I have been so busy that day that I was not able to write about one of the most exciting events that has happened in a long time. More accurately, the most exciting event where I was in the middle of things.
I had lunch in a restaurant near the office. Usually, I take the stairs up and down to the sixth floor. This is the one time I rode the elevator. By the time I was in the third floor, the elevator was slightly shaking. As I reached the fourth floor, I was thinking, "Does the elevator shake because I was so light?" Upon seeing I was on the fifth floor, I was thinking, "Will I reach the sixth floor? I sincerely hope the elevator chains will not break."
Finally, the door opened on the sixth floor! As I was getting out, I saw many people running toward my direction. In the office, we have a policy that we should log out and in for the noon break. There should also be a 30-minute interval between the log out and log in. When I checked my wrist watch, it was just 12:27. I wondered if all the people running toward the direction of the bundy clock were so desperate to log at that instant.
I saw people from my department and approached them. I asked them what all the commotion was about. It was only then that I felt the floor shake. In addition to that, my officemate told me there was an earthquake. There is a veranda in all floors in the office. When the men were able to open it, all of us went there.
Would you believe I was laughing through it all! That was until I saw my boss. She looked shaken. I asked her if she was ok. She told me she felt dizzy. I escorted her to the veranda.
I went back to my desk and saw several instant messages from concerned friends asking me if I felt the earthquake. All people in Metro Manila were literally shaken up that time.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Inspired!
Once, while I was on vacation, my officemate sent a text message. Our boss was looking for a letter she assigned me to write. Among teaching my officemate how to use computer peripherals and looking for the file through numerous text messages, they found the letter.
Now, one month after I wrote it, my boss asked me to write four versions of the revised letter I wrote. I was actually excited when she told me about it. I was able to finish writing after two hours. The following day, while she was out of the office attending a meeting, she called me up to ask me to write three more versions of the same letter! She was kind enough to tell me that the letters I wrote were good but she needs three more versions anyway. That was eight new versions in all! While I was writing the seventh version, I was flattered because I felt that I was inspired! I never ran out of ways to express the same thought in that situation.
On the third day, my boss called me up again to ask for one more version of the letter. That's eight new versions in all! By this time, I was both worried if I could produce new version yet excited to rack my brains for the new version. I was able to finish it in 15 minutes.
Could you blame me if I was smiling ear to ear upon submission of the last version of the letter? :)
Now, one month after I wrote it, my boss asked me to write four versions of the revised letter I wrote. I was actually excited when she told me about it. I was able to finish writing after two hours. The following day, while she was out of the office attending a meeting, she called me up to ask me to write three more versions of the same letter! She was kind enough to tell me that the letters I wrote were good but she needs three more versions anyway. That was eight new versions in all! While I was writing the seventh version, I was flattered because I felt that I was inspired! I never ran out of ways to express the same thought in that situation.
On the third day, my boss called me up again to ask for one more version of the letter. That's eight new versions in all! By this time, I was both worried if I could produce new version yet excited to rack my brains for the new version. I was able to finish it in 15 minutes.
Could you blame me if I was smiling ear to ear upon submission of the last version of the letter? :)
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Closures and Beginnings
I never liked leaving projects hanging in the middle of it all. I also know that I can only do so much as a member of the team.
From the start of accepting assignments as part-time English editor, I expected to receive returned letters from less than satisfied clients. I was surprised that I never did! Then again, I spoke too soon.
As I had so many after office activities scheduled Thursday to Sunday this week, I took a leave of absence in my part-time job. In my previous entry, I mentioned that I have been promoted to writer. I still recall the proud feeling which overwhelmed me then. That was until I received my first returned output. Call me swell-headed but the way I see it, the client returned the letter because he neglected to mention matters he wanted to see in his letters. I implemented the revisions as he "demanded." I hope that would be the end of it.
On another note, my very busy doctor finally had the time to go over my e-mail. It was really surprising that he made minimal changes to the article I wrote. I expected my article to be overhauled but I was proven wrong. I hope this magazine issue ends well soon.
In times like this, I think of the reason I became a writer. Truth be known, it was the only talent I had as a high school student that I could develop to earn a living as a professional later on. I talked with fellow writer in the office. I asked them their motivation for wanting to be a writer. As expected, we had different stories. The truth is, we feel that we have written about a wide range of matters but never really mastered a single topic. You can only imagine how we gather data from less than cooperative people to come up with a decent article. I am oftentimes amazed by God's gifts when He works through making me write significant compositions. I can improve with constant practice or lose the skills I have now should I not use them. I can honestly say that being a writer is truly a calling.
