rome-writes

[rome-writes]

06/21/2025

Had no plans for the weekend. One of my old SHS friend is dating a DJ currently. So I decided to crawl out of my hermit cave and hangout when I got an invite from her last week. I’m glad I decided to go out. I love the aesthetics of the place as a sucker for neon and led lights. I enjoyed the cocktails as well. Worth the price and sweet for my taste.

Just remembered that this place, The Fun Roof, was on the list of our planned places to go on a date with, with my past special someone. It’s daunting and chest tightening for me to add this part. But hey, life happens. I have to live and make more memories. Still wish I could spend the evening with that person here. Don’t worry I did not relapse (reminisce) will I was here. I had a blast. There was also a drag performance during the later part of the evening.

Not to drag my misery this far, but like that person said. Live a little and that this will never be repeated again. True. One of the nights that I’m going out intentionally.

[rome-writes]

06/18

Our business unit, Transcripts & Events had its April Reward and Recognition meeting. Tbh I wasn’t expecting much this evening. Still ended up getting a special award for my participation in our Lean Ops Management workshop. Free SB gc or a cup of coffee isn’t bad I guess. The thing I cared for more is my planned outfits for the week as a company director is visiting our new office.

06/19

As the week progresses, the more I am dying because of the shift change I am experiencing. This time around, a Townhall meeting with the company director. I came here for the food (but seriously, my manager made me show up.)

06/20

Overdressed, don’t care. As much as how fruity I think I am, people will say I still carry straight male energy at times.

A pretty productive meeting. Putting aside my annoyance with work. What I’ve taken from this meeting is that our director, Saroja, has been working for 28 years under this company and this is also her first job since then. It’s not as if I’ll be forever here. But it’s possible that the company is pretty much competitive with the market pay. Her experience and pretty much a diverse and colorful career here says a lot. I just am praying and manifesting she’ll keep her words with our work process and technology.

After our meeting, I saw one of my work bestie and funny enough, it looks like as if we either have a company uniform or a matchy couple outfit. She’s taken, so no office romance joke pls. It was sooo funny seeing the astonishing reaction she had when I walked back to our desk area and saw each other for the first time.

I really ran out of energy last week. It’s been both a breeze with our workload. But not so much with socializing and attending events. I had so much fun doing dress up anyways.

[rome-writes]

on watching a parent age

i saw somebody say “what if you’re gone and i haven’t become anything yet” and basically that broke me on a random thursday evening

[rome-writes]

06/13/2025

I’m suppose to be on holiday and vacation leave. But fuck me I guess for being an organized person and belief of wealth abundance. Never imagined that this day would come that I am working on excel sheets after escaping this in college and thesis days. God I need to wrap things up immediately because I have a blood lab scheduled at 8 AM.

I just want to share a snippet of yesterday’s life update via our extended family group chat. My mom’s been craving for Frankie’s salted egg and milk tea. Being the good son that I am and having received my salary super early yesterday, I bought Frankie’s earlier at work before commuting home.

I did ask my mom to meet me at the hospital after I scheduled my appointment and got breakfast and headed to the mall. Funny remembering as a kid we had no SM in our province and it was only in 2023 when SM finished their mall here in Bataan.

Anyways, I could be angry and pissed with how toxic work is becoming. But it’s already been like these for so long. So I just pucker up and lose my fuck to give. I wouldn’t be able to treat my mom if I’m not getting paid decently at work. So thankful for this life and experience, but wishing for a better job in the future as well.

[rome-writes]

06/09/2025

Mondays at the office. Manghihina talaga ko pag hindi ako naka run every week. Eme.

[rome-writes]

06/06/2025

It’s been forever since I took a holiday leave for work, because I had to do laundry. The weather is killing the vibes and of course will kill my clothes as well.

After doing laundry, I decided to go out and take myself on a date. I have seen people on reddit hyping up Toby’s Estate’s flat white coffee. The frugality in me had a heart attack seeing their menu. I decided to go and get a sandwich because those are at least somehow cheap at cafe’s. My uncultured ass had to ask what a Tamago Sando is, it was egg sandwich for the love of God.

My plans for tonight were hang at a cafe and journal peacefully. My office friend, Gabby, sent me a message that she’s around the block and we hanged as well. We strolled around and met her boyfriend that she’s been telling me for a long time (I see the vision, hi daddy Jared as well).

I thought we would just spend the night roaming around BGC. But Jared had another thing in mind. Go to a club. I guess, thanks Jared for introducing me to a fancy club, namely Bank Bar Manila. I really wasn’t a drinker much in college, but I see the hype or social connection with these type of hangouts. I’m glad I got out this evening even if I just wanted to cozy up at home. I feel socially good and at least my mind is not thinking of work or going overdrive overthinking personal events recently. Glad that foreigners are a big yapper and I didn’t had a hard time thinking what to talk about.

