Sige sige

Unbelievable talaga ang admin/HR dito sa opisina ko. Ang labo, men. Ilang buwan na nyang dine-delay ang payroll ko, tapos ganito:

Dahil kada a-singko ng buwan ay dapat nai submit na ang forms daling sa nakaraang buwan, para makuha mo ang sweldo mo sa katapusan (na hindi pa nangyari sa buong buhay ko ever), nag-submit ako ng forms nung Biyernes. Time sheet ito, kung saan araw na ginawa ng diyos ay isusulat mo kung ano ang silbi mo. Ngayon lang ako naka-encounter nang ganito bagay, at sa totoo lang, malala pa pala ito sa pinapasulat sa amin nung Theology teacher ko sa uste na 'good deeds/bad deeds list' na kulang nalang ay ipakulam nya ako, nang meron akong maisulat.

Imagine. Araw araw. Sabi nila, madali lang naman yun, copy paste lang at recycle. Wala--hindi talaga ako naging kumportable sa bagay na ganito--yung tipong para kang bata, kailangan isulat ang ginawa mo nung summer vacation.

Ngayon, mabalik tayo--itong si miss maganda ay lagi nalang bumi bingo sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Galit kaya sya sa akin? Nang aasar lang? Kada magsa submit nalang ako nung time sheet (AT isa pang time sheet, this time wala nang detalye ng mga pinag gagagawa ko), may bad news sya. Kesho mali daw yung binigay nyang deadline. Mali yung sinulat ko, o wala nang time. Kung pwede ngang isulat nalang nya na ayaw nya, gagawin nya eh. pramis.

So ang naging mga resulta ay--2 buwang delayed na sweldo, pag hihirap at stress.

Tapos ngayon, nag submit nga ako nung Biyernes (ika-2). Ang tapos ng Sept kasi ay nung Wednesday (ala namang mag submit na ako nung forms nyan, eh hindi pa tapos ang araw. Hindi naman ako nambobola ng timesheet noh), at may sakit ako nung Thursday, so ang tanging panahon na lamang para mag submit ay nung Biyernes. Tama naman, diba? Oct 5 ang deadline eh.

eh wala pala sya ng Biyernes. (face palm here)

So ngayon, na wala akong pasok, magse send sya sa akin ng email na mukhang hindi aabot ang documents ko for the deadline.

eyng? Hindi ko na gets. Panong hindi, eh ngayon yung deadline? Nag submit na ako, nung Biyernes pa.

Eh kasi daw, ise send nya ng internal mail sa Finance, at aabutin daw yun ng 2 araw pa.

So--baka sa katapusan nalang daw ng November ko makukuha yung sweldo ko from the month of September.

Ano daw ang masasabi ko.

Sige.

sige na nga.

hindot ka,

pero sige.

randomness is good (and i want to be a cage manager)

cage manager.

ako, while discussing the future with jay... 

ako: (out of no where, butting in) pag may opening nga sa hotel eh, gusto kong pumasok, para maiba naman

jay: o? (wtf look)

ako: oo, gusto kong maging part nung future integrated resorts (excited). Parang napaka saya at promising.

jay: ano naman gagawin mo dun?

ako: nakita ko sa ads nila--cage manager.

jay: ah..ano ginagawa nun?

ako: edi nagma manage ng cage. anubah.

kamusta? cage manager pala ha... (image credit: adventureblog )

--

cake.

(narrating this is an irony, because it's a conversation between me (rica) and a friend (rica). yes, I actually have 2 friends named rica (not counting myself, anubuh).

on being a barely there, struggling academic in Singapore...

ako: para kasing ano eh, parang yung meron ka ngayon eh--parang cake. 

rica: ha?

ako: cake. eto yung cake na andyan, pero busog ka na.

rica: at ano naman yung other side of things?

ako: walang cake. haha

rica: hinde---yung kabilang side eh gutom na gutom ka, hindi madaling makuha yung cake, pero pag nakuha mo, masarap.

ako: aiyoh. tama. (nag isip pa) parang ano eh...

rica: ako, feeling ko this thing happening--is like an all day party. pero walang masaya.

ako: syet. 

