Divine ramblings

I am among the few who, even though cynical about the elections in the Philippines, still has some hope that it wold somehow make a difference. Early morning of May 14, me and my sister ventured off to go to our precinct to vote.

We forgot our precinct number. Bad move.

We spent 2 hours walking around our district’s public elementary school trying to find our precinct number. That was not the first time we did vote (first was the 2004 presidential elections, as soon as I turned 18 I registered) so we knew our way around. Or thought we did.

We first tried to go back to the classroom where we voted three years ago. Nope, our names weren’t there anymore. Tried other floors and classrooms, still not there.

In vain I tried to remember our precinct number. It was just three digits and a letter. But after 3 years, it was buried deep in my over/under-used brain. My sister tried to look it up at the Comelec website the night before, but the site was already down. Tough luck.

My observations during the originally-45-min-maximum-affair-turned-into-a-2-hour-search-for-our-friggin-precinct were 6 out of 10 people who were there are pollwatchers and volunteers. To top it off, those people were split into two groups corresponding to the rivaling groups on my city. Those in favor of the previous mayor and the current mayor. Both groups were wearing new clean plain polo-shirts. Two colors for the two groups.

Red and yellow.
The second I saw them, I thought: Ketchup and mustard.

So, the ketchups and the mustards were scattered around the school. Trying to help the voters although they also helped in clogging the hallways. Like I said, there were a lot of them. There were no bitterness between the two groups thank God.

My sister, who claims being scared of strangers, intimidated some of the peole around her (i think she’s not aware of that but hehehe …) Singkit kasi e. Mukhang masungit. Crowded, lost, blistering hot, sweating, hungry, not to mention she has a meeting to attend to later in the afternoon, she was not pleased.

I remember a young male ketchup approached my sister as she was browsing thru the list of voters (looking for our names) and tried to start a conversation with a "ano pong hinahanap nyo, ate?", all smiles.

"Syempre, pangalan namen." was the reply and she walked away.
Woho, I silently laughed as the male ketchup frowned and retreated, muttering "sungit naman ni ate".

I decided to separate with my sister for a little while to look for our precinct at the other buildings while she try to consult the computer database (which is comparable to a Bingo game, where one person calls out a name to a crowd)

Regardless if some were using their job to pick-up girls or win over voters, I found myself being fascinated by my neighbors (all of themare from the same district, the reason for the use of the term). They were all smiles and were very eager to help. Not to mention easy to converse with. I found myself talking to the some of the condiments, ketchup and mustard alike, and my fellow voters, getting sympathy for my situation and giving my own for theirs. And shared some laughs at the discomfort of the whole ordeal.

I even saw some people who were all laughs and hugs and when they were about to part said "nice meeting you". Dun lang sila nagkita! San ka pa!

While I was walking around the school, I came back to the entrance. I found a huge blackboard with the "map" of the different precinct numbers, arranged by its geographic location. I immediately found my own precinct.

… 2 hours and the solution was given to us in the very beginning!

Irritated by my own stupidity and the hassle it has brought me, we finally finished voting in less than 20 minutes. Hmm I voted …
the former opposition representative
the dragon
the magdalo
Mr. Noted, Sharon’s husband
Roco’s wife
Ninoy wannabe
the who danced funny (sipag at tiyaga guy)
Vilma’s husband
the biodiesel guy who, whenever I hear his name, reminds me of a sexy star
the Filipino Adolf Hitler (remember kuratong baleleng case?)
Defensor
Coseteng

I made it a point of not voting the dancing queen, the who was supposed to be in prison, the vegetable, and the one who ran for vice president but failed.
Especially the last one. She proposed that public school teachers don’t receive any pay during summer. What are they supposed to do for those two months? Hibernate !?

Lessons learned. Neighbors are nice people provided you are also nice to them. It wouldn’t hurt to spare a smile. Before voting, secure your precinct number, eat breakfast and vote in the morning when it’s still a bit cool.

Last note, as for the mayor, I voted the ketchup but it was the mustard for the vice-mayor.

Well~ as expected, things turned out for the better!

Got paid, money I lent was returned to me (after 1 1/2 months!), am getting better at dancing and I had a great weekend.

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Company event ramblings

Had a GREAT time. At the beginning I thought I wouldn’t though.

The night started with me having insufficient sleep (as always). I missed the MRT. Had my da drive me there. I was supposed to meet with my other team members before we go to this event. I sent a text message to my Team Captain asking for their whereabouts, that was around 10pm.

Received a text message saying they’ll go at around 12mn. I was in EDSA when I received it. Oh crap, 2 hours alone!?

I thought to myself ‘oh well, carry lang’, I’ll just have to find things to keep me occupied then. Arrived at Metrowalk, lots of strangers, nervous, I went in.

