The Year that Was Uhmmmm

Year 2007 is just a few hours away and no one else is more worried than the capricorn bear takeshi. With the year 2006 calendars about to be pulled off from walls and thrown out of the house, I am forced to think about those ugly moments I went through and hope that they would be thrown out of my mind as I peel off December 2006 from the living room wall.  It’s 525,600 minutes as mentioned from RENT’s opening piece Seasons of Love. But how did I measure a year in the life of Capricorn Takeshi Bear?  

For the most part of the year, I have been struggling with the thought of whether or not to finally quit my job and move on to another. The struggle did not happen this year alone. In fact it started days after I was hired in GenChem and the scuffle did not leave me ever since. Although at the course of time, I was able to work myself up in the company ladder, the rewards for catapulting my self higher than the rank and file were inadequate. A lot of things were missing and some important things never came to be.  

Dare I say that 2006 will be measured in several struggles to free myself from being abused and exploited in the workplace? It may have sounded like I was enslaved by the company but sadly for the most part of the year, I actually was. But I had been constantly fighting back any attempts by anyone who wanted to manipulate me or take advantage of me. But this year, I decided to put an end to all these struggles by quitting my post and explore other options.   So now that I am technically free from the clutches of weird, technically-inept and ugly bosses, there are a lot of possible things to do. But for now, I need to find a closure for 2006 so that I could move on and embrace the life I would be having for 2007. Aside from the things that happen at work, there are quite a few things that are worth remembering. 

1. My sister Bevs, the eldest in the brood of 6 went home for the first time in about 7 years last October and celebrated her birthday and the town fiesta with us. Five days after, she left without saying goodbye and fled back to
   Canada after the family confronted her about her life. She is expecting a baby next month but as of this writing, it is still unclear who the father is.
2. Santiago was in luck when he finally won the bid for a company car that was up for liquidation. It was a green 2000 Toyota Corolla. The irony was, the car was in
   Manila at the height of Typhoon Milenyo and with Mother Nature’s approval, some branches of ancient Acacia tree fell on the hood and trunk covers and smashed the car’s rear wind shield.
3. Baby Kim was born and became the first grandchild of
   Santiago and Felma. She’s my younger sister Christine’s daughter. Baby Kim (Kirsten Marie in the birth certificate) is a Leo and we find it hard to take pictures of her smiling.
4. Sister Ken has a good close friend YOVA (Kenneth Paul Alonzo in real life). YOVA auditioned for the first season of Philippine Idol. Although he didn’t make it to the top 24, YOVA was made to compete for the KAKAIBANG IDOL and won. I was there on the performance night along with a couple of friends. I was seen on National TV for the first time (this is the point really hehehe)
5. September 27 was the day Typhoon Milenyo arrived in
   Cavite. I was in the office when the strong angry wind and the heavy rains destroyed much of the company’s roofs. I was stranded in the office for about 6 hours. After the storm, I found it extremely difficult to take a ride home. I walked at least 5 kilometers and bravely walked through the flooded streets of General Trias (old name is Malabon). There’s a small dam near the town center but because of the heavy precipitation, the river swell and water overflowed onto the streets of Malabon. The water was almost waist deep and it was my first time to wade in murky brown floodwaters. Typhoon Milenyo left
   Cavite in ruins. Electricity went back after 2 weeks.
6. I hosted a party for the first time. By hosting I meant offering my house to my guests and friends. It was a send-off party for me cause at that time, I have already submitted my resignation letter. The party happened on December 10, the same day that Typhoon Reming visited
   Luzon and brought heavy rains to Gen. Trias. In spite of the weather disturbance, the party was a huge success. They said it was the best house party yet. Those who didn’t come were envious.  

Dare I say these are some of the highlights of 2006. I hope 2007 will be better. Happy New Year Folks!!!

JE DOIS ALLER OÚ?

I have never been in this kind of situation before. For the first time in as many years I am faced with the stark reality that life is extremely tough without cash in the coffers. I have already resigned from my job as a production manager of a medium-scale petrochemical manufacturing company. It took me 5 years to finally decide to quit the post and close this chapter of my existence. It was a month ago when I handed my four-week notice-letter to my boss.  

My stint at General Chemicals would definitely go down in the annals of my capriconean life. And now I am free and terrified. Je n’ai pas d’argent!!! I don’t have much money! Mais, Je dois aller oú? But, where must I go? What must I do??? The Capricorn bear Takeshi is scared. Well…. 

Scared as I am, I do not want to remain unemployed forever. I don’t want to be an added burden to
Santiago (my father) and Felma (my mom) too. They already have a lot of things to shoulder. They still have to support my younger brother and sister to a nursing school. Having another mouth to feed is not a welcome suggestion to them. They rather prefer me to bring something to the table and contribute for the groceries, utility bills, etc. 

It’s the holiday season. To be jobless at this time of the year is quite uncomfortable and unbearable. People scurrying here and there, doing last minute trips to the shopping malls looking for presents to give on Christmas day. Workers attend yuletide parties and exchange gifts while dancing to the beat of Willie Revillame’s BOOM TARAT TARAT and all. A jobless person like me is left with no choice but be forced to stay at home and pin his humps on the couch and suffer from listening to Willie Revillame’s BOOM TARAT TARAT and WOWOWEE. 

Of course people with no money will be forced to stay at home. But for me, I’ve been enjoying the last remaining days of the year both at home and away. The days have been fun and extremely rewarding. Most of the events were related to my exit from General Chemicals like the send-off / despedida, the last company christmas party, bar hops, house soiree etc.  

In just a few days, 2006 will be over. Mais, je dois aller oú? Well, in the next couple of entries, I will be able to come up with answers already.