My "September 1" friends

Time just passes so quickly that I haven't realized that it's already been a couple of years when I was hired in Metrobank(where I stayed only for like couple of months).

September 1, 2009, that is. And it just feel so good to reminisce on the experience that I had. Setting my foot on Cebu and Manila for the first time, meeting new friends, and leaving the banking world after 2 months to have more travels around the country. I guess, the Metrobank experience just served as a first step, a commencement for more travels.Haha. After Metrobank, as I can remember, I've gone to Negros Occidental-Nueva Vizcaya-Baguio-Banaue-Benguet-Gen San-Cebu-Quezon Province-Pangasinan-La Union, and many places I never thought I'd be able to visit. 

Anyhow, I'm so thankful for these trips and travels but somehow a big part of all of these work experiences, that seemed so distressing yet heartwarming, difficult but influential, disturbing yet edifying, still belongs to the Metrobank experience. In a way, it taught me how to be more careful in making decisions and in managing stress at work. And most of all, it led to me to meeting remarkable friends, Some of whom remained good advisers in the religious and spiritual aspect of my life, Aimee and Genvieve to name the two.

A couple of hours of talk with Aimee and Genvieve seemed not enough to talk just about how the two years has been for the three of us. It's amazing how these girls have survived to the ever so stressful life in Metrobank. Perhaps it's mainly because of their faith in God that they can withstand whatever there is that will come their way.

Aimee sounded so tired when I called her @ 10 PM after her duty in their branch. But still Aimee managed to laugh about how we've called Metrobank's VICE-PRESIDENT of the Visayas Area while we were still in the middle of the employment process. Well, to think of it, it was really inappropriate for us to easily call someone of that level in the company complaining about our suspicion and vague assumptions about Metrobank's hiring process. haha. Thanks to Sir Bernie, for somehow he was so understanding and we made it through the whole process at that time.

But the best part of the process was the training in Makati where we've met a number of individuals from other parts of the country. Videoke at Music 21, that is, was the height of the momentous experience we had together with the Countryside Metrobankers.

Here are some pics taken 2 years ago:

Gino, LLoydie, Sir Cedrick, Genvieve, Nai2x, Toni, Aimee, Kim and Sir Arjay

Kantahan @ Music 21 KTV

Pose after the training

Remembering Kuya Bonong

 "I've survived!", I exclaimed as I realize that my first anniversary with the company has already passed. August 3, that is, and today's already August 13. I thought I couldn't survive working in such a company whose first impression came to me as a miser, wicked and unloving company, unworthy of love from its employees. I got these impressions from the people I met on my first day in the company. However, somehow these impressions have changed through time. Most especially when I was transferred to the Department that gave me a sense of belonging. If given the chance to live again, I probably wouldn't change a thing. For if I would, I wouldn't be able to meet a whole bunch of people who've made my one year a mixture of stressful and happy moments.


My first anniversary week however, I realized, has been marked by a series of mourning and I still can't imagine how things have gone in just about a week's time:


*August 3 (Wednesday. my first year in the Certeza), Ate Lala's father succumb to death after his struggle with his illness. Though I haven't met him while he's still alive, I've known details of his existence from stories told by Ate Lala.


*August 4 (thursday), Kuya Gary, one of drivers, was found unconscious in his jeep and died a day after being admitted to the hospital.


*And just this last Monday afternoon August 8, Kuya Bonong, with whom I spent the First Order South Luzon and NGCP Projects, passed away just a week after being rushed to the hospital after a stroke struck him leaving the other half of his body dead for about 7 days.


I really thought he'd make it. The morning of August 8, I heard Kuya Godo saying, "Bonong is striving and is improving, he can now lift his hand and even smiled at me when I left for Manila yesterday". I was expecting then to see Kuya Bonong probably in a wheel chair but able to speak. I was even planning to visit him in his house while he'll be undergoing his therapy. The sad part is, by the afternoon, a text came from someone from the hospital in Lucena informing Kuya Godo that Kuya Bonong is gone.


"Too soon", I told myself. Kaso, hindi ako si God. And if only I could, I would have given him another chance. For his children...for his loving wife... for his friends... for the people who needs his service... and for the people who needs to see his smile. Of the three persons that left, Kuya Bonong has been the dearest to me. For I've spent almost all my wanderings in North and South Luzon with him. And whenever I think of North Luzon, he'll always be a part of it. I can still vividly recall how we've spent the Holy week working in La Union. Away from our families, our loved ones, but still managed to survive the loneliness by singing along in the resort's videoke. Spending a week in Nueva Vizcaya with him has also made me feel like I have my father beside me, all ready to help and support me. I can just remember the time when I have to go the internet shop in the town of Bayombong at 12 AM yet he still offered to fetch me up. Those times when we have to wake up at 1 AM to travel from one place to another, ugh, those were the stressful times we've shared but had somehow became lighter because of my wonderful team.


