Makati Diaries 7: AWOL

It’s the cool wind end of July
And I felt my thin salary in my pocket.
I’m heading home.
That day is supposed to be my last day at L&M
But with an important task assigned for the following day
I thought, “… half day lang naman”.
The sudden sprang of conscience made me
almost forget a scheduled date.

Morning came. I looked around the office.
Everybody had no idea.
Everybody is on their humdrum routines.
Suddenly as if I could not hear anything.
Save for the fax machine beeping.
The only sound above lifeless employees.
I went on to track my steel shipment to Zamboanga.
“Basta pag 10 am na, bababa nako…”
Ms. Vivian called up, meeting at ten.
My cellphone rang, he was already parked infront of the building.
I went down and gave him “Bkit baligtad magbasa ang mga Pilipino?”;
Explained, gave him a peck and went up the building again.
I endured the meeting and went on to finish
my goodbye letter to Grace. The most humble person in the office.
My boss obliged me to leave not after I find a freight mover.
I just hope that he won’t grow impatient. He was early then.
I was caught in the middle of professional principle and
Personal life awareness.

I went on to make few phone calls to no avail in 10 min.
I grabbed my bag, logged out, and ran as soon as I passed the door.
I never looked back.

I felt as if a chapter of my life will be left behind.

For me, they will just be a memory.

The world behind me fade to black.

I was like a convict, running out of prison.

I ran and panted....

I didn't look back.....

Makati Diaries 6: Collorum Fx’zzzzz in the morning

I remember mentioning in an article once (that was a summer) about
taking the bus going to makati during the good ol’ days of job hunting.
Imagine the morning smoke puffs you get into your face before reaching
Quiapo and the dizzying air freshner (the green colored shaped like Christmas tree)
makes you a little bit losyang even before you reach the working metropolis.
More than once, I saw Estong walking along Fajardo st at 7am
(I was then working at Buendia) and heck did I recall him
takingthis particular trip. Thanks to estong, I discovered collorum fx rides.

Morning.7 months.
Of course, had been familiar faces alreadyand yet no acquaintances.
Just the sheer friendly smileseach time you reach your pamasahe.
Or you say “ma para” for somebody.
There are times when I get to ride with high school classmates.
You’ll notice how often this particular woman wear her blouse.
or how fashionable the lady next to her is.
Or finally assuming that the guy with shades is gay.
Except this one girl.

She has that far away look in her eyes.
And somewhere between that 40 minute ride
Tears would wash her morning make-up
What could she be thinking?as if i could feel her too
as if i could answerthat million dollar question.

Every road trip is like battle of the minds.(eyes rolls)
what could they be thinking?
Like robots, chin upcrisp suits, gelled hair, envelope tucked under.
Everybody was dropped along Ayala Ave infront of SGV bldg.
as if i felt that feeling beforeso full of aspirationsand all out
career no lovelife standing your waybut dreams and like robot
but a multitask in your brainstarts to run.
what else could they be thinking?

.... aside from automatically buying Taho....... ewan


Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:51:27 +0100 (BST)

makati diaries 5: over overnights

i thought i have prepared my stuff for just one office overnight.
just one night. just to finish the heavy load.
though extra shirts and extra underwear were added when i plan to go to the
gym after work. clothings for just one night (not to mention several underwear for some night hot shower. thank God i dont need to boil water)

and as i sit down in front of my active computer, i ddnt notice dusk slowly shadowing my window pane. next thing i know-- dinner at kfc. breakfast at mini stop. g**. lunch. dinner. dawn. work. batangas sweets ni manang for merienda.

until....

gosh it's 4:11 am
oh well...

im sure its not only me who experience mad overtime. people even have sunday work just to hit deadlines. i think it's a commonality for people in my line of industry to undergo this fatal dedication. less sleep. less gimik. less chance for ____. you name it. the best compensation i get is unlimited internet, unlimited coffee, sleeping with aircon, eat and eat, you look so masipag you can be hopeful getting absorbed by the company for life.

oh well, here i am
writing makati diaries
at 4:14am
sunday
hearing stand up comedy on launchcast
chatting with my gemini co-worker
looking at the window
as i notice dawn slowly shadowing my window pane.
nakikilamay sa cad dahil kung hindi sa bagal ko na paggawa ay maaga
kahit papano ang pagtapos ng gawa.

i miss my bed...


