Thoughts over the weekend:
- I want to move. I need to move. Move na ako! I'm not cut out to be a Southern (Mega-manila) belle.
- I'm using way too much water. Must. Conserve. Water.
- Some guys just don't get it. Agh!
- Purple nail polish makes me happy. But it does not suit me.
- Should have never worn stilettos to the mall.
- This whole "Give the guys a chance to lead" thing is NOT working out.
- I need to get away from... Flee in the other direction is more like it.
- We are all each others keeper. One person can't do it alone.
- Apple was right. When you're sad, it is actually possible to feel such intense pain in your chest that you can't breathe. And in my case, eat.
- Human hearts are weird and extremely fragile things. Handle with care.
Thoughts that came up just now:
- Janna, I still owe you that tag post. Sorry. Am having some difficulty thinking about what's weird about me. =)
- Nellie, where are you? Looking forward to lunch.
- Must. Not. Let. It. Get. To. Me.
June 25, 2007
June 18, 2007
Bless Me with More Foolishness
I have a thing for pedestrian lanes. I can be wearing expensive shoes or 3inches+ stilettos but I will kill my feet (and my friends' feet) walking on until I find a pedestrian crossing. Only then will I allow myself to cross the street.
Nothing special, you say.
Wrong. It is. For here in the Philippines, being a stickler for pedestrian crossing, buckling your seatbelt, holding doors open for strangers and standing in line for public transport makes you stand out---often not in a good way.
If you're lucky enough to find a decently painted pedestrian lane, you can still die assuming our drivers know that they're supposed to slow down when they see the sign for Ped Xing. But drivers are just one half of the story. Most people don't even bother using the pedestrian crossing. Jaywalking is the norm here. Don't be surprised if you see someone darting across a major highway in what is tantamount to police chase scenes in Hollywood movies. Or if the do use the pedestrian crossing, they pay no heed to the walk/don't walk signals. They will creep over the crossing, one lane at a time effectively bringing lane by lane of vehicles to a halt even when the traffic light is green.
Try buckling your seatbelt (if there is even one) on a taxi and you'll get one of three things: 1) The driver looks at you, realizes he should be doing the same and proceeds to follow the law. 2) The driver chooses to ignore your subtle hint and drives you to your destination with out using his seatbelt and 3) your friends in the backseat laugh at you for bothering.
Another norm: Doors slamming in your face. Or elevators door closing in on you because no one pressed the hold button and people didn't let you pass. Apparently, one of the reasons we didn't make it to the RD list of most courteous/polite people in the world was because holding doors/elevators open wasn't part of our practices.
As for getting a ride on the bus or jeep in orderly fashion, that exists only in select spots of the metropolis. Most of the time, commuters are assured of the same kind of action only WWF wrestling should offer. I have to stand aside and look on in amazement at a bunch of people turned crabs with all the shoving and trampling going on.
But day in and day out, I grit my teeth and choose to do what's counter-norm. I cross only at designated places, I buckle up, I hold the door and I try to be courteous to other commuters. I make friends suffer doing the same when they're with me. The pedestrian lane thing does not exactly make them burst out in joyful praise.
Why?
Because I stubbornly and maybe foolishly believe that if I want my nation to be a better one it starts with me. It starts with me trying to model what I believe the Filipina will become in a few years. If I dream of a nation that is known for its good goverment and great people, then I have to pray to God for mercy and for grace then go out and practice the vision I have for this country.
For I hope that when my own kids have to catch a bus, they will not be trampled upon. They will not be foolish for buckling up, holding doors open or using a pedestrian lane because by then a new and better norm will prevail.
Who knows? We may top that RD list of most polite people.
Nothing special, you say.
Wrong. It is. For here in the Philippines, being a stickler for pedestrian crossing, buckling your seatbelt, holding doors open for strangers and standing in line for public transport makes you stand out---often not in a good way.
If you're lucky enough to find a decently painted pedestrian lane, you can still die assuming our drivers know that they're supposed to slow down when they see the sign for Ped Xing. But drivers are just one half of the story. Most people don't even bother using the pedestrian crossing. Jaywalking is the norm here. Don't be surprised if you see someone darting across a major highway in what is tantamount to police chase scenes in Hollywood movies. Or if the do use the pedestrian crossing, they pay no heed to the walk/don't walk signals. They will creep over the crossing, one lane at a time effectively bringing lane by lane of vehicles to a halt even when the traffic light is green.
Try buckling your seatbelt (if there is even one) on a taxi and you'll get one of three things: 1) The driver looks at you, realizes he should be doing the same and proceeds to follow the law. 2) The driver chooses to ignore your subtle hint and drives you to your destination with out using his seatbelt and 3) your friends in the backseat laugh at you for bothering.
Another norm: Doors slamming in your face. Or elevators door closing in on you because no one pressed the hold button and people didn't let you pass. Apparently, one of the reasons we didn't make it to the RD list of most courteous/polite people in the world was because holding doors/elevators open wasn't part of our practices.
As for getting a ride on the bus or jeep in orderly fashion, that exists only in select spots of the metropolis. Most of the time, commuters are assured of the same kind of action only WWF wrestling should offer. I have to stand aside and look on in amazement at a bunch of people turned crabs with all the shoving and trampling going on.
