There's Something About Mondays

     Woke up late, left home late, traffic at Coastal was bad, arrived in the office later than usual -- hence today's lunchtime blog.



     There really is just something about Mondays, I don't know what. It lacks the frantic energy of Fridays, the excitement and anticipation of mid-week Wednesdays, even ordinary Tuesdays and Thursdays are better. Everything sad, boring or unlucky seems to happen on a Monday. Things like being stuck in traffic, breaking your heel, not doing anything which then makes you uncontrollably sleepy, or having someone in the office play Disney Movie themes all morning (I somehow enjoy it though; at least I hear something other than the rapid clicking of keyboards). Darn.



     On the lighter side of things... what is the lighter side of things?



     Oh! Today is my parents' 24th year ammiversary. :) Amazing, huh? :) In the day of divorces and irreconcilable differences, isn't it great to know that at least there are still some couples who manage to survive? Don't get me wrong, Mama and Papa have had their fair share of big fights and all... But I am thankful that despite us kids being grown up already, slowly building our own lives and moving towards independence, my parents still find reasons to stay together everyday.



     When I decide who that someone is whom I'll spend my forever with, I can only pray that we'll be half as happy as my parents.



     Some more random thoughts...

• I sooo want to eat at A Veneto.



• I know a lot of Disney Songs by heart! (Surprising realization of the day.)



• Inauguration na pala on Wednesday... di ba yun non-working holiday? :)



• Drove the Altis to work today. Still breaking it in. Miss my CR-V. *sigh*



• Saw Jolina Magdangal try to sing Kelis' MILKSHAKE while dancing it too. She failed. Miserably.



• Janice de Belen's tube dress from yesterday's S Files was horrible. Plain horrible.



• Alicia Keys ♥ Usher --> music industry's new big-time love team. Move over, Beyonce ♥ Jay-Z.



• One elevator in PBCOM isn't working. Lalang.



• I want a new cellphone.



• Andami kong random thoughts. Haha.

Thanks, Baby. [In Memoriam: XAN-103]

     Today, I said goodbye to a dear friend, to a helping hand that was always there, to a loyal companion ready to take on any adventure with me... Today, I said goodbye to my baby, my CR-V.



     To most people this may seem weird, being so attached to a vehicle. But my CR-V was more than just that to me... It took me home safely everytime for the past year, and if only for that, I can say that she has treated me well.



     The CR-V is my third car; but unlike the two before it, I had begged and pleaded to my parents for over a month until they finally decided to give it to me. In other words, it was the only car I ever really wanted, that's why it had meant so much to me. But for practical reasons, the CR-V had to go... It was becoming older by the year (we all know vehicles are depreciating assets), and it was no longer wise for me to bring it to the office everyday because as a 4x4, it gulps down gas by the gallon. Another year with it would have been impractical and costly.



     Of course, it was not easy to say goodbye. I have had many memories with my CR-V. I survived my last year in college with her help. Looking back I really feel that my CR-V always did take care of me. I can remember so many memories with my car, and it only makes me miss her even more, like when...

     ...I drove it to UP Diliman for the first time.

     ...we went to a rally at the Senate and I had 11 passengers.

     ...it brought me to Libis every night for a whole week during Show*Off rehearsals.

     ...I took my whole family to PICC during graduation.

     ...it was towed and I had to leave in the middle of thesis class to fetch it -- with, of course, a fee of P1,500.

     ...I was flagged down in EDSA for crossing the yellow line.

     ...I had cried inside the car right after thesis defense, out of exhaustion.

     ...I had cried inside the car when I was depressed during my first week at work.

     ...we brought it to Subic only last summer.

     ...all the lolas were riding it, and we were just plain having a good time.

     Numerous other memories come to mind but it all boils down to the fact that my CR-V had become a very important part of my life, making me feel secure wherever I may be because I know there will always be a way to go home, alive and safe.



     My CR-V's new owner is very much like me; it will be given as a gift to another daughter from her father. And I know being the trusty vehicle, friend and comapnion that she is, she'll take care of her new owner just like she took care of me.



