PROFILES: Roxanne Grace Camaclang

This is a long overdue post already.

I have promised Roxanne to write about her since last month but haven't had the chance to do the feature article on her. :))

Since you are going on to a new journey in your life, I am making this for you. More of a late birthday gift and despedida post for you. :D

Roxanne, Rox, Roxer - these are just the names that i usually use to call her. The name 'Roxanne' is of Persian origin and its meaning is 'dawn' (of the dead... lol.. joke!). In history, 'Roxane' (another derivative of Roxanne) was the Persian princess married by Alexander the Great during his travels of conquest.

Much like a princess, Roxanne is a priceless friend! 

So how did I get to know her? Hmmmm... I'm sometimes not too good with memories, especially first encounters. But if my memory serves me right, I got to meet her first when we went to watch the Chris Brown and Rihanna concert at the Fort last 2008. Bro/Bryan introduced me to her.She was with Cay and Ross and I was with Bro that time. I thought we wouldn't really click because I thought she was a snob (well, i thought right.. ahahaa.. joke lang). After several meet-ups and Friday dinner and movie nights with the group, I got more chance to open myself to Rox and found out what a true jewel she is (naks!).

The Coron trip with her was my first trip with their group of friends. Bro, Rox, Simi and Cay are actually the original members of the friends' circle (parang Gimik lang... jolina, ikaw ba yan? ahahaha). I was just a new addition to their 'barkada'. The Coron trip with them made me understand and appreciate Rox more and find out her very endearing personality.

The Coron Trip was followed with more trips with the group. We had the Vigan-Pagudpud-Laoag adventure, EK trips, karaoke nights at Bro's and Cay's place. Then we also watched several plays and concerts and there were the countless dinners and movie nights together. All in two years time, Rox and I became very good friends and we became more comfortable with each other. Much comfortable that she always MCs (more like making me 'kulit'... ahahaha) me everyday during office hours and we often have lunch outs and eat her favorite sisig at PacStar. :))

If I would describe Rox after knowing much about her, even if we've known each other only for 2 years, I would say that she is one of the sweetest friends that I have, she may seem very 'makulit' but deep down inside her is a very soft person who is very caring to her family, especially to her brother. I find Rox a very strong person, so strong that she can always pick a fight with anyone that messes with one of her friends. She knows what she wants and she gets it. She is a very good friend and lover. How do I know? Hmmmm... She went to SG before as a DH - all for the glory of love... (ahahaha... joke lang Roxer... :D). I would say that Rox is one of my friends who will always be dear to me because of her very good nature and good heart. (ayan ah... bentang-benta ka na.. ahahaha).

Last February 24, she just turned 24 and along with it came one of the biggest decisions that she'll make in her life.

On March 7, she will be making a move in her life. She will be making a decision that she has been wanting to do ever since. She will be moving to Singapore to find herself a better future and find the career that she deserves well.

As friends of Rox (you, I know you are reading this because I told you so.. hehehe), we are very happy for her but at the same time, we feel a bit lonely. Roxanne leaving to another country is like losing one of the petals of a beautiful red rose. Her endless calls to remind us not to be late during dinner meet-ups and her unending stories about her celebrity Twitter friends will be missed definitely. Her noisy laugh and friendly banters everytime we are together will now be replaced with silent whispers of the wind during Friday nights. Her 'kulit' moments online and even when we are together with the group will now be missing in action when she gets to Singapore. But even if she goes there, we, her friends, know that she is going to the right path in her life. In her Facebook page, she wrote, "If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say." We know that she (you) can make it anywhere. Be strong and we know that you are doing the right thing. You tweeted that you are having qualms going there, but we say that you can do it. You have what it takes. You just have to take the first step and the rest will be history. :)

As for our next meet-ups and Friday night outs, we know that we will now have one missing seat at the table. As for our next WOW Philippines tour, we know that we will now have one ticket less to check in the airport. But even if you can't always be with us every Friday just like before, we know that you are partying in Sentosa (sosyal!) and making more friends there in Singapore.

Wherever you may go Roxanne and wherever life may take all of us, remember that you will always be a friend and thanks for being one. 

Here's a picture to remind you of friendships that you can always come back to in the Philippines. :)

See you soon, Rox! :) (Patulugin mo kami sa sosyal mong condo sa SG... ahahaha....)

Lenten Special: Bridgemaster

I got this video from a friend and I was deeply touched with the video's message.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He gave up His only begotten Son."

In this season of Lent, we need to take time to reflect and recollect with ourselves. We need to honor again what He has done for us - sacrificing His Son on the cross so that we may be saved from sin.

A blessed Lenten season to everyone.

Intramuros Walk

This is a late post already but thought to still write about this.

Last February 6, my officemates and I went to Intramuros to  tour our foreign business counterparts who . This was my first time to get inside the walled city of Manila and visit the Spanish-inspired structures and buildings.

My officemates and I decided to meet at the office (Petron Megaplaza) around 8am. When everyone was already in, I then went to the Manila Peninsula Hotel to fetch Tami and Adrian, our foreign guests. We rode a cab going to Intramuros. While on the car, I acted like a tour guide inside the taxi and started blabbering and explaining about the streets and areas where our taxi passed by. :) 

It was around 930am when we arrived at the Manila Cathedral Church. We started the tour inside the Manila Cathedral Church. I got to see the tour group of Carlos Celdran. We originally planned to joined the Celdran tour but decided against it at the last minute because it was a bit pricey for us. We were all on budget mode that time. :) So to improvise, Angeli, one of my officemates, acted as the official tour guide for the group. ;)

The Manila Cathedral is a really majestic church and through time, it has preserved the Spanish colonization influences in the structure. When we went there, there was an exhibit that was going on and we were able to read the history of the Manila Cathedral Church and the Catholic Church as a whole.

 

 

Above are some of the pictures that I got from inside the Manila Cathedral Church. After about an hour, we decided to leave the Manila Cathedral Church and head off to Fort Santiago. 

The Fort Santiago was where the richest Spaniards lived during the Spanish occupation in the Philippines. It was brick-walled and you can still see the opulent design of the garden and houses inside. There were also several Fort Santiago staff who were role-playing and dressed as guardia-sibils and roaming the fort. I was able to get some shots inside the Fort and capture the scenery and garden inside.

   

It was already lunch time when we left The Fort Santiago. Since we were all starving already from the walk, we then decided to grab lunch at Greenwich.

After a sumptuous meal, we resumed our Intramuros tour and went to the San Agustin Church and Museum. But there was a wedding that was ongoing. That's why we were not able to get inside the church and museum.

We then headed off to Casa Manila which was an apartment for affluent students during the Spanish colonization. Picture taking was prohibited inside the Casa that's why I was not able to take some shots with me. But the furniture and the furnishings inside the Casa were all very intricate and grand. It showed signs of affluence and granduer. 

After a good 30 minute tour inside the Casa, we all decided to cap off our tour and went back to the Manila Cathedral Church.

Above is one of my favorite shots from the tour where it shows the grand facade of the Manila Cathedral Church. If i hadn't known, I would have mistaken it as one of the churches in Europe.

The tour that we had in Intramuros, Manila brought me back to my history and made me appreciate more what the FIlipino heroes did to emancipate our country from the Spanish rule.

Above all, our foreign guests enjoyed the tour very much and had a wonderful time. Below is a picture of my IDS team with Tami Scheben, our counterpart in Cincinnati (L-R Jeline, Tami, Christiane, me).

Below is the picture of everyone in the tour.