Mind Travel

How happy am I? Pretty ecstatic. I am back from the hospital and already had my fill of parties and beer. I know I shouldn’t be drinking yet ‘coz I’m still under medication, but it cannot be helped. It’s the season to be jolly right? I’ll just off-set the antibiotics and extend it to 13 days instead of 10. That should work. Hehe.

Christmas party galore for the last two weekends. Did our stint in Villa Mapue, (and then I got sick) and then on to the PSU Party in Columns last weekend. We looked so cute that night. The theme was Hampton’s, so we all did our own version.

Before all the parties we had a Team Building with the Ops team in Antipolo. The place was great. But then the activities left me sore for a couple of days. It was fun though. We had to climb this tall wall with no harness or rope. We just had to really on each other to get everyone up in one piece. I’m proud to say that I was able to climb the wall in one go. Although I did need a lot of cheer leading and a couple of big “boys” to help me up.

After the team building, we did our own version of it. The best kind of team building as far as I’m concerned. Nobody needs to sweat to bond.

Zonked out straight to bed that night. I will never do that again. My muscles are trembling just thinking about all the strenuous activities I did that day.

Well that’s it for now. I’m sure I’ll have a blast again this weekend. On to another party.

I love the Christmas holidays.

We are, once again, the laughing stock of the world. And I really can't blame them. If a show spoofs this, I say we have to shut the hell up and bear it. It is hilarious. Too hilarious. And it's also stupid. Nobody got it. I think even the people who did it didn’t really understand what they were doing. It was simply too ridiculous.

Yesterday, a newly elected Senator and a General staged an aborted attempt to take over the Manila Peninsula Hotel, or as fondly called by us Pinoys, The Pen. They were in the middle of their trial for their attempted take over a couple of years ago of another hotel in the vicinity in an incident now dubbed as the Oakwood Mutiny. They just walked out of the courtroom, walked the streets, until they reached The Pen. There they holed up. Conducted press conferences and waited for their demands to be met. They were asking for the President to step down. There were about 30 of them or thereabouts. They gave a deadline. So, what do you think happened? The inevitable happened that’s what. The President used “the full force of the law” (Her words, in HER press conference) and sent a battalion and a tank… Right inside the posh lobby of The Pen.

Source: www.gmanews.tv

It was simply too much.

So, a curfew was imposed. 12 midnight to 5 in the morning. But wait, here’s a list of exceptions:

-Deliveries of products and services
-Passengers of airlines with an early-morning or late-night flight
-Emergency cases
-Drivers of public utility vehicles such as taxis, buses and jeeps
-Doctors and health care practitioners on duty
-Police and military personnel on duty
-Emergency response persons such as firemen and paramedics;
-Night-shift workers such as call center agents
-Media crews on duty
-Provincial bus passengers and commuters; and
-Diplomatic corps.

Hmmm… So again, guess what happened? We suddenly gained a lot of colleagues. Overnight, the call center population almost doubled. Well, can’t really blame them for making our profession their excuse. It IS a holiday weekend, and pay day to boot! Trillianes and Lim could have picked a better time for their public outcry and outpouring of grievances. They should really be more considerate.

Again, It’s simply too much.

Only in the Philippines.

Christmas season is fast approaching. Here in the Philippines people usually start feeling the season once the –ber months comes in. We start hearing Christmas carols on radios and see commercials centered on the celebration. By the time All Saint’s Day is done, the decorations start to sprout up. Bright, colorful, twinkling lanterns. All those Belens everywhere. At which point the air takes in a different type of hum. Folks get to smile more, kids are more polite. It’s the 13th month pay and the thought of getting tons of gifts we know, but having something to look forward to makes our spirit happier.

This year should be no different, but it’s already the end of November and the same cheer is not evident. The streets are not lit up, the building looks the same mundane gray slabs of concrete. There are a few that put up their decors, but it seems sad somehow seeing one structure standing out in color amongst a silence avenue. It’s like people are not welcoming the holidays.

