And I'm Jobless

Today is my last day of work.  And I thought I was going to grow old with my company.  I'm a little of a sentimental person (I don't know what I mean either).  The thing is, I get easily attached to things and stick to them.  Unless of course it's necessary and there's a deep reason behind to leave.  So what are the things I'm going to miss with my work?  Let me see:

Foremost, I'm going to miss riding my motorcycle to work.  For more or less 11 years it was my daily routine.  I would definitely be reminiscing all the adventures and travels we had, the good and not so good times.  I used 3 motorcycles during my stay, the longest would be my very own Honda XR200, which generally speaking had never let me down.  And with it, using my "Caltex StarCard" whenever I needed to gas up (though the fuel allocation was used in work-related transactions still a great help).  Also the maintenance allowance given by the company (though recently became complicated because of some tax issues and policy revisions)... hehehe.

I would also miss my office in Calinan.  Though I'm alone, there were advantages: I can work faster since I got no distractions.  I can easily plan out things and execute.  I learned to evaluate and handle different situations.  And I was exposed more in the operations and to dealing with different personalities around.  Learned a lot... Aside from the free lunch in the canteen (part of the privileges of being an area auditor), I would miss a lot from there... friends, companions, the pineapple fields, the rough roads and the auditees, as well.

I'll miss our main office, our company, who had been very generous to their employees.  The 13th month, vacation and sick leave conversions, bonuses, and good salary pay, had helped me provide for my family's needs through the years.  Not to mention, the activities it gives to their employees (sportsfest, Christmas party and other enriching programs for development and enhancement of camaraderie).  I'm more than grateful to it.  My department and co-employees (previous and new ones), who mostly were my mentors... there were those who taught me how things were done, and there were those who showed me how not to do things.  Let just say, it started well and gladly it ended well... it was good while it lasted.

Can't deny, I'm going to miss my job, but good opportunity knocks only once in life.  And besides, I have my whole family with me in this journey, a new chapter in our lives...and the Lord's grace have been showering us.  In life, we just need to have faith, and trust in His plans for us.  Yahweh bless.

 

And The Good News Came

We're recently informed that my wife already had an offer abroad, and needs to be there (tentatively) by the 20th of this month... the long wait is finally over.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Jeremiah 29:11

But during that time, her agency told her that we will just follow after 2 to 3 months, the most.  Right then questions rushed into me.  Can I handle everything by myself?  To accomplish all documents and transactions needed before we leave... and more, to travel and handle all my 3 kids alone (with all the baggage and paper stuffs in the terminal and immigration).  I was thinking of tying them all to me but that's just the worst-case scenario, there must be better options than that.

And just today the news came.  We will be traveling together (hooray!!!), wifey's agency finally gave their approval.  But, our expected time of arrival is still undecided since we had a pending request to move it early next month.  Just to give us enough time to prepare.  Still, I need to tender my resignation ASAP and deal with all that needs to be done (and there's a lot), just in case.

It was really a great relief.  We can now skip the thought that I need to travel alone with the kids.  The Lord indeed provides what you need in a perfect time.  And we know, He will guide us all throughout the way... and we CLAIM it.  We thank the Lord for the blessings we just received.  All for His honor and glory...

My PMA Cadet Years (Cow Year) - Here Comes The Navy

May 1997

1- Another overnight liberty (privilege) "for the boys", with 2 of my mistah(s).  And when the boys go out, it is expected that there are a lot of fooling around.  But that was part of youth... as people grew older, they mature with time (hehehe).  

2 to 6 - We had a survival swimming lesson this day, but I was not able to join it since I spent the whole day in the sick bay of our ship (Raja Humabon- PF11).  While I was sick, I had a surprised visit from my fos-mom and sisters from Manila.  I felt annoyed that I had fever and embarrassed to my visitors.  They traveled far just to know that I can't be with them.  Why hadn't I texted them?  It's still the 90's (ha ha ha).  I hadn't joined a couple of activities for almost a week.  I learned a lesson the hard way which I promised never to happen again.

