Damn police!!!

Last Saturday, I got into a scary but infuriating encounter with the local police. I was driving along CP Garcia Avenue in UP in the middle of the Christmas rush on my way to the mall to do some last minute shopping. There was a bit of traffic in that two-lane street and I was traveling at around 30 kph. All of a sudden, from out of nowhere, a white Fierra truck (not sure exactly what that vehicle is called) swerved from behind. It almost hit the right side of my car! I stepped on the break and put my hand to beep the horn at the stupid driver. The vehicle overtook me and blocked me at the front. I thought it was over so I tried to calm down.

Then I noticed that the Fierra truck slowed down in front of me. It was then that I saw the paint around the vehicle that said “PULIS”. My heart raced. I tried to take a look at the driver from his left side mirror. He was looking at me with ridiculously taunting eyes! I realized he was blocking me so that I couldn’t pass. The cars behind me were already beeping their horns. I didn’t know what else to do but try to overtake through the shoulder of the road. But when I finally did, the police vehicle raced after me and tried to hit me a second time! I was horrified! I looked at them from behind. The policeman driving was asking me to pull over. There was at least one other guy in his police vehicle. I thought about it for a second. If I didn’t pull over, I was sure they would still run after me anyway. And I might be charged for disobeying authority. I was alone and scared. So I parked my car on the shoulder. But I didn’t step out nor open my window.

I called my dad on the cellphone in panic as I had no idea what was going on and I didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to do! The situation was so surreal, I had a feeling something was really wrong. The police driver walked toward my car and knocked on my window. On the phone my dad was telling me not to go down the car. I opened my window only enough to talk to the guy. In calm English, he was asking my why I was swerving. I was like “what???!!!”. I couldn’t help talking in an angry tone. “Boss, anong ginawa ko? Muntik nyo na akong banggain!” He replied, “Give me your license!” Of course I said I won’t give my license! He was not authorized to take it. He wasn’t a traffic enforcer! After a quick debate, and trying to make him speak to my dad on the phone, I finally gave in and handed him my license. He want back to his vehicle. God knows what he planned to do with it!

Good thing a friend was driving by and saw me. She went down with her husband and came to my rescue. While I was explaining to them what happened, the police came back. My friends tried to calm him down apologizing for my behavior! In my mind I wanted to argue that I didn’t do anything wrong! But my friend was quietly signaling to me that I just keep quiet. So I did. Except that I was forced to apologize to the crazy police just to get my license back. When he left, I broke down. My friends told me they sensed the guy was drunk. Kaya pala!!! Pambihira! A vendor from the side of the street went up to us to say that what the police did was illegal. He had no business harassing me since he was just a UP Police and was probably not even on duty!!! Grabe! I drove home trembling in shock and anger. Never felt so scared in my entire life.

Until now I don’t know what to do. I was too disoriented to get the name of the policeman or the plate number of his vehicle. I’ve no way of tracking him down and getting my revenge. I’m resigned to the fact that I may not be able to do anything at this point anymore, no matter how much I want to put that guy in his proper place. Bahala na lang ang Diyos sa kanya! After all, pulis lang sya at hindi na aasenso ang buhay nya kung magpapatuloy sya sa walang kwentang pamumuhay nya… GRRRR!!!

I've kissed my leaves goodbye

The title says it all. For the first time in 3 years I thought I'd finally get to take a Christmas vacation. If I didn't have to all of a sudden work next week, it would mean 10 days of no work and just binging on Xmas goodies and Noche Buena leftovers. BUT NO...

Pluses and deltas (how very corporate lingo!)

Pluses...

(+) I'm working on my physical fitness again. Tried boxing and it seems to suit the kind of workout I need. It's heavy cardio but less tension on the legs to avoid them damn thigh and calf muscles getting big. It's also one-on-one workout with a personal trainer who really pushes me when my katamaran kicks in. The best part is that it's a terrific stress reliever! Channel all the energy and frustration in that jab-street-jab combination... Heeheehee...

(+) I've finished my Christmas shopping - 1 week before Christmas! This is truly a breakthrough. I remember how I used to spend the day before Christmas still frantically pushing my way through the crowded malls, hopping from mall to mall even, just to buy gifts. Now I've even finished wrapping! Thanks to free wrapping service and the help of my sweetie, there's only one last special gift to wrap. For that one I'll take my time. =D

(+) I bought myself an adorable pair of sneakers!!! I just love them. They're actually Adidas Originals for kids with green, orange and yellow stripes and yellow laces (my super favorite color!). I asked for the biggest size that could fit an adult and luckily the shoes fit perfectly, as if they were meant to be mine.

(+) I got approved leaves on the dates sandwiched between the holidays. Great time to just unwind and enjoy the season. For once!!! After being in this freakin' company for 3 years, the months

Deltas...

(-) I'm getting fat. I've been eating carbs. Had two giant slices of pizza last night. Yuck.

(-) I'm stressed with work. Can't really tell if it's still fulfilling or if it's actually how I wanted my new assignment to be like. I'm pressed for deadlines but I'm dependent on everyone else for their deliverables and inputs. With everyone taking their Christmas break (including me!), getting approvals will have to wait until January. If it were all up to me, maybe I'd get more things done. Damn!

(-) While I'm excited about my Christmas leave, I'm worried that it'll just pass by quickly and I'll be back facing the terrible stress of an upcoming project. Since everything will be pushed back over the long Christmas weekend, surely I'll have to rush everything when I get back to work. I just don't want to worry about anything else anymore! Can't I just, for once in my life, have a nice relaxing Holiday break?

(-) I'm turning 28 in less than a month. I hate it. I hate birthdays. I hate having to turn another year older and waiting for the time when I can finally say this is the kind of life I wanna live, that everything is as it should be. Can't help it. Birthdays make me sad.

Guilty feelings

We had a whole hour’s worth of intense discussion on an unfortunate incident that happened during our leaders’ Christmas party today. It was an exclusive party which our team organized. Out of the goodness of our hearts, we unintentionally caused a string of booboos that resulted in an embarrassing Christmas party disaster:

1. We invited one contractual to join our exclusive lunch.
2. We allowed her to participate in the raffle not really conscious that it might be unfair to the people who officially qualify as members of the team and attendees of the party.
3. She won the grand prize – a freakin’ P990i!!!

When her name was announced, there was a confused moment of silence. Then people clapped graciously. I looked at my teammates. We all had the same shocked expressions on our faces.

Hours after we still couldn’t agree on whether to talk to her, confiscate the prize or just let it go... Damn!

zzzzzz...

I'm sooo sleepy... I can still taste the alcohol in my mouth. It's been causing me to crave for anything to munch on. Lots of work, but thank goodness nothing urgent to finish today, nothing that can't wait to be done better tomorrow when I've more energy to think. So I'm working on brainless matters now, waiting for the day to end.