I was passing by Roxas Blvd in Baclaran going home the other day. They have been fixing the sidewalks and installing light fixtures along the street for a few months now. It’s a tall pole with 3 colorful globes in the middle that I guess when lit up would showcase a nice glow on pedestrians when they walk under it. The theme looks very Christmas-y . But what I noticed when I was stuck in heavy traffic is that the colorful globes are already falling down. It seems a shame that nobody has seen the lights yet, and now it looks like we never will. (I refrained from thinking about all of my tax deductions that probably paid for the damn thing and now I won’t even get to see it shine. I was having a sad moment.)

It seems an apt message this season. Hope tarnished.

Wherever you look lately you hear and see oppression, hunger, bombings, killings, corruption. All things that make the spirit feel like there’s no more hope for this country. You hear about a 12 year old kid hanging herself due to poverty. About women being prostituted to make a quick buck. Of our kababayan who had high hopes for her family so she went overseas, leaving her husband, kids, family, to earn dollars. But suddenly found herself being abused by her employer. Then barely a month has passed and she is found dead in her room. Is this what weighs heavily in our minds and the reason why we can’t celebrate Christmas properly?

We Filipinos have always prided ourselves for our resilience. Our ability to bounce back from great tragedy. Heck! We’re even famous for laughing at our misfortunes! So what’s happening now? Where is the indomitable warrior-katipunero strength and will that we always put on when faced with adversity? Where is our unquenchable spirit? Where is our endless supply of hope?

If I had one wish this season, it's this. To Filipinos everywhere. Bring out those lanterns, those synthetic Christmas pine trees made of durable plastic. The fake snow made from shredded cotton balls , the Santa Claus decors that's sooo white it’s ironic. Most importantly, put a kickstand on your hope. I know it needs help to stand right now, but the more friends, family and love ones you have around you this season, the more props you can use to help you.

Show your Christmas spirit Filipino!

My Feeling for the Whole Day in a Nutshell

I went to NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) the first day of the week to get my clearance form. I needed it for some legal things that I need to fix. So off I went. I had my nephew accompany me since I'm already anticipating the long lines and long wait. What if I needed to pee? Who would watch my place in the long line?

Anyway, we got to Carriedo around 6:15 in the morning. Yup, I was that prepared. First encounter? THE GUARD. He started by rudely telling me that my nephew couldn't come in because he was wearing a pair of shorts and his slippers. Fine. That’s alright. I immediately thought of buying him jeans since we were already in Sta. Cruz and he really needed a pair. But when THE GUARD started to get rude about it, I decided I had enough of his arrogance. I started retaliating back. “Pano kung mahirap ang kukuha ng NBI? Walang pambili ng sapatos?” He started saying in a louder voice, “Opisina ito! Alam mo naman opisina ito!” I went in front of his face and said in my bitchiest tone, “GOBYERNO ITO, HINDI PRIVATE, WAG KANG MAARTE.” Then I did the best exit I can under the circumstances. Now fuming mad my nephew and I walked around to look for jeans. (It was too early for the stores to be open) when we finally found a store, I bought him a Php 280 pair. (It was cute and cheap. What more could I want?) Then we went back.

ME: “Naka-maong na.” (Still Bitchy)
GUARD: “Tsinelas… tsinelas…”
ME: (Taas-noo, at kung may kilay, taas na rin) “MAS MAHAL PA ANG TSINALES NA YAN KESA SAYO.”

I dared him to retaliate to that. But of course he couldn’t. He let us pass. The thing that pissed me the most was when we got upstairs, I saw at least 2 guys wearing shorts and slippers. (And I want it put into record that I was also wearing rubber slippers. When I pointed this out to THE GUARD, he said “Babae ka eh.” WTF?! Screwed logic.)

When we got to the place where the looongggg line was, the only thing that amused me was that at the entrance there were a lot of guys asking if we wanted the NBI Clearance to be rushed. Ahhh… here are the “fixers”! But I was ready for the long lines so, I didn’t want a fixer. So, we trudged on. The line was ok. It was organized. The only think I question is: What’s the Php 20.00 for? Why is there a fee to get inside the office? Oh well… Somebody hands me a form and I was suddenly inside. (My nephew chose to wait in the waiting area)

Here are the Steps:

1.Pay Php 115 Processing Fee
2.Data Checking
3.Quick Search
4.Photo Taking
5.Finger Printing
6.Authentication (?)
7.Releasing

Pretty straight forward right? NOT FOR A GOVERNMENT AGENCY IT’S NOT.

