Jet

Natak-an na ko!!! I am so bored. I want to have a "normal" life. You know, waking up early so I won’t be late at work. I want to look forward to weekends and then say, ha? it’s Monday already??? Sometimes, after work, I would meet friends to watch movies or have dinner/drink or just window shop.

I have been job searching for about a month now. Printed many resumes, mailed some, uploaded most, attached them in an email and most of all, surfing the web all day long.

Mom, Joy, and many friends are telling me to be PATIENT. This is one trait that I don’t have much.  But I am trying. I know this is another test.

Can I forward time? You know, when I am working already.

Patience is a virtue, Jet!

I love watching movies in the theater. But I haven’t seen one since I arrived here in the United States. Back home, I was watching one movie a week (even more sometimes). What have I missed so far? The Interpreter, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Madagascar, Stars Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Batman Begins and more. I’d like to watch Bewitched. I like shows about witches, you know, like Charmed. Bewitched seems like fun.

Watching a movie relaxes me. I also like seeing scenes of places where I have been or where I want to go. Have you seen Hitch? It was filmed in NY. Nice to see familiar places. How about the popcorn? Hmmm… or the nachos?

How much does one pay for a movie? In New York, it’s $10.50; in Baltimore it’s $8.50 and in Bacolod, it is 50-60 pesos!! We have a movie theater here in Sunnyside, NY, that has specials on Tuesdays. It’s only $4.50. I better remember this next week.

Might as well wait for the DVD! No, some movies are better watched in a big screen. Oh well!

When I was younger, I recall watching a movie with my family (I think this might be the first time), in Little Cinema in Goldenfields, Bacolod. We watched The Champ. Ricky Schroeder was a still little boy then whose father was a boxer. I cried and cried. Good thing, it didn’t made movie watching a traumatic experience.

What movies have you seen lately?

I’m free! After the break-up six years ago, I am finally LEGALLY single again. Before I left the Philippines in 1999, Edward told me he’ll take care of the annulment. When I went home in 2002, he hasn’t file it yet (due to lack of finances daw), so I filed our case in Iloilo. It was a slow process… we depended much with the court’s calendar. Everytime I went home, there will be hearings. One time, my sister and I attended the scheduled hearing but there was a bomb threat in Hall of Justice so it was moved. Another time, the judge had a seminar. There were a lot of hearings that I did not attend since I was here in the US. Before I left for NY in May 2005, I called the office of the Judge and they told me that the case has been submitted as of April 1, 2005. The judge has 90 days to make a decision. Early (very) early this morning, Janette texted me that she talked to my attorney and he received the decison. My marriage has been annulled but we have to wait 15 days for the Solicitor General to make an appeal. It’s part of the prodedure. What are the chances of an appeal? Minimal, I hope. So it’s not really FINAL until July 8 or the week of July 11. I will continue to pray (will never stop). Let’s party in July!

JOB HUNTING. I arrived in Baltimore on May 12 and in New York on June 3. I have been applying since then. Got some rejects already but no phone calls for interviews yet. When will they call me? I am so sad but not depressed (yet). I am not patient enough. I need to be. It really takes time to find work. I am trying to convince myself this.

It’s a good thing, I have many supportive family and friends. They have been so encouraging. Please continue giving them your blessings, Lord. Thank you for them.

At least, I am trying to organize our high batch. It gives me something to do other than job searching. It makes me feel better.

Now… back to Monster.com, NY Times Job Market, Careerbuilder.com, etc. etc.

High School Life. A lot of people say that high school life is the most fun. I agree. I had so much fun then. My family lived in Bacolod City (although our grandparents are from different parts of Iloilo) but I studied in Iloilo… in University of the Philippines in the Visayas in General Luna Street. I followed the footsteps of my brother, Gee, who graduated in 1981 and my sister, Joy, who graduated in 1983. Iloilo was my first experience to being independent. There I learned to ride the public transporation for the first time. Hapos man lang gali (it was so easy). I met friends that are still my best friends even now. The friendship grew from adolescence to mature age. Although sometimes, Janette and I still giggle like high school girls. 1987 came and our four years seem to fly so fast… and this year , we already celebrated our 18th graduation year.

About six years ago,when I went to New York, I started reconnecting with my high school friends… it started with JosieLynn, Charmaine, Patrick, Jun and it grew and grew. One time Charmaine and I were in the telephone and she had the Kaleidoscope (yearbook) in her hand. We tried to say what we know about so and so. We traced where they are or what’s the latest news. In November 25, 1999, our batch’s Yahoo Group was born. As of today, we only have 43 members but it is growing.

We had two major reunions so far… one in Iloilo in December 29, 2000 and one in Chicago in May 2001. Many came but the search for the rest is still going on.

We plan to have a really BIG BIG one on our 20th year in 2007. We started the database and we hope it will be completed soon. We need a Core Group to plan the reunion. Of course, this is voluntary. I’ll email the batch soon to invite them to join the core group. So far, my ka batch have been coorperative.

More posts and pictures to come.

SIX years. 2005 is my sixth year in the East Coast. I left the Philippines on June 12, 1999 (Independence day). How appropriate! I was closing a chapter of my life. My marriage. I went to NY to start a new life. It took awhile… but I have moved on. The marriage will soon be annulled. Thank God! There are scars (so many). But I learned a lot. I grew up!

New York. How I love this city! The city that never sleeps. The city full of life. It still amazes me that I am one of the millions and millions of people in this city. When I ride the subway, I try to guess the different nationalities in the train and think of their stories.

My cousins came for a visit and I was their tour guide. I saw another glimpse of Central Park. So beautiful, so serene. Am I in New York City?? Yes, I was. New York. Unique. Diverse. Accesible.

In a way, I am glad to be here again after six months in Bacolod.

And everyday, I still thank GOD for all the blessings He has given me.