I’ll be damned. I’m a man…

Read on this link... I’ll be damned. I’m a man…

For the past few weeks, I'd come home and tell my wife, "I can't believe that I'm 30!".

Ever since the wedding (about 3 months ago), it feels like a stamp of approval was handed to me and told me that you are now mature, older, wiser... a man.

In my line of work, especially when I started in 2001, it was pretty difficult to taken seriously. First impression would be, "Where did they get this college intern to do this kind of work?" Even now, as I manage trainers who are "older" than me, I get the same response when I go sit in and review their seminars.

In two months, I would complete my nine years of working where I am. I've grown from, "The young kid who'd take on any assignment we give him, so send him to do training in Buffalo for 6 weeks without advance notice." to "The one in charge of training and discuss with him the client's needs and see what he recommends."

I pray that I as I get more "responsibilities" that I still keep that young optimistic attitude that I had when I started my first class in December 2001.

20100904 - Hoboken

What Works: A Day of Rest - Busted Halo

What Works: A Day of Rest - Busted Halo

Countdown...

5 days to go until my Philippine vacation after almost 2 years.

We have been looking forward to this vacation for a couple of reasons: 1. attending and being part of a good friends' wedding (Arman & Alnie) in Boracay! 2. a break from winter snow and 3. a breather from all the hustle and bustle of work and the city. On a plus note, we get to see family again... and I heard that relatives from Europe will be in town when we get there, so the bigger the family to see!

54 days until I turn the 30!

I can't believe that I am 30. I don't feel like 30. I don't think I look 30 (I am assuming!). When I was a kid, 30 was like ancient, wise, knows everything, stable, etc... now, I'm re-thinking my 30's stereotype. But then my turning 30 will bring in something new.... marriage.

146 days until I turn a new chapter in my life: marriage.

A friend once told me, "When did we get old enough to be talking (and getting into) marriage!" It was just like last year that our idea of a Saturday party was ice skating, pizza and gallons of soda, now its about dinners, wine and cheese!

I am looking forward to these dates. With family and friends along the journey, it will be a blast!

PS: Additional count down days:

12 days until Arman-Alnie's wedding.

19 days until my sister Jennifer-Horacio's Manila ceremony.

33 days until Carlo-Eunice's wedding.

61 days until my future sister-in-law's Angela-Basil's wedding.

159 days until Marianne-Joe's Wedding.

Christmas Eve Thoughts

Noche Buena translated as good night and refers to the Christmas Eve dinner usually celebrated in Spain, Philippines and Cuba. For us Filipinos, its a celebration not only of Christ's birthday (we usually have this dinner after the Vigil Mass) but also the celebration of family.

It is really exciting that I get to spend Christmas twice every year. With family in the Philippines celebrating it 12 hours ahead, I get my Christmas greetings just before noon here in the US and on midnight I relieve that moment.

This year would be a little bit different though. Jen is hosting her first Christmas as a wife to Horacio and I have to plan my "trip" to her house since I live far, far away (like 6 blocks away). Mare and I decided to celebrate Christmas this year with each other's families as our last year of being "single". Next year, here comes the questions, "your family or mine?" With the options of celebrating it in Ohio, New York and the Philippines... we just might find ourselves in Switzerland.

Can't wait for the next Christmas!

It's Starting to Smell Like Christmas

My Sister Gets Married

The Journey of Our Lives have been in hiatus for a long time. And for good reasons. Jen is getting married today!!

As another journey unfolds, her two other sisters and I wishes her the best and prays with confidence that God will watch over and bless her with a happy and long marriage.

We will always be here though...as she changes her last name to Hernandez, she'll still be the Jennifer we have always loved and will continue to love.

My God-daughter is a Published Artist!

From her mom:
"A few months ago, Ally asked me to send one of her princess drawings to her favorite Disney Princess Magazine, and so the "stage mom" willingly complied. Last Sunday, she saw a magazine rack in the Mercury Drugstore in Glorietta and quickly grabbed the November issue of the Magazine. As soon as we got our table at Friday's for dinner, she opened the magazine and was very delighted to see that her "Princess Aurora" drawing landed as runner-up in the Best Drawing category! "Mama, there's my drawing!".... of course, the stage mom (and dad) are soooo proud =)"

Proud of you Ally!

Oh My God

Making a Difference

It's Been Awhile

As I walk into my doctor’s office two day ago (last visit at that particular office was in 2007), the medical assistant asks me, “Has anything changed?” My initial response was, “Nothing.” After a few minutes sitting down, I came back up to her fished out my new insurance card and wrote down my new address.

And of course with all medical appointments, you wait and wait. Me waiting, means thinking of various stuff. And one thing that lingered was, “Whew, a lot have changed!”

Just recently, I moved in to my new apartment. A quaint space enough for me (and my fiancée when she moves in next year [more to that later]). It is starting to come together and everyday I get more and more attached to the place. I have been living quite independently ever since college. However, this time the lease just has my name on it, even my mailbox. This living independently has increased responsibility (bills, bills, bills) but also a sense of accomplishment.

