September Sandwiches

We've been doing this since 2013, a little project off the stage and on to the streets of Cebu.

Because of the pandemic, we are taking a step back this year to hopefully move 2 or more steps forward soon.

To everyone who has supported us through the years, THANK YOU!

This is a little look-back at CTC's September Sandwiches.

Pagliacci the Clown

Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. 

Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. 

Go and see him. That should pick you up." 

Man bursts into tears. 

Says, "But doctor... I am Pagliacci."

Return of the King

LeBron James has just won his 4th Championship and his 4th Finals MVP.

With his 3rd NBA Team.

At the age of 37.

In his 17th year in the NBA.

Let that sink in.

It's been a while since I last talked about The King in this blog, but I've continued to follow his awesome career, and continued to root for him and wherever team he's playing for. Today, he didn't only help the LA Lakers win their 17th title, he also helped a lot of this teammates who were counted out by so many people before they were given the chance by the Lakers. Even LeBron himself was counted out by so many, especially after he got injured last year and the Lakers didn't even qualify for the Playoffs.

What a year it has been.

It was sweet because it was against LeBron's former team (where he won his 1st two titles), the Miami Heat. To make it sweeter, LA's battle cry since Kobe's tragic death has always been "Mamba" and "For Kobe".

The upcoming off-season will be exciting as there will be personnel changes in the roster of the Lakers. Whatever happens, this will be a season worth remembering. 

The Lakers are the 2020 NBA World Champions.

2020. What a year.

Huge Realization

I was chosen as one of the theatre mentors in a new performing arts center a few months ago. The biggest difference between this and other centers is that this is a curriculum-based training center. I was chosen because of my experience in theatre (27 years this month), but when I saw the actual curriculum with the topics to be discussed, etc., I was, right there and then, slapped with a huge realization that I am illiterate and incompetent. For the first 2 sessions, I researched, learned the topics, then made the informational materials just a day or two before our actual classes. I think I did a satisfactory job with my 2 students for the first 2 sessions.

Now that 1 student quit the training because of his studies (hopefully not because of theatre class or because I was lousy), I got 1 student left while the other mentors (who are formally trained so they're wayyyyy better than me) has 3 or 4. The center owners said that the ideal number per theatre class is 5, so I immediately suggested that they transfer my student to any of the other classes so we will experiencing interacting and working with other students. I hope that they will grant that request for the sake of the student.

I have accepted the fact that I am incompetent with formal theatre training since I've not experienced any of it. All that I have are experiences on and off stage with a lot of great directors, but sometimes, experience is not enough.

40 Before 40? Nah! Just ONE Before 40

I will turn 40 years old 40 days from today.

I have planned a lot of 40 before 40 challenges, but then 2020 with its plot twists happened.

Sooo, for my 40 before 40 challenge, I challenge myself to stay healthy, survive and reach my 40th birthday next month. That would definitely be an achievement!

Oh yeah, included in the challenge is to make sure my family is safe and healthy, too.

Finished My Letter for My Daughter

This virus really has made me so paranoid for the past 6 months, and the more so now that I am reporting to the office everyday from Monday to Friday. Instead of avoiding potential contact with people carrying the virus, our office decided that we should face it head on. Yes, there are measures taken like masks and face shields and alcohol and physical distancing, but still IT IS DAMN SCARY.

Speaking of scary and paranoia, I just finished making my letter for my daughter which I hope to read to her during her 18th birthday 4 months from now. If ever I won't be around by then, I made sure to (1) leave a copy of the letter somewhere where they can easily find it if I'm not around, and (2) I saved a copy of the letter here in my blog, scheduling it to be automatically published on January 6, 2021.

I don't want to die yet, and leave my daughter, but I will do my best to be prepared in case the inevitable happen. This virus has really changed everyone's lives, at the same time claiming a lot of lives in the process.

"If I die, let me die. Let him(her) live. 

Bring him(her) home.."

I Will Miss Our Ancestral Home

Growing up, I lived with my parents in the city while going to school. During weekends, I lived with my cousins in their house in another part of the city. During summer, I lived with my grandparents and grand aunts in the province.

