JOURNEY ON THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE,
WITH SIDE TRIPS ALONG ALLEYS
NO ONE WANTED TO EXPLORE.

Monday, December 19, 2011

TARAK RIDGE


I don't call myself a mountaineer. I call myself an advocate, an adventurer, a nature-lover. I have been to several mountains in the past, but they were all freelance climbs. All the same, they were amazing experiences. Just last Saturday, I was able to add Tarak to the list of mountains I've been to.

Since we're all set-- bags packed the night before, breakfast already taken at the nearby Jollibee branch, and we're already wearing our hiking attire-- straight off from a graveyard shift, I, along with seven colleagues, headed to the station in Pasay. What a luck that I was able to take a time off from my busy schedule, I badly needed this. We took a bus to Bataan (267php) and alighted when we reached Alas-Asin in a little less than 3 hours. We registered at the Barangay Hall, paid the fee of 30 pesos(added 10 pesos for washroom use) and went on our way towards the mountain.


We followed the dirt road until we reached Nanay's hut. We registered on her logbook, asked some instructions and went our way. Instead of asking for a fee, Nanay and Tatay only accept donations that are given wholeheartedly--we decided to give ours upon descent.


The trail was easy to follow, although there was a great deal of mud in some areas because of the rain. The elevation was just right and allowed enough time for our body to adjust with it. We sometimes stopped to rest, to drink water, and to wait for those who were walking far behind. There were several steep parts where we needed to be extra careful; these areas included wet and mossy bed of rocks, and slippery and muddy high areas. It was past 5 in the afternoon when we reached Papaya River and we decided to rest for a while as we wait for those who were still somewhere behind. When we were about to start the trek towards the campsite from the River, we realized that we didn't know where the trail starts. It was already dark and we realized that we would be compromising our safety if we will push through with the plan of reaching the campsite in this state. Tired and hungry, we decided to set camp right there and then. It wasn't a bad idea, since we were just a few steps away from the water source.



Photo Cred: Carlo M


They stayed up, ate and drank. I just slept.


The next morning we decided to climb up to the campsite, with the intention of exploring the peak. The trail to the campsite from Papaya River was a lot harder. It was very challenging. The assault was almost 90 degrees, and right after the wooded area we were able to see the steep and very exposed trail we would need to take. It was no comfort to climb considering that it was raining very hard and was very windy. Slowly, we made or way upwards, clinging to everything that's strong enough to keep us from being blown away by the fierce gusts of the wind. We really had to be very careful since one wrong move would mean a lost life. 


As expected, the campsite was bare. There were no campers in sight. No tents, no nothing. Just the mountain itself, the rain and the wind, and us. We tried to roam around but we can only stay huddled together to avoid hypothermia. It was freezing cold. We managed to climb the peak but could barely see the beauty lying before us. The rain was coming down too strong that raindrops hurt the flesh, and blinded the eyes. We never attempted to pose for a picture since it was utterly impossible to take one. Sadly, we were not able to enjoy the stay at the peak.


When we got back to the Papaya River, I was surprised that it wasn't raining there at all-- it was just drizzling.  I was dripping wet, full of mud, yet very much thankful that I was alive. I went straight to the river and bathe, oblivious to the coldness of the water. I barely felt anything because my body was still numb from our trip to the peak.


We broke camp and started to descend. There was no rain at all, but one look at the direction of the peak told me that it was still raining there.  The rain and the wind were just happening up there, it seemed. I sighed and shuddered at the thought of the previous encounter with Tarak's peak. I told myself and the mountain that I will be back.


We reached Nanay's house and hung around for a while. We talked about her advocacy in protecting the mountain and I felt real admiration for her and her husband. My colleagues took the time to take shots of themselves with the hanging tarpaulins in the background. I took only but one picture using my then Nokia phone, a photo of the tarpaulin of the Triskelion Adventurers. We offered Nanay our heartfelt donation and went on our way.



The only picture I took--


Since it was a Sunday and they went to church, we had to wait for the owners of the place where we could wash up and change clothes. It was shortly after 7pm when we were able to reach the highway and we were surprised to learn that we missed the busses bound for Manila. They were only until 7pm, the Carinderia owner told us. She offered to transport us to the bus station wherein we can take a bus to Manila, we accepted and paid them for the ride on their van. Since we got there past 9pm, the bus driver said we would have to wait for the 1am ride, and maybe because of the long and tired faces he could see, he told us that we can sleep inside the bus.


