One of my husband’s childhood stories that he had shared with me is the luxury of eating delicious foods. I too have the same experience. When you were a child, small things are a big deal for you. I remember when I was a child my mother does not allow me to drink soda. I was not aware at that time that it was not good for my health. I also notice that we only get to buy soda when we have visitors or when it is a special occassion. Back then, I used to tell myself that when I grow up I am going to buy Coca Cola. I going to satisfy myself with it when I already have my own job and I can already afford to buy it. Thinking about it makes me feel motivated. These are small things but it makes children happy. I believe that even until now, buying and drinking coke still makes me remember how I was as a child and it still satisfies me.
One day, I went to a mall nearby after my shift. I was wondering what I would prepare for dinner. Then when I went to the fresh section of Elizabeth Mall’s grocery shop, I saw “Tanguige”. It is one of the most expensive fish in our place. According to the salesgirl, it is good for “Kinilaw”. I remembered a recipe that was shared to me by a co-team leader at work, TL Michy. So I decided to buy 2 big slices of the meat. Then I bought white onions, tomatoes, cucumber, mayonnaise (alternative for coconut milk), ginger, vinegar, calamansi, salt and pepper. When I got home, I started right away to prepare the recipe. First, I cut the meat into cubes and soaked them in vinegar. Then I minced all the ingredients and mix them all up together with the meat. My husband was so happy when he learned I made “Kinilaw”. He told me that when he was a little child, he always thinks that only those who are rich can afford to make a yummy “Kinilaw”. I was very happy I made his day. Thanks to TL Michy for the recipe.
Previously on My Treasure Basket’s - Anxious? Crazy Wednesday…! I was ranting about changes, difficulties, and deliverables at work. Well, I was not the only one. Being bored and tired are the tendencies when you work too much and forget about fun. Every one in the office seemed to be pressured about high call volumes and this pressure just emanates from top down to agents on the production floor causing sometimes a little bit of nausea on the floor. So to remove all these tension, we decided to go on an outing with some of the agents on the floor. The destination is Moalboal, Cebu. One of the tourist spots here in Cebu. Some people call it the small Boracay. Ultimate destination is “Basdako”, “Bas” for sand and “Dako” for plenty. Indeed, there is plenty of sand in “Basdako”. hehehe!
We stopped by Elizabeth Mall located in the city to shop for things we can use in the 2 day trip. Then we started off our journey to Moalboal later at 3PM. I had to ask favor from my brother to drive me to Moalboal since I am afraid to ride on a bus on an almost 3 hour journey. Some of us took buses from the Cebu South Bus Terminal which cost 100 pesos per head. Once, they arrived at the town proper, they had to ride tricyles to the beach for 20 pesos each and pay an entrance fee of a total of 15 pesos. We prepared food for the night, had some games before calling it a day. We slept in concrete cottages worth 1500 pesos each. Each room can accomodate 6 people.
The next day, we went to a nearby island called Pescador. It is a small island but the waters around abounds both edible and ornamental fishes. Some of us went on snorkelling and according to them, the world down there is just amazing with all its colors and shapes and varied creatures of every size. I was not able to enjoy that since I have to be careful as I am six months pregnant going on a sea adventure. I had to enjoy just swimming around the small “bangka”. This short trip cost us 200 each.
Then after this, we prepared food again so that we can start going back to the city. Some of us swore not to go back because of the long journey but I am sure that every one enjoyed that trip and help us carry on the challenges we had at work.
I stumbled upon a number of cute pictures. This is my niece, Meagan Blanche. She is already 9 months old now. The first time I saw her was when she was like 2 days old and the first thing I noticed about her is her well-formed eyebrow. It looks as if it were modified because the shape is nicely formed. She loves music. She immediately finds its source when she hears one. One of her favorites is the Korean Pop Music “Nobody”. When she is not on her mood and she is crying, I always play this music to pacify her. She likes dancing to its beat. She is very talkative and very observant. She loves to wear this pink sunglasses ans she always wears a SMILE. I always drop by their house to see and play with her everyday.
