No more flag ceremonies. No more hymns. No more uniforms. No more checking attendance. No more signing of clearances. No more syllabi. No more chalkboards. No more whatever, because I am Ma’am, no more.
 
When I was just a pseudo-teacher (first-timer, part-timer, no-license-yet), I told myself maybe it’ll be cool if I’ll try to make a difference in the place. Years passed, four years or so, I got my results:
 
 
 
 
 
INSTITUTION XXXX
 
minus professionalism
minus respect for immediate and not-so-immediate superiors
minus respect for colleagues
minus genuine friendship  
 
equals
 
A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.
 
 
 
 
Yup, I got a very big difference from a bunch of people, but I wasn’t able to make one in return.
Well I did, actually. I LEFT.
 
Why? They probably knew it by now.
 
But let us pretend the world doesn’t know, yet. So I could lay them all down here. I had the guts to leave, maybe I can also have the guts to write a blog about that place (last time somebody did, heck he was screwed). I don’t know, I just think that I could at least throw back and rub things in their faces, too:
 
 
1. some people feed on other people’s lives. other people’s weaknesses become their source of happiness — they munch on it through spicy gossips.
 
2. hmm….once in a while, we have a meeting.
 
And Wikipedia says:
 
“A meeting is a gathering of two or more people that has been convened for the purpose of achieving a common goal through verbal interaction, such as sharing information or reaching agreement. In a meeting, people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal setting.”
 
For almost every time?
 
 
Gathering of two or more people
 
 
Check.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*convened for the purpose of achieving a common goal through verbal interaction, such as sharing information or reaching agreement
 
 
Convene means to assemble formally, right? What happened to ‘formally’, then? I guess the point of having one was always missed there. Achieving a common goal was never done — I can remember us having the same topics for almost 2 years. Why? Because people didn’t learn. And why not?  Because they didn’t listen. Why? I don’t know!
 
How about me? What did I do? I sat there. I tried to listen to the speaker — well yeah, I had to try because I can’t hear the person talking in front anymore because the place is uh, noisy. Then I observe people. Try to digest their unbelievable side comments. Watch them frown because they want to wrap it all up so they could eat already. Uh, no offense meant, really. But these things happened every time. And for four years of having these, wouldn’t you just get tired? Geez.
 
 
 
 
 
sharing information or reaching agreement
 
 
I remember some sharing an info, like….
 in “our university” (meaning from where he/she graduated from), it was like blah blah blah…. then the other would say, but no, in [insert univ here] it’s like this, and that…) Geez! How could we ever reach an agreement there for chenyleen’s sake?
 
And whenever this happens, I wanted to utter something genius like….. “makibaka, makibaka”!  
 
 
people come together to discuss one or more topics,

often in a formal setting.
 
 
See  *.
 
 
How many checks do we have up there? Uh, just one? Aww, ain’t that sad, eh?
 
 
 
3. The dictionary defines a superior as “Higher than another in rank, station, or authority; of a higher nature or kind”. Thinkexist, on the other hand, defines a subordinateas: one who stands in order or rank below another; inferior in order, nature, dignity, power, importance, or the like.” Uh, tagalugin natin? Sige……uhm… ang sabi ng statement sa taas ay… uhm… alamin mo daw po ang lugar mo po.
 
If you are a subordinate, and you think you are better than your superior because you believe that he/she is not effective, you can’t just not follow instructions, right? you can’t decide and act on things without your boss’ approval, and you don’t have any excuse to just disrespect him/her. He/she may not be effective or fit for the position, but that doesn’t mean you can act like you’re the boss. Because for obvious reasons, that’s insubordination, any workplace has a consequence for that. Another thing is, you keep blabbing about your boss’ under performance, well did you check yours? And for once, did you ever ask yourself if you’d be the boss right then and there, can you at least do good? Hmp. People talk too much. And boast. But go ask how they perform from a student’s point of view, you’d prolly just want to forget it and go home to play with your lousy dog.
 
And talking about the other end, if you’re the boss, (please) show them you are. If you think you have some shortcomings, then maybe it’s not too late naman po to do something about it, di ba po? Respect is earned din daw po, gawin po kaya natin yang motto for the day every day? Uh-oh. Okay, enough said.
 
4. Genuine friendship is very rare there, I guess. Even super long-time ‘friends’ would talk behind each other’s back. This broke my heart. Not for myself, but for the very few people who are dear to me who are stuck in that place. Sigh. Shame on people who’d hurt a friend just because. Sigh.
 
The list actually goes a long way, but I want to be less of an ass so I am stopping here.
 
I’m just feverish right now, I write things I’m not even allowed to. It’s 33oC here in Manila. Hot temp, hot words? Nah. This is long overdue. And it’s too late to let some of these things out. They probably know these, but won’t just give a damn. And they’d probably read this and just laugh at it and make fun of me and talk about this in their everyday rituals again. But you know what? Go ahead. May you find happiness in what you do, say, think and wish for. And in the middle of all these things that you do, say, think and wish for, may God bless you.
 
Come on. Let’s have sarcasm for dessert.