• Random

    NikkaShem.com Version 2.0

    December 17, 2019

    The day I decided to dive back into blogging was the day I longed to reconnect with the essence of why I started blogging in the first place. Back in the early days, blogging was a bit like having your own personal diary – a space where you could pour out your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. And as someone who adores writing about anything and everything under the sun, it felt like coming home.

    I’m making a comeback because I miss those old days of blogging – the simplicity, the freedom, the joy of sharing snippets of my life with the world.

    It’s been a while since my last post, and I even considered leaving this site altogether due to the hefty renewal costs. But then, a spark of determination ignited within me. I reminded myself of my love for writing and my desire to share my thoughts with others. So, I set out on a mission to find a free or extremely affordable deal on a domain and hosting.

    Today, I made the leap and transferred to Hostinger, snagging an incredible deal for the next four years. Talk about perfect timing! Four more years of having my little corner of the internet – I couldn’t bear to part with the memories and experiences I’ve shared here over the years. This is my home, and I’m here to stay for the foreseeable future.

    Welcome to NikkaShem.com Version 2.0!

    Yes, I’ve been away for too long, and for that, I apologize. By the way, I’ve cleared out all my old, lackluster blog entries – it’s time for a fresh start. It feels like I’m embarking on a blogging journey all over again, and I must admit, it’s both exhilarating and a tad intimidating, just like the old days.

    So why am I diving back into blogging with my head held high?

    Firstly, work has been exhausting lately. The stress has been taking its toll on my health, but blogging has always been my sanctuary – a place where I can unwind, express myself, and let my creativity flow freely. It’s my stress-reliever, my escape, my playground of words and ideas.

    Secondly, I’m feeling inspired again. For a while, I struggled to find topics that truly ignited my passion and sparked my enthusiasm. But now, I’m ready to dive back in and share my thoughts with the world once more.

    And lastly, I want to hone my writing skills. They say practice makes perfect, right? Blogging is the perfect platform for me to sharpen my English writing skills, learn new vocabulary, grammar rules, and spelling, all while expressing myself and connecting with others.

    So, here’s to a new chapter in my blogging journey – a chapter filled with passion, inspiration, and growth. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to hit that notification button. I may not promise regular updates, but I’ll certainly do my best to share my thoughts with you from time to time.

    After years of on-again, off-again love affairs with blogging, I’m finally here to stay. See you around!

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  • Life Lately,  Random

    Things I Miss About Working at Pagecom

    April 1, 2019

    One day, I caught myself smiling. Out of the blue, I realized something was missing. A part of me was missing. I miss hanging out and working with fun and bubbly people. I miss talking about non-sense stories. It has been ten years since I left, but the memories remain. I miss you guys!

    There are still many things I miss about working at Pagecom, but I narrowed it down to ten.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, and Dinner

    You name it. I got to enjoy my work because of food. Kuya (I can not remember his name) cooked and served the best food. My favorites were Pork Sinigang and Sinampalukang Manok, to name a few. Aside from that, management loved to order pizza.

    Hard work should be rewarded with good food-Ken Follett.

    Long Birthday Celebrations

    I am not exaggerating it. Seriously, we celebrated my birthday for about a month, though we took turns buying ice cream and snacks. We celebrated Herlene’s for a month, too.

    Training Center

    The Documentation Team was housed in the Training Center, a kilometer away from the office. I do not know why we moved there. We were suddenly instructed to pack our things. And TADA, to our haven. More quiet time for the Documentation Team.

    Show me the money

    Angela choreographed our dance number for our Christmas Party presentation. In two weeks of practice, I learned more about my colleagues: our differences, strengths, and weaknesses. Unfortunately, I was not able to perform that day because we had to attend a meeting outside the office.

    Staying Late

    The longest time I worked was 72 hours, with only 4 hours of sleep. Work was stressful in those days. There is no time for social life and love life. Hello there, eye bags and pimples.

    Work Load

    Our team had to finish around 63 projects in 3 days. I can not imagine how we (Leanne, Herlene, and I) managed our time. Can you imagine how overworked we were?

