Friday, December 17, 2010

The Grinch





'Tis the season to be jolly, ang sabi nga sa isang commercial. Kaya naman kahit may financial crisis sa office ay napagkasunduang magkaroon ng munting salo-salo bago sumapit ang pasko.

I for one would rather divide the cash so that everyone could have extra money come Noche Buena. Pero hindi naman ako ang boss. Kung ang boss nga walang 13th month pay, who am I to object?

Simple lang naman ang stand ko. Christmas these days have been robbed of its essence. Makikita mo yung mga call center agents na namamakyaw ng cheap scented candles para i-pang give-away and you will understand what I mean. Kahit yung mga batang nangangaroling sa daan, hindi alam yung lyrics ng "Sa aming bahay."

Kaya nga kapag may nakakasalubong akong mga nangangaroling gamit ang mga improvised percussions na gawa sa tansan eh talagang namimigay ako ng barya, kahit hindi sa akin namamasko. You have to give credit to their ingenuity. Besides, its a dying tradition.

Going back to work, we were advised na mayroon daw Kris Kringle. Hindi ko lang alam kung kapareho siya nung Monito, Monita but just the same, I am only doing this because the Patroness  had told me. We agree on the same principle that you should only give gifts na bukal sa puso mo. Or you really have thought about it. Pero yung puwersahan, isa yung malaking kahangalan!

Noong bumisita yung HR sa department, dali-dali akong bumunot ng monito. Nakuha ko si bakla, yung agent na dapat magiging congressgay sana kung nakapasok ang Ladlad sa kongreso. Nabunot naman ni Mami Athena si P-Man. Gusto niya sana makipag-trade sa akin. Tamang pang-asar lang, alam niya kasing dati kong inibig si closetta.

Days passed. Dumaan ang aking birthday, pati na rin yung sakit-sakitan ng tiyan the following day kaya dehins ako pumasok. Noong hapon ng 16th, nag-text si Mami para ipaalala sa akin yung munting salo-salo the next day. Timing naman na battle-ready ako para makipag-rambol sa mga panic shoppers sa Megamall kaya nasama tuloy si bading sa gift list ko.



My idea was to give him a glass set na sobrang ganda ng design. Flowers. Tamang tama para sa kanya. Naiimagine ko na gagamitin niya yun kapag may boylets siya na pinapatuloy sa bahay, o kaya naman kapag may "tea party" sila ni Danton Remoto. So I bought the glass set, tama lang sa set na budget. Subalit nang magawi ako sa Greenhills, dun sa midnight tiangge nila, biglang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin.

Dexter Macaldo (his real name, hayan para hindi makalimutan sa balota next time) has been with us since the beginning. Sugo siya ni Mami, kaya naman si bakla ay todo samba sa kanya. Perhaps he felt a little homey in our little corner kaya never siya umalis sa kumpanya. Kahit na ang ganda nung package nang magretrench sa floor. For the longest time, siya na ang ultimate harasser ng mga boys. Seriously, everyone lightens up kapag nagpatawa si bading.

Our professional relationship has been very cordial. Out ako sa kanya and he doesn't mind if we belong to the opposite side of the spectrum. I voted for his party last elections even when everyone around me (including my family) voted for others.

The budget for the exchange gift was pegged at P100 pesos. Sigurado yun, yung mga killjoy sa office ay magrarason na wala daw silang pera. I even doubt if kumpleto kami sa Christmas Party mamaya. But I have always been faithful to the idea that you give gifts because you want to. Presents never require an exchange.

Kaya hayun, nung nakita ko ito sa tiangge at naalala ko si bakla, I realize that it's the thought that counts.



I would have kicked some butt for this one.  


Sobra man ako sa budget at wala man akong matanggap na exchange gift, I haven't thanked him enough.  Besides, after all the sufferings he has been through when his work week was cut short, I think Dex deserve something more than a mug or a hankie or a scented candle.

I wish he would show up. 

Mamatay sa ingget ang mga badet mamaya.




16 comments:

Jepoy Dee said...

sabi nga ng gasgas na kasabihan, "its the thought that counts" :P

enjoy sa party mamaya sir!! :)

Mugen said...

Jepoy Dee

Thanks men!

Ms. Chuniverse said...

ay...

'tis the season na nagpaka generous si mugen.

happy holidays!

mwah!

Nishi said...

nagiging mapagbigay lahat ng mga tao ngayon. nice nice.

c - e - i - b - o - h said...

party party!!!

saya naman,,
kami nga d2, wala yatang xmas party..

enjoy!!

Jake said...

'Yang belt na yan ang magpapanalo sa Ang Ladlad sa 2013 elections hahaha!

Mugen said...

Jake:

Weeeeh! Hindi ka naman bumoto sa Ladlad last time eh. Haahaa!

Ceiboh:

Mas gusto ko pa nga walang ganun. Pocket money na lang namin.

Mugen said...

Ex-Jason:

Cliche as it goes, its better to give than to receive.

Miss Chu:

Generous naman ako kapag nabubulungan. Kung sino man yung nagbubulong eh sekret na lang. Wahahaha!

Désolé Boy said...

made me admire you even more.
.
.
enjoy po =)

Mico Lauron said...

It is nice to know that people like you still exist sa mundong ibabaw. And what makes me happier is the fact that you have kept that sense of gift-giving tradition in you alive. Pagpalain ka nawa. I am sure your family and friends are happy to have known you.

Nice to be back here Mu[g]en.

casado said...

Papa Joms, ano yang belt na yan? di ko knows! ahahhaa

kahit na late na, i wanna greet u pa ulet ng

HappY Birthday!!

I'm sure maraming nangyaring blowing of candles! hihihihi...

CHAR!

Marhk said...

Hanubah syempre tradition na din ng lahat ng company na may Christmas party!...keri na yan! hehehe

Nimmy said...

sa may bahay.. hummm. hummmm hummm. namamasko po kuya joms! hehehe

The Princess Boy said...

hehehe.. anong klaseng belt yan? yan ba ung may citronella oil para hindi ka lapitan ng lamok? ehehhe.. merry christmas po kuya.. :D

Mugen said...

Neil:

Basta alam ko eye catching siya, at amoy Frenzy kapag inamoy. Hehehe.

Maligayang Pasko!

Nimmy:

Kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan?!? Bisyo na toh! Lolz.

Markh:

Hanubah! Ako nga si da Grinch. Hindi ko bet mag Christmas parteee!

Mugen said...

Soltero:

Yeah, maraming candles ang na-blow except yung nabubuhay! Huhuhu!

DBoy:

Thank you! Merry Christmas Parekoy!

Mico:

All you have to do is lift the sheets to find that there's comfort and kindness even in the hardest of surfaces.

Thanks!