Friday, April 27, 2007

We're a Bunch! (Puerto Azul IBM Chill-Out Party)






Some group pictures from our company outing in Puerto Azul, Ternate, Cavite (April 22, 2007). More to follow. You can also check out my Multiply account: http://lourlandpaul.multiply.com/

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Pedestrian Crossings

Not all Filipinos follow traffic rules and regulations. This is a fact.

Take pedestrian crossings, as an example. Particularly, in EDSA Crossing (corner Shaw Blvd.), people lack discipline, as they try to wait for the perfect timing to cross the road even if the lights are still green. And of course, the poor motorists have no choice, but to let the mass pedestrian traverse the entirety of the asphalt highway.

How many accidents are needed to prove that traffic rules were made to help? That traffic regulations were made to maintain peace and order in our country? How many lives should be wasted for us to realize that waiting for the green light to turn to red will be a big difference in our everyday lives?

I am not in the position to identify the root cause of this phenomenon, as I have no formal study on the lack of self-discipline of our fellowmen. But we can just assume that there are possibilities. For one, family is one great influence. Our interaction with the outside world reflects who we are inside our homes. We might not be talking about crosswalks, but cleaning the table after use and turning off unused electrical equipment do count.

Peer factor matters. Tell me who your friends are (you know the rest)... Poor implementation of rules. Lack of education. Lack of support from the government. Culture issues. Etcetera.

By the end of the day, there will only be one, best solution: Cooperation and our Willingness to change for the better.

Friday, April 06, 2007

El Viernes Santo




The lights are dim


The streets are bare


Friday, it seems


Is most unfair.




Sunday, April 01, 2007

Dazed, I am.

What if someone just drifted out of your life in a blink of an eye?

I wouldn't know what to say. And I wouldn't know what to feel. Under normal circumstances, I will fight for what's right. I will convince that person to stay. I will tell that person that she couldn't possibly leave.

But in a situation where you could not control things. Like in a workplace. In the call center industry, to be exact. Where employees get shuffled in and out of queues or departments, juggled from one team to another, and bounced off in the most unexpected schedules. What if the person you shared memories with suddenly was transferred to another shift?

I don't know. My heart is starting to water. Bloody tears.