Two Minus ER
---
One summer of 03, father decided to take the journey of his lifetime. Getting out of the financial slump his newly established company had gone through was no mean feat. When he felt that things are getting more promising to the publishing company, he took the first opportunity to see the lands beyond the country and Europe was his first destination.
Meanwhile that same summer, I had a great career as a lifestyle and entertainment reporter in Manila Times for my ojt. Such position not only gave me prominence but also the adoration of the girls and gays in our class since it was their dream job in the first place. Perhaps I was just lucky enough to use my PR skills at the right moment when the news editor was interviewing me. When asked where do I want to be assigned, I simply said "sa features po." That's why they assigned me in the lifestyle section.
Anyway, since my father needed someone to look after his business while he was away... with his "business partner (aka the mistress), he asked me to cut my servitude to the broadsheet and take over his job while enjoying his trip in Europe.
I remembered that evening when he brought me the news; I was playing a PC game when he barged into my room and told me that he will be out of the country and I need to take his place for two weeks while he's not around. My first reaction was fear and hesitation. After all, how could a 19-year old manage the affairs of a national newspaper run by an experienced journalist like my father without getting into trouble with the government who accused us of being a porno tabloid. Besides, not only would I run the operations of the business, I would also have to write a columm on his behalf every single day.
He assured me that the editors know what to do in such situation and if I want, I could tone down the female models in the front page just to allay my fears of getting raided. Everything will rest upon my decisions, he told me. Given the fact that I had no choice at all, I followed his orders and observed for two days and two nights the operations of the company.
---
When he finally left the country, all systems were finally in place. The managing editor felt my anxieties so he showed me some of the perks of being the boss. A day after I took over, he brought me to one of the photo shoots being conducted to promote the models who appeared on our front page daily. Yeah, I did see nude girls squeezing their boobies and touching their pussies. I even had an opportunity to have my pic taken while squeezing the boobs of a starlet (which I still keep hidden away from the rest of my photo albums).
However, if there was any downside to being the new boss, I think the loneliness of being up there and alone proved to be too much for my sanity. Fortunately, I could always call my classmate (who eventually became my girlfriend 7 months later) just to cheer me up. My tropa would also occassionally drop by for a visit just to make fun at me while I was giving instructions to the managers.
Since it was my first time to manage the business, I had to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To make things more efficient, I decided to detach myself from my family and live within the office premises during the entire duration my dad was away. This way, I would go down with the company if ever something happened to it under my responsibility. Besides, the freedom I got was too awesome, if my mindset then was the same as to now, I will take every chance to fool around and exercise my power as the dominator.
Imagine, those were the only times I could walk around with bodyguards flanking me. Such experience may never happen again in this lifetime.
---
The first week was hell. My routine would start early in the afternoon. The accounting and circulation department had just finished doing the reports I will review and tally for the day. The editorial department had just barely begun working on tomorrow's paper, which I have to wait until 5 pm. In school, we learned to keep an open ear for breaking news, so the whole press time, my tv was on and it was tuned to the news. After editorial work had finished, I would sometimes sneak out to have a little private time for myself. Usually, I would go to La Salle to check out the newest trance music available. When I return to the office at 8 pm, the printing had already begun while the cashier's department had just opened their dispatching site in port area. I would start writing my columm at 10 pm then the driver would shuttle me to the dispatching site to get the partial daily income. Then it's lights off at around 2 am.
As the countdown begins for my dad's return, I had this feeling that I've run the company more efficiently (operations-wise) than my dad ever did in his life. However, what sets his newspaper away from other tabloids is its appeal. My dad was extremely creative. He calls himself a visionary during his younger years. However, I never appreciated that side of him until now. Many years later, I was called again to help him run the business after his business partner had left. Our leadership difference was so notable that it created a rift between us. Eventually that rift would be the mitsa to our great conflict that tore us apart, which I failed to settle before he passed away.
