It has been barely five months since I have delivered my valedictory. Then, a month after my graduation, I have been employed as a Systems Analyst in Trend Micro, Incorporated. But at this very moment, I still cannot believe that I am writing this particular entry outside the Philippines. I am already on my fifth day here in California, USA. I have never thought for this to happen at a very early stage of my career in the company. I am very fortunate and humbled by the opportunity that has been bestowed upon me. Despite being alone inside my hotel room right now… Even if I miss my loved ones I have left back in the Philippines… Though my body is still adjusting to the weather here… I am very glad with the situation that I am in today!

On this day, October 15, 2009, I am celebrating my fourth month as an official Trender. I wish to have longer years of working with the company I have started to cherish and love. I have definitely made the right choice of joining. So many great things have happened to me simply by being its employee. For that, I am very much thankful to God and those who have shown me the way to be where I am today. I do not need to mention their names because I am afraid that I might forget someone. Just the same, my heart is filled with so much appreciation for all the blessings that have been continuously showering in my life.

Cheers everyone!!!

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It all started with a very simple text message three years ago. I was told that one of the members of FEU YFC was celebrating his eighteenth birthday at that day. I sent my greetings to the birthday boy. I had no other intention but simply to make him feel welcome to the organization. The guy replied and said that I was a day earlier. So came the next day, I threw another SMS back to him. I never knew then that it would be the beginning of a very special kind of friendship.

From then on, we became constant textmates. He was the one who really introduced me to the unlimited texting thing. I seldom load my phone with credits, but because of him, I was somehow gotten into the hobby of pressing my phone’s keypad. Soon, with the help of this technology, we were able to know each other more. Then, I did realize that maybe he was the answer to one of my prayers. Indeed, he was certainly a dream come true. He was the younger brother I had always been asking for from above.

At first, I assumed nothing from our friendship. Maybe, it would just be an ordinary one. Little did I know that we were going beyond my own expectations. We were already sharing some personal details of our lives to each other. As time passed by, we grew closer and more comfortable having the other one around.

Today, as he celebrates his debut, as he transforms from a teenage boy into a young gentleman, I just want to give my best wishes to him. May he receive the happiness he deserves. In years to come, I hope that what we have will never be forgotten because, for me, he will always be my one and only shoti.

Happy third anniversary… Happy twenty-first birthday...

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Seven days from now, I will be celebrating my twenty third birthday. I am very happy that, before I turn a year older, I must have been working for a week already. At the same time, I am worried because, starting tomorrow, I will be the one responsible for all my expenses. I hope that I can manage my finances very well. Anyway, I have written this entry to list down my seven non-material wishes for my special day.

1.) I wish for faith. I am not a religious type of person. However, I have always been a believer of His awesome power. I have been very blessed all my life and to Him I dedicate my every achievement. May I give Him back the glory for the recognitions I have received. I know I have failed to build a close relationship with Him but it never made me doubt His existence. He will always be my life saver.

2.) I wish for love. All members of our family have a problem in expressing our feelings to one another. We do not hug. We do not kiss. We do not say ‘I love you.’ Nevertheless, in our hearts and minds, we appreciate each one more than anything else in this world. You may not believe it but I have never seen my mom and dad quarrel. In addition, I have never experienced being hit by any of my parents. We may not say ‘I love you’ in words yet we do ‘I love you’ in actions.

3.) I wish for trust. In our lives, we discover people outside our families who will make us feel how special we are for them. Fortunately, I have found so many friends who have stayed with me through the peaks and valleys of my life. It is a wonderful thing to know that I can have someone out there to depend on in times of trouble and celebrate with in moments of victories. May the confidence we give to each other will never be broken by some selfish motives.

4.) I wish for forgiveness. I am certain that I have hurt a lot of people for the past twenty three years. For that, I want to say sorry from the bottom of my heart. Please pardon me for all my wrong doings. I have never meant to cause you pain. On the other hand, I also desire to have the strength to overlook all the sufferings I have been through because of some people. Given the chance, I really want to make up with those I have hurt and those who have hurt me. It is not too late for us to be friends again.

5.) I wish for discipline. I have always been careless in everything. As I begin a new chapter of my life, I like to take things slowly. May I do things not only because they are fun but also because they give me opportunities to be a better person. I am not promising anything but I will try to eat more vegetables and drink less soda. I will also control my expenses. I must already be thinking about my future. I will do my best to save as much as I can. In the end, it will be me who will benefit from it.

6.) I wish for acceptance. Though I have never experienced being extremely discriminated, I am still pushing for equal rights and chances for all – male or female, young or old, straight or gay. Everyone must realize that each of us is unique. Therefore, it is necessary for us to be open-minded with the variations of our views and opinions. Our differences are the reasons that make this world beautiful. In the future, I dream to get married. I also want to raise my own family. And in that time, I hope for others to still respect, welcome, and embrace me for whom and what I will become.

7.) I wish for perseverance. No matter how difficult this life may be, I will continue clinging to my dreams. Others may put me down yet I will still stand tall and proud. I will go on shining like a star for I know a lot of people love and care for me. I may suffer from so many heartaches but from each pain I will learn how to be more hopeful that, someday, somehow, the right person I have been waiting for will finally find me.

