• Random

    {Thoughts} Going Thirty-Five and Single

    August 19, 2020

    So, here I am, cruising through life at 35 and still single. It’s a fact that’s not lost on me, especially when both my inner voice and curious colleagues often echo the same question: “Why are you still single?”

    When I say single, I mean truly unattached. No significant other in sight.

    Isn’t it funny how life throws unexpected curveballs? Back when I was 28, I had this grand plan of walking down the aisle, but fate had other ideas. Three failed relationships later, here I am, still holding onto hope for that perfect match.

    But you know what? Despite the occasional loneliness, I’ve come to realize that being single at this age isn’t so bad after all. Sure, there are moments when I wonder why my journey hasn’t led me to marriage yet, but I also believe that everything happens for a reason. Maybe there’s a bigger plan in store for me, one that’s yet to unfold.

    In the midst of all the pondering, I’m grateful for the unwavering support of my family. Their presence has been a constant source of comfort and reassurance, reminding me that I’m never truly alone in this journey.

    I’ve always been a private person, preferring to keep my personal life off social media and confined to heart-to-heart chats with family and trusted friends. But lately, I’ve started to see my singleness in a different light. It’s not a curse or a mark of failure; rather, it’s a gift from above.

    There’s something liberating about embracing my solo status and finding contentment in the present moment. Who knows what the future holds? For now, I’m choosing to focus on the positives and trust that everything will fall into place in due time.

    And you know what? I think that’s pretty wonderful.

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  • Random

    {Adulting} How to Not Waste Your 13th-Month Pay

    December 20, 2019

    As the Christmas season kicks off, there’s nothing more exciting than receiving my 13th-month pay. In the past, I looked forward to this extra income as an opportunity to indulge myself, splurging on gadgets and gifts for loved ones. However, recent financial struggles have prompted me to reassess how I use this bonus.

    Am I using my pay wisely? The wisest approach is to view the 13th-month pay as an opportunity rather than mere spending money. While generosity is admirable, it’s crucial to prioritize my own financial security first. This year, the best gift I can give myself is peace of mind by planning for the future.

    Before fully committing to spending, it’s essential to:

    1. Plan how to use it: Allocate clear percentages for savings, debt payments, investments, and leisure. Prioritize saving at least 20% and allocating 50% to debt repayment.
    2. Pay off debts: High-interest rates can quickly accumulate, hindering financial freedom. Use this opportunity to reduce debt and alleviate future financial burdens.
    3. Save for the future: If unsure how to allocate funds, consider setting up a savings account for now and deciding on investment options later.
    4. Spend according to priority: Make well-thought-out decisions about where to allocate funds, focusing on essential needs rather than indulgences.

    Ultimately, it’s essential to put money where it will serve me best in the long run. By carefully considering my financial decisions and prioritizing saving and investing, I can build a more secure future.

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  • 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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