The Last Day

Today is my last day here at Enterprise... It's also my last day as a Glacier cow.

Although none of my teammates know this blog address, just the same I would like to express my gratitude. (Actually, they'll see this on my Friendster blog as soon as I post it there.):

Thanks for everything. I know we haven't spent that much time together - especially since I disappeared for about two weeks prior to all my "pre-emptive" strikes and "jinxes". But some say that time is not that much of a factor when it comes to relationships... And that's what I have with you. Not only is this the company where I stayed the longest (a record-breaking 9 months!), this is also where I got my first promotion. Such milestones, though, are nothing compared to the friendships I formed here. Some of us have gone through a lot of ups and downs. Some of us have had moments and some of us just - well, we exist in each other's universe.

I have found and lost and regained friends here. Let's not talk about the one I am so not regretful of losing. Anyway, thank you to everyone. Being in Glacier has been an education I will never forget. To my kwadra-mates: Hans, for the rides home and for more chika purposes (who could ever forget Ivy Violan?); Michael Choy, for making me feel like the ultimate techie I am not; Jacqui, for the food and for letting me drag you to applying with me; Kate, for the irateness and fun drunkenness at Digi (how in the world do you spell that anyway?); and for Mommy Roch, for the DVD and the encouragements. To the other residents of the other kwadras (my apologies to the newbies: we haven't had moments yet): to Malin, the future Mrs. Mendez... wala lang; Rada, Che's very own Jaya - thanks for making me borrow your book and for updating me with your lovelife; Mary, mabuhay ang Stairway addicts; Alfred, ang natitirang lalakeng birhen sa balat ng Convergys - sana mabinyagan ka na. hehehe; Che, haaay... thanks for the Full House moments; Wena, thanks for trusting me with all your secrets; Mommy Bons, for all the kwento. Nindot jud nga naay kastoryang Bisaya!; Mommy Ace, thanks for the encouragements din and for sharing - magazines, life stories, etc... Carl, this is tricky. Well, bro, it's been quite a ride. All in all, thanks for still being Carl - drama and all. And to TL Val: thanks for putting up with all the pasaways.

To Glacier: thanks for everything. I feel the need to repeat this because I know I'll never have this same experience again. You are the greatest people someone like me (read: very lost) needed to encounter. You have been - to date - the most amazing event of my life... I'll miss you.

No More Pre-emptives and Jinxes

First ever promotion for the first job I held for more than three months...

That should have been my title, but I guess it gave away too much of what I wanted to write.

When I was younger, I fancied myself to be the rebel among my friends. I meant, I was the one person who always stood on the "no" side. Even in high school, my guidance counselor felt that I wouldn't be as lost as the other people in college because going to UP was like going home to the mothership (re: magsama kayo ng mga tibak). Which would actually raise Goldie's hackles had I shared that...

Back to my promotion: yep, I got it... I'm very happy. The salary increase is negligible, but that's not the point. I'm not going to take calls anymore! My God! Can I actually survive in a corporate world? What about my artist's soul? Shall I bury it forever?

Shush! Mag-hunos dili ka!

Going The Saintly Way... Or Not

Most people use the words "earth-shattering" with annoying regularity. I am one of those people. Usually, what would make my "earth" shatter is some profoundly amazing sentiment expressed by someone I used to consider - up until that moment - a complete and total nimrod.

I'm arrogant enough to believe that despite my "sheltered" status, there's really precious few things that shock me.

But I'm wrong.

Sometimes it still shocks me how callous and - pardon my less-than-creative description - assholic some guys can be. I don't know why I'm still surprised given the fact that I have met and even became friends (not anymore!) some of these entities. Maybe it's because deep down inside, I still believe that people (and I mean everyone) are inherently good and that certain circumstances make them "turn" (in vampiric terminology). Maybe I still believe in the adage "innocent until proven guilty." Maybe... I'm just too naive and don't know it.

And while I am a proponent of always trying to look for the silver lining in every situation, I also believe in the therapeutic effect of wallowing in guilt and in effect, self-absorption. I deem myself an expert of sorts on that subject.

What's my point?

Nothing, really. I'm just trying to work things out for myself. I'm trying to decide on whether I should step down to the level of the protoplasmic creature that mars the face of this planet or maybe I should just go down the saintly way and let it go.