enero ... enero ... enero ...

i'm back!

the month of January flew by. it's as if it was only yesterday when i finished unpacking from my Canada trip. the holidays came and went - a fact that i'm both pleased and sad about. i'm pretty happy the holiday insanity, often referred to as holidaze, is over. incessant holiday parties, dinners, and get togethers while tremendously fun, eventually wore me out. meanwhile, my first sojourn outside of the United States in 6 years, ended even before i can finish saying Happy Ho Ho Ho. it was great to have the opportunity to spend Christmas family once again. it was a truly unforgettable eight days - my first white christmas, seeing my sister pregnant for the first time, finding a new meaning of christmas day as seen in the eyes of my niece, and exploring a foreign country with joel. i definitely look forward to the next visit.

everything has been a blur since then. work has been crazy busy. and as i struggled to find my footing and a complete sense of normalcy, i had to deal with my annual performance evaluation. on top of that, i have a new boss - yet again. it's certainly beginning to feel like im getting a new one every umm, six months. =( a new year, a 9% salary increase, a new commission scheme, a new boss equals a promise of a great 2008, adjustments in the work environment and more responsibilities. it's all in a day's work.

another major highlight of the month is jun's 30th birthday! woohoo!!! an awesome, talented and true friend! i wish you all the best and many more birthdays to come.
L-R philip, josh, rd, joel, alex, phil, jun

tomorrow is February 1st. fourteen days to V-day. let the countdown begin.

i heart JM

world's largest malls hmm mmm...

Heading out to the mall--isn't that yesterday's way to shop?

Not in Asia, where a building boom has enormous shopping malls popping up in China, Malaysia and the Philippines...

AHA! Forbes.com recently came out with a list of the world's biggest malls and 3 of the top 10 are in the Philippines. no surprise there. it always amazes me how these massive commercial malls thrive in 3rd world countries such as the Philippines. it's just completely beyond me.

here's the complete list.
1. South China Mall
Location: Dongguan, China
7.1 million square feet

2. Golden Resources Shopping Mall
Location: Beijing, China
6 million square feet

3. SM Mall of Asia
Location: Pasay City, Philippines
4.2 million square feet

4. Cevahir Istanbul
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
3.8 million square feet

5. West Edmonton Mall
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
3.8 million square feet

6. SM Megamall
Location: Mandaluyong City, Philippines
3.6 million square feet

7. Berjaya Times Square
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3.4 million square feet

8. Beijing Mall
Location: Beijing, China
3.4 million square feet

9. Zhengjia Plaza
Location: Guangzhou, China
3 million square feet

10. SM City North Edsa
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
3 million square feet

mall highlights:
SM Mall of Asia has a 20 seater tram to take you around the mall, an olympic sized swimming pool and the first IMAX theatre in the country. SM Megamal has a skating rink. SM North Edsa is a 5 story complex with 100 retail shops.

ok now im ready to go shopping...

first entry in 08

Here's your horoscope for January 07 to 13.

Your work and health zone looks fabulous this week, APM, with influences that can help you reap the success you deserve. Jupiter has moved into Capricorn, which is encouraging you to be bold and to step out of your comfort zone. You are going to be eager to sort out aspects of your everyday life and be more adventurous in the process. You are also likely to want to mix and mingle with those who pull the strings and who have both experience and status as well. Take a look at your routines and see whether they are serving you, especially when it comes to living a meaningful life. If you are bored with your job and your health is letting you down, then you certainly need to think about change. So why not begin this process this week when you have a New Moon in Capricorn? This is the perfect time to start afresh! Start a healthier diet, begin to exercise, and apply for new jobs that you are truly passionate about. The more you feel connected to what you do, the more energy and vitality you will have. A meeting on Saturday may result in a whirlwind relationship. Take it easy!