Dear Mr. Greg (Pimentel),
My deepest hope is that you are still alive and that you have a Facebook page. I will suggest that you are 85 years old, maybe 95. Thirty six years ago, we met at a family picnic hosted by mutual friends. They told me that you were a Philippine merchant marine and you jumped ship. I had visions that you actually jumped into the Pacific Ocean and you swam across until you reached San Francisco, California. I was duly impressed.
At that time we met, you were an aide to a member of the US Senate. I was very interested to hear about your Congressional job. I asked “So which side of the bicameral Congress do you work?” In response you asked, “Senate side. Do you type as much as 100 words a minute?” Before I could answer you told me, “Hija, why don’t you go to a business school and learn to type one hundred words a minute. When you can do that, call me. I will help you get a job. Would you like to work for Congress?” I said, “Opo, ano po sa palagay ninyo?” (What do you think, sir?) “If you can type, take shorthand, speak, write and be yourself as see you today, I will help you get you a job. Viva ka, a!”
In 1977, I called you.
“Mr. Pimentel, I think I can type close to a hundred words a minute.” “Okay, then I will pick you up and help you get you a job in Capitol Hill.” Just like that. You picked me up in a chauffeured black government limousine. It went all the way through Pennsylvania Avenue . Then I was at the Russell Senate Office Building.
There, I find myself in front of an IBM Selectric. I am given a piece of document. I am asked to type what’s on the paper. The Senate Placement lady turns on the timer. I am sweating bullets.
When I was done, I scored some 91 words a minute, no mistake. No kidding. I could not believe it myself. “You see hija, that was very good. It is good that they have that on the record, that you typed that well. Mahusay, mahusay! (Great, great). Viva, viva. We are just putting things on the record. Now I will get you a job where you will never worry about losing your job . The Democrats or Republicans may be in power but you will have a job so long as you do your best. You will do your best. How much money do you want to make?” I did a quick math in my head. I came up with a number that I thought was “dynomite.” “How about $10,000?” “Okay, then you will make $10,000.” “Thank you, po!” $10,000 x P7.00, P70,000. This is the American dream.
Next thing I remember, I was sitting in front of this gentleman. His name is Bob Farrar. “So, you know Greg. He said your dad is a diplomat?” I was coached well. “Yes, my Dad used to be an agricultural attaché. Greg is our family friend. They went to school together.” (My ass). “Okay, are you familiar with computers?” “No, I have not operated a computer but I know what an IBM keypunch machine looks like and I operate a Western Union teletype machine at the Air Line Pilots Association. Whatever I need to know, I will learn.” “Good. College, good; University of the Philippines, Very good.” “You write for a Filipino newspaper?“ “Yes I write feature articles .” “Good. Okay so it will be Memorial Day on the 30th. So why don’t you come back and you will be sworn in on June 1st. Welcome to the U. S. Senate!”
“Wait, is this the building I will work in?” (The building was an old brick, the former Immigration Building near Capitol Hill, demolished since)
“No you will work at the new Dirksen Senate Building. There will be another building that will be built soon. “ The Senate Buildings are abbreviated as follows:
Dirksen or DSOB, Russell or RSOB, Hart or HSOB or
DIRKSEