Sunday, February 14, 2010

I Shouldn't Have Spent Valentine's With Him, But...

Wag ka na munang pumuntang Maynila.

Tonight we'll discuss the last major topic for the client...

4PM, February 12, Friday. Last day of the workweek. Babalik ako ng Maynila pagkatapos ng training. Walking distance lang ang Gov. Pack bus terminal mula sa PeopleSupport. Walang pumapasok sa utak ko. Must be because it's the last day of the week. Must be because of the Valentine's din. Ito ang unang araw ng mga puso namin ni McCoi. Ito din ang unang Valentine's na hindi kami magkakasama.

The class ended. It's time to go back to Manila to process the long-delayed exit interview with my previous employer. Our HR has already been bugging me for the clearance. I also need to confirm with BIR if the RDO code has been updated. I would be in the capital til the 15th. I have to head back to Manila.

Sa bus, balisa ako. Ayoko sanang iwan ang daddy ko sa Baguio, pero kailangan magtipid, tsaka hindi ko pa siya kayang makitang duguan at bugbog sarado mula sa mga hampas at suntok ng pamilya ko.

Kinalabog na ng kundoktor ang likod ng bus, it's time. At dahil mag aalas dos na ng umaga, halos lahat ng pasahero tulog na. Ako, naglalaro lang ng Tower Defense, nililihis ang isip sa maiiwang kapareha.

Di nagtagal, nasa Marcos Highway na kami. May mamang sumakay, tumabi sa akin. Di din nagtagal bumulong siya, may matulis na bagay akong naramdaman sa tagiliran ko.

Holdap to. Wag kang kikilos.

Napaurong ako. Sumabay ng inday ang mama at tinusok ang ice pick sa akin. Kinuha nya ang phone at wallet ko, tumayo, at pinaalam sa iba pang mga sakay na kailangan niya lahat ng mga gamit namin. Hindi lang pala siya ang magnanakaw. May iba pa pala siyang kasama na nauna ng sumakay sa istasyon.

Sobrang hapdi ng bewang ko. Akala ko wala nang mas kikirot pa sa ma-bottom.

While the thieves were divesting each passenger's belongings, I was writhing in pain, and slowly, my eyes closed. Flashbacks of fond memories came pouring in. I couldn't hear the commotion and panic around me anymore. Everything and everyone became silent.

Mark, tapos na.

Dahan dahan kong iminulat ang mga mata ko. Nakasisilaw ang liwanag.

Mark, tapos na ang training. Gising na. Si Yam. Batchmate ko.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Cynophobia

Isa sa napakaraming traits na gusto ko kay McCoi ay ang kanyang sense of humor. Sabi nila opposites attract. Sa pagkakataong ito, palagay ko tama ang kasabihan. Liban sa panakanakang corny jokes na kinopya ko mula kay greenpinoy, mukha lang yata ang may humor sa katawan at pagkatao ko. Bagay talaga kami ng aking daddy - term of endearment namin.(blush)

I like the way he delivers jokes. Laging may twist. One time, habang umaastang turista sa Burnham, we saw this typical-looking lady walking with her chihuahua na parang baby girl ang attire.

Ay, ang cute naman ng bitch... At ng kanyang dog! Insekyora lang pala ang lola mo sa may-ari. Hehe

Speaking of dogs, may kinalaman din ang mga aso kung bakit madalas magalit sa akin si McCoi.

Sa unang tingin, no one would notice na becky ako. Sa pananalita, maton na maton at walang bahid ng kabakleran. Pero iharap mo sa akin ang isang kumakahol na aso, and you'll realize, bakla nga ako.

Whenever someone behaves in a way we can't understand why, we brush it off but leave a comment like "childhood trauma yan" to at least explain why. At to some extent, tama ito lalo na sa kaso ko na apat na beses nang kinagat ng aso. Hindi ko alam kung bakit paborito ni Putol ang legs ko. Yung una ang pinaka-oh so memorable. Naaalala ko pa ang sakit ng crushed bawang na dumampi sa duguan kong binti.

Going back, bakit nga ba laging nagagalit sa akin si McCoi? For the last four weeks at 1am after work, he's been waiting for me outside the house kasi naglipana ang mga lintek na aso sa labas. May 1 time pa nga na hindi ako bumaba ng taxi kasi naunang mag-intay si River, isang askal na pitbull, sa pinto ng taxi. Naiirita si McCoi kasi hindi ko maovercome ang takot ko sa mga aso. Naiirita siya pero he understands. He wakes up middle of the night to save the damsel in distress - me. Kaya love na love ko daddy ko eh.(blush uli)

Moral of the story? Wala yata. Gusto ko lang i-share ang isa sa mga naiisip ko, ang Cynophobia. The irrational fear of effin' dawgs.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Greener Pasture

"Hello everyone! My name is Mark Joe. For the ladies, you can call me Mark, for the gentlemen, you can call me anytime!"

After four years working in Manila, I'm now back in the City of Pines.

Training for the client with my new employer started a month ago. So far, I'm enjoying the new working environment. There's less stress. Traffic's manageable. I could go out of the house 30 minutes before our shift and still arrive at the office on time, with smoking minutes to spare.

My current employer, Aegis PeopleSupport, made it even easier for me to decide to move back here since I'd be getting the same basic salary with my previous employer.

I may not be getting the same incentives and bonuses with APS, but I believe I'll be better taken cared of here. There's employee regularization! Yey!

So far, the only downside with working here has been the scarcity of eye candy. Proof to this was my new boss' similar observation. My new boss, BTW, is as pamin-becky as me. Baguio's still full of nice places to go to, but where have all the beautiful men gone?!

Even with the lack of nice masculine faces, I wouldn't trade anything for Baguio. Here, everyday is vacation day. And did I mention that I now spend every waking moment with McCoi? What more can I ask for?