last day of the august, two-o-o-five

this has been a weird day. as weird as a typical rainy day--- sunny in the morning, heavy downpour in the afternoon.

* * *

i received a text message from Keng this morning informing me that she's in my ate's place with my family and they're having a small gathering for my tita rina who came all the way from SFO, CA. Keng was informing me to have my mom's SMART SIM reloaded and it pissed me off. i mean, they have the prepaid cards there with instructions on how to reload, they have the phone there, and they are all mobile users, and i haven't been using a SMART prepaid card for the past four years! and one thing more, i spent my load calling them to know how things are going on there, while they don't call me very often, and all i get are instructions on what i'm supposed to do blah, blah, blah....

afterwich, i texted Keng and apologized for such a rude-sounding voice when i was talking to them earlier. it just sucks to be left alone.

* * *

i arrived at the office five minutes after nine a.m. and after turning my pc ON, our GM called me and told me to go with him as he was about to purchase his daily cup of Starbucks coffee. two of my colleagues who were present that time looked at me cause it's very unusual for the GM to tell me to go with him. he usually talk to my superiors but this time, i knew he was about to tell me something i'm a bit nervous about. i thought he got a hint that i have a scheduled interview this day (separate story on succeeding entries) at Ayala Group of Companies. So after asking about office operations, he asked me about how i feel with the company, and asked me a question which made me dumbfounded for about 5 seconds... "So until when do you intend to work for the company?" i replied: "sir...?" then he reiterated, "Coz i've heard that you have plans of migrating...?" "Oh that," i said, "well, yeah but it will still take me two to three years." "Oh, ok, so it's not that immediate?" he asked. "No sir," i replied.

* * *

one of the hardest things to accept in a group where you belong to is to face the reality that one is leaving. specially if you have developed the camaraderie within yourselves. it's Anoy's last day today. such a short notice, a sudden news for us all.

* * *

i need to re-group my thoughts. give me a break.

trip to Asian Development Bank

Ka Ason has been informing me last week that she's treating me and another church mate for lunch in her place of work --- Asian Development Bank. Whoah! it was my first time to enter its main office compound this lunch time and i just can't help but gasp each time i look around its premises. yea right... ADB employees might say i'm very shallow but i think it's amazing to be in there. considering the benefits that people say the employees are receiving in there. hehe... lunch was superb! the mini-tour was great!

thanks, Ka Ason. :)

* * *

people here in the office are extremely going insane. at this hour (past office time), we're still here enjoying some conversation while the bosses are still on a meeting. hah... life.

. . .

in life, you are never satisfied. you always want something else, you always crave for more. no matter how you insist that you are contented with what you have, deep in your heart you still crave for something that you don't have...

sometimes, everything seem to suck, everyday, everytime.


current mood: buraot

funny stories, early mid-week

una sa lahat, kwentong commuter muna. ilang beses na akong binibitin ng kundoktor ng bus ukol sa pagbibigay ng sukli kong barya: "Bos, mamaya na yung singkwenta, walang coins eh," ang wika nya. Natural, hindi ka na nya babalikan at ikaw naman, magdadalawang-isip ka pa kung ia-anunsyo mo sa buong bus na hindi pa ibinibigay ng kundoktor ang singkwenta sentimos mong sukli. maliban na lang kung talagang eksakto ang pamasahe mo pauwi at kakailanganin mo ang singkwenta sentimos pagsakay ulit ng jeep. hindi lang sa bus nangyayari ito. magbigay ka ng walumpiso sa jeep at kapag sinabi ng tsuper na mamaya na ang sukli dahil wala *kunong* barya, hihingin mo pa ba ang singkwenta sentimos? karaniwan, mahihiya ka na at ipagpapalagay na "huh... singkwenta lang naman, hayaan ko na!"

sa ganung mga pangyayari, napaisip ako. nung isang araw, sinubukan kong magbayad ng syete pesos lang sa jeep na sinasakyan ko. pagkabilang ng perang iniabot ko, nagbilang ng ilang sandali ang drayber bago ilagay sa kaha nya ang bayad ko. alam ko at alam niyang kulang ng singkwenta sentimos ang iniabot ko, pero hindi na sya humingi nito. marahil nahiya rin syang magsabi na kulang pa ng singkwenta.

inulit ko ito kaninang umaga sa jeep. kanina, may kundoktor ang jeep na sinasakyan ko at pagkabilang ng baryang iniabot ko, tumingin lang sya sa akin pero hindi na sumingil ng singkwenta sentimos. ganun pala yun. kahiyaan na lang. kung ang mga pasahero ay nahihiyang humingi ng singkwenta sentimos na sukli, may mga drayber din na nahihiyang humingi ng singkwenta sentimos na kulang na bayad sa pamasahe.

may ilang tsuper na malakas ang loob: nasa dulo ka ng jeep sa likuran at isisigaw nya: "kulang ka pa ng singkwenta!" sa ganung pagkakataon, may tip ako sa inyo: abutan mo ng limang daang pisong buo at sabihin mong wala ka nang barya. tignan ko lang kung kunin pa nya ang singkwenta sentimos mo na kung sila naman ang magkulang ay walang hiya-hiya na hindi na magsukli pa.

