My Turf

I was trying to write my list of favorite college anecdotes when I was suddenly beset with memories from the times I worked in a fast food chain. I never gave it much thought before, and it is only now as I recount all that happened then that I realize how much maturity I gained from those experiences.

To this day, I still hold that being a working student is an opportunity that college studes shouldn’t let pass. If you think about it, all of us must have gone to fast foods hundreds of times, but how many actually know how it feels to be inside that kitchen or behind that counter: taking orders, cleaning tables, mopping and sweeping floors, running, bumping, and hustling for that last sandwich on the warmer or the last batch of fries, flipping burgers, frying chicken…? Balancing school responsibilities and a bodily taxing job inculcates in a person a certain kind of discipline that not even the best professors would be able to teach. It instills in one the value of humility and of patience. In that kind of working environment, one learns what physically tough work is like and understands how it is to deal with equals and superiors.

Hence, I am (happily) putting off writing my Nung college pa ako – Part 2 entry for my JOLLIBEE reminiscences. Below are some stuff you might not know about the young man/woman clearing your table or warmly greeting you with “May I take your order?” and what actually goes on behind that cash register and kitchen fryer. 

1. You think it is a breeze applying for part-time work as service crew? It is not. In Jollibee, it takes two interviews and a dizzying situational, grammar, and Math exam before you finally get accepted and assigned a role in the team. Kay saya saya ko naman noon dahil sa Counter ako napunta.

2. Bago magsimula ay binigyan kami ng two weeks para kuhanin ang katakot-takot na pre-employment requirements: SSS, Health Certificate (na kelangan mo pa pumunta ng City Hall, magpa-feces at sputum exam at umattend ng Sex Education seminar bago mo makuha), Mayor’s Permit, NBI…susko, hindi pa man ako sumusweldo ay ubos na ang pera ko sa kadaming mga requirements na ito.

3. 1997 ng mag-trabaho ako sa Jollibee Philcoa. Ang uniform pa noon ay off-white na polo na may naka-print na maliliit na “Jollibee” all over. Plus blue navy blue ball cap at blue pants. Buti nga ngayon at polo shirt in solid colors na ang suot ng mga crew.

4. Napaka-busisi ng Jollibee pagdating sa uniform. Bawal itong suotin unless naka-duty ka. Bawal kang makitang nagyo-yosi kung naka-uniform. Kung uuwi ka ay dapat lagi kang may baong ibang damit.

At natural, bawal kang kumain sa McDo habang suot mo ito.

5. WALA KAHIT NA ISANG BULSA ang uniforms ng crew. Muka lang may flap sa likod ng pantalon, pero hindi yun bulsa. Design lang yun. At bawal magsuot ng alahas, kahit relos, ang mga crew during their shift. 

6. Bago mag-in, ililista mo sa isang tickler ang LAHAT ng gamit at pera na dala mo, hanggang sa kasingko-singko mong barya. Ultimo lipstick, hikaw, lighter, notebook, ballpen, medyas….lahat! Pag ininspect ng gwardiya (na tinatawag ng mga crew na “Sarge”) ang contents ng bag mo at may isang bagay doon na hindi naka-lista sa tickler, hindi mo ito pwedeng ilabas.

7. 20 pesos per hour lang ang bayad sa amin noon. Unless Product Controller ka o PC (ito ang crew na naglalagay ng pagkain sa warmer at nag-dedecide kung gaano kadaming batches of food pa ang lulutuin) na pwedeng humataw ng 8 hours, kadalasan ay 4 to 5 hour shifts lang ang maibibigay sa iyo.

8. As working students, we’d submit out registration forms at class schedules sa managers para alam nila kung anong shift kami ilalagay bawat araw.

9. Ang unang-unang binili ko sa unang-unang sweldo ko ay isang Swatch na relos. Proud na proud pa ako noon dahil ito pa lang ang tanging bagay na masasabi kong binili ko ng sarili kong pera.

Bad trip kasi ilang linggo ko pa lang itong nagagamit, ninakaw ito ng isang ka-crew ko sa Jollibee! Hoy, kung sino ka man, sana nalunok mo ang relos na yon!

10. As a customer, napapansin mo ba na bawat ilagay sa tray mo—the paper mat, the plastic cups, styro plates, spoons, forks, and whatever product you ordered—ay laging nakaharap sa iyo ang Jollibee logo?

11. Alam mo ba na pag bumili ka ng hamburger meal ay dalawang pirasong tissue lang ang dapat ibigay sa iyo? Korek, meron kaming manuals noon kung saan naka-enumerate kung ilang tissue, anong condiments, at anong utensils ang dapat kasama ng bawat meal.

12. Ang store na malakas bumenta ay tinatawag na “Peak” store. Ang mahina naman ay tinatawag na “Slack” store. Ang Jollibee-Philcoa ay walang kaduda-dudang Peak store.

13. Mayroong sariling “Saligang Batas” ang Jollibee.

13. Service crew can never, never argue with a customer. Disputes of such nature could result in immediate dismissal of the employee. Kaya as a customer, hanggang kaya mo ay huwag mo namang awayin ang crew—baka mawalan pa ito ng trabaho dahil sa iyo.

Napakahirap maging empleyado sa fast food. That is why I strive hard to be nice to them; I always say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you.’ Pero admittedly, after working in Jollibee, naging mas rigid din ako about my idea of good customer service. Mabilis akong mabanas lalo na sa mga crew na hindi marunong gumalang, ngumiti, mamo-po, at walang kalatoy-latoy na para bang sampung araw ng hindi natutulog. Siguro kasi alam ko naman, at  naranasan na din firsthand, na kahit pa limang oras or more ka nang nagtata-takbo dyan ay kaya mo pa ring magbigay ng decent service. With a smile. (Ulk, cheesy!) 

14. May 7 Key Steps na sinusunod ang mga crew sa counter. Pwede mo itong i-tick sa utak mo as you watch the counter crew serving you so you’d know if she/he is doing it right: 1) Smile and greet the customer; 2) Take the order; 3) Punch-in the order and collect payment (dapat magbayad muna ang customer bago tumakbo at kuhanin ang order nya!); 4) Assemble the order; 5) Present the order; 6) Do suggestive selling (kaya lagi kang tinatanong kung gusto mong mag-dagdag ng sundae or pie to go with your meal); 7) Thank the customer (at dapat wag kalimutan ang “Please come again!”)