As the years went by, I only got to go home to the province for special occasions. 

Now that my grandmother passed away recently, I don't anymore have any reason to go home except to visit the cemetery. Uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews still live in our ancestral home - well downstairs anyway - but now that my grand folks are all in Heaven, my visits to the province will become rarer.

Third and Probably the Last Time

I just submitted my third application for a higher position in our office. If I'll still won't be get it, I'll take it as not just a sign, but a big slap on my face that this is not the agency for me. My heart and my ego can only take so much.

This is not too brag, but my educational qualification, my experience, and all my trainings (both attended and conducted) through the years made the Superintendent ask me a lot of times before accepting me if I really wanted to work in this agency at one of the lowest ranking positions. He said that my credentials were more than most Principals, I just don't have experience teaching in a public school setting so I was not able to apply for any higher position. I was willing to start from the bottom, and work my way up.

Two years later, there was a higher position open.

All the published qualification fit me perfectly.

After the initial screening, there were only 2 of us left. The other one was already doing the duties of that position as OIC. I didn't mind. I knew we were both qualified.

Then a plot twist.

She resigned and went to the States.

I was the only one left. That position was mine.

So I thought.

They told me that I lacked one requirement, and I am disqualified.

The requirement that I lacked was one performance rating. The requirement was 3 performance ratings. I had 2 from this office since I was here for 2 years, but I submitted a lot of performance ratings from my previous (private) companies. They said it's not considered, and I'm disqualified.

They said that since no one's accepted to the position, they will close it and then open it at a later time, then I can reapply.

A year later, they reopened the same position with the same requirements and qualifications.

Yes, you bet I was confident. I already had the 3 performance ratings needed since I was in this agency for 3 years already.

De ja vu.

There were again 2 of us left after the initial screening.

This time, I was more confident than the first time because I knew I was more qualified than the other candidate. 

Surprise! Surprise! 

De ja vu? 

You can say that again.

I was again disqualified.

The letter sent by HR said I was disqualified because I lacked experience.

That same letter had a different position indicated aside from misspelling my last name.

I pointed that out, and HR said it was just a typo, and I am still disqualified for lack of experience.

By the way, do you know what a disqualification means?

It means that everything that I have submitted goes down the drain, and they will not look at it anymore, and I will have no more opportunity for an interview.

I was very disappointed, and bitter.

The pain is still fresh until now, so let me just try to break down a few points.

Educational Qualification.

Education Graduate or its equivalent.

Preferably BS Psychology.

Me: 

BS Psychology, Certificate of Professional Education, Master of Arts in Education, PhD in Technology Management.

Her: 

BS Fisheries, Certificate of Professional Education, Masters still On-going.

Experience.

Me: Assisted the President and Heads in a State University in Monitoring & Evaluating the Satellite Campuses for 6 years. 

Her: Worked with aa Fisheries agency before joining this agency.

If I was not disqualified, my credentials were definitely higher than hers, and I know I would've done good during the interview/s. Sad that I was not given both opportunities, and she got the position without any competition.

I am still bitter, and I don't blame her for being the one accepted.

I didn't really believe in influence in government agencies before, but I am a true believer now.

A bitter believer.

So here we are in the present. I just submitted a set of documents to apply for a higher position. Not really a high position, but higher than what I'm holding right now. This is the third time, and probably the last time. Will start looking in other government agencies today. It's difficult to stay in a place where you're not shown that you're appreciated.

Will update you, guys!

Anahaw Beach

Mulan's Decision

I loved the new Mulan movie as much as the original one despite the negative reviews of people around. One part of the 1998 classic though that was not that emphasized in the 2020 version was Mulan's Decision. That scene was so epic and beautiful especially with Jerry Goldsmith's score that I decided to rearrange some scenes in the live action movie and use Mr. Goldsmiths awesome score. Initially tried uploading it in YouTube, but it was automatically blocked, so I'm just sharing it here instead. 

No copyright infringement intended. 

I just wanted to see how 2 beautiful elements from both movies go together.