AS I type this column, I am having chills and probably running a fever. So forgive me if I sound a bit incoherent here.
I guess my body needs some rest. This is the second time in less than a week that I had fever. I already know the culprit—long hours of work.
But these are the things we have to go through on a regular basis as journalists. We brave the rain and storms, go through floods, travel with only pennies in our pockets, and still do the work even when sick.
We do this in the name of putting out pages that are worth reading and where our readers can be informed, learn new things, and even maybe inspire them to become better versions of themselves.
Our job is not about the salary or incentives we earn, which our Editor in Chief Jun Vallecera admits practically amount to pittance. It is essentially a vocation. There is a commitment for us in the media to produce in most circumstances.
So what happens for me now? Do I start a revolution in my bed? Do I step out because the summertime is in bloom up north?
One thing I know I am sure, no one will burn my heart out. Which essentially should be the case, no matter your line of work.
Outside of commitment and treating your work as a vocation, there must be the passion for it, loyalty to whoever it is you work for, and a sense of professionalism.
Never mind the politics in the office, or if you were set up, or backstabbed. I may be wrong, but we have all experienced that at one point or another in our careers. But at the end of the day, what is important is that you can hold your head up high with the body of work that you have produced.
One thing I have been doing lately is going to this convenience-store branch in Makati Central Business District late afternoon or early evening. I go there to recharge my phone’s battery after a long day of meetings, interviews and coverages.
But the funny thing that I really like is that a lot of those who frequent this convenience store, mostly blue-collared workers, are really nice people who would readily give up their seat for me, because they see that I am charging my phone for at least 30 minutes. And they do it with smiles on their faces, and even see me as if I am one of their longtime friends.
Another thing that happens there is that I get to hear their stories. The working man’s stories. The one that Springsteen usually talks about in his music.
Maybe they really see me as a friend, and that makes them comfortable talking about a wide range of topics with me seated beside them.
Take, for instance, early last week when I charged my phone there again before going to one final event for that day. It was one busy late afternoon in that convenience store and I just loved the way it flowed.
I came in and asked the girl staff at the counter to change my P20 bill into P5 coins, which she did hesitate to do. And there was a genuine smile on her face.
Then I went to the charging station and this girl from a clothing shop, even while still not finished eating, which I presume was her early dinner, readily gave up her seat for me. Again there was also a smile on her face.
After cleaning the table beside me, the lady at the counter then told me to move there because it will be more convenient. And there was a smile on her face, again.
Oh, and here is the thing with her, when a Philippine Army officer’s phone failed to charge its battery, without any hesitation, she asked for his phone and used her own charger to charge it.
I do not know about you but tell me if you have ever experienced that kind of treatment with the so-called bosses.
What I love about this Philippine Army officer is that while he was having his dinner, he was also reading the BusinessMirror print edition for that day. That is how good and influential our newspaper is.
Anyway, there were also one lady talking to her co-worker about taking multivitamins to take away the stress she feels from her work every day. Her coworker replied that she had no idea if they ever work.
Personally, I do not know either. But the fact is we are probably all stressed, and the quality of life in Metro Manila is almost nonexistent.
Then there was this guy and her female coworker in a telco company talking about love and friendship.
Guy goes that he was originally from Tarlac and only moved to Metro Manila because this is where his ex-girlfriend works. Ah, the hopeless romantic. I know I am one of them.
He also wished that his female coworker and he become close, because the guy claims he has no real friends here in the city.
And there was also talk of stress again, with the lady saying her coping mechanism for it was smoking.
Then two guys in white long sleeves came in and they were talking about how good their sales numbers were the past several days. Christmas in October.
Trust me, these are the people we can all relate to with their daily struggles in life. These are the Tommy and Gina who never backed down. They are inspirations, and their stories keep me grounded.
I read in a local music magazine years ago when David Lee Roth, who was at the time replaced as the frontman of Van Halen, was asked about his best memory of the band. His short reply was when they were hungry and hitting the open road.
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For comments, suggestions and reactions, e-mail raalzona@yahoo.com.