So we got in. Slept until we felt the bus moving and leaving the station.


I went to sleep again. I fell asleep thinking of somebody. I fell asleep wishing that somebody was with me.


And then we were back in Manila.






Monday, November 21, 2011

DON'T ENGLISH ME, I BLEED.

Hindi ko mawari kung ano ba ang pumupukaw sa mga Pilipino na magtrabaho sa Industriya ng Call Center. Hindi naman sa sinasabi ko na masamang desisyon sa pagpili ng larangan ang pagtatrabaho sa call centers, ang punto ko lang, hindi ko mawari kung bakit. Maaaring matawa ka, pero ang totoo, isa rin akong Call Center Agent at hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito ako.

Kung iisipin, maganda nga naman ang buhay ng isang call center agent, una sa lahat,malaki ang sahod kaysa sa karaniwan, may night differential pa kung pang-gabi ka. May mga benepisyo ding kaakibat ang trabaho mo, iyon ay kung nasa isang kumpanya ka na lehitimo at hindi tinitipid ang mga empleyado nito.

Bilang isang ahente ay alam ko din ang hirap na dinadanas ng mga tulad ko. Hindi basta-basta ang pagiging ahente. Hindi lang pagsagot sa tawag ang ginagawa namin at hindi lang boses ang aming puhunan. Kailangan namin siguraduhin na maayos ang tono ng aming mga boses kahit na inaapoy na kami ng lagnat, nanginginig dahil sa lamig ng aircon o sadyang wala sa kundisyong magtrabaho. Maraming beses na rin na nangyari sa akin yan, mahirap talaga. Tipong gusto mo nalang ihiga at itulog ang karamdaman mo pero kailangan mong sikapin na magpasaya at rumesolba ng mga problema ng mga taong may pinagdadaanan din sa kabilang linya.


Hindi lang kami basta salita ng salita ng english na wala namang kwenta; dahil dun sa "english" na iyon at sa "walang kwentang" sinasabi namin ay nakakatulong kami sa taong desperado sa kabilang linya. Mali din ang  sinasabi ng iba na "sayang ka kapag nasa call center ka lang" dahil may career din naman sa industriyang ito, tiyagaan nga lang at pakapalan ng mukha ang labanan. Hindi lang basta paulit-ulit ang ginagawa namin at sinasabi sa bawat tawag na sinasagot namin, kailangan din ng diskarte at utak dahil may mga metrics din naman kami na kailangang abutin. Survival of the fittest din ang kalakaran dito, hindi lang basta chillax at payabangan sa english.

Mahirap ang ginagawa naming pakikisama. Mahirap ang pag-aadjust sa bawat customer; madalas e galit sila o di man kaya ay mainit ang ulo, minsan naman parang may sapi. Gayundin ang ginagawa naming pag-aadjust sa mga katrabaho namin, sa mga boss at sa mga feeling boss. Maraming mga nasa upper positions ay powertrippers, madalas nilang sabihin na "naging agent din ako, alam ko ang pinagdadaanan niyo", pero konting kibot lang e hindi biru-biro ang inaabot naming sigaw at pamamahiya mula sa kanila. Well, hindi ko naman nilalahat, marami din naman akong nakilala na hindi ganyan sa mga ahente nila.

Maganda ding magtrabaho sa call center kapag kasalukuyan mong sinusuportahan hindi lang ang pamilya mo kundi pati ang pag-aaral mo. Pasok sa school sa araw, pasok sa trabaho sa gabi. Bigay ng pera sa pamilya, laan ng pang-matrikula. Kapag may kaunti pang tira, masaya nang makabili manlang ng isang Happy Meal para sa anak mo. Pag nasimot na ang barya, hintay nalang ulit ng suweldo.  At pagdating ng suweldo, repeat.