7- We transferred from PF-11 to BRP Rizal ship, where the crew had a gunnery exercise.  We were mere spectators that day.  As I remembered, they placed floating targets in the sea for the ship's artillery precision testing.

 

8 to 10- Then from BRP RIZAL, we transferred to BRP Bacolod (LC 550) for our Southern Cruise (at last we started sailing).  It was a 3-day trip of exposure to the ship and a seaman's life.  We often had some basic preparedness drills and fitness exercises while on-board.  And duties as ship watchers at night.  When we reached Zamboanga, we were given liberty to roam around the city.  Along with some mistah (classmate), we bought some of their famous "malongs".

Photo taken from navalphotos.blogspot.com

11 to 14- An unfortunate event happened during this time and we needed to go back to the Philippine Navy Headquarters.  So we had no longer had our Cebu tour.  As we sailed, we were taught how to manned the reel, still with the watch details, and watch VHS during free time.  We were then allowed for liberty upon reaching our destination.  And as what cadets usually do, we visited the house of a mistah who lived nearby.  For me, it felt like as if I already visited my own family.

15 to 17- We were given a few days of liberty, so I went to Harrison Plaza and buy some stuffs and again stayed overnight in a mistah's house.  Then the following day, visited my relatives and friends in our province.  Cadets normally do that, taking advantage to go to places while in the city... to keep up with the world around them and see what's new or just to reminisc how it was before being a cadet.  

18 to 19- As usual, maximizing every minute and beating the termination time of our leave.  Then we boarded our buses and went back to the PMA to continue with our academics... and cadet life.

20 to 26- We then complied our Navy course requirement... the MRMSC or Minimum Requirement for Midshipman Second Class.  It's like putting into writing all the learning and experience we've been through during our cruise along with some research.  Though I thought I couldn't hand it on time, I finished it like everything else. 

27 to 31- It was early morning when we boarded our buses to Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija... my 3rd FTX (Field Training Exercise).  The sun was scorching when we arrived that day.  And we were immediately paired with another cadet in order to build a tent (logical, since we were issued a half tent).  The first few days were set for orientations... and privilege, where I bought some stuffs that would be handy for the training and met again the young lieutenants of PMA class 97.  But what's more challenging was, before the week ended, a typhoon hit the place and we're always wet, inside the tent was wet... but I never recalled we're that affected, since we didn't mind even if we're soaked, we still slept well.  We just think of it as part of the training... Yahweh bless.

Recent Related Post: Leading A Squad

Enjoying JaNewary 2014 Fireworks

Again the family chose to spend our New Year with my in-laws in Gensan.  The kids (well, also us) wanted to see the fireworks.  It was a week-long vacation for us, my wife and I arranged our schedule weeks prior to our trip.  It was our first time to see the latest addition to our family, our nephew "Bingbong".  And with all the food prepared by my in-laws, it was like Christmas when we got there days ago.  But what the kids were really looking forward to was opening the gifts waiting for them.

Then after roaming around the city, the big day came... New Year.  We all watched the colorful firework display in the terrace.  Though we enjoyed the scene, we were also watchful for firecrackers flying nearby and see to it that all the kids were secured and safe.  We all had fun since we don't have them back in our place.  But it's not like we regret it, it's better to have firecrackers banned rather than be in the hands of irresponsible people.  At least now, we had almost no casualty for the past years.

We stayed in the terrace for as long as there were fireworks (so as to say that we really missed it).  But as the smoke already filled the air, the kids went to bed... it was a long day after all.  While me and my wife, had some midnight snack before hitting the bed (it's too hard to resist the food).

A simple, yet fun New Year celebration.  I hope 2014 will be kind and generous to our family as that of the past year.  New hope to look forward to... new obstacles to conquer... new life to face... And may the good Lord bless our family with good health, togetherness, and things we needed most.  

A happy New Year, everyone.  Yahweh bless.