Maiba naman

I want to go on picnic! As in the good ol’ may-picnic-basket-giant-umbrella-at-banig style. La Mesa Eco Park, anyone? Who says you have to spend money for a gimik?

Picnic

Boating

Biking

Swimming Pool

Nature Trip

I have landed safely.

Currently contemplating to seriously stop blogging online and go back to my v. reliable journal, Toffie. For one, I don’t need to use an internet connection to write down my thoughts. Any time, anywhere. Second, I missed the nostalgia. Maybe I’ll start tomorrow.

So Long…

Anyway, it was my last day at IOM last Friday. I only stayed there for 4 months and 3 weeks and yet I felt like it molded me into a different person already. It was generally a humbling experience. My lunchdate with my boss last Thursday was really.. I dunno.. heartwarming. Everybody knew her as this v. fierce lady who can make your life like hell (at least that’s what other people were telling me, hence I tried to stay at her good side). But she’s really been nice to me all those times, and me, being the ever “mapang-dudang” person as I am, had always taken her niceness as “pakitang-tao lang“. But over that v. expensive lunch (her treat of course), she told me how people (and she assured me there were a lot of them) had been asking her, “bat mo siya pinayagang mag-resign? You should have upgraded her grade and step. You should have stopped her from leaving and assured her that there will a better internal opening soon.” But she said that as much as she doesn’t want me to leave the organization, she also knew that she shouldn’t stop me from doing something better for myself. As we both knew, UN system doesn’t work like other private companies. The bosses don’t have the power to promise a better future for their staff, financial and career wise. We were all contractual workers, all indispensable. In a flick of a finger, when the project ran out of budget, we can lose our jobs. So she’d been telling them, “Hindi ko siya pinigilang umalis dahil alam kong hindi naman siya aalis kung hindi yun mas makakabuti para sa kanya.” She trusted me that well that she believes in my wisdom of knowing a better opportunity when it comes. (So I really darn hope she’s right for believing that I have that kind of wisdom.)  She told me stories and good words of people about me. I almost wanted to cry with overjoy knowing that the aliping sagigilid like me in a v. prestigious organization like IOM can make that kind of impact to people whom I’ve worked with for less than 5 months.

So Friday came and I was going through my day with a v. mixed emotion. Happy that I’ve made good friends and knowing that what seems to be an insignificant job made a positive impact to my colleagues; and yet sad saying goodbye to the people I’ve used to worked with.

One staff even insisted on staying by my side each time he’s not busy because he said he’ll miss me. And that staff was known for being hot-headed and short-tempered towards those people who used to do my job. Even my boss was amazed on how we got closed.

One said, “mabait ka kasi eh.” But another staff disagreed, “kahit sino pwedeng maging mabait. Lahat tayo pwedeng maging palangiti. Pero yung work ethics mo. Yun yung hindi ko pa nakikita sa iba. Yun yung hahanapin ko sa mga susunod syo.” And after he said that, I thought I was going to cry. That’s when I realized, the universe was right all these time. Ask me where I learned my work ethics and without thinking twice, I knew I got it from AKN himself. Who would have thought?

While having my last lunch with my lunch buddies, one confessed how she was sort of blaming herself for me leaving. Since she’s the one who forced me to try my luck at Crowne when I told her I wasn’t at all interested. Honestly, sya naman talaga yun naka-convinced sakin, but the final decision really came to me via Parokya ni Edgar (haha! joke lang! …pero it helps to bet your life to random radio songs, promise!)  So anyway, she was teary-eyed when I hugged her goodbye. We had photosessions after. ^_^”

Two interns told me that they envied me because I seem to go through life in a breeze. They had never seen me stressed out (praktisado nga kasi) even though they’ve witnessed how I juggled work everyday. They thought I don’t have problems aside from my expiring driver’s license. When they told me that with all sincerity as if asking me to share with them the secret of life, I wanted to laugh so hard and shoot myself after.  Come to think of it, they weren’t the first people who told me that I seem to have an easy life and I am the icon of “cool-headedness” (even OIC people told me that). At the count of three laugh with me…1..2…. Oh don’t get me started because you will never hear the end of it.

One IT colleague who’s been hitting on me for the past few weeks, called me up immediately when he found out I was leaving, asking me out for a date last Friday. It was a hilarious conversation and of course I said no. 

Too bad Lala didn’t go to work last Friday and we both felt bad about it. She’s been convincing herself that she’s not going to miss me because we’re still going to see each other regularly. I owe her too much I need a second life to pay my debt.

And now for the unexpected surprises:

 Icar used to do my job way back 2006. She’s now assigned to another department located in the IOM office at the other building. We only saw each other once and she was nice to me ever since. They said she’s mataray but I think her strong personality is just often misinterpreted as bossy.

A surprise cake from Icar

Raffy, the utility guy from Icar’s office, delivered this cake to me on Friday afternoon. Icar only found out I was leaving last Thursday.

Sweet note from Icar

 

Joy is one of my lunch buddies. I was touched when she handed this over to me after our last lunch together last Friday.

Going Away gift from Joy

 

Heartwarming Note from Joy

At of course, from my fetushood friend herself:

Lala's going away and bday gift

Uminom daw ako ng kape para raw magising ako at maunawaan ko ang mga plano ko sa buhay!

From my Constant

 

I was hoping I could share all these thoughts to someone, anyone, last Friday. Sadly, I went home to an empty house. But all’s well. It’s also good to spend some time alone after a highly emotional day.

NEXT

Tomorrow’s a start of another chapter. AJA! \(^o^)/

Quote for the day

I am the perfect example of the quote, “Be careful what you ask for. You might just get it.”

Patatas

I was a complete bum and a coach-potato this weekend and I love it. I’ve seen so many movies and TV shows to last me a month..or maybe just a week. And it was awesome! My weekend date with the TV ended with The Devil Wears Prada at the Star Movies channel. I’ve seen that movie for quite a number of times in the past and I don’t think I’d ever get tired of watching it over and over again. One might think, “that can never happen in real life. No idiot (especially as smart as Andy claims herself to be) will endure such evilness from someone even if she happens to be your boss.”  But we eat crap no matter how we deny it. I guess we’re not as egoistic as we want to believe ourselves to be.

 

I’m currently enjoying a steady life at the moment. No fuss, no issues, no nonsense whatnots. I’m not sure for how long I’d be staying at the harbor — or in my case, at the coach/bed. Though I hope not long enough to drain my life of dreams and purpose.  I wish that tomorrow, I’d be craving for something worthwhile again… additional knowledge, new relationships (nonromantic; the romantic part has been v. much taken care of), new skills to learn, places to travel to, or properties to own. But for now, I’m simply happy with the remote control and a Jollibee take away. If you think I’m already turning into a giant potato, please be a good friend and drag my ass outta bed… OR be the greatest friend, hand over the ice-cold coke and join me.

Quote for the day

Dr. Gregory House, talking about his patient, who was an autistic child, said:

“Why would you feel sorry for someone who gets to opt out of the inane, courteous formalities, which are utterly meaningless, insincere and therefore degrading? This kid doesn’t have to pretend to be interested in your back pain or your excretions or your grandma’s itchy place. Can you imagine how liberating it would be to live a life free of all the mind-numbing social niceties? I don’t pity this kid, I envy him.”