December 31, 2006

Dear Loved Ones,

Happy Christmas to you all and a more Blessed Year 2007 ahead of us!

The year had been very successful for us in terms of achieving more targets than what we set at the beginning of the year - personal, career and other dimensions of life! December started with a bang as Sean and I attended our Willdan Holiday Dinner Party at the Holiday Inn (Dec. 1). The party opened with cocktails, casino games, dinner, and then raffle of prizes. Big surprise to get the 1st item that was raffled off! Enjoyed the ‘magic shining moment’, amidst applause from the 150 white crowd, memorable corporate Christmas party!

Eagerly awaited are two visitors from Pinas since Gerry sent stuff for us through them separately, although both of them took the same PAL plane from Pinas on Dec. 15. The 1st is Fr. Victor Bompat, director-formator of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Tagbilaran, Bohol who is on his annual mission campaign in America, and is going to bless our home and vehicles on Dec. 30. The other is Ms. Nayoka M. who works at the Embassy of Sweden in Makati, who is visiting her relatives in San Diego.

Due to my Norwegian connection, I am part of a Consultancy firm ‘Nordic Ventures Synergy Center’ (NVSC), which serve as commercial arm of the Norwegian Embassy and other Scandinavian countries in the Philippines and Asia. You can visit our website at www. nordicventures.squarespace.com Our President Arlene M. is doing a great job running (keeping and acquiring clients) the business, even as I am VP Admin-Finance (in absentia). Our link with the Embassy of Sweden is Nayoka, who recently got engaged to a Swedish national and is joining him here and drive all over CA. By the way, SN Power of Norway, represented by Ozone Azanza as Pinas country Manager, is NVSC’s client. SN Power partnered with the Aboitiz Group to form SN Aboitiz Power which won the bid to buy the 360-MW Magat Hydropower Plant in Luzon for $530 M (biggest power investment, source: Inq7.net). With SN’s business, I am eager to be back in Pinas to resume my corporate life in the power industry.

Sean attended the 18th birthday of her friend Angelina, with full Filipino feast (3 lechons, embotido, crabs, barbecue, dinuguan, palabok, fish kinilaw, leche flan, turon), then brought ‘bringhouse’ of all these which we ate for 4 days. Typical of Flip parties, they had ‘magic sing’ where the host parents challenged to give $100 to anyone who can score 100. Sean sang 5 songs, he scored 100 in 3 songs, so he was given $100. He sings ala Nick Lachey / Josh Groban! (thanks to his training as member of the People Precious and Few choir at our Good Shepherd Paris; performing arts is his strength, he plays the guitar and piano as well). He also turned out to be the emcee of that evening. His English / Speech teacher remarked that Sean has the makings of a ‘stand-up comedian’. Thus, he could easily get an alternative part-time career here.
CSD1 holiday lunch was on Dec. 20 held at the Dante Club; it was a sumptuous ‘thank you’ treat by Management to its thousands employees, also with ‘giveaways’; the whole month we had daily treats from our clients, so kept watching out on the calorie intakes.

Fr. Victor blessed our home, vehicles and us, yesterday Dec. 30 at 4:00 pm. Our guests were Dr. Connie of N.U. and her husband Gerry, Lik and Gene Schroeder, Eve C. and Auntie Nene of San Fran(Fr. Vic’s chauffer when he’s here). We had Flip food and nice time!

Highlight of the month! After 15 years, I was re-connected with my Kumareng Rebbie Santiago, my former NFairview neighbor and baptismal ninang of my Sean, whose family had moved to Canada. She was browsing the Internet, serendipitally came across Nordic Ventures Synergy Center, then found my name! She sent me an e-mail immediately, now we are updating one another’s lives, my blog is very useful. Take note Ms. Arlene, our NVSC is truly a global entity!

Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You. God Bless us all!!!

Much love and Best Regards!!!
SUSAN BG

For my complete journals, please visit www.sbgerardo.blogspot.com Thank you!