learning from people

I’m working now. Supposedly. But I’m still trying to get a grasp of what I was doing five (5) months before. I forgot my password. I forgot about my files. As much as possible, I don’t want to roam around because I’m already tired of repeating the answer to the same old (already) question. One Jap boss seemed so happy when he saw me last monday because we almost did the “apir tayo” greeting. And there’s this super strict Jap who told me “long time no see”. And of course the Filipino bosses who asked me about the exams. And everybody else. I would find myself smiling and saying : ” Ok lang po. It’s up to HIM na.” And I mean it.

Things are still ugly here in Pasig. On our way to the office, we still need to take the shuttle truck because the real shuttle bus could not get through the waters along Sandoval St. and Mercedez Avenue. I wanted to take photo shots but I don’t want to look like some tourists who see these things for the first time. There are floaters around. Some made of wood. Some are improvised : bath tub, ref, kariton, air bed. Some have colors and designs of sorts. Creativity at its best. Some would appear funny but thinking about how difficult things are…sigh. Imagine, hinihila lang at tinutulak yung mga floaters. Muscular power. Nakababad yung paa nila run for so many hours. Just to earn a living. Nakakabilib because they use their means and they don’t beg.

Someone almost sacrificed his lfe kanina just to save himself from the waters. Sumabit sa isang truck. Nagkasalubong ung trucks namin and muntik na siyang mapitpit. Right in front of me. It was so nerve wrecking and I really shouted. Imagine, pag napitpit siya run, there’s a chance na wiwisik ang blood niya sa’min. Horrible. Ang mamatay ng dahil sa baha.

Kuya Junie told me that they still don’t have electricity. It has been more than a week and though their house is free from flood, they still can’t get out without using the floaters. It’s like Php 50.00 per person. What he did : He commissioned someone to build two improvised wooden boats. Business Minded. Now he doesn’t have to pay for his fare and he still gets boundary for the two boats. In one week, kumita na siya.

Our technical manager came by my desk and of course we talked about the bar exams. But he stayed for a sensible chat. We ended up talking about the tribes in Mindanao. He said he wants coffee so I gave him 1 bag of Jimm’s. Hehe.Told him that goes for diabetic. Syempre, nagtimpla siya mag-isa. Haha. Anyway, he told me he wanted to be a lawyer but his parents did not allow him to enter law school. His mother is a retired clerk of court. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na dati pala pwede maging clerk of court ang hindi lawyer.

I’m still not in the mood for work. I’m just swaying with time, observing and enjoying the ride. Sometimes pala, we just need to pause. Kahit walang effort, we can always learn from other individuals .