Kaya laging nagtatatakbo ang counter crew ay dahil less than two minutes lang ang binibigay sa kanila para magawa ang 7 Key Steps. Of course, that’s with the assumption na 100 pesos or less lang ang purchase. May leeway naman sa oras kung big order.

15. Lahat sa Jollibee ay sinusukat o may bilang. Ang level ng drink ay hanggang sa ibabaw lang ng “J” sa Jollibee na naka-print sa plastic cup (hindi kasi automatic ang drink dispenser ng Jollibee, di gaya sa McDo).

Apat na ikot ng ice cream para sa sundae, dalawa pag cone twirl. Pansinin mo ang gumagawa ng Hot Fudge Sundae mo: apat na beses nyang pipindutin ang chocolate syrup dispenser.

16. Dati, nung bago pa ako, ay mukang ewan ang mga sundae na nagagawa ko. Pero eventually, natutunan ko na ang trick pala ay wag mong itodo ng baba ang lever para dahan-dahan lang ang pagbaba ng ice cream.

17. May mga call codes ang counter para mas madaling masabi sa PC kung anong food item ang wala o paubos na. Ilan sa mga product call codes na naaalala ko:

o        Y - Regular burger

o        YC - Cheeseburger

o        PJR/ PJL - Pineapple Juice Regular/ Large

o        Fiesta - Palabok

o        Spag - Hmmm. Hindi naman masyadong obvious ang code na ito, ano?

o        Joy - 1-piece Chickenjoy for dine in

o        Joyrice - 2-piece Chickenjoy for take-out

o        Chickenmeal - Chicken and spaghetti meal

o        Steak - Burger steak

o        Aloha - Amazing Aloha burger (phased out na ito)

o        Pie - Peach Mango Pie

o        Langka - Banana Langka Pie

Kelangan ipaalam ng bawat counter crew sa PC kung anong product ang kinukuha nila at kung ilan. Ang purpose nito ay para matulungan ang PC na matantiya kung gaano karami pa ang kelangan ipaluto (siyempre, always taken into consideration ang lapse time ng mga pagkaing ito). Pag kinakausap ang PC, ang sasabihin mo ay parang ganito, "PC, taking YC-1. YC-4 left."

18. Pagdating ng closing time at maraming di nabiling pagkain sa warmer, tulong-tulong ang mga natirang crew sa pagbili ng mga products dahil kung hindi, ia-awas ang total value non sa sahod ng kawawang PC. Awww.

19. Ang lalagyan ng mga dessert pies ay mayroong mga 1-cm wide na opening para makasingaw ang init. Minsan sa pagmamadali ko ay lumusot ang daliri ko sa opening na ito at nasundot ko ang pie. Sa takot na pabayaran sa akin ang nasirang pagkain, ibinalik ko ito ng patago sa warmer. Hahaha. Sino kaya ang mapalad na customer na nakakain ng finger-laced pie?

20. Dalawa ang rolyo na pinagpi-printan ng lahat ng transactions na ipinapasok sa cash register. Ang isa ay ang lumalabas sa feed at ibinibigay sa customer. Ang isa naman ay nasa loob na tanging ang manager lang ang makakapag-access. Tuwing end ng shift, kinukuha ng manager ang second roll para makita ang total amount na dapat laman ng kaha.

Secret ang amount na ito. Hindi sasabihin ng manager kung magkano ang total hanggat hindi tapos sa pagbibilang ng pera. Pag prinesent mo ang total mo, saka niya sasabihin kung ikaw ay “over” o “short.” Nakakainis kasi pag over, hindi mo naman pwedeng ibulsa ang sobra. Pero pag short na above five pesos, automatic salary deduction ito.

There was one time na ang short ko ay eksaktong-eksaktong 100 pesos! Malamang ay nilipad ang bwiset na 100 peso bill cause there’s no way nagkamali ako ng sukli na saktong 100!

21. Pag ikaw ay customer at turn mo na to be served, tapos may narinig kang sumigaw ng, “Kitchen, Yum-Yum!” mula sa loob ay matuwa ka. The Product Controller is not pertaining to Jollibee’s Yumburger.

Ibig sabihin nito ay type nya ang beauty mo at ina-announce niya sa buong kitchen na lumabas sila dahil may customer na maganda.

22. Alam mo bang madalas mangyari na sa sobrang pagma-madali ng mga counter crew na mailapag ang order sa tray mo ay nagkakapaso-paso ang mga kamay at braso nila sa warmer? Opo, napakainit nito na madikit lang ng bahagya ang balat sa ceiling ng warmer ay instant sugat at peklat na. Daig pa ang plantsa. Aba, kung ilang sugat din ang natamo ko sa warmer na iyon!

23. Hindi gaya sa McDo na ang pagkain ng crew ay McDonald’s products din, rasyon ang pagkain ng Jollibee crew. Kaya kung ayaw mong gumastos ay magtiis ka sa kung ano mang ulam ang dineliver dyan. Dito ako natutong kumain ng gulay, bopis, at iba pang mga ulam na in other situations ay hindi ko naman talaga kakainin.

Pero pag company-owned ang Jollibee na napasukan mo, meron ka namang free drink. J

24. Na-terminate ako sa Jollibee Philcoa dahil nag-puslit ako ng sundae sa blockmate ko tapos nahuli ako ng manager. Nang lumapit siya sa akin at sinabi na, “Che, na-punch mo ba yung sundae?” sabay kuha sa roll na nasa loob ng cash register ko (ibig sabihin ay wala akong lusot dahil wala naman talagang sundae na naka-punch doon!), para bang gusto  kong maihi at matae ng sabay sa sobrang kahihiyan.

23. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko inamin na nag-pass out ako ng sundae. Kaya kahit “immediate dismissal” ang hatol sa akin sa Jollibee Philcoa, hindi ako blacklisted at natanggap pa sa Jollibee Katipunan!

24. Nung lumipat ako sa Jollibee Katipunan, sa JEDS (Jollibee Express Delivery Service) ako nilagay. Ako ang taga-sagot ng phone, take at assemble ng order. Ako rin ang nakikipag-usap sa mga “riders” (yung mga mamang naka-motor na naghahatid ng pagkain mo).

Meron akong secret: pag tambak-tambak na ang orders na natanggap ko, hina-hang ko ang tatlong telepono ng Jollibee para walang pumasok na tawag.

