Tuesday, March 29, 2011

One Is Better Than None

Been busy I didn’t realize I’ve neglected to blog for sometime. Besides my work, which mostly geeks appreciate, here’s a summary of my other “activities”:

Car Accident
I met an accident three weeks ago while bringing my daughter to school. I was driving slowly along a narrow street when an American car struck me at the driver side. I have to get out from the passenger door since mine was crushed and jammed. The thing is, the other car was also going slow but suddenly accelerated when it was just a few feet from me. I think the driver panicked and stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes. The poor guy was new in the kingdom. He can’t speak English or Arabic, doesn’t have a driver’s license and the car was not insured. Saudi police are unforgiving, especially to foreigners, when they catch you driving around without proper papers. You’ll go to prison and for how long, depends on how responsible your “sponsor” is. It might only be for a day but some spend months in detention because their “kafil” refuses to pay traffic fines.

Lucky for me, our company lent me a car while mine was being repaired in the insurance’s workshop. For that I thank my kumpadres J and F for facilitating the vehicle. When I got my car back, it looks as if nothing happened. They restore the crushed door and fixed other dents which were not part of the accident. They even repaired the automatic door lock which wasn’t working for sometime. How ever, I hear a sound, like a vibrating spring, every time I close the door. But over-all…I’m satisfied.

Bea’s "Graduation"
Last week was also hectic for us. A lot of preparation; running here and there and buying things for the school’s annual commencement exercise. It was also a lot of “first” for me. It was my first to wear a coat and tie because the invitation card specified “formal and decent attire”. I know what “formal attire” is but I have no idea what they meant by “formal and decent attire”. Perhaps a man is considered decent if in formal attire. A paradox if applied to some of our politicians. It was also my first encounter of the word “valediction”. The emcee keeps on repeating it as if to emphasize it’s the standard or proper word to use for this occasion. During my time, our “top nerd” gives his valedictory address. Their honorees however gave their “valediction”. A lot of THANK YOUs but I didn’t hear a single word of “goodbye”, “adieu”, “so long”  or “farewell”.

The venue was well decorated, organized and very formal. Parents have reserved seats and the chairs have fancy covering with parent’s name written at the back. Ours are situated right smack in the middle of the row. We have to say a lot of “excuse me” and “sorry” before we could reach our designated seats. It wasn’t comfortable. Because it’s a combined ceremony of preps, elementary and high school graduates, a lot of parents were expected to attend. They cramp all the chairs together, without extra space for elbow and leg room, to accommodate everybody. It’s like sitting in PAL’s economy class during a peak season flight.

If you’re in this kind of situation where you can’t move without saying “excuse me” or “sorry”, you are a “captive audience” of any speaker at the podium. You are in their mercy and you can’t do anything but endure their speeches. Their guest speaker, a big shot from DECS, gave her speech lasting 30 minutes (yes! I clocked it) and that didn’t include the introduction which was 10 minutes more. Not only that, I have to suffer three other “valedictions”. These people haven't heard of the phrase "short and terse"; a basic when taking Public Speaking 101.

But all complains faded when it was my daughter’s turn to walk on stage. Parents are required to accompany prep graduates. So to meet our daughter halfway, my wife and I again have to say “excuse me” and “sorry”, not only once but thrice. First; when she received her diploma, another, when she got her medal for “academic distinction” and a third time when she accepted her two “certificate of recognition”. It was all worth it and the other parents doesn’t seem to mind our constant “excuses” and “apologies”.

That wraps up everything this month. At least I manage a single post and didn’t get a grade of zero.

30 comments:

  1. There's a lot of crazy drivers in the UAE as well. I hope you're recuperating fastly.

    Big congratulations to Bea, to you and your wife! Saka na ang gift ni Tita Jo pag nagkita kami. Hahahaha.

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  2. Congrats kay Bea, daming awards; wow!

    Maganda po ang suit niyo, Mr. Blogusvox!

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  3. We weren't hurt because of the seat belts and Bea was sitting snugly in her "booster" chair.

    Bea says Thank you, Tita Jo. : )

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  4. Thank you, Tito RJ!