When the final day came, I made sure everything was in order. My dad's office, which was a total mess when I arrived two weeks before was so squeaky clean, not even a single mouse would dare sneak behind the books behind his desk. From the editorial department's room to the accounting and circulation's room, the change was so apparent that the employees themselves felt a little sense of tranquility while working. Those statements were relayed to me weeks later after I left by my dad's sister who dropped by from time to time during my tenure.
Before the turnover, I took the opportunity to make a closing speech, which was actually written in my columm. It was meant to wrap things up and thank everyone who behaved accordingly during my time. The essay, written in Filipino, served as my best proof that once, my dad's publishing was a utopian paradise full of perks and opportunities for expansion. Too bad, the next time I took over his position permanently after he died, the same publishing, which I took care back in the summer of 03 was already in complete tatters.
It took less than five months before it, too, followed its creator to the grave.
--
From: The Bull
Date: May, 2003
Columm Title: Sa Pansamantalang Katapusan
o0o
Pagkauwi ko ng bahay, pipilitin kong muling gawing normal ang buhay ko. Nakakapagnakaw pala ng kabataan ang mabigat na responsibilidad at pagdedesisyon para sa isang kumpanya. Alam kong ito'y patikim lang sa akin, taon ang lilipas, muli akong babalik dito upang gampanan ang trabahong nakalaan na sa akin.
Mapalad pa nga ako, hindi gaanong mabigat ang buhos ng problema sa loob ng dalawang linggong namahala ako dito. Ang operasyon ng kumpanya'y nanatiling normal at ang mga insidente... ay nanatiling maliit at mababaw.
o0o
Pagkatapos nito, pagsasawaan ko na ang natitira ko pang bakasyon bago magsimula ulit ang pasukan. Matagal-tagal muli bago lumabas ang mga opinyon ko sa pahinang ito. Sana'y naliwanagan kayo sa mga isyung binulatlat ko sa loob ng dalawang linggong magkakasama tayo. Lagi niyo lang pakakatandaan mga tol, ito'y tinig ng kabataan, tinig ng henerasyon ko.
Hanggang sa muli dear readers! Salamat.
---
One summer of 03, father decided to take the journey of his lifetime. Getting out of the financial slump his newly established company had gone through was no mean feat. When he felt that things are getting more promising to the publishing company, he took the first opportunity to see the lands beyond the country and Europe was his first destination.
Meanwhile that same summer, I had a great career as a lifestyle and entertainment reporter in Manila Times for my ojt. Such position not only gave me prominence but also the adoration of the girls and gays in our class since it was their dream job in the first place. Perhaps I was just lucky enough to use my PR skills at the right moment when the news editor was interviewing me. When asked where do I want to be assigned, I simply said "sa features po." That's why they assigned me in the lifestyle section.
Anyway, since my father needed someone to look after his business while he was away... with his "business partner (aka the mistress), he asked me to cut my servitude to the broadsheet and take over his job while enjoying his trip in Europe.
I remembered that evening when he brought me the news; I was playing a PC game when he barged into my room and told me that he will be out of the country and I need to take his place for two weeks while he's not around. My first reaction was fear and hesitation. After all, how could a 19-year old manage the affairs of a national newspaper run by an experienced journalist like my father without getting into trouble with the government who accused us of being a porno tabloid. Besides, not only would I run the operations of the business, I would also have to write a columm on his behalf every single day.
He assured me that the editors know what to do in such situation and if I want, I could tone down the female models in the front page just to allay my fears of getting raided. Everything will rest upon my decisions, he told me. Given the fact that I had no choice at all, I followed his orders and observed for two days and two nights the operations of the company.
---
When he finally left the country, all systems were finally in place. The managing editor felt my anxieties so he showed me some of the perks of being the boss. A day after I took over, he brought me to one of the photo shoots being conducted to promote the models who appeared on our front page daily. Yeah, I did see nude girls squeezing their boobies and touching their pussies. I even had an opportunity to have my pic taken while squeezing the boobs of a starlet (which I still keep hidden away from the rest of my photo albums).