And though Ate Lala has been disappointed with him when he intimidated Philip during the last league of the NGCP South Luzon flight, I AM NOT and NEVER WILL I BE. For I know the exact reasons behind Kuya Bonong's action, and Ate Lala can never relate to it.


Kuya Bonong's burial will be on Saturday, August 13 in Perez, Quezon. Though the First Order Team will never be complete again without you, the beautiful memories will forever remain in our hearts.

    Farewell Kuya Bonong. Drive Safely to heaven.

     A Big THANK YOU!!! for a Big Man.

November 8, 1961 - August 8, 2011

Constant Change

4:44 in the afternoon and I suddenly felt so sad. The gloomy sky, the depressing sound of the waves, and the thought of spending the night alone added up to the cheerless and depressing atmosphere of the place. Tonight will be my 4^th night in Pinamalayan. And it’s just become boring each night. The first night was spent with the 3 teams, with drinking sessions; the 2^nd and 3^rd with one team; and now, I’ll be all alone. The survey teams have arrived at 12 noon after their 10-hour observation in Bongabong and Bulalacao and left after I've downloaded the data from their instruments.

I know there is more to what I have described that put up the sadness that’s in me right now. “I’m just on emo-mode”, I thought. But no. I just found out 2 reasons: (1) the projects going to end; and (2) Ate Lala will soon be leaving for Australia probably by October.

Life is a constant change ikanga. Ang ganda nga naman ng lyrics ng kanta ni Jose Mari Chan:

Photo taken during our trip from Batangas to Romblon

We’re on the road
We move from place to place
And oftentimes when I’m about to call it home
We’d have to move along
Life is a constant change

The friends we know we meet along the way
Too soon the times we share form part of yesterday
‘Cause life’s a constant change
And nothing stays the same, oh no

Clouds that move across the skies
Are changing form before our very eyes

Why couldn’t we keep time from movin’ on?
Hold on to all the years before this moment’s gone?
Why must we live the days at such a frightening pace?

We’re all like clouds that move across the skies
And changing form before our very eyes

Have we outgrown our Peter Pans and wings?
We’ve simply grown too old for tales of knights and kings
‘Cause life’s a constant change
And nothing stays the same, oh no.

Indeed, nothing really stays the same. Everything changes. At lahat ay may hangganan...This is just the sad reality of life. Though we want to hold on to something that we love so much... Something that we've become accustomed to doing or feeling -- still we have to let it go. Masakit nga lang isipin at tanggapin na kung kailan nakita mo na yung isang lugar kung saan ka masaya ay kailangan mong bitawan ito at pakawalan.

The Project is ending, and Ate Lala will soon be leaving. Should I be sad? I just am but I know I shouldn't be. I remember the negative impacts of being attached to this world from the homily of Fr. Mario. Sabi ni Father, being attached to your talents, your beauty, your wealth -- makes you proud and being too attached to your loved ones, friends, and even experiences -- makes you weak. You'll be too weak to let go of these things and when they go - you'll just go broken-hearted and frustrated. 

Hence, it is my challenge now not to get too attached to either of these things. Pero andito na eh. I remember myself in the past, secluding myself from people and it didn't turn out well. I guess, the remedy would be to hold to God and to always look on the brighter side. 

May takipsilim man, may bukang-liwayway din...hehe.(don't know if this is the right phrase). There's a rainbow always after the rain. Kung may katapusan, may bagong simula. With God in command, I shall be waiting for the new start to happen.

Romblon, Romblon

 Gumaca to Batangas = 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. We needed to catch the 5PM trip bound for Odiongan, Romblon 'cause if not, we shall have to wait for the next trip which will on the other day..thank God, we have this remarkable driver...na grabe magpatakbo..hehe.

  Batangas to Odiongan, Romblon = 5:00 PM to 3:30 AM

Montenegro Shipping Lines.

 Marble polishing...

Picture Lamination on marble stone plates...

Their marble products...

Romblon Plaza @ night.
Of course the flooring and posts are made out of marble.

Overlooking the town of Romblon, Romblon...

Pictures taken on top of the hill near RML-4 monument.