Yup.

Yes, my life is kind of a drag right now. Yes, I'm that bored. And yes, my mind is surely elsewhere.

With job, no patients, no money.
Sucks.

But here's something nice to look forward to, and hopefully to blog about soon:

Stoked!

Of becoming a professional...

It's really official! God is good!

So last Sunday, September 9, we finally had the oathtaking for the newly licensed physical and occupational therapists in Manila Hotel. This was one of the occasions where one gets giddy because of course, who doesn't want to finally get hold of their professional license after almost a month of passing? Well, I was giddy, but I was technically late, which really sucked. Good thing there was one parking slot left just in front of the hotel.

Seeing more than a thousand people inside the ballroom got me confused where to go, and knowing that we were only 10 from our school made it harder for me to look for my other colleagues (oh yes!). Thankfully, I found them right away. Our guest speaker was renowned comedian Ai Ai delas Alas. At first I thought that her speech would be all comedy, and we even wondered why she was the guest of honor. It was also funny that she thought of that herself. During the whole speech though, she invited the parents of the board passers to stand up and us to cheer for them, for they were the reason we were in this phase in life. It also turned out that she was a patient advocate and supported charities that had therapists. It wasn't the best speech, but it was a speech where we were able to relate to, and that was good for me. Finally, we were able to take our oath right after!

Yay!

While the board topnotchers were being called and presented their awards, food was finally being served. We didn't really expect much since the former oath takers gave bad reviews about it. Lo and behold! As it was being given, we gave the 'meh' looks on each other. We were hungry anyway.

Worth it... NOT!
Photo by: Steph Paragas

Unfortunately, my camera died on me... again (I think I'm really unlucky with cameras). so I borrowed my classmates' cameras and went around the venue for a little while and took pictures with some of my friends.

Here's me with Shayne Tee (unofficial Top 1) and Guia Morales

Sir Marfin! Lol.

Proud Prime Movers! :)

EAC PT/OT represent!
Photo by: Giselle Cruz

Towards the end of the program, we didn't really know what was happening already since we were busy taking pictures of each other and going outside the hall to pick up our licenses. We didn't really care anymore anyway; furthermore, I had to go as soon as it was finished because I had to catch up with my cousin's first birthday celebration.

It wasn't really the prestigious event we had hoped for, but the essence was what we were after. When I held my license card, it got me thinking: This is really it! I'm holding a card, and not just any card, but my professional card! This would really be one of my most accomplished days ever (having received another good news later at night), and as I said somewhere, I couldn't help but think of what I have exactly done to receive blessings upon blessing. But I am definitely thankful to the Guy above, and of course, to my family and friends, and especially to Cocoy, who sticked with me through the high and especially through the low times. I promise to take care of this precious thing and would not do anything to lose it.

And so, a new chapter begins for me and for my new colleagues! I'm thankful I found employment easily. I do hope I get to stay long enough with it. Haha! Sorry this was such a crappy blog post. I have been bored out of my wits for these past few days. Or maybe this is just the effect of my 'no rice diet?' Hmm.

Of devotions, government hassles, and getting employed...

The other night, I posted on my Twitter account about how I would embark on an adventure the following day. I sure did, but I couldn't figure out if it did end up with some productivity. I had the exact plan of what I was going to do for that day.

My day started at seven o'clock in the morning when I attended a mass and novena at the National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus. In case you didn't know, St. Jude Thaddeus is the patron saint of hopeless cases. I just actually started my devotion to St. Jude during the first week of reviewing for the board exams. I made a promise to myself that whatever the results were, I would still come and continue praying to him. Since I passed the boards just a few weeks back (time flies too fast!), going there every Thursday was more special for me. After the mass, I met up with a family friend, Tita Pebbles, for a while and took some pictures of the shrine and the people before going to my next destination.

Here's a view of the shrine from the outside

Here's a shot of the inside. What made me like this place is its simplicity.

Thank you, St. Jude!