    Photoshoots, Picture Taking

    When the bosses were away, even when the bosses weren’t away.

    Site Visits

    Going out of town is really fun with these people. Photo ops before heading to the site.

    Super Bubbly and energetic staff

    I got to enjoy work because of the people around me… my co-workers Sir Jo, Sir Beddie, Reyner, Leanne, Herlene, Menerissa, Maricar, Kaizel, to name a few. Without them around, I would not have lasted about a year. I was blessed with excellent and trustworthy colleagues.

    Out of Office Bonding

    This is what I really miss. Even if we have hectic schedules and lots of workloads in the office, we never fail to miss Friday and Saturday after work. Up to now, we have found time to see each other once in a while. Right, Herlene and Leanne?

    So what do you (or would you) miss most about working at your previous company?

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  • Life Lately,  Random

    Things I Miss About Working at Site

    April 15, 2018

    There are so many things about working in an office that are fabulously great. But, believe it or not, working at site is really far different. And I made a lot of adjustments just to fit in and not to be bored and sleepy at my new work environment.

    The list of things I miss about working at site is long and varied. I narrowed it down to make it lesser.

    Working Hours

    At site, our working hour starts from 7am and ends at 4pm. Lunch break is from 11:30am to 1pm. We opted to have 90 minutes lunch break instead of the 15 minutes break in the morning, 1 hour lunch break and another 15 minutes break in the afternoon. This is to maximize time working at site and to have a longer time to snooze or do our thing in the noon. Time flies fast at site. You would not notice it when you are at site and with amazing people.

    Morning Routines

    Toolbox prayer, toolbox exercise and toolbox meeting were our early morning routine at site. We cannot start a day working without it except when it is raining. It was always a fun-filled toolbox exercise at site because of the energetic skilled workers dancing at the stage, some gracefully and some off beat. You also would not mind doing the off beat exercise.

    Lunch Break

    I came to realize that I had the best lunches at site. Nobody eats alone at site, we eat together. Most of the time, we contribute an amount to buy for everybody’s lunch. Sr. Pedro chicken, Baliuag Lechon Manok, Hypermarket Roasted Chicken were among our favorites plus ice cream, pizza and a lot more to add. Boodle Fight was so far the most memorable lunch I had at site.

    Loud music

    Everybody loves loud music plus the off-tone singing and off-beat dancing. This would always remind me of stressful day at work. No one minds the loud volume as long as we know the song and we can carry the tune.

    Gossips and Conversations

    This one is a never-ending. Gossips of yesterday is the same as today. Everyone loves to bring back those we had a year ago. I came to realize that men gossip also. And they are the best and sometimes worst gossipers. Though, I learned a lot from them.

    Gray Uniform and Rugged Pants

    I comfortably wear my gray uniform at site. Before, I would not mind seen in rugged/cargo pants as long as I am comfortable wearing those.

    Moving Out

    We moved out several times. I recorded 12 times since Phase 1 of Solaire Resorts and Casino. Imagine the packing and repacking, mobilizing and demobilizing for 12 times in a span of almost 4 years. I began to get used to it. I am no longer a newbie.

    Thanks to the supply of green, and chamomile tea and sandwich spreads in the morning. The perks of working at Solaire includes this. Thanks to Noel and Ryan.

    Plans

    To which, we quoted as “Forever Plans”. It takes 2-3 persons to make it happen. If these 2-3 persons wanted it to happen, most likely it will happen. An example to this is our Enchanted Kingdom plan. After a year of thorough planning.. we made it finally.

    But what I really, really miss about working at site? It is not the light work load I had, not the printer next to me, nor the scanner or the internet connection, but

    The Team

    We had the amazing team back there… staff and workers. I can guarantee that. I would not be doing this list if I do not miss them this much. Writing about it makes me feel proud about what we are now and what we have become. We may not see each other very often, but keep in mind that I am just a Messenger away.