---

i heart ben folds.

You Don't know me (with Regina Spektor)

I wanna ask you - 
Do you ever sit and wonder, 
It's so strange 
That we could be together for 
So long, and never know, never care 
What goes on in the other one's head? 

Things I've felt but I've never said 
You said things that I never said 
So I'll say something that I should have said long ago: 

(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all 
(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all (at all) 

You could have just propped me up on the table like a mannequin 
Or a cardboard stand-up and paint me (paint me) 
Any face that you wanted me 
To be seen. 
We're 
Damned by the existential moment where 
We saw the couple in the coma and 
It was we were the cliché, 
But we carried on anyway. 

So, sure, I could just close my eyes. 
Yeah, sure, trace and memorize, 
But can you go back once you know 

(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all 
(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all (at all) 

(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all 
(You don't know me) 
You don't know me 

If I'm the person that you think I am (Ah ah ahh) 
Clueless chump you seem to think I am (Ah ah ahhh) 
So easily led astray, 
An errant dog who occasionally escapes and needs a shorter leash, then
Why the f**k would you want me back?! 

Maybe it's because 

(You don't know me at all) 

Ahhh ah 
Ahhh ah 

(You don't know me, 
you don't know me.) 

Ahhh ah 
Ahhh ah 

So, what I'm trying to say is 
What (What?) 
I'm trying to tell you 
It's not gonna come out like I wanna say it cause I know you'll only change it. 
(Say it.) 

(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all 
(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all (at all) 

(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all 
(You don't know me) 
You don't know me at all (at all) 

What? 

---

ayun.

balitaan ko kayo pag cage manager na ako. :)

MALIIT.

May isa akong kakilala, house wife sya at nanay sa dalawang batang parehong pumapasok na sa eskwelahan. Nagbitiw sya sa trabaho (‘hindi naman kalakihan ang kita’), sa kadahilanang gusto nyang matutukan ang kanyang mga anak (‘madalas sila magkasakit’) na maliliit pa.
Mayroon syang maliit na negosyo na inilalako nya sa mga kaibigan at kapitbahay.
Si mister ang punong tagapagbigay nang halos lahat nang bagay na maibibigay nang pera.
Isang araw, kinagabihan matapos kumain at habang sya ay nagliligpit, pinuna ni mister ang estante: ‘tignan mo itong estante, ang dumi dumi na’. Binigyan nya nang sulyap ito, at inisip—kung paano, bukod sa pagwawalis araw araw nang may kalakihan nilang bahay, maisasama nya ang estante. ‘Tignan mo o...ano ba ang ginagawa mo dito sa bahay?’ dagdag nang haligi nang tahanan. Natigilan sya sa pag iisip, di mawari kung paano tatanggapin ang sinabi nang kabiyak na nagtutustos nang lahat nang pangangailangan nila. Naisip nya ang araw araw na kailangan nyang gumising nang maaga, para ipaghanda ang almusal nilang mag anak, para masigurado na may isusuot na damit si mister, at para mapakain ang panganay nya (‘na matagal ngumuya at matapos’) na pang umaga.

Ihahatid nya ito sa gate (kasama si bunso) nang eskwelahan matapos usisain kung natapos ba nito ang kanyang takdang aralin kagabi. Pag balik nang bahay, si bunso naman ang aasikasihun—paliliguan, sisiguraduhing kumain nang madami, naka-dumi na at ihahanda para sa pang hapon na klase. Mag-aayos sya nang bahay, na sa araw araw na ginawa nang diyos ay may kalat ng mga laruan sa sahig-- mga pinag gupitan na papel, at kung ano ano pang maaring matapon na malagkit o madulas. Pagkatapos ay ihahatid nya si bunso sa eskwelahan ('malapit lang naman'), at susunduin naman si ate sa kabilang eskwela. Magsasabi si ate sa kanya na kung maaari ay huwag na syang sunduin dahil malaki na sya. Oo, sya na pitong taong gulang ay malaki na, at hindi sya maaaring ma disgrasya sa pagtawid ng kalsada, o malapitan nang masasamang loob.
Uuwi sila nang bahay, at magwawalis sya. Madalas syang makipag usap sa telepono habang sya ay nag iimis. Iniaalok nya ang paninda nya sa mga kaibigan, kung hindi naman ay nakikipag kwentuhan sya sa mga taong interesadong malaman kung ano ang kalagayan niya.

