Goodbye, Summit...

I can't believe tomorrow is my real last day at Summit. My official last day is supposed to be on the 15th but since I need to move out of AIC to go back to Sta. Rosa on Monday, I will be taking my last three days off. It's surreal, really. I'm sad that I'm leaving and scared, because I have a new life. For the first time in three years, I'm not getting up in the morning knowing exactly what I need to do for the day. This is the life I've known and have come to love. That is why despite my complaints in the past, I never really wanted to leave Summit. This is actually a really good company. Everyone is so different that there is no room for envy or fierce competition. There's no one trying to sabotage another's work. Each person takes pride in what she (or he) does and each one respects the other (most of the time) because each one knows that every person has his own talent and plays a vital role to accomplishing our goal -- which is to give each person a magazine he/she will enjoy and learn from.

I have met the most interesting people on the job. I never thought I would meet (and actually talk to and be in the same car with) Myrza Sison. I have been a Cosmo reader since the Philippine edition first came out (although now I enjoy Marie Claire and Preview more--reason being I'm getting old!). I would be checking if the latest issue was already out a week before the magazine was set to come out. I have always admired her--the ultimate fun fearless female. And now, I actually run into her in the rest room and she says hi to me! Simple joys, I know, but even to this day, I still get starstruck by the big names in the magazine industry: Myrza, Pauline Suaco-Juan, Jo-Ann Maglipon. I still can't get over how perfectly polished the Preview girls are everyday. No fail, they always wear the perfect clothes and you see them most days having their makeup done by Agoo (oh the beautiful Agoo) at her desk. It's Sushi for Beginners come alive. I still can't get over how our big boss Lisa is not Ms. Lisa or Ma'am Lisa--she's just plain Lisa. She's so simple, she has a laugh with the staff (not me specifically but I like watching her kid around with the FHM people or Ms Jo-Ann, whom she calls lola) and she's just so passionate about the magazines. When I joined Summit, we had about 10 titles, now we have 22 plus Summit Books. I just admire that she's accomplished so much and yet remains so down to earth. I just wish I had an opportunity to be able to get to know her or have her get to know me. I remember one time I was at Bo's, doing one-to-one with a girl and she was buying coffee. I saw her waving wildly saying "hello!!" with a bright smile. I had to look behind me because honestly I never thought she even knew I existed but she did and that just made my day.

I can't believe I'm leaving. But I know I have to move on. If it's God's will for me to come back, I know He'll make a way. Maybe in editorial the next time around? Hmmm, gotta polish up on my writing skills...