Kabundukan o Kabuhayan
Tawagin nyo nalang po akong Erika,
26 years old, working for a BPO company and it’s been more than two years since
I started hiking. Ngayon, malalaman nyo kung gaano nabago ang aking pananaw sa
buhay at kung paanong naapektuhan nang pamumundok ang aking trabaho. Gusto ko
ring patunayang hindi totoo ang sinasabi nilang wala daw trabaho sa Pilipinas.
Matagal ko nang pangarap ang may
makilalang mga hikers at maranasan ang mamuhay kasama ang kalikasan.
I grew up in a province that’s very far from Metro
Manila; a province that has everything in terms of natures beauty and richness.
So, when I stayed here in the Metro, I totally missed everything. So I want something
that can balance what I want and what I am doing.
2012, aksidente akong naimbitahan
nang aking mga ka-trabaho na pumunta sa Anawangin Cove sa probinsya ng
Zambales. Noong una, hesitant pa akong sumama dahil syempre hindi ko pa
masyadong kilala mga sasamahan ko, pero nung tumagal na at nakita ko ang mga
pictures kuha sa beach na iyun, agad akong napa-sama. At para medyo may
challenge daw, sa trail ng Mt. Pundaquit daw ang aming daan instead the regular
boating. Sa narinig ‘kong yun, mas lalong napa-init at na-boast ang eagerness
na marating ang lugar. To make the story short, the event happened successfully
and it was a remarkable one.
The next month, I was again
invited by the same individuals to hike Manabu in Batangas. Because of the remarkable
experience we had with our previous hike, I said YES to it. That time, we spent
over night on the summit together with nature. Mt. Pundaquit and Mt. Manabu has
a bit of difference, but still the experience was dissimilar because of the
different people who were with us.
A month after that hike, I was
again invited by the same group, Batang Hamog Mountaineers. Hindi ko alam kung
anung meron sa group na ito kung bakit na-addict ako sa hiking. Dumating pa ang
panahong hinahanap-hanap na ng katawan ko ang pag-panik sa kabundukan kesa
pagpanik sa opisina. Nakakapagod at magastos, pero hindi ko maipaliwanag kung
bakit hinahanap-hanap ko parin ito.
Noong una, akala ko additional expenses at
time lang ang affected sa buhay ko ng dahil sa hiking; pero nung iwan ko ang
kompanya na aking pinag-tatrabahuan at lumipat sa panibagong kompanya, doon
nag-simulang ma-apektuhan ang aking career. Majority of the companies would not
allow their trainees file their VLs within specific range of time, unless given
by certain circumstances – at yun ang naging problema ko.
While I am on a training status,
every time that someone invites me to join their hike, hindi muna ako sumasagot
ng Oo, pero hindi talaga ako mapakali at makapag-focus sa aking trabaho kapag
walang hike within specific duration of time. After passing the training and
probationary status, and if we’re already eligible to file VLs, hindi ako
nag-papahuli sa pag-file. Kapag hindi approved by the scheduler yung gusto kong
dates, nagagawan ko parin ito ng paraan. Kaya, ilang valid medical certificates ang aking naipresinta. Pag “No Choice”
na talaga, “Resign” or “Awol” ang nangyayari. Kapag may nag-invite sakin, at
sumagot ako ng “Hindi” agad nila akong binabasag ng “Alam mo na gagawin mo,
resign ka ulit or medical certificates.”
This 2014, I am already in my 4th
company. Imagine that? Sinong nag-sasabing walang trabaho dito sa Pilipinas? Hindi
ko yan ipinag-mamalaki huh. I know that’s really bad, hirap kaya mag-process ng
mga RDO change, but I am hoping that by next year, career muna! Promise, I’ll
do my best to at least manage what I want and what I desire! Babala, wag
gayahin! To know more about our group, click here: Batang Hamog Mountaineers photos by: Sobrang Yaag
