the longest run

it has been four months and counting since leaving home, and this is the longest continuous time i’ve been away. i always had the chance to go back manila during my 2-year stint in hong kong every four months, and the trip to st paul was just only for 3 months. four months, plus more as i don’t have an exact idea when i’ll go back the philippines. i have a visa good until september this year but a lot of things can happen. i may or may not go back sooner than that..maybe for christmas as i’ve missed it last year. i don’t really know, and i can’t believe i’m talking about going home yet i haven’t even started the ultimate original purpose why i am here at the very place i am right now.

IT job seems to be excruciatingly scarce, and realizing i won’t find it until my money runs dry, i’m taking other options. it’s really pity and funny at the same time how my bank account in the philippines looks like. a few months ago, it was all gliterring and nice with 6-digits boastfully staring at me every single time i check online. now, it was almost down to 4-digits! that it was only salvaged by the last pay cheque (from previous work) finally deposited into my account, getting it up a bit back at 5-figure digits. and of course, it will only take a few months from now, even to have it all gone, as i’m paying for item’s (car back home) last few months mortagage, last 4 months to be exact!

and this is merely how i became a data encoder, a grocery store bagger and cashier, and a crew at mc donalds. i’ve done all of these things back in the philippines according to my  “revised” casual résumé. i know it’s horrible to be making up and pretending to work something i did not do, but this is the only way to get into casual work. hell yes, even casual works are hard to come by, and it is even harder for someone who doesn’t have any experience. hence, i am making my experiences. polishing my 1-page casual CV, and sending it to owie (ex-officemate in ph) for publishing about 30 copies, i was off the road the last few days distributing my CV to random shops, restaurants, bars, and café.

i started along roads near where i am staying, not really in the city centre, but some local cafes and bars. i even attempted to submit my CV in foodtown, the grocery supermarket i frequent (well, i have supermarket work experience remember!) but the lady was so snobbish she rejected it right away. i went again the second time and tried to ask other people, and it was more welcoming that i filled in a special job enquiry form just in case anything comes up. some of the cafés and shops were really nice they take time to talk a bit and get my CV, but some are really just not interested. they might not have a vacancy at the moment, but i just thought if they’ll have my contacts, they’ll call me in case something is available. anyway, this is the same technique done by most backpackers around. once, i tried to give a copy of CV in this italian restaurant with a waiting job posted at its glass window, and the man asked me if i have a experience as a waiting staff, stunned as i missed that in my “revised” CV, i told him i’ve worked in mc donalds! but he still got my resumé, and told me he’ll pass it to his boss.

one day, i found myself in sky city (beside the sky tower) at the casino gaming area looking around for kuya bong to give my CV and some forms i filled up. if my newly improved CV can’t seem to impress, a good backer is the chance. i gave him four copies of my CV, and as he worked as a trolleyman roaming around, pushing a cart carrying liquors and coffee, i enjoyed a free mug of café and walked around from machine to machines. the idea of winning it big that night came into my mind, and it would be really cool if i win a million dollars. what a version of slumdog millionaire that is! what will i do with the money? will i tell anyone? go home? stick here in kiwiland? so many questions, but it’ll answer one thing for sure. it will solve the financial anxiety i couldn’t avoid to get in. going back to reality, i checked my wallet, and carefully flattened a crisp plastic 5-dollar note. i’ve played these machines before in macau and at home in tagaytay and neighboring san pedro. you just randomly select the bet, and how many lines you want to play, and so i played. a few rounds winning, more rounds losing, i finished my $5 as swift as a running cheetah. then, i played another $5, still losing, and another $5 just thinking my luck would finally come. but then, nothing. i walked back my way out and aim for home, spending a grand total of $15 for a cup of instant coffee, the most expensive cup i’ve had.