It is a once-in-four-years Leap Day and it’s nice to blog because February 29 will only be seen again in 2012 and who knows if I will still be alive by then. It’s also the last day of the month so it’s good to recap and reminisce what happened this February.

If I have to put three words for February 2008 it will definitely be tragic, emotional and friendship. This is of course greatly attributed to the passing away of my dear friend Binchy and the good lessons he left us. I still think of him a lot and I know that this is one of the things that I wouldn’t be able to move on from easily. Death of a loved one is something that we just get used to and not something we get over with.

Since I am low on updates in the last few weeks, here’s a summary of what I’ve been up to.

POLITICS

I will not have a reaction on today’s Interfaith Rally that calls for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Ayala Ave. (unlike the other rally weeks ago) for the sole reason that I was not in our office in Makati when it happened. Nevertheless, I am not fully SOLVED on the issues YET. I’ve had enough of People Power in the Philippines and its after-maths. If Gloria resigns...then what? BUT the evil biatch is really something, huh? I will not be surprised if we wake up one day to another Martial Law. More on this next time – I am not yet “in the heat” to discuss the government brouhaha that the we are currently facing.

WORK

The reason why I was not in Makati today was because of our department’s first Strategic Planning for the year. We were cooped at The Heritage Hotel for two whole days for the assembly. The activity and sessions were informative and engaging. It was different from the previous we had and it quite rocked us a bit. Nonetheless, the brainstorming were great (lots of terrific ideas), the presentations were instructive, but the food definitely sucks. I am not really a fan of Heritage Hotel when it comes to their dishes. I always end up eating at nearby SM Mall of Asia after a day’s food at Heritage. It's all blah.

We are really busy at work lately. I have to manage daily office grind with preparations for upcoming department events and activities. We even had an AVP shoot the other day for a major event next month. I was so used to being an organizer for such so it was fun being one of the “talents” for a change. Here's a couple of photos:



NO, it's not my regular attire.
I was actually wearing a maroon Muslim outfit and was making a bow.



Team BSD at the AVP shoot

BOOKS

I finally got hold of the book I’ve been obsessing since December. I went to Fully Booked SM Mall of Asia and they finally have a copy of Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris. I first chance upon this book when I was reading a 2007 year-ender feature of TIME Magazine. TIME named the book as one of the best in 2007 and the New York Times gave it glowing reports and reviews.



Then We Came To An End is a critically acclaimed novel that relays the story of a Chicago-based advertising agency as they face downsizing and lay-offs at the end of the 90’s boom. The novel is not for everyone but it can be one of your fast-read-while-waiting books. It’s light, comedic and was written in a third person narrative. It’s too early to give it a review (I am still on page 43) but it looks promising.

The next book on my list is Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella. It’s another fun book from one of my favorite chick-lit authors. I just re-read recently Undomestic Goddess and I cannot wait for more of her works. I also wish to finish reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Love In The Time of Cholera. It was such a very heavy and emotion-filled book so I’ve already put it down several times.



TRAVEL

I went to Davao two weeks ago before Valentine’s Day! It was just a quick trip where I presented to our Mindanao leaders our group’s plans and strategies for this quarter and next. I really really really love Davao. It’s so divine yet simple! I often tell friends that Davao is the place to be if you are tired of good ol’ Manila. Too bad my stay was only less than 24 hours. It’s almost five years since the last time I visited Davao and I vow to make another trip to go and visit Pearl Farm and Samal Island.

I forgot to bring my camera so I don’t have photos of the nice sights I saw and the people I spent time with. I also took the opportunity to meet and dine with my friends in Davao like Koleen, Jesselou, Beam and Bianca. We had dinner at Penong’s near Royal Mandaya Hotel (where I stayed) and it was oh-so delicious. I love the BBQs and only-in-Davao restos like Penong’s!

My trip to Davao was so close to Binchy’s death and I was still wary on being alone at that time so it was really nice when Koleen and her cousin Bianca accompanied me at the hotel. They also met with me again (together with the others) after my meeting to kill time before my flight back to Manila. They took me to SM Davao and I bought Durian candies and some el cheapo frozen tunas from General Santos. It was generally a fun trip albeit a short one. The flight home was delayed so I was glad I had my laptop with me to amuse and entertain myself on the long wait. Beam’s two Pomelo fruit gifts were also the best! Thanks, thanks, Beam!

Davao, I’ll be back!