Di pa kasi uso ang delivery hotline noon eh…

25. Pag slack time or walang masyadong nagpapa-deliver, nakikitulong ako sa kitchen. Pag nagggawa ako ng hotdog sandwich at hindi ko makita ang thong, kinakamay ko ang hotdog sabay lagay sa bun. Nakakain ka kaya ng sandwich noon na gawa ko? Bwahaha! 

26. Pag magge-grate ng cheese para sa spaghetti at hotdog, dapat ay maglagay muna ng Anti-Bac (some anti-bacterial solution) sa kamay o magsuot ng gwantes. Minsan pag naaalala ko at sinisipag, ginagawa ko ito. Pero kadalasan ay kinatatamaran ko na rin. So, pagtapos kong humawak ng telepono, magbilang ng pera, mag-punas ng counter gamit ang basahan, hahawakan ko ng madudumi kong mga kamay ang block of cheese, ikakaskas ito sa grater, at ibubudbod sa spaghetti mo. Yan ang tunay na Yum!

         Envy is the bane of mankind. 

This morning, my officemate asked me to read this entry. She was so angry at the writer and her friends for dissing our beloved real-life-manifestation-of-Pinoy-success, Jollibee.

Much as I would like to feel bad about what the author thought about Jollibee, I just found myself disagreeing with her taste in food. I honestly do not think the author meant to look down on Filipino culture and our taste buds. Simply put, it’s just that the food she grew up loving is not the same as ours.   

Hey, I used to detest McDonald’s burgers because I found them bland and just not tasty enough. For the life of me, I could not imagine how anyone could think about (and even enjoy!) eating live octopus, or locusts or dogs, or downing their own piss…  Much as I like vegetables, I don’t think I could last a day with zero meat.

In short, my mantra remains: To each his own. And, though this may seem like an off point to raise in this entry, this belief is precisely the reason why no amount of cajoling and persuading could get me to argue about a) religion, b) values, c) love, and most everything related to each person’s unique exposures and life experiences. No, sir, I’m not wasting my breath and emotions on futile debates I could neither win nor lose.   

Despite all that author said, these things remain clear to me:

• I like that "pink sauce" on Jollibee burgers. And honey, it’s pink because it’s ketchup and mayo. Red + White = Pink.
• I LOVE "pork rind" (chicharon). In fact, if not for fear of dying of hypertension and the dreadful pimple breakout, I would eat it everyday.
• Calamansi juice (that’s what was in the packet and not "lemon juice") is a staple in my daily meal condiments.
• Those are not "bread crumbs" on the Palabok. It’s actually fried tofu.
• The "Spaghetti-o-like" hotdogs in Jollibee Spaghetti are part of what I love about it.
• Crispylicious Chickenjoy is, for me, among Jollibee’s greatest gifts to mankind.
• I do not understand AT ALL what could be described as "terrifying" in the yummy Pearl Cooler.
• Chocolate Jolly Shake and Cheese N’ Beef Fries spell H-E-A-V-E-N.  

Here are some excerpts from the conversation between the writers and her friends after leaving Jollibee:

Person #1: I kind of still smell like Jollibee.

Person #2: Yeah. I have to go home and puke now.

Person #3: We’re never going back there.

I don’t care what mean things they say about you. I LOVE YOU, my langhap-sarap JOLLIBEE.

1. Ang UP ay hindi lamang nangangahulugang University of the Philippines. Kilala rin ito lalo na ng mga estudyanteng hindi na umabot sa computerized registration as University of the Pila. Talaga naman pong pag enrollment ay gugugulin mo ang isang buong araw o higit pa sa enlistment! Kahit nung first year ako, na kung tutuusin eh hindi na gaanong kadugo ang registration dahil bahagi naman ng Block Section ang freshmen, inabot din ako ng halos dalawa o tatlong araw ata bago ko nakuha ang ever-precious Form 5!

2. Di gaya ng ilang mga estudyante na nagpagawa na lang ng mga bogus health certificates sa mga kakilalang doctor, tyinaga ko talaga ang pag-pila sa UP-Health Center. Inabot ako ng isa’t kalahating araw bago ko nakuha ang mumunting mimeographed paper na may stamp na “Fit to enroll.” Katakot-takot na departments pa kasi ang pagda-daanan at bawat isa ay pipilahan mo ng ubod ng tagal! General checkup, X-Ray, Dental, Physical exam, etc. Talaga nga namang tunay na test of patience ang pagiging mag-aaral sa UP!

Takot na takot pa ako non dahil sabi nila ay kailangan daw mag-todo hubad para sa physical examination. Hindi ko alam sa mga iba, pero nung sa akin naman ay top lang ang pinaalis. Whew!

3. My hair was a really short crop. At ito na ang hair style ko most of my college days, maliban na lang nung graduating na ako. Noon na lang ako nagsimulang magpa-haba ulit ng buhok.

4. Tandang-tanda ko pa na ang suot ko nung pinaka-unang araw ng paspasok ko sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay isang yellow na polo shirt, maong, at sandals. Iyon din ang unang beses na pumasok ako sa skwelahan na naka-makeup! May feeling of liberation pa ako noon na “Yehey! Pwede na mag-makeup at maong sa school araw-araw!”

5. Ang unang-unang klaseng pinasukan ko ay Philosophy I. 7 AM pa ito. Muntik pa akong na-late dahil doon ako naghihintay ng klase ko sa Palma Hall Annex (PHAN), dahil iyon ang alam kong Palma Hall. Yun pala, sa mismong AS ang klase ko.

Oops, for the benefit of those who aren’t from the Diliman Campus, we call Palma Hall, “AS” because it used to be known as the Arts and Sciences building.

6. Ang Philo I ang una at huling 7AM class ko. Dakilang parusa ito para sa late-riser at slow-mover na katulad ko.

7. Nung freshman, kung ano ang kulay ng suot ko ay siya ring kulay ng mga kuko ko! Mapa-yellow, blue, black, green, white, silver…name it, I painted my finger and toe nails with it! Tanungin mo pa kahit sino sa mga blockmates ko. I was well-known in our block for this. Hahaha.

