Thought of writing while waiting for the clock to strike 12am.
January 13, 07. The birth of Joaquin Alessandro D. Samson. I will never forget this day for as long as I live. I felt overflowing happiness when I first saw Joaqui waiting for us at the delivery room. I also felt proud when my family and friends visited Joaqui and Rhoda at the hospital. That started the ball rolling for the year and then the next date or event that made it's mark was April 18, 07. I resigned from JP Morgan Chase effective immediately, I felt that I don't have a balance lifestyle. Work was eating more time than family so I decided to quit the job. I had to undergo the process of interviews from different companies take a couple of exams etc. I was jobless for almost four months and then the offer of Banco De Oro came. September 3, 07, My first day at BDO as a Junior Assistant Manager for the collections department. My first real job after five years, there were a lot of adjustments I had to make just to fit in at work. Looking back to the year it was I am thankful that I was able to weather all the trials that came up and thankful for all the blessings and good fortune that I was able to receive. I am ending my year at a positive note and I will be sustaining this positive outlook for 2008. One thing I have discovered is, one has to goal set in order to be successful. I am optimistic that 2008 and will be the turning point of my career and my personal life. All I need to do to succeed is to Pray to God always, work hard and live and enjoy life to the fullest no matter what lies ahead. Happy New Year to all! My God dwell in us.
Christmas is just a week a way and I am looking forward to it. This is the first Christmas that we'll be spending with Joaqui and also the first year that I will be home to celebrate Christmas and the New year at home. Up to now I still can't believe that this is actually happening. First time since I started working that I don't need to spend Christmas eve at the office or waking up early on Christmas day.
I've been busy with work lately, have to render overtime just to keep up with the demands of work. My probationary status will end January of 2008 and in order for me to retain my position I really have to make all the stops so that I get a good grade. With hard work, patience and I prayer I am confident that I'll stay with my current work.
One is never too young or too old to acquire new knowledges and skills in life. It's up to that individual how will he make use of his talents and resources. Currently I'm focusing on family and career. I am always thankful that I am blessed with a loving and beautiful family and for them I am inspired to work hard to be a good provider for my family. I've also realized that from this point on it's no longer "I" or "Me" whenever I decide I also think of my family's welfare. I've been married for a year and two months, I've been a dad to Joaqui for ten months now but it's recently I've discovered that I need to dedicate my life to my family. We just need to be aware of the things and the individuals that evolves around us.
With work I am still feeling my way around and I'm having an interesting time adapting to my new environment and my new role. I no longer see work as a mere way of sustaining me and my family's needs but also a helpful way of maturing as a professional. Let's not limit our thinking to the one-dimensional level but instead upgrade it to 3-d.
For now that's my game plan. Of course the occasional good times cannot be avoided, but it can be taken in moderation. Let's all live a balance life.
Basketball truly knows no boundaries. I was reunited with my ex-schoolmates from Lourdes School Quezon City yesterday at a tune up game held at school's landmark gym.The game also served as a "getting-to-know you" stage between me and my team mates,as we are preparing for the LSQC alumni basketball tournament that will start this month.
The game brought back memories from the past. From my first intramural game in grade school to the boot camp inspired trainings in high school, it all came back yesterday. This was one proud chapter in my life that I almost forgot about.
Why am I sharing this in the first place? I guess self-gratification. One of my frustrations was I never had the chance to to suit up for the sky blue and white colors of Lourdes. As an incoming sophomore as was already being groomed as one of LSQC's proud product but due to academic reasons as was forced to leave Lourdes. I felt like an unfinished sculpture, I was still raw in talent and I still had a lot of room of improvement. One thing that Lourdes can brag about is the way the coaches develop their players to be a 3-dimensional player on the court. That was the opportunity I was looking for in high school but sadly fate had a different story line to write.
Fate is giving me another chance to relive a dream and I intend to do good with the shot that I'm being given.
In a few years time all the attention would be directed to them. They will be on top of the priority list and most of all our pride and joy. I'm referring to our kids. Last night was the baptism of Javier Antonio Senga at Max's Tiendesitas and it has been a long time since my PS friends and me saw each other again, this time with the kids in tow.
