Chapter I - Procopia in the Time of Charter Change

6:53pm (yes, I’m typing a blog entry while working. As always.)

First of all, I sure hope that you remembered "Araw ng Kagitingan" yesterday. Our grandfathers have risked our lives during the WWII, marching their tired feet off
to Bataan. If they were alive (some of them ARE still alive, thank God) they would surely propose another Death March, but this time, putting off the President’s ass on the line.

For the first time in weeks, I checked out the front page of two of our most dependable newspapers. I always buy newspapers every Sunday, my day wouldn’t be complete without them. Problem is, I rarely stop and check the front page, thinking that I will read the same news again, that some lunatic president is pushing the change for our constitution.

Well, I had not mistaken. She is still pushing through the Charter change, and relatively calling the whole thing just an amendment, when it’s already a full revison. And I say, Duh? She’s planning to change the bicameral-presidential form to a parliamentary form of government. That’s not what you exactly call a minor change. And besides, I think that with all of the self-centered motives of the politicians today, this whole charter change is a sham. It’s another one of their motives to retain their authority in the government. Just think about this - the president, if there will ever be a charter change, will act as a temporary prime minister if ever we’re going to have a parliamentary system.

Ugh. Good thing that I rejected the idea of being a Political Science major. I want to be aware of the law, but I don’t exactly want to go through all of the hullaballoo that the politics offers for the common man. Just think if I did take up Political Science - - I would be Atty. Anne Mallari.

Yuck. Hindi bagay. Others deserve that title more than I do.

Chapter II - The Exit Interview

And so I already submitted my resignation papers, and I thought it ends there.

Think again, Narda. It doesn’t.

Last Thursday (April 6 was a Thursday, wasn’t it?), I was called by my tiyahin Imelda Papin (uh, Big Momma) and she told me that she wanted to talk to me.

And I was startled, like a turtle hiding from it’s shell, thinking, "What the heck did I do?" And a few seconds later, she told me that this is all about my resignation.

She said that everyone who had decided to resign will undergo such interview. She said that I was lucky enough that she was the one who will conduct the interview, and not the personnel. Thinking about the whole thing - I thought I would be lucky enough if Eufrocina Monsalud interviewed me instead.

And Big Momma asked me what’s the cause of my resignation. You know that feeling when you feel little, when you feel like an utterly helpless child in the arms of a certain old schoolteacher? Her strict ways frighten you and you figure out you feel the same frightening sensation when you are reminded of the booger, I mean boogey man you were once so scared of when you were just five. Your vision becomes dim, and you think, you’re in for a one big show.

Big Momma notes that I never mentioned in my resignation papers that I had plans to teach, and that during the interview with her 6 months ago, I told her (DAW) that I do not have plans of teaching in the near future. Instances like that make you think what you said during that day, and you swear you had mentioned otherwise. Then, she started her pang-ookray. I tried my best to shove off the intimidation and deliver my sarcastic remarks as well. The whole exit interview appeared like she was telling me not to go, and she will go to the extent of saying some inappropriate things about the would-be profession. She could’ve just at least respected my decision, at least that would be great, but emphasizing that teaching pays little, not much less than what I earn from the company, totally pissed me off. If she only knew that I would be paid higher than what I presently earn, and that I am not all about money, but I am aiming to fulfill a more noble cause, surely she would shrink in embarrassment.

But I just let it go. What’s the use, anyway? With my pending suspension (yes, I think I was already late 3 times, it’s enough proof that I am no longer interested to stay.  And besides, as the Nestle commercial says, "Dapat magbigay galang sa mga matatanda."

And that’s exactly what I did.