The Great Antipolo Escapade

Yesterday, I once again tried calling companies for plant visit. One of those whom I managed to even get past the HR is Hizon Laboratories. However, they want the letter of request to be of hard copy, saying that I should hand them the letter at their lab at Antipolo. Desperate as I am, I went to Antipolo.

The night before, I exhausted my phonebook, exactly 60 people were texted where "Assumption Road, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City" is and how to get there by commute. Adding a little tone of urgency (which is very much needed), I received a huge amount of replies! About a third of those I messaged! Even those who I know never reply normally to such messages. And even though some of them just replied to say that they don't know how and they're sorry. I can't help but be too pleased by my friends. Thank you! Thank you! And an extra special thank you to Patrick for giving a very very very detailed direction (even travel time!).

My itinerary for the day, however, doesn't compose of going to Antipolo only. I have this strong contact (crossing fingers very tight!) with Unilab to have a go with plant visit. So I needed to hand her (the contact) a hard copy of the letter of request complete with signatures from my ChE 140 adviser to the ChE Dept Chair to the Dean herself! How heavy I weighed it just to get that approval.

So then, from UP (after EEE 1 lab class), jeep to Philcoa then Bus to Ortigas, then jeep again to Greenhills and walk to Samsung Building. Unilab has an office there. The scene was too corporate I felt like my shirt-pants-jacket-Chucks outfit was so demeaning. I handed it to her, praising now and then how I managed to compose that letter blah blah blah then went off again.

Jeep to EDSA, bus to Cubao, LRT 2 to Katipunan, a very very very long jeep ride to Antipolo. YES. It's sooooooooo far. I felt like I'm on an outing or field trip. The urban atmosphere faded along and then came trees and more trees and more more trees and the road was all uphill, up and up and up, like never ending until you see cliffs, yes cliffs, deep cliffs and when you feel like sleeping because the ride seems never-ending, the driver nudges and stops you from dozing off, points to a narrow street at your left. Assumption Road.

I can't believe Joy Bantigue even schooled there. It was so far I think it'd take two hours from her house in Teacher's Village. So there's that street where everything's uphill again that I walked up (so tiring!) and then white wall. A long stretch of white wall. Then closed white gate then white wall again. Long white wall. Then gate. Hizon's Laboratories! At first the guards were at lost on what to do with what I have until someone showed up, received the letter and told me of contact details for follow-up.

My stay at Hizon's Laboratories lasted for no more than 5 minutes.

Compare that to the very long ride. I still have plans on going to to Binondo, Manila to check T-shirt design for ALCHEMES but instead followed Kimie's advice to only have it some other time. The day was too much. I went back to UP via Katipunan. Tried to busy myself by calling more Pharmaceutical companies for plant visit. I only received rejects and busy numbers and not yet in service.

So why do I do these? I'm asking too much of myself. Because the deadline for the manufacturing report is this Friday (tomorrow!) and my page for that is still plain zero. I can now imagine my adviser giving me that stern look. "Why, you're still brave enough to show up here?"

Well I think it's more than that. All these calling companies, albeit the rejects and going companies to government agencies and everywhere make me feel, uhh, important and high-valued. It's as if I'm carrying something precious yet fragile and I'd be too honored to do it. And even if this subject kills me with hassle and stress, I think it's worth taking.

I'm blogging now. Because I don't know what to write on my report. Blank.

Wait, I failed to emphasize that I'm all alone in this, uhh, journey? I can't seem to find a better word. Yes, alone, individual and proud. Hahaha.