One good thing about it is that all the kids were born on the same year. All of us from the immediate family are hoping that they will be friends at a very early age. This is also the first Christmas that we'll be celebrating with Joaqui, and I'm already excited about the gifts that Joaqui will be getting on Christmas. Ooops! I don't want to get ahead of myself so I'll just stop at that.
I can still taste the meal I had last night and yet we're getting ready to attend Kassandra Simone Bunag's baptism this time at St. Andrew Church in Bel-Air
Makati. This time around I'll stand as one of Kassie's Godfather.
I really enjoy and I'm proud to be Joaqui's dad. Being a dad and a parent is one responsibility I'll never get tired of doing.
Rhoda and I are celebrating a milestone in our lives as a couple today - our first year wedding anniversary. Time indeed, flies. There have been several significant highlights that took place in that one year, let me single out the events that transpired. November of last year we started to rent our own one bed room unit condo in Globe. January of this year the birth of Joaquin Alessandro D. Samson a.k.a Joaqui. April I tendered my resignation with JP Morgan Chase effective immediately. May to August this is the length of time I devoted to job hunts and interviews, during this time I pondered deeply if I was doing the right thing at the right time. We also had to move out of our condo because it was no longer practical to maintain the unit with only Rhoda's salary. September after three months of screening and interview B.D.O finally hired me as Junior Assistant Manager for collections, after the appointment I was able to breathe easy. Although I don't have experience with collections, I find the work interesting and challenging and this is the main reason for me to prove that I made the right decision. We were able to learn our lesson from these experiences and with these experiences we strengthen our bond as husband and wife.
We celebrated our anniversary over lunch with mommy and daddy along with mama. It was just a simple lunch but it's something worth remembering.
2-0 that's currently our record in the ongoing 3rd conference of the Metro Basketball Tournament. This is the first time that we are in a two-game win streak - our longest to date. We have been participating in the M.B.T now for four conferences and for the first three we were not as lucky. What we did this time was to bracket ourselves at the lower half of the tournament so that we could start fresh and grow together as a team. There were also a few additions to the line-up, Andrew & Carlo ( my teammates before in PS ) suited up for the team to add depth to the backcourt. It's just a matter of time before we get to know everybody's game and every man's role for the team.
I'm hoping that we don't encounter any problems as far as availability of manpower is concern, this has been a major factor in the past. New team, new destiny. Is it the color of the jersey?
I just successfully completed the new hire orientation for BDO. It was similar to a classroom set up, we had speakers from different departments talk about the structure of the bank and the rules and regulations that we need to follow. And by Friday September 7, I was able to meet the people who I will be working with, my manager and my supervisor. I was briefed by my supervisor what my work load would be and was asked to observed how a normal collections call goes. My assessment of the situation is this - I can learn things if I want to, all I need to have is the desire and motivation to do my best.Initially, I thought that I won't fit in my unit but with further reflection I concluded that it's not what department I am assigned to but the desire to learn. I am optimistic that I would do good with my new career and from here on I'm all business.
Life is like a game there are things at stake.You have to have a game plan before you take on the court. For every question an answer, for every problem a solution. We just have to be resourceful and make the most of what we have.
Three months. This was the time frame my wife gave for us to hold out on a single salary. Unfortunately, this was only a conservative estimate. Nowadays you always have to think practical when supporting a family. The one bedroom unit that we called “our home” for 9 months is no longer home. The unit – that has been witness to a couple starting on their own, to a first born son, to countless good times & a couple of bad times – to you, we bid farewell.
My aunt/landlord sent us a text message earlier informing us
that a new tenant will be moving in by August 8, 2007. The news caught us off
guard, but we knew from the beginning this day will come so we just accepted
eventuality.
I don’t have any regrets with how things turned out, but
instead I look at the situation as a “dry run” of things to come. Although renting
out our own unit wasn’t part of the master plan, it still has its upsides to
it. Hell! The entire experience taught me to be a better husband and father. I’ll
miss the grocery list, the allotment of funds (utilities & rent), the home improvement
not to mention the sweeping of the floor and taking out of the garbage and most
importantly, the quality time with “my family”. The list will go on; but the most
valuable lesson any man can pick up from this is this, nothing beats being the
undisputed “Man of the house”. 2707 we will certainly miss you, thank you for
the memories!
I leave this chapter of my life walking away with my head up. Thank you, Lord for teaching me how to be responsible, patient and how to be a loving husband and father.