     Like they say about good friends and first loves, I know that my CR-V will never be forgotten. I will always have a memory of how good it felt to drive it, to just be inside it, to just be near it.



     People fall in love and get attached to many things. For me, it was my car. So for what it's worth... Goodbye baby, and thanks. I owe you so much.

Thoughts on a Rainy Friday

     It was a rainy, gloomy Friday as I made my way to the office today. As I fetched my morning dose of Mochachino (from the office vendo, of course) the large windows in the pantry were fogged up, and I could only see so far into the nearby Makati buildings. The rain continued to pour and the traffic was swelling, which is perhaps also the reason why there are so few people in the office at this time.



     Looking back a couple of posts ago (In Restrospective), among these things:

Tomorrow I will...

1. eat crispy pata at Max's!!!

2. wake up early -- again.

3. drink free Mochachino from the office vendo. :)

4. celebrate something. :)

I realized that the only thing I was able to do yesterday was wake up early. Ironically, none of these plans materialized. I was able to eat crispy pata, though not the way and not with the person I originally planned to have it with. Even my favorite office-vendo-Mochachino was missing that day! Of course, it was because I did buy a Coffee Jelly Frappucino from Starbucks – an indulgence, I admit! Oh well. I deserved it. (Yeah, I did. Haha.)



     It’s the end of the week once again. Time seems to fly so fast nowadays. I remember last night, I told papa how I felt like I spent so little time at home nowadays. “Naghahabol ng oras,” I believe, were my exact words. I never seem to have time to even check my personal mail, surf the Net for leisure, watch my favorite TV shows, or read a book. All of a sudden it’s 11:00pm and I have to sleep, lest I wake up late the next day. Whew. This work thing is taking a lot of getting used to.



     On the brighter side of things, of course I still thank God it’s Friday! I have two whole days to do all the stuff I want to do, two whole days to spend with my family (specially Tata who I miss so much), two whole days before I have to repeat the vicous cycle I call my work week. But really, I’m also looking forward to the 30th – coz it’s my first salary! Woohoo!



     Work is tough, but at least it pays off (literally). ü

Reflections on the Presidency

     I don’t think I have ever blogged this early! Unless of course you count my midnight-slash-dawn blogs back when I was masquerading as a student and when staying up as late (or early?) as 3am was totally permissible. I am actually already in the office because I had to commute (gasp!) today, and I am braving the watchful eye of our IT department by sneaking in a post. Haha.



     Onto heavier stuff. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was proclaimed today, and is officially given a fresh mandate of six years to either slay or save this nation. We have seen how divided our nation is in terms of political beliefs. I together with all who voted for Pres. Arroyo can finally breathe a sigh of relief, but I understand how difficult it would be for the opposition, specially the supporters and voters of Fernando Poe, Jr. to accept this proclamation.



     It’s funny how they say that in Philippine Elections, there are only two candidates: the winner (ang panalo) and the cheated (ang dinaya). Is this really how sore we Filipinos are as losers?



     I remember how I ran for the presidency of my academic org back in 4th year college, and how I had cried foul after my opponent’s proclamation. Looking back, I still maintain my stand that we could have had a better electoral process. But in terms of claiming that I was the rightful president, I have stopped doing so long ago. I had seen how it was futile to do so; after all, I had won to an equally credible opponent, and I believed had fought for my right to the best of my ability. I still carry my what-if’s regarding that presidency, but for the most part, I have merely charged it to experience.



     In a democratic process, there is a winner and there is a loser. Perhaps there was cheating or perhaps it was clean as a whistle. All the same, it is painful to lose, all the more in nationwide elections because so much effort and resources were put into the job. Thus if you are on the losing end, to be saddened by the results is totally natural; you are even allowed to sour-grape and bad-mouth to a certain extent, because everyone understands how much a candidate has invested in a campaign. But one day this will have to stop, and the desire to have a peaceful, progressive nation should prevail.



     We have all had our share of losses, and I am sure that to a certain level we can empathize with FPJ, Ping, Roco and Villanueva. But we have a new president now, and as soon as GMA commences her task of leading and healing this divided nation, our duties as responsible citizens to support and trust a single president likewise begins.



