I vent, therefore I am

I’m swamped with work right now, I want to scream.

But because I’m paying hundreds of bucks a month for blog space plus my own domain name, I’d rather blow off steam here. Besides, I can use my voice for other useful things like telling those damn pesky carolers to buzz off (yes folks, it’s that time of year again when kids arm themselves with various improvised musical instruments ranging from empty water bottles filled with pebbles, flattened bottle caps nailed to small wooden planks and kitchen utensils– and proceed to go from house to house to annoy (coerce?) us into giving them money) or hum Jose Marie Chan classics like “Christmas in our hearts” or “Beautiful Girl” at work to stave off boredom.

The ironic thing is that work has piled up because I recently went to Malaysia last week for a much-needed R and R with family. Originally we had planned to stay there for three days tops. But we ended up extending our stay for two whole days because of problems with our Cebu Pacific flight. Of course everyone was pissed-off because we all had some important things to attend to at work or at school, but we couldn’t do anything. Well, my father vowed never again to avail of cheap promo flights in the future but I doubt if one disgruntled customer will make enough of a dent in Lance Gokongwei’s fortune. And besides, with skyrocketing airline fares nowadays, I’m sure Filipinos (who as a race, have innate masochistic tendencies) wouldn’t mind delayed flights, long queues in the check-in counter, and cramped airport terminals as long as tickets come dirt cheap. I suggest that Cebu Pacific immediately revise their tagline from “It’s time every Juan flies” to “It’s time every Juan gets screwed up”.

But problems with the airline notwithstanding, I enjoyed my stay in Malaysia. The place was clean, food was good (I especially enjoyed the Nasi Goreng and Beef Rendang), taxi fares are cheap (the flag down rate amounts to 2 Ringgit for the first two kilometers and ten cents per succeeding meter, plus the cab drivers give you the exact change and don’t expect tips), shopping is good, and people there are honest, friendly, and accommodating. And of course, the Petronas twin towers are breathtaking especially at night.
I took a taxi to work today because I was running late and when we reached the office the cab driver refused to give me my change because he said I was his first passenger. I threatened to report him to the LTO and got out of the cab in a huff then jotted down the plate number.

It was the taxi driver’s subliminal way of telling me: “Welcome back to the Philippines, idiot.”

Rant update: Our HR Assistant just informed me a few minutes ago that I to have go back to the damn SSS office to have my ID picture taken AGAIN. I’ve been waiting for my SSS ID for almost 2 years now. The people at SSS insist that they already mailed my ID, and the people at the post office insist that they remailed it back. I don’t know who’s telling the truth but I have to pay for it nonetheless by braving the long queues at the SSS office again. What’s worse is I have to shoulder the fee for my ID. God, it’s really good to be back home.

(Originally posted on December 20, 2006)