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Ngayon talaga ang kaarawan ng anak ko. Kaya lang naisip niya na kahapon (November 14) na lang ganapin ang kaunting pag titipon dahil darating mga ka eskwela niya sa Fatima College. Ngayong Huwebes ay wala silang pasok kaya makakapahinga siya.

Nagluto ako ng Sisig, nag steem ng Tilapia na nilagyan ko na mayonnaise tsaka binudburan ng sunog na bawang, nag ihaw ng bangus pinalaman ng kamatis at sibuyas, yung balat ng baka ginawa ko naman na sopas.

Mrs ko na ang nagluto ng Chopsuey at Spaghetti. Para ma kumpleto bumili ng kauting “RC” softdrinks at Kaunti ring Ice Cream.

Okay naman ang lahat nang may matanggap akong text message galling sa Supervisor ko na sarado na raw ang dalawang pidestrian crossing sa tapat naming(Ever Grand Central) at dun sa kabila na tapat naman ng Allied Bank. Maaring nasa 50 - 60 metro ang layo ng agwat ng dalawang ito.

“Ano” Sarado na naman. Eh! Nung sinarado yan halos isang taon (Nabuksan lang noong December,2006) bumagsak ang benta ng mga nangangalakal sa hilera ng lugar na yun. Tsaka nahihirapan mga tao lalo na yung gumagamit ng LRT. Sa halip na mapabilis ang kanilang pagtawid sa magkabilang kalsada ay umiikot pa sa mas malayo. Paano kung may mabigat kang dalahin. Kawawang Juan dela cruz.

Ang dami daw nilang nagawang sulat sa butihing Mayor Echiverri (ayun sa May ari ng ibang tindahan) bago daw ito nabuksan muli. Halos magkandalugi daw sila sa sobrang sama ng benta nila. At ngayon kung kailan mag papasko ay isasara uli. Ngayon ganitong panahon lamang sana makakabawi ng bentahan ang mga may ari ng tindahan dito.

Gaya ng Jollibee, Big Bob’s Pares, Zenco Footstep, Fairy Mart at Mister Donut.

Pagpasok ko ngayung umaga ay aking napagtanto ang dahilan. Opening Day pala ngayun ng Victory Mall. Nasa harapan mismo ng ginawaan ng Bagong Tawiran, Ang “Bagong Daan”. Hmm! Tela yata may amoy malansang isda na nangyayari. Pwede po ba yun na kung may bagong Mall ay bigla-bigla ililipat ang tawiran ng tao. Pwede po ba ito sa “HOY GISING”! O sa “IMBESTIGADOR” ! O sa “XXX” ng Channel 2.

Maraming nag chismis sa akin na (bulong –bulong) kasosyo daw? Meron pa akong narinig na Tong Ching daw. Ewan ko, nabibingi na ata ako.

May pinuntahan akong tao, bigay ng isang may ari rin ng isang tindahan upang makapagbigay sana ng linaw sa aming agam-agam Itinuro ako sa kanilang opisina sa may Biglang Awa St. Pwede daw lakarin ayun sa isang trabahador (kasi ang suot niyang uniform, initial ng hinahanap ko). Buti hindi ako naniwala at sumakay ako, medyo malayo talaga ha! Then sabi ng nung Driver ng jeep “apat na kanto yun na”. Limang kanto na nabilang ko wala pa rin. Pakatapos ng 2 tanong sa dalawang tao (yung isa hindi daw tagadoon) at lampasan ilang nababahang kalsada nahanap ko rin. Nag tanong ako sa “Information” pero wala akong nakuha kaya itinuro ako sa opisina. Ang lakas pa naman ng ulan, basang-basa na ako kahit may payong ako. Tila pinasok na ng tubig ang sapatos ko sa dami ng tubig baha na nilakaran ko.

Nakangiti akong sinalubong ng babae na nasa opisina sabay tanong kung ano daw ba ang sadya ko. Matapos kung ipaliwanag ang aking pakay at kung sino ang taong kailangan ko. Ay matunog na” wala ho dito” ang narinig ko. “Bihira siya dito at dun ho siya madalas mag opisina”. Bilis-bilis akong pumunta sa lugar na tinuran ng ale. Pagdating ko doon ay matunog uling “ Wala Pa ho” “Maulan kasi baka mamaya pa”. Mangiyak ngiyak na ako. Tinignan ko ang relo ko, mag alas onse na pala ng umaga. “Babalik na lang ako” sabi ko. Bumalik ako nang matuyo na ang medyas ko. Mag aalas kuatro na ng hapon. Ang sagot uli sa akin ng mga tao doon ay isa uling matunog na “Wala pa ho”, “ano ho ba ang sadya ninyo”?

