I am The Unconsoled

I felt like it today.

Went to Makati this morning to update my BIR and BPI account information (change of employer/location). It was an easy trip, since I went with my dad on his way to work.

Though. It felt bizarre.

When I got off at the intersection of Makati Ave. and Paseo de Roxas near the statue of Lapu-Lapu, it was unusually bright. It’s the kind of brightness like, you know, in “Six Feet Under” when a scene starts to fade in white. When I crossed the street towards The Makati Atrium, a long queue of boxy cars was waiting for the green light. The traffic enforcer, instead of being on the road, walked briskly towards the side and disappeared in a corner.

Inside the building, employees were standing in front of a low makeshift stage its back to the entrance. The employee of the month was being recognized? The building though easily dwarfed by its neighbors was quite spacious inside. It was dimly lit and musty but I easily found the BIR office, which was at the ground floor not the 5th (as said in the address). It looked like any other government space, decrepit/makeshift with lots of people waiting. I waited for my turn and handed my papers to be processed. As I stood at the counter I saw the whole of the office, lots of paper, men and women mostly in their forties shuffling and stamping while “Soulja Girl (Soldier Girl?)” boomed from the loudspeaker inside.

I didn’t have breakfast, so I stopped by McDonald’s in Paseo Center. I had bland pancakes and Mama-made bacon sandwich. Amply stuffed I went to BPI Paseo, the one inside Philamlife Tower, to update my forms. I was supposed to go their last time, but the Manila Penn siege happened. Finally today, I got it over with. I’m keeping this former payroll account for “savings” (AKA “Put Me Back to School Fund-slash-Macbook Trust) that hopefully grow to suffice my MA indulgences for 3 years, though to be honest I know it’s a bit of a stretch. I remember the time I got my first ATM card there. I really felt that I’ve arrived cause I generate independent income. And now, I have two identical ATM cards since my foundation is enlisted at BPI Katipunan. I’m contemplating on getting a credit card to break the monotony.

The bank girl at customer service was nice. Though a little fuss happened because of my inconsistent signatures. After college I changed my signature from the one I’ve been using since high school. I usually signed my name completely. But nowadays, it’s just my first name like “Seal” and yes, like “McLovin”. And its nothing really fancy just plain script—perfect for identity theft.

I felt a little stupid when she asked me for some identification. I showed them my old school ID and Alumni library card (no driver’s license, never been out of the country, I don’t vote blah blah). Though my recent picture pasted in the form settled the doubts. (Yeah, I got fat since freshman year so what, big deal.) When she asked me, “Sir, do we have to update your signature too?” I said, “To be honest, I feel rather foolish and lightheaded in your presence and I don’t think I could blame the weather.”
I wish. Though it was pretty hot outside though.

Took a long bus ride back to Quezon City (my home) and got off at Farmers Plaza to take a Philcoa Bus to UP. And another bizarre thing happened. The TV screen inside was playing David Nicholl’s “Starter for Ten” It felt bizarre. I’ve wanted to see this movie since last year and now, I catch it on a dingy bus bound to Monumento. Nice. I was reluctant to go down Philcoa since the movie wasn’t finished yet.
This proves one of Jessica Zafra’s theories. In Twisted 8, she theorizes that Filipinos are developing a different taste for films, especially the poor. This can be attributed to the popularity of cheap pirated DVDs. Now, more than ever, Filipinos have a wide selection of film and TV productions readily available, from all over the world.

I almost asked Manong Driver if he chose to play the film himself, but never the less from now on I hope we see more good programming at busses.

***
And then I met Zia to get my UP Centennial Planner. Actually I’m lucky to own one since it’s sold out already and I didn’t even ordered. Basically, I bought her copy. Hehehe

It’s kinda nice. Lots of UP facts etc., makes me proud to be a UP alumnus.
I’ll fill its every date with entries. To let people know in the future, how my centennial year went down.

I'm destined for greatness. (?)

***

I wanna go to grad school.