Maiinis si ate dahil mauutusan nya itong magligpit nang iba pang kalat. Magwiwika sa ate na pagod sya, at ibabaling ang katamaran sa pagbababad nang nanay nya sa telepono. ‘Mama, kanina ka pa nakikipag tsimisan, tapos ako ang uutusan mong magligpit’. Nagpanting ang tenga nya. Narinig na nya iyong tono na yon dati. Sa asawa nya. Ang asawa nyang magaling na wala nang ginawa kung hindi sumang ayon sa lahat nang sasabihin nang anak nya, sa kadahilanang ayaw nyang makipag talo:

Pag sya ay ‘hindi puwede’, si mister ay ‘Sige lang’.
Pag sinabi nyang tapusin ang takdang aralin at irarason ni ate na pagod na sya (at ipapahinga nya ang mata sa pamamagitan nang panunuod nang telebisyon), sasang ayon si mister kay ate. Hindi na tuloy naniniwala si ate sa kanya, at ang huling salita ay kay itay.

Bakit nga naman sya ang masusunod, eh hindi naman sya ang nagpapakain sa kanila?
Hindi naman sya ang nagpapakahirap sa pagtatrabaho (na ayon sa mga kalalakihan na de pamilya ay ang tanging paraan para makaiwas sa responsibilidad sa bahay) at pagkita nang pera?

Bakit, ano ba sya?

‘Bakit, ano ba ako? Katulong nyo ba ako?’ nagbalik ang kanyang diwa sa pang-kasalukuyan.
‘Porke’t hindi ako ang kumukita nang pera, wala na ba akong karapatan magpahinga—o masunod?’
Natigilan ang buong bahay, ngunit pang samantala lamang.
‘Sige, tignan ko lang, pag nawala ako. Kung hindi gumuho ang mga mundo nyo. Gaano ba ka 'di importante itong ginagawa ko, at kailangan akong kastiguhin at maliitin? ’
Hindi sya nagsalita muli, at nanahimik nang tuluyan.
Basa pa ang mga sampay. Bukas nga pala—anong ulam?

You gotta be kidding me..

I can’t believe the Manilenyo mentality.
After undergoing a certain bank’s security check over the phone...
Caller: Are you Filipina?
Ako: yes.
Caller: Ma’m, Filipino po ako. Kamusta po? (as of the accent is not obvious!)
Ako: No, hindi ko kelangan ng card nyo,
Caller: Ma’m, taga saan po kayo sa atin?
Ako: (entertaining mood) sa Laguna
Caller. Waw, ang layo.
Ako: ah, okay.
Caller: Ma’m, yung bosses nyo po kasi hindi parang taga probinsya.
Ako: (papatulan ko na to) eh taga city ako eh. May city naman sa Laguna.
Caller: Oh. Hindi ko alam yun ah—para kasing yung accent nyo po, pang-Manila. Parang hindi taga---
(BLAG!)

Ibig sabihin ba non, eh pag taga probinsya ka, ‘iba’ ang English mo? Maganda ba yon, o hinde? (Im casting my naiveté here) Ibig sabihin ba nun, eh basta taga Manila ka, magaling kang mag-ingles, at kung taga probinsya ka, nasa ‘sub standard’ ka lang? Sa totoo lang, kung pwede lang sabihin dito, everytime they ask me ‘Where are you from?’ instead of saying ‘Manila’ (kasi, haller, dalawa lang ang lugar sa Pinas na kilala nila—Manila o Davao), I’d say ‘Laguna’. As if being proudly from the ‘cuidad’ is even a good thing. Sige nga, give me something you Manilenyo’s are so freaking proud about? Intramuros? SM Malls (na meron din kami)? Glorietta? (Again, in the norm that Manila means Manila, Makati and Quezon City) English nila? Bleh. Pwidi bah.

