to go back to the parking area to get my car and drive to the venue. I was late 😣

Yep. Those are the deals I’ve been following. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Was tired when I came back. Couldn’t book a massage 😭 So the least I could do was a hot water soak in the tub for my tired muscles.

I’m not really enamoured of city life. I could only appreciate it at night from above.

Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I’ve always been a provinciana. And will probably die a provinciana. I didn’t want to live in a condo and my gut feel was right. I couldn’t imagine spending lockdowns here in the CBD area. No trees nor open spaces. I really don’t like shopping so I dislike malls. I only go there when I need to buy something. I never made it a habit to window shop in malls; it’s such a waste of energy.

🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱

I really, really need that massage. 💆

I miss my cats.

I’m back in my element

Chasing executives, scooping competition, producing stories back to back on the menu for today.

Photo by CallMeCreation.com

This is my first face-to-face annual general meeting for the year and it seems like others will follow suit. I woke up early this morning to attend to some admin stuff before heading out.

Lighting a scented candle for good vibes. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

It only took me 50 mins or less to reach Conrad since I took Skyway 3. I didn’t have to deal with horrible Edsa.

The shoes hurt less this time. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I spent gruelling hours attending back-to-back-to-back earnings briefing and AGM press briefings. All three overlapped so it was a feat that I was able to listen to all of them and ask questions and write stories. Whew! My copies were not super clean but my aim was to publish ahead of competition.

Writing and listening to a presscon while awaiting the start of another one in the other conference hall. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I arrived here early so I can start working on other things but I had to jump in one meeting right after another. Whew!

I wrote two time-sensitive stories back-to-back and edited some. I missed this adrenalin rush. Meeting the execs after a long time. One of the company owners told me I had slimmed down. Hahahahah! I told her we just hadn’t seen each other for two years that’s why you think that way.

I missed this.

Beautiful sunset again. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I have no problem working here at Conrad because the view is always lovely. It’s just unfortunate that I couldn’t sketch because I was trying to beat the buzzer and needed to publish these stories ASAP.

Sunset over Manila Bay. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I couldn’t drive back home now because my car is banned from the streets from 5 pm to 8 pm during Mondays. Now, should I waste my evening shopping around or should I waste money ordering coffee again? ☕️

Oooh, the president of this company just walked by and remarked to me, Oh you’re still working? Yup, gotta be fast, I replied.

Ahhh, I missed this kind of interactions. The small talk, the chismis, the market talk. This is why I have been doing this job for more than 16 years now. ❤️

Betrayal

text
Photo by Amy Pointer on Pexels.com

Now that the complete admin reins are with me, I have a clearer picture of how betrayed I was/am. I carried the whole team for years while my recent ex-manager was dysfunctional. I worked my ass off. Now I saw how undervalued I am and my team mate from Manila were. Our salaries are really low even when the cost of living in Manila is second to Singapore among the cities in the region. I haven’t gotten a raise in three years. I was so incensed yesterday when I saw that my salary was a little more than half of what the worst performer in the team is getting and his cost of living is lower than mine. And yet my ex-manager kept dumping work on me. I think my ex-manager has a thing against Filipinos.

Of course I ranted to my APAC boss/new manager. I said I worked my ass off for a long time and yet he is getting almost double than me??? My new manager said she just heard about it, meaning she didn’t have a hand in it. Once my new contract comes to me and I still get lower than this guy, I will tell my new manager I’m going to quit and they go fuck themselves.

So during the performance review, I told this slacker dude he doesn’t have any excuse for performing that bad. Considering his supposed experience, he shouldn’t just be covering startups and giving me half-baked stories with no value. I gave him measurable targets and demanded x number of articles a week. I told him that he should be aiming for large caps and grade A investments, not the USD 5m deals, the low-hanging fruits. Don’t tell me you’re running out of companies because yours is a very large market and there are so many things to cover there, from regulatory changes to left and right unicorn deals, I said.

I frankly told him that, “your slacking off for three years is ending. I will be checking up on you every quarter and show you your numbers every month. I expect more quality from you and no more low-hanging fruits.”

He has been giving me a lot of excuses. Every excuse he gives me, I give him a counter-argument. He really has zero excuse. Period.

I’m so angry right now. 🤬🤬🤬

No one is going to fucking undervalue me again.


This feeling of betrayal was similar to the one I had in February when I learned about how the demon J cheated on me, how he undervalued me, how cruel and evil he was. The similar hurt feelings. The anger burning inside me is the same. I told a colleague this morning that this is the problem, I was too nice. I didn’t put a premium on myself, hence, I get this treatment from others.

No more. No more. I will not play nice anymore.

message against bullying
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

No wonder I was so much of a mess the past two to three years. I was being fucked over by my ex-manager and by my ex-partner. This is unforgivable. Getting abused like that because I was too nice really does things to your mental health. This is the year I will be looking out for myself first and watch my back for Judases around me.

I will just let God avenge me.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Romans 19

My daughters’ day

11th year. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I just ordered stuff via Grab today so we can relax and we can attend to school work and my work. One of my good friends from the industry also sent the girls a cake, matcha strawberry.