     Sa totoo lang, ano nga ba ang pinagkaiba ni GMA kay FPJ? Pareho naman silang Pilipino. Pareho lang din nilang nais isalba ang ating bansa. Fundamentally, they are equals… people with the same goals, the same aspirations, the same dreams for this country – let’s not complicate it too much. It is a tough job, the presidency, and somebody’s got to do it – this time, it’s GMA.



     We have chosen, we have voted… and now, it’s just about time to get on with our lives.

In Retrospective

     This is a survey from what we now know as the new "survey factory" -- what else but Friendster.

10 Years Ago, I...

1. was only a decade old.

2. became a big sister.

3. was studying in Elizabeth Seton.

4. did not know how to drive.

5 Years Ago, I...

1. spent the last of "the best years oy my life" -- high school @SPCP.

2. met a very special person.

3. went to Baguio for the first time.

4. did not know i would be here answering this survey today.

3 Years Ago, I...

1. entered college.

2. attended an "orientation" for a sorority.

3. was Sabayang Pagbigkas coach for the first time.

4. had the worst interview of my life.

A Year Ago, I...

1. was working on my thesis.

2. was contemplating about today, wondering what I'd be doing.

3. enjoyed the company of my blockmates. How I miss them.

4. lost the Orcomsoc elections.

This Year, I...

1. graduated!

2. had my room retiled.

3. had my first job.

4. went through major, very overwhelming changes.

Yesterday, I....

1. cried.

2. went to office on public transportation!

3. checked my e-mail.

4. slept early.

Today, I ....

1. wore long sleeves.

2. purposefully almost bumped a jeepney.

3. enjoyed work.

4. made plans for tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will...

1. eat crispy pata at Max's!!!

2. wake up early -- again.

3. drink free Mochachino from the office vendo. :)

4. celebrate something. :)

50 First Floor

I work in the fifty-first floor of the tallest building in the Philippines. Our whole office has a commanding view of pretty much everything. Situated along Ayala Ave. in Makati, I can see as far as the Manila Bay, D. Macapagal, the airport... sometimes I like to think that I can even see my house in Las Pinas. :)



Tomorrow, wednesday, it would be a week since my first day as an employee. But to this day, I still feel overwhelmed, lost, confused, depressed, and then some.



I am presently a Management Trainee in a large, global company. According to the HR Manager, I together with two other trainees bested over 2,000 aspiring applicants to the international education program that they offer. The company provides above-industry compensation and benefits that anyone would be crazy not to enjoy. My colleagues are smart, ambitious, young and driven...



...so why, then, do i feel so alone?

Blubber

     While my parents were in the grocery this afternoon, I accompanied my sister to buy new shoes for P.E. class. Apparently, there was a new rule in school -- they had to wear only dominantly white rubber shoes or sneakers with their P.E. uniforms, and my sister claimed that this was to be strictly enforced.



     After purchasing the shoes, we proceeded to National Book Store. I had wanted to buy Dan Brown's Angels and Demons but the queue for the cashier was so long; it would not be worth it. As we headed back to the grocery to meet up with our parents, we passed by the Book Sale stall. The compulsive book-buyer in me was immediately drawn to the spot.



     I grabbed the latest issue of my favorite interior design magazine when I remembered this one book I had been looking for -- Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." As a kid, it had been one of the very few boooks outside of the Sweet Valley Series that I loved. Sadly, over the years, I lost my copy and has been unable to find one since forever.



     I rummaged through the piles and piles of second-hand books, searching for it, when I stumbled upon several books by Judy Blume placed one after the other. I felt almost sick with anticipation as I flipped through them. There was no "Are You There God..." but the next best one was there: Blubber.



     I was so excited to see this book that I had gone through five chapters even before purchasing it. When I got home, I couldn't take my mind off reading it.



     So now that I've told you the story, I'm going back to reading it. :)



     ...It's been so long since I last blogged. My writing skills have become so rusty. Yuck.