despair
you know how many people love to create predictions as a new year comes near? allow me to have my prediction . . . i predict . . . that i’ll have a lonesome new year . . . same as my christmas.
i’ve been lost for more than a week now, yes i admit that. i’ve been always seeking for my best buds’ company as i share my every sentiment and frustrations the past few days. i’ve made a couple of drastic decisions lately, and i admit, that some i’ve made are major sacrifices. some, which as much as i really do not want to do . . . i’ve realized are the best option. and so, even if it breaks my heart doing so, my mind tells me that it is the proper thing to do 
i’ve given a hint in my previous blog of the main reason of my lonesome days . . . i felt i’m not getting my worth as a person, better yet, as a friend . . . and it hurts to realize that. i’m a simple person . . . easy to please. ever since, i’ve made a decision in life to live my life selflessly . . . giving without expecting any material thing in return. it was working well for me. i thought people whom i’ve helped appreciated it. their words were those things i’d rely on . . . their "thank yous" and all other sweet words.
appreciation . . . i’ve realized it’s easy to utter words without even meaning it. and so, i’ve wished that somehow, the appreciation people have felt for everything i’ve done will go beyond just saying "thank you".
i’ve never been for material stuff in return. i never need it anyway . . . all i’m asking for is to feel the true essence of the idea, "my worth as a friend". what i wanted in return was something i thought to be much simpler than material stuff . . . all i want is people’s presence as a friend. knowing they’re there for me, in good times and in bad. i’m just requesting for simple things in life . . . companionship . . . a light chat . . . i guess i just want to talk to my friends even for a short period of time, just to really know that they’re ok.
i admit that i’m not a perfect person. i admit i’ve given much time lately for my job . . . and as a result, i admit that it came to the point that somehow, i’ve lost time for friends. but now, that i’ve resigned from work . . . i made it a point to get in touch with people . . . to try to catch up with lost time . . . and as what i’ve always said . . . why is it that i’m feeling not accommodated this time?
i’m really hurting right now . . . enough to say to people, "i don’t think i deserve this kind of treatment". i’ve always been there for people whenever they need me . . . i’ve gotten sick many times . . . i’ve lost weight drastically, but i’m still doing my best to be at their beck and call. i’m willing to sacrifice everything in my life just to be there for people knowing they need me. i’ve only got a simple favor from people . . . "hey, let’s go out. i want to spend some time with you. i want to know if you’re ok".
as i was telling my frustrations and sentiments to my best buds, i’ve asked them this question: "as a friend, would it be too much to ask from others for me to be entitled at least 5 minutes of their time a month? could i be entitled at least 5 text messages a month? so much so that i’d be satisfied to feel my worth as friend and as a person." guys, is that possible?
i know i can never demand for time. i know that people have different schedules. i admit that if i’m free today, there’s a great possibility that some aren’t. that’s why the concept of "making an appointment" was created, right? so as to make this engagement and appointment added to your schedule. for some inevitable moments, i believe in the concept of "compromise". and that’s one thing that never happened.
i’m very much open to compromises . . . but i’ve never been offered such. the absence of compromise was enough for me to think that i’m not valued as a friend, even as a person . . . and it hurts a lot . . .
you know anagrams? forming a new word after rearranging the letters or words of a previous word? i came to learn that when the word "DESPERATION" is rearranged . . . "A ROPE ENDS IT" comes out.
as i’ve been spending time with my best buds as they’re doing their best to cheer me up, i came to the point of saying "i wish i’d die soon." after saying so, immediately you’ll hear them knocking on wood saying "don’t say that. you’re still needed in this world. people still need people like you."
yeah . . . people need people like me. really? then why am i not feeling my worth? yes, i’m desperate but i’m not suicidal. i assure you that i’m not going to kill myself. but yes, sometimes i pray . . . "god, make that drunk bus driver come near my car and end my life immediately".
why do i want to die? people say that it is at your death that you’ll know who your real friends are. those people who’d be shocked upon learning of the news of your death. people who’d cry as the reality of your death sinks in. people who’d go out of their way to find time to come to your wake and attend your funeral.
yes, i’ve reached that point of desperation. if it is in dying that i’ll learn and feel my worth as a friend . . . then i guess, so be it.
i have one wish this new year . . . the only thing that will bring me back to my "happy state". i hope in time, i’d feel people doing their best to make it up to me . . . in the best way they know how. that’s enough to make me feel my worth as a person . . . moreso, as a friend . . .
