Ethel DS is Australia-bound soon

At the Red Box Greenbelt 3 in Makati last Saturday, (I) we surprised our good friend (add studious, workaholic applications developer if you please) Ethel delos Santos with a semi-planned but short notice despedida party. Ethel's migrating to Australia, and is on a scheduled flight this coming 16th of February. I owe Ethel my stint (she referred me to the infamous you-know-where) initially as a Technical Writer, then Product Specialist, and finally Senior Manager for Customer Service at a time when the call center business was yet to be tagged the sunshine industry.

Her leaving the country reminded me of my own experience while preparing for my flight. A few days prior, I was relaxed and carefree. But when the van came to fetch us, it was a totally different story. I broke up, crying like a child who's being sent (far) away from home. I couldn't bear to look at my wife and kids and say goodbye, it was really a painful memory--the very same reason I went home after only about 9 months. Yes, I was getting really big, big money, and I thought I can get away with the homesickness, but I failed. But it's one of my failures that I willingly accepted and is now very happy I decided to stay home (play Daughtry's Home please).

To Ethel, good luck, I know you're a very strong (and funny hehehe) woman and I'm sure you'll soon find somebody to share your blessings with (play Tiffany's All This Time please). We'll miss you dearly.