going… going… gone
Friday, May 26th, 2006i was never good in coping with abrupt changes, especially when its about closing a chapter that you realized enjoying so…
only last month, i had no idea as to where i would spend my 200 hours for internship. even so, i originally planned to enlist myself in a private office — not in government nor in NGO ‘coz you see, i have this vision of a glamorous office situated in one of those plush towers in Makati or Ortigas whenever i think of the word ‘work’ or ‘career’. to be specific, i actually wanted to be in McCann or Ogilvy… but fate disagreed and put me in NEDA instead. ok…
still, i am excited with the thought of internship even if its not exactly with where i preferred it to be. anyway, i know that i’d be fine ‘coz i’ve got great friends with me — Bevs and Rai. also, the first encounter with the OIC of the staff where we would be spending the rest of the internship — sir benj — was comforting for he is very jolly and welcoming. at that moment, i could say that i’m raring to start 
april 19 was when we officially started at NEDA. first day was admittedly fun and exciting ‘coz of the new environment, faces, attire, and lifestyle. however, it was not exactly the operational start of our "office life" in such that almost everyone is in "learning visit" in Sagada. only 4 or 5 employees were left to make DIS run - plus 6 other interns from UP NCPAG, UP LB, La Salle, and San Beda.
when they returned the week after, that was when we began doing the tasks assigned to us. as comm.res students, we are thankful that what they asked of us is really within our prowess. kumbaga after ng CR165 public presentation namin last march, sisiw nalang un. hehe ;p so therefore, we enjoyed it *wink wink*
by the 1st and 2nd week of May, we get to expand our horizons and mingle with other people. hindi nalang kaming tatlo lang ang forever na magkakaharap. for one, we get to visit every staff of NEDA for the data gathering. nanjan din ung mga bonding moments with DIS staff and other interns with that despedida party for ate Gen, lunch out with other interns and division heads at ritzy Jade Palace, and occasional free meriendas kahit wala daw okasyon. however, i personally can’t help but feel that things get a little bit draggy. namimiss ko ang UP at ang mga elementong kalakip nito tulad ng blockmates, CMC building, at marami pang iba. there are also times when i feel stressed and waking up in the morning is being tantamount to a chore. with that, we can’t help but just count the days/hours until its all over.
by third week of May, we began to pass the papers that they asked us to do. bale apat din un (DIS Personnel Profile, NEDA News Digest and n! Readership Surveys, and Impact-Monitoring Guide that later turned into an Evaluation Guide). so far, the comments from the bosses were flattering. Ma’am Flor was especially proud of us. ang gagaling daw namin! hehe sir benj is also very appreciative. napapaisip tuloy ako, "are we really that good?!" haha! ;o)
and then… the last four days of our NEDA life came…
slowly, we began to realize how "at home" we became. di din naman kasi ganun kahirap gawin yun dahil ang babait ng mga tao dito. there’s ma’am flor na nagka-career talk sa amin; ma’am weng na laging nakikipag-kulitan; ma’am beth na naging friendly-friends na din bilang medyo matagal din ang nilagi namin sa lib niya; "mother cookie" (as what ate Johann fondly calls her) na naka-mingle din namin nung despedida party; ate Johann na nakaka-UP talk namin once in a while; ate Michelle na laging nagpapa-alala ng karaoke time take two; Ma’am Fatima and Sir Rick na hindi nanghahaggard; sir Danny na laging masaya; sir benj na laging natutuwa sa lahat ng outputs namin, at marami pang iba… so tell me, pano mo naman iiwan without sadness yung ganyang combination of people?
at eto na nga, last day na namin kanina.
on my trip to NEDA this morning, i can say na medyo lutang ako. ang senti pero totoo. in fairness, after 25 days of going back and forth this building in escriva drive, you can’t help but be attached to it in one way or another… DIS people were also quite surprised that our time there is to end by 6 o’clock pm. they’re saying "ah, 200 hours na ba yun? ang bilis naman…" or "wag muna kayong umalis, tutal bakasyon niyo pa naman" — that, with sort of endearment/"panghihinayang" in their voices. awwww… 
by 4 or 5 pm, we are starting to get our things done: sir Rick is finishing our evaluation forms; we are deleting our files in the computer and tidying stuffs in the cubicle that has become our camp halfway our stay in NEDA; pictures are taken here and there with people we’ll surely miss; and some are starting to say parting words like "isang oras nalang…" (with a mock cry), and "babalikan niyo kami dito ha?" among others.
by 6 o’clock, we are somehow reluctant to leave. sabi nga ni bevs, "nagbabaon pa ng memories… tupperware nga jan!" hehe 
when we are finally set to go, ayun, sadness engulfs us na ako personally, lutang din paalis. binibigyan pa nga ako ng moment of silence nila bevs. hehe ;p hay… just when you thought that you already got the hang of things, saka naman marerealize mong, oops, tapos na.
at this point, i can easily say that i have no regrets as to being here in NEDA than in my intial choices of office for internship. say that this is passe but i think God really knows what he’s doing when he has decided to put me in this agency instead. sana nga lang hinayaan Niya na rin akong ma-avail ang hinahanap ko. hehe >;)
so tomorrow, i’ll wake up and find that i no longer need to get ready for work. no more NEDA. no more office attire. no more weekly reports. no more hours to slowly complete. no more "learning visits" (^_^). no more …
time’s up! till we meet again.
ciao…
currently hearing: babay na by rivermaya