Sa madaling salita, walang nangyari. Mabuti at nasalubong ko si Pareng Kanor na animo Abogado de kampanilya kung mag isip. Ang Payo niya, “Pare, punta ka sa Ombudsman o kaya sa Congress, Doon ka mag reklamo.” Nakita mo na, tatango-tango akong lumisan at sabi ko sa sarili ko,” Isusulat ko na lang ito dito.”

Kung sino man ay may “Suggestion” kung paano namin gagawan ng solosyun ang aming suliraning ito, paki sagot po lamang at kung maging tama ang inyong mungkahe bibigyan namin kayo ng isang kahon ng Mister Donut. Promise!

Taytay Branch is supposed to be the training ground of future manager. Prior to my assignment here, in a span of five years that it was opened, 7 ABM (Assistant Branch Manager) have already handled this branch store. Upon their promotion to Branch Manager they would be given bigger branches to handle.

Our branch is located along busy street of Rizal Avenue. The so called “Little Venice”, If the rain continuously fall without letup for 30 minutes, chances are that the black, murky, smelly water coming from the adjacent Market would come out and run, rise in volume faster than a speeding train. Your only consolation is when the downpour of rainwater would be coming in from Antipolo area (Antipolo is on higher Ground). The brownish /reddish (color of Antipolo soil) color of water would merge and combine to the blackish water right in your very eye. The scene created is like putting coffee cream on your coffee. Fantastic isn’t it. A half-hour more of continuous rain would raise the water to waistline area (if your height is 5’4”). Just Imagine if you are standing at 4” feet, you could have drowned. The only vehicle that could pass is bus like “G-Liner”. The next day, console yourself if the vinyl tiles of your floor are still there and you only need adhesives to put it back.

Handling a branch for the first time had given me a lot of challenges, experiences and vast knowledge and tested my decision-making skill. Here I was asked a lot questions, alibi and excuses that when I listed them I was able to create a “Book Of Alibi”. So the next time that they would absent themselves, they will tell me the code number of their reason (Example No. 1 Reason-Due to L.B.M).”Sir, I can’t report for work due to No. 1 reason”. Funny and cute isn’t it? But there’s many variation (like in Playing Chess) when it comes to being late. They would blame all other people except themselves.

Firing personnel due to different reason for me is the hardest part of my job. We are talking here not only the concern person but also the family that will be affected. I have to do it especially after the peak day of December where we have to reduce our manpower by almost 30 %. We increase our number of personnel by that much also during peak month.

We have to take into consideration the performance of each personnel that we have to retain. Getting feedback from our staff, I would analyze and make decision.

My first December came and I have to tell Nena (Not he real Name) that her performance is okay but we have to reduce our personnel. She cried and told me that she is willing and would do anything just to have work because she badly needed the job. After finally convincing her that the decision had been made and was given the assurance that we would call if her services were needed. She signs the necessary paper and bade goodbye.

January of third week (Year 1990) when an “owner” type jeep arrives and parked in front of our store. It was a sunny mid afternoon. Nena emerge from the jeep with her father. Smiling, showing her white almost perfect-bite denture, she warmly extend her hand to mine. We shook hand and she happily told me her story.

Without a job and nothing to do, she decided to go to their province in “Quezon”(Southern Part Of Luzon). An Ant of her sold her the one ticket that would entitle the winner one “passenger Jeepney”as jackpot prize. The price of one raffle ticket is P100. Her Aunt bought two but decided to sell one to her because she needed the money. Draw date was December 31,1989.

She bought the ticket just to help her Aunt but lady luck smiled on her and she won the Fist Prize. She sold the “passenger jeepney”, bought an owner type jeep then the rest of the money she used to buy a lot used as coconut plantation.

She came over to thank me. If not for me, she would remain to be a saleslady.
God really works in many mysterious ways. In awe, I almost give-in to her request to extend her contract a few more months. But I firmly stand by my decision. Her love for her family had her traveling and finding job somewhere else only to know that her fortune lies in her province.