–GI 30682
thoughts | Comment (0)pretending to be happy this christmas
wow, it’s christmas already . . . and like what i’ve posted in my earlier blogs, i still haven’t gotten the christmas spirit. during the previous days, i was hoping to be able to catch the christmas spirit in time but it never did. and so, while celebrating christmas earlier, i guess i was the only one sporting a sad face this christmas time.
yes, in one of my recent blog posts, i’ve said i’m trying to be more focused in moving on. i thought i was already on the right track but as i’ve told a couple of friends, like that famous song of earth, wind & fire: "every now and then, i find myself wondering about you" . . . i don’t know, but i’m admitting it this time, the first person i thought of as i woke up this christmas day was that person . . . the main character of hurting heart . . . since yesterday i’ve been downloading christmas songs with just one theme: loneliness at this time of year . . .
but no . . . it’s not the only reason why i’m having a lonesome christmas. i was reading a blog post of a friend earlier and i understood how she felt. the feeling that you think your presence is not being appreciated. fine . . . again, i’ve written before that i think i’ve already found my real friends. those worth keeping . . . i don’t know . . . i guess i spoke too soon. it hit me again . . . I’M NOT FEELING MY WORTH AS A FRIEND. yes, i’ll never get tired of being at my friends’ beck and call . . . i never wanted material stuff in return. ALL I WANTED IS TO KNOW AND FEEL THAT MY FRIENDSHIP IS BEING APPRECIATED. as much as i am doing my best to understand things and sacrifice to give way, sometimes i wish and hope that in other days, my FRIENDSHIP IS THE ONE BEING PRIORITIZED. i admit . . . nagtatampo ako and i’m really hurting . . . hurting enough to contribute to my lonesome christmas day . . .
but no, please . . . i don’t want you to be infected with my lonesome christmas day. i have no intention of ruining your happy and joyful day. i just needed to air out these thoughts with the hope of eventually feeling better having released some frustrations in life . . .
and so, i’d just wear a mask and pretend to be happy. it’s christmas day, we should all be glad and rejoicing.
well, most of my friends know my passion for trivias. i prefer calling them "useless knowledge" haha. it’s the kind of learnings that aren’t important anyway . . . knowing them does not contribute to everyday life, i guess. but i think their importance is for us to appreciate things in this earth no matter how simple or little they are. for everything that exists in this world has its own story. well, who knows? maybe in time, i’ll get to join kris aquino’s "game ka na ba?" haha. i remember watching an episode where the jackpot question was the meaning of the email term, "BCC". god! i know the answer! BLIND CARBON COPY! how i wish i was the contestant that time, i could have won the million right away . . .
i’ve decided my trivia to be christmas related. you know the song "12 days of christmas"? you think it’s a simple christmas carol, huh? are you aware of the real story behind it? i remember sharing it to one of my best buds during our college days and i remember her writing it down in a piece of paper so she could eventually share it to her friends. interested to know? read on . . .
the twelve days of christmas is really the time between christmas day, december 25 and the original date of epiphany, january 6. as the church evolved, they made the celebration of epiphany to be the first sunday after the celebration of the motherhood of mary, january 1.
during the time where being a catholic is considered a crime in england, english catholics were prohibited from practicing their faith in public, even in private. whoever is caught practicing catholicism will be punished . . . either imprisonment, death by hanging or getting beheaded.
and so, english catholics had to practice their faith underground. thus, the creation of the song "12 days of christmas". the song became a tool to practice their faith without getting caught. everything in the song has its own meaning. "true love" is god, himself. "me" is referred to as every baptized person. "partridge in a pear tree" is jesus christ.
