I just came back from a 4-day "vacation" in Cebu. We'll it's not actually a vacation. I needed to go back to finalize my turnover with my employer aside from I was required to be there personally to claim my last pay. As some of you already know, I was working with a game development company based in Cebu. As the person in-charge of all the accounts and clients, I learned a lot. This is my first try in this industry and I was happy, I enjoyed it.. It was September 2010 when they offered me the position and then, there started the history. Met people who I never imagine to be friends with. Like graphic artists, web developers, seo specialist, mobile app developers and project managers. 'twas hard for me. I never kept that to myself. I have been open to my friends that this job is really hard for me. I had no single idea on how to create a game proposals, project estimations and timelines. But they accepted me. They patiently answered my curious questions and ignorance of the nature of their job. Most of them became my friends. I guess, at first, we just didn't have a choice but to work "professionally" with each other. But as time goes by, I realized, I was already going out for dinner and beer with them and unconsciously, I was enjoying their company. Some of them became my diner-over-weekends buddy. Some were my night-til-dawn buddies. We became friends, in short. =)
Working from home for the past 8 months now, makes me feel sad that here comes the ending. Our office will be expanding in the US and will be hiring a little team there to accommodate our clients in the US. And to do that, the CEO and Founder decided to retrenched some of their employees here in the Philippines. And I was part of it. We were only seven people who got affected by this changes. It was a sad, sad news for us. I felt anger in my body. I felt betrayed by those people who I knew would tell me upfront with what's going on. The news was delivered to me via Skype and was told that the termination of my employment will be effective in the next 30days (February 10, 2012) or as soon as I am finish with my turnover. I've got myself soaked up in anger, bitterness and sadness for almost 1 whole week. Since I am based in Manila and our office in Cebu, my mailbox was always full of discussions on matters like separation pay, employee rights and the process of turnover. A week before the effectivity of my termination, finally, an air fare reservation was made for me.
February 9, 2012, I set my foot in the land of Cebu again. I don't know what to think when I heard the plane crew announcing that the plane had just landed in Cebu-Mactan International airport. I knew this is it. I am back in Cebu not as I expected before. But as an ordinary person, soon with no job. The moment I went out of the plane and started breathing Cebu air, I felt sadness. I knew this would happen. That's why I needed to see my friends first and be happy with them before I set my foot in our office for the last time. I wanted to turn back the time. Behind my loud voice and non-stop laughters over breakfast with my friends, I was so scared. I felt nervous going back to our office. I was so sad inside..
Then the time came that I needed to face it. Our office stays dark until an employee who came in first for the day will turn on the lights. Goosebumps all over me. I tried to cover up my sadness and scared feeling by checking in the office. Like familiarizing myself again. No one in the office yet. One--by-one, people started coming in. I hid myself in the conference room while having a discussion with one of my collegues. I guess, I was avoiding questions like "kumusta ka?", because I am not okay... But I can't hide all day. I still wanna see these people who became my friends. I can't just hide myself the whole time I'm in the office. It was nice to see them again. So nice. Really felt good to be back. I wanted to spend more time with them but schedules were not so nice to us.
I will be always grateful with PODD. Philippine Offshore Design and Development Corp. To my officemates who became my friends, to all the projects I was able to help them with, to all accounts and clients I have handled, to all the ranting and story telling sessions, to all the dinner, beer and videoke happeniings, all of 'em will be part of me. I am leaving PODD as its Account Manager but not its people. I will remain as a friend.
To my boss, I love you. I may not like all your management styles, I love you as a person. You will always be one of my best boss. Thank you for accepting me for who I am and letting me learn. Thanks for the patience and understanding. Cheer up, you're pretty and you deserve a very good month of vacation. Can't wait to see you and have some beer with you again.
I wish good things will come to PODD. Good luck and I wish for more success in your business. Thanks for the opportunity to be of help and to work with you.. I am moving on now. In the future that we will bump into each other again, I will still be the "Ness" who was once part of your office.
Goodbye for now,
Ness
PODD Corp.
2A-2F Pacific Square Bldg., F. Cabahug,
Mabolo, Cebu City 6000
