This month of July has been absolutely... ohhh, what’s the word?!
Ghastly? Well, maybe not that negative.
Unexpected? I did know it was coming.
Overwhelming? Yes, yes, that sounds more like it.
Well it started off at my old office, where I successfully stunned everyone with the prospect of my leaving the company after almost 5 years of service. Of course no one knew of the complete story as to why I was leaving. I just summed it up as "an opportunity presenting itself".
I got asked to rethink my decision, but my mind was more or less already made up. I did think about the situation, though. But more than rethinking my decision to move, I just found myself thinking if there was any reason not to.
Of course, no one seemed to take my plan to move seriously. No one wanted to receive all the work I was turning over, and everyone who thought they were my bosses were still trying to dump more work and new projects onto my lap, seemingly oblivious of the fact that I was soon leaving. Was I flattered that they weren’t letting me go that easily? Not really. More like it was starting to piss me off.
July 15th, I woke up and went through my usual routine, but this time taking a different route to a different place. I prepared myself for a new life. New people... well, not really new... these are people I’ve been able to work with since last year. A new place... I was to become an avid MRTer, and an official Makati boy. A new job... definitely. I had no idea what to expect.
Getting there to spend my first official day was amazing. I already had a desk waiting, a laptop, and even business cards. It seemed like they had sealed my fate already, but I was cool with it. But I sort of noticed that the heavens were taunting me.
Certainly, I knew it was going to be a longer journey to Makati than Ortigas. But with the rain and all, it was like all the pros and cons of moving were presenting themselves to me early on. But for my first three days, I’ve been able to survive. I’ve been braving the jungle of people on the MRT every morning, battling the elements successfully with my health intact.
I still get to work early, aiming to maximize the morning person in me. The rest of the day is usually spent behind a desk writing, my fingers and my brain going through their paces. Thursday afternoon, though, I found myself attending to some official business in the Manila area for a change. I was game.
For lunches, I still bring ulam from home, and just buy rice at the canteen... basically just like before. Difference now is that almost everyone eats around the dining table at the office... aww... parang family. I can’t always relate to topics at the table though, which touch everything from movies and restaurants, to nightlife and alcohol. But hey, it wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t aloof, right? So bring it on!
Physically, work is still tiring... more because of it being a longer trip to and from. But it’s been tolerable. I know my body is pooped, but I find that my mind and my spirit are alive and kicking.
I even managed to attend a blogger birthday bash Friday night after work, despite just claiming it was tiring. I didn’t even have to force myself to go! Of course, I again was my old aloof self, and still managed to leave an imprint of my ass on the couch. Woohoo! I was still up and about at midnight, no thanks of course to my ARVs, and that one glass of vodka I mistakenly downed thinking it was an innocent glass of soda. Happy birthday, by the way, to OdinHood, WanderingCommuter and ToiletThoughts!
Saturday was spent grocery shopping, as usual, and just lazing around and recharging, while on Sunday, I managed to squeeze in lunch in Megamall with a new fellow-pozzie friend. I’ve really been unusually busy, huh?
It’s Monday again tomorrow – back to work – but I’m not exactly dreading going to work. That’s a good sign. So gotta go beddy-bye in a bit.
So there, that’s been my past week... and my month so far. Like I said, overwhelming. The month is far from over, but I do expect the rest of it to follow suit. Oh-my-gulay July!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
My Oh-My-Gulay July
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Rewarded
It was Thursday, and I’d just gotten home from work. I headed straight for my room as usual, but was surprised to find an envelope on my little desk. Hmm, I got mail? Not a very common occurrence. Just from the envelope, I sort of had an idea of what it was. And I was surprised. And excited.
Welcome to a privileged lifestyle! it said on the envelope. We find ways. O... M... G... it’s something from BDO!
It was a BDO Rewards card! I admit, I’m an SM loyalist, along with its affiliates which include BDO of course. I have been one ever since I was a child. Back in the day, I even had what I think was called a Junior Saver’s Account. In fact, I started so early with them that I needed to reopen my account because I could no longer mimic my childhood writing signature. So apparently, they’ve now decided to reward me for my loyalty.
I must admit that during the initial stages with this HIV thing, I did fall into the mentality that I should not make any major investments because of the perceived uncertainty of my future. But then, I’ve always been like that. I do want a lot of things, but it takes a real need before I buy things. I don’t shop a lot. I hate shopping. I’m not rich either. But I live within my means.
What I am able to do though because of this, is put aside a part of what I make into my savings account with BDO. Despite having to pay bills and spend on daily living, I still try to put aside around half of what I make every month. So, I do believe they’ve noticed the movements in that savings account, and that’s what prompted them to think of me as a potential Rewardee.
This HIV thing has also been more than enough inspiration to put aside for in-case-of-emergency moments. I just think of it as taking responsibility for myself. A lifeline, so to speak. Just in case. And along with this BDO Rewards thingy, came exactly that, a Lifeline. The Lifeline Rescue Program, that is.
With the coverage of SM’s Lifeline Rescue Program, P150.00 assures me of a quick connection to Lifeline Rescue’s medical emergency hotline for a whole year. As a Reward, I save P850.00 from the regular rate of P1,000.00. Not bad, diba?
This covers free ambulance service during medical emergencies. The membership provides free access to Lifeline’s medical emergency quick response service, but covers only from the time a member calls for an ambulance until proper endorsement to the emergency room of the receiving hospital. At least you stand a better chance, right?
Quick-response services are available within the Greater Metro Manila Area, including Antipolo, Cainta and Taytay in Rizal, Bacoor in Cavite, Meycauayan, Obando and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, and San Pedro in Laguna. More than enough, I think.