every gift has its own symbol:
- 2 turtle doves - the old and new testaments
- 3 french hens - the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity)
- 4 calling birds - the four gospels or the four evangelists (matthew, mark, luke and john)
- 5 golden rings - the first five books of the old testaments, better known as the pentateuch (genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers and deuteronomy). it relays how man fell from god’s grace
- 6 geese a-laying - the six days of creation
- 7 swans a-swimming - the seven gifts of the holy spirit also known as the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, holy eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders and matrimony)
- 8 maids a-milking - the eight beatitudes
- 9 ladies dancing - the nine fruits of the holy spirit (love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)
- 10 lords a-leaping - the ten commandments
- 11 pipers piping - the eleven faithful apostles (simon peter, andrew, james, john, philip, bartholomew, matthew, thomas, james the son of alphaeus, simon the zealot and judas the son of james [not judas iscariot])
- 12 drummers drumming - the twelve doctrines of the apostles’ creed
so . . . i guess the next time you sing this christmas carol, you’ll appreciate it even more . . . and it’s a way of practicing our faith.
oh well . . . it’s back to playing sad christmas songs for me: my only wish this year, all i want for christmas is you, nakaraang pasko, christmas won’t be the same without you, sana ngayong pasko
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU and i hope your christmas turned out well unlike my lonesome christmas day . . .
–GI 30682
thoughts | Comment (0)hooray for mau marcelo
wow . . . i guess my esp powers are still working for the idol contest . . . ever since i started watching american idol (season 3), i have always predicted correctly who’ll win . . . and wow, my magic also works for the philippine idol contest. yahoo! my bet won!
ok . . . look back on my past blog posts about the philippine idol and you’ll see mau as one of my bets . . . i described her as the person who sang "sweet love" by anita baker . . .
i guess i’m just really happy for her. in her i saw the passion . . . the passion to win. she was not afraid to take risks . . . to reinvent herself once in a while. i’ll never forget how i was caught in surprise as she sang "waray waray". never had i imagined someone singing that song in a singing contest . . . but it worked . . . she has given justice to it.
one thing i really liked about her was how she took the challenge. i saw her turning point. during the early part of the elimination round, for her everything is just for fun . . . but during the round where regine tolentino became the guest judge, and the judges commented that for her to win, she needs to be serious . . . that she show how determined she is to get the 1st philippine idol title. i saw how she took that challenge . . . for in the succeeding rounds, she did her best . . . taking risks, choosing all the more better songs, and the determination to lose a little weight.
for talent contests, i’ve never been for good looks . . . well, yes . . . it’s a bonus but i’d rather see the talent . . . and the hunger to win. if i were for looks, i’ve definitely rooted for jan (great body, sobra!) haha . . . but like what ryan cayabyab said, he’s just an average singer. it’s his charms that brought him to the top 3 spot. for gian, yes, he’s got the talent . . . but it’s very theatrical. and i don’t think that it would work. i’m very disturbed with his "sudden jerks" . . . wala lang . . .
mau has never been bothered with her looks. i find it funny whenever she jokes about herself like the moment she was criticized by the judges for her "curtain-looking" costume. her reply was very funny: "mukha nga po akong sofa, natakot ako baka upuan nila ako . . . buti naman, hindi" . . . hehe.
i’m just very happy that she won and i hope she’ll go a long way. her voice is very soulful and as i’d describe it . . . malinis . . . walang arte.
more power to maureen marcelo . . . i’ll definitely buy your album 
–GI 30682
Music | Comment (0)panawagan lang
i was checking some previous blog posts of a good friend and i happen to notice one blog entry . . . an ad calling for a boyfriend . . . haha . . . with a list of things she longs for in a potential boyfriend.
now, ain’t that a good idea? i want to imitate that . . . with a little revision . . . i’m gonna create my ad but this time i’m gonna use the process of elimination . . . i’ll be listing things i don’t like in a guy.
why am i doing this? a couple of good friends know . . . how i’m being pursued by people i don’t like . . . people, whom after telling them that you just see them as friends, still continue to court you . . . much to my exasperation.
i don’t know . . . as much as i want to try to be nice and avoid being rude in turning down suitors, i realized that sometimes, you need to give it to them directly . . . telling them frankly, that is . . . that you don’t like them because the more you try to be nice in turning them down, they’d consider it as a joke.
here’s my list:
- given a choice, i don’t want a military partner. my entire life i’ve lived with a military man, my father, that is . . . having been a graduate of PMA. i’ve experienced days when your rival to your father’s attention is your country. he has his duty to protect the nation and i understand that. still, i just hated the moments that when you needed to feel secure at home, you just still don’t because the man who’s supposed to protect you is out of the house because duty calls.