8. Ang student number ko ay 96-04698. Hindi ko yata ito makakalimutan magpakailanman. Sa di ba naman mabilang na dami ng bluebooks, test papers, at projects na pinagsulatan ko ng numerong ito…

9. 8 sa pinaka-espesyal na babae sa buhay ko ay nakilala ko sa block E3 (Econ block ito) ng Batch 1996. Ibang-iba ang ugali, pag-kilos, at inclinations nila sa akin. Ang tawag ko nga sa kanila ay mga manang. They didn’t ever go home late, walang kahit anong bisyo, relihiyoso…(at kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ako lang sa barkada namin ang hindi member ng UP-Youth for Christ).

Pero hanggang ngayon, I regard them as part of UP’s best gifts to me. I mean you, Ana, Tina, Ren-Ren, Khattie, Paula, Dada, Yas, at Rizza (bagaman ilang taon ko ng hindi nararamdaman ang presensya ng Yas at Riz!) Ngayon, several years after graduation, I shifted out of Econ, we joined separate organizations…pero SOLID NA SOLID pa rin. May asawa na si Paula, at ninang pa ako ng mga panganay na anak niya at ni Khattie.. Andito pa rin tayo, mga ghels! Haaayyy…

10. Aliw na aliw (at bilib na bilib din!) ako na may mga guro sa UP na pumapasok sa klase ng naka-shorts at naka-tsinelas. Pero hanep ang mga utak, tsong!

11. Drinop ko ang Math 17 nung first sem. Well, malamang ay obvious na naman sa inyo na hindi ko favorite subject ang Math. At ang Math 17 ay Trigonometry and Algebra combined. Goodlak!

However, not wanting to give up, I took it again the sem after. Sobra ko siyang

kinarir. After my own Math 17 class, I’d sit-in at Paula’s. Ang galing ng teacher niya eh. Kaya ayun, pasado na ko sa second take. Nag-Math 100 (Calculus) pa ako ng summer. I was doing surprisingly well, but I ended up dropping it anyway. Around this period, I was already seriously considering shifting to a course in the College of Mass Comm. Working with derivatives, graphs, and other calculus stuff made me realize that it’s not something I’d want to do for the rest of my life.

12. Si Katherine Robles ang “bunso” ng barkada namin. Bukod sa siya talaga ang youngest ay isa itong wonder child. Alam nyo bang may isang departmental exam kami sa Math 17, ang subject na ipinagno-nosebleed ng lahat, na isa lang ang mali nya!?

Pero kung gaano siya katalino, ay siya rin naming pagka-weirdo ng batang ito. Minsan ba naman ay pumasok ito sa aming Math 17 class na naka-long, red velvet dress with matching white, lacy, long-sleeved top. Nang makita ko talaga siya ay napakanta ako ng, “Where’s the party…?!”

And to make things worse, kung kailan naman nya sinuot ang ubod ng lamig na outfit na iyon ay syang araw rin na sa sobrang takot nya ma-late, NAGLAKAD sya mula sa K-Mart (opo, ito’y nasa halos dulo na ng Katipunan Ave!) hanggang sa Math Building! Gusto umiwas sa traffic kaya naglakad. Susmarya! 

Khattie, alam mo namang mahal kita, di ba? Hehehe.

13. Khattie story #2: Matinik sa boys itong si Khattie. Marami siyang mga manliligaw. Minsan, na-sequester namin ang isang sulat galing sa isa sa mga suitors nya all the way from Ilo-Ilo.

Noon lamang namin nalaman na ang nickname pala niya ay “Ning.” Paano? Kasi ba naman bawat sentence nitong si Ilonggo manliligaw ay may “Ning” with matching exclamation point! Tipong: “Kamusta ka na, Ning! Ayos naman ako, Ning! Ingat ka dyan, Ning! I love you, Ning! Sulat ka, Ning! Bye, Ning!”

Binabasa ko pa ito ng malakas at with feelings habang kami ay nasa jeep. Halakhakan galore ito at akala ata ng mga kasakay namin ay nababaliw na kami.

Khattie, mare, PEACE! J 

14. Walang ROTC ang mga babae noon.

15. Nakipag-gitgitan ako to the maximum level sa AS Lobby para makapanood ng Oblation Run. Dahil nga freshie, feeling ko hindi kumpleto ang UP experience ko kung hindi ko nagawa ito. Hindi ko alam kung baket hindi ko kasama ang mga kabarkada ko, pero ang alam ko eh mag-isa lang akong nakikipag-tulakan for a good view noon.

Pero nung nagdaanan na ang mga hubad na lalake ng APO Fraternity, naisip ko na, “Ngye, ito na ba ang ipinagkasiksikan ko dito?!” Iyon na ang una at huling pagkakataong nanood ako ng Oblation Run at never na akong nainteres ulit.

16. Mahal na mahal ko ang Palabok sa Giacomino’s! Ito’y isang stall sa loob ng CASAA, ang cafeteria sa likod ng AS. Mahal ko rin ang murang-mura nilang mga shakes, lalo na ang mango shake.

17. One of my favorite teachers in UP is my Comm. 1 professor, Neil Garcia. May activity siya na pinagawa sa amin noon kung saan papasok ka sa klase wearing your most baduy clothes. Nakakatawa dahil pagpasok namin sa class, sobrang baduy talaga ng baduy clothes namin! May mga naka-high waist, brightly colored socks, folded tops, bitin na pantaloon… Naalala kong suot ko noon ay green, floral print na blouse, red checkered shorts, knee-high socks at sneakers. Pero ang nagwagi bilang pinaka-baduy ay walang iba kundi ang kabarkada kong si Ren-Ren! Di ko na maalala exactly kung ano ang suot nya, basta ang dating sa akin eh parang pinagpatong-patong nya lahat ng damit na mayroon siya!

18. Ako at ang mga barkada ko sa Econ ay mga ADIK sa basketball! We were, without exaggeration, obsessed! Kilala namin ang lahat ng players ng UP, ultimo mga jowa nila! Talagang stalkers kung stalkers.

Hindi ko alam how we managed to find out their home numbers, pero sa unang-unang Christmas sleepover namin (sa bahay ito nina Rizza sa Malabon), tinawagan at pinagkakausap namin ang ilan sa mga basketball players na ito! Nag-imbento pa kami ng mga pangalan, at talagang pasa-pasa pa ng telepono. MAHABAGING DIYOS!

Potaaaaah! Pati buhok ko sa ilong tumatayo pag naaalala ko ang panahong ito!

