Christmas Rhapsody

Noche Buena

I wish to spend the Christmas Eve with my beloved Jovy, but, it's not possible as of this time. When the mall closed at 7pm, I sent her to SM Megamall bus stop so she could get her bus ride going to Valenzuela. I supposed to be sending her home but instead told me to take also my ride going back to Antipolo. The Christmas rush was overwhelming and she thought I might not be able to make it to Antipolo by midnight if I'll send her to Valenzuela. When she had taken her ride, I also walked to the jeepney terminal at EDSA Central to take an Antipolo bound jeepney. I arrived there at past eleven in the evening enduring the bumper to bumper traffic. My girlfriend has a keen sense of judgment.

When I arrived to our place, Pinky, my immediate superior, together with her husband and a few staff, was very busy preparing for our Noche Buena.

We made a lot of preparation for we expected a few invited to arrive. Unfortunately, one couple couldn't come and others were arriving late. There were few heads when we started to celebrate the Noche Buena.

I'm introducing here a few person. From left to right: That's Ate Helen; Alvin, Pinky's husband; then Pinky; Chamboy, the Afro-Filipino son of Ate Helen; Bert, martial arts and boxing enthusiast, one of our delivery staff for the purified water business.

Two more guests came in later. Still there were plenty of foods left that we still celebrated the following day like fiesta. Most of us eat as much as we can. Diet programs were set aside at that moment.

Gift That I Received

Aside from the Steve McCurry Photo Book that me and Jovy received, I was also receiving two gifts; a Penshoppe T-shirt from my beloved and a table clock from Pinky.

The T-shirt that I was wearing (below) during the MIP Christmas Party is Maldita's early Christmas present to me.

Photo courtesy of Pareng Dennis

My Working Environment

This morning, I woke up with a different kind of spirit. It was probably due to sleeping late celebrating the traditional Noche Buena. It was Christmas anyway and I wanted to try at least something new for today. I grabbed my Silverado and went out of my quarter and roamed around. I was thinking of sharing this information to selected friends and also to my fellows at MIP. I got several photos here:

I guess there is no scheduled water delivery for today. Trucks were still at their respective parking spaces. Most of the time, these trucks are out before 7 in the morning. That truck facing forward is a tanker used to deliver tap water within Antipolo areas. That aluminium van on its back is used to deliver bottled water to Metro Manila and Cavite areas. That miniature truck over the right is used to deliver individual orders within the vicinity. That building at the back is the water processing plant. As you might notice, the building is constructed with selected kind of woods. Our environment is surrounded with fruit trees. Few weeks back, I had photographed using my phonecam a set of instrument panel inside the plant. It can be found on this building.

These are water tanks. Contrary to most water processing plants that sourced out water from NAWASA, ours is sourced out 300 meters deep from the grounds of Antipolo. The building structure you can see at the background is the Antipolo City Jail located just 23 meters away from us. That make us feel safe every night.

Our facility is surrounded with different kinds of flowers. If I can only mix work and hobby I should always go out to take macro photos of flowers. Well, this is my take just this morning.

That's our staff quarter up there. It is an attic converted to air-conditioned male and female bedrooms. Mess hall and kitchen are also provided. That's Bert in his martial arts stance calling me for breakfast.

Down below the quarter is an internet bistro, my pastime 18 hours a day :( That black thing in the middle of the frame is my SLR bag and beside it is my laptop. The white thing is a satellite speaker for my computer sound system. On top of the air-conditioning unit is the switch and a UPS.

That's pure Internet rush out there with a top speed of 512Mbps when streaming direct from the network server, but that didn't give me life's satisfaction. My confinement to my job 18 hours, 6 days in a week is no different thing living at the city jail the next block.

I love the place, but I hate my job...