Perfect timing

Seemingly, time flies so fast.

It has been not too long since I thought the world has been too cruel to me. Last year, I started to trying to bring into myself a new concept of working professionally [not because I have not been professional in my past employment, but taking in a different approach in a working environment], that is, being more focused, more disciplined, more strict, more dynamic, more profound in decision making and less on the human side.

Nevertheless, I guess 2013 was never a good year for me. on April 26, 2013, a news broke out about the fusion program of Metro Pacific Investment Corp’s CVHMI – Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) where I was working as Project Coordinator (Engineer), in which I have to retire after 3 years of doing great job in the Engineering & Maintenance Division and accomplishing at least 5 major packet projects on schedule and within cost.

(Oh well, I just thought this is not my first time to be unemployed, if so, then so be it. I remember quitting job in December 29, 2009 and I deem that is the worst experience I had in my entire life.)

The transition seems not too affecting to me, as I was driven with confidence of easily finding a new job as the country’s economic is booming and given the incrementing physical moments in Philippine construction & development landscape. Not even finishing my 1-month Terminal Leave given to me by CSMC, a new job has been offered to me at St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City, this time as a Quality Control Officer, trough an agency. Sadly, after just 60 days, I have been embattled in haggling for the right compensation for my post after my agency lost its bid for another 24-month coverage of SLMC-GC Engineering Division.

But then again, the world is seemingly putting me into another test as I was invited to try as Maintenance Manager of, so-to-speak, the most expensive basic education institution in the country – International School Manila, or IS as it is widely known. I quickly grab the opportunity, without batting an eyelash, I left St. Lukes and started working there on July 27, 2013.

Given the solid background in Maintenance Works, to add up to my exposures in the construction industry, I have apposite and wide knowledge in repairs and maintenance stuffs, making it quite easy for me to handle every pressing situation. However, things are not easy as it is face on. Sometimes, there are issues beyond what you can professionally do. No matter how you pursue to better yourself and your work output, sometimes, your own superior would think you are someone better of and can outwit him in his post. The barrage of bad attitude, nagging, unprofessional treatment, bad-mouthing and the likes turned me off. This is apart from the issues I have received from my technicians about our boss’s alleged SOPs and asking for material and monetary favours from contractors and vendors of International School, and their alleged connivance with the agency holding and stalling the benefits of my maintenance technicians

With such a very pitiful  and unhappy working environemtn, I left IS, without any formal document at all, November 9, 2013. I just thought, I have spent a 3-month vacation in Chechnya or in Crimea or even in Ouagadougou, that I can expel that short 3-month stint to nullity.

All odds going against me, on November 14, 2013, my father passed away, around 5AM. The night before that, I was so beleaguered and find it hard to sleep, only to find out my dad would leave us the next morning. Que triste! It felt like heaven and earth collided on me.A terrible news, 5 days after I quit work. I do not have money to bring with me going home and all I have with me is my eagerness to bring my dad to a decent final place of resting.

All I have with me is my business, Muwei Cafe which was also bleeding that time.

Anchored on positivity and angst, my love for my family, and with my few very good friends organ-ing my support system, I was able to go on with my life and proceed. I manned Muwei Cafe from December 2013 and until some period in January 2014.

My birthday came January 9, 2014, and unlike my past birthday celebrations which are grand and exuberant, I only had a very decent dinner with someone special and a simple karaoke session.

And just when I thought, I was about to start to look for a job the week following my birthday, as I have planned and envisioned, I did not even know that I would not even need to kick my butt off the chair and push myself to apply for jobs. A day after my birthday, my former boss called me up and said, “Hey Bok, where are you? What are you doing? Do you want to work again for me?”

And with such a great boss, my  first boss in CSMC, who would say no to the most professional boss I have encountered in my whole life, Engr. Ed Rodriguez, a Harvard graduate, who is very down-to-earth, very sublime, very diplomatic and highly professional. No person in my whole life ever complimented me with great words and sense of respect to my workmanship and work ethics.

On such tip-toe moments, I almost believed the world has been too harsh for me, nonetheless, God made me realize, there is always hope. That you will absolutely reap what you sow.

I worked hard before, and that toil has given me the opportunity to gain whatever I have today. I may not be rich, but my sense of fulfillment cannot even be toppled with filthy affluence or exorbitant monetary value.

Trust me, i have been there. And I would never look back.

God is great. He knows when is the best and  right time for you.

Cheers!

Why am sad Dolphy is gone?

I am an 80s kid. I was born and raised in the 80s.And my childhood reminds me a lot of Dolphy’s movies that my mom would take me to local cinemas in downtown Legazpi City just to watch his movies.

The one that absolutely had great impact to me was his 1987 movie “Once Upon a Time”. I was 7 years old that time but the plot of that story really remained in my mind up to now. The whole cast of the movie is a blockbuster during that time – with the loveteam of Snooky-Richard, Janice de Belen (my all-tuime favourite Filipina actress and my childhood crush), the very regal Lani Mercado with the very versatile Gloria Romero playing as the villain, and of course, entwined with the great comedy antics of Chichay and Tessie Tomas, plus the That’s Entertainment stars Mon Alvir,Anjo Yllana & Chuckie Dreyfuss.

