From simple joys of teaching others, to morning walks, to trips abroad and a meeting that would change the course of my life. These are among my most memorable experiences at Intel.

Leap at Mansion
Leap at Mansion

1.    Simple joys: Swimming, having a date on Valentine’s day with my swimming buddies Ruby and Jovie. Dinner with friends at King Bee. Boys night out. Teaching the Influence edge class, sharing the cashflow game with friends. Anniversary concert at CV1. Team building dinners. And a lot more simple but fun times with friends.

TMGT CV 2006
TMGT CV 2006
Jollibee Meets TMGT
Jollibee Meets TMGT
Leap to the World
Leap to the World

2.    Travel to Pudong and Chengdu – My trip to Pudong and Chengdu was extra special too. It was an opportunity for me to represent our department in a face-to-face meeting. The attendees fo the meeting were two levels above me. I loved it. And I learned a whole lot during that conference, especially from BK and JC. Lots of lessons learned inside the conference room and outside during the dinners.

Shanghai Moon
Shanghai Moon

3.    Visiting Penang and KL – Twice I had the opportunity to visit Penang. It wasn’t exactly the work that was memorable. It was truly the time spent with friends that made the trip memorable. It was also great meeting Filipinos in foreign lands making a good name for themselves. Makes me proud to be Pinoy!

4.    Travel to San Francisco, Arizona and Canada – Ah, the supplier day in San Francisco. Exquisite. We had worked on the project for around 2 months. We went to San Francisco. It was my first time in the US. I found it to be … “normal”. I felt that because I had been so exposed to US culture through TV, movies and printed material, it wasn’t really such a new thing being in the US. I got to meet my relatives in SanFo.

San Francisco
San Francisco
Face to Virtual Face at Arizona
Face to Virtual Face at Arizona

5.    Trip to Baguio – Baguio was memorable for me. I am from Baguio. But having my officemates over at Baguio was extra special for me. I got to take them around my hometown. But more than that, I spent special time with my friends in a night of stories and revelations. That evening, I understood my friends at a deeper level, and I understood myself more too.

Baguio
Baguio

6.    Making girls cry – Mind you, it wasn’t fun. But it was memorable because it was very emotional. Those were times when I reflected about my relationships outside of work – made me think about how similarly I treated my loved ones the way I was treating my officemates. I realized that it’s not easy for the people I love to go with my flow, especially when my flow isn’t clear.

7.    Crying – One of my lowest points in my previous personal relationship manifested itself at work.

In a turn of events after a staff meeting. I found myself on the verge of crying. I walked quickly to the washroom and I couldn’t help it – the dam broke lose. It was terrible. My heart was pounding, I was short of breath, I couldn’t see how terribly I looked in the bathroom mirror. I just let it all out, this emptiness that only tears can express.

I was glad my friend and officemate, Babby, happened to come in the door after me. He consoled me. He didn’t know what was happening, but he was there for me. And that’s all I needed right that moment. Thanks Babby!

8.    Training for my marathon – Not yet sure why this is memorable for me. Perhaps its because the hours I spent training were more than just times of physical and mental triumph. Those training runs were times I had alone with my own thoughts.

9.    Discovering myself through PSI – “when the student is ready, a teacher will appear”. I felt this was the case for me. I was so much in need for better awareness and acceptance of myself. PSI helped me understand myself more. The greatness in me is here. I love it!

Edwin Leaps Ahead
Edwin Leaps Ahead

10.    Meeting my honey – At Intel, during one of our team’s tocino lunch get togethers, I met the lady in a yellow blouse. She occupied the workstation next to mine. That day, I happened to wear a yellow shirt as well. Ah, bagay! And truly we were bagay, so much more bagay than just the clothes we were wearing. The lady in the yellow blouse would later become my honey :-) . Ah – without any doubt at all, this is the best that I gained from working at Intel. I love you hon!

What does this list tell me? It’s not the meetings, the ROI, the recognitions, the AR’s, the indicators that we remember. It’s the relationships and the events that we remember. It’s friends being there, sharing our lives with friends. Building relationships. That’s all, that’s all.

What can I do so that my life memories and the work I do are the same one thing? Would be beautiful, don’t you agree?

More to reflect as I go from Leaping Ahead to being Me Na Me.

ka edong
in remembrance of an awesome time at Intel

10 thoughts on “Ten most memorable experiences while at Intel

  1. Hi Bro,

    Seeing your desk empty at post G-2 this morning, and after reading your blog, finally…it’s sinking on me. One of my brothers left Intel again. (tama na, baka maiyak na ko…hehehe)

    I am thankful to know you and I may not have mentioned, I gained new perspectives on life, relationships, and managing finances from you. Thanks for sharing your life and experiences.

    All the best in your new endeavors!

  2. Hi Edwin,
    It was great knowing you at Intel. Yes, I remember that Intel-Eagle Ridge Swimming Club, quite a large group :). I have to struggle speaking in English when I was hanging out with you and Jovie :P. But now, I’m teaching here at Areneo ;), and I realized that it was a good training hanging out with both of you. Haha.

    – Ruby

  3. hi edwin. saw your baguio pics of the flower festival. nice. :)
    which weekend/event is the best to attend? we plan to go there
    next year. hope to hear from you. thanks!

  4. Hi Reev,
    The streetdancing and the float parade happen on two different days but on the same weekend.
    When the panagbengga schedule comes out, look for those two activities. That’s the highlight of the Flower festival ;-) .

    Enjoy it!

    ka edong

    ka edongs last blog post..Checking In and Out at Intel

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