29 Nobyembre 2007

May meeting kame kanina sa Shangri-La Mall ng 1PM. Umalis kame sa QC ng 12:30, pagsakay namin ng taxi, ayaw kameng ihatid ng driver, sabi nya, meron na daw coup.

"Ha? Meron pong ano?!"

"Merong kudeta!"

Pinakinggan namen ang radyo nya. Nagkakagulo nga daw, si Sen. Trillanes, kasama si Gen. Lim. Hindi ko gaanong maintindihan. So tinext ko ang daddy ko. Sabi, nagwalk out daw sa trial sa Regional Trial Court si Sen. Trillanes at nagpa presscon sa Makati.

Pagdating namin sa meeting sa Shangri-La, pinauwi na daw ang mga offices sa Makati area. Ayon sa mga dumaan sa may Manila Peninsula, wala naman daw aksyon, pero madaming tao.

Bandang 5 ng hapon, nagbukas kame ng TV. Nakita namin kung gaano kadami ang media. Kung gaano kadami ang tao.

Nagulat ako, may tangke sa loob ng lobby ng Manila Peninsula. Sinong gumawa nun?! Bakit?! Ang apektado dun ay yung may ari ng Manila Pen, at yung mga guests. Nakakasindak naman yun.

Tapos sinakay nila sa bus na may rehas si Sen. Trillanes. Sabi, sinisiguro daw na hindi siya tatakas. I don't think gusto nya tumakas. Una, san siya pupunta. Pangalawa, senator sya, san nya gusto pumunta. At kung san man siya pupunta, madali siyang mahahanap. Pangatlo, wala naman siyang reklamo sa pagiging kulong niya.

Tapos pati ang media, hinuli? Bakit?!

Ang labo talaga. At ang gulo. Ang lungkot.

28 Days Before Christmas

Bernard put up the Christmas Decors today. I was inside the production room when I saw him hanging something on the door. It was a mistletoe, "Ma'am, Pasko na e". I smiled and felt warm. Bernard is a year younger than me, and he has two kids. I thought he must be a sweet father.

At around 5PM, I took a break from the computer and walked outside with my lighter and a stick of cigarette. I was amazed as I came to the sala/reception. There stood our 2-foot Christmas tree, standing tall. It was filled with golden balls and gleaming red ribbons. Its green lights flicker in the dark. I suddenly felt that it is Christmas!

Upgrade

On January 2 is my 2nd anniversary as an employee of a below-the-line advertising agency.

This is a very young company with young and talented creative team.

When I got here, there were only a PowerMac G5, which the Creative Director used, a Powerbook G4 which the GM used, and one PC, you know, Windows XP. Which I used.

Now there are 2 Powermac G4s - one is for the new Graphic Artist (who's only been here for 3 months or so), one is with a 12" LCD screen, and 3 powerful speakers, which the Creative Director uses.

There are 2 additional PCs for the admin staff and the new graphic designer, and the 'pioneering' PowerMac G5 and Powerbook G4, both used by the GM, since she also edits. The G5 now has 2 powerful speakers, and 2 matching amplifiers. And the PC, which I still use.

A lot has changed in the office, new paint, new chairs, new printer, new powerful speakers, etc. But my desk remained the same -- old pc, old phone, old white plastic speakers which have masking tape all over.

Just the other day, I had to take out a part of my PC table because its screws have been popping out for the last few months, because it's an old table. Maybe 3, 4 years old? The top level of the table (where you put the printer or fax machine or what have you) has been swaying since I got there. Also, when I started working there, the keyboard platform was missing! Not to mention that 3 of the 4 feet of my table have been replaced with small wood blocks. And oh, the keys in the keyboard have letters written on strips of paper, taped on the keys. But you know, if you look at my working area, it wouldn't seem so bad.I've a 17" flat screen, so it's actually ok.

Ive been dreaming of a Macbook. Acquire it from personal savings or from company incentives, loans, doesn't matter. But unfortunately, I can only save up for it if I don't eat and pay my bills. And I guess the company cannot afford to give/lend/loan it to some employee like me yet, it's 90K!

So there, I'm letting go of my Macbook fantasy. And don't be smart with me and ask me why I wouldn't ask for a new keyboard and/or a new table instead, I don't need them. My whole PC set up is perfectly functional.

But you know, the Macbook can do wonders for me, as a person, as an (ahem) artist. Haha. But it's too darn expensive! And oh, by the way, my PC at the apartment is still busted. Life.