19. Nanonood ako ng basketball games ng UP team kahit ako lang mag-isa, at ilang beses na akong napanood sa TV ng mga kaibigan o kamag-anak ko habang nagtatatalon, nagsisi-sigaw, o nagdadasal.

Isa ito sa rare times na umaabot pa ang UP sa Final Four ng UAAP. Panahon ito nina Paolo Mendoza, Bing Victoria, Brian Gahol, Ogie Gumatay, Allan Gamboa, Dexter Racho… Ilan sa kanila ay nasa PBA na. Ang mga iba, hindi ko na alam. Basta, isa sa mga iyan ay nag-tangkang mag-bold star. Several years after we graduated, napanood pa namin siya sa isang afternoon talk show na naggigitara at nagkakakanta. Jeez, what happened to you?!

20. Full blast ang Ginebra fanaticism ko. Bumibili ako ng kung ano-anong sports magazine para magbasa ng analyses ng mga laro nila. May pictures ako ng mga players sa wallet ko. Kabisado ko ang full names at uniform numbers nilang lahat. Sumusulat ako sa mga columnists sa dyaryo at magazines. Ang mga klase ko ay pina-plano kong maigi para di ako maka-miss ng PBA game.

Nang matalo ang Ginebra sa Championship playoff dahil sa milagrong 3-point shot ni Kenny Redfield ng Shell ay umiyak ako ng umiyak.

Pag mainit ang ulo ko at ayaw kong makipag-usap kahit kanino, alam na sa bahay o ng mga kaklase ko ang dahilan: talo ang Ginebra. O di kaya naman, talo ang UP Maroons.

21. Mula 25 pesos sa Orchestra, tumalon sa 40 pesos ang bayad sa sine (at sa baba pa yun). Mula noon, never na akong bumili ng ticket for Orchestra seats.

22. Tambayan naming magba-barkada ang Quezon Hall (kung saan nandon ang istatwa ng Oblation), lalo na ng second sem na ang haba-haba ng intervals ng mga klase namin. O di kaya naman ay pupunta kami sa makasaysayang SM North. O kaya ay dyan sa Jollibee o McDo Philcoa.

23. 29 pesos lang Burger McDo meal noon.

24. 1.25 lang ang bayad sa UP-Ikot nung first year ako.

25. Dahil nga unheard of ang pre-registration at computerized enlistment ng mga panahong iyon, talagang EXTRA CHALLENGE ang pagkuha ng PE classes! Para sa aming 2^nd sem PE subject, tyinaga namin ang unbelievably habang pila na pulu-pulupot hanggang sa labas ng gym, at pagpasok mo, panibagong pila na naman! Isang buong araw kaming naghintay at walang nahihita. Bad trip pa dahil ng lumabas ang next issue ng Phillipine Collegian, ang official newsletter ng UP, ay nandon sa front page ang picture naming mga nakasimangot at mukang inapi habang nasa pila.

26. Nakaswerte naman kami at may nagbukas na bagong klase ng duckpin bowling. Lahat kami ay nakapasok naman. Extra fun ang klaseng ito dahil unlike any other ang bowling alley ng UP! Sa Alumni Center situated ito. Wala itong computerized scoreboard. Ang mga natumbang pins ay kinokolekta at ipiniepwesto lamang ng mga bata sa likod. Kaya bago ka tumira, sisiguraduhin mo munang wala na ang mga paa nila! Bako-bako at tabingi pa ang lanes kaya talagang napaka-talented mo kung nagagawa mo pang maka-score ng mataas.

27. Ang isa kong kabarkada, si Yas, ay isa sa mga pinakamabagal magsalita na taong nakilala ko. Para siyang babaeng Kuya Cesar. Pag inasar mo siya, sasabihin niya sa iyo, “Saa-saa-ka-liin kitaaaaa…!”  With matching strangling action pa (na mabagal din)! Hahaha. 

28. Minsan, si Myda ay napag-tripan magpa-gupit ng buhok. Ang sabi niya sa parlorista ay gusto nya ng style na parang kay Sharon Stone. Eh iba pala ang style na nasa isip niya doon sa nasa isip ng manggugupit. Ayan tuloy, paglabas nya ng parlor ay halos semi-kal ang gupit nya!

29. Ang kabarkada kong si Ana ay nalaglag sa manhole. Totoo!

Taga-Maynila siya, sa Maceda. Minsan ay pauwi siya at malakas ang ulan. Madilim na at baha. Ayun, na-shoot ito sa manhole. Buti na nga lang daw at sumabit sa gilid ng manhole ang mga siko nya.

Nainis nga yata siya sa akin dahil nung kwinento niya sa amin ang nangyari ay tumawa pa ako. 

30. Hindi pa ako nagyo-yosi.

31. Sa UP ka lang makakarinig ng kakaibang mga PE classes! Nandyan ang Scrabble, Bridge, Walking for Fitness, Filipino Games, Weight Training, Cheerleading (na wala kang ibang gagawin buong sem kundi manood ng manood ng games ng UP team at magpa-pirma ng ticket mo sa Pep Squad), at kung ano-ano pa!    

32. Ang pinaka-unang nagdala ng sasakyan sa aming magbabarkada ay sina Khattie, Ren-ren, at Rizza.

33. May kakaibang high ang simpleng paglatag ng sapin, humiga, tumambay, at makipag-kwentuhan sa Sunken Garden.

34. I love you, Beach House! ‘Da Best ang pork barbecue dito! Yun nga lang ay dapat marunong kang makipag-laban sa isang katerbang langaw habang kumakain. 

35. UP lang ang tanging universityng alam ko na may sariling sinehan!

36. Officially, tatlong semesters lang ang inilagi ko sa School of Economics. Di naglaon ay na-realize ko din na hindi talaga ito ang kurso para sa akin.

Yuck, obvious lead-in ba sa Nung college pa ako – Chapter 2?! 

       From PostSecret.

How terrible.

She was mean to him. He hated her when they were in highschool. But he loved her, too. Even then, you know. He already did.

When they got to college, their relationship improved by leaps and bounds. He took advantage of all sorts of technology to let her feel his presence. Of course to feel hers, too. Every morning he’d page her, back in the days when pagers were still the "in" thing. When SMS technology and cellphones took over, he begged and begged his parents to buy him a unit although he was (guiltily) aware that they could hardly afford it. He was not one to ask his parents for anything, but he made an exception then. Only because she told him, "Bumili ka na kasi ng cellphone!" And he could never say no to her. No, not ever.