I stayed here from March 1,1989 up to July 31,1993. Remembering other stories to be told would take some time.

This Branch had given me “Best Branch” and “Best Manager”(Year 1989,1991) two times. And was only transferred to other branch when it was gutted down by fire due to carelessness of grocery store neighbor.

I have read somewhere only three things are permanent in this world.

1. Taxes
2. Death
3. Changes.

Whether we like it or not, we would have to pay our taxes, face death and adjust to changes.

This I realize when I was a kid growing up in Ongpin. There was this barbershop named “Ben’s Barber Shop”. A barber named

“Mang Tony” is my favorite because he has a lot of stories to tell. He is in early 60’s. Despite his age he is robustly built and had sharp eye. He could discuss anything under the sun (“perhaps including under the moon”-Joke). Nobody win’s discussing any subject when he is around. If not, they would say “If only Mang Ben is here, you could not say that to him.”

I make it a point to just hang around if I don’t have anything to do just to hear him and learned something.

He is also good at playing “Dama”. Whenever he is on the lead or on a winning position, you could receive a lot of insult and tease. You would end up with a red face in embarrassment. He seems to be a very happy man and can speak with authority.

One time, one customer made the mistake of discussing with him about Religion and Belief in particular. The man believes in “Natural Resources” as their God. The Air we breathe, the sun, the moon and the Stars. We were all laughing in our heart content and Mang Ben seems to be wining when he deliver the killer blow, “What about the wind coming from Electric Fan, and those coming from your ass, Is that God Too!”

Daily discussion of different topic had me questioning his intelligence. Is he really brilliant or only great in giving philosophical answer?

Then as years past, I saw him less maybe due to old age. People started talking about him. Then I realize that he is not really great. These people who always “loose” from their discussion actually wanted to stop to put an end to the topic. Not because they actually loose.

Then I realize that Mang Ben is actually stubborn and hardheaded and never listens to other people. He doesn’t believe that something in him should be change. That his attitude should be change. That for him he is and should always be right.

The year before I graduated from my elementary school, Mang Ben died. He died with his belief that he is genius and intelligent.

Saw this posted in one Book Store “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

Thanks Ivy, now I know!. The Serinity Parayer. “Googled” it and here I found.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/special/serenity.html

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
–Reinhold Niebuhr

Please help me to pass this http: / / acquirewisdom. blogspot. com/ 2007/ 11/ what-goes-around-com es-around. html on so that this chain of love will not end. Thank you. Blessings Sam Chan

Got his message from my “Mybloglog” account and I immediately read thru it.
Then I remember one incident in my life that happened when I was in my first Year high school.

            I am studying in Manila High School located in Intramuros Manila. I live in Ongpin Street and walking from home to school would take me almost 25 to 30 minutes. If I would take a ride, it would only take about 5 minutes. Heavy traffic is never heard during that time. The fare is P0.05 or P0.10 cents. Yes Sir, life seems to be very simple then and cheap too. I do believe the minimum wage then is P4.00 and the dollar exchange is $1 – P4.00. If you have a companion and you would like to save on fare, let him/her set on your lap and pay for only one passenger. Not anymore in this time of ours.

            I do believe we have an exam during that day for I am in a hurry and I took a jeep (I usually walk in going to school while counting the trees in Mehan Garden). Before reaching City Hall of Manila and where I should disembark, I can’t find my money. I desperately search in my entire pants pocket including my polo shirt’s pocket. I began to perspire and a lot of thought keep running in my mind when it downed on me that I forgot to get it.

            “What will I say to the Driver?” “Will he believe me?” I am really shy, afraid and trembling now when an old lady seated beside open her purse and gave me the fare amount. She sense my problem and came to my rescue. I felt relieve and after giving to the driver my fare I ask the old lady how could I repay her. She just winks on me and taps my shoulder and told me “Just do the same thing to anybody and you consider yourself paid.”

            I think I already paid her by this time and will continue paying as long as I live. My favorite quotation is “I shall pass this way but once, any good things that I can say and do, to any human being, let me do it now, for I shall never pass this way again.”

            Being a branch Manager for the past 18 years I have lost count how many Store Supervisor’s I have trained, developed and were promoted to become Managers. When they ask me how they can repay me, I tell them “Just teach your incoming Supervisors all the things that I taught you and you are considered paid.”