Can I just say before I start that loud booming voices seem to be a pre-requisite for the job of an NBI personnel. (Along with a permanent scowl and a potbelly) And it has to be used in an intimidating way. Always.

1. There were two ways to pay. If you have the exact amount you can go to the automated teller or go to the counter where a real person can assist you. I couldn’t find my wallet and don’t have change so I went to the counter. The lady very rudely told me to get away from the counter because she is not yet open for business. Oooookkkk…. I back away and rummage for my wallet. Voila! Found it. I went to the automated machine. Paid and on to the 4th floor for Step 2

2. Step 2. Data check. First off, there was no one there. There were a lot of counters but there wasn’t anybody behind them. Step 3 had about 5 counters occupied, but I have to pass through step 2 before 3 right? Hmmm… took me 15 minutes to remember it was only 7:30AM. The office wasn’t officially open yet. I line up. Then a lady went out and started processing the check. I’d like to commend her because it was only 7:45AM. She was quick. I handed her my filled out form and my receipt for the “entrance” fee. She asked for an ID. She put red notations. She put SSS ID: Original; and the receipt number. Then she handed the form back to me. The whole time she didn’t smile, or even acknowledged me by looking up. Again, oooookkkk…. I was done with Step 2.

3. Step 3, Quick Search. Let me tell you this… there was nothing quick about it. First, the 5 ladies waiting behind the counters were still chatting… ok… it’s not yet 8:00AM. The place was slowly filling up. At exactly 8:05 AM they sat down and turned on their computers. For about 30 minutes there was a flurry of activity signifying panic. I asked one of the pot bellied men. He said there was a computer malfunction. Hmmm…. Place was packed by that time. And it was 8:45AM. We waited and waited. When the computers started functioning again, I saw a lot more pot bellied men telling us where to line up again. (In their loud, booming, intimidating voice) I was serviced by 9:00AM. But before I got to the front of the counter, I saw a lot of those men handing forms to the ladies in the counter. I noticed they were hovering and waiting. Then they would be handed the form, disappear and appear again after a few minutes. I finally figured it out. These were the cohorts of the “fixers” downstairs. These were the folks who can “rush” the process. Great. When I finally got to the counter the lady refused to sign it. Lady in Step 2 forgot to sign the damn thing. I marched back to the Step 2 counter and had her sign it. She used her trusty red pen and marked a "C" that looked like a half-moon. That's the signature I went back for? I didn't line up again. I just went directly to Step 3 lady and handed her my form. She puts a sticker with barcodes, then preceded to ignore me. *Sigh*

4. On to step 4. My picture will never see the light of day. I was so pissed by that time that I found it hard to smile. It took 5 minutes. The fastest step so far. I will keep that clearance under lock and key. And tear it up to little pieces when the 1 year validity expires.

5. 5th floor. Finger Printing. There were 3 desks occupied. The man unceremoniously grabbed my hand. Slammed it on the table with the ink. And proceeded to maul my fingers one by one. I finally had to tell him not to turn my hand black and blue because I’m attached to its uses. He grunts, finishes up and mumbles, “two pesos”. I paid, he slapped a wet tissue scrap on my hands and I’m done.

6. Next. Authentication or something. They pulled the form from my armpits, (I was still trying to wipe away the black ink) and told me (again with the grudging voice, like they have something better to do and you’re disturbing them) “RELEASING!” I hold on to my temper. Just one more step…Just one more step.

7. RELEASING! I handed over the automated receipt and they printed the damn thing! FINALLY! I was gonna be set free. It was 10:00AM.

Before I escaped though I had to go through a last desk where the guy tried to maul my thumbs again. Then I was out the door. FREEDOM!