The morning after one exceptionally delightful phone conversation, he lovingly dictated to the pager company’s message-taker the words that to him were all so meaningful:

"Connection of minds and spirits. Very refreshing.

Thanks for the trust. Can count on me anytime."

To this day, he could recite those words from memory in a breeze. That and the write-up he made for her for her college yearbook. All 150 words of it.

On highly inspired nights, he even wrote her letters which he planned to let her read when (not if) she finally comes around. "Not now, but someday." That he believed with all his heart. And he clung on to that conviction until he already had no choice but to let go.

One February night, several years after they graduated from college, she told him she needed to speak with him. It had been so long since the last time they talked. And the calls had been coming less and less frequently. Excitedly, he dialled her number. When she picked up, he asked breathlessly, "So? What is it?!"

She sounded real blissful. Even the distance could not conceal her happiness. He could feel her smiling and giggling like a lovesick kid through the phone line.

She told him how she just found out that the man she initially thought was way out of her league loved her back after all. He is hers, as she had been his since the night she first laid her eyes on him.

Now where does that leave the ol’ dependable friend? The one who slept on the sofa waiting for her to call? The one who’d organize get-togethers and cook for a bunch of people when all he really wanted to see was her? The one who ended up doing the silliest of things because what he felt for her was just too much for even both his mind and soul to contain?

Really, where does that recent turn in her love life leave the boy who used to stand in front of the mirror for hours on end, cursing the universe for making him look the way he did, believing that it was the only reason she couldn’t fall for him?

Without waiting to be told, he stepped out of the picture, out of her life. And very quietly so, not wanting anyone to notice. There’s no room for me here, he thought to himself as the tears fell again. His cheeks had already been used to the running droplets that only she could cause.

"I want you to meet him! Please! Tell me you’ll join us one day. I’m sure you two will get along real well."

Can I whack you in the head?, he thought to himself. She must be crazy. Or unbelievably dense. Or maybe both.

"I’m glad I finally found the right man!"

I’ve always been here. But you never saw me. "Right man is not you, dumb ass," he cruelly castigated himself.

She used to tell him on nights when he’d get all depressed over being single, "You’re a wonderful person. A girl would be dumb to not like you!"

Ha. If that were true, then you are undoubtedly the dumbest girl alive. I am not wonderful. If I were, then you would be with me now. Wonderful is not me. Wonderful is He. After all, he captured your heart–unwittingly and without effort.

Perhaps she would just die without ever knowing that such letters existed. That he filled countless journal pages with her name–attached to his, of course. She would never find out that those pages were stained with his tears and his kisses and the intense yearning he harbored for her all those years.

Or maybe one day, he will tell her all that she does not know. He will tell her about the letters. He will tell her about the nights he slept on the couch so he could immediately answer the phone when she called. He will tell her about the journals. He will tell her about how mighty difficult it had been to fall in love with another woman because she has become the yardstick by which he measures everyone else. How she held his heart for the longest time and broke it. Yes, yes, she didn’t mean to, he knows. But that doesn’t make it better. If anything, it only makes it all the more painful.

He just cannot rest without having some questions answered: What held you back? Was I really just a friend to you? What was I to you? What was wrong with me? What was it about me that you just couldn’t manage to see past?

Why didn’t you like me? Why didn’t you ever? Or did you? If you did, why didn’t you let me know? Why, why, why?

I loved you, really. Deeply. Genuinely.

I loved you. Not because, but despite.

One of the participants in the basic computing workshop we held back when I was still employed in an NGO wrote this in the survey form as response to the inquiry on why he’s never operated a computer in his life. "Oo nga naman!" was the first thought that sprang to my mind. After all, what use would a construction worker have for computers?

Those construction workers belonged to an organization called the National Union of Building and Construction Workers. NUBCW is a group that fights for the rights of construction workers. It likewise aims to increase awareness of different issues that concern workers like them. Skill and capacity-building was also part of the NUBCW’s main missions. Moreover, the leaders of the group were dead-set on putting up their own website so that members from different parts of the country could coordinate with each other and view updates and important data more easily. Hence, the need for computer know-how, however basic.

To be completely honest about it, I felt nothing short of blissful after I taught them the basics of using a word processor. The glow brought about by that experience stayed with me for weeks. Not even mindful of the fact that I hadn’t slept a wink days before my lecture and that I spent the entire weekend editing a video with Ronnie for an Asian Conference AND finishing my presentation for the MS Word workshop. I realized then that, indeed, the true source of happiness lies in exerting effort to make another creature happy.

How I felt pure joy when the participants wrote in the evaluation forms "Word Processing" or "Microsoft Word" as their MAJOR LEARNINGS from the first day of the workshop! More so when I saw how they transformed from people who could barely use a keyboard and a mouse (they had so much difficulty absorbing the differences between Click, Right-Click, and Double-Click!) to, at the very least, computer literates in a span of three days. By the end of the workshop, the people we taught are already able to surf the Net on their own and send and receive email. SIGH.

Bliss. Is inevitable.

It is the happiness that you do not chase, but reaches you anyway. In the least likely places, but in perfect timing.

Long ago, I had two articles published in UP’s online site, peyups.com. I was surprised to find out that the site managers haven’t deleted them yet. Whopee!

Read them here.

And here.   

OO, ako ang nagsulat ng mga ‘yan! And yes, it really happened.

Yesterday, the whole world witnessed yet another victory by Filipino boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao.

Barely awake and still whoozy from the previous night’s booze party, Raz and I crawled out of bed at 9 AM to watch his fight on Solar Sports. The match started past noon, though. We weren’t disappointed. The wait was well worth it. 

The first few rounds were quite heartbreaking. The lack in height and reach was very apparent. However, as the fight progressed, Manny finally got his groove and became more aggressive. I was still nervous about the outcome of the match, but was by far more hopeful. I forget what round it was, but when Erik Morales staggered backwards after a punch, I was beside myself with joy! I was jumping up and down, shouting myself hoarse. "This fight is so, so yours, Manny!"

