Peak at the makings of an insane mind: All, for the sake of an update...

I have not updated my blog in months, so much for committing to blog on a regular basis. My last post was March, can you believe that?

Okay, I think I have not really introduced myself yet. For those of you who only know me either from high school, college, or even professionally but do not really know me beyond that; allow me the privilege of (re) introducing myself.

If I were to describe myself, I would say that I am a fairly young mother of three beautiful teenagers ages 19, 18, and 17. My eldest (son's) name is Simon, he is 19. My eldest daughter is Chesca, who is now 18. While my loving bunsoy Sophia, just turned 17 last February. I still get so surprised when I am reminded each day that all my kids are practically grown ups! Can you imagine that!

Here is a recent photo of my precious angels (from left: Chesca, Sophia, Simon)

I would also say that I work in PR (wow, that sounded ironic considering the very lame introduction I just gave!). Reason for this pretty lame intro is that if there happens to be one thing about my life that I will refuse to change (yes, even if I was offered a do-over by God, walang halong showbiz); I would still prefer to be a young mother. Maybe a part of me would request to have them a little later in my life (just so I can provide for them better); but my having them early in life (I had my son, my eldest, at the age of 17); made me who I am today. So no regrets! :-D. Seriously! (Like I said, this is not your typical showbiz response :-)).

I was in Advertising for over 15 years when I decided to shift careers and to move to practicing PR. I always say to the people I meet, that I am the only person they will meet in the PR industry that does not write! I do have A WHOLE LOT of experience though, which I am sure counts for something. In fact, my partner Max and I put up an agency less than two years ago! Will you give us an A for being gutsy? :-D

Max and I at an event, no sleep for days but still happy to work!

We put up an agency called ROAR IMC (Integrated Marketing Communications) Services. We chose the name ROAR for three very good reasons. One is that the truth of the matter is, it is a combination of your last names ROckwell ARroyo. Second reason is that we both love the feline species! Last but the most important reason is that as an agency, this is our message: We help our clients find their ROAR in the marketplace. Oh diba, clever? :-)

https://www.facebook.com/ROARCOMM

My mother was a GREAT writer (God bless her soul). Growing up knowing this and realizing I did not have a knack for writing, actually made me question God, a lot. There were a lot of waking hours just wondering (and asking!) why she was great and I was not. Okay, so the questions were mostly in the realm of why I was so different from her not so much about my resenting the fact that I did not inherit her writing prowess. It was just that there were so many things about her that made her great, that made her who she was; that made me want to be like her. She was very intelligent, she dressed very elegantly (was overdressed for practically every occasion). She spoke very well and so eloquently if I may add. She was profound. She was also very soft spoken and demure. So you see why I had to question God? The fruit fell VERY FAR from the tree so to speak!

Here is a photo of my mom (her Assumption HS grad pic)

I remember my older sister would tease me a lot, that I was an adopted child; and so growing up, a part of me believed that it might be true! But then when I got older, I started looking like her (my Mom; I can never thank God enough for making it up to me through this!), and so I had to concede to what was pretty obvious, that maybe I was not adopted after all :-).

This is my sister Sigried, and her husband Dwayne. They are both in the army. HOOAH!

I still LLOOVVVEEE advertising, very much so. But somewhere along the way, being a young single mother and all; I decided (with a HEAVY HEART if I may add), to compromise. Instead of continuing working in/for/at an advertising agency, I ventured instead in Sales Advertising because of the promise of more money (commissions / incentives offered in Sales) - all for the love of my three angels.

My father for most of his career, was an advertising man. He started out with Ace Compton (now Saatchi), O&M (which was formerly Olbes O&M), and at J. Romero (his longest stint, worlked with JRo for 11 years), before he put up his own agency (Charisms, Inc.). My father handled brands like Pepsi (in its prime), Metro Drug, and Eskinol (in its early years).

When I first started in advertising, I was so amazed that everyone knew my father! Growing up (yes around the time that I was resenting God for creating me very differently from my Mom), people were saying that I was so much like my father. I did not want to accept this because I wanted to be like my mother (instead of my father), but I have since been extremely grateful for God's wisdom because he knew the decisions I would make in my life especially the decisions that led to so much failure in my life (to happen). He knew that I will only be able to overcome my so-called tragedies if I was more like my father rather than my mother. I am now able to live comfortably, thanks to the gifts I inherited from my father.

This photo was taken two decades ago, when I was receiving an award for academic excellence in Sta. Rosa, Makati. (thats me with my beautiful and very spiritual parents. I was only 7 years old here.)

My last stint in Advertising before I changed practices, was with a Digital Ad Agency. And the longest stint in my career was with a media publication. You can say I have tried everything. I have worked for an ad agency, ventured into Sales Advertising. Worked for Image Bank (my first real job, formerly owned by Kodak, now owned by Getty Images) where I "served" several creative directors and print producers). I have also done radio (a bit of radio broadcasting as a host for a one hour religious show at an am station). I have done tv (secured advertising placements for a religious show, hosted by the late Chat Silayan whom I really cared for dearly, who was so nice to me). I have sold advertising space for a glossy, a free tabloid, and finally for a broadsheet. This was my last (and longest!) stint in my advertising career. I was connected, for eight long years, with a Media Organization / Publication.

Oh what the heck, it was with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and I am proud to say that I worked for them for a very long time (long time for me!). PDI was and is still very much a second home to me. I will always be proud of my stay in PDI.

The very famous Marcos flees issue!

This was the very first issue of PDI

I worked for DPC too, for almost a year,

EYP's Kitam Guru!

before I decided to go back to advertising, but this time to try my luck in digital for a change. This was short lived though as I felt I was too old to learn new tricks. I do have to admit that despite the shortness of my stint in digital advertising, I really learned a lot from it; and I was fortunate enough to handle one of the biggest advertisers in the Philippines (oh no wait, in the world, pala! Clue, starts with the letter U! :-)).

After my very, very short digital stint; was when I decided that PR was the most logical next step (as I was in media the longest, out of all my advertising exposure and immersion). So, here I am!

Okay, so maybe my introduction was not so lame after all. I was able to share with you a summary of what I have been doing for the last 19 or so years.

Next year marks a very important milestone in my life. I would be working for 20 years next year. I started work very early, 18 (working as a cashier when I was 17 does not count!), which means next year marks my 20th year in career land.

What have I learned in the 19 years that I have been working? Oh I learned A WHOLE LOT, but may I please save the kwentos for my next blog post? :-D hehe.

As an end to my post, I would like to share with you a very important verse in the bible which has helped me in the last 17 years of my life. I was reminded of this verse just today during the preaching of one of our favorite pastors (Pastor Alan Crichett) in the church we go to in Alabang and I would like to share this verse with you.

www.etsy.com

If you are expecting an extremely stressful week, brace yourself! But do not allow stress or worry to consume you because God is right beside you, journeying with you; just like in the footprints in the sand story!