j a n s e n. i. s. m.

09.23.06 I’ve been invited by my org in college, the
Computer Group of AcTive Engineering Students (CGATES) to be one of the judges
in the annual popularity contest it hosts, the Mr. & Ms. CGATES pageant. As
usual I was a bit anxious going back to Baste, but especially now returning to
this event that I consider very special from my college life. For the last
three years of this pageant I was always there and as a matter of fact, last
year I spearheaded the event as the CGATES president. I know very much how hard
and extremely demanding it is to put up such event but this year, things are
different and the table has been turned. Instead of being a backstage person
shouting at the candidates that they need to hurry up fixing themselves for the
next wardrobe competition, assisting the emcees with their script or
instructing an officer that the spotlight should follow the contestants as they
move on stage… this time, I was simply sitting there as a judge - putting
scores for each contestant, sharing side comments with other judges and feeling
proud for the org, April (my IVP last year) and the rest of her officers for
making it happen. I can say that the Mr. & Ms. CGATES pageant was my best achievement
in my career as a student leader and now that I am done with college org what’s
better than best is to see other people continue with what we have started or
what I had been a great part of.

During the presentation of the judges and awarding of the
certificates of appreciation, I was just happy and honored to be addressed as
an ‘engineer’ alongside others– one is a successful engineer practitioner, two
were my college teachers in fact, and then Rodel as well . For a computer
engineering graduate like Rodel and I, who do not have to go through extensive
review and take a board exam to be called an ‘engineer’, I think that the only
time we can have the pride to be called as an engineer is when we return to our
school and your former teachers and colleagues acknowledge and put the title
“Engr.” next to our names.

 After several
costume changes of the contestants, predictable acoustic intermission numbers, nerve-wracking
Q & A portion and a raffle draw on the side, the winners were announced
(YES, the 5^th year candidates took home the crowns once again!), and
everyone was just ready to wrap up a successful evening. I exchanged hugs with
Mam Shie—the most heartfelt hug that translated the most silent words of good
wishes. A handshake and smile to April and the rest of the fifth year officers for
a job well done– bravo! A sincere cheek-to-cheek from someone and just like
that I knew she was doing fine after what happened and we’re really ok now. And
a thought to myself “This is a once in a lifetime event—to be a judge and an
engineer on the same day”.

My work schedule for the week that has been was just crazy. I had my normal 9-6 schedule on Monday and for the next succeeding days, work hours have been really irregular.

I had my first experience of a night shift for Tuesday when I was assigned by my lead to assist a developer requiring us to deal with our counterparts late at night. It was an experience that I can definitely add to my life’s resume: working till dawn with less pressure because we were only two people left in the office… and waiting for a bus ride from Boni Avenue to Baclaran at 6am.

Ten hours later, with greater hours of travel made on a Wednesday than hours of sleep, I was back to the office to start what supposed to be my second night shift. Fortunately, due to some issues onshore I was advised by my partner that I needed not to stay as late as the previous. In fact I was allowed to leave at 10pm and just continue the documentation I was doing the next day. I was getting lucky but to go home this late was really not that easy and of course can never be too safe. But God was so good to send me Jasper- an airconditioned bus bound to Dasma. So far, Jasper is the best, the most comfortable aircon bus I have ever ridden my whole life which puts Saulog or St. Anthony buses and the vans at PS2 to shame.

Thursday morning, after getting some serious sleep, I was just entitled to arrive a bit late for work though I was back to my normal day shift (although the original plan was I should be on nightshift till Friday)– so as the regular environment and pressures from the office. I got in the office at 11 am and left at 10 pm with the permission from my leads. For the second consecutive night, I was safely inside a Jasper bus and two hours later, I was tired and ready to sleep on my bed.

Come Friday, I arrived an hour late from the office and it was just okay I assume, since I have informed one of my leads through text ahead of time about it. I finally finished the unit testing documentations I’ve been assigned with and did some work on stuffs I have set aside because I had to prioritize the documentation. Past 6 pm, I was ready to reward myself for the busy and schedule-crazy week it’s been by going home early and a bit of window shopping.

So far, this has been the most demanding week at work and somehow I have very little complaints over it. I’m actually happy to be able to experience new things, deal with situations I never thought I would face this early stage of my career or somehow test what I thought then as my limitations.