If moving apartments is a big thing for most people, think about getting engaged. After almost 2 years of dating, I proposed to Marianne on May 31, 2009. Now, wedding plans are rolling. Colors, church, reception hall, and all the works. But before that, 5 weddings are scheduled ahead of us, starting with her cousin, 11/7 in Ohio and my sister, 11/14 in New York. For us, see you in Charlotte, NC, July 10, 2010!

Work is also one thing that experienced a lot of changes. Moving to a new office. Closing of a department. Moving to a new department. New programs. New protocols. And as resilient as ever, we roll with the punches.

I’m excited about these changes and all the new things ahead of me. I’ll keep you posted.

To Be Human

For the past few days, I have been very moody. I've always tried not to displace this crankiness (sorry Mom!) when this happens. And it is tough.

Sometimes we need to allow ourselves to be human (see page 160 of My Life with the Saints, James Martin, SJ). We get irritable and we have to learn how to deal with it and face the consequences when we don't control these feelings.

"I really pray for that kind of acceptance of myself. And also for the ability to be myself, not always putting on a brave face before everyone, particularly when I am depressed, worried, confused, etc. " - James Martin, SJ

Jonathan L. Ong
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Fall In Love

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything."

- Pedro Arrupe, SJ

*Lifted from "My Life with the Saints" by James Martin, SJ
Jonathan L. Ong
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YouTube Clip - Very Touching

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Going into confirmation as an adult brings deeper joy and understanding to the faith and the challenges that it brings especially as a Catholic young adult. I ask for prayers as I get confirmed tomorrow, 5/31/2008 at the 10:30AM Mass at St. Sebastian Church in Woodside.

Above plaque which highlights the gifts of the Holy Spirit was given to me by Mare as a confirmation gift. Thanks.

Things I Discovered in 2008

A little bit of retrospection before the New Year unfolds. Some mundane, some amusing, some totally personal.
1, I can almost eat anything except soy pepperoni. Growing up, vegetables and I were not really good buddies. But this year, I come to realize that I'll eat okra, eggplants even ampalaya (bitter melon). Balut anyone?

2. I can learn a new sport / hobby. I have been playing on a Monday night pool league at the Lower East Side. Since high school and college, my only pool technique employed was to strike the balls as hard as I could and hope to make a pocket. Now, I have learned that to win a game takes time and sometimes a soft touch. Last season, I won 3 games. This season I have won 2.

3. That I have been pronouncing "relocate" wrong. I have been using the short e as in pet instead of the long e as in bee.

4. I had very bad taste in clothes. As Marianne sorts through my over flowing closet, we came across shirts (that I actually wore to work at some point!) that begs to ask the question, "Was I drunk when I bought it (and wore it to work)?"

5. I discovered that my faith is my own. I didn't need to have a teacher tell me to go to church during holy days of obligations nor have a grandmother (which I thank her dearly for doing it) force me to go to Sunday mass.

6. That life is full of surprises if you just take that plunge without hesitation. Love you my ube.

7. That Google Maps can be wrong. This I found out with Marianne, Angela, Basil and Petey during our Las Vegas to Grand Canyon drive, instead of the South Rim destination, Google Maps pointed us at the North Rim. Took us almost 8 hours instead of the 3.5 hours. Next time use a GPS.

8. I am really a light weight. I can drink 2 glasses of wine or maybe around 3 bottles of beers in one night, after that I wouldn't know what will happen. I think I can drink more if I space it out to a bottle every 45 minutes with food, I mean I did drink at Moose's Bar back in 2005 from 10PM to 4AM with my Vegas cousins, they just had to feed me good food while we were at it.

9. I am a pack rat. I have been in denial for the past few years. This year, I am now a self-confessed pack rat which I aim to remedy ASAP. This will start with digital files on two hard drives that I have not access in months to a box full of cables that I have kept from old gadgets hoping that one day they'll find some use.

10. That I am green. I refuse plastic bags in stores. I started (without it being official) of converting files at the office into PDF format for archiving. I even bring my own bag to the groceries now.

Christmas in Woodside

New Office

Over the past weeks, I was busy moving offices and transitioning to my new position at another Department. One of the good things about moving offices is that you get to clean out and purge files and things that you just simply accumulated over the years. I still have files and thing-a-majigs lying around until I find them a spot in the new digs. It's a small office but gives me just enough privacy and a good view of downtown NY.

My clean desk (based on my standards!)

View from my window. Yes, I know, Doritos are not meant to be filed but eaten.

View of downtown NY.

Philosophy Works

The past few months, I feel that my brain is not being utilized to the fullest. Mundane tasks of filing and scanning documents. Practical Philosophy hopefully will stimulate those stagnant neurons.

Platos, here I go!

Jonathan L. Ong
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Moving Forward

Growing up, the start of the new school year signals a new beginning in my academic life. Every start of the year I would always tell myself that this year I'm going to study harder, focus more on Math, or even try out for new things outside of the academic realm.

Now that I am older and out of school, it's hard to get that permission to start anew. However, as September rolls along it reminded me on how we should think of new chapters to face in life.

I am working on new journeys to take and I ask for everyone's prayer and support.
Jonathan L. Ong
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