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  • Life Lately

    {Life Lately} When in Alaminos, Pangasinan

    June 12, 2017

    We recently took a quick break from the city to enjoy some fresh air and salty water in Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan. I had my fair share of sandy toes, sunburnt skin, and salty hair. Thank God for allowing me to take a break from work. I was beyond happy granting this unexpected travel. Thank you, Ma’am Irele, for tagging me along.

    Spontaneous trips were one of the best trips I ever had.

    I was hesitant with the idea of making a spontaneous trip. But looking through all of my trips, spontaneous trips were one of the best trips I ever had. You have to go on with the flow. I guess I am lucky to be surrounded by people with the same passion, Travel.

    Since this was an impromptu trip, I never had a chance to do lots of preparation. I am so much intrigued about the islands and islets that made me wonder if it is really 100.

    Time to strike through Hundred Islands in my Travel Bucket List. Also, I got a chance to confirm if it is ONE hundred islands. YES, it is 100++ islands and islets.

    The whole day was not enough to explore with so much more to see. Although our visit was short, it was worth every second.

    If you are looking for a trip that is not costly and would fit your budget perfectly, Hundred Island is the place to be.

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  • Random

    My Go-To Excuse To Get Out of Any Plan

    June 10, 2017
    If you want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse. – Jim Rohn

    I was invited by my office mates to join them on their trip to Hundred Islands, Alaminos, Pangasinan. I said, “Yes” without even having second thoughts. I am known for being the “kaladkarin” in our group. I would love to join every “lakad” my friends and office mates have. I would never turn down any invitation. It bothers me to turn someone down. However, I cannot always say “yes” every time my friends want to make plans. I can get away with honesty with a few close friends. But I am obliged to come up with a better excuse for anyone else, for they will never understand me.

    No. It is not just a little word but it holds so much power.

    It has always been wrong to decline with an excuse. Knowing how to refuse helps avoid hurt feelings. But it is perfectly fine to say,

    • You have other plans for that particular time. No further explanation is required. Otherwise, it will sound like you are trying to come up with excuses.
    • You feel tired and exhausted. You are taking time off and badly need quiet time.
    • You cannot afford it. This is the main reason why I cannot join mostly and why I love staying more at home. But it is just not in the budget right now.
    • Or tell them the truth. If they are true friends, they will understand whatever your reason is. You do not need to find another reason to cover up.

    You do not want to, that is more than sufficient reason in itself. There is no excuse for speaking out what you have in mind. To decline an invitation does not mean rejecting that person or group.

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  • Life Lately

    {Why} I Love the Beach Even If I Can’t Swim

    April 8, 2017

    Yes, I cannot swim. And I mean it. People do not believe me when I tell them I cannot swim. Maybe because I love going to the beach and I look as though I can swim but I really cannot. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for not providing me swimming lessons when I was a kid.

    There are more than hundreds of reasons why I always head to the beach even if I do not know how to swim. Life is better at the beach. However, it is more than just the sun, sand, and sea.

    Great place to drink and to chill. Besides the beach, I love drinking – with sand between my toes, a stunning view in front of me, and the smell of the ocean – all add to the chilling factor of a beach destination.

    The sound of the waves. The waves have a calming effect on me. There is no sound better than the sound of the waves on the beach.

    Stunning view. I want to wake up seeing the beach and the palm trees. I bet I will never get bored of the view.

    Awesome food. I am a big foodie. Being close to the beach means I got to enjoy fresh seafood. I love seafood. I would never get tired eating the same.

    Something new to experience. It is a different world altogether when you are at the beach.

    Enjoy basking in the heat of the sun. I always have a tan after all my vacations. The sun also provides breathtaking sunsets at the beach.

    A great time to spend quality time with friends/family. A chance to be together without distractions. I have been with my sister twice. I should have taken her with me whenever I go to the beach.

    A great place to unplug from technology. It feels good to relax without a computer, phone, and tablet for a few days. No connection! Just you, your friends, and the beach.

    A chance to get away from stressful city life. I always crave for peace and tranquility. A trip to the beach is all I need to disconnect from everyday problems, stress, and a perfect setting to connect with nature.

    Why do I love the beach? Let me count the ways.

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