Sat, 12 Feb 2005 20:36:21 +0000 (GMT)

Makati Diaries 4: A Day Before New Year

i am 70% thankful
and 30% unthankful

the thankful side is that i have the opportunity to earn what i've spent for the holidays.
and that also mean -- no vacation (yes, this is included in the 70% thankful)

for the unthankful part, it is when i dont have the time to shop-- that meant trudging divisoria
in the evening, rushing to the mall before it closes, bearing the apartment's utter silence since
people are having their holiday spree. oh i forgot.. i just sleep when i got home after a night out.
i better change my rate to 80% and 20% respectively.

today, almost all stores are closed in makati so me and two of my seniors have to walk all
the way to greenbelt to have lunch. Bonding. Makati was such a lonely sight. Ayala Avenue
was closed to make way for the lighting setup in preparation for tomorrows New Year celeb.
Like the one we see in U.S. where people gather in the streets i.e New York and make a
countdown sortee. Only few people. Thank God Greenbelt is open.

Next year when i come back here on my new slacks and heeled shoes,
the air would be different.
It's a brand new start.
although, the inevitable routinary life--
Boil water
Collorum fx lines
Underpass crowd
work drag
single mom-like
expect opportunities
take chances
lose
win
laugh
cry
love
be in love
**sigh

Its the age where we are experiencing the mid-life crisis.
we start to realize that there are a lot of things about us that we don't know
or may not like (so the author says). We get scared. We don't know where we are.
oh well, In two days, those born in 1981 (i'm in!) will have a good year. Hey! it's the year of the rooster. (psychic me)
Let's breath in the luck!

Happy New year to all



---Thu, 30 Dec 2004 11:40:35 +0000 (GMT), my table, Arup Office

Makati Diaries 1: One fine Saturday

its the matutinal scenery..
you wake up and automatically heat water for your morning bath..
press your clothes though undecided really what to wear.

no breakfast
you brush your teeth to take away your morning halitosis..
a little make up from there atop with a corporate look
and off you go carrying your backpack you didnt touch
since you arrived mid last night..

Saturdays in makati could be really lonesome
few people.. few cars.. few open buildings..
Even mr. Taho who use to be in the corner
and the candy woman is missing..

The air is sooo light and free
its llke you are on the right track up to a promising career..
the travels.. the people
it's the yuppie feeling

ahhh. office at last and you'd feel the low
humming aircon breaking your eardrums in
utter silence.. there's no really work on saturdays
but i have to come to finish some Cebu water tank,
my table's a trash, and calcs are a dozen..
(shet.. pano ko nga ba gagawin to??!)

my... how will i ever come through the day
oh Lordy help me
help me focus on my work
please take away the _____ thoughts of my recent life
my recent life.....
my recent life.....

oops, dad called and it was refreshing..
talk about the whats up and whats gonna be...
the feeling of a daughter for a father on those kinds of talks..
those kinds of talks..
on my chair and messy table and calcs
up the nth floor of a building
overlooking toxic and busy makati.....

---- Oct 9, 2004
jomaykulit@yahoo.com

PASTA E PATATE

a poem for mother

Guadagnavi soldi sola (you used to earn money alone)
E di mattini freddi benedetti preparavi (and in blessed cold morning you prepared)
Prima degli affanni del commercio (before the struggles of the commerce)
Del clamor del giorno (of the day noise)
Pria dell’arroganza (before the arrogance)
E dell’affannosa trattativa (of the tiring dealing)
Ascosa (hidden)
Fra vetri appannati (in steamy windows)
D’alba fredda (of cold dawns)
E bollir di casseruole (and boiling of pots)
Madre mia. (Mine Mother)


Olio ed aglio (Oil and garlic)
E pomodori nostri (and our tomatoes)
E sedano e patate (and celery and potatoes)
Comprate a lire tue (bought in pesos of yours)
Nell’umido mercato. ( in the muddy market)


E grani di sale (grains of salt)
E polvere d’amore (powder of love)
E dignità e pazienza assai (dignity and patience a lot)
E sacrificio (and sacrifice)
E impegno (and devotion)
E amore, (and love)
Amore, (love)
Amore. (love)



(maggio 2004)