* * *

mabuti na lamang at inilipat ng kundoktor ng bus ang channel ng TV na pinapanood namin kanina. mula sa dos ay inilipat nito ang channel sa syete at napanood ko tuloy ang ilang bahagi ng Unang Hirit, isa sa mga pinakapabotiro kong TV show. hindi tuloy ako nainip sa trapik.

naaliw lang ako sa segment ni Regine Tolentino na kung saan sya ay nasa ice skating rink ng SM Megamall. May feature sya doon, yung mga ice skating champs. napangiti tuloy ako at parang gusto kong dumaan muna sana bago ako pumasok sa opisina. malapit lang naman ang trabaho ko doon, pero syempre, hindi ko na tinuloy ang pagpunta dun.

maya-maya, pinakita naman ang feature segment ni Eagle at mas naaliw ako sapagkat nasa Pampanga sya. at hindi lamang basta dun. nasa bayan mismo sya ng Minalin--- bayan ng aking mga ninuno, bayan kung saan ako nagbinata. halos naka zoom-in lang sa mga tao at pagkain yung frame ng camera kaya hindi ko maapuhap kung saang eksaktong lugar sila naroon. isa lang ang napuna ko na talagang hindi maipagkakailang iyon nga ang Minalin: maraming langaw.

* * *

para sa mga nagtataka kung bakit hindi ako nangiwing ikwento at ilagay dito na malangaw sa Minalin ay sapagkat iyon ang katotohanan. Ang bayan namin na yan kase ay tahanan ng mga negosyanteng may mga pag-aari ng poultry. Noong panahon pa nga namin ay marami ring babuyan doon at ang lagusan / daluyan ng mga dumi nito ay marahil nabarahan na lamang sa mga plasdan bunga noong pumutok ang bulkang pinatubo na naging sanhi ng pagdaloy ng lahar, at pagkakalugmok ng Minalin sa mga pagbaha.

Monday blues

i'm glad this day's almost ending, well, at least i'm talking about office day. i was greeted with an SMS from my partner that her kid still needed to be attended to in the hospital. well, i wish everything will be fine after her kid was confined. as many would say, get well soon! It left me thinking of the work i have to do all day. Then i have to think of how to maximize my savings, knowing that i have to pay for my parking the whole day, while also burning fuel from home to office and vice versa. then i have to think of re-scheduling my appointment with the "business" i am trying to start, and i still have to think of my re-application of a visitors visa to CA. whew! then people from there has to call me to let me know they're all together having fun eating and singing and socializing with each other. then the question should come: "When are you coming back here?"

hah...

we are currently experiencing thunderstorms outside and i just hope that streets won't be (flash)flooded. i need to escape heavy traffic around this area cuz i need to catch up with our choir practice tonight.

lastly, i'm not feeling well again. not that i'm sick but i'm just not feeling well.

...probably i just miss Kengs presence. :(

mag-business tayo!

MALIGAYANG ANIBERSARYO NG LUNSOD QUEZON! Sa lunsod na ito ako ipinanganak at nagkamalay, unang nanirahan at nakapag-aral, narito rin sa nasabing lunsod ang tahanan namin, kasama ang mga kamag-anak at mga pinsan na naging kababata at matalik na kaibigan hanggang sa aming mga paglaki. Kahit gaano man kasikip at kaingay sa dati naming tuluyan sa kalye ng K-6th, Kamuning, hinding-hindi ako magsasawang balik-balikan ito kasabay ng mga panahong lumipas sa aking kabataan.

At dahil hindi na kami nakatira sa lugar na sakop ng lunsod Quezon, maging ang lugar na pinagta-trabahuhan ko, hindi ko gaanong ramdam ang pagdiriwang ng lunsod ukol sa kaarawan nito ngayon. Isa lang ang napuna ko: maluwag ang daloy ng trapiko kaninang umaga.

