Friendships

It becomes harder to make friends when you get older. Relationships become complicated. People have different motives and temperaments.

Gone were the days when you just so happen to be in the same playground at the same time. You instinctively link arms and walk up to the swing. Your friendship is sealed for life.

I still thank God everyday for the people around me whom I consider friends. People who I meet in various circumstances (circumstances that you know God only makes).

My high school best friend. I met her after a heavy downpour with flooded streets and heavy traffic. I was even the bad person but God gave me the gift of friendship in return. Now, we would look back on that day and laugh our hearts out.

My college barkada. A clique in class turned out to be lifelong friends. A lot has happened in between. We lost some sheep along the way but we always count the sheep that are among us (and those who return once in a while). Fortunately, the ones left behind bring more sheep with them.

My grad school barkada. Projects in class became late night gimmicks. Late night gimmicks became out of towns. We all planned to equip ourselves with education but none of us knew that we would be given people who we will cherish for life.

My french barkada. I met them in my quest to learn a new language. None of us knew that we will be able to experience the people, language and culture first hand. As one of my french barkada says, “Now I know why I fell in love with Paris the first time I was here. It’s because I was with good company.” They now belong to my list of favorite people on earth.

My work friends. I had lots of jobs so I have lots of these. I miss those who I haven’t seen forever. I cherish those that I have now. They have helped me survive my everyday. When I enter the lion’s den, they give me their courage to help me make it through the day.

My online friends. I discovered that it’ll be easier to prepare my wedding online. Through this, my world was opened to blogging. It was never the same again.

Unbelievable

Cellphone, wallet, jewelries — these are the kind of things that could be snatched away from people.

Not an envelope full of documents – birth certificate, NBI clearance and other identity papers.

Apparently for some people, those papers can get them more money.

An office-mate’s friend was on her way to apply for her passport. She was walking near the gate of DFA when a person (she later said he was gay) approached her. He asked her if she’ll be applying for a passport (typical fixer question). She in turn asked where gate 1 was (passport applicants pass through gate 2 – since she was seeing my office-mate, she’s looking for gate 1). The person ignored her question and asked for her documents. Innocence or ignorance (I’m not sure what it was) made her hand over her documents to the man. The man after “reviewing” her documents made a run to the nearest moving jeepney. She and her male friend (yes, she’s not alone!) tried to run after the snatcher but to no avail. Birth certificate, NBI clearance and other identity papers were gone.

What the???

The man wanted a fake passport not her money. He wanted to earn more than the simple fixing. That’s how difficult life is. Unbelievable.

My friend helped her get an affidavit stating what happened and put her name on the watch list. She will still get her passport but if another person applies under her name (sans the affidavit she had received from the DFA) the person will be apprehended.

Lesson: Never talk to strangers — especially near the DFA.

Choices

I’m now faced with a somewhat difficult decision to make. Like what most situations, I don’t know what will become of it.

After much thought, I have decided to take action on my issues at work. Although the action I did generated a positive response, I haven’t said anything to my close friends at the office. The reason why… I still don’t know. I normally tell them everything.

After my field trip, I came back to the office with a very good surprise. Something that will make me want to stay. Before I took further action, I waited for a reply. The reply came last night. I was so surprised of myself for being so ecstatic in getting a text message from my boss, “Yes, I highly recommend your participation.” I discussed with the higher boss and the response was positive as well. *happy*

The previous is a good break but needed an immediate response. The latter would still have to go through a process and would materialize next year. The latter I reaaally want but unsure if I’m going to get it. *crossing my fingers*

I seem to be so sure of the advice I gave my friend when he was having difficulty making medical career choices. I can’t seem to see how to go about mine now.

I’m currently reading Paulo Coelho’s Fifth Mountain. I was struck by what I read on my way to work. Suddenly, the angel and Elijah’s conversation seem to speak to me.

Angel: Because a man must choose. Therein lieth his strength: the power of his decisions.”

Elijah: It is a difficult choice…

Angel: Even more difficult is defining the path for oneself. He who maketh no choice is dead in the eyes of the Lord, though he go on breathing and walking in the streets. Moreover, no one dieth. The arms of eternity open for every soul, and each one will carry on his task. There is a reason for everything under the sun.

During class this morning, I found out about “Planned happenstance.” According to the book, planned happenstance entails taking small actions that are likely to lead to career insights and opportunities and then seeing where those insights and opportunities lead you.

Where does all of that lead me?

I still don’t know. I’ll just take it as it is.

“King” Kong

I’m currently raving about Francis Kong.

He came to our office to give a three-hour talk on Work Values. WOW! In my almost four years of working in the Institute, I’ve never heard anyone give such an excellent talk! Not even these people! I was am swamped with work and I had second thoughts coming to this seminar. I’m soo glad I came.

If in your lifetime you’ll get to hear him talk, listen! The man makes sense. And he’s funny too!

Relevance

I was in a meeting today. A meeting that is a termination of the project we have been doing for more than two years. A project whom I have loved and have hated at the same time. Do I want to be in the meeting? No. Do I feel a pang of sadness that the project is “almost” over? Maybe. Do I feel relieved that it is finally in the last stage? Yes.

My colleagues and I were in collaboration with an international NGO for this. Being in government, I have learned that assistance (especially financial) in big projects like this is a must. If we want to make a major difference, we need help.

Bottom line of the project is to help domestic workers, whether local or migrant. Throughout the course of the project, my level of awareness re DMs were put on a certain level that will never go down again. I have learned of abuse, poverty, trafficking, rights and a lot more. It has helped put a human face to what we’re doing. I have been more sensitive about what is going on. Most importantly, I believed in what we were doing.
After the meeting, the evaluator of the project thanked us for our contributions in making things better for the migrant DMs of today and tomorrow. In my own little way, I’m glad that I was able to help even though the path towards it was not easy. Somehow, I felt I was relevant.