I am excited every time I pack my bags, whether I travel alone or with some other people. But along with the excitement is my bout with motion sickness.
When I was in elementary, I feel nauseated even in a 30-minute jeepney ride. When I travelled by bus, vomiting was a normal thing for me. I pitied those who unfortunate souls who happened to sit near me. When I rode a boat to Mindanao, I brought along with me a plastic bag. It’s not easy for me. I puked in the boat. I threw up again in the bus.
When I was already working, there was this instance when we had to do cash count inside a vessel plying between Iligan and Siquijor. I couldn’t control myself and vomited outside the boat’s window. The captain offered coffee to ease the feeling. I did not show any sign of fear or embarrassment. I heard that another colleague of mine also vomited when he conducted cash count in another vessel. After the job’s done, I went to my assigned cot and slept for more than 15 hours, until we reached the Cebu port.
When I rode a non-aircon bus from Dumaguete to Mabinay, the winding roads caused some discomfort. I stopped the bus a few meters away from my intended destination, just to escape from the eyes of many people. A few seconds after the bus moved away, I turned my back and vomited. Then I walked towards a carenderia to buy coffee, as if nothing happened. Hard life!
But I had my triumphs. For one, the long trip from Davao to Cagayan via Buda. Then the many bus rides from Cebu to Bacolod via San Carlos and vice versa.
I thought I had fully overcome motion sickness until my recent trip to Ormoc. It was calm when Supercat left the Cebu port. But after 30 minutes of the supposed 2 and a half hour trip, strong waves rocked the boat. I heard cursing from elder people, wails from little children, and a lullaby from a mother who wanted to comfort her crying child.
Some suggested that we turn back. There was one who shouted that he’d punch the captain if he won’t reduce speed. I tried to comfort myself as if I was enjoying the waves. But I felt nauseated after seeing some people vomit. Then there was this smell of white flower liniment which for me, did not help relieve the feeling. I tried to close my eyes. I knew that I had to ask for a plastic bag, but there was no steward near. I tried to deflect the feeling by imagining my brain and trying to locate the nerve that caused the nausea. Then I fell asleep.
We arrived at Ormoc 30 minutes beyond schedule. I felt fine when I stepped outside Supercat. We took our breakfast before we proceeded to Tacloban. The hot soup somewhat relieved my stomach. But I can still imagine the sight of my own vomit.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Robbed
Or so I thought.
Nobody poked a knife or a gun at me. But I felt robbed when the ATM did not dispense the amount I withdrew. This was my first time to experience such. It happened three Monday evenings ago at a machine at UN Avenue. The amount was debited from my account, but I got nothing. I checked the machine for some gadgets pranks might have placed to rob unsuspecting victims, similar to those modus operandi type shown on TV. I found none.
I immediately called the number listed in the sticker. “This must have happened here many times?” I thought. I was expecting a pleasant voice at the end of the line but I was disappointed. It seems like they’re not expecting any calls. The sleepy and hoarse male voice told me to refer my concerns to my bank which is in Cebu. “This could not be the process.” I thought. But I kept my calm. The next day, I asked a colleague to call our bank in Cebu. As expected, I was instructed to visit the branch where I made the withdrawal. Since I was in another city in the Metro, I decided the visit the site the day after. But to my dismay, there was no branch coz it was an offsite ATM. I called the other number found on the sticker but they don’t know how to handle my complaints. I was given another number: This time to their ATM Center.
The lady at the other end is quite accommodating. Sometimes, it feels good to hear a pleasant voice on the phone when you feel that your complaints fell on deaf ears. She took my name and some details of the transaction. She said that it would take at least five banking days before the amount would be credited back to my account. She also gave me her name and a number to follow-up, which I noticed was the same number listed on the sticker.
I tried calling that number to make a follow-up and asked for the lady but they told me they don’t know anyone of that name. Again, they referred me to another number. My patience almost ran out. “Ok, I’ll wait for 5 working days”, I thought. I never made a follow up again.
5, 6, 7, 10 working days lapsed so I checked my account thru Bancnet’s website. Still there was nothing credited to my account. Feeling hopeless, I said to myself that I’ll just consider it as my gift to one of RP’s 5 largest bank. But to my surprise, when I checked my account yesterday, the money was already there in my account. That is 13 days after I complained.
Thank you, Bank. I hope you improve your services one of these days.
Nobody poked a knife or a gun at me. But I felt robbed when the ATM did not dispense the amount I withdrew. This was my first time to experience such. It happened three Monday evenings ago at a machine at UN Avenue. The amount was debited from my account, but I got nothing. I checked the machine for some gadgets pranks might have placed to rob unsuspecting victims, similar to those modus operandi type shown on TV. I found none.
I immediately called the number listed in the sticker. “This must have happened here many times?” I thought. I was expecting a pleasant voice at the end of the line but I was disappointed. It seems like they’re not expecting any calls. The sleepy and hoarse male voice told me to refer my concerns to my bank which is in Cebu. “This could not be the process.” I thought. But I kept my calm. The next day, I asked a colleague to call our bank in Cebu. As expected, I was instructed to visit the branch where I made the withdrawal. Since I was in another city in the Metro, I decided the visit the site the day after. But to my dismay, there was no branch coz it was an offsite ATM. I called the other number found on the sticker but they don’t know how to handle my complaints. I was given another number: This time to their ATM Center.
The lady at the other end is quite accommodating. Sometimes, it feels good to hear a pleasant voice on the phone when you feel that your complaints fell on deaf ears. She took my name and some details of the transaction. She said that it would take at least five banking days before the amount would be credited back to my account. She also gave me her name and a number to follow-up, which I noticed was the same number listed on the sticker.