The membership also covers around-the-clock phone consultations during medical emergencies. You also get free use of ambulance equipment and medicines... aba, dapat lang.
Though membership is non-transferable, I actually noticed that the form I filled up had several more spaces available for other names or beneficiaries if needed. My mom already had her own so I didn’t need to include her in mine. Now that I’ve paid, all I need to do is wait for and fill up the membership enrollment form which they’ll be sending.
Sooooo, friendly friends, if something bad happens to me... knock on wood... call Lifeline Rescue Services’ hotline at 16-911. Other hotline numbers are 839-2520 to 30.
Pusit or not, maybe you wanna get something like this for yourself, too? For me, it’s just one thing less I need to worry about. At least for a year. Now that’s a reward in itself.
Monday, May 04, 2009
I Hate Surprises
The weekend was crazy. Crazy! Absolutely crazy!
I had gotten a text from one of my BFFs, JohnStanley, last week. Hey, clear your Sunday night, akin na yun, ha. Bawal tumanggi. =) First of all, it wasn’t like I had any excuse, or any other plans really. Second, I liked things being planned ahead, so this was great. And lastly, just the way that it was said was such a turn on for the submissive like me. I could have easily answered, Yes, master! or Take me! Take me! Oi... I need a life, don’t I?
What’s there is? Anong meron? I replied. Wala lang, dinner with friends, was what I got back. Hmm, okay. I assumed it was because of JohnStanley’s recent birthday. With my One Fine Day entries fresh in mind, I was told I could bring L if I wanted to. Hahaha. If only he was in town, I would. I asked if he could invite my other BFF instead, RubyPurple. He said he would indeed like to meet his fellow zoomie. Great.
It was really turning out to be a perfect weekend already, as my mom had gone out of town for an aunt’s funeral, and I was lucky enough to weasel my way out of it. So I was left home alone most of the long weekend to enjoy my silence and solitude.
Arriving promptly at our meeting place, zoom-zoom was already waiting out front. I hopped into the back as he introduced me to his friend in the passenger seat. I remember him saying something about a surprise. Surprise?! Panic. He had to be kidding, right? JohnStanley asked me who else I was expecting to see there. I really had no idea, nor given it any thought. He let slip that RubyPurple had confirmed. Hmm, come to think of it, she never told me she was going. So was that the surprise?
It was a short drive to Eastwood as we badgered each other about our respective emo moments lately. With most of what’s been happening already laid out in this blog, there wasn’t much to tell. Getting there before 7:00 pm, RubyPurple was already inside. Introductions all around, catching up ensued. Shortly, TristanTales and TurismoBoi arrived. Oddly enough, TristanTales greeted me with a Happy Birthday, which was followed by a scolding from JohnStanley for ruining the surprise. Ngarrr. What was this about?
Have I told you how I hate surprises? I pride myself for my composure and my poise, and not knowing what’s going to happen exposes me to the risk of losing them. Ngarrr.
Dinner was a fiesta of sisig, pata and inihaw na... Gasp!... pusit. Hahaha, of course, JohnStanley could not let that joke pass. Fine, fine. But throughout, we hardly fell silent, as we talked about everything from worklife, familylife, lovelife, bloglife, sexlife, nightlife, plantlife and anything-else-life in between. Finally, the real gal in the group got a whiff of how discreet guys are together. Yes, I’m talking about RubyPurple. And she certainly kept up. I hope she wasn’t traumatized too badly. Hehehe.
At one point after dinner, I did notice RubyPurple call a waitress and whisper something to her. I brushed it off, but shortly found out. With a cake in hand and candle lit, I saw all the waiters and waitresses, if I’m not mistaken, coming up the flight of stairs. You know how restos like this have the habit of making a scene when it’s a customer’s birthday? It was not my place to assume, but I was terrified. I tried to look around for who it was, but it was too late. They stopped at our table and laid the cake out in front of me. Happy Birthday, ______, I read on the cake.
Throughout their bad song, I don’t know what kind of face exactly I had on. I wanted to faint. I wanted to cry. I was trying to smile. I was in panic. I may have blushed, if I’m capable of that. I could've done a Hatton, even. But I tried hard to can my emotions and keep my composure. I knew how bad it was when, probably because of nerves, I dropped one of my pills as I was about to drink my ARVs. Good thing I didn’t drop it into the icing on the cake.
Ngarrr. Connivance. Conspiracy. No wonder RubyPurple just happened to ask me some days before what my favorite cake was. And I had said chocolate mousse, indeed. Asked to make a wish before blowing the candle out, I was dumbfounded again. I think my mind stopped several minutes before. I just said Thank You in my head. That’s all I came up with, as I snuffed the flame out. This evening was already more than I could wish for.
I’d never ever... ever... had a surprise birthday celebration in my life. Ever. And to think these people thought I was worthy of one was extremely, extremely touching. After we went our separate ways thanks to our zoomies, I reached home shortly before midnight. Finally alone, I just needed a minute to just sit down and space out. And all the canned emotions just broke loose. I sobbed like a child.
I was touched. I was honored. I was flattered. I appreciated the effort they took to put this thing together.
Thank you RubyPurple, JohnStanley, TristanTales, TurismoBoi, and new guy. Thank you for the friendship. Thank you for the advanced birthday surprise. Thank you for the cake. Thank you for the gift. And thanks to the Po-Po-Po-Poker Faces they’ve been hiding behind all this time, I now baptize RubyPurple and JohnStanley respectively as Lady Gaga and... hmm, Boy Gago? Hehehe.
I still hate surprises. Please don’t do that again. Ngarrr. But, THANK YOU.
