The Frank Factor

(Frank happened June 21 last year (2008) and I read my blog from another site and thought of posting it here as well as a tribute - frank is 1 year already)

Missing frank
( written last year as an afterthought of the Big Storm and when ask to comment on volunteerism/the companys CSR)
09.08.08

Its been more than three months ago and the dust has been settled ( literally, I hope & figuratively of course) After the rain has fallen - brownouts, countless complaints we encountered, ( I work in a telecom) cancelled dates ( our sportsfeast for one) and all there was Frank brought us , we pick up the pieces of what’s left. Last Friday I was out with my friends, Councilor Jam & boyfriend Alan with some other friends in Bourbon. Oscar Nava of ABS & ON Productions , showed his work - a documentary on Typhoon Frank- series and parcels of interviews and videos during the typhoon ( this is actually shown in some theaters nationwide and he won the an award for the documentary). People were out to party but momentarily paused and concentrated on watching the video. It was kind of depressing but all eyes were on the two wide screen of Bourbon and Oscar have to stop the viewing when it almost gets to the part where there are dead victims.(good call!)

For months on end most people would talk about the infamous Frank, endlessly everywhere- in bars, jeepneys, offices and what not! Each one has their own story to tell – gloomy, devastating, some even funny and touching. Significant thoughts worth remembering is the part where you see random acts of kindness, sharing and volunteering. It is on these times that you would know people who care about you especially those from a distance. Friends from all over the country asking how we are doing here. Because of the brownout I missed my Lovers due to brown out ( the Korean Novela that is). A friend who knows my thing for this show offered to buy me the dvd version knowing how I am feeling bad to missed the last remaining episode and the ending. Sometimes, I also attribute the strain in my relationship because I can’t be with someone as often as I want to due to some schedule changes. Although I know this is somewhat irrational. But some relationships are. So…
Our gimik was continued in Bacolod together with good friend and City Vice Mayor Jed. We talk about it again and he told us that one time or another he’s still having some nightmares especially when the phone rings and that remembering those times still give him the dread. The city mayor was out of the country during the typhoon and so Vice Jed was the OIC.

During the flood, our town was not greatly affected but those around the neighboring barangays have to be evacuated. I was so beholden by a baby boy brought to me by my mother saying that she volunteered to take care of the baby while the mother have to do some stuff while they are evacuated to the school in front of our house. He stayed with me overnight- I have to fed him and treat him like he is our own. And the next day the mother took him and we learned that his name is actually Vince but to us he would always be Baby Frank. There was no water in most part of the city even my officemate and her family has to stay in a hotel. We would also hear stories of animals being strayed. And so we also have a share of our own Frank the kitten, my two year -old niece would call Pang.

When I learned about globe bridge relief operations needing volunteers I did not have second thoughts on replying right away. My only hesitation is that because I have work that day. When I talk to Ms. Erna my boss, she encouraged me saying I can volunteer for the morning part & she could volunteer for the afternoon part of the relief operations. And so the next day, I was in Brgy Tabuc Suba with Julie my officemate who was on day off that day. There were loads of people who came and claimed the goods causing traffic in Tabuc Suba. It was a sunny day and – seeing all these people smiling and saying thanks made it even warmer.

For several weeks after the flood we would endure the dust and traffic especially my way to my place everyday since it was the most affected . I thought ironically only one big rain could clear the dust. In spite of these, most of us who were not affected, are still lucky and sharing whatever we could was a good opportunity for giving back and be thankful.

Truly, in our lives, some rain must fall…..

lost

Losing a cellphone is very much the same as losing a “loved one”. Pardon me for equating love and stuff as worldly as cellphone. I am quite the material girl, not “Madonna material girl” but someone who’s got a liking for stuffs. Now and again I have to detach myself to actually appreciate the fundamental . Perhaps the right equation would be losing a wallet & losing a loved one, but since I haven’t lose any wallet in a long time as compared to losing a lot of cellphone in as span of a few years the comparison is quite explicable.
We become attach to our cellphone because like our wallets we store a lot of stuff in there. When we lose a cellphone we lose all the valuable things we have kept there for a long time, pictures, music, text messages and what not( probably a scandal- a video of you singing scandalously) wink wink! We miss the comfort the predictability and the routine. Even if the time comes that we need a new one we still hold on to the old one. And sooner we got ourselves a replacement but we just seem uncomfortable using it. There’s just no match to the old one. We still long for the comfort and the familiar so we just go through the motions of using it without necessarily storing new files, new numbers etc. But in time we began to be familiar with the new stuff, and you begin to appreciate it, you still remember your old cellphone but you no longer feel the pain of losing it. ) So we begin to store new data, new pix new messages, new memory which doesn’t involve the old one. Just like when you accepted the fact that you lose someone you love - you’re no longer hurt you’re no longer hoping. Only time heals all wounds as they say so when we lose someone, we try to create memories which doesn’t involve that person anymore.
In my case Christmas and new year including valentines day were spent entirely with family and friends save for my birthday ( I was actually in the process of bargaining at that time ) So you begin to store new data, new pix new messages and a whole new dimension.

In losing important stuff just like in losing someone we should always “level up” -that is in finding a replacement look for a better version of the old one. Get “upgraded”