death and crisis

i was supposed to be finishing the last 10 items for my second entry entitled "25 random facts about me" but i stopped and decided to make way for this feeling that i've been having since last friday.

that day was like the saddest day for me since the year has started. two things made it really devastating--- first was the death of a rap icon and second was the impact of crisis on the company that i'm working with....

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DEATH. i was stunned by the message that one of my fellow QA's had sent an hour before our shift ended last friday. she said that FrancisM passed away at 12noon the same day. i couldn't believe it! i immediately hit google to confirm the news. and turned out that it was not a feign news this time. the king of Philippine rap is indeed gone! what a big loss not just in the celebrity world but in the Philippines as a whole. i have always been fascinated by his songs for they were nationalistic in theme and some of them were sang in the native language. plus, he had ventured into business with the passion for the country still in mind. i would love to buy one of their products. not all celebrities have this burning passion for the country. thus, now, i mourn not just because of the loss of a handsome celebrity but of a true kababayan...

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CRISIS. on the latter part of the previous year, there were news about the global crisis. statistics, according to the news, has disclosed over 40,000 Filipinos let go by their employers. i feel sorry for these people that i always include them in my prayers. i always pray as well that the countries greatly affected by the crisis would soon recover. personally,i'm still feel happy and blessed for i still have not experienced this and neither of my loved ones and closed friends have. i remained hopeful because i still have a stable job and i'm still able to eat three square meals a day.then came friday last week when the part of me that was hopeful and happy turned otherwise. we learned that more than half of the teachers in the AM shift were forced to work as part-timers due to the crisis. although i'm quite relieved to know that my partner, shey, and some of my other friends were not included, i still feel sorry for the single moms who were part of it and also for some teachers who have been dear to me. that day was really saddening. i was suppressing tears while i was talking to some colleagues and to my department head. it's good to know though, that just like me, there are people willing to sacrifice something for the company. our department has decided to not accept the raise that we're scheduled to have for this month. i'm really proud of our team.

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i just hope that despite these present realities, everyone would remain to have an optimistic attitude and a thinking that crisis would soon be over and that something great is in store after all these perplexities. these indeed saddens me but i just keep in mind what my life coach has taught me: crisis may bring out the best or the worst in you. . . i chose and will always choose the former :)