            Thanks Sam Chan and keep on writing.

Last month of October I was able to find my High School web site. The Manila High School web portal and the yahoo group they created. Somehow I was able to get in touched with some of my batch mates. I do believe many of them are successful from where they are residing now. Some wanted to know what happened to me for the past 32 years. Yes we are from batch 1975.

At first I had a hard time recalling the events, names, and faces of my former schoolmates. Luckily for me, one of our batch mates who are residing in U.S.A has in his possession our Graduation yearbook. He gladly sends me one copy. Thanks Ramon (“Tukayo”-my namesake) for your kindness.

I have been in my present company for the past 20 years that would leave me only 12 more years to recall.

Leafing thru the pages of our yearbook had given me a flashback that up to now brought a wide smile in my face. If you are reading this while taking a break or eating, please finish it first.

One day,in school, I had a serious bout with having a loose bowel movement so I politely ask for my Teacher’s approval to excuse myself. Hurriedly reaching our comfort room I find myself in a situation that two of us (another classmate) needed to relieve our selves in a single toilet bowl. Neither one wanted to give in on who would use first because we “checked-in” at the same time (“photo finish”). Sensing that neither one wanted to be left out, we have decided to join forces. Perspiring profusely and feeling the coldness of surrounding we have to decide fast.

You know when you are in high school, you feel you are invincible and you can take anything.

So after locking the door, I face the east side and he takes the west direction. You can just imagine a Siamese twin conjoined from the buttocks taking their morning ritual.

I have to close my eyes shutdown my senses and think that I am the only one sitting in that throne. Then I was able to drop what seems to be an atomic bomb that the Americans drop in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Then a few more mini-bombs followed. Feeling triumphant and relieved I came back from my senses when I heard a lot curse words and bad words and then I felt all alone. My classmate scampered away running.

Maybe due to hydrogen, oxygen or other chemical effect it created he felt dizzy and run away.

That time I learned the power of persuasion. Any conflict can be settled amicably and peacefully. There would be no war only peace. And the most important thing is “SHARE A SEAT” like those posted in Jollibee and Win a friend.

According to Dale Carneige-“It is better to loose in an argument and Win a friend than Win in an argument and loose a friend”.

After eating Lunch together, (seeing how tired/sleepy the children were but not complaining) I decided to finish all my important reports and just take my half-day off and leave for home. After all it was my off day.

            At home at about 5:00 pm I decided to open my computer to check some emails and to view other website. I was busy making reply with some of my e-yahoo group when all of a sudden my computer re-started by itself. I just shrugged it off and continue with my activity. After another 30 minutes the same problem happened. Then after 20 more minutes it re-started again but this time it didn’t boot up.

 Thinking that an electrical problem might be the reason, I went down stair to ask my son who is using the computer downstairs’ at the time if they notice un-usual electrical problem. Negative is the reply.

I tried to re-start the CPU again this time pressing delete key. I found out that the “first boot” option was change to floppy. I just change the set up option -“first boot” to hard disk, restart it the find it working once more.

My happiness turned to despair because after 30 minutes it re-started again. I turned it off removed all cables and decided to bring it to the shop the next day.

The next day, the technician wrote my CPU problem as “Re-starting”. I leave my contact number just in case it will be finish sooner that I expected. After 1 ½ hour, the technician called telling me that there is no hardware problem. They can’t find any trouble and in fact it never re-started the whole time they are testing it. He suggested if I want to, to re-install the “O.S.” or re formatting my hard drive might solve the problem.

I have anticipated problems like this might crop up that is why I path my entire files to drive “D”. After checking all installer and driver (are complete and are all working fine) I proceeded to install the O.S. It seems to be proceeding smoothly until the part that says, “Windows will re start…” It didn’t. In fact all stop functioning. I tried desperately to install the O.S. up to three times but with same negative result.

So I gave up and decided to wait for Monday and consult our company computer technician by giving to him my observation.

Monday came and I was able to ask the technician what should be the problem. There are many things to consider, according to him but he advises me to try again and if the CPU will not boot up after the initial phase of installation, I try to press the “ON” button but not to press anything on the keyboard. To let the CPU run/starts on its own. “Maybe the CD installer or your power supply is the culprit,” he told me.

