Fully Loaded Saturday

My friend and I squeezed in 2 activities into our schedules yesterday. In addition, I have another event to go to in the evening while my friend needs to go home to do some house chores. To help us manage our time well, we specified the exact time we should be spending for each event. 

Confucius Institute Day

My friend took up Chinese classes at the Confucius Institute in Ateneo so she learned about this event. I was expecting that there will be Chinese food so I went with her hahaha! When we got to the place, I felt a little awkward because most were students (high school and college) hehehehe. Anyway, there was an exhibit of everything related to the Chinese culture. There were also several activities like games, photobooth, making Chinese lanterns, and videoke featuring Chinese songs. Food? You need to complete the stamp before you can have siopao and siomai hehehehe. Since we were feeling out of place, we just tried one game, hoop, where you throw a rounded wire into a bottle of water. You have 3 tries. I did not get any. But I got one stamp hehehe. We left after a few minutes.

I also took a brochure of their short courses. Side story: I have this crazy plan of wanting to try to study in UP Diliman, La Salle, and Ateneo, either taking up full courses or just short courses hehe. I have started the MTM program in UP with the intention of finishing it. For Ateneo, and La Salle, maybe short courses will do :).

2015 Work at Home Expo

From Makati, we went straight to Bayanihan Center in Kapitolyo, Pasig to catch what's left of the Work at Home Expo. We reached the place at 11:30 AM and fortunately, there were still talks at the main hall in the afternoon so we registered and spent some time to check out the sponsors' booths. We went for a quick lunch at Jollibee Pioneer Center (we were shooting for a non-fastfood place that's also cheap but this is the best option we had so....) and back to the events place few minutes before 1 PM in time for the afternoon sessions. We were able to listen to 5 resource speakers.

• Joe Maristela of Katalyst.ph: His talk focused on how he started and operated his business in the US, right in his bedroom. He is a proponent for work at home because it is more efficient that way. He moved his operations to Manila recently and is now also into angel investing.

• Marilen Montenegro of Marilen.ph: Her topic was on Balancing Business, Home and Heart. She shared her tips on how to balance your business, home and family. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take pictures of her presentation slides but I think all the things she shared are also in her blog.

• Impact Hub Manila (I forgot the name of the speaker): The focus of his talk is about coworking. It's basically sharing a space with other people, instead of working at the confines of your home or in coffee shops. With this setup, you get to network with other freelancers.

• Anna Meloto-Wilk of Human Heart Nature: She shared how they started with Human Heart Nature. Right now, their main focus is social entrepreneurship and supporting/putting up foundations. Her dad is Antonio Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga.

• Teresa Dumadag of FullLifeCube.com: Her topic was on time management for the work at home parent. She discussed 3 success strategies in managing her time and living a full life: 1) PLAN how she uses her time; 2) Manages her time based on her PRIORITIES; 3) manages her time based on her clearly defined GOALS.

After listening to all these talks, paying the Php 100 entrance fee to the main hall was really worth it. I was somehow inspired. There were a lot of lessons that's not only applicable to work at home parents but basically to everyone who would like to find balance and live their lives to the fullest. 

I want to attend more similar events so as to get inspiration to go into entrepreneurship. I have always been an introvert so I always have self doubt that I can make it but it is one area that I want to venture into eventually. One little step at a time, even though sometimes, I feel that I am running out of time already. That's too many "times" in one sentence so I'm reminded again haha. Whew. 

Beloved: A Journey of Love Concert

And before ending my day, I went to a concert. I have talked about this in my previous post. No regrets about going here. It's like having a date with the Lord, serenaded by world-class singers. This was what I shared in my FB post few minutes after the event. "My reward for attending the fundraising concert of the Cenacle Sisters? Was serenaded by none other than Basil Valdez, Noel Cabangon, the Cenacle Sisters, Hangad, Himig Heswita, Bukas Palad Ministry, and the Ateneo Chamber Singers! Thanks Ed for sharing this event. Thank you Cenacle Sisters Retreat House for doing this and reminding us all that we are beloved. Bitin!!! Hoping and waiting for a repeat. :)

I felt all sorts of emotions, and some parts of my life's journey flashed back depending on the song hahaha. But most importantly, I felt that I truly am beloved, despite all my flaws. Amazing. 

Loved all the songs, and related them all to my life hahaha. Here were some of the songs, on top of my head: 

• Ikaw - for someone who came into my life just recently :)
• Hindi Kita Malilimutan - for Mama and Daddy, who are now our angels :)
• Lead Me Lord - our elementary graduation song, which I almost always remember when find myself at a crossroad
• Kanlungan - true, pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
• I Will Sing Forever - indeed, I will sing forever of your love Oh Lord (and cling forever to Your promised love)

Thank you, Lord for the gift of time.