Fourth Wave

Here we go again. The deafening silence after a crowd of employees leave the office. This is the fourth batch…but it is not less painful for those of us who will be left behind. Again, I shed a tear for colleagues who will be missed, and another tear for this great company that will soon be part of history. I cannot get past the grief of knowing that something so good has to end. With each handshake and brotherly embrace, we bid farewell.
All the best to our co-Intellites. You will sorely be missed.

Reunited

There's a feeling of great anticipation as the evening approaches...no, it's not about the buffet, it's about friends meeting once again to bond and enjoy each others company. It's been a challenge to come up with a schedule that everyone will commit on attending, especially after the recent changes in the office. One would wonder if making time to share an hour or two with ex-officemates would be a priority now, but it proved to be important. Meaningful and important.

the "men" having fun

There will sure be a celebration for many reasons: 2 of us already have work waiting for them, 1 who left ahead is already employed in another semiconductor company, 2 have no last-day memo from the office yet and the rest are learning to shift to business.

I have no idea why we're meeting in a place at least 25 kilometers from General Trias but I'll be there for sure. We'll rock the New World Hotel tonight.

Outnumbered

I am now part of the minority. At least in the shuttle bus, I am. Now more of the orange Nickelodeon-colored IDs board the bus coming to Intel in the morning. Less and less of the blue badge ID holders. Less and less familiar faces who I can easily start a conversation with. The orange ID holders are younger, they look more innocent. I hope they ride the shuttle for a much longer time than I did.

I always considered the shuttle as an extension of my workplace. It is clean, safe and comfortable. Inside the shuttle, I am worry-free!

Some colleagues have courted & developed their relationships in the shuttle; I even know of a driver who fell in love with one of his passengers. I then started calling his vehicle "the love bus." :-) (I bet she was convinced na basta driver, sweet lover!)

I wonder if I will be able to ride another company shuttle after Intel. The first thing I'll do during my last day of office is to thank the bus drivers who drove me to work. I actually do this daily, but this time perhaps add pan de sal & coffee with it.