This is for tomorrow. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Then they spent the rest of the day with their dad, who took them to Estancia Mall in Kapitlyo, Pasig. They came home in time for a shower and straight to bed.

The girls were happy. They’re easy to please and they don’t ask much. They’re happy with their bunnies and my sister offered to have them framed.

Twin I asked about their other twin sisters—the cats. They declared that their birthday is on the 12th of April 2020. So I said, Ok, I’m gonna make their sketches as well.

Kimchi, the fat cat. Art and Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Sushi. Art and Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Laziness has set in today because my body knew that this is supposed to be a week-long holiday…And yet I edited and interviewed somebody from Singapore whom I need to visit when I get there. I also set up an interview on Monday with an aviation company. I think I must draft today’s interview by tomorrow or else I may forget the details after this week. My brain cells are already protesting.

Tomorrow I will cook as my daughters’ friend is coming over.

My call with my new manager and outgoing manager will also be tomorrow for the turnover of duties. I don’t know when they will formally announce the transition so that all communication and PRs should be directed to me from now on. Drats, I just had 400 business cards printed with my old designation.

It takes a long time for paperwork to be settled 🙄

I want to have a week-long break before chaos officially starts.

Palm Sunday

Blue marlin steak. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Today is Palm Sunday, traditionally a day that marks the the start of the Holy Week in this predominantly Catholic nation. The old practice was the oldies refrain from eating rich foods at the start of Ash Wednesday but with my generation, sacrifices (no eating of meat) and fasting usually start on Holy Monday. I remember there was this old practice of Filipinos eating only fish on Fridays as part of their penitence, regardless of the time of the year, that’s why galunggong (round scad) and mungbean soup were popular dishes in offices/canteens every Friday lunch.

Anyway, I don’t really follow these practices since I’m no longer Catholic (because for me Jesus’ death on the cross is enough to pay for my sins so no need for penitence) but fasting is a good way of making you focus more when you plan on meditating this coming Holy Week. I tried intermittent fasting before when I was doing my reflections in 2016-2017. I subsisted only on coffee during the day and then break my fast after midnight with a light snack.

So today I grilled blue marlin steaks because Twin A asked for it, not because it’s Palm Sunday. 😁 I was surprised at how well I seasoned the fish before grilling. 🥰 I cooked meatless hotpot with tofu to accompany the fish. The smell of the fish while I was grilling it reminded me of beach outings we had when I was growing up. We always grilled something when we go to the beach during summer holidays. 💓

I then attended to my garden again to re-pot the plants that were not thriving and transferred the ones that already outgrew their containers into the clay pots I bought from Marikina yesterday. Now that I have a good look at my inventory, I can assess now what are the additional flowering plants I can buy next week. It took me four hours to finish. No wonder people during lockdowns were so into gardening. We can pass the day just gardening.

Twin I taking a photo of me while I was busy.

My morning glory plants are thriving and I may have to transplant them next week into hanging planters because they’re already growing vines. The marigolds are sprouting but I haven’t seen any sign of the calendula and aster. The leeks have also sprouted. This encouraged me to plant kale and lettuce in my spare mini pots. Let’s see if my black thumb only applies to vegetables.

As I said, gardening is trial and error. So I realized that the loam soil I was buying retains water too much and my area does not encourage evaporation that quickly so a lot of my earlier plants became victims of root rot, especially my expensive roses. Now I learned I must mix this soil with coco peat and humic plus soil conditioner.

And clay pots do make a difference.

Clay pots allow the soil/roots to breathe since the pots are porous compared to plastic pots. Yes, plastic pots are cheap and convenient to have but they easily encourage root rot. So what I’m going to do with my existing plastic pots and rectangular planters is I will drill holes not only at the bottom but also at the sides to encourage aeration. I already did that to my big plastic planter, that’s why some of the current plants there are surviving. However, it seems like the holes aren’t enough because my cosmos are nearly dying. So I transferred them to a clay pot and into an area that receives full sunshine throughout the day. I just hope it works.


Tomorrow will be the formal turnover of duties from my boss to me during the team call. Then on Wednesday will be a follow up call with my new manager (APAC head) as my outgoing manager will be transferring to the data team and by June she will be transplanting herself to London. I have to fix my schedule again to see if I can fly to Singapore before July (probably next month?) to introduce myself to PRs and renew my connection with firms and sources after the formal announcement of my promotion (and also my salary raise–a lot of paperwork and admin work).

As the newest reporter under my wing said, I will be busier but not much difference since I had been leading the team for quite some time now. Well, she has no idea how long I was like that, the invisible team leader that was underpaid. 🙄

top view photo of people near wooden table
Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

My very old TV has stopped working so I ordered a new universal TV remote for it. If it doesn’t work, then I think I have to retire it and buy that 50-inch TCL Android TV for Netflix marathons with the girls. I will then mount it on the wall when we transfer to my new house and make it disappear by creating a gallery wall around it. Like this:

So many things to do…