Office Pixies

I once worked for an international radio network. After our barkada of broadcasters and writers finished eating a spiced eggplant salad as a peace offering by one of the announcers, we decided to get really wild and freaky that night in the radio compound.

Here are some of the pranks we did:

One of the female newscasters danced on top one of the expensive studio consoles. The technicians and engineers were not amused.

We distracted several foreign announcers (a Scott, a Brit and a Kiwi) while they were reading some serious news for audiences across Asia.

We harassed a couple of our own local newscasters while they were doing the evening news.

Despite the mess we made, we were never cited or disciplined – makes you wonder how office pixies like us get away with crimes like that, while you get a pink slip for coming late once, huh?

Janet and Niña at SM City – Marilao

Last October 1, Saturday, I went to SM City Marilao for a reunion with my former office-mates (or what’s left of them) from Far East Bank and Trust Company (which was unfortunately swallowed by a bigger bank). We ate at Shakey’s, had mojos and some pizzas. I’m the one who looks like an elephant in human attire. I was with Mam Jay (Janet Blandura) and Niña. We talked about a lot of things particularly about that intriguing “umbagan” at the comfort room during a supposed Christmas Party reunion.

Frankly, the male victim got what he deserved — for selling us employees out for his own selfish gain.

Pizza with Belle and Aline

Last August 3, 2005, I invited two fellow office-mates from FEBC Philippines for a night-out at Shakey’s.

I needed Belle Villanueva’s recommendation for my scholarship applications for The British Council’s Chevening Scholarship and PAEF’s Fulbright Scholarship.

 

On the other hand, Aline was there for the comedy relief.

 

As usual, we talked about the golden days of our work, and how we wished things could have been better.

Church Sportsfest (2005)

Last June 2005, our church (Christ Enthroned Church in Meycauayan, Bulacan) had a sports fest.

 

Janet, my only sister, got to “play” volleyball, and wear a uniform. My father, Jimmy, the one with the white hair, had a mime drama to entertain the crowd in Valenzuela.

 

I wasn’t around (again) for the event because I was “busy with work” on a new database program named The Sims 2 and Battlefield 2. They had basketball games, parlor games and stuff. There was so much food.

 

My father does the mime so well, he almost convinced me that he couldn’t speak. Although, he only appears to be silent when my mother is talking and telling him to take out the garbage, bathe the dog, iron the clothes, wash the dishes and wash our clothes.

 

He opens his mouth but nothing comes out of it. On second thought, maybe he is speaking and mother just can’t hear it.

PUP Reloaded

Last March, I visited my school at Sta. Mesa, Manila to get my college diploma certified as authentic (one of the requirements for PAEF’s Fulbright Scholarship).

 

Last time I was at PUP was in 2000 to get another copy of my transcript. While I was waiting for the Student Records Section to open, I visited my old haunts. The canteen building is still there — now with a new color. Plus, an adjacent comfort room that urged users to Observed Cleanliness. Reminds me of a bumper sticker — Get Closed to God Not To Me. The canteen was so memorable because it was where a female classmate “proposed” to me. Being the clueless, gutless nerd that I am, I froze up. To date, I’m still thawing.

 

Next stop was our student org building which was now a dance / tambayan area. The Catalyst (the student publication) office is now at the main building. In 1987 – 1991, we had our Catalyst office at the student org building. The mini-theater at the first floor was another unforgettable place because it was dark, cool and I was the only guy in a section of 40 girls (I won’t tell you the sordid details because I don’t want people knocking on my door with torches and pitchforks). Anyway, that mini-theater is no longer there.

 

One new thing that I really appreciated was the development of the university area near the riverbank. They’ve taken a hint with the improvements in the Marikina river and in Manila’s Baywalk and applied those at the river’s edge.

 

Unfortunately, the famous (or rather, the infamous) lagoon is still there. They’ve replaced the banks but not the water itself. I sometimes wonder where the dirty water comes from. It would have been better if the lagoon were really clean, teeming with koi, catfish and humpback whales.

 

I’ll probably be going back to the university soonish because I need new copies of my transcript. Maybe I’ll get better photos of places and people.