Churchgoers outside lighting candles after the mass

I then went to the Manila branch of SSS, supposedly to get my SS ID since I already had my number. A few days back I had already inquired at another branch and they said that I had to pay my contribution to get my ID. So for this day, I prepared myself for long lines and long waits, and wait I did. I was in line for about an hour, and when I finally reached the information desk, they told me I was DISQUALIFIED to get an ID. I told them I would pay in voluntary contribution, but they still insisted that I wasn't allowed to. I was sure I could pay for myself but the person at the desk told me I should talk to my employer/s about it. I was so pissed off I wasn't able to take pictures of the area. A piece of advice, though, if you are going to the main branches of SSS, you have to be there as early as you can. In my case, I arrived only past eight, but the end of the line was already at the back of the building. Another suggestion: there are SSS kiosks available at different major malls in the Metro, so check if your transactions can be made at those places to avoid further hassles. Lastly, BE PREPARED, and make sure you won't go out of the place empty-handed. Here's a nice site I found last night about basic information regarding SSS: Social Security Basics: 10 Answers to Your SSS Concerns

Still deciding to try my luck, I went to Pag-Ibig Fund to pick up my ID and hopefully to make my first contribution. As I approached the office, I heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of a clear entrance and knew I wasn't going to be toasted under the heat of the sun. Located at Lawton in Manila, the building was actually nice and organized. Even the security guards were coordinated and knew the basics of the transactions.

Fast-moving lines in the main office

Also, what made it easier for the people to finish their business there was that there were at least five lines for each transaction. I got my ID in less than 10 minutes, but when I asked if I could already pay my first voluntary contribution, they said I had to submit an affidavit of income, so yeah, dead end again for me. But at least I already had my ID.

It was already nearing lunch time when I got out of the office, so I decided to grab some lunch before heading for school. Since I was already on Day 4 of my diet (mwahahaha), I just had a salad and a bottle of water (you can never go wrong with H2O!). I then walked to school to talk to the Dean to finalize my documents for, wait for it, employment! Since I was just doing part-time, I had to discuss some more things before going down to the Human Resource Department. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but since I decided to just hang out thereafter, I got out at five o'clock in the afternoon already.

And this is what welcomed me:

What's new, Taft?

Poor pants and shoes (and clothes and bag...) of mine :(

I called my mom and told her I couldn't cross Taft Avenue, and guess what, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO PICK ME UP BECAUSE SHE HAD OTHER PLANS! I literally begged her until she finally did, and we just agreed to drop me off at a terminal where I could peacefully go home. It really wasn't peaceful where I got off, but I don't want to divulge on it anymore. I got home at around six-thirty in the evening, took a warm bath because the flood really got me itching all over, had my little (yes, little) dinner, then succumbed to my nightly series marathon. I'm on American Horror Story now by the way!

This is already becoming too long of a blog post, and I'm sorry about that. Well, I just wanted to point out that life now is too different from before. What happened to me on this day was something really new, and it did test my patience and my capacity to continue. I started to miss my friends more, because I realized that we're really on different paths now, and we weren't going to do most stuff together again. I've also got to rely less on my mom or my older relatives, and do things on my own now. It's nice I still got out alive, but this is only the beginning. I'm still wondering what lies ahead of all these :)

Of firsts...

Howdy!

I never thought I would make another blog in my life, but here I am! It has been six or seven years, I think, since I've last written on my Xanga, and I think three or four years since on my Multiply. I actually thought of continuing my blog on either, but seeing the posts of a high school teeny bopper scared the hell out of me. So yes, this is my new one, and I've never been more inspired to write again.

Why 'Life in the Quarter-life?'

Because it sounded nice? And relevant? I initally opted for 'Oath of an OT' but it sounded too cheesy and biased to my profession (FYI, I love being an occupational therapist), but that would mean I would only get to post stuff about being an OT, and I didn't want that. I would also post about my profession, but I still wanted to share with you (yes, if there is someone out there reading this) some other stuff that I, a person who is almost, if not in, the quarter-life period, experience regularly. Admittedly, I won't be the extraordinary or popular person who will post blogs on constant travelling, or restaurant-hopping, or weekly shopping, and most definitely on political reviews but I've also had my share of those things that I would want to share here as well.

And since I just passed my boards for being an occupational therapist (yay!), I would now embark on a new adventure in my life - that is, employment. Dun dun dun. Soooo, in advance, I'm sorry for some of the negative would-be posts that would be signs of a 'quarter-life crisis.' Har har!

So there. Caught your attention yet? I must warn you about a few things though. I could be a fangirl sometimes, so I hope you don't mind me constantly posting stuff on my favorite artists, or movies, or songs. Sometimes I can get to be sarcastic as well so I hope nobody gets to take me too seriously. Hehe. To whoever gets to read this, I hope I get your interests hehe! Here's to the next posts to come! *insert clinging of wine glasses here*