    Mahal ang suit na yan. It's a "Georgio Armano".
    >: D

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  5. first and foremost, glad to hear you're unhurt at the accident and your car is in good order now. Congrats to your little girl. I bet papa and mama are proud parents despite the cramped venue ! As for the speech.... 30 minutes is a little too long, unless it was a sermon :)

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  6. hi sir blogusvox astig ang suot nyu pwedeng hiramin mukhang mamahalin..congratz kay bea galing naman..

    oi buti safe kayo sa car accident experience...

    short and terse like it :)

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  7. you mixed two things in this post. a horrifying experience, and a joyful one. i love how you sum things up. you take the bad and celebrate the good.

    may i please be allowed to ignore the dents (in your now repaired car), and jump up and down like a monkey for your daughter's accomplishments?

    WAY TO GO LITTLE GIRL! hahahaha! congratulations!

    your next goal, be the class valedictorian!

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  8. Congratulations on your BEA, ang galing galing ng anak mo, mana sa papa? Hehehe, glad to know you are safe. Kaya pala medyo silent ang blog mo these past few weeks. Kami naman, naghihintay ng result for the kids' grades. Wala pa ang araw ng paghuhusga eh.

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  9. Wow congrats Blogus and to your daughter Bea! Buti pa dyan may mga awarding ceremony, sa US wala unless high school graduation na hehehe. At wala rin honor award sa elementary ni medal o ribbon nga wala. Bago nga rin sa pandinig ko ang Valediction hehehe....buti naman at napalitan na ang car mo at higit sa lahat ok ka naman yun ang mahalaga, naks...ingats

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  10. bw, proud as proud can be! as for the speech; it's one thing if you're not reading it. It's another if someone is interested in listening.

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  11. dacz, mahal yan. sa al jazira ko nabili. : D

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  12. Thank you daw sabi ni Bea, Tita Atticus. Moaahhh!

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  13. Sheng, yung ups and down, I take it in stride as it comes and go. BTW, Bea said Thank you, Tita sheng!

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  14. Sardz, hindi ko rin gusto yang mga award-award at medals na yan. kung minsan ang mga magulang pa ang nangunguna sa kasusot-sot at kung minsan pinapanggalingan pa ng away.

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  15. Thanks be to God you escaped unscathed from the accident. And congratulations on your brilliant daughter's accomplishments. So much to be thankful for :)

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  16. Yes, Mimi. I'm really thankful nobody got hurt, especially my daughter.

    Sabi Bea, "Thank you, Tita Mimi". : )

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  17. mabuti na lang at di kayo nasaktan , thank God.

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  18. I'm glad that your daughter and you were not hurt in the accident and your car was repaired to your satisfaction, maski na may unwanted music pag sinara yung door (biro lang).

    Give my congrats to Bea. You've got a gem there, Mom and Dad!

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  19. you are a winner, have a gift for you :)

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  20. bertN, you know, its a little bit annoying when I hear something in your car which is not part of the normal noise. But I can live with it. : )

    Bea said, Thank you Uncle Bert!

    LifeMoto, thanks for the concern. My daughter said Thank you, tito! : )

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  21. congrats to bea!
    i remember when we got into an accident also in saudi, the insurance gave my friend an extra car to use while his car in in the casa. how i wish it's the same thing we do here in phils.

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  22. Hi, Theo. You're back in the Philippines, na?

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  23. hi sir, yup back to pinas ulit since december and back to blogging ulit =)

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  24. congrats blugusvox.. wow, sooner you'll gonna have a lovely teenager.. i can feel how excited you were. nice to see you wearing a coat and tie next to your little lady love..

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  25. Hi Blogusvox, aba nawala yung comments ko. bakit kaya? congrats kay bea.. thanks sa advise mo about my blog and the spammers.

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  26. ingat ka sa pagmamaneho hane.. God bless..

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  27. tagal ko nang nabakante dito..

    congrats to bea at syempre sa proud daddy and mommy!

    buti nasa proper seatbelt lahat at walang nasaktan...

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  29. Miss Loida, thanks to your comments and concern. I really appreciate it.

    ever, pareho lang tayo pards. busy palagi sa work.

    OFW News, thanks for the offer. I'll think about it.

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  30. Good to know that everything ok (with you) after that accident.
    Uyy, congrats kay bea, grabe ang laki na nya at ang ganda, sa tagal ko nawala e lumaki na si Bea ng diko na nasundan haha.
    Congrats Bea at congrats din sayo Bro...kasi naka first graduate na ang dalaginding mo.

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