Come the 5th or 6th round, a most irritating thing happened: Raz’s friend texted him to say that Pacquiao won by TKO in the 10th round. That idiot! We cussed him to high heavens, with Raz’s bold reply beginning with, "Damn you. I’m still watching!" Sheesh! We were aware the telecast was delayed, but that didn’t mean we wanted to know the result prior to actually seeing the end of the fight!

Anyway, despite that fool’s slip, we continued to eagerly watch the game (albeit still very pissed because we already knew he was going to win in the 10th round, anyway). 9th round, Morales’s face was all swollen, the fire gone from his eyes. It was obvious then who wanted the fight more. 10th round, well…we are now all aware that after Morales fell on his knees for the second time, the match was called off and Pacquiao was declared winner by Technical Knockout. And he was the first boxer to have ever knocked out the three-time champion, Erik Morales.

 

It was a day of jubilation for Filipinos everywhere. Those in Las Vegas waved their little Philippine flags and banners that said, "Pacman" and "Hataw, Pacquiao!" in the air and passionately chanted the hero’s name. ABS-CBN showed clips of people in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao happily celebrating Pacquiao’s latest victory. The presence of Chavit Singson and Mike Arroyo, both major nuisances in Philippine politics, was quite brow-raising. I didn’t mind them that much, though. I was just thankful for the rest from divisive politics and for the fact that a Filipino once again rose as World Champion.

In the after-fight interview, I was very amused to hear Manny answering Quinito Henson’s questions in English. I was half-squirming, half-delighted to watch him talk confidently in impeccable English (the grammar was fine, but his speech was still thick with regional accent). I was moved by how he kept attributing his win to the Filipino people. I couldn’t help but smile as I remember his song, "Para Sa’Yo" which he just recently crooned for Star Records. Where else in the world could you find a World Boxing Champion who works as a professional singer on the side?! Yan ang tunay na Onli in the Philippines!

I was surprised to find out that Manny was only 27 years old, barely a year older than me! Still, I feel happy that my age group has him as part of our pride source. For the boxing field, the older generations had Gerry Peñalosa, Luisito Espinosa, Flash Elorde… Manny Pacquiao is ours. My heart is just brimming with pride that such an icon of courage and never-say-die spirit is within our midst today.

As the day ended, words and expressions of thanksgiving were uttered in every corner of the nation: in different languages and to different gods. But for at least a single afternoon, the broken nation nation was again one: in hope and prayers and–as Manny sat on his manager’s shoulders, weeping with pure joy–rejoicing.   

MARAMING SALAMAT SA IYO, MANNY PACQUIAO. MABUHAY KA! 

1. Never akong napanood ng parents ko sa kahit anong academic contest na sinalihan ko. Not that I hold it against them…

2. "Apple Cut" ang forever na gupit ng buhok ko nung pre-school. Palagay ko, lahat ng mga babaeng ka-edad ko ay nakaranas ng haircut na ito. O di kaya naman ay, "Mango Cut," which is slightly longer. My, what were these haircutters thinking…

3. Ate Memen was the active, sporty kid, while i was the lame, "lampa" little sister. Tuwing hapon, parang automatic na sa lahat ng bata na pagkatapos ng afternoon nap ay pupunta sa "Plaza" at maglalaro ng kung ano-ano. Sa group games, walang gustong maging kakampi ako dahil mabagal akong tumakbo at nata-taya ako kaagad. Not wanting to subject myself to further embarrasment, I eventually stopped joining the pompyang for tag games (ma-aleeeessss—TAYA!) and settled with playing bahay-bahayan, lutu-lutuan, jackstone, Jackpot (throwing rubberbands) with non-running little girls like me.

Minsan, perhaps due to some inexplicable surge of courage, nag-attempt ako na sumali ulit sa mga ate ko para sa isang round ng Patintero. Nakalimutan ko na kung nag-pompyang pa ba, basta I ended up being teammates with my sister.

Taya ang mga kalaban namin. Ako naman, trying hard na magpa-impress. Feeling ko, yun na lang ang aking tanging chance para maging "in" sa mga batang Plaza. Nang magsimula ang laro, tumakbo ako na para bang wala ng bukas. Tuwang-tuwa ako kasi, for the first time, nakarating ako sa dulo ng hindi ako natataya. Kabang-kaba ako, pero takbo na naman ako pabalik. Pakiramdam ko ako ang makaka-score para sa team namin!

Na-reach ko na ang home base, pero hindi nag-rejoice ang mga kakampi ko. Para bang walang nangyari. Tuloy pa rin sila sa pakikipag-harangan sa mga kalaban. Inisp ko baka hindi lang nila ako nakita. I ran to the end again, and ran back to home base. Wala pa rin.

Then it dawned on me: na-figure out ko na ako pala ay Saling Pusa, Saling Ket-ket. Umiyak na lang ako at nag-walk out. Wala man lang pumigil sa akin.

That was one of my first major brushes with the reality and pain of rejection.

4. I do not remember a single instance when I played Chinese Garter. Pero magaling ako sa 10-20! (10, 20, 30…)

5. Without exaggeration, I was really GREAT at jackstone! Kahit ubod ng liit ng aking mga kamay, kayang-kaya ko ang iba’t ibang uri ng exhibitions. Nakalimutan ko na ang mga tawag, pero ang pinaka mga naaalala ko ay ang Palimos, Kuweba, Around the World, Falling Stars (at kung nagpapa-star ka sa friends, nandyan ang Double Falling Stars!)…shyet, naiinis ako na di ko na maalala ang tawag sa iba!

Hindi ko type ang Chinese Jackstone.

6. Hindi ako nagsusuot ng shorts sa ilalim ng palda ng uniform ko. Ikaw, nagsho-shorts ka pa ba noon?!

7. Inggit na inggit ako sa kaklase kong anak ng Hapon kasi lahat ng gamit niya ay Sanrio.

8. Isinali ako ng adviser ko sa isang Speech Choir. Nakalimutan ko na ang piece, pero naaalala kong ilang linggo akong nagse-stay after school for practice. Tapos, nung araw na ng performance, sinabihan ako ng trainer namin na umuwi muna, mag-palit into my costume, at "bumalik ng alas-dose." Hindi ko alam non kung ano ang kinaibahan ng "alas-dose" at "alas-dos."

Nang sinundo ako ng yaya ko, nalito ako. Ang nasabi ko sa kanya ay alas-dos ako kelangan bumalik sa school. Kaya ayan, hanggang past 12 PM ay nasa bahay pa rin ako at enjoy na enjoy sa panonood ng cartoon movie na Dumbo.