However, if there was any downside to being the new boss, I think the loneliness of being up there and alone proved to be too much for my sanity. Fortunately, I could always call my classmate (who eventually became my girlfriend 7 months later) just to cheer me up. My tropa would also occassionally drop by for a visit just to make fun at me while I was giving instructions to the managers.
Since it was my first time to manage the business, I had to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To make things more efficient, I decided to detach myself from my family and live within the office premises during the entire duration my dad was away. This way, I would go down with the company if ever something happened to it under my responsibility. Besides, the freedom I got was too awesome, if my mindset then was the same as to now, I will take every chance to fool around and exercise my power as the dominator.
Imagine, those were the only times I could walk around with bodyguards flanking me. Such experience may never happen again in this lifetime.
---
The first week was hell. My routine would start early in the afternoon. The accounting and circulation department had just finished doing the reports I will review and tally for the day. The editorial department had just barely begun working on tomorrow's paper, which I have to wait until 5 pm. In school, we learned to keep an open ear for breaking news, so the whole press time, my tv was on and it was tuned to the news. After editorial work had finished, I would sometimes sneak out to have a little private time for myself. Usually, I would go to La Salle to check out the newest trance music available. When I return to the office at 8 pm, the printing had already begun while the cashier's department had just opened their dispatching site in port area. I would start writing my columm at 10 pm then the driver would shuttle me to the dispatching site to get the partial daily income. Then it's lights off at around 2 am.
As the countdown begins for my dad's return, I had this feeling that I've run the company more efficiently (operations-wise) than my dad ever did in his life. However, what sets his newspaper away from other tabloids is its appeal. My dad was extremely creative. He calls himself a visionary during his younger years. However, I never appreciated that side of him until now. Many years later, I was called again to help him run the business after his business partner had left. Our leadership difference was so notable that it created a rift between us. Eventually that rift would be the mitsa to our great conflict that tore us apart, which I failed to settle before he passed away.
When the final day came, I made sure everything was in order. My dad's office, which was a total mess when I arrived two weeks before was so squeaky clean, not even a single mouse would dare sneak behind the books behind his desk. From the editorial department's room to the accounting and circulation's room, the change was so apparent that the employees themselves felt a little sense of tranquility while working. Those statements were relayed to me weeks later after I left by my dad's sister who dropped by from time to time during my tenure.
Before the turnover, I took the opportunity to make a closing speech, which was actually written in my columm. It was meant to wrap things up and thank everyone who behaved accordingly during my time. The essay, written in Filipino, served as my best proof that once, my dad's publishing was a utopian paradise full of perks and opportunities for expansion. Too bad, the next time I took over his position permanently after he died, the same publishing, which I took care back in the summer of 03 was already in complete tatters.
It took less than five months before it, too, followed its creator to the grave.
--
From: The Bull
Date: May, 2003
Columm Title: Sa Pansamantalang Katapusan
o0o
Pagkauwi ko ng bahay, pipilitin kong muling gawing normal ang buhay ko. Nakakapagnakaw pala ng kabataan ang mabigat na responsibilidad at pagdedesisyon para sa isang kumpanya. Alam kong ito'y patikim lang sa akin, taon ang lilipas, muli akong babalik dito upang gampanan ang trabahong nakalaan na sa akin.
Mapalad pa nga ako, hindi gaanong mabigat ang buhos ng problema sa loob ng dalawang linggong namahala ako dito. Ang operasyon ng kumpanya'y nanatiling normal at ang mga insidente... ay nanatiling maliit at mababaw.
o0o
Pagkatapos nito, pagsasawaan ko na ang natitira ko pang bakasyon bago magsimula ulit ang pasukan. Matagal-tagal muli bago lumabas ang mga opinyon ko sa pahinang ito. Sana'y naliwanagan kayo sa mga isyung binulatlat ko sa loob ng dalawang linggong magkakasama tayo. Lagi niyo lang pakakatandaan mga tol, ito'y tinig ng kabataan, tinig ng henerasyon ko.
Hanggang sa muli dear readers! Salamat.
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