Memorabillas from Lolo

I love gifts and I know everyone does.

Super naaapreciate ko talaga 'pag binibigyan ako ng gift and super iniingatan ko talaga. Hmmm...the oldest gift na binigay sa akin that until now I'm still keeping is a stationary pad that I received from my elementary friend when I was in grade 5...1990 or 91 yata yon.

My boss...I'm talking about "lolo", he fondly give us gifts. At syempre ako yung paboritong anak nya e syempre laging special ang sa akin...hehehe. I received so many gifts na from him kahit 2 days business trip lang outside Qatar talagang may something sya for us especially for girls.

I remember the mirror he gave to me during my birthday last 2007, when he handed it to me he told me na sa wife nya galing yon and her wife ang personal na bumili non. Super cute talaga kasi its my first time to see a compact mirror na may light as in parang mini mirror sa dressing room. Well as my cousin told me Marielle Rodriguez has the same mirror as I have...at sinabi nya in one of her interview na sya lang daw sgro ang meron non sa Pinas yata, well meron din ako nyan..hehehe. Most of the gifts I received from Lolo are made from Japan and one I really loved from him e 'pag nagbibigay sya ng gift meron din si Mommy ko since wala akong kapatid na babae.

Its sad nga lang kasi he transfer na sa head office sa Japan. One week before he leave almost everyday may gift ako sa table ko as in nakikita ko na lang sa table ko. Well here are some of those gifts that I call "memorabillas"

THE TRADITIONAL BOOK

We call this book as a "traditional book",actually si Lolo ang nagsimula nito. When he transferred on the project lahat ng umaalis sa department namin binibigyan nya ng book na ito. He will ask me to circulate the book for some messages from the staffs then ibibigay nya sa staff na aalis.

Before the day of our farewell party for him, tinawag nya ako and sympre I thought its a work issue then he take out this book on his cabinet and habang hawak nya..."Please ask them to give some messages for Sato san (he is referring to himself)" syempre super nagulat ako at di ko alam magiging reaction ko kc we prepared already special book of Qatar na puno ng messages for him.

"No need Sir,better to keep and give it to those staff who are planning to leave the company"....he laughed very loud and all of my officemates are starring on us. Kaya naman tinanong nila ako kung bakit masaya si Lolo and when I told them the reasons.."Si Lolo talaga inuunahan pa tayo sa mga surprise natin sa kanya, hindi makapaghintay"....Well I have this book now, he gave it to me on his last day (July 16, 2009) sa office.

GIFT OF GRATITUDE

Si Lolo di lang basta boss makikita mo talaga yung concern nya sa mga staff nya even on their personal lives. He is always asking me how's my family sa Pinas. And super naapreciate ko everytime na kukumustahin nya ang family ko...to think how busy is him pero naiisip pa rin nya na kumustahin ang mga family namin. He is also like a real father for all of us, he is always ready to give us a piece of advice. I remember nung ikakasal yung anak nya, unica hija din kasi nya yon at magkasing age lang kami, super ang sad ni Lolo. Nilapitan pa nya kami and sinabi nya sa akin..."when you get married I\m sure that your Dad will cry"

These gifts are handed to me by Lolo pero para daw ito sa family ko. Sabi pa nya sabihin ko daw sa parents ko na he is very thankful for them also...nagtaka nga ako nung una pero ang sabi nya.."say thank you to your parents for me coz they raise you well and since they raised you well, your attitude towards your work and colleagues are also nice."

KIKAY STUFFS

I received so many "girl thing" gifts from Lolo although I know na ang bumibili ay ang wife nya pero super ang gaganda talaga..from mirror, pouches, bag, hair accessories, keychain, blouse, etc.

And since siguro nakita nya na naappreciate ko and maybe nakita nya na mahilig ako sa mga "anik-anik"...which is makikita sa office desk ko e binigyan nya pa ako ng pangdagdag...hehehe

I love those wood curved clips talaga plus yung metal note design na paperclips and yung post cards from Japan na ayaw kong sulatan...hehehe

Kaya don sa mga nagpaparamdam na humingi...sorry guys this time magiging madamot muna ako, I will not share these to you.

COINS OF HOPE

These coins really make me cry...yeah in front of him.

The scenario:

He called me at the back of my desk which is our department's meeting space. He asked me to take a seat, so ang nasa isip ko its all about our farewell party for him the next day or some important issues related sa pagalis nya pero nagulat ako when he asked me to open my hand.

I opened my hand and he place a plastic ---a bunch of I dont know what it is that time.

"Please don't be angry on me" paulit ulit nya sinabi yon. "Don't be angry on me because its just coins"... "I heard that you are helping others and doing some charity works...it may only coins but it can help in a way even in small way."

I was really touched and teary then tinapik nya lang ako sa balikat.

Ang nasabi ko lang in return sa kanya is "thank you Sir". Until now I don't know who told him that I'm doing some charity works, super nagulat talaga ako na nalaman nya. These coins are of different currency, maybe nacollect nya ito from different trips he had, so instead na papalitan ko ito sa money exchange papalitan ko na lang ito ng pera para sa charity fund. I know his point when he said that these are "only coins"...these coins will go far in helping  the needy.

GREEN PLANTS

Since Qatar is dessert napakabihira ka makakakita ng green...I mean plants. Aside sa mahirap buhayin because of the climate and one thing pa is expensive ang mga halaman dito.

Taking care of plants in the dessert land is a responsibility...why I did so? syempre you need time to water those plants,e sa sched.ko pa naman na laging gabi na kung dumating then syempre pagod na.

Lolo called me before he leave Qatar July 17, 2009, he told me that his driver will bring plants on our house. I said yes immediately coz I really want also to have some green on our house.

"Take care of my plants...that plants are my wife's plants when she was still here in Qatar. Water them everyday. Take care of yourself. Thank you very much for all the things you have done...for the very good  coordination. Thank you also for the parties that you prepared for me and for those gifts. Take care ok? See you soon" His voice is shaking and the only word I uttered is "Thank you very much also Sir, take care..take care of your health" halos napapaiyak na ako while Im saying those words.

Well these plants are ok naman...may mga new leaves na and kahit pagod na ako I make it sure that I watered already my plants.

Those gifts may fade....those gifts may be broken...but the memories I have receiving those gifts will always be treasured.

 As I've said to him on my letter to him and to the farewell parties we had...he will always be on every staff who been under his leadership.

The way he molded us will always be in our actions and works.

I always telling to others how good is Lolo...not only as a manager, boss or leader but a true friend, true person and father.

I really owe a lot to Lolo....he will always be my mentor that I will look up. His working attitude will always be my pattern in walking on my own career path.

Thank you Sato san!