All in all, it was typical of all the horror stories I hear about government agencies. Rude people, bureaucrats, red tape, and corruption. And I was only there for 3hours and 45 minutes! I felt like killing somebody.

You'd think that with the amount of tax they deduct every payday, (and not seeing the grand infrastructures and great technology that was in the last SONA) I felt we can at least get this through better customer service. We are the ones who pays their salaries anyway. (And obviously line their pockets) But I was wrong.

When a simple break in courtesies and service occur on a daily basis. And there are no checks to alleviate it, it festers and becomes a problem. Most of the folks in line with me yesterday were people needing their clearance to get passports. I heard a good number of Filipinos saying "Buti na lang aalis na ako. Wala talaga akong mahihita dito." And I know the NBI is just a small part of a bigger industry. The government industry. Is our system so screwed up that our citizens would rather leave then make it here? Well, one thing’s for sure, It will take me another 5 years to get another NBI clearance. I am not a masochist. I do not want to inflict my own headaches.

At the end of the ordeal, I finally figured out what the Php 20.00 was for. It was to see the zoo of animals inside the glass cage called the NBI Clearance Center. It was definitely a sight to see.

Hah! Good news just happened and now my mind is on vacation. I have had a somewhat trying week. Not really big. It could've been if I let myself be drawn to it, but I was really too involved with ME to care. I was still feeling the after effects of my vacation in Bulalakaw.

Now I'm looking forward to New Year. Via and I are planning to spend it lying on the sand in Pandan Island. This is the first time I won't be with my family on New Year, so I don't know if I'l be bawling my eyes when the clock strikes 12MN. Hopefully not. We're planning the trip to avoid all the hoopla that happens around that time. I'm lucky that I've finaly found friends who I can truly relax with. No expectations and no complications. Nothing heavy. Perfect for the beach.

On a very different note, I watched the US Democratic Party's Debate on CNN yesterday. It's still a year before the US elections but I can already tell this is going to be big. All of the participants were articulate. I just didn't like the idea of Hilary being slammed for not being confrontational. I think there was an underlying message there telling people "Because she's a woman, that's why." I resent that. Although she did stumble some on last week's issues when she was in Iowa I think. But I think she did well in the Las Vegas debate. She was calm and more prepared to answer the things that were thrown at her. It really seemed deliberate that she was placed in the middle of six men. Man! Was she slammed! It started with Obama saying she doesen't take clear stands on important issues and could not make fast resolutions and went from there. Must've been hard. But I really like the asbestos comment.

I do like Obama's defence on Iran resolution though. Or on WAR in particular, he said he will also meet with the enemies. Hmmm... We'll see shall we. Looking at the Republican list, I think it's the democrat's time.

And can I just say that John Edwards really reminds me of John Ritter. I dunno why.

I've updated my other blog. I.T. was doing some maintenance so we had a few hours of free time from dang, blessed, most-hated, SURF CONTROL.

chabacz.blogdrive.com

There is nothing you can say
Sorry doesn't cut it, babe
Take the hit and walk away
'Cause I'm gone
Doesn't matter what you do
It's what you did that's hurting you
All I needed was the truth
Now I'm gone

You know you did it
I'm gone
To find someone to live for
In this world
There's no light at the end of the tunnel tonight
Just a bridge that I gotta burn
You were wrong
If you think you can walk right through my door
That is just so you
Coming back when I've finally moved on
I'm already gone
I'm already gone
Oh, I'm already gone, gone, gone, gone
Already gone

My travel going to the office everyday takes about an hour to an hour and 30 minutes. I usually leave the house past 11 at night so I can try and get to the office before midnight. I like the night ride. I fool myself that at night the breeze being whipped around me has the ability to dissipate all the grime that might stick to my face. (That is until I wipe my face and see the tell-tale signs of pollution in Manila.)

The image above is called the jeepney. We locals call it "jeep". Nag-jeep ako, naka-jeep ako, mag-je-jeep ako. This is what I ride every night. But it doesn’t' stop there. I can only get by jeep halfway. I would have to go down and ride a bus to complete the journey.

