Officially Jobless

July 11, 2008 was my last day of work at Unionbank. Day before, I was crying terribly. I cried ‘til my eyes hurt and my head ached. I’ve just been through a lot at the office. And maybe I was partly apprehensive about what the coming days will be like (without a job and income). At night, I cried myself to sleep. I’m just too blessed to have a supportive husband and sister.

When I woke up Friday morning, I was surprised I was feeling good and happy. I was suddenly excited at the thought that it was my last day and I won’t have to wake up early on Monday (and the days thereafter) and go to work. And when the day ended, I realized that going on a hiatus from the corporate world is not at all that bad.

1. I can now spend a LOT of time with Marti and Zach.

2. I won’t be spending as much now on gasoline as I used to.

3. I can now go to the gym anytime of the day, everyday.

4. I can travel anytime I want without having to file for a leave and without having to think of work. I can now go home to Surigao and stay there for a month or months.

5. Maybe I can even travel with Minoy to NZ. *grin*

6. I can see the supergirls anytime. Pat will be happy, I’m sure. Hehe.

7. I can spend time with my dearest sis when she comes home next month. We will no longer have to wait for 6:00 p.m. when I get off from work.

8. I can now accompany Marti to her playgroup classes and see why she still cries until now when her yaya leaves her in the classroom.

9. I can now read all the books gathering dust in our bookcase.

10. Best of all, I now have time to really think things over about that NZ thing. And a lot of time to condition/prepare myself for it. *grin* I now have a lot of time to practise being a real homemaker and full time mom.

But I know this break from work can’t go on for long. After all, we have two young kids to feed and raise. And I have a few pairs of shoes and bags to buy. Haha.

mourning

today, we will bury a very dear friend who passed away last week. i wish i could put into words what i feel right now.

ate bing was one of the few people who has touched my life and made a big difference. i have never known someone with such a strong faith as she! she has fought many battles, surviving all cancer(s) that struck her. and she always went out of her way to help others, sometimes even before herself. she prayed a lot, too. she always prayed for other people. when i gave birth to a two-pound preterm baby, she stormed heaven with prayer and assured me marti will survive. there’s something about her that makes you feel “healed”, assured. it’s as if she’s a trusted messenger of God, that when she says everything will be all right, you really have nothing to worry. she loved us (especially marti and zach) and cared for us immensely. she always offered masses on our birthdays. she did all these and a lot more.

haaaay! i miss her badly. and her selfless love. i can’t stop crying. she’s such a big loss.
ate bing, thank you so much for everything. for all your love and care. i just can’t thank you enough for treating me like your own. may you rest in peace. and may you continue watching over us. we love you and we will miss you terribly.

for the nth time

starting tomorrow, i’ll be hitting the gym again. and with M’s new work schedule, i can tag him along. with him as my gym buddy this time, i hope to get a fit and sexy body :).

looking forward…

…to the long weekend in april (april 5, 6 and 7).

…to the hub’s company outing on april 5. for the first time, we will bring zach along

…to the early release of our mid-year bonus on the second week of april. naa na koy pang-downpayment sa caterer :).

…to zach’s 1st birthday on april 21st.

…to our summer trip to dearest bantayan after zach’s birthday. i miss the island and its beautiful beaches so much!

…to martin nievera’s concert at waterfront hotel on april 30. i’m one of his biggest fans and i never missed any of his concerts here. this time though, i’ll just get the lowest-priced ticket as i’ll be spending much on zach’s party :).

18 march 2008

this day marks the beginning of something beautiful

i did it! i did it! i did it!

by God’s grace, lots of prayer and encouragement from my family and friends, a little review from a colleague and some cramming, i PASSED the treasury certification exam i took last February 26, 2008 at ateneo graduate school in makati.

thank you, Lord and thanks to everyone who prayed for me.

presence of mind

that’s what my officemate told me to “bring” next week. i was asking them (who have already been to the certification program i’ll be having next week) for tips or a list of what i need to bring. D’s candid reply really made me laugh. bitaw no? mao nay pinaka-importante and that’s what i wish i will have starting monday. right now, i’m just totally lost. disoriented.

and they advised me not to get intimidated by the other participants. now, i am getting nervous =).

today

* i spent the whole day with my manila-based bosses, went to visit some clients. i’m tired.

* i feel sad. really, really sad and it’s killing me! aaaaaaarrrrgggh. why did i allow it to happen! i am also sad because i’ll be leaving for manila this sunday already. i wanted to play all i can with the kids but they were already asleep when i got home. and i got home late ’cause i was updating my journal in the office.

* i am disappointed that they were not able to book me in one of the makati hotels we usually stay at when we have trainings there. so i’ll just be staying in the bank’s staff house somewhere i am not familiar with. and i’ll be sharing a room with five others. i mean, they knew about this training weeks ago so why didn’t they make a reservation then.i’m too tired to get mad.

* i am also happy despite being sad (haha, does it make sense?). happy because i learned that the staff house is just near A’s condo. happy that i’ll be going out with A ’til i’m sleepy, ill have no time to miss my family. and no time to study =).

* i’m thankful. and touched by A’s thoughtfulness. she asked if somebody will pick me up from the airport. she wants to but she has an out-of-town work to do. even if she won’t be able to do it, i am touched by the thought alone. thanks a lot, dearest A.

* i have been researching how to go to the training venue from where i’ll be staying. yes, been to manila for 88 years but i still don’t know my way around.

* i am sad. and tired. but grateful for my other blessings.

have to call it a day. good night everyone.

should i be flattered? =)

i attended a party last night and met a college schoolmate. it has been almost five years since we last saw each other. we talked for almost an hour and then he told me “wala gyud ka nausab. ni-gain lang ka’g weight pero ang imong nawng, mao ra gyud gihapon. wala gyud ka nitiguwang, sal (people at UP know me as Salome). ” i didn’t know what to say but i thanked him with an ear-to-ear grin nevertheless. and i’m still smiling now =).

call me vain but i mentioned his remark to another UPian who also used to be my colleague. i can’t stop smiling when she sent me this message: bitaw mi, you look the same ra man. sakto si bong. mas ni glow gani ka now that you’re married. wow to the nth level! it surely made my day =) i just wish it will take away my migraine.

i don’t think it’s only my figure that has changed. mo-evolve man gyud na ang tawo. i was dark then, i have fairer complexion now =) as another college schoolmate commented, i look a whole lot prettier now. haha.

i just had to…

…call the manager of PAL SM Cebu ticket office about her staff’s bad service yesterday. i was restless, i regret not giving that noreen a piece of my mind. and as a customer, i always give feedback, positive or otherwise. i was even surprised i wasn’t able to react right there. but then again, maybe something was telling me she’s not worth my time.

i learned that i was actually the nth person to complain about the way she handles customers. and she has been reprimanded a lot of times already. according to the manager, she has actually already changed a bit (wow! i wonder how bad she was before)! i also learned that before i went there yesterday, a gay also complained about her and even confronted her. i told the manager that she did not even do the SOP of recapping to me the details of my booking before issuing the tickets. and so, she made a mistake in issuing minoy’s ticket and had to reissue. the manager took note of it ’cause i think it’s a no-no to be reissuing tickets. she assured me that she will call her attention. i’m just hoping that it doesn’t end there. she has to change, the customers deserve good service.

for whatever it’s worth, i gathered that this noreen is a manilena and was transferred here from NAIA ticket office. she requested for transfer because her husband, who works for a pharmaceutical company, was assigned here. they said that maybe that’s how they serve clients in manila. oh well!