I was born in Manila. I lived in Manila. I even studied there. But Laguna raised me. I grew in Laguna. And darn proud of it!
And yes—I get that ‘anung ginagawa nyo pag weekend? Nangingisda?’ question all the time.
So no insensitive, geography ignoramus can’t comment on my English.
Pakers.

A Major Rant

Singapore opens matchmaking institute in May
SINGAPORE : Singapore will have a new institute that provides
matchmaking services from next month. Called the Matchmaking Institute Southeast Asia, it also provides training to matchmaking companies. Finding love is
getting more difficult because many Singaporeans simply do not have the time. So
the new matchmaking institute aims to give singles a hand.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received 44
feedback and queries about matchmaking agencies in 2007. This was up from 37 in
2006 and just 16 the year before. Most were complaints about unsatisfactory
services. A key concern among customers is how their personal data will be
used. So the institute plans to have two databases, both accessible with
consent. One will hold all the personal information submitted by interested
singles, and another will be shared with companies.
"All the companies or matchmakers (...) have to let their clients know that some of the information, but not (their) personal information or contact information, might
be shared with other matchmakers," said Violet Lim, Executive Director, Matching
Institute Southeast Asia. The new institute aims to raise the standards of
matchmaking service in Singapore. It is offering a S$1,000 scholarship to the
first 10 people to sign up for the courses offered. Currently, more than 200
businesses are registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory
Authority providing friendship, matchmaking and dating services, up from 192
in April last year. —
CNA /ls

Serious? Are you freakin, kidding me?

caveat: Ive toned this down a bit, because I am very much aware that it might hurt some sensibilities (to the tune of 'langhyang babae ito, porke't may jowa na't masaya, ayaw kaming mga single na biyan ng chance' (in english: we're single, you are not. why are you complaining?)). Anyway, the only piece of advise I can give to 'those' people who claim they can't find the right person, and have not much time doing so, 'therefore fill up the matching making agency forms' pay lots of money and trust a computer can generate a good match is this: if you dont have the time to search for one, what made you so sure you'll have the time to keep one, anyway? Getting the right person does not equate to buying an expensive plant (on one hand, plants need attention as well). You can't just buy it, display it, and leave it in your house while you go about being busy, expecting it to be at its best whenever you're around. Anu ka, hilo?

Talk about institutionalising three things which frankly, I dont think should be related: bad taste, finding love and governance. As if getting a partner from an agency assures you eternal bliss. Hello—if you dont have the time to find a partner or even better, get into a relationship, who says you can afford to keep it? Any reasonable person can see that match making is not the key to this special case of first world countries called ‘underpopulation’. Its called improvement of quality of life, honey. Business execs call it time management, but really—its just about improving your social skills and freeing up some time in your hectic schedule to accomodate a relationship. Its not just about getting some ‘institution’ to fix you up with someone, anu ba. People who are perfect for each other even have troubles in keeping it together. Im not sure if this is ‘baby’ propaganda, and if it is—sadly, they are not getting the point. Why would governments venture into ‘pairing up’ their citizens in the first place, if not for a certain purpose? Boosting the population rate via match making may be cute, it its myopic. How many dysfunctional families can result to such measures which involve speed dating or filling up a form indicating all your likes and dislikes? Getting your people to have kids and have a family is not even supposed to be your business. Relationships, like economic tools are complicated, and believe me—they take time. They are more complicated than birth rates and economic statistics primarily becuase, well—they are not bound by figures and goals ‘towards building the thriving national economy’. They are based on long term decisions which bring about ‘valuables’ that no monetary absolute can peg against, like happiness and love which then again are not as simple as they seem. So please, let your citizens mind their own business, and provide a better life for families instead. Thats basically it. Kung hindi naman kayo parang teenagers mag-isip. Its not just about getting one—its about keeping one.