Risky Business

My dearest Tom Cruise, this has totally nothing to do with your debut on the silver screen but please allow me to draw on your movie’s legendary title for this brief sappy moment.

Twelve years ago, I was literally on a high having just been offered a new job coupled with a hundred percent raise on my then existing wage rate. It came just at the right time, when I was about to give up on my worn-out advertising job. And even if it wasn’t exactly served on a silver platter either, luckily I still managed to acquire the attractive post without so much fuss.

It was both exciting and terrifying when I started my new work. It took a while for me to blend with the rest of the group but eventually, I was able to squeeze myself into the mold that already existed. Albeit the work involved was not as taxing as my previous job, I was able to withstand temporary boredom from time to time. And with the add-on privileges that weren’t as common somewhere else, I was actually having fun.

I was taken aback when the management suddenly turned its course and did some mutation on our existing benefits, causing distress leading to animosity on our behalf. I, together with a close friend and colleague, even made a few attempts if only to reclaim whatever we have unlawfully lost but to no avail. And with the possibility of losing our jobs, it was demoralizing to be treated in such a way that leaves you no choice but to accept what was only being offered.

Several years have gone by and our assignments are about to end again. The end that is more vivid this time. And without any assurance of further employment offers, I am about to completely lose the 12 years (of service) I have ardently built up in this company. Thanks to brilliant and radical minds, we were (finally) able to establish basis on whatever is due us legally. Although it may still take time to resolve and rectify issues and differences between the management and the workforce, I am willing to wait on it. And this time, I certainly wouldn’t give up on this one without putting on a good fight.

The Mega Reunion

I usually hit the sheets early on Sundays but the other night, I tried to fight back sleepiness for that much-awaited mega reunion of the formerly famous Sharon-Gabby tandem plus their daughter KC. Earlier in the news, the reunion was supposedly set for KC’s new show but turned out later to be intended for Sharon’s. (Apologies to my US-based high school friends Binky and Debra for the wrong info.)

KC did the opening number with a song that said about “new version of me” or something. After which Gabby comes in and they sang together the theme song of the movie they were promoting. Following the humdrum duet, KC calls in her ninang ZsaZsa Padilla to help her out in dealing with the apparently uncomfortable meeting again of her biological parents after 15 years. While the 3 of them were still busy chatting on national TV, the visibly conscious megastar walks in, probably too eager and couldn’t wait to share the same stage with her ex-husband and daughter. KC seemed a bit tensed with her parents’ first public reunion after a long time. Indulge her. It’s never easy to be an estranged couple’s daughter, much less having Sharon and Gabby as parents. Gabby on the other hand was rather unperturbed and appears to be enjoying the moment (as if he’s the only one among the 3 who’s ever moved on). Sharon, as always, turns out to be the feeblest party of them all, with her incessant syrupiness of ancient times. To think the audience wasn’t even bantering at all!

Having been dumped by the ever youthful-looking Gabby eons ago, Sharon’s retribution rather seems the other way around. Like adding up those superfluous flab and annoying “pagpapacute” making her self look even more pathetic. I wonder which is harder to do in getting back at an ex – get fit and look deliciously gorgeous for the ex to drool on or, putting on those extra pounds and look terribly unattractive making the ex puke and wonder how the hell did he ever fall for you in the first place! I bet Sharon gave more attention on the latter. Standing alone beside the very lean Gabby is totally a disaster. No amount of any black ensemble (from head to toe) can cover up those unwanted love handles she couldn’t get rid of for the longest time. And with Gabby summing it all up by also wearing black tops, it only made him look even more like half the size of Sharon! Now where did all the studio’s stylists go?

I skipped most of their discussions on the show because it only made me hate my former idol Sharon more. Yeah, I used to be a huge fan. The whole family used to be a huge fan. Watching a Sharon movie then used to be a family tradition. But that was eons ago too. These days I can proudly say, I can already afford to pay no attention to any news on Sharon (except for this reunion ruckus) and get on with my early Sunday sleep. Yeah. After all, I’m already done watching Kris earlier on The Buzz!