So, with a lot of reservation I started the re-formatting of my hard drive. And horror of horror the installation proceeded and was finished without any problem.

What really happened?

Our family discusses this incident over dinner. One thought that maybe the spirit watching their performance in the cemetery was overjoyed and decided to play a frank on us. Or maybe that is their “Amah” and “Angkong’s” way of thanking them for the performance. Or maybe that is their way of telling you that you need more practice.

What do you think? What really happened?

For these year my family and I decided not to join the melee of thousands of people who will troop to the cemetery and just observed it after a day.
So November 2 came and at about 4:00 in the morning my 2^nd child excitedly woke us up.
We agreed to go earlier than usual because I had to report for my work by 9:30 that same morning.After all have been finished with their usual morning routine, off we go before 6:00 am.
Did I tell you that listening to our family discussion seems like you are in the halls of Philippine Congress?
First Session: Mode of transportation.
Child 1: “We must ride a taxi for safer and more convenience”.
Child 2: “But the expense will be higher, just save it for “Jollibee”. Let us ride an “FX”.
Child 3: “If would be impossible for an “FX” to accommodate us all 7 in our location. Let us take a Bus”.
Child 2:”Can’t you see all buses that passes by are all full of commuters?”
Child 4:”Jeepneys seems to be the only option left cause there’s a lot of them.”
Child 2:”But the pollution is so great so seems to be you are smoking a cigarette”.
After a few more minutes that of suggestions and counter- suggestions, few more stares at one another we were able to have a verdict:
Ride a Jeep.
Arriving safely at the Manila South Cemetery (Chinese Cemetery) I told them to get the candles and other stuff for my mother’s tomb.
Our route would be shorter and more efficient if we start from my mother’s tomb; to my Sister’s and then my Father would be the last. After hearing a few murmur, I found out the candles were left behind. “Oh my God! Of all the things you need to forget is the most important thing that we should bring”. Then I tell them to take out all the content of their bags.
A few bottles of soft drinks, a few bottles of water, a fan, 2 loaves of Banana Bread, and an mp3 player … yes there are no candles.
Second Session: Who would go out and buy candles.
Child 5:”Don’t look at me, I might be lost.”
Child 1:” I lack sleep, I might feel dizzy and get lost”
Who do you know would always volunteer when situation like these crops up, there loving mother?
Bang the gavel. That is the End of session 2.
After lightning the candles, incense, and paper money and saying our prayers. I quietly observed my grown up kids. I was in that state of mind when one of my kids sang a few line of a song dedicated for my departed mother. A few second more they are all singing and with choreography to boot. It seems to me that they are all starring in a High School Musical movie. What a sight to behold. Save for their voices.
Going to the tomb of my older sister and my father will have the same scenario. Only the songs are changed so that according to them there would be no jealousy among those they performed to. I have to assure my wife there is no mentally disturbed person in our family. I asked her how about her Family? She’s also sure she got none.
There are many more happy moment to be told, like the photo – op session. There discussion of the size and design of Mausoleum that they would construct. The agreement that of who would die first would be the last because of the positioning in the mausoleum.
This memory will forever be book marked in my mind and in my heart as “Happy moment No. 1”.
Going out of the cemetery, we were able to pass by a “Ruby Tower Monument”. My youngest child asks me about it. The date says August 2, 1968. As I vividly recall, many lives perished in that day. Many affluent Chinese people died when the Ruby Tower building came crashing with the intensity 7 earthquake. Many people became heroes for many un-selfishly, and voluntarily gave their services to try to save lives. But there also stories of those who take advantage of the situation by looting in what ever they can take.See related story Inqiuirer.net ,
The earthquake movement is so great I fall out of my bed (I was only 10 years old by then) and I saw my Father an able to control his balance and fall. The wooden cabinets that fall behind him miss to hit his head by a few inches. I prayed hard thinking that maybe that is the end of the world. A few more after shocks occur. Then the news broke out about the Ruby Tower.
I told my kids to say a little prayer in memory of those who died in that incident. Reminding them that life on earth is really not in our hands but in our Maker, our Lord.
I am now happy with the thought that when the time comes and the good Lord would take me in his Kingdom, My children would perform another similar number. Or maybe I could now use they’re new found talent and introduced a new kind of Business. An entertainment for your departed ones!