In 2019, I was a victim of malicious gossip and false rumors intended to put me down.
It took me a while to understand until only three (3) of us made it to the final cut to represent Asia. š
Now, I would like to take this opportunity to thank a loyal and trustworthy friend, Ms. Armida Angeles, for being my accomplice.
And to those of you who meddled, FUCK YOU.
@Google@GooglePlay@googlechrome@googlemaps@googledevs@GoogleAI@googledrive@GoogleForEdu@googleanalytics@GoogleTrends
After recently becoming a grandma, I couldnāt help but wonder if I was the only one in my batch.
Then one of my batchmates, someone Iāve always respected and looked up to, sent me a message and told me sheās a grandma too.
I smiled and thought, āWell, itās not just me after all.ā
Itās been nice catching up and realizing that although life has taken us in different directions, we still have so much in common.
And as a bonus, I got to spend time with my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter before they head back to Europe.
Iām curiousā¦
Am I the first grandma from my SJA or IHMA batch, or are there others out there already?
If there are, feel free to message me privately. Donāt worry, I wonāt reveal your identity.
Now for my real question: How do you let your daughter know that youād be more than happy to spend a little extra time with your granddaughter?
Not too long ago, our lives revolved around school lunches, recitals, summer camps, and family schedules.
Now, our eldest daughter has a baby of her own.
And just like that, weāre celebrating our first granddaughter.
Hot caramel latte kind of Monday.
Iāll always find my way to a @dunkindonuts wherever work or travel takes me. Itās become one of those familiar stops I naturally end up making whenever Iām in a different city or state.
Wrapping up the day here in Morgantown, West Virginia. Hereās to a good week ahead.
Morgantown, West Virginiaās version of the honesty store in Benguet. š Just a little more high-tech than what we have back home.
Happy Sunday.
@morgantownwv
And just like that, one plane ride later⦠here we are in West Virginia, my 47th state. Hope everyoneās easing back into the week after the long Memorial Day weekend.
Sometimes youāve gotta do the touristy stuff too. š
There was a long chapter of life that felt untitled in a way. Looking back now, it all found its place in the story.
Bless This Mess. Happy Friday.
One of the nice things that comes with working around major brands and events through Alphabet and Google ā getting partner access to places like Dover Motor Speedway before everything officially starts.
Getting to see The Monster Mile before the grandstands fill up, before the engines get loud, and before race day comes to life is actually pretty cool.
Welcome to the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race. š
One week in Annapolis, @statemaryland_, and our townhouse at Maryland Inn is always nice to come back to after long days out. Thank you for taking good care of my team and me during our stay. The place has a warm and comfortable feel that makes it easy to settle in.
Very East Coast spring weather too⦠cloudy skies, cool breeze, and that damp waterfront air Annapolis is known for. Even without rain, it still gets chilly once the wind picks up, so the coat definitely came in handy.
Making the most of our time here before heading back to Dover, Delaware.
Happy Friday, everyone.
Some good old friends I recently reconnected with asked if the mister was ever getting a face reveal on my social media.
I simply said thereās really nothing to reveal. Some photos and memories have already been on my social media for years now, just not loudly talked about or constantly posted these days.
After relocating to the U.S. in 2019, I became more intentional about what I share online. At some point, we agreed that not everything needs to be explained or constantly put out there for public consumption.
So if some people happened to come across certain photos or videos in the past, then they probably already had their own understanding of things. And if others never did, then maybe they simply werenāt part of the audience I chose to share certain parts of my life with, and thatās okay.
Thatās my idea of an ideal friendship. The kind where people know when to simply let certain things be without needing every detail spelled out.
Happy Thursday stroll day. @AnnapolisMD_
Another USPS stop.
These postal office photos have somehow become part of my work-life album over the years. USPS is also one of those enterprise accounts connected to so much of the work happening behind the scenes.
I must have come a little too early because they were still closed when I got there.
Still, I have to say, this Maryland post office is charming. The brick exterior and small-town feel made the stop extra nice.
Just picking up some documents and presentation materials for upcoming meetings. š¬
When I agreed to relocate to the U.S., one of my conditions was that the familyās needs and wants, from the basics to the bigger responsibilities, would be financially taken care of by the mister.
Even back in the Philippines, he has always made sure that all of us were financially supported. At the same time, I still chose to shoulder part of the expenses and responsibilities myself because Iāve always believed in doing my part for the family as a parent and partner.
Over the years since relocating to the U.S., Iāve learned to enjoy what I earn a little more freely. Whether itās travel, little luxuries, or simply being able to enjoy life without having to overthink every expense.
@StateMaryland for work, and now my 46th state. āļø @SouthwestAir
@Dover_DE
Today, I got my usual hot caramel latte. I was about to get my favorite Boston Kreme, but changed my mind at the last second.
@dunkindonuts has been part of my work at Alphabet Inc. since 2020, within enterprise partnerships around digital and data-driven solutions.
From a legal standpoint, itās one of the brands where, when new ideas come in, alignment comes quickly and things move without much back and forth.
Itās also an account that contributes to the overall growth I see in my role at Alphabet.
So, whenever I see a Dunkinā around, I take a photo. Itās something I make time for, considering how much the brand has been part of my work travels.
It may just be a āPasalubong ng Bayanā in the Philippinesāthough to me, itās tied to the work Iāve been part of over the years.
Fresh from Italy, and straight back into work.
No long reset, no extended downtime. Working under Alphabet Inc. means keeping up with the pace. You land and move.
Straight into in-person meetings with clients. Part of my role is sitting down, going through the details, and finalizing contracts face to face. Every minute counts.
So here we are.
Welcome to Delaware. My 45th state.
When weāre sent out for assignments, everything is already arrangedāflights, hotels, the whole trip, including the travel itinerary handled out of Mountain View.
Flights are typically booked in either business or first class, depending on the aircraft. Thatās the standard allocation. And yes, on some trips, Iāve flown that way.
At the airport, you skip most of the linesāseparate check-in, faster baggage drop, with staff guiding you through. Then the loungeāfood, drinks, and a comfortable space before boarding. You go in first, get settled, offered drinks, warm towelsāeverything taken care of.
Itās a whole experience.
But most of the time, I choose coachāfor practicality. Thereās already a set amount allocated for the flight for every assignment at that level, and if I decide to fly coach instead, whatever isnāt used from that amount still comes back to me on the next cutoff.
And honestly, I feel more like myself in coach. I can take photos or short clips whenever I want, without thinking twice. In business or first class, people are more reservedāyou sit still, you keep things lowkey.
In coach, itās different. You just do you.
Now on my way back home to the U.S⦠just here at the lounge, waiting to boardāsame routine, nothing out of the ordinary.