But day in and day out, I grit my teeth and choose to do what's counter-norm. I cross only at designated places, I buckle up, I hold the door and I try to be courteous to other commuters. I make friends suffer doing the same when they're with me. The pedestrian lane thing does not exactly make them burst out in joyful praise.
Why?
Because I stubbornly and maybe foolishly believe that if I want my nation to be a better one it starts with me. It starts with me trying to model what I believe the Filipina will become in a few years. If I dream of a nation that is known for its good goverment and great people, then I have to pray to God for mercy and for grace then go out and practice the vision I have for this country.
For I hope that when my own kids have to catch a bus, they will not be trampled upon. They will not be foolish for buckling up, holding doors open or using a pedestrian lane because by then a new and better norm will prevail.
Who knows? We may top that RD list of most polite people.
Heads Up People!
- For those of you who've enjoyed Yahoo! Photos Services, go to your account now and tranfer/download your uploaded pictures because they're shutting down the service. I had to transfer all 67 albums in my two accounts to Shutterfly. I have CD copies and all the pictures are still on my laptop bur I'm such a stickler for back-up copies. OC me. Hahaha...
- Angel beats Tiger! My Dad played golf before but I was never that interested in it. But this news story made me go "Whoa!"
- I'm moving to Ortigas next month! Now that I'm working OT hours, I feel the pain of the gruelling Paranaque-Ortigas commute. I know a friend who's been waiting for me to give up and, hey, I finally have. Good thing we didn't bet. Nellie, we're roommates again! Will roommates the second time around be sweeter? Hahaha...Corny.
- Yeah, I'm not doing anything here in the office right now. I go in before 8 (official office hours are 8:30-5:30) and got a chance to have some quiet time since people didn't come in until 9-ish. What a wonderful way o start the week. Now, if my boss would just come in... I can't pretend to be busy forever. Worker lurker mode does not help with the sanity retention.
- I hear Ballet Manila is performing Carmen sometime this month. Liza Macuja will be dancing. I'll get back to you guys with details. Wish they would do Don Quixote.
- I am loving the Knorr Porck Cubes commercial! "Makulay ang buhay / makulay ang buhay / Sa sinabawang gulay!" The dance isn't so bad. Great for morning warm-up while waiting for the kettle to warm up the water for coffee.
- Hate haTE HATE the Pond's commercial. The one with the wife getting out of the car and her husband's thoughtlessness. Ugh!
- Watching commercials has become part of a day's work for me. I get home around 8, eat dinner then watch TV until 10-10:30. My job requires me to be on top of all these ads and I have yet to get a hang of things. All I really remember are the Knorr and Pond's commercials.
June 08, 2007
Run Through...
...the woods, plop down on a plush carpet of grass and watch the sun rise or set. Ah, that would just be a perfect thing to do right now instead of sitting in an office pretending to deserve my salary for today. If I'm going to be paid, I'd rather I actually accomplish something, anything that actually helps this company or our clients. Better days (read: Stressful days of endless projects and unending consciousness) are coming and my workaholic soul looks forward to it.
---
My brother Omar has been in and out of clinics and hospitals. He has calcium oxalate crystals in his kidneys and that's causing considerable discomfort to him. There are more tests to be done while the doctors are trying to deal with the situation with medications. Hopefully, the crystals will cooperate with the meds and pass through or else surgical intervention will be needed. My brother has had a tough time lately and it's sad that he has to feel bad physically too. So if you could pray for him, I'd really appreciate it.
---
QTs really need to stand for Quality Times for me. I feel like I hit God then run. Like I was telling a friend last night, I really shouldn't be surprised if it's tougher to keep company with God, be still and know Him right now than when I was on campus with a million reminders of Him all around. I just need to see God in my new environment. I bet there are a million things that speak of His goodness and graciousness, His power and majesty here in my new world. I simply need to open my eyes and find them. And put a little more backbone into setting time to tune myself to Him.
---
YM Moment
Nellie: so after badminton ng monday am, uwi ka na?
Krissy: yeah...why did you wanna do something else?
Nellie: wala naman, just thinking what I'll be doing
Nellie: =)
Krissy: ah ok...cleaning after the mess i leave?
Nellie: you and mess don't belong in a sentece except if it goes like you clean mess
Nellie: =))
---
My brother Omar has been in and out of clinics and hospitals. He has calcium oxalate crystals in his kidneys and that's causing considerable discomfort to him. There are more tests to be done while the doctors are trying to deal with the situation with medications. Hopefully, the crystals will cooperate with the meds and pass through or else surgical intervention will be needed. My brother has had a tough time lately and it's sad that he has to feel bad physically too. So if you could pray for him, I'd really appreciate it.
---
QTs really need to stand for Quality Times for me. I feel like I hit God then run. Like I was telling a friend last night, I really shouldn't be surprised if it's tougher to keep company with God, be still and know Him right now than when I was on campus with a million reminders of Him all around. I just need to see God in my new environment. I bet there are a million things that speak of His goodness and graciousness, His power and majesty here in my new world. I simply need to open my eyes and find them. And put a little more backbone into setting time to tune myself to Him.
---
YM Moment
Nellie: so after badminton ng monday am, uwi ka na?
Krissy: yeah...why did you wanna do something else?
Nellie: wala naman, just thinking what I'll be doing
Nellie: =)
Krissy: ah ok...cleaning after the mess i leave?
Nellie: you and mess don't belong in a sentece except if it goes like you clean mess
Nellie: =))
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