beyond toxicity

I thought I won’t have a happy birthday last Thurday for I started the day with anxiety.  I was caught in traffic on my way to Allgen Review in Kalaw, Manila.  I initially planned to take a cab ( just like every Mondays-Wednesdays going to & from UDMC-SACI- my other workplace)  from our place in Quezon City to Kalaw Ave but the pathetic thrifty commuter in me kicked in and decided to take the LRT instead forgetting that I deserved to be comfortable that day.  I had to squeezed myself in the LRT train from Anonas to Legarda station with other people on the rush just to be on time as I am always punctual and never late in any of my commitments. As I dropped off Legarda station, there was no taxi cab for 30 minutes of waiting under the scorching heat so I decided to take the bus. Unfortunately again, I stood up in the bus from Legarda to Taft Avenue with my notebook and heavy stuffs on my back pack.  I thought I won’t be able to last the whole day for I am already dead-tired and exhausted early on the day when I was supposed to be enjoying. 

I went first to Times Plaza in UN avenue to buy breakfast stuff for my Allgen family and reviewees.  Since I didn’t have a birthday blowout for them, I thought of buying them muffins & pastries from Le Coeur de France. Afterwhich,  I went straight to Allgen.

Thank God I was not late for the 9AM review.  The staff greeted me with smiles.    As I enter the review room, there was a  birthday greetings on powerpoint slide flashed on the screen.  Then I saw a literally huge birthday card and an Allgen printed shirt on the desk. 

I love the card.  All staff including my bosses- the owners of Allgen and one of my co-instructors took time in writing their wishes for me.  

The reviewees came one at a time.  One of them, Doc Cheryl, who is a practicing dentist and a nurse taking her Masters, gave me a gift she personally made- a rosary of transparent beads.  Then my anxiety that morning was replaced with smiles.

I did the Musculoskeletal lecture review until around 12:30pm then I told everyone to be back after 1 hour lunch break. It was already around 2pm when 2 of the reviewees were still missing.  l thought they went around to see someone or were trapped somewhere.  Then I received another surprise when the 2 missing reviewees (Kristal and Jen) came back and brought a cake for me.

I did the second part of the lecture and thanked the reviewees for taking efforts to brighten my day. But surprises were not over yet. The entire Allgen staff  came to the room with another cake, and ice cream.  I was struck by the moment when I saw the owners of Allgen also dropped by to greet me and sat in the mini-party.  I really appreciate it.

I am deeply honored to be working with these people who know how to value people by being so appreciative, so approachable, friendly and easy to deal with.  Not all employers and colleagues are grateful of one’s humble contribution.

Then I rode a cab from Kalaw, Manila to Trinoma in Quezon City to meet my wife and my kid and my 2 friends of 15 years.  We had dinner at TGIF and capped the day with smiles.

Rob, thanks for the gift and the photos!

The TGIF crew gave a cheer &  scoops of ice cream with a candle for me which  I gave to my son Gabby for him to enjoy.

To those who greeted me and took time to say their wishes,

THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU MORE.