- as much as possible, i don’t like "colored" men. sorry for being vain but please, i’m still young. i guess i’m still allowed to dream of marrying a good-looking guy someday, right? another thing, i’m concerned for my future kids, i want them to look good as well. like what my best bud told me . . . "tama ‘yan, gi. importante ang genetics" haha
- men who aren’t thoughtful and not a gentleman are a major turnoff for me. as a young girl, i’ve seen how my dad constantly remind my brother to treat girls with respect. i like that . . . i wanted to be treated with respect. i want to feel important. i want to feel protected. i want to feel secured.
- chickboys, beware! i’m one selosa person . . . if you can’t assure me your fullest attention . . . never mind . . .
- men who try to like everything i like . . . although it’s flattering for a girl when a guy does his best to like her interests . . . i’d love to have a give and take relationship. i want to also be influenced by him to like things he loves doing.
- ‘wag mong pilitin magpaka-konyo kung ‘di ka naman talaga konyo! yes, may kakonyohan ako . . . but please, ‘wag ipilit if your not like that. mas nagiging jologs kasi ‘pag lalong pinipilit maging konyo.
- vices. given a choice, i don’t like men with vices. well, things in moderation are ok. or if possible, please do not do it in front of me. i’ve never been exposed to other vices. my parents do not have vices thus no one in the family has influenced me for such. forgive me, i’m asthmatic as a young kid. i have low tolerance level for alcohol . . .
- jologs pick-up lines. please naman! do spend time to think about good punch lines. minsan kasi, instead of girls being turned on for the punch lines, they just get humiliated in front of other people.
- age. right now, i don’t like large age gaps . . . all the more men much older . . . i’ve realized that your age gap leads to differences in ideas and priorites . . . and this leads to frequent arguments.
hmm, i know i’ve lots more to add in the list but i’m really sleepy already. anyway, these are things which are the most important to me.
so, what’s next? guys, try evaluating the list. if you meet ONE in the list, you’re still safe. if you’ve got TWO, you’re still ok. THREE, i would have to look at your effort. FIVE, convince me. SIX, please think twice. SEVEN, don’t bother . . . just do not even think about it. if you’ve got ALL . . . please!! BACK OFF!!
i don’t mean to be rude . . . but this is my nice way of saying "please, i don’t want to be rude humiliating you in front of others telling you i don’t like you . . ." it’s simple, if you notice that i’m not accommodating you . . . then take the sign.
oh well, i’m still a good person. my being rude just comes out when the situation calls for it.
–GI 30682
thoughts | Comment (0)waking up from deep slumber
you still remember the film, "forrest gump"?
yeah . . . that film by tom hanks. it’s one of my favorites, you know . . .
anyway, there’s one scene that i’d like to use in my blog for today . . .
remember the latest scene when forrest’s girl left him? what was his reaction? he ran . . . ran for days . . . eventually to the point that he became an "icon" to others with some fans following him for a goal that they aren’t aware of . . .
after days of running, he just stopped . . . turned the other way and said to the people: "i’m tired . . . i’m going home."
that’s it . . . i’m tired and i’m ending this . . .
it’s been months since i’ve been down . . . trying to mend a broken heart and to tell you honestly, as most of you are very much aware of . . . it hasn’t been easy . . . i’ve been miserable for a long time now . . . missing someone . . . thinking about someone . . .
well now, i guess i just came to my senses . . . i’m tired of being miserable . . . although i’ve said it before, that i want to move on . . . i want to act on it now . . .
you know, there are two steps in this situation, i guess . . .
first is "acceptance". if there’s one thing that i’ve told the others a long time ago . . . it’s the fact that i’ve already accepted my fate . . . that perhaps no matter how much you try to do so . . . if it’s really not your destiny to be together, it just wouldn’t work out. as i keep on telling my friends . . . there are other pieces of the puzzle that needs to fit as well. i’m done with this stage a long time back . . .