From the start of accepting assignments as part-time English editor, I expected to receive returned letters from less than satisfied clients. I was surprised that I never did! Then again, I spoke too soon.
As I had so many after office activities scheduled Thursday to Sunday this week, I took a leave of absence in my part-time job. In my previous entry, I mentioned that I have been promoted to writer. I still recall the proud feeling which overwhelmed me then. That was until I received my first returned output. Call me swell-headed but the way I see it, the client returned the letter because he neglected to mention matters he wanted to see in his letters. I implemented the revisions as he "demanded." I hope that would be the end of it.
On another note, my very busy doctor finally had the time to go over my e-mail. It was really surprising that he made minimal changes to the article I wrote. I expected my article to be overhauled but I was proven wrong. I hope this magazine issue ends well soon.
In times like this, I think of the reason I became a writer. Truth be known, it was the only talent I had as a high school student that I could develop to earn a living as a professional later on. I talked with fellow writer in the office. I asked them their motivation for wanting to be a writer. As expected, we had different stories. The truth is, we feel that we have written about a wide range of matters but never really mastered a single topic. You can only imagine how we gather data from less than cooperative people to come up with a decent article. I am oftentimes amazed by God's gifts when He works through making me write significant compositions. I can improve with constant practice or lose the skills I have now should I not use them. I can honestly say that being a writer is truly a calling.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
A Long Weekend
I always look forward to All Saints' Day. This is the only time of the year when my mom allows me to go home to the province. (The reason for this is another story). I was really glad that this year, the local elections fell on this week as well which gave me an excuse to spend five whole days in Mindoro.
Going home to Mindoro is like a personal retreat for me. Our home gives me the physical space conducive to thinking about what I have been doing lately. This puts my perspective in place.
I hardly had time to get bored because I juggled savoring the silence, playing Sudoku, surfing the TV and layouting the Philippine Parkin. This is the official newsletter of the Parkinson's Support Group of the Philippines Foundation (PSGPF).
After I got well, I told my neurologist that I want to help the PSGPF in any way I can. I told him I can write, edit, layout a newsletter or maintain a Web page. He assigned me to write and layout the Philippine Parkin. At first, I was quite shy in dedicating two pages for my healing story. As I went along layouting, I realized that I lacked articles and went ahead with it anyway.
Truth be known, I am actually quite excited with this project. I see it as a project that is worth doing though I know I won't get paid for it. Though I haven't finished one edition yet, I am quite fulfilled working on it.
When I came back to Manila, I was surprised to receive an e-mail from a part-time job my friend told me about. It is not because someone actually replied but because the e-mail has a surprising content. My friend told me that when she applied for the job, she was accepted at once, and was given an article to edit right away. She even forwarded to me the mechanics of editing because by that time, I haven't submitted my resume yet.
The e-mail to me was different. First, it came from an American. He said in his e-mail that I need to work on the attached test file and then I will be scheduled for an interview. I am just curious as to why my friend and I went through different processes. I finished working on the article just now.
Going home to Mindoro is like a personal retreat for me. Our home gives me the physical space conducive to thinking about what I have been doing lately. This puts my perspective in place.
I hardly had time to get bored because I juggled savoring the silence, playing Sudoku, surfing the TV and layouting the Philippine Parkin. This is the official newsletter of the Parkinson's Support Group of the Philippines Foundation (PSGPF).
After I got well, I told my neurologist that I want to help the PSGPF in any way I can. I told him I can write, edit, layout a newsletter or maintain a Web page. He assigned me to write and layout the Philippine Parkin. At first, I was quite shy in dedicating two pages for my healing story. As I went along layouting, I realized that I lacked articles and went ahead with it anyway.
Truth be known, I am actually quite excited with this project. I see it as a project that is worth doing though I know I won't get paid for it. Though I haven't finished one edition yet, I am quite fulfilled working on it.
When I came back to Manila, I was surprised to receive an e-mail from a part-time job my friend told me about. It is not because someone actually replied but because the e-mail has a surprising content. My friend told me that when she applied for the job, she was accepted at once, and was given an article to edit right away. She even forwarded to me the mechanics of editing because by that time, I haven't submitted my resume yet.
The e-mail to me was different. First, it came from an American. He said in his e-mail that I need to work on the attached test file and then I will be scheduled for an interview. I am just curious as to why my friend and I went through different processes. I finished working on the article just now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)