09.10.06 My third visit in Enchanted Kingdom was the most special mainly because it was a personal trip. It was not part of any educational tour like the first two times wherein those who can afford to join get incentives in
classes. There was no teacher around that will impose a 6 p.m. time limit and one does not have to worry if he comes a little late at the meeting place. From the planning to the execution, finding the terminal to Laguna, payment of the tickets which was from our own salaries, Anchor’s Away to the next ride, then Anchor’s Away again… it was all about US. It was a one-day freedom from the new weight that we shouldered after school… a fun-filled yet nostalgic revisit of ‘what-used-to-be’… and a silent promise to each other that despite distance and time… we remain friends.

But just like th e first two EK visits, I still haven’t managed to conquer some of my fears. I haven’t ridden the Space Shuttle because I realize the risks while my favorite ride was the Wheel of Fate yet I’m still a bit acrophobic riding it.

Then there are the first times for this EK trip. First time to be scolded (a bit!) by the ride attendant of Rio Grande b ecause he caught ‘me’ on act removing my safety belt, moving to the opposite seat to save myself from getting wet in the water rapids. First time that important items almost got lost but thank God were found and returned (right Sheena and Glads?). First time for Jake (Gladys’s bf) in EK… and first time for Rodel to bring a ‘friend’ on our group date (hhhmm…).When you are having this much fun you can only hope there would be a next time. But by the end of the day, we came to realize that as tomorrow dawns we only return to our normal lives– back to the pressures of our jobs and back to the reality that most of us won’t see each other until the next month’s group date. I guess what really mattered is NOW… that we enjoyed this day together… we escaped the reality for one day…  we went home tired… but the spirit of friendship has definitely been refreshed. So on second thought, we really have nothing to worry about tomorrow…  only to be thankful for the memories of this day.

For the first night of September, I found myself sitting with my college friends for dinner at a nearby Japanese fastfood. It was our first get-together on a Friday night (we usually do the monthly date on a Saturday) with the specific agenda of finalizing our planned out-of-town trip to Enchanted Kingdom next week. Somehow, we manage to spend about ten minutes talking ‘bout the agenda while the rest of the few hours that we have… catching up on what we’ve been missing on each other’s lives.

There’s Sheena who’s sitting next to me at the table – her pink blushed cheeks, her camera-un-shyness, her angst with her ex-boyfriend and nostalgia for his new one who is in Thailand now.

There’s Rodel opposite me – his nice braces (soon-to-be perfect set of teeth), his get-up which looks like ‘gonna-party-tonight’ rather than ‘i-was-from-the office’, his issues with his Indian boss and work in general, his clan and undying quest for a lovelife – even offering to find me one.

There’s Jhoy beside me – her perfect attendance at work, her desire to invest a business with friends, and her almost balanced life and love.

There’s Erwin – his nice short-sleeved dress shirt, the regular thoughtful question about my career, and his internet time spent reading my blog.

There’s Glads, seated next to Rodel – her diet perhaps because her birthday is coming soon, worries about her present job, and her desire to work somewhere more stable and where she can prove her worth.

And then there are the latecomers…

Jhing, her Nokia 6680 which Rodel had just noticed, her plans to try her luck in Dubai, and her conversations with an ex-officemate, Sheena.

Judie, her desire to find a new job soon, her pending NBI clearance and her parents who won’t just let her come with us on this planned out-of-town trip.

Jayson, his first time on our group date, his gratitude for me treating him Japanese food and his better luck (than Judie) to get a new job after lasting just 9 days on his former.

There are also those missing-at-the-moment friends…

Jane, her menstrual pain excuse for not being able to join us today, her happiness to be able to be at the same work with someone you love, and her hidden excitement to see us all next week at the field trip.

Jhayr, his acceptable volleyball practice alibi for not being able to make it on time at all, his apologetic voice when I called him on his cellphone and his affirmative response when I asked him if Jane and him are joining us next week.

Anne, her total no-show tonight and no-comment about this plan for next weekend.

And finally towards the end of the night, there is the ‘friend’ who’s been invisible and silent for awhile and is now seeming to come back to my life…

True enough for me, there’s no place on this earth more comfortable than beside a friend. I miss college primarily because back then, we seem to have all the time in the world for each other. We have the same classes, same experiences. We chat up regularly so no one misses out on something.

This night when we parted ways, I miss them even more… can’t wait for another week.

* “tomodachi” is Nihonggo for ‘friend’