Sari-Saring Kwento

that all happened in one day.

CAUTION: This is a long entry so read only when you have the patience to do so. Reader is also adviced to read by section to avoid getting drowned by so much words.


The Encounter

Kahapon, pina-attend ako ng boss ko sa MORES General Meeting sa Discovery Suites. MORES is an organization of marketing research professionals in the Philippines. I was with a market research agency before ako lumipat sa Starcom. Therefore, I already expected na a-attend sa MORES meeting yung former boss ko. If you have read my entry last January, you would have an idea about my experience when I left my previous company. So before going to the meeting, iniisip ko na kung paano magiging interaction namin ng dati kong boss. Civil lang ba or somewhat like before na kwentuhan, kamustahan. Buti na lang a-attend si Steph, yung dati kong senior sa previous company na lumipat na rin ng ibang company. I wouldn't have to deal with the situation alone, very uncomfortably.

So I arrived at the venue and unfortunately wala pa si Steph. While waiting for and texting her, I got a glimpse of my former boss. And so the uncomfortable feeling came rushing in. In my mind, kapag nagka-interact kami ni former boss, hindi ko alam paano magre-react. Thank God dumating na si Steph at na-spot-an niya agad si former boss and waived at her. My former boss waived back and when she saw me, nag-smile naman siya. The awkward feeling subsided a bit until Steph asked me na mag-join sa table where GAR was sitting. So we joined her and started some small talk. GAR asked how I'm doing. I somehow felt relief. Wala ng tension between us like the one that took place on my last day at her company. Though we weren't able to talk that much (dahil ang medyo malaki yung spaces between the chairs at ayoko naman sumigaw ), I was thankful na naging okay na din kami kahit papaano. Siguro hindi na kagaya before yung relationship namin but honestly, I still hold her in high respect as a mentor. Na-realize ko, I already need to let go of the hard feelings left in my heart. And I'm already prepared to do it. Hope she feels the same way also.

So now, I can already freely express myself and tell about my previous work experience without a tinge of anger or pain in my heart. That's what I've always been looking forward to. At least, it has already begun.


The "Critic"

After the meeting, I was having a very difficult time hailing a taxi along ADB going back to the office. After several failed attempts, I was able to convince one taxi driver to bring me to Makati. Pag sakay ko sa taxi:

Manong Driver (in his 60s, habang dahan-dahang lumalakad yung taxi): Ay, miss, kakagaling ko lang ng Makati eh. Naghatid na ko dito sa Ortigas, dito na lang sana ako mag-iikot. Dagdagan nyo na lang [yung pamasahe], pabalik-balik na kasi ako saka ma-traffic sa Makati.
Ako (cool naman though sobrang init sa taxi nya): Balik na lang ho ulit kayo dun. Ganun ho talaga, nagta-taxi tayo eh, so kailangan ihatid talaga natin yung pasahero sa pupuntahan nila.

Hindi naman ako pinababa ni Manong Driver though I know na nage-expect pa din siya ng dagdag sa bayad. As we go along the heavy traffic in San Miguel Ave, nag-salita ulit si Manong Driver.

Manong Driver: Makaluma yung tugtog ko MIss ha, okay lang ba?
Ako: Sige, Manong, okay lang. (Sa isip-isip ko, kung Frank Sinatra keri pa, kaso kundiman eh. hehe!)
Manong Driver: Magaganda yung mga kanta noong araw, hindi kagaya ngayon. Maiingay tapos kung ano-ano pa mga lyrics.
Ako: Hehe! (Hindi ako komportable makipag-usap nung time na yun)
Manong Driver: Masarap pakinggan yung mga ganyang tugtog. Ayoko makinig ng mga debate, mga balita ngayon. Nakakasira ba ng araw. Noong araw mas lalong masarap makinig ng kanyang tugtog lalo na may pangkain ka. Eh ngayon, naku. (Sabay iling si Manong).
Ako: May probinsya ho ba kayo?
Manong Driver: Matagal na ko dito sa Maynila nakatira pero taga-Ilocos Norte ako, sa bayan ni Marcos. I worked in the government noong araw, under the Marcos administration. (Aba, at nag-English si Manong!). There was no corrupt during that time. (Aba, English talaga ito!). If there is a froject (ay, sablay!), all the money will go to the froject (inulit pa!). No forsiyento, forsiyento! (sige lang, Manong!)... blah, blah, blah... (He was actually trying to build up the Marcos administration, saying good things about the government that time). You will not corrupt because of ashame (hay naku, hindi ko na inintindi pagi-Ingles niya, inintindi ko na lang yung message niya). Hindi tulad ngayon, puro corrupt! Pag may froject, may porsiyento si ganito, may porsiyento si ganyan.
Ako: Ah oho, may mga lagay-lagay. Hindi lang naman ho sa gobyerno nangyayari yan eh, kahit sa private sector, sa mga corporation. Kahit nga ho ordinaryong tao gumagawa na rin ng ganyan, mga lagay-lagay (I was actually pertaining to his paghingi ng lagay earlier).

