Remembering my Clark experience Part 2
When I was inside the wide sprawling green landscape, I always come to think America is such a rich country that even in territories it can't call its own, the facilities are above par. Surely, there are areas in the United States that are less appealing than Clark Development. I can see the greeneries of Mimosa Estates where very important people play their leisurely game of golf. On the far end is an airstrip (or was it the Diosdado Macapagal Airport?)
Finally I came to the described place by Toto, and less than two minutes, he emerged from somewhere and for the first time since graduation, I met my friend. As the interview will happen in the afternoon, we had time to reminisce college days with much fun: being chased by drunken retards at a hangout near the campus, my relentless pursuing of a classmate whom Toto served as a part-time "bridge", our days programming Assembly Language and welding components from dusk till dawn. (How I wish I get to talk to many of my high school, grade school and college friends at least once a month and have a hearty conversation, than be on my own most of the time in Hong Kong)
He lives in a staffhouse, a neat housing provided by the company to programmers and developers mostly from Manila and other provinces. In contrast to the crowded and chaotic Manila, Clark is where minds of geeks sensitive to noise would probably work best. Even much better than my work place at the time (I was employed at a University located next to Davao City's biggest wet market). There is a place for basketball, table tennis, plenty of space for football, test driving and anything that requires ample workspace.
While looking at the place, assuming I got the offer and took the job, I imagined how quick will I be able to adjust working away from my family for the first time. First I would have freedom to build up myself. Do the cooking, budget my salary, manage my time, etc. I would have to travel by plane for an hour and half plus three hour bus ride instead of having to ride an hour's worth of jeepney trip from UIC to home. I'd guess that's not as bad as those who work in the middle of the desert, separated not just hundreds or thousands of miles away but also four timezones away. Those who come home to their families once every three years. It must have driven me insane.
I should not backtrack. Afterall, before I took the flight I kinda thought I should pursue this, Clark or Singapore.
It's noontime and I am hungry; the early meal I had in Dau did not help much. I am still wary of eating on roadside canteens. It's not mainly on sanitation, it's more on my sensitive stomach. Toto was still on work; he must have took an hour off to meet and talk to me.
The working period is based on honesty. You come on time and you leave on time. No bells to signify it's time to get your share of meal at the school canteen, nor be reminded that recess is only for grade school and high school students.
A little later, I was called for the interview.
After looking around, I told myself I was more interested in living here, not working. I'd still feel more like a worker if I join the labor masses waiting in queue for a ride to the "sweat shops" and hang out for a drink on Friday nights.
Don't get me wrong, but entertainment wise, there's a plethora of drinking pubs in the vicinity. However, as I am not too passionate going out on Friday nights, the facility does not mean too much.
Harry Quiambao was in the office when I came in. I did not look too interviewee looking with my casual outfit and he did not mind it. We talked more about psychologically challenging topics rather than skill measurement. It was because I would be talking to the project managers in a panel discussion.
There were three people asking a variety of technical questions from interest in the web to the upcoming Millenium Bug problem. I told them I want to be part of history as an aspiring Cobol programmer trying to code as time shrinks to the last 8 months or so before Y2K was thought to jam air traffic, disrupt banking systems and render remote controls useless.
It was a rhetoric I used to jokingly impress them which I thought I never succeeded; I was told two months later that hiring has frozen because the company never got the deal with a big government project.
Finally I came to the described place by Toto, and less than two minutes, he emerged from somewhere and for the first time since graduation, I met my friend. As the interview will happen in the afternoon, we had time to reminisce college days with much fun: being chased by drunken retards at a hangout near the campus, my relentless pursuing of a classmate whom Toto served as a part-time "bridge", our days programming Assembly Language and welding components from dusk till dawn. (How I wish I get to talk to many of my high school, grade school and college friends at least once a month and have a hearty conversation, than be on my own most of the time in Hong Kong)
He lives in a staffhouse, a neat housing provided by the company to programmers and developers mostly from Manila and other provinces. In contrast to the crowded and chaotic Manila, Clark is where minds of geeks sensitive to noise would probably work best. Even much better than my work place at the time (I was employed at a University located next to Davao City's biggest wet market). There is a place for basketball, table tennis, plenty of space for football, test driving and anything that requires ample workspace.
While looking at the place, assuming I got the offer and took the job, I imagined how quick will I be able to adjust working away from my family for the first time. First I would have freedom to build up myself. Do the cooking, budget my salary, manage my time, etc. I would have to travel by plane for an hour and half plus three hour bus ride instead of having to ride an hour's worth of jeepney trip from UIC to home. I'd guess that's not as bad as those who work in the middle of the desert, separated not just hundreds or thousands of miles away but also four timezones away. Those who come home to their families once every three years. It must have driven me insane.
I should not backtrack. Afterall, before I took the flight I kinda thought I should pursue this, Clark or Singapore.
It's noontime and I am hungry; the early meal I had in Dau did not help much. I am still wary of eating on roadside canteens. It's not mainly on sanitation, it's more on my sensitive stomach. Toto was still on work; he must have took an hour off to meet and talk to me.
The working period is based on honesty. You come on time and you leave on time. No bells to signify it's time to get your share of meal at the school canteen, nor be reminded that recess is only for grade school and high school students.
A little later, I was called for the interview.
After looking around, I told myself I was more interested in living here, not working. I'd still feel more like a worker if I join the labor masses waiting in queue for a ride to the "sweat shops" and hang out for a drink on Friday nights.
Don't get me wrong, but entertainment wise, there's a plethora of drinking pubs in the vicinity. However, as I am not too passionate going out on Friday nights, the facility does not mean too much.
Harry Quiambao was in the office when I came in. I did not look too interviewee looking with my casual outfit and he did not mind it. We talked more about psychologically challenging topics rather than skill measurement. It was because I would be talking to the project managers in a panel discussion.
There were three people asking a variety of technical questions from interest in the web to the upcoming Millenium Bug problem. I told them I want to be part of history as an aspiring Cobol programmer trying to code as time shrinks to the last 8 months or so before Y2K was thought to jam air traffic, disrupt banking systems and render remote controls useless.
It was a rhetoric I used to jokingly impress them which I thought I never succeeded; I was told two months later that hiring has frozen because the company never got the deal with a big government project.
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4:15 PM
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