The Big Career Shift

I am a woman who loves to earn her career first before anything else.  For 12 years all I aimed was to secure my future and even almost putting my personal happiness aside.  However, things changed when my husband of 3 years that time finally went home for good November of 2014 (on my birthday!).  Things were running quite smoothly in the first few weeks we were together 24/7.  But little by little issues start to build up in the next months when the demand for time and travel for my job was reaching its peak. 

We struggled with the “us time” every couple should have.  Our relationship was in panic mode just like a driver making quick decision while approaching a road collision.  It was a waking up moment for me.  I must do something before everything gets ruined. 

To give you a background, I was a medical representative of one of the leading research-based pharmaceutical company in the world.  Now “leading” would equally mean having standards that create innovation amongst others.  My job required me to travel..not just travel but I mean travel a lot taking my time away from home.  Adding to my job definition is the number of reports and emails I need to do everyday which is inevitable even if I am working in my base too.  Yes, I loved my job.  Who wouldn’t?  I have a good pay, a free car, gas, technology in your hands, and other perks others would envy.  The best thing about it was that I was able to invest my income wisely to basic needs I planned to have before reaching 40.  So I will be forever grateful to my longest employer ever.

the last activity I attended with my former company

But going back, I am married now and that my other half will always be a part of my considerations which is more than implied.  He is a rising professional photographer whose skills can never be disregarded.  I have to give him his chance to shine too in his own hometown this time.  Besides it was already an agreement beforehand that we will both dedicate our talent to our growing photography business.

My counterparts Ella and Anna

Yes! My mind was already made up.  I have to quit the job and work out our future once again.  It wasn’t that easy though to spill the news.  It took me weeks to finally utter the words to my manager which was just in time when I was about to be transferred to a different division with an expanded area of responsibility.  That was a relief!  I am now resigning and starting a new chapter in life again.   Yes, this is it!

the last HR activity I attended

For months, we have been working on photography clients for various occasions.  At the same time, I was enjoying my hibernation mode once in a while away from the corporate world.  A little adjustment needed only since I am a stay at home junkie. I just don’t know why I can never get bored with that.

Speaking of stay at home, I was browsing the web for the good start up businesses this 2016 when I stumbled across an article on virtual assistants.  I furthered my research and landed to Knights of Online Marketers Gensan page in facebook.  I was able to ask a few questions on that page and fortunately  almost 2 months after I was already one of their students.  It gave us a 12-course training on the basic fundamentals every VA should know.

Today I am already building up my portfolio to show my clients, submitting my cv to possible employers and hopefully waiting for their rings or emails.  I can say that this is the setup that will match my current situation, just stay at home and earn at the same time. 

If you are the same woman as me, learn to love, enjoy and invest at the peak of your career.  You will never know when the turning point in your life comes.  It may be soon or even sooner. Just be prepared always and learn to accept the new role you are in.  And most of all what matters most is the sacrifice you are making for yourself but also for the person you love the most.

My Music Journey

Jen and Jeany (pronounced as Jhonny or Jenny) are the names I’m often called by my colleagues and friends.  Born as a simple and music addict individual, I started exploring the world in singing and dancing as early as childhood where I would perform in convocations, beauty pageants, and concerts and singing contests. 

The start of my busiest days in my chosen craft was during 2nd-year highschool when I was a part of the local talent show in Gensan -----“ Gensan Kids”.  There I would do hosting, singing and dancing and a little bit of acting.  The show soon died because of a lot of controversies concerning talent fees (because sadly there was none). 

My journey in music brought me to greater heights when I entered college. I’m glad I’ve met another music fanatic, Gerlyn Vie Valencia who was also my classmate in BS Biology.  It was with her that I’ve worked hard in perfecting the guitar which I started to learn since grade 6.  We named our duo as JeanGER (Jeany + GERlyn).  Our  performances would include hits from the M2M (Don’t Say You Love Me, Pretty Boy, Mirror Mirror and The Day You Went Away) and the Corrs (So Young and All the Love in the World).  It was an overwhelming yet humble beginning for us.  We were invited in activities not just in school but also in out of town shows.  The greatest achievement I can remember was our front act in one of the concerts of Aiza Seguerra in Gensan.  Unfortunately, our tandem finally ended when she transferred school. At first, despite the distance, we would still sacrifice some time to practice but then, later on, we did our music separately.

On my last year of college, I was a trainee as a disc jockey in K101FM.  That’s where I got my name Billyjean which I still love calling myself until now.  The one year experience had been unforgettable doing playlists, adlibs, and entertaining callers. Together with my co-disc jockeys, we hosted beauty pageants.

 I also got involved in bands.  Circle Box Band was the longest team I had jammed with.  Pop music was our specialty which drew us nearer to the young and party addicts.  However, right after graduation, we have also disbanded.      

From 2004-2014, I was working as a med rep for GSK. That gave me a privilege to still sing in our company  and our customer activities.  During this period, the dynamic duo JeanGER was back!  Finally, we have bumped into each other again and made us post our videos youtube.  Even if we struggle with availability because we were both employed we would still  try hard to make it happen.

But that has come to an end since we really need to move on with our lives and our busy career.  We now have our own families yet still enjoying a piece of our talent in our own space.  Looking back, it just makes me happy and fulfilled to have once enjoyed a little fame and appreciation.

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The Bride and Groom and the 10th Wedding in the Marathon

         

            Every couple has their own interesting story. Fate has bounded some while others asked for it. Ours is a journey of excitement and thrill with a touch of drama and unexpected challenges. The bride is a singer who works in her hometown while the groom is a photographer and a document controller in an architectural firm abroad. Time difference between the two countries is not just one, two, three but four hours! Yet how were they able to find each other and survive what many fear in a long distance relationship? Stay close.

            At some point in our lives, we give up on our dreams because we want to pursue new goals. That's me. Did I tell myself that instead of becoming a bride how about singing in 10 weddings in the next 18 months? Then my friends asked. What's next after that? I don't know. For me, it's just a try of something I love doing. Furthermore, I really like being part of this wonderful celebration of love.

        So things happened like a flash! I was in demand. My first event was on a 30th wedding anniversary last May 16, 2010. And the weddings kept on coming. Came the second, third, fourth and finally the 9th. Then it stopped. Could I still make it to 10? 

During his vacation here in the Philippines, I met Ramil a week after the 5th event in my marathon. It was an acquaintance which I thought will just end on the first day. However, a series of dinner dates and a lot of over coffee conversations followed our connection before he went back abroad. Challenges came when we were already apart and with the time difference of 4 hours in which I was already buzzing up in the highway working while he was still in bed asleep. Yet these were never a hindrance for us to devote time and continue communicating until we were officially together. Moreover, I can see we share the same values and ambitions in life which stuck us to one another. Months later, he proposed and we got engaged. Today we see ourselves excited as our dreams are coming to reality. Finally!

              This is it! The 10th ceremony to complete my list. The wedding singer is now a bride.

 -written by the Bride

**taken from our wedding website at www.weddingwire.com

Hi guys!  Welcome to my first blog.  I'm Jeany and just tied the knot months ago.  I believe that our story is one of a kind with how my life was years back..how I sang for 9 weddings until I finally had the most life changing event which was my own dream wedding.

Stay close as I unveil our journey..