Thank God I was able to see some people I knew. I am especially grateful to Chino, a friend from another team. Reason was that he saw me walking alone and called me out. He asked me if I was with anyone, I said no because my team will be arriving late. ‘That’s ok, you can hang around with my team then’. I could’ve cried. (; A

Well, I spent majority of the event with that other team. Kalog silang lahat, ang saya kasama. I was a little embarrassed because nakiki"hitch" lang ako sa kanila but they made me feel very welcome.

I really had a great time. Although there were some suprising events that happened. One was, I was just walking across the dance floor when somebody just grabbed my hand and kissed it! Whoah! Suprised, I just smiled and bowed my head a little, said "great party" and hurriedly walked away, still confused. Some people asked for my number, of course I gave one. And of course it was not my real number. (to whoever they were, my apologies). Well, to drunk people, I guess even I would look good. *lol* As for the other suprising events, maybe I’ll add in the future =P

I drank a lot. Softdrinks, water, beer and rhum. I even made friends with the people in charge of distributing the drinks. *lol*

My teammates finally arrived, but I was having such a great time with the other team I really didn’t stay long with them. (if you’re going to check the pictures they ARE my teammates)

Anyways, event ended with me filled with great memories. Don’t worry, I didn’t pass out nor found on the street dead or had a brawl with somebody =P

I must say, I have been significantly wrung out these past two weeks.

Call me unlucky, but the past events made me remember the saying "when it rains, it pours." One bad event followed by another. Made me wonder if I broke a mirror, or stepped on a dwarf or didn’t give a change to a beggar or something. Is this karma? Test of faith? Or just plain coincidence?

I’ll just give a few of my unfortunate–err…ness:

—————
First week
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Eye
I had an eye-infection for a week. Started with a slight pain in my right eye one evening. Went to the company nurses’ office. Prescribed me an antibiotic and a cold compress.
Morning next day, it became worse. Went to my school Infirmary for a check-up. Doctor scolded me for taking antibiotics and cold compress. Should’ve been a HOT compress (so I have been making my problem worse pala leche) She also prescribed me a ointment that costs a whooping 400php. Of course, I didn’t buy it.
Evening, my eye went red. Panic mode.
I was working with my shades on. Had a hard time seeing, of course. I had problems using my computer while working. Not to mention my world suddenly became yellow (tint of my shades).
Wnt back to the infirmary a second time. Got a new prescription. Bought a different (more expensive) ointment and a week-supply of antibiotics, 600 bucks. 200 bucks from medical fees.
… That leads to my next unfortunate event

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Broke
I plot my daily expenses based on my pay for two weeks. And also with the assumption that a certain person who owed me 1000 bucks would pay me back. I didn’t expect that I would have to buy medicine (and pay medical fees). Cost me 800 bucks. Two days off my two week plan.
And that certain person hasn’t payed me back. Three days off.
So basically, I was (and still am - that two-week period will end this Friday) destitute this week.

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Second week (my eyes are fine already)
—————
School
I fucked up both of my Summer classes on one day.

Monday this week I had a practical exam on my first class and a group report on my second. Hours before my class that morning I was already awake, cramming for my group report. I failed to update my groupmates about it.
One of my groupmates (who was in charge of compiling the report) stayed awake until 2am waiting for me. Goddamit, I was so embarassed and ashamed when I learned of that. I didn’t mean it and I am really sorry for that.
Going back to the first class’s practical exam, I forgot some of my dance steps. Went brain-dead for a long time. What do you call that state? Mind-block ba un? SO that was also fucked up.

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Work

Monday that evening up to Tuesday morning I was at work. I heard news of a possibility that the part-time agents (I’m one of ‘em) will be taken out of the workforce. So this is what it feels like to have a brush with death.
Memories of my time in the company flooded on my mind. Everything that had happened to me and what I’ve done up until now. But my thoughts centered on one matter - the things that I haven’t done. I suddenly felt like I have no time left. There’s still a lot of things I want/have to do.

I have been restricting myself for the longest time because I was afraid of making a mistake. I haven’t taken a risk nor went out of character or protocol. That’s why nothing has happened to me. Nothing lost, nothing gained.
Dammit what a meaningless work life.

—————
Tuesday morning two more things happened.
First, we were informed that we would be changing computer stations (again!). I loved my present location, I enjoyed talking to my ‘neighbors’ and made a lot of friends there. I’ll really miss that place.
Second. Full details aside, what I can only say is that I was branded something I was not, accused of something I didn’t do, and learned that some of my ‘friends’ has been stabbing me in the back for a long time. Although because of that, some things started to make sense. I am thankful for the things that happened and didn’t happen. I was so suprised, I forgot to be offended. There’s no point of wishing things to be back to what they were.

I certainly learned a lot that day. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

—————
So. Was sick. Bad at work, worse I might lose it. Bad at school. Lost some friends (good and bad ones). Not to mention I’m broke.

* "Bad day" song on the background *
I received a text message from one of my frineds around Wednesday this week. It goes something like "There are no ‘bad days’ … only ‘bad moments’ that people choose to nurse all day. Think happy thoughts and make a happy day"

Yea, guess he’s right.

* Just keep swimming~ Just keep swimming~ *