now the second stage is "moving on". yes, after accepting your fate . . . you need to make an action . . . and that is, to move on . . . this is the part that i’m having a hard time on. it’s hard to move on trying to forget someone who’s got a big space in your heart. at times when i’m alone, i still think of that past . . . the memories . . . those memories that will just remain as "memories" for they can never happen again.
i no longer want to think of those memories . . . i’m tired of crying and having sleepless nights. that’s why i’m desperate in going out with friends . . . i needed to occupy my mind so that i won’t remember the sad truth . . .
and so, like forrest . . . i want to stop and go home . . . perhaps retreat a little and try making things right again.
you know i just realized . . . i guess it’s about time that i close a chapter in my book of life and start writing the next chapter. in this next chapter, i know there would be some new characters as some people are left behind in the past chapters . . . yet, i hope there are still a bunch whom i could take along until my book of life reaches its end.
i’ve got tons of people i’d love to bring along in the next chapters . . . all the more, until the end of my book of life and i know they also are willing to still be an important part of it, being part of the main cast, that is. still, there are others i guess, which opted to stay in the past chapters and i understand that. i’ll just have to thank them for being a part of my life and i hope things will turn out well for them.
oh well . . . i’m not saying that i have already moved on. i’m still in the process . . . but i know at this time, i’m more focused in doing so. i realized i’ve still got my trusted friends around who’re willing to help me in that goal of moving on . . .
yes, now i’m officially starting a new chapter in my book of life . . .
i’d like to end this blog with a song . . . a song i’d like to dedicate to a very important person in the past . . .
All Behind Us now (by: Patti Austin)
Hey, I’m so sorry
that it didn’t work the way
that we’d always planned
Hey, I’m so sorry
that you went away
and somehow didn’t understand
We pretended for so many years, but now
its time wash away my tears
CHORUS
Cause/And it’s all behind us now
cause we’ve learned to live somehow without
each other
And its easy to see, it ain’t never
gonna be the same again
And its all behind us now
cause we found a way to live without
each other
And in time we’ll have to see
If its ever gonna be that way again
ohh……
Hey, I’m so sorry
that I couldn’t find the words
that might have made you stay
and hey, it’s so funny
how we both can say the same thing in a
different way
We pretended for so many years,
but now its over baby
and so are my tears
repeat chorus
I was holdin’ out for far too long
But now I finally found where I belong
–GI 30682
thoughts | Comment (0)goodbye . . .
wow . . . today is my first day after my resignation from my former office, the department of national defense . . . how’s it so far? i like it . . . i mean, i’m getting the rest i’ve long been dreaming of . . . that much needed rest . . .
i have planned to write this blog yesterday since it’s officially my last day at work but i have been pretty hooked up with packing my stuff so i haven’t found the time. come to think of it, i wasn’t even able to eat the food we’ve prepared for our own simple despedida thingy at our room, darn . . .
so, how am i gonna start this thing? i’m really lost . . . if there’s one objective i have in mind for writing this blog, it’s basically to say goodbye . . . to the people i’ve met and worked with . . . at the department of national defense.
i guess i’d go back to last year . . . my boss’ birthday. in his speech, i remember him saying "in your journey, once in a while you need to stop and smell the flowers." he repeated that statement twice, i guess to give emphasis and importance to it. lucky me, i have been surrounded with green-minded people so they’re suggesting a different meaning to that statement *sheesh*. but of course, i knew what my boss meant . . . and that’s what i’m gonna write today . . . i stop . . . and smell the flowers. it’s my first day, and really . . . i’m enjoying it . . . just appreciating this rest i’m having.
it’s been 20 months . . . 20 months of working at my first job: the department of national defense. for my college friends, it really came as a shock. they knew i never intend to work for the government, all the more, the administration but there i was . . . eating the words i said back then. i remember my mom telling me of a vacancy as a personal staff of dnd secretary avelino cruz, jr. i wasn’t interested as i stuck to my statement before but eventually i gave in. i realized not everyone is given an opportunity like this. to work for the government, all the more the administration . . . furthermore, as a personal staff of a cabinet secretary.