Wala akong problema o masamang pananaw ukol sa pangkahalatang konsepto ng industriya ng call center. Sa totoo lang, wala talaga. Malaki ang tulong ng industriyang ito sa bansa. Malaki ang nagagawang tulong sa mga taong nangangailangan ng trabahong may malaking suweldo lalo pa at talagang napakahirap ng buhay ngayon.

Wala akong problema sa mga trabaho sa call centers o sa mga nagtatrabaho dito. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit naisulat ko ito. Wala talaga akong ideya kung bakit. Siguro gusto kong ipaintindi sa iba na hindi lang basta pakape-kape sa Starbucks at pa-shopping-shopping ang mga ahenteng tulad ko. O marahil gusto ko lang talaga kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na gusto ko pa rin ang ginagawa ko.

Ah ewan. Papasok na ako!

Friday, June 17, 2011

JOGGING-JOGGING DIN

          I had long been planning to make a hobby out of running but I never had the time nor the opportunity.  I've planned to go to Quezon City Circle and the Mall of Asia grounds a countless times in the past because I wanted to finally be able to do some laps. I've tried to brainwash friends and relatives into it but nobody seemed to have the passion same as mine, so I had to give up begging for them to join me. Eventually, I became so busy with other things, that I had to set the "passion" aside for sometime. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to execute anything.

          I wanted to run not only because it's a great activity to keep myself healthy, but also because it could serve as a perfect pre-climb exercise. I've always been able to go hiking without any warm-ups, but I knew that I had to go get some, at one point. I needed this because I've always known that I really have to work on my endurance level and I gotta work on it fast.

          Almost two years had passed since my last jog. Finally, an opportunity finally presented itself.


          Kiko, our account trainer is a running enthusiast and a self-proclaimed shoe addict. Last week, he announced his intention to jog around the area after our shift, and forced... err, invited our team to join him. He needed the exercise to prep him for his big marathon. Well, he used his position to force us into joining his cause. (Haha! Peace, boss.) The guy forced -err... invited- us...

          What do you know... We were willing to be forced...


Photo Cred: The Running Man Kiko


           I had been planning to join them everyday, but I had to let the first 2 jogs pass me by because I had some things to attend to. When I finally got to join them on the 3rd jog, I had difficulty breathing because I had a nasty cold (err... I was really sick, you know). Sadly, I had to say "pass" to the 4th jog this morning 'cause I decided that it would be better to rest first and just join them again once I get rid of the flu.

          Anyway, the thing is, I'm just happy that I get to finally start something I had always wanted to do. That's the point. Period.







                                                                    acee

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

TATTOOed

I've been wanting another tattoo since I had my first.
It was like a  yearning I couldn't explain.  People say that if you'd experience getting one, it's either you'd never try again because of the pain, or you'd be so addicted to the  feeling that you'd most likely get  more. I think the latter applies to me.

A few years back, it was all about being spontaneous. I just wanted a tattoo. I never had any particular design in mind, and I changed my mind time after time.

I got my first tattoo when I was in high school. It's a small little "A" placed on my lower back, a weird-looking insignia of my name. Yes, I was sober when I got it, and I liked it although it was a pretty rash idea at the time.I never did care if it hurts or not, all I knew back then was that I wanted  to have myself inked.

Years have passed and I have felt that it was time for another one. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine to have myself tattooed with someone else's face, but I just woke up one day wanting it so bad that I couldn't wait no more. Well, atleast this time I have been pretty sure about the design I want and I have been very picky in choosing the person who will be doing it.


Just last Friday (20th of May) I paid a visit to Gene Testa's Tattoo Shop at Robinsons Galleria. It wasn't just a courtesy call, of course.


I went there for my tattoo. 




Here's how it looked within the first 24 hours


Here's how it looks now



Well, what do you think? Pretty cool, eh?


It's a portrait of my daughter. As you can see, it's a very special tattoo and I wanted to be sure that it's gonna be perfect. Nobody wants to be tattooed for life and regret it just because he got inked the wrong way- one hell of a reason why I got it done by one of the best tattoo artists in town! The price was a little bit steep for a palm-sized tats, but it was definitely worth it. Gene Testa definitely created a masterpiece. Well, judging from the black and gray face of Sophia on my back, I reckon I'd be proud of it for the rest of my life.


I so love my new tattoo! <3