Once Upon A Time,a 1987 hit comedy-fantasy flick which starred “Dolphy”.

As a kid, the plot of that movie really remained in my mind.

I grew up as a teenager just right in time in 1993 when ABS-CBN first invaded Bicol. Legazpi and the rest of the Albay province (and contiguous towns & provinces) only has one Tv channel that is GMA-7 in which the shows are shown one-week delayed. yes,one week delayed. It means, we can watch a That’s Entertainment episode a week after it was telecast in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon provinces. Indeed, 1993 was just right in time when Dolphy’s hit TV sitcom “Home Along da Riles” became popular after debuting in 1991.

Home Along has been a part of my weekly Thursday routine – that me and my siblings and my aunts and other relatives would pile up in front of the TV just to watch the weekly dish of the show. That time, me and my siblings would eat early dinner so that we can proceed to our Aunt’s house nearby just to watch TV since we still do not have any TV set during that time.And we always have a great laugh.

1990 hit-TV sitcom Home Along da Riles aired on ABS-CBN for almost 15 years.

Dolphy is one of the very few Filipino comedians who can throw a punchline without laughing ahead of the comedy stint. His newspaper poking at the Sunog-Baga Boys and Babalu is a signature that every other comedian during that time, followed.

Dolphy thumbmarked and sealed the 90s as his prime decade in Philippine TV sitcom. i can say this since during the hit of John & Marsha, I was not born yet and that RPN-9’s coverage is not that extensive to the provinces. I only heard about John & Marsha when I was already on my early teens only in commentaries, reviews, tributes. memory-lane programs on TV,and even a re-run in the recent years.

A scene in Home Along da Riles (TV) with Claudine as Bing and Dolphy as Kevin Cosme with Gio Alvarez on the background.

The conglomerate of Cita Astals, Bernardo Bernardo, Roxanne (Dang Cruz), Nova Villa, Claudine Barretto, Gio Alvarez, Maybelline, Smokey Manoloto, Vandolph etc are also the ones I missed on Philippine TV comedy scen (well,of course,apart from my other favourite Abangan Ang Susunod na Kabanata).

The Philippines’ Comedy King during his heydays. A legend, indeed.

When I finished college in 2000, that started the dwindling of Home Along. I was barely watching the show. Maybe because I was already starting on my professional career and had been focusing on some other serious structures of my life. Until the day that Home Along bid farewell on TV.

And Dolphy contiued his TV and movie career. With some short-lived comedy programs and some hit movies. Until in 2010.

I would admit in 2004, I became less as a fan of Dolphy when he endorsed FPJ as his Presidential bet. Well, I knew Dolphy is an absolute vote-magnet. He can sway votes of millions of Filipinos with his charisma and character. I am also a fan of FPJ as an actor but I was never a fan of him to be a Philippine President.I was then rooting for the late great Senator Raul S. Roco.

In 2010, much more I was a little off with Dolphy when he endorsed MannyVillar for President. Again, I admit I was never an Erap supporter, but I deem, he should have endorsed Erap instead of Villar having the former as his good and long-time friend than the latter.

But all of those are history. Villar, Erap and Dolphy all have moved on.

When it was reported that Dolphy has been admitted to the ICU of Makati Medical Center last June, I felt an innate sadness. I think this man has made us happy and smile most of our lives – even our parents and grandparents. Dolphy gave us a sense of good laugh, hope, fantasy,imagination, genuine talent, the art of comedy and passion. This man who have been in the showbusiness for 6 decades has achieved something that no other can duplicate or even come close to it.

I continued to pray that this man, who, in his great splendor, is the absolute and indisputable King of Philippine Comedy, would recover from his ailments.

I was hoping for it, was praying for it. I though the positive developments the last 2 weeks would continue. But, sadly, last night I was stunned hearing the news that he is gone.

Que triste. Definitivamente, que triste la muerte de rey de comedia de peliculas Filipinas! I am very sad. Something in me has been lost – which I cannot explain nor expound. The closest encounter I had with Dolphy was when his motorcade for the FPJ campaign pass by our vehicle enroute to Tabaco City in 2004, but it is like Dolphy is already part of my subliminal system.

How in the world can I ever imagine Philippine show business without a Dolphy? Such a great loss.

The only thing left for us, fans, critics and observers is to respect, revere and try to move on with the death; and proceed with the inspiration and legacy he has left.

Goodbye, Dolphy!

Que En Pas Descanse! (QEPD)

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Nota bene:

This is the author’s personal account of how he remembers and regards Dolphy during the course of his lifetime and does not in any way represent anybodyelse’s experiences, emotions or opinions. This is purely a personal account and recounting of how he recalls and experience the King of Comedy.