A Tribute to Madeline

Over the years, I've seen colleagues come and go in this company. Some were expected, while a few came as a surprise. Like now, I never expected this day to be the last day here at work of one of the closest people I've known.

I know, some of you may be wondering who I'm talking about. And perhaps, you, yourself will be surprised knowing that she's indeed leaving the company. But let me tell you this, she may be leaving the company after almost 4 years of being here, but the memories she shared with me, with us, will always be treasured.

Okay, so how do I want to remember this colleague and friend? To begin with the not-so-important, well, she's often the co-organizer of the Office Paluwagan. Ever since the First Proposed Paluwagan in 2006, she was already active in recruiting other PMs or what we called as Paluwagan Members. Now, what's the privilege that the co-organizer enjoys? Well, she often got the PM1, PM2, or PM3 slot, meaning she's the first, second, or third to claim the accumulated fund. So now that she's not with us here anymore, I'll sure remember her if ever there will be a Paluwagan again. Thus, beginning today, the position for Paluwagan's co-organizer is officially open. LoLs.

Now, let me go to the more serious and important side. Do you know that every time I have a problem about family, lovelife, money, and even with my own personality, it's this colleague and friend that I often first shared it to? Okay, don't cry now Bhem. I really feel sad that she has to go, really I do. I was so silent while we were eating at the pantry because I was trying to hide this sad feeling of being away to yet another closest part of my life. Darn, stop crying now Bhem. (pause)

Whenever I'm down and whenever I feel like crying, she's always there to listen, to emphatize, and to say soothing words to calm me down. I remember those days when we were still seatmates, she never gets tired of listening to my day-to-day whining about my problems. And now even if we're in separate cubicles, nothing stopped me from going to her work station and tell her about my frustrating and not-so-frustrating stories.

I guess, a lot of you have witnessed our conversations at the pantry, eating breakfast and late lunch together, while talking about the problems I or she had recently. This is one thing I'm sure I'm going to miss about her. Though I'll be able to communicate with her through text or ym when she happens to be online to share to her my happy and sad moments, still it won't be the same without her here.

There's still a lot of stories about me and her that I can share to everyone here. Beginning from the seatmate days up to the separate-cubicle days, we sure did have a lot of conversations and memories that are worth remembering from time to time.

But above all these days, how can I forget the time when she was one of the few people who stick with me during that most difficult phase of my life - when I got pregnant with Baby Gaby. Yes, she stood by me. And yes, she was there to support me, to give me encouraging words to move on even if I was abandoned during that difficult time. It was a long and stressful journey, but I manage to survive because I had few true friends who helped me through and she's definitely one of them.

It really feels sad to see her go, but then again, reality check, people come and go for a reason. So, as she leaves today, allow me to tell everyone here, that I feel lucky and proud to be one of her friends. I also want her to know that I'll always treasure her friendship and thank her for all the things that she has done for me. But as she goes, I don't want to say goodbye to her, perhaps it would be better to say, "'til we meet again!"

"Good luck to you, Madeline (a.k.a. Jirl..Lols..) I'll miss you! Hey, don't be absent on Gaby's 1st birthday on November and christening on January '09. Make sure to be there!"

(Jirl's Birthday Celebration last May 2006)