Riding the jeep is comparable to the stories of riding the subway in New York at night time. You get all types of nocturnal creatures with you. From the weirdoes, who keeps staring at you like you've grown two heads, to the potential hold-upper who makes furtive glances at you, checking out your "valuables" and "assets". There’s the "hospitality girls" going to and from their assignations. The couple who can't stop publicly displaying their affection for each other that you sometimes want to tell them quietly "to get a room". And of course let's not forget the bordering-on-insanity folks. Who talks to themselves and eats their hair. The great thing about the recent proliferation of call centers, you now also get the co-night time employees traveling with you. It makes you feel somewhat safe. Somewhat.

I pass by three major thoroughfares. I pass by Coastal Road and Roxas Boulevard. And then into Makati, THE business district where my office is. The contrast between these three areas is overwhelming. While Coastal Road, is just that, a long stretch of highway near a coast, Roxas Boulevard is well lighted with a row of night clubs (for the politician with the big belly) and restaurants. The biggest attraction is the beautiful Redemptorist Church. (Which I’ve only been inside twice, even if I pass it by everyday) and there’s one white house that has been my dream property since I was a kid.

Makati at Night

Makati is really different. It’s the business district. All the sky scrapers and the condominiums line up the streets. It’s a small labyrinth for cab drivers. I always breathe a loud sound of release whenever I get to this area. Here I feel I’m safe. (Not that it’s really true, there are a lot of bad wolves out there) But here, the folks are all dressed to start their shifts and are just taking their breaks by willing their lungs away.

Still, the experience of riding the jeepney at night time is something I look forward to every night. I feel dread and exhilaration whenever I hail one and board it. It’s like an adventure in a roller coaster. You pray for the Lord to keep you safe, you scream a lot inside when you have no choice but to sit beside a not-too-friendly-looking block. You feel like you’re such an easy target. (Not that riding the bus is any different.) But it's one of the things that as a Filipino, I need to experience and I could be proud of. But still, playing with the hang man is one thing I wanna avoid. I don’t like courting trouble.

That’s why when I have extra money, I take the cab instead. I can be proud from afar. That’s ok.

Even with the threat of terrorism in the midst of Makati, the night life scene last Saturday night was pretty much the same. Minus a few faces, It was almost the same crowd. People drinking a little bit too much, singing a bit louder, laughing a bit more. Basically trying to drown the reality of the Glorietta tragedy that happened just a day before. It was somewhat a testament to the Filipino’s innate capacity of bouncing back from misfortune and trying to make the best out of ever situation. Personally it reminded me that life’s short and you have to make every second count. I made a few changes. Just little things that makes a lot of difference with how I handle life. Said sorry to a friend, went out and got bashing drunk, made peace with myself, and loved my friends more… it was pretty great.

Here are some pics to commemorate the occasion:

Gerry's in Jupiter Makati

Oli and Paulie in 121 Salcedo

Doables with Rui after 4 years. Just like old times. A little older and hopefully wiser.

Happy birthday Paulie and Teens!

Here's to remembering my last vacation:

Look at that prestine sand. The memory of how soft it was is slowly fading. I NEED TO GO TO THE BEACH! SOON! I wouldn't mind going back to Boracay. But I wanna try this new place in Oriental Mindoro (Not Galera, totally opposite side of the island). Me and my cousin's are planning a trip this first week of November. We have our itinerary almost ironed out. One of them did an ocular (Can you believe they live in Mindoro but they haven't been to that place yet? If that was me I'd be there every other weekend) and he said it looks like the beach in The Beach. *sigh* Can't wait. This is my birthday gift to myself. The big 3-0 is fast approaching and I am so excited. I still don't understand why some people don't like turning 30. It's no big deal. It's actually nice. Not too young, but not too old too. It's just enough.

Did I mention the sand in the picture? *sigh* I've been in love with the beach since I was born. (I think I'm half mermaid.) I would never get tired of the sand, the surf, the sun. Even when it's raining, it's still fun. When I get rich (as if, keep dreaming Cha) I'll buy a secluded island and retire there. A parrot, a dog and a wild boar for company.

I NEED A VACATION! Can't time move faster?