BUN JOY

Growing up in the chinese family, we've always been accustomed to eating Chinese food. As Chinese cuisine the favorite of my dad and his family growing up, it's no surprise that he brought that flavor to our family as well. From sweet and sour pork, camaron, pinsek prito, to my favorite, dimsums, i've eaten these wonderful creations from the moment i was born. Even in our household, the recipes are infused with Chinese flavors all the time. They say it's salty, repetitive,or too greasy, but for me, chinese food hits home like no other cuisine. Lately, i've been more picky about the flavor that it gives. Having eaten in good chinese restaurants around asia, i've always been particular about the new flavor that it specializes in. The fried rice for me is the key in every chinese restaurant. Just the right amount of ingredients, oil, and that distinct flavor that makes me want to eat more. If i can eat the fried rice alone without any other dish, then that's my sign of really GOOD FRIED RICE! Try din tai fung. great example.

Now i don't want to join the fad and become a "foodie" myself but writing about food is good for a change.

Now on to the subject of this post... As i've mentioned, dimsum is my favorite. Siopao, Siomai, Hakaw, Xiao Long Bao.... just writing those words make my mouth water already. Everywhere i try to taste those delicacies, but nothing prepared me for what i was about to taste when i visited Singapore last March 2012.

In Old Hong Kong with my special someone, she introduced me to the Salted Egg Custard Bun. Hearing it for the first time intrigued me immediately because i am a fan of salted egg or itlog pula injected in siopao so from the moment i saw those words in the menu, i knew i would like it... BUT NOTHING PREPARED ME FOR WHAT JUST ENTERED MY MOUTH.

the true definition of PARTY IN YOUR MOUTH feeling... presented in small siopao buns placed on the chinese platter where dimsums are usually placed, the first bite had an explosion of sweet, salty, sandy, egg-y flavors that my mouth has never tasted before. First bite, second bite, third bite, FOURTH BITE. I just couldn't get enough.... it gave Joy like no other bun could. no pun intended. It's the little bun that could. on my following visit to Singapore, of course i needed to go back to eat some more and also buy some to take home for my family to taste. i knew my dad would love it. and to no surprise he did, and so did everyone else. I can go on and on about this... but i'll save it for next time when i'm starting to build my business around this. I will experiment on this recipe and make some for my family.

Having just watched The Billionaire, i am quite inspired to become an entrepreneur. Who knows, this just might be my BIG IDEA. I love that i am saying those 2 words again, BIG IDEA. Watch out Philippines. Get ready to have an explosion of flavors in your mouth. You heard it here first. BUN JOY :)

My Shine

"Runnin’ through the moment as the sun goes down
(Starlight, starlight)
And all I ever wanted was to hear that sound
(All night, all night)

But it’s all for you to prove it
Keep on movin’, keep on usin’
My shine
My shine, my shine"

These words stuck in my head right now and i find myself writing another blog entry after X months. It's been a few months since my last post and many many changes since. My blog has always been my safe zone. more than facebook, more than twitter, more than any social network service can provide. If i am not posting anything in this blog, means i'm just keeping all my thoughts in my mind waiting for it to be forgotten. 

Currently, i have quite a number of things in my plate. BKK Reco, CBY Transition, SG RD maintenance, BKK FI Reduction, Skills, BI Testing, and Asia Commecialization to name a few. Right now, i have to say i am more driven than i was a few months back. I hope to learn from my mistakes and help me grow as a person through those. I have tight deadlines to follow. I need to finish all these soon and i will. These next 2 months will be one to remember and one that will bring me by to the glory i once had, my shine.

Looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to posting a celebratory blog post in the next 2 months. Work hard, work smart as my Nie would say. I CAN DO THIS.

Keep on movin', keep on usin'. My shine. My shine. My shine.

YABANG.

Things just got a lot better. Results coming :)

ALWAYS POSITIVE!

I'm not one to dwell on negativity for a long span of time. But i'm one who has moments in the dark. Right now, i find myself wanting to sleep a lot, hiding in huddle rooms to work, keeping my mouth shut throughout the day, and just wanting to get home the moment i can. That's not the reason why i'm here. Not the way i want it to be. And certainly, not going to be for a long time or for the next couple of days. I always take pride in being positive. it's what carries me throughout my day. Even in these tough times, i try to find the positivity in things. It's time to let go of the problems, the negativity, and the plain old bullshit. i'm done with this drama. time to put on a smile at work and bring energy that people love seeing... YEAH (3X)!

BIG THINGS COMING YOUR WAY ROBIN. STEP UP. GROW UP. BE 10 STEPS AHEAD. YOU CAN DO IT. :)

Help!