I tried calling that number to make a follow-up and asked for the lady but they told me they don’t know anyone of that name. Again, they referred me to another number. My patience almost ran out. “Ok, I’ll wait for 5 working days”, I thought. I never made a follow up again.
5, 6, 7, 10 working days lapsed so I checked my account thru Bancnet’s website. Still there was nothing credited to my account. Feeling hopeless, I said to myself that I’ll just consider it as my gift to one of RP’s 5 largest bank. But to my surprise, when I checked my account yesterday, the money was already there in my account. That is 13 days after I complained.
Thank you, Bank. I hope you improve your services one of these days.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Library: A Love Story
Tales of my Father - Part 5
The week that passed had been stressful to Boy. The father of his girlfriend, a policeman, confronted him and demanded that he break up with her, or else, something bad will happen to him. He willingly obliged. But the girl was so fatalistic that she attempted to jump off at the 4th floor of the school building. She said that she’d rather die than live without him. The father relented though, and pleaded Boy to reconsider. But he was no longer interested in her. Though, he succeeded in convincing her not to end her life with no promise in return. He simply fell out of love for her.
For the first time after many months, he entered the school’s library. He heard his classmates brag about the new girl working at the library. He got curious. After the break-up, he was searching for a deeper meaning of love and a lasting relationship. There she saw a girl that he thought he can only see in his dreams. She had a fair white skin, long brown hair that glitters in the light, and an infectious smile that tells him to come in.
At that moment he was speechless. He felt something weird. Something like he’d been hit by Cupid’s arrows. “Who is this girl?” he thought. She’s a working student from the college department, while he's a graduating 4th year high school student
The girl in the library may not have noticed him. His dark, thin, 5’7” frame failed to steal her attention. She thought that he was just another fellow trying to lure her. There was this other guy who showed her his car keys, and kept asking for a date. But she flatly refused the braggart.
Now, Boy did what he does best: Talk his way to her. But she was not easily convinced though.
For many days he came to the library just to see her. And many times he was reprimanded by the Librarian due to his loud voice and laughter. He strongly believed in Amor Vincit Omnia. He knows that there is nothing in him that could buy her love. He came from a poor family. He supported himself by working full-time and studying part-time. She, he later knew, though with a Chinese maternal grandmother and a Spanish mestizo grandfather at both sides, did not come from an affluent family. There was no heaven and hell to bridge, nor oil and water to mix. It’s only a coffee and milk mixture due to the colors of their skin. He adored her, while she enjoys his sense of humor. But she told him that "if you're really interested in me, go visit me at home and ask permission from my Manong."
So one day, he decided to visit her home. He was also ready to tell her brother that he intended to marry her, because he knew deep within his heart that she is the one for him. In those days, courtship is not a lengthy process. And when you visit a girl in their home, it is a sign that you intend to marry her.
Her brother, a black belt in judo karate, and with a very muscular frame, did not scare him. The conversation went well with the guys. She was happy for his courage and his pure intentions. She decided that he is the man for her.
On December 21, 1974, at age 20, at the altar of marriage, Boy vowed to love her through thick and thin, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, now and forevermore.
Parts 1-4
The week that passed had been stressful to Boy. The father of his girlfriend, a policeman, confronted him and demanded that he break up with her, or else, something bad will happen to him. He willingly obliged. But the girl was so fatalistic that she attempted to jump off at the 4th floor of the school building. She said that she’d rather die than live without him. The father relented though, and pleaded Boy to reconsider. But he was no longer interested in her. Though, he succeeded in convincing her not to end her life with no promise in return. He simply fell out of love for her.
For the first time after many months, he entered the school’s library. He heard his classmates brag about the new girl working at the library. He got curious. After the break-up, he was searching for a deeper meaning of love and a lasting relationship. There she saw a girl that he thought he can only see in his dreams. She had a fair white skin, long brown hair that glitters in the light, and an infectious smile that tells him to come in.
At that moment he was speechless. He felt something weird. Something like he’d been hit by Cupid’s arrows. “Who is this girl?” he thought. She’s a working student from the college department, while he's a graduating 4th year high school student
The girl in the library may not have noticed him. His dark, thin, 5’7” frame failed to steal her attention. She thought that he was just another fellow trying to lure her. There was this other guy who showed her his car keys, and kept asking for a date. But she flatly refused the braggart.
Now, Boy did what he does best: Talk his way to her. But she was not easily convinced though.
For many days he came to the library just to see her. And many times he was reprimanded by the Librarian due to his loud voice and laughter. He strongly believed in Amor Vincit Omnia. He knows that there is nothing in him that could buy her love. He came from a poor family. He supported himself by working full-time and studying part-time. She, he later knew, though with a Chinese maternal grandmother and a Spanish mestizo grandfather at both sides, did not come from an affluent family. There was no heaven and hell to bridge, nor oil and water to mix. It’s only a coffee and milk mixture due to the colors of their skin. He adored her, while she enjoys his sense of humor. But she told him that "if you're really interested in me, go visit me at home and ask permission from my Manong."
So one day, he decided to visit her home. He was also ready to tell her brother that he intended to marry her, because he knew deep within his heart that she is the one for him. In those days, courtship is not a lengthy process. And when you visit a girl in their home, it is a sign that you intend to marry her.
Her brother, a black belt in judo karate, and with a very muscular frame, did not scare him. The conversation went well with the guys. She was happy for his courage and his pure intentions. She decided that he is the man for her.
On December 21, 1974, at age 20, at the altar of marriage, Boy vowed to love her through thick and thin, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, now and forevermore.
Parts 1-4
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