We split up soon after drinking and I didn’t want to go home yet because I’m catching up on my journal, so I got to a 24 hour Starbucks and wrote there. I can’t help it, but I was slightly annoyed a few hours later because of obnoxious drunk people going out of the club and talking loudly or even making a mess. So hypocritical of me who also went out to drink. Oh well it was getting cold there at 3 AM so I had to leave and catch my sleep.

One for the books this June. Thankful for slow living and learning to deal with my time as well.

[rome-writes]

[rome-writes]

Clarice Lispector, from a letter to Fernando Sabino featured in Why This World: A Biography of Clarice Lispector

[rome-writes]

06/04/2025

The only high I’ll never get tired of chasing after. Cheers to another 5K run!

[rome-writes]

06/02/2025

Slept for 11 hours after our team outing. Returned to office and did my easy run today. Fueled by caffeine and my cute Snoopy cup. Choose your hard I guess, and this is me showing up for myself. I’m looking forward to this peaceful weekend where I’ll probably tidy up my apartment and do laundry.

[rome-writes]

05/31 - 06/01/2025

I officially started working two years ago around June. I’m still in awe how true it is that the days are long, but the years are short.

I guess where I’m coming from. I had an original team that I really appreciated and cared for. We did all that we could during our time as a time. One by one, people handed out their resignations. Probably due to the nature of our work, how mundane and monotonous it feels like. Maybe it’s the same for corporate people, but I wouldn’t be able to know since this is my first job. The last blow is my manager handing his resignation as well. Going back. My OG team did go out for dinner and ktv, but this kind of outing? We couldn’t plan well, because honestly there’s a self-centered asshole who couldn’t compromise his schedule (we’re teammates in this new team and of course, he didn’t join this team outing).

This time around. I really am still having a hard time adjusting with the vibes and collaboration, especially this is just overwhelming from me to integrate to a bigger team. But I’m glad I didn’t back out or chicken out from joining this outing. Because I genuinely had fun. Like just fun and nothing stressful. I know it’s still work people, but what this team does not do, is drag people or bully them. They do their best to help out. Because before my OG team was established, they adopted me with their former manager as well. It’s just a night that’s worth savoring. From me being assigned to the grocery committee to helping out set up the food and just vibing with teammates and managers. God the best part is the pool that has hot spring water and alcohol. A way to slightly heal or bring out the pain of the heart.

I’m glad I stayed consistent or committed to my intent to get out of my comfort zone and go out and do more than just stare at my mobile device for the weekend or so. I need to ground myself so I don’t fall into tardiness or burnout. Rest physically and not digitally.

This is one for the books. I also got to say. Laguna you are beautiful. I would have probably decided to go to UPLB then. But I wouldn’t be where I am today without my decisions though.

[rome-writes]

05/30/2024

Long time since I did a I deserve to romanticize my life like in the movies where the main character goes to a cafe before or after work. In my case I did do overtime because of a long event I had to work on last minute with a few teammates.

It’s missing drinking coffee at a cafe for me. But I have to go to sleep after this. Obviously, matcha still has caffeine, I forgot the explanation on why it’s a better caffeine than coffee. Welp. It’s been a long week at work and in the city. I miss home already and people I can’t go back anymore or have made changes with.

[rome-writes]

05/29/2025

40th activity on Strava and new 400 meter PR. God how I missed how much pressure and thrill running in the city has brought to me. During the early days of my running I would push myself and do an all out running here. The runner high still remains within me, this time with slightly better strategy and endurance.

I used to experience getting a lot of burnout and mental breakdowns with work. But this time around I’m still guessing if it’s good team management, good time management for myself, working smart, working out, or slowly learning to romanticize my life by doing my best of taking care if myself and accepting things that I cannot change. I still guess it’s also both getting a pay raise and learning to be smart with my finances this time around.

I got sidetracked a bit there. Just you know. I did so much effort and discipline to get my life back on track and my health as well. Slowly crawling back to my habits and also learning to enjoy them and not do them because I have to as it means being productive. Guess I’m back here because I have lots to yap and talk about and alone this time around this phase of my life.

I’m slowly but surely reaping some of them. Life will always have ups and downs. I’ll savor this rise for now.

[rome-writes]

05/28/2025

Kept the stache, mom said, mukha kang hukluban na. As if I’ve not been dealing a lot of shit privately these days.

Also early work-break with the OG team. Q1 2025 was the four of us training new hires, oh the trauma and patience we had to endure. A dishonest former employee, someone who’s just not in the right headspace, and two angels. That’s what I’d have to say with our new hires when we used to be team and there were three teams in our business unit.

Now it’s three of us working the night shift and ate madie (purple jacket) working the super early morning shift. Although I’m at peace these days and satisfied with the pay and work. I miss the golden days of our former team and the struggles we all went by together. I guess that’s the reason why people say don’t get attached to the people and team as work will still be there, but people will come and go.

One more day and I’m still not going to get any rest due to our team outing scheduled for the weekends.

[rome-writes]

[rome-writes]

05/27/2025

Back in the city. Back to three days RTO. Back to hell I guess. Anyways, will see how I can fit a running schedule with my new work schedule as well.

[rome-writes]