I was aware of the things that might change once a woman gets pregnant. Physical appearance changes and women gets stretchmarks on their bodies. Their armpits and neck turns black. Legs, feet, and thighs become bigger. Most women gets a second chin. Aside from all these physical changes that are all so obvious, there is also emotional stress. With the physical changes comes very sharp senses as well to sound and much more to odor. When a woman gets pregnant her sense of smell becomes more powerful. This often leads to vomiting and loss of appetite. I have experienced all of these. What is worst is when you feel that because of all these changes taking place in your body you become insecure because you feel that you have become ugly. So did I experience this as well? Did I ask myself “Do I look ugly now?”
Yes, indeed. I have asked myself and my husband this question countless times already. I know and I am aware that everything will be back after giving birth but I could not take it when I see myself in the mirror. I am now getting a lot of pimples on my face which I did not usually had. I can no longer engage in activities which I am used to before. I do not have the luxury to tidy myself up because I get sleepy all the time and I felt it is more important than cutting my nails. I am just contented with just the normal taking a bath. And now, I feel ugly and I ask myself, “Why I am feeling this?”
I could not get the answer to that question. I know that I will look better after nine months because I know I would be more happy with my baby. But it is hard when you cannot express your feelings. When you cannot tell everything to anyone. I know this feelings will pass and I will get a much more wonderful blessing from all these suffering. I will eventually be happy with my husband and my first born. 
Anxious… Well, I say I am anxious because my team ended with a bad scorecard in February and I have a lot of things in mind to do to improve performance this March but I am anxious if it will work or not considering I will be getting additional agents from another team, another culture! There were a lot of changes in processes and it is now confusing the agents and even me when making decisions for escalated calls coupled with the never ending spiking queue and high absenteeism rate! I am not sure if I will survive, if I will be able to end the day alive! The week has just started and yet it is as if I never did any admin task at all because when I came in I had to do deep dive analysis, investigate escalations, check agent performance, coaching and all the stuff plus a hypertensive agent on the production floor… I am not sure if I have to file my maternity leave earlier than expected… hehehe!!! joke3x!!! Well, no matter how crazy this Wednesday might be I am still optimistic that I will be able to accomplish some things, not all but at least some. I am confident about it. Oh and by the way, I am not sure if I will be invited for a one-on-one coaching session with the Senior Operations Manager considering how bloody red my scorecard was just like what happened to all the other team leads… Well, just thinking about that makes me sick. Well, all I can say is “COME WHAT MAY!!!” hey hey hey… I know at the end of the day I will still be alive so I I’d better do it well today… Good luck and GOD bless me
Not everyday in your life that you receive special treats! Not everyday in your life you receive something unexpected from someone unexpected! Then you just realized there are really people who truly value you no matter how short the time you have shared with them. These are the types of people who never fail to teach me a lesson. These are the people who shows me the true meaning of the saying “No man is an island.”
Today, I got wonderful treats from people on the floor. First, I got “bukayo” from Mark Bibar. It is one of the Cebuano delicacies made of coconut pulp and sugar. Then, I also receive one box of star peanuts straight from Bohol from Neo. Then later this afternoon at 3PM, while going overtime to finish some payroll impacting admin task, I was informed by Daddi Romi that he brought me 1 box of cassava cake from Ormoc City, Leyte. Mark, Neo and Daddi Romi, thank you for the treats! No matter how simple this gesture maybe, it is touching for me because I know I am always in your thoughts. Thanks once again!
Bukayo from Mark Bibar
Star Peanuts from Neo
Cassava Cake from Daddi Romi
Tags: Bohol, Bukayo, Cassava, Cassava Cake, Cebu, Delicacy, Leyte, Peanut Kisses, Star Peanuts, Treats
Just about anything!, Lessons in life, Woman I am... | April March 2, 2010 | 
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