Pagdating namin sa school several minutes before 2 PM, may suot pa akong ubod ng laking red ribbon, wala ng tao sa auditorium. 

9. Parang Pasko ang feeling naming mga batang magpi-pinsan tuwing nandito ang kapatid ng Daddy ko who’s based in the States. Kanya-kanyang hukayan sa Balikbayan Boxes, agawan sa pasalubong, kain sa kung saan-saan, pasyal dito, pasyal doon…

Bago siya umalis, nagkaroon kami ng swimming party. At ang pinaka-gift naming magpi-pinsan sa kanya ay nag-organize kami ng isang mini-variety show. May mga tumula, may song and dance numbers, fashion show, etc.

Ano ang ginawa ko? Kumanta ako ng Somewhere Out There ni Patti Austin. Ang lakas-lakas pa ng boses ko, akala ko ay tama ang aking pagkanta. Pero in truth, wala akong itinama kahit isang tono! Sintunado to the maximum level ito. Ang suot ko pa noon ay isang maong na terno na may mga ribbons sa gilid (Mother, baket ako may ganoong damit?!) Ang pinakanakakahiya pa sa lahat, naka-video pa ito! Tuloy, hanggang sa nag-tandaan na kami, forever nakadikit na sa akin ang stigma na hindi ako marunong kumanta. Hey, cousins, I’ve changed! Hahaha.

10. I had flute lessons when I was 8.

11. Nag-enroll ako sa Yamaha for organ lessons. Para ma-check ng teacher kung magaling na kami, sabay-sabay kami ng mga kaklase kong tutugtog ng isang piece.

Pag hindi ako nakapag-practice, pinapatay ko ang volume ng organ para hindi niya marinig ang aking mali-maling pag-strike ng keys.   

12. I was never a bratty kid. Hindi ako ang tipo ng bata na nagtuturo sa malls o naglulupasay pag hindi nabigay ang gusto. Pag tinatanong pa nga ako na sabihin kung ano ang gusto ko ay hindi ako mapakali sa sobrang kahihiyan.

Sabi ng Daddy ko, isang instance lang daw ang naaalala nya na nag-alburoto ako, at iyon ay nang dayain ako ng Ate ko sa hatian sa mga kinita namin sa Caroling.

13. Ang bahay namin ay sa isang barrio sa Caloocan City. Halos lahat ng tao ay mahirap. Pero pag nangangaroling kami, walang nagsasabi ng "Patawad!" Ang mga tao, kahit bente-singko, nagbibigay sila. Tuwang-tuwa pa kami pag may nag-abot ng octagon-shaped coin na dalawang piso (hindi na ito ginagamit ngayon). May isang instance lang akong naaalala na hindi kami bingyan ng may-ari ng bahay. Kinantahan namin siya ng, "Tenkyu, tenkyu. Ang babarat ninyo, TENKYU!" sabay karipas ng takbo.

Talagang pinaghahandaan ang pangangaroling sa barrio namin. Kinakarir ang mga instruments! Meron kaming drums na gawa sa lata ng gatas at tinakpan ng cellophane (isi-seal namin ito with rubberbands). Meron pang tambourine na gawa sa mga pinitpit na tansan ng softtdrinks.

14. Paborito kong maglaro ng luto-lutuan gamit ang hiniwa-hiwang mga dahon, lupa, at buhangin na ginagawa kong "cake."

Enjoy ako sa bahay-bahayan kahit wala akong kalaro. Kaya pinagawaan pa ako ng Daddy ko ng sarili kong bahay kubo.

15. Mahilig akong bumili ng cherry balls. Tandang-tanda ko pa na pag marami kang binili, ilalagay pa ito ng tindera sa supot na pinaglagyan ng yosi.

16. Ang tawag ko noon sa coupon bond ay kokomban. Tuwing hapon, pupunta ako sa tindahan and I’d call out, "Aling Gloria, pabili nga po ng dalawang pisong kokomban!"

Naiintindihan naman ng lola mo ang ibig kong sabihin.

17. Tuwing may bisita kami, walang palyang pipilitin kami ng Ate ko ng mga magulang namin na tumugtog ng organ! I really hated having to play the organ before old people I barely knew.

There was one instance, however, when I did it happily for someone. My mother’s aunt came to visit and she asked me to play the old Tagalog classic, Minamahal Kita. I did so, begrudgingly at first. As I played, I saw her crying. She was so touched by the piece. When I finished, she gave me a kiss and told me that it reminded her of her husband. The next time she asked me to play other old songs for her, I did so without protest.

18. Hanggang mag-grade 5 ako ay sobra-sobrang hilig ko sa Barbie dolls. I had my own collection of Barbiedolls, Barbie apparel, Barbie accessories…house appliances, Barbie salon, etc!  Tuwing birthday ko ay wala akong ibang hiniling kundi BARBIE! Nagagalit ako pag papasukatan ako ng shoes kasi feeling ko hindi na ako ibibili ng doll pag may sapatos na ako. 

19. Ang baon ko nung Kinder ako ay 5 pesos lang. Ang presyo ng isang bote ng Coke "solo" ay 2.50 lang. Tapos, bibili ako ng cupcake na halagang 2 pesos. Araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos ay ito ang kinakain ko pag recess. Minsan pinagalitan ako ng Daddy ko. Sabi niya, "Ano ba yan! Tuwing tinatanong kita kung ano ang kinain mo, ang sagot mo lang eh ‘Coke saka cupcake’ o kaya ‘Cupcake saka Coke!’ " Hehehe.

20. Ang pinakamalaking naging baon ko nung elementary ay 50 pesos, nung Grade Six. Pero hindi na ito nag-increase hanggang highschool!

21. Minsan, nagpe-prepare kami para sa birthday party ko. Binabalot namin ang mga ipamimigay na premyo para sa mga parlor games. Eh naubusan na ng pambalot. Inutusan namin ang house boy na si Kuya Pando para bumili ng "wrapper." Bilin pa ng Tita ko, "Yung pang-birthday ha!"

Pagdating ni Kuya Pando sa bahay, may dala-dala itong chocolate wafers. Akala ng bruho na ang "wrapper" af "wafer!" HAHAHA. Meron bang wafers na pang-birthday?!