Reaching Out Through Brigada Eskwela 2010

I can't remember the last time I laid my hands on "dirty" community works.

But last Saturday was another eye-opener for me to the windows of the real world - the real Philippines. My company, the Ramcar Group of Companies - Battery Group, initiated a response to corporate responsibility. It is enlisting our company to a nation-wide Brigada Eskwela. It was volunteerism in the truest essence of the word - no forcing of the employees to join, no promised additional benefits... just pure act of charity and sincere willingness to help out.  

Payatas C Elementary School was our chosen school. Stepping on the grounds of this humble school stirred up my humanitarian genes. Right there and then, I was so eager to sport on my gloves and masks and start doing the "dirty" job. I felt the need of the school for both financial and moral support. In the face of the principal, you'd see how grateful he is for our little hands who would give a noble help to their school. Their school houses 3000++ young kids who tried to fit themselves in just about 21 little classrooms - some of which are even makeshift classrooms! Yes, 3000++ kids in 21 classrooms. Sad. Depressing. 

But just as I was feeling that depression, I saw a bunch of teachers in their positive aura. Hah, shame on me. This school which I regard as a "depressed" one, ranks #5 in the National Achievement Test. Yes, this public school which is situated in a private land, is one of the top performing schools.

It did not take any convincing to sincerely do my part in "cleaning" the school. With my joyful and equally eager colleagues, we did not waste any minute to clean the rooms!

The humble principal of Payatas C Elementary School

"ako po ay nahihiya at nanghihingi at namamalimos na naman kami ng tulong sa inyo...."

above was an excerpt from his speech when he welcomed us. It touched my heart.

Sporting with Motolite shirts and caps, the whole team is so ready to bring it on!

With our HR manager carrying out the task of turning over our donations of books

The real deal!

Everyone was collectively sharing efforts in helping out our adopted school!

Proof that volunteerism knows no gender! :p

that's me at the center striking a pose and taking a quick break!

Closer me!

Work in progress: my second chair!

The finished products!

It was a short yet very fulfilling activity. It reminds me of my social responsibility and have given me a venue where I can mix fun and charity work!

Until the next Brigada, colleagues! We did a great, great job!

Poems To Life

Here's an interesting exchange of poems between me and my dod, Ermz. =)

From my inbox:

i feel sad. i don't know why.

my heart is lonely. but i don't wanna cry.

i feel empty. i always sigh.

i am bored. i wanna fly.

From her inbox:

I cannot answer you right there and then

Since I myself is also asking when?

Life's always a mystery

Why we are here, is a big question to me

 

As we always say

HE does find a way

I know we've been asking Him for ages

What really is His plan for our life's pages

But one thing's definite

Life do gives us a treat!
I may not know what it is

But I do hope it will give us pure bliss!!!

Three Bombs In One Day

Today is the day full of BIG office announcements. Two core people from our organization were formally tagged as "resigned" as of today - our President and our VP for HR. Yes, I typed it right. Two people from our senior management. The unprecedented news does not stop there, our Chairman expresses his plan to move us from Quezon City Head office to Sta. Maria Bulacan. Again, yes, I typed it right - from urban to rural workplace. WHo would have thought that my innocent and unsolicited question on my previous blog would actually require me an answer? It was really weird!

A lot of people in the auditorium shed tears when our President, after a long pause and held back of tears, uttered the words - "today is my last day". I am new to the organization but I felt how sincere his goodbye was. I felt how he was saddened by the thought that he will be leaving his second family for twelve long years. I admired how he took a long bow while we all rose up to our feet to gave him our respect and gratitude. It was one of the fewest, most personal goodbyes I felt in the corporate world.

The equally surprising news to us was the plan of moving out from Quezon City to Bulacan. All of our speculations were gone when our boss told us the news. It was more or less be materialized within the year. I personally haven't heard, or refused to hear other options or whereabouts of the plan. My shoulders just fell and my face just displayed a blank face. My colleagues were sharing the same sentiments.

We are all young. Young enough to have all the opportunities in the world to spread our wings. It is not all about work, rather it is about something outside of work. Family, boyfriends, friends, personal and social lives, everything...

I am honestly disoriented. I am battling with the thought that I made the wrong choice of organization. But, some forces are just pulling me towards that thought. I can't help it.

Realities of a private, corporate life are slowly kicking in. It is just but a reminder for me that life is indeed not a bed of roses. Life always gives out something that would test your decisiveness and your choices. This is really the real world.

And now, I am still haunted by the question of living my office life up there in the rural area. I know this will come to me over and over again in teh next days. Decision time once again.