ONAT LOPERA

Tuesday, the 11th, was the family Christmas party of the company I am working for. Bringing a “plus one” was highly encouraged, especially if they’re family. I brought no one to the event, to avoid tending to that plus one instead of having fun. I was wrong though, it was especially for the plus ones. Lesson learned. Lot’s of kids were brought to the party and with a Jollibee-themed kids’ party, it was a huge hit. Kids and adults all enjoyed the party. I won’t be going alone the next time for sure.

And then there was the raffle. We were given numberized stubs to begin with, saying that we shouldn’t lost them or we won’t be able to redeem our prizes if ever our numbers where picked. The prizes were sandwich presses, fan, photo printer, sacks of rice, gift certificates and many others. One after the other, winners from the draw was coming from our table. My number was 019 so you could imagine how nervous I got whenever the first number was called. And then on that faithful day, my lucky number was called and for the very first time in my life, I won in a raffle. I ran immediately as soon as I heard they called out number “9″. I won a gift certificate for SM Malls worth P1000 pesos! A silver Gift Pass; what the peeps from SM call it. Perfect for some Christmas shopping this coming weekend. Lucky bastard. It was the winners’ table after all. We were seven plus one on that table, 5 of us won.

Wednesday (12th). It was a normal workday when suddenly on my way to work; I got a visit from an old fiend. Yep, fiend. It was Mr. Vertigo and he’s surely glad to meet me. That makes one of us. Miraculously, I was able to made my way though our waiting spot and got noticed immediately by Ate Vi and other officemates. I said my case and they suggested I should go back home. I was surely not in the position to disagree then, I couldn’t walk properly at those times. Parked along the bus stop, they arranged a cab for me to bring me back home. It was a two-day agony, far shorter than what I had before (thank goodness). With the most annoying part of the visit gone and been on rest for 2 days, I decided to go back to work Friday (14th).

Friday. I admit that I was not 100% vertigo/dizzy-free when I got up and got ready for work that day. All I needed was something to hold on, even gingerly, to know that I am still standing and not falling backward and a little to the left. After the jeepney ride, I was pretty shaken up. I tried holding on poles and wall just to keep my balance. Another bus ride to work and I am back on my nook in the office. Many asked how I was doing, and all I could say back to them was “still alive”. I was trying not to move much while in the office so I could just ride along that minor dooze I still got. I was summoned to the admin, asked if I was doing fine and other work related stuff. Once done, I was sent back to my seat. A few minutes later, I got another call saying that I should wait for a ride and they will be sending me back home to rest and to get a “fit-to-work” medical certificate from my doctor. I tried to persuade them, even making jokes not to “evict” me but no luck. I saw their standpoint though; they’re just concern for their employees’ health. Though that 3-day visit from Mr. Vertigo would definitely create a dent on my paycheck. Ouch.

Saturday. Today. I’m near 99% and probably tomorrow, I’ll be dizzy-free. I’ll be getting ready in a while to get that medical certificate and maybe surf for a while.

Tomorrow. I’ll going to SM Pampanga for some Christmas shopping. Also my GC is screaming to be spent.