So the guard didn’t notice when a light in the corner of the fifth floor suddenly turned on.
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I work in the 5th floor of one of the oldest buildings in Ortigas. Knowledge Channel is a small office, sharing the floor with two other companies – an engineering firm and an accounting firm.
However small, I love the way our office smells and looks. If you ask me, I wouldn’t change anything about it.
I like the way the dividers are arranged to separate the departments. It looks like a maze. To go to my desk, I have three ways to choose from. From the front at the lobby, then right then left. Or walk straight up then right. I can also come in from the side, where the canteen is connected, walk straight up, turn left then right.
The lighting is not too white, and not too yellow. The colors in our office is a mishmash of white, blue and beige. Our logo is cheery yellow with planets and an orbit on it.
Sometimes, however, I don’t go straight to my desk. There are times my office is in the location itself, wherever the shoot is going to take place. There are days when I go straight to our editing suites in the basement.
So I feel that every day, I can take a different route. Whatever fits my mood.
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It was peculiar, the way the light only shone on this one particular desk. At first glance, there was nothing extraordinary about it. Sure, it was off-white, metallic and long just like the rest. But then, a cough was heard. How can that be possible when no one is there?
The teddy bear desk organizer yawned, then coughed again. Fuzzy the teddy bear has had cold and cough since the air-conditioning was fixed a day before. Blue grunted, “Fuzzy, you woke me up, yet again!” Then soon after that, Pink, Purple, Orange and Green Pens all stretched out and woke up with a start. Bright jolly old Purple said with a laugh, “I thought there was an earthquake!” “Fuzzy, have you taken your medicine yet,” Pink asked, her face full of concern.
“Yes Ma’am, I’ve taken my meds. But it’s not working Ma’am. I just need a few days off,” Fuzzy said, his voice shaky and breathy.
“But you’re not doing anything all day!,” Peachy, the yellow mug yelled. “I can understand stapler and scotch tape when they complain. I too can complain, I get filled and drank all day! But you, you just sit around all day!”
Just then a deep muscular voice was heard. “Hey, guys, don’t fight! We’re all here to do our jobs right? No matter how hard or easy or big or small.” Brad Pitt was talking in the middle of the Corkboard. “Like me, my job is to put a smile on Alina’s face when she’s stressed out or hungry or sad or tired.”
“I agree with you Brad, one hundred and one percent,” said Bart Simpson, a custom-made stuffed toy perched on the edge of the table. “I let Alina pinch me and play with me whenever she is bored! Fuzzy makes her smile too, right Fuzzy?”
Everyone were nodding their heads. Even the grouchy Blue Pen. “You’re right, I am sorry Fuzzy.” Fuzzy and the Blue Pen shook hands.
That night, they made a pact, never to argue but to just be themselves. And mostly, to do their best so Alina can never lose her imagination and creativity. After all, what’s a desk without cute office supplies and toys? And what would a work day be like for Alina without them?
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I think, more than the office’s structure and my colorful table, it’s about the people in the office.
All of my colleagues are friendly and warm people. Thought we are stressed with workload, we never fail to joke around. A sense of humor comes in handy.
In our office, age doesn’t matter. Even our fifty-something superiors can crack us up with wild, “kanto” jokes. We all look and feel younger than our age.
I guess I can never survive in an office that is too corporate and too stiff. That would be the end of me.
At work, I hardly feel the pressure. Because I get to be a thirteen-year old every day, working with kids, directing and writing for the youth.
And being a writer-producer for youth-oriented educational shows, you have to think like a kid.
So to answer the question, yes, my work encourages creativity and that’s why I love it!
And I have my mom and family to thank! As early as 8 years old, I was already writing short stories on yellow pad paper. I invented words and wrote them on books at home (my mom scolded me for that! hehe!)
Just like Ken Robinson said, it's important to foster the creativity of students. In St. Paul Pasig, where I studied elementary and high school, I was encouraged by my teachers to write. I joined contests and the student paper. But I didn't really enjoy essay-writing as much as I enjoyed writing fiction. And this is why I took up Film.
What Ken Robinson said is true even here in the Philippines. The Dep. of Education still prioritizes Math, Science and English over other subjects. I interview HS students in public schools, all brilliant and at the top of their classes, who wanted to pursue Fine Arts or Mass Comm, but had to choose Accounting or Management because their parents told them so! Once, there was this brilliant Journalism Club president who shared her mother forced her to erase Mass Communication in her UPCAT form. Really nasty! Sayang! The girl can be the next Mel Tiangco or Che-che Lazaro.
I wish something can be done about this. Even at work, they emphasize on improving Math Science and English only. Well....as a Producer, I can use my creativity to get away with it right? Mabuhay ang mga malikhaing kabataan!
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The guard woke up, his throat itchy from too much snoring. Just then, the light turned off from the 5th floor. And there was silence.
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