i went for the interview. everything went so fast. i texted hea on a sunday (march 27, 2005), she texted monday asking me to email my resume. i was called by ms. ruby tuesday informing me of my scheduled interview the next day, wednesday. the wednesday interview was interesting with lots of great conversations with hea as we both realized of our same educational background. thursday, i was asked to have my needed documents processed (nbi clearance and all that). friday (april 1, 2005) was my first day at work.
now, ain’t that interesting? who would want to work on april 1? what’s april 1? yup, that’s right . . . april fool’s day. although i was informed that my job isn’t the typical 8-5 kind of job, i knew we would be working late. but i’ll never forget my first day at work . . . we went home 11pm . . . call it an initiation of some sort, huh? i remember being shocked . . . i was overwhelmed with lots of food at the office . . . wow . . .
my job was ok . . . it made me realize that i made a good decision of accepting the job. i’m surrounded with great, helpful and friendly people who guided me as i eventually learned to jive with the smooth flow of work there at OSEC.
i’ll remember lots of memorable moments . . . the time i was informed my parked car was hit by jun urbano’s (mr. shooli) car, the time i was attacked by a k9, the time I got sick and everyone showed that they care . . . with everyone checking on my temperature once in a while . . . and some people practically begging me to go home and rest than stay inside the office to finish my work convincing me it can be put off for the next day, the waterfalls inside the office as a result of "milenyo" haha . . . the brownouts caused by milenyo . . . the tampuhans, the rifts, the harassed modes, meeting prominent figures from the afp and the political arena . . . everything . . . good or bad . . . i’ll remember them.
but most of all . . . i’ll remember the people . . . forgive me for this long blog . . . but i really want to thank all of those people who’ve been a part of my life . . .
DND Sec. Avelino J. Cruz, Jr. - i’ll forever be thankful that you’re my first big boss. it’s been a privilege to be part of your staff and it’s rewarding to be connected to a man of principles.
HEA (Dir. Doris Catherine G. Ynzon) - i’m thankful for the connection we have. had it not for that, i won’t be given the opporunity to work at dnd. i know there a couple of tampuhans we’ve had, but you’re like a second mom . . . my mom away from home.
USEC RMS - sir, i’ll never forget your kenkoy moments.
USEC RAC - ang nasasalubong ko during weekends ‘pag gumigimik sa shangri-la mall . . .
USEC Cecilio Lorenzo - sir, i’ll never forget the pasalubongs you’re bringing for us. the preserved dried fruits. sarap nung dried tomato . . . hehe, and of course your funny kwentos . . .
USEC Antonio Santos - i’ll never forget your statement the time nagkasabay tayo sa elevator: "bihira na ang gentleman sa mga kabataan ngayon. kaming matatanda na lang ang gumagalang pa sa babae." i’ll never forget the reaction of the other guys inside the elevator with us . . . agad na hinawakan ‘yung door ng elevator for us to get out. hehe
ASEC DRR - the lady diana look-alike . . .
ASEC CPG - ang palaging nagtatanong sa akin kung bakit ako pumayat ng sobra
ASEC OCC - thanks for helping OSEC have an SDO
ASEC Joji Aragon - i was touched with what you said last wednesday. "thank you for the opportunity of working with you" i’m all praises for you, ma’am and it’s also a privilege to have met you at dnd.
BGen. Holganza - salamat sa mga pasalubong. i’ll never forget you. friend mo kasi si mr. jun urbano, ‘yung nakabangga sa kotse ko *peace*
Col. Bautista (SMA) - para ko na rin kayong kabarkada . . . Mr. Ricky Davao-look alike
Col. Santiago - galing ng disg. super hanga ako
Dir. Sillona - para na rin namin kayong daddy sa osec noon
Dir. Mac Orendain - thanks for the concern sa office lalo na nung bumuhos ‘yung tubig sa osec . . .
Dir. Cabaron - thanks for the quick action minsan ‘pag may fina-follow up kami sa ASA
Dr. Anne Marie Sta. Ana - i barely had the chance to get to know you, but the time i had some clearances signed for my resignation was enough for me to know you’re a nice person
Dir. Ross Manlangit - sir, thanks for assisting OSEC to have a copy of the first interview of Ricky Carandang with SND
Mr. Mike Seballos - thanks dahil ‘di ako nahirapan sa mga records ko sa office
Ms. Baby Vallejo - thanks for the help back when i was new at dnd. sa lahat ng documents na dapat i-pass
LtSg. Ello - thanks also for assisting us with regard to other ASA-related papers.
