Forced Friday

EVERYONE is looking forward to Fridays. A night in the town, a break from work or that planned vacation. After a long work week, it is Friday that allows us to just take on all the work, knowing that it will soon be over and it will be time to take that much needed time, alone or together with friends, workmates and family.

Well that's just how it is normally. But not for me.

It was always the weekends that I dread. Time was when still in government I did not own my time, especially on Friday. I very well knew that the weekend will always start for me the Friday with lots of appointments and work to do. Mostly social by nature but it still forced me away from rest or recreation and family.

Remember it is also on weekends when Baguio comes to life. When all the tourists and VIP's all decide to come up to the mountains and spend their whole weekend here. Most conventions also would begin on a Friday. When I say conventions I would really remember for Baguio as a convention destination. I would definitely know because I would be asked to be there. I just don't see it nowadays. We are forced to get the wrong kind of visitors, I'm sorry but that's just my take.

Later on in my life as a storyteller, I now would be forced to come up with that story before Friday. At times an apologetic note to the editor for being late or not having wifi wherever I may be. That is Friday's for me.

Of late and for the past three Friday's I will force myself to head down to Manila for meetings. Not only do I dread Friday's but also the traffic. Anytime of the day is never a good time to take on the streets. Whether it's Waze or local knowledge, never do I come up the winner. I will always be forced to still go and wherever.

Funny how all these meetings are also scheduled on a Friday. Is it just me? Surely I will assume the others would have noticed that particularly for a Friday, the roads are always filled. Even for small and narrow passage- ways. My usual hour head start now never works. Safe at two. Forced to always leave earlier than planned.

Last Friday was already bad. A long weekend ahead. Planned vacations. The Kadayawan Festival in Davao, an Islamic Celebration plus ATOM... You get my point. Still a meeting in Manila. I'm not worried as I will now arrive a day before. But it is getting in and out of the meeting when all hell breaks. Plus a stranded plane in NAIA just to make it better. A forced airport shutdown. Passengers were forced to stay overnight. Many were forced out of the Metro, the tollgates filled. The highway I learned was for many heading to Clark instead. Either for the diverted flight or a new plane to catch.

Today and yesterday I'm forced back in the Metro for a couple of meetings. It is just the third Friday in a row for me down in Manila. Amazing how my schedule is. And to think that August is normally a light month for me and only the UB celebrations to keep me busy. Not this time.

Making it worse for this Friday meeting is another holiday on Monday. Wish me luck again. I hope I get through with all the traffic once more. Another long weekend will see many taking on the vacation and long weekend they deserve. I am all good.

I will always find time for me to hook up with my son. Meet new acquaintances from these meetings. A new deal, some good news. On weekends my son would also have some music gigs, my chance to rest and unwind. Another will always be the food. A chance to savor favorite fare away from Baguio. I would force myself to indulge and take some home.

Meetings will be meetings, be it on any day or a Friday it will be okay for me. I just love hitting the roads, be it stormy or flood I will still go. The adventure will take me there. A story always to be told for when I am seen in any meeting. Many surely are surprised for I made the trip despite all these. That is just who I am. I will take it. The force is with me.