A door opens!

A few minutes ago, I drafted my letter of resignation. Yes! Finally, I am leaving the finance division. Funny how long I have waited, how many buildings within Makati City and beyond I have visited, how many under time, half days leaves I had to take just to be able to do an interview—only to realize that I will just be moving to another floor within the same familiar building, another department within the same company. That is the thing with waiting or looking for something (or someone), I guess. Same life lessons. When I think of how long I have waited for this day-- to say goodbye to a colorful, tumultuous, fun, challenging, frustrating, exciting, happy, sad job—I should be in a state of euphoria. But a quick glance at the empty chairs around me made me feel a bit nostalgic. So many different people have taken these seats, so many stories to tell with each new batch of faces. My experiences with each of them very special.

But then again, who am I kidding?! I can’t deny that I am excited. A bit wary of what awaits yet quite ready to embrace the change.

The next tough part is informing my superiors in Hong Kong but the toughest would be telling my team mates. At this point, I am so glad I am just one floor away. When I am feeling lonely talking to myself in that nook reserved for me at the 17th floor, I could just pay these guys a visit and bully them like I always do, hoping to get rewarded with a smile or better yet, a hearty laugh.

Now, I can glide across my pond, minus the restless paddling ‘neath the waters.

Life. Beautiful, isn’t it

Back in the waiting room

Here I am again, in the waiting room, mustering all of the strength that I need to keep a calm facade. I keep saying that during these times, I am like a swan, gracefully gliding across the pond yet paddling like crazy underneath.

Him in me

This morning, I had a special treat when the morning FM show I usually listen to, played three beautiful 80’s songs in a row: The Living Years (by Mike and the Mechanics), St. Elmo’s Fire (John Parr) and This is it (Huey Lewis and the News).
I never paid particular attention to this song’s lyrics before but this morning, the song spoke to me:

Every generation / Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations / Come beating on your door
I know that I'm a prisoner / To all my father held so dear
I know that I'm a hostage / To all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

Crumpled bits of paper / Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted conversations / I'm afraid that's all we've got
You say you just don't see it / He says it's perfect sense
You just can't get agreement / In this present tense
We all talk a different language / Talking in defense

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hearI
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

So we open up a quarrel / Between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future / It's the bitterness that lasts
So don't yield to the fortunes / You sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective / On a different day
And if you don't give up, and don't give in
You may just be OK.

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye

I wasn't there that morning / When my father passed away
I didn't get to tell him / All the things I had to say

I think I caught his spirit / Later that same year
I'm sure I heard his echo / In my baby's new born tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years

Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye
--The Living Years—

I can’t recall any fights between my father and myself. No ugly words spoken. That part of the song I can’t relate to, thankfully. It is not so much what I failed to say but more on the things or experiences I wanted to give him. They are mostly simple pleasures (He was quite easy to please....Umm, one of his not-too-simple dreams was to go Pearl Harbor). When I think of the things I had planned on doing for him, I only begin to cry so……
As I listen to the song, I think back...all of us in the family caught a piece of my father’s spirit.
When I am tuned to the RJ station on weekends and listen to Matt Monro, Engelbert Humperdinck, Paul Anka, Connie Francis, Patti Page, The Platters, Johnny Mathis...I feel my father’s life in me. I even remember buying the Rat Pack Christmas album last year and was so eager to show it to him. Oh yeah, I am one of those eight-year olds who know the lyrics of Humperdinck's songs by heart.

His lasting legacy. my treasure.

A Choice to Take

Dolly was offered a senior post in the company she works for, offering twice her current pay. The new job would require her to transfer to the Hong Kong office. She wants the job but…there is one hitch. her fiance wants her to stay in Manila.

Colin has the option to take a senior post in other company, offering twice his salary, car plan and all the other fringe that post can offer. His problem? It is a local company. Nothing wrong with that except that his current job with a multinational firm allows him to travel to his dream country, the US at least once a year.

And then there is Nathan. He hates his job and has been trying to look for another job for the last year or so. He is married with two kids. His wife, probably seeing her husband’s unhappiness, supports his desire to leave the company, even without a job.

These are stories from people I know. All job related issues, all involving major decisions. What do you do when faced with such cross roads?

Here is another story, my own:

You get an unexpected call from your headhunter. Your heart skips a beat but her statement dashed your hopes.

“I need a favor.” Uh oh.

She wanted to confirm an information about someone ( former colleague) who is being considered for a post. Apparently, the search firm is hesitant to accept that person’s reason for leaving the company. I knew the story behind that person’s resignation. It wasn’t a pretty story. The story became uglier because that person held a very sensitive role, one that requires utmost integrity. And sadly, this person compromised the job.

What do you do when you are faced with such a choice ....do you protect the person applying for the post or the company that wants the post filled in?

Unlike the first three scenarios I listed, my decision had to be made in a split second.

It wasn’t a difficult one.