Updates, and a book of days.

It's been too long. 18 days? Are you freaking kidding me? It's not that I don't have the time (gosh, that is something I have tons of), but there hasn't really been a nice, inexpensive internet cafe nearby. Unlike Katipunan, Makati has none of those clean and highly functional 20-30-peso-an-hour cafes I have come to know and love.

Anyway, updates. I've been in Manila since April 10, Sunday, four days after my last entry here. It felt weird directing the taxi driver to Makati rather than to Quezon City, and it even felt weirder when I entered my new home: the boarding house. Jel wasn't there when I arrived, so for the hour or so that he was gone, I immersed myself in detailed observation. I looked at the sky, I looked at the tall buildings around the vicinity, I looked at the intricacies of my room. Even though I've been to Jel's boarding house countless times before then, it's still a different feeling being there, not as a visitor, but as a resident. That certain feeling can be placed between anxiety and excitement. Anxiety for the future's uncertainty; excitement for the future's uncertainty.

On April 11, Monday, I went to PhilamLife in UN Avenue to sign my employment contract with the company. No, that's wrong: I raced to PhilamLife. I called up the company around 8 AM, wondering when exactly the contract signing would be. I was still very sleepy at this point. The guy then informed me that the participants of the Management Associate Program were already in the Training Pavillion and helpfully told me that I could still catch up. Any hint of sleepiness vanished in an instant. I literally raced towards the place, which, by the way, save for a general address, I had no idea where to locate. I had to rely on the taxi driver to know where the exact location of the building was.

I arrived, my heart beating loudly in my chest, my mind thinking of reasons why I was not able to come on time, only to find out that the guy had confused the MAP with the STP, the program for on-the-job student trainees. The sigh of relief I exhaled must have echoed along each and every corridor of the building.

I regained composure after a few more minutes of post-stress heavy breathing. I still had no idea where to go, and I was already in the building. Fortunately, recruitment called me just then, gave me instructions as to where I should go and who I should meet. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the HR Department, I was informed that the contract signing would not be done that day. I still had to have my medical check-up. The good thing is, except for the singular problem of not being able to pee right away, the medical check-up, as well as the day, went well after that.

On April 15, Friday, I signed my contract with PhilamLife. I now officially had work! Wonderfulness! That night, I went to the AJSS reunion. I've seen faces I haven't seen since time immemorial, and it was great to have time to unwind with people whom you once shared a most memorable summer vacation with. Another wonderfulness!

On April 17, Sunday, I went to Joey's to celebrate their new house's blessing and his brother's birthday. The food was great! Thanks for the invitation, Joey!

On April 18, Monday, the MAP trainees had cocktails with the HR executives. I felt very agitated before going to the event, as I thought that it was a BIG THING. And every BIG THING that happens in my life makes me really nervous. Thankfully, the other trainees were people that I think I can absolutely relate with. There were 5 of us MAP trainees all in all, and I was the only boy. That factoid in itself created a lot of opportunities for friendly bantering from the girls. I felt very at ease with them, and the rest of the company, the HR group, were very accommodating and hospitable, as well. I think I felt really comfortable and enjoyed myself so thoroughly that, when asked what I could tell about myself that would make them (the executives) remember me, I managed to let slip the fact that I'm totally jologs. Looking back, I'm beginning to have real concerns whether or not I've made an embarrassment of myself and whether or not I'd like to have them have that first impression of me imprinted in their minds. Oh well, they seemed to enjoy that little piece of info, though.

From April 19 to the present, I've done nothing but bum. Work starts at June 1, so I have more than a month to bum some more. So far, I've bought 2 PC games, rented 10 VCD's, and spent countless steps walking from AA, Melqui, and Monique's place to my boarding house and vice versa. I've entertained the thought of going back to Davao, but I immediately scrapped the idea knowing that work-related events may come at any time. Thank God, Jel is with me in the boarding house, and that my very good pals are living nearby, or my head would have exploded by now with all the non-activity.

I think I've written enough for this entry. I still have strength for a few more, so stay tuned.