4 years of Corporate Slavery

June 2, 2007... I celebrated my four years of work experience in the world of corporate slavery... Wow. I cannot believe how time flies so fast. So many instances of "it was just like yesterday":

1. I went on a beach trip with college friends just to celebrate the threshold of the "real world" (eto na... magtatrabaho na tayo!!)
2. I was going around Makati looking for a job
3. While on the job hunt, I spent the summer of 2003 playing frisbee at San Lo with Binx and Monty
4. I was actually a housechild for 2 months just to get hard-earned money from the 'rents (housechild aka dakilang achay.... hahahhaa!)
5. I was 21 when I started working... SGV pa ah!
6. I started my second job 2 days after my 25th birthday

Hay grabe! Wika nga ng mga matatanda, ang bilis nga naman ng panahon. Four years in the world of corporate slavery has been one hell of a ride. But at the end of the day, I can proudly say that I have cherished these memorable moments:

1. Work-related learning experiences
2. Finding great friends
3. Celebrating friendship with true friends
4. Discovering and experiencing QUARTER-LIFE-CRISIS aka QLC
5. Benchmarking the leading practices of managers (siyempre sakin na yun kung sino yun... Hahahaha!)
6. Wearing blazers on weekdays and flipflops on weekends... especially when it was needed to work overtime on weekends... (shucks SOX, Philhealth and Standard days!)

As I mentioned, it has been one hell of a journey. But through the journey, I was able to introspect and find what I really want to do as a "career woman" (after 3 service lines in SGV, one SOX project that made me semi-psychotic and a lot of challenging stuff on the side...finally na-discover ko na! hahahaaha!). In addition to that, somehow, I have defined my purpose why I have been placed to where I am right now. The challenge for me is to materialize that purpose and do something big that can change the world. (nax politiko ba ang dating??).

Well, each day has been challenging for me. Sometimes I just want to stare at the wall and be at the state of wishful thinking to be someone who's in college, or even highschool. In other words, if I could only turn back time, that'll be fun. But as cliche as it may sound (pero in fairness it's true ah), moving forward to encounter different experiences and realize my self-being are factors of growing up. If we just stagnate ourselves looking back, how can we move on? And in moving forward, I realize that no matter how this world can be so shitty and f***ed up, I choose to be happy and embrace this circus. Well, these reflections have been the product of my four years in corporate slavery. Hahahahaha!! Cheers to that noh!

Below are the pictures taken from the four years of experience in the world of corporate slavery... Hey, it wasn't all work work work... I realized that I did have fun and I am continuing to have fun with these people I have encountered, four years ago.... and the time is still moving... Hahahaha!

First Group: TASI (at that time, formerly known as Global Corporate Finance)

Ericka Balcos, my first friend in SGV.... She entered the Firm 2 days after my first day of work... We were about to go to NBC Tent for the songfest... Ric was one of the lead singers while I was a hamak na chuwariwaper... Hahahaha!! (Back in the days wherein boxes were at the back of the staff area... aayy!!)

First SGV anniv... Ahhh I remember this... MC 4 lost the ever-career songfest... so we all went to Hard Rock to enjoy the partner's treat... Dito nalang binuhos ang sama ng loob... hahaha!! Btw, I think most of the people there are in Cayman Islands, Bermuda, wherever...

First barkada in SGV... mostly from MC1... Although in this pic, the girls infront were from PWC, the guy beside me is their barkada from college and most of the peeps in the pic, were and are still in the Firm...




First SGV Christmas Party... aahhh High School Reunion... this was the most fun MC4 party! It was nice to wear that AC uniform and little did I know Dayday and Peaches were also AC Old Girls... =) Picture below was supposed to be some "sort-of a soiree". Shucks nangingitim pa my blouse... and take note, most of them had to make pagawa their uniforms... Hahahaha!! Picture above was with Ericka (who will not be mistaken to be a lost Povedan at the e-Caf.. hehehe!), VOA, Francis, Georgy (think this guy is in the US) and Ziggy... the infamous Ziggy Gogoling... Hahahaha!!

With Ericka, Lei and Irah... preparing for the SGV anniv Filipiniana theme.. 2004 ata ito eh...

During my birthday and at the same time, my last day in the Firm... With the VOA Cluster peeps.. (Picture below) the SGV Ultimate Frisbee Tara-Tara Peeps!

Mercer moments... During the Pre-Survey meeting with our regional head, Rob Knox (oohh shiny head!)




First Christmas Party at Mercer... Filipiniana theme... back to the Linggo ng Wika days.. hehehehe!! And I looked like a lola here! Waaahh!!

SC Johnson invited us to participate at their fun-run, in celebration of their 50th year in RP. With Vince and Vic, we were ready to run... my hair's pretty messy here... Waahh!!

For more pics on my corporate slavery journey, just check on my multiply (or that link that says "see more of gladzalwayshappy"). Hehehe!.....

But more importantly, there are so many wonderful memories that I have treasured, despite the challenges I encountered. As I move on in the next few years as a corporate slave, I am looking forward for more challenges and unforgettable memories. If there is a cake right in front of me, well my wish for myself is to be a wiser individual... and still spread glad tidings... Hahahaha!!

Hhhaaayyyy.... We can all sing "through the years.... we never..... something something..." Hahahaha!!