* * *

i really am wanting to put up a business, whatever type of business (except "monkey" of course) that will support my monthly work income. i have found an opportunity to start up a small personal business from PinoyExchange dot com and it's about buying and selling boxer shorts. One thing that encouraged me to sell this item is that i'm a lover and user of boxer shorts myself (and i prefer them over briefs, LOL). So, when i can't sell them all, i'd just wear them! hahaha! seriously, these boxers come in two types: 100% pure cotton & polyester fabric with 8 designs to choose from. I saw the cotton made ones and they are Old Navy branded. (It's where KENG used to work). Anyone interested in supporting my small business may place their orders now. I'm selling them at Php120 each. However, if you are willing to treat me a cup of coffee, i'd just sell them to you at a hundred bucks each. :D

Also, i'm trying to help out jawee v. with her own business. she sells quality perfumes and colognes inspired by the various scent companies. i'd try to open this blogger for price inquiries and those MEN who are willing to purchase colognes or perfumes for them or for their special someone, they will get a free kiss from jawee v together with the perfume they're purchasing. :p

BILI NA KAYOOOOOO!!!!!!!

sucky reality

ever since i have worked here in the new company where i am at now, i considered it a BIG blessing for me. One, it gave me something to get busy with everyday; two, it offers a higher basic salary compared with all my previous jobs; three, the job offers a very good opportunity to work for a social cause; four, management understands my personal schedules very well; five, company management is family-oriented; six, schedule is flexible; seven, colleagues are great in terms of working relationship; eight, i get free internet access and eventually it cuts down my internet expense at home; nine, i get to be productive not only with my job description but also with other concerns that our office needs to accomplish; and ten, i get to use my officemates VOIP phone to call Keng long distance for free--- imagine how much saving it is giving me for all those long distance communication. Now, here's the sucky reality: My officemate and i just realized this morning that their downgraded VOIP plan doesn't offer unlimited calls to Canada any more, only to the US. That means, i have to pay up with all those calls i made eversince they downgraded their plan, and i have to save again for those long distance communication. Not that i am complaining in paying up for those long distance communication but thinking that Keng is not so used in logging on to the internet so we could just chat or email, i really need to save up again for my phone bills.

rainy days

> it's been raining since the past week, not only literally but speaking of it figuratively, it applies to my workload too. i just figured out that it's not healthy to blog here at the office for the following reasons: 1. you can't concentrate on what to post; 2. you always try to "sneak-in" between your pc windows; 3. phone rings every other minute; 4. your officemates tend to read what you are posting; 5. your officemates tend to copy and bookmark the url address of your blog. In other words, the workplace is not conducive to blogging.

> oh well, it's been almost a week since i fetched my good buddy Charlie from the airport. Tatay was just 59 years old. Too young to pass away, but nonetheless, we're happy that Tatay finished his course. Now, good ol' Charlie is busy attending to his wife, and their return to Toronto. I haven't had a long talk with him yet considering our schedules, and the things that we attend to everyday. But i'm sure he's A-OK!

> a week has gone by so fast. everything has gone by in a flash, and its almost weekend again. one thing is certain: i'm busy with things. what things, you may ask, church and work... and mom too. mom and dad are leaving for TO on the 20th. hmm... praying for their safe trip. i have to rush some padala for my loved ones there. have to keep my money for this specific payroll period.

> being a stone's throw away from our office building, i had been walking around SM Megamall almost everyday and one time, last Friday to be exact, PGMA was strolling around the same mall. Of course, her PSGs gave tight security, and media people are all over her. too much publicity or trying to regain her charisma to the people? Had she made her exit along St. Francis Avenue, she would have seen the three street kids sniffing rugby and asking for alms from passersby. She was once a DSWD secretary anyway, so it should have been more newsworthy if the media people covered what she could have done with those kids, on the spot. oh well...

> i need to unwind. and its so nice to see your girl friend with your nephew and niece altogether in one occasion. The photo (right) was emailed by my good friend Nimfa, and it was taken in Mississauga during our annual church gardening day. aaghh... i'm missing them more. :(
i got to talk to BK this morning and was asking her to email me her needs, or rather, her wants, so i could purchase them before mom and dad leave for TO. i was actually bugging her to go online, and even update her stagnant web page, but she insisted not to coz she's tired. or maybe simply too lazy to do so. whatever, i was just trying to be stubborn... cuz i miss her.

* * *

happy birthday to my dear friend Mariel who has been my confidant eversince we got to know each other, my hot choco buddy, and who has justified the meaning of the word "friend". :)

mid-week

i felt a bit sick since yesterday as my cold allergy triggered, but good thing i'm feeling much better today. i have promised myself to get my work done early today, even if our network printer continously wouldn't want to cooperate with us. i have done all i have to do by lunch time and now i'm taking a little time to talk to my blog again and shake off exhaustion. i just had a tuna bunwich, one nutty choco donut, and four strawberry-filled munchkin at Dunkin Donuts and i have met my cousin as he started working here in SMC, just near our office. Then i proceeded to pay our PLDT bill and buy another black ink cartridge for our printer, and finally got an application form from Globe Telecomm. hmmm... i'm smelling coffee...