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Location: SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City

Date: May 12, 2009, Tuesday
Shoti and I decided to meet at school before going to the Presentation of SM Scholar-Graduates Batch 2009 in SMX Convention Center. Though the program proper would start at two, I had to come early for our rehearsal. It was past ten when we arrived at Mall of Asia. I still had to but a tie for my corporate attire. Fortunately, I found a very cute one in Penshoppe that perfectly matched my long sleeves. Since shoti would not be allowed to enter the function room during our practice, I left him inside the mall and told him to wait for my text message.

The practice ran smoothly. Still, it was not enough to make our production number flawless. When it ended, it was almost one. We were only given few minutes to dress ourselves. I was really hungry so I texted shoti to buy food for the two of us. However, when he was about to enter the venue, the guard said that he could not bring the food inside. We had no other choice but to eat the food outside the convention center.

When we went inside SMX, I was very much surprised that almost everyone who greeted me commented how nice my tie was. I bought it because I liked it. I just never thought that it would also appeal to others. Nevertheless, I was very glad that they appreciated the clothes that I was wearing in this special occasion.

I escorted shoti where he was supposed to sit. I was a bit worried because he had no one to talk to. For that, I was very thankful to him for accepting my invitation to be my guest in this important event. Minutes later, the hosts asked the graduating scholars to take their posts because the program was about to start. I went to my assigned place and, eventually, out march began.

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Since it was already eleven when I finished my meeting, I decided to wait for shoti to eat lunch with him. I strolled through the Eastwood vicinity to kill time. Just a couple of minutes before noon, I received a call from Ms Joanna. She told me that I was already chosen for the systems analyst post. Instead of waiting for the result in a week, I was already requested to report the next Monday to sign my contract. It was certainly unexpected.

Next day, Saturday, I took Procter and Gamble’s Global Reasoning Test. Fortunately, I passed the examination and was given a letter indicating that I should wait for my interview schedule. I wanted to work in P&G as much as I wanted to work in Trend Micro. I was so confused that I badly needed a break. Just in time, shoti and I decided to watch a movie – Drag Me to Hell – that day. I forgot my worries for a while. However, they haunted me again later that day until Sunday.

Monday came and I still had no concrete decision in mind. Nevertheless, I went to Trend Micro for my contract signing. The compensation and benefits were clearly explained to me. They were really tempting for a first job of a fresh graduate. I did not know what entered through my mind but I asked if I could think things over. Ms Joanna granted my request and gave me until the coming Wednesday to decide.

It was a very big decision to make. Many things had to be considered. I sought advice from people who could really help me in this matter. Several inquiries were thrown but only few feedbacks returned. At the end of the day, it was still me who must choose where I would go.

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It was raining very hard when I woke up last Friday morning. I needed to get up early because I had a scheduled interview in Trend Micro. I left our home around seven in the morning and arrived in Libis fifteen minutes before nine. I met shoti while I was waiting for the elevator. To his surprise, I was not late for my appointment.

When I got to the eleventh floor, the guard on duty asked me to sign on the visitor’s log-in sheet and leave my things with him. He, then, told me to sit on the red chair and wait for Ms Joanna to come by. Minutes later, she fetched me and led me inside the office. While we were walking, she said that my interviewers were both in America so we would be having a video conference. Having heard this, I felt nervous for I had never done this before.

Inside the interview room, I saw Sir Xavier on the monitor already. He requested me to wait a little more for Sir Bernie. When the interview began, it was a bit awkward seeing me also projected on the screen. I could not even look straight to the camera. At first, they inquired about the information I included in my resume. Afterwards, they questioned me regarding some technical matters. Lastly, they asked me trivial things in order to gauge my personality. More or less, it took us thirty minutes to finish. However, it was not over yet. They told me that I would also be going under an HR interview.

Ms Joanna was the one who interviewed me next. She was so amiable and very comfortable to be with. Most of the questions were personal ones. Nevertheless, I did my best to have the job offered to me. When the interview ended, she stated that I would receive the result of my application within a week. They would still be consolidating with each other so as to choose the best candidate for the systems analyst post.

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Last Saturday, after I had attended our practice for the presentation of graduating SM scholars, I went to the birthday celebration of Nicole, Hazel’s youngest sister. Though I arrived late, I was able to catch up with what they were conversing about. Guess what? Love was really in the air that night. If only I could impart everything in this entry. However, I promised that I would not do so. Maybe, I would just share some interesting events and revelations which I witnessed in the party.

First, Aron got a bit teary eyed when asked how many times he had been in love during his college days. Even if he had never spoken regarding the quantity, I knew then how deeply he had been feeling for his special girl. Then, another surprising thing was Wil’s object of affection. Everyone was really excited to know her. Fortunately, it was only me who had the opportunity to have her name. Cheska, on the other hand, had been head over heels for two guys. The first one was an easy guess. The second one was also not that difficult for me to decipher. Finally, shoti dropped the biggest bomb that night. He had never informed me about his heart’s issues for quite some time. Anyway, I already wrote more than enough about them. It would be nice to reveal mine too.

Sorry. I am not ready yet. There will always be another entry…

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