Tuloy pa rin si Manong sa kanyang talumpati kung gaano kahusay at kaganda ang gobyerno ni Marcos. Habang nags-speech si Manong, I just threw some questions related to the Marcos administration just to know his disposition about these. Mahaba-haba din ang arguments na baluktot ni Manong Driver. Basta, para sa kanya, magaling na presidente si Marcos, hindi siya corrupt, wala siyang ginawang violations.

We were talking about this all throughout my taxi ride at nung malapit na ko bumaba, we both concluded that in any kind of service, whether in the government or not, we all should practice honesty. Ayun, sana na-realize niya ang pagiging corrupt niya nang hingan niya ko ng dagdag sa bayad.

There's nothing wrong about criticizing -- be it the government or any other entity or individual for that matter. We have the right to, in the first place. We're living in a democratic country where people have the right and freedom to express their opinions. My disappointment though goes to those people who are mere blabbers about the undeniably rampant corruption in the country but they themselves live that kind of life -- like the taxi driver who fearlessly expresses with conviction his political opinion about corruption but asks me to pay beyond what I am supposed to pay him.

Nung bumaba ako sa taxi, I paid him the exact amount: P112.50. Akala ko magre-reklamo siya. Dahil once na hanapin niya yung dagdag, sasabihin ko sa kanya: "Manong, wag na kayo mag-reklamo tungkol sa corruption sa gobyerno, wala naman kayo pinagkaiba sa mga bulok na corrupt dun." Sabay bagsak sa pinto taxi.


The "Impatient"

On a lighter side, I met up with Joey and his brother Carlo in Megamall after office to shop for some sale items at the start of the three-day sale. Carlo went around while Joey and I hopped from one store to another. We first looked for Joey's polo at Memo and after getting what we think is a good one for him, I dragged him to the women's stores. I was supposed to get a pair of low-priced, chic Celine shoes but they didn't fit comfortably on my feet. We went to VNC but I didn't find a good-buy pair of shoes. I just decided to go to Kamiseta and started to unearth amongst the heaped clothes in each table a cute but definitely cheap top.

In the middle of Joey's impatience, I was able to grab a brown, laced sleeveless top that fits me well. I hurriedly bought the blouse for P240. Hihi! I lurve it! Cute!

We looked for Carlo afterwards as we were already done with our shopping and we already had to go home. We then passed by the Mizuno outlet and I just scouted for a cross-training/running shoes which I wanted to use for jogging. I looked at each shoes and asked Joey's comments on their look. And when I handed one pair to take a closer look at it, the impatient boyfriend of mine grabbed my other hand and slowly pulled me towards the store's exit. You really love me so much baby, huh?

That's why, I can say, I get my best shopping experience alone. Away from getting pressured by my boyfriend who easily gets bored when I'm in the midst of an eager search for a perfect blouse. I have the liberty to rome around, move from shop to shop without a "timer ticking". Nevertheless, I still enjoy shopping with you, baby. I think it's the quality of time we spend going around while cracking corny and silly jokes and laughing together that makes the shopping experience enjoyable (eventhough I'm not able to concentrate on choosing ). Also, I like it when you give me that big grin signalling that your patience has already reached its limit...hehe!


The Cranberries

Tsk, tsk. Hindi sana ako nagta-tiyaga sa paputol-putol na pag-download ng Cranberries songs sa multiply kung hindi mo kinalimutan yung CD na pina-burn ko...huhu! Don't forget Plumb! Labyu! hihi!

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