* * *

miss ku nala ri apu ku. tawli kung minuli inyang birthday ng apu kung tinu, anyang june pa. bali, double celebration ning birthday na ampo i tata ku. aganaka ku pa anyang meko kaming ma ku, kikyak ya kasi sabi ku muli na kaming maranun. munta ke pa sana ketang bale ng tita ku San Fernando oneng sabi ku ali na kami tuki. syempre, malungkut ya saka lalawen-lawen ku i tata ku, aliwa ya kilus. ali ya kalupa ning dati. ayalata mung mikiproblema lang dara ku. eku buri ing malilyari karela peru ing balu kung hustung gawan, yang i-insist ku kang ma ku. mas makasalese ya kaya iyta. ala na kung pakialam kang tata ku nung buri na pa kekami.

* * *

going to fetch my good buddy Charlie:

Place: NAIA
Date: August 4, 2005
Time: 11:15PM
Flight #: CX 905

then, we're heading straight to Cavite.

inBUSYble mode

i left home for work around seven a.m. and heavy traffic caused me to arrive in the office at around eight forty a.m. that's a long one hour and forty minutes journey, which normally would just take about fifteen minutes if it is a Saturday, a Sunday or a holiday.

i was expecting a heavy load of work today and i wasn't wrong with my expectations. add the fact that our network printer is having problems so it added to the delay of our operations. i'm feeling "offline" today. good thing though, i was able to talk to BK early this morning and it somehow made me feel better.

anyway, on my way to work today, espie informed me thru text that charlie's Tatay passed away. the latter had a heart attack last Sunday. this made Charlie re-arrange his plans and schedule and try to go back here in Manila this week. if schedules remain as abruptly planned, i'll be fetching him at NAIA on thursday night and we'll be going straight to Cavite.
Tatay is a head deacon and i got the chance to meet him and charlie's family last new year's eve. truly, nobody knows when his or her time will come. today you might be happy and smiling, tomorrow you might be in your grave lying. this only proves one thing: death comes to everyone, and with this fact, you must be prepared for it.

condolence to my dear brother Charlie.

blogger "comments" vs haloscan "shout out"

it's August 1st. for the past three years, this has been a "transition" month for me. lemme enumerate:

> August 2002 - resigned in EPCI & went to Sauga
> August 2003 - resigned in SUN & went back to Sauga
> August 2004 - went back to Manila and looked for a temporary job
> August 2005 - currently working for a purposely-built company, until permanent things come & happen.

hmmm... sounds very unstable. @ 29, i feel like going back to the years i've gone through and review what happened each year, and evaluate how "far" i've gone in this life of mine. then ponder more about where i'm heading at... sometimes, i just honestly feel that i've kinda "lost" some precious years of my life and that i must have done things earlier. with this, i always crave for a company--- someone i can talk to over a cup of coffee: a confidant, an adviser, a friend, or even just someone who'll serve as an ear to my life's stories... my next chapter.

When one sees me, i don't project these thoughts i'm currently writing. my age is old but my heart is young. i reflect a happy life since i finished my degree in college, and promised to be more positive in most things, if not all things in life. i try my best to fit with people younger than me. i don't care if they address me as their kuya, i even like it when they call me as such. for me it is more than just an address of age seniority--- it is more of a "responsible title". Being a kuya is more than responsibility. it is more than giving out and showing examples to the younger ones, teaching them, advising them, and trying to understand them through lifes experiences. then i also have to understand much younger kids. these kids were entrusted to me by their parents so i have to do my best in nurturing them the values they have to learn and grow up with. with these, i have learned to be extra cautious with my way of living. it is actually making me a more matured person when it comes to responsibility.
one thing i treasure most in life is friendship. however long you haven't seen each other, however short the time you have just known each other, true friends are there--- they may not be there physically everyday, but they will surely be there whenever you need them most. you may forget each other in some instances in your life, but they always will remember you at the time you least expect them. these are the "treasures" worth keeping in your lifetime.

nature. it's the best place where i can be when i try to reflect on my life. just the breeze of the wind, the sight of the tranquil sea, the beautiful sight of sunset or sunrise trying to cross the blue skies, plants and trees giving life to the land, quiet mountains... these are all Gods creation... and they are beautiful.

* * *

today will be the last day for Haloscan's "Shout Out" (voice out) service in my blog. I'm replacing it with Blogger's "Comments". Thanks for your continued journey with my stories next chapter. ;)

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[photos taken in Mayagay, Rizal, July 16, 2005]