Lord, please help me through this challenge. not the best position to be in right now but i am here for a reason. Please give me strength and guidance. Please. Kaya to...

(thanks to blogspot for being there always. can't do this in twitter or facebook :P )

Twitter

A few months ago i started using Twitter. It was really great and it gave me a sense of privacy that i needed (just enough privacy that i needed). I found Twitter really cool because i have always wanted to put statuses in Facebook in order to just vent or say something out of the blue, but given the amount of people in Facebook, i refuse to do so (from key people to bosses, they're all there). Additionally, sometimes putting facebook statuses can somewhat give different meaning to people, and that is why the reason i enjoyed using Twitter! It's only to write, vent, or say a quick one liner for all your followers to read. Pretty cool stuff huh?!

However, more and more people are now in Twitter and somehow, it lost the quasi privacy that i have always enjoyed. Though i don't mind more people to join in the fun, it just lost the special touch that it had back when i initially started using it. Before i could really say anything at all... Now, not so much. But it's all good. My initial idea for writing this entry was just to simply vent out that Twitter isn't that private anymore. And here it is. So now, i am back to blogging. The ever reliable blog. Blogging is still the godfather of all social networking sites and activities in the internet. Again and again, i put all my social networking accounts for everyone to see, because that is the real heart of it. I understand all the security measures that people take for their account (i do too for Facebook!) but for sites like twitter and my blog, i don't. Maybe it's just me. For my blog, i don't really care who reads my blog, i don't even know if there's someone else who knows i have or that i do blog, but that's all part of the fun. The thoughts i put in the internet are for the public because if it's not, then i won't put it. My blog is my very reliable friend and i am happy that i enjoy doing this. i am not making sense at all anymore...

to end this, tomorrow is my first year in P&G. My first year in my new role. A new beginning for me. I may not have the same energy as before, but i will get it back. CONFIDENCE. CONFIDENCE. i need again. Let's do this. Time to ROCK THAILAND!!! As what Mila Kunis has said in her movie, Friends with Benefits when asked if carrying the luggage is the thing that she'll doo.... she answered... NO. I'll CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!!

Time to CHANGE LIVES!! I'm EXCITED. I'm READY. Time for the ROBIN SHOW :)

First Class.

In a few days, i will be celebrating my 11th month here in P&G. The experience has definitely changed me for the good, i must say. Through the tough times, the moments of doubt, and the incredible feeling of triumph, i must say that this first year has been quite a rollercoaster ride for me. And as most of my friends would know, i seriously had no idea what i was getting into when i decided to take the job in Purchasing. I always thought i'd be buying stuff for the company, somewhat the exact opposite of what i really wanted, sales.

Every now and then, i would ponder over this decision of mine and whether if I should try to move to sales or marketing (not necessarily in P&G). However, the tables have definitely turned right after or during or even before, during the preparation for our team building back in June. During the preparation, i was given the opportunity to really help out in coming up with the greatest teambuilding/offsite ever. And quite frankly, i think we pulled it off. More than the success of the teambuilding, i would say that personally, that was a turning point in my career here in Purch. During and after the event, i started to see opportunities that i thought i would never get. I worked extremely hard to balance my core work and my projects leading up to the team building and i do seriously think that working hard pays off.

During the team building, i got to know the big bosses of purch. I was exposed to the leaders that help build the business and I got a taste of how it was to work with these people. After the teambulding, i started getting approached by several people about my career in Purch and confidently I voiced out my concerns and my goals in this organization. It gave me hope for myself here in Purchasing. Now, SALES or MARKETING isn't even part of the equation. I can definitely see myself growing here in Purch.

Risky = Yes.

Regrets = ZERO.

Now, I am faced with an opportunity that I can never refuse this early on in my career. I am proud to say that even though I am only 11 months here in the company, the youngest in purch (both physically and mentally i might add), I am already being considered for a new assignment. And as I am faced with this anxiety infested moment in my life, i couldn't be more thankful for the leaders and the people that I am surrounded with right now. I still don't know whether I will get it or not, I REALLY WANT IT. But i can't help but think that this may be a test for me. To test my willingness, passion, and resiliency. I hope i get it. The days and weeks leading to one of the biggest decisions in my life is killing me (similar to the time when i was waiting for the result of my P&G application). I am wishing and praying hard I get this. I just might change the face of Purch in --.

Opportunities come and go. There is no way I backing out of this decision. DESIRE. I guess this moment of uncertainty right now is what makes work exciting. I cannot wait. I may jump for joy, or cry in devastation. But whatever happens, I know this is just the start of a FIRST CLASS Journey with P&G.