Wednesday, May 30, 2007

there's a reason why people don't stay where they are

Your last answer, if I remember right, was that you would think about it again first.

And I told you not to say anything conclusive until you see me again.

Face to face.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

forget what we're told, before we get too old

Hmph. To think Snow Patrol used to be this bunch of kids who pretended to be members of Belle and Sebastian just to get in a concert. They're bigger than Belle and Sebastian now, at least here in this country that eats heartbreaking songs for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I once told a friend that we'd all be great together if we were in utopia; sadly, we live in a mamamaterial world...excuse me. I'm just amusing myself to lighten my spirits a bit.

***

A friendly client came by today to check on her account and when I told her that the funds she needed weren't getting through yet (later on I learned there was a US holiday so all international transfers were value dated to the next day), she started getting upset, telling me it was impossible for the funds to be delayed. Her once meek face turned cross, and I was unmoved by it as I thought to myself, I'm having a bad day, so please, don't start with me. Then, the events that followed soon after happened swiftly: Her eyes flutterred non-stop, her pupils shot up behind her eyelids and her body went limp as a rag doll in her seat. I practically jumped from my seat and alerted the operations manager and asked for help in carrying the client to a private room away from the lobby, and our janitor and one of the guards squeezed her fingers and toes while I gently called out to her hoping she would regain consciousness while her body was twitching as though it were being electrocuted.

I knew exactly what it was -- she was having a seizure. And it was the first time in more than twenty years for me to witness an epileptic attack since my brother died.

Moments later I found myself sobbing uncontrollably in the ladies' room. After washing my face I went back to the client to tell her everything was alright, she could get her funds (we just pre-terminated her time deposit), and I even offered to give her a ride to St Luke's where she was headed for a general checkup. The client's eyes were brimming with gratitude but she politely declined. She went on to tell me she was thankful that I was there when she had a seizure because I understood her condition, and that she was having a checkup so she could get well and hopefully leave her depression behind after her husband left her to marry another woman in Muslim rites. To add insult to injury, it turns out her in-laws knew it all along and even approved of it because she was "sick and of no use as a wife".

"Ang meron na lang ako ngayon, yung mga sulat niya sa email na kinukumusta niya ako, na papadalhan niya ako ng pera. Pero yung presence niya hindi ko na makukha."

"Bakit po ninyo tinatanggap pa? HIndi po ba masakit yung nagawa niya sa inyo?" --
hindi naman ako masyadong nanghimasok pero nilubus-lubos ko na, close na naman kami eh.

"Wala na akong magagawa, kailangan ko ito eh. Alam kong talagang napasubo na lang siya dun sa ibang bansa kaya niya nagawa yun. Pero aayusin ko ang buhay ko para mapakita kong hindi ako kailangang kaawaan. Para mapakita ko na pwede naman akong mahalin."

***

Another client came by today assisted by my teammate to redeem funds on an investment to buy a new car. He looked somewhat unhappy about it and told my teammate his wife, who is currently in the hospital, encountered a violent incident at the parking lot of the mall across the street. She was followed by a stranger and when she unlocked her car door she was pushed aside by the man who tried to steal the car from her. She retaliated and ended up being stabbed repeatedly on her arms. The stabber left her and the car in the parking lot. Buti na lang nakaabot pa sa ospital. They are selling the car.


***

Got an email from an officemate from the main branch telling me that one of our friends' mom passed away recently and we were to visit her tonight in Marikina. Unfortunately I had a late night team district meeting which ended at 8pm and told her I would just pass by tomorrow. This friend of mine emailed me a few months back asking for a copy of Hangad Acapella to borrow for what purpose I never knew (she wasn't a fan), and I never did get to send it to her. I'm thinking of giving her my copy tomorrow.

***

And I thought I had the biggest problem on earth.






Wednesday, May 23, 2007

selling the drama

For those who know the shows, enjoy! For those who don't, kunyari na lang nakakatawa, ha? =)
You know you and your family's been watching too many telenovelas when:
  1. Your mom asks if your brother is bipolar like Jodi's character in Walang Kapalit because he is depressed but he's a comedian.
  2. Your dad suddenly shouts expletives when the Arthro ad comes on because it's spoiling the drama of Maging Sino Ka Man. ("!@$#&*^$@!!!!! Sana matumba ka sa kakalakad mo pabaligtad hayop ka!")
  3. You begin to think the inspiration for Maria Flordeluna is your family story because your parents both have kids from previous relationships, your mom's name is Tita Jo, your dad looks a military man and your maid's name is Wilma.
  4. You discover that Walang Kapalit is actually the continuation of Maria Flordeluna and you puke at the storyline because it's the love story of the budding romance between your half-sister and half-brother.
  5. But, the story of Maging Sino Ka Man is entirely yours in different times in your life -- except, of course, the selective amnesia part of it (which is practically at the heart of the storyline).
  6. This is why you decide to stick to ABS-CBN's shows because there is nothing similar between your family and Super Twins or Lupin.
  7. You get mad at your boyfriend for ignoring you and misreading your signs the way Eli did to Jackie.
  8. You also get mad at your boyfriend for not sending you letters of poetry and staying outside your house even when you pushed him away the way JB did to Celine.
  9. But, your boyfriend has the same castaway-style stubble and ruffled hair like JB -- though he was never cast away on an island and could always find time to shave and get a decent haircut.
  10. You and your sister buy baby-doll style tops like Jackie and Celine, and end up looking like Flordeluna and Wilma.
  11. Your sister started with long hair permed at the ends like Jackie's, then had bangs cut like Celine's, and is now cut in a bob like Melanie's. Hopefully she won't cut it apple-style a la Robin Padilla.
  12. You start watching a few episodes of Asian Treasures hoping to get a glimpse of Celine's old best gay friend who is now a beautician but is the same bipolar comedian at home.
  13. You blurt at the oddest times the phrase, "I never...said...that I love you!"
  14. Your dad knows when to pee because every change in scene involves a 3-minute commercial break.
  15. You know the happiest times Piolo had in Australia were not with Claudine but with the actor who played his best buddy.
  16. Your parents actually remember doing the exact same things Dina Bonnevie and Edu Manzano did when they shot in Australia ("Diba Dad, yan din ginawa natin sa Sydney? Naglakad tayo sa sidewalks?" -- uh, like about 90% of people who appear on sidewalks anywhere in the world!?!?)
  17. You feel the suppressed guffaws of the actors in Maging Sino Ka Man when they include My Marvel Taheebo and Biogesic spiels in actual scenes.
  18. Your dad knows it's time to turn off the TV and go to bed when Rounin begins.