Ms. Tess Belmes - you’ve been a great help to OSEC. salamat salamat talaga . . .
Ms. Glo Agustin - thanks for the help with my resignation documents. and thanks for checking my leave credits. muntik na akong malugi doon haha . . .
Mr. Lando - sir, thanks for the service record for our gsis thingy
Mr. Nelson - thank you also for the gsis remittance certificates.
Ms. Beth - thanks for assisting me back when i was new so i could get my first paycheck
Engr. Advincula – sana ‘di na sumakit ulo mo sa lahat ng problema ng dnd building . . .
Ms. Amy (USDA) - i was touched when we saw each other wednesday night for the farewell bash. i’ll never forget you . . . don’t worry, i know you’ll get to have someone na makakatulong the next time may ifa-follow up kayo sa OSEC.
Ms. Bettina (USDA) - thanks din po, although i haven’t met you yet, i wish there’ll still be a future opportunity for that.
Ms. Melissa (USFIN) - i saw you sa OSEC one time pero i wasn’t able to grab the opportunity to introduce myself to you. thanks for the help lalo when we’re following up some documents at OUSFIN.
Ms. Meann - less opportunity was given for me to get to know you more. pero i know you’re one nice person. first impressions are enough to prove that
Ms. Leah (ASIDR) - sayang ‘di kita na-meet. oh well, baka sa wedding ni ms. mhel tomorrow
Ms. Amy (OPA) - thanks for the speeches sometimes lalo na ‘pag we need to fax it to other offices. ‘yung pictures ng OSEC staff ha? tsaka pahingi na rin ng cd ng DND presentation last monday tsaka cd ng "the big picture" with ricky carandang and "palaban" by winnie monsod hehe. i’ll never forget you and your concern for my aching back
Ms. Jing (OPA) - salamat din for the CDs we’re following up. i forgot to leave my mobile number. kunin mo na lang sa data tracking. they know my number
Ms. Jessica (OASFIN) – sorry sa lahat ng abala regarding sdo matters. Sa wakas, tapos na ang lahat ng sakit ng ulo natin
Ms. Abbey (USO) - i’ll never forget the many documents na kinukulit sa iyo ni Lt Millan. haha
Ms. Janet (USO) - thank you for the help lalo na ‘pag ms. abbey is not around.
Jermaine (USO) - pinapagod ka ni ms. abbey ‘pag may ipapadalang document sa akin . . . haha
Ms. Jing (USLPC) - hindi pa ako nakakapagpa-tattoo!!!!
Ms. Tess (USLPC) - i hope you’re doing well . . .
Ms. Jean Sy - ang mga kulitan natin with mervs . . . ayaw kong dumikit sa inyo . . . masyado kayong blessed ni mervs e. nakatulog yata ako nung nagpasabog si god ng blessing na ‘yun e *wink* haha
Carol - salamat sa mga tulong for the documents sa records
Manang Mila – thanks for bringing in some documents from ms. Jean
Shiela – ‘di ka na humihingi ng condiments sa OSEC. *peace*
MSgt. Manzano - miss na kita. hope you’re doing well in spain.
MSgt. Franco - ang bait mo!!! salamat sa mga tulong and the food . . . hehe
Margaux - thanks for the messages na fina-follow up namin for SND’s signature
Chel - dating groupmate sa writing training . . . i wish you the best
Ms. Anna Cochico and the Protocol Peeps - mami-miss ko kayo . . .
Ms. Ruby – thanks for the training . . . the advices . . . I’ll always keep those things in mind
Mervs – partner in crime. Life at dnd would have been boring without you around. I’ll miss your free concert at OSEC. Hehe
Ms. Mhel – paano ‘yan? Wala na kami ni mervs when you get back to work. Keep in touch na lang.
LtSg. Penaflorida - sir, i’ve learned many things from you. thanks for some important lessons about life.
Capt. Padua - i wish you luck and happiness . . . alam mo na kung anong ibig kong sabihin.
Capt. Pacis - good luck to the future commercial pilot? 
Capt. Adecer - the virgin cola theory? haha
Capt. Gigantone - ‘wag na natin ilagay ang first name mo. hehe . . . although it took a long time before i finally got your name correctly . . . thanks for the kulitan moments.
1Lt. Deocampo - noong umpisa tahimik ka lang, tapos naging makulit ka na rin. i’ll never forget your efforts in trying to make me smile.
Lt. Mangahas - kulit mo sobra. panalo mga hirit mo.
Mang Danny - super bait mo. i wish you good health always
Other Security Officers of SND (Tropa) - thanks. lalo na sa mga nakasama ko when i do errands for SND.
Master Doc - tita nids!!! akala ko talaga dati office doctor ka. ‘yun pala "doctor" ang family name mo. haha miss na kita.
Sgt. Cabang - i’ll never forget you. you were the first one to welcome me during my first day at work.
Sgt. Azuque – sa lahat ng tulong lalo na sa paghahanap ng mga documents, salamat
Sgt. Lumogdang – salamat sa lahat ng tulong lalo na sa sdo matters . . . pati na rin sa paglakad ng clearances ko.
Chief – sana ‘di ka napagod sa mga pinapirma ko sa iyong 54 folders. I know you’ll remember me because of that hehe
Ms. Anne – sayang din kasi when you get back sa office 2 weeks from now, wala na ako. I wish you happiness and I hope you get to fulfill your dreams in the future.
Ms. Maricel – I’ll miss your quotable quotes
Kuya Denon – paano? Kita-kita na lang sa ym . . . thanks sa lahat ng tulong lalo na ‘pag sira ang pc ko
Kuya Arnold – buti na lang alam mo lahat ng lugar kaya ‘di mahirap bilhan ng food si snd
Kuya Glenn – thanks for the small favors . . . sa paglinis ng kwarto namin and sa pag-ayos ng merienda namin
Mang Badong – ang tahimik pero panalo humirit. Isa ka sa mga pinakamabait na taong nakilala ko
Mang Totits – salamat sa pagtulong sa paglakad ng iba pang personal documents namin around dnd
Kuya Edwin – sa mga kakulitan mo . . . mami-miss ko ‘yun
Kuya Monching – may favor ako sa iyo . . . soon . . . text ko na lang
Bendal’s people – thanks for the food all the more the meriendas you sometimes send
Abbie (ASIDR) – sayang kaunti pa lang bonding moments natin.
Vanessa (ASIDR) – lalo na sa iyo . . . haven’t gotten to know you well yet
Jessie – grabe . . . iba ka!!
Berna – thanks for warning me about Jessie . . . haha
Dennis – akala ko talaga mas bata ka kay marvin . . . ang taong palaging pormal manamit . . . uy, sorry talaga doon sa . . . you know what
Marvin – kuya marvin aka the future pastor . . . thanks sa lahat. Sa mga kulitan moments . . . sorry din for . . . you know . . .
Jay – I’ll miss the everyday morning ym greetings . . . minsan offline pa. thanks for being a good friend and for trying to go out of your way ‘pag may kailangan ako sa OSEC. Also, thanks for those “advices,” if you can call it that way, lalo na ‘pag sinasabi ko sa iyo na, “some things are wala na kasi sa lugar” hehe . . . to my sosyal na chatmate . . . thanks for everything . . .
to the other faces whose name I don’t know . . . to those people I come across with . . . the smiling faces to greet me and to show authority . . . the janitors and janitress who’ve been helpful . . . the military police who protect and show courtesy to us . . . thank you so much . . . you’re all a part of my life . . . and you’ll always be inside my heart . . .
with how much I’ve learned from all you and how all of you have been part of my life . . . I hope I have also given something in return . . .
and now as I move on to a new journey . . . I hope we all will remember each other still. Who knows we’d still get to cross paths in the future. I hope the connection will not be burned . . . and I hope we all could still get in touch . . . don’t worry, I’d still drop by at dnd once in a while
so, paano?
‘til we meet again . . .
ciao!
Gi m a . . . signing off at dnd . . .
–GI 30682