BY YOUR SIDE

Lights were splendid. Music was playing. I don't know what's the occasion about but certainly there was a celebration. People were loud and they were all drunk dancing. I stayed in the entrance looking for one familiar face. Looked to the left then looked to right, can't seem to find the face that I would want to see.

Finally, I saw what I've been wanting to see. And there you were laughing with your friends. You were wearing that shirt you wore last night. You looked good in it. And I could smell from a far the sweet scent of your skin from that last embrace we had. I tasted my lips and there was the sugary taste of yours. I moved closer so you could somehow see me and be with me for the rest of that night. But I failed to lose distance from you when you walked away without even looking back. I ran after you, screaming your name. You didn't look back. You went on walking. Then on a busy street I finally caught up on you. I held your arms so tight to pull you back. You looked at me and asked me to go back where I've been. You pulled away. With that sarcastic smile and laugh at your face. Flabbergasted, I stayed in that spot. Feeling heavy and couldn't utter more. I was hurt. Deeply hurt. I closed my eyes and let every tear fall.

As I opened it, I heard a sound of an alarm clock. A singing kid woke me up from my sleep. Stunned, I rolled my eyes around the room. Still remembering that really awful dream. Yes, it was just a dream. A personification of my mind's delusional worries. But the room was poignant. Probably because of that dream.

It felt warm on the other side of the bed. I turned to it and saw you there. You were there beside me, with the funny snore that I make fun of. You've been sleeping. You've been with me through the night. How dare me to forget that you were with me.I carefully slid my hand onto yours trying hard not to wake you up. I held a grip and slowly leaned my head near yours. And at that moment, I could not be any happier. I felt safe. I felt warm. And I feel the reality that has beaten a fantasy.

Now I know why you asked me to go back. Its to go back to where I could be much happier than even in my dreams---By your side.

SOCIETY'S DISEASE



It was around three o'clock in the afternoon when I went online to check my mails. Much to my surprise Cindy, a good friend of mine back in college was online too. After I "buzzed" her, the chat went on and on.

She's not happy. That's the bottom line. After taking up a four-year course and crash courses in music, she complains about her work. She's a call center agent. I was not surprise, a lot of my high-school acquaintances have ventured on that industry that aren't happy as well. When I asked her why she isn't happy, she only needed to say the right few words.... "THIS IS NOT MY PASSION."

Financial constraints. Most probably, this is the reason why most people specially the younger aged bracket are very much interested in working in the call-center industry. After all, they are the predominant target market of such industries. Who wouldn't want a high salary? These industries offer such high compensations for their employees which technically mobilizes the growth of call centers in the country. About a month ago, I passed by Baclaran, and was stunned to see the billboard of a call center company filled with three phrases. But the one that really made a recall to me was the line "GREAT PAY". Even I was enticed by that copy. In the economic status that the country is going through today, who wouldn't want a great pay? We all do. But the mere fact that the billboard promotes the company's ability to "pay you good" and considering the hype of it at this point in time, that only goes to show and justifies the lowness of the society. They seem like talking to a dumb money-sucking society. Eventually, those people who are bent down in their blue collar-jobs and the students who are supposed to be at school and educating themselves are so enticed. The result? The booming industry of call centers.

The seemingly-iconic lifetyle of call center agents. When you roam around the places of Libi's, Malate, Greenbelt and other places that used to be leisure haven for upper market, you see lots of young people. Most of them are call center agents. I remeber bumping into an acquaintance, we had a little talk while we were standing in front of a mall. She looked very different. She used to be a nobody in school but seeing her in her glittery make-up and nice set of clothes she could strut a photoshoot at that moment. She works for a call center company and she tells me proudly the different bars she's hopped on. She enjoys the night-life-- getting drunk, partying, socializing. Good for her. Atleast she's exploring. Hehehe. Most of the call center agents I know have one commonality. Its their lifestyle. And its amazing how I can easily identify agents just by how they look like and how they speak. But the point is this--- We live in the society where everyday of our lives, we get to have atleast a pinch of poverty and everyday we see how hard it is to live in a nearly-jeopardized economy. And because of these circumstances, people are more encourged to answer calls from irate customers just so they could live a much comfortable life. It is a wealthy industry. So wealthy that they could make you live you like a superstar.

I sympathize for my friend Cindy, not only because she was just dragged into working in that industry for some reasons but also for her passion. Everything that is not nourished could possibly be gone. Among the thousands of agents answering calls everyday, how many of them are great artists? how many of them have greater skills than just speaking "hello good morning this is..."? The truth is? There are alot of them. And Cindy is one of them. But this industry is slowly becoming a temple of desperation.

As long as the economy is catching its breath to survive, people could still turn their backs on their passion and drive on the fast lane where regrets could be met somewhere. And i foresee it as a step by step process to becoming a stigma.

The bottom line is that we all want a comfortable life with absolutely no shortcomings.

HAPPY!

I just got in touch with my old friends and we are all happy. Amazing. Its so surreal how at one point in our lives everyone is celebrating. This is way better than splurging on some sweet chocolates. Hahahaha.

Grace, is now a branch manager of a food chain, Pam has just been appointed as a company nurse after passing the board, khaye is finally graduating and will start to hunt for job, Pao is currently working in ASIAN HOSPITAL in Muntinlupa and I am happy working now in the field where I really want to be, and Joanna is now a part of a Tourism agency after finishing college.

Walang sawang gala na ito. Hahahaha!
Planuhin na ang mga outing!

Ahahaha!

SOUL SEARCHING



1. How are you?
I think I'm fine.

2. Are you happy now?
Sa ibang aspeto ng buhay oo, pero sa iba hindi.

3. Bakit?
Ewan ko. I think its because of something I couldn't figure out.

4. Any big plans ahead?
Not that big. But I'm finally moving out of our home. Live independently.

5. Have you thought about that decision?
Yeah. Its for the good.

6. What do you wanna do now?
Sleep. O kaya kumain.

7. Something that makes you upset right now?
Yeah. My belly. Tumataba na ako. And I'm sitting here na ipit ang tiyan.

8.Do you feel pressured?
Yeah. Sobra.

9. Are you handling things well in your life?
I'm in control right now. But i foresee loosing it someday. Feeling ko hindi ko kakayanin.

10. What makes you happy.?
Mornings.

11. Who makes you happy?
As of now si Buddha talaga.

12. If there's something you wanna do that could release your tensions, what would that be?
Sagada. Gusto ko pumunta dun, and wake up in the cold breeze. Haaay.

13. Are you happy the way you are?
OO. kung one sided. Pero kung may kasma nang ibang tao. medyo na lang ata.

14. Do you feel good abut yourself.
Yeah.

15. Why did you choose to make this post?
Ewan ko nga eh. Naisipn ko lang.

16. Greatest fear as of now?
Loosing control. Ayoko, I want to get hold of everything.

17. Greatest achievement?
Finally settling down into something I've always been needing.

18. Happy?
Natanong na to ha? OO. masaya

19.Are you sure?
Yeah.

20. What do you tell the world when you wake up?
"Toady is going to be the best day of my life"