FOSTERING A GENERATION OF LOSERS

I still remember my elementary days at St. Paul Makati about three decades ago. It was run by nuns. Specifically, by the Order of the Daughters of St. Paul. The principal at the time was Sister Marcell (since this was around the Martial Law era, we also called her Sister Marcell Law) and she was a disciplinarian of the highest order. She usually carried a plastic ruler whenever she went on her periodic walks and no one was exempted from getting rapped on the knuckles for even the slightest infraction. I recall the time I was singled out because she saw me talking with my seatmate during First Friday Mass. Whap! And one more for good measure. Whap!

MISCOMMUNICATION AT WORK

In this day and age of communication marvels such as the cell phone and the internet, miscommunication still occurs at the workplace. The following is an often cited and humorous take on work miscommunication:

Memo from CEO to Manager:

Today at 11 o’clock there will be a total eclipse of the sun. This is when the sun disappears behind the moon for two minutes. As this is something that cannot be seen every day, time will be allowed for employees to view the eclipse in the parking lot. Staff should meet in the lot at ten to eleven, when I will deliver a short speech introducing the eclipse, and giving some background information. Safety goggles will be made available at a small cost.

Memo from Manager to Department Head:

Today at ten to eleven, all staff should meet in the car park. This will be followed by a total eclipse of the sun, which will appear for two minutes. For a moderate cost, this will be made safe with goggles. The CEO will deliver a short speech beforehand to give us all some information. This not something that can be seen everyday.

Memo from Dept. Head to Floor Manager:

The CEO will today deliver a short speech to make the sun disappear for two minutes in the form of an eclipse. This is something that cannot be seen every day, so staff will meet in the car park at ten or eleven. This will be safe, if you pay a moderate cost.

Memo from Floor Manager to Supervisor:

Ten or eleven staff are to go to the car park, where the CEO will eclipse the sun for two minutes. This doesn’t happen every day. It will be safe, and as usual it will cost you.

Memo from Supervisor to Staff:

Some staff will go to the car park today to see the CEO disappear. It is a pity, this doesn’t happen everyday.

THE POWER OF PRAYER

In my former life, I was a non-practicing Catholic. Meaning I believed that there is a God and that there once lived a man named Jesus and that He died for our sins. But I was not a regular churchgoer and was perfectly content with reaching the second half of the Mass.

I didn’t pray, even during the tough times because I didn’t believe in it. But I was not short of foul words to say to the Lord whenever life took a turn for the worst.

TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE ON EDSA

At least four times a week, I travel along EDSA avenue from my home in Mandaluyong to my office in Pasay City and back again. Ever so often and whenever I have a little extra money jingling in my pocket, I take a taxi cab. I take the seat beside the driver and endure a constant stream of complaints on my way to my destination, usually punctuated by curses at the public buses that recklessly swerve in front in a bid to outdo its other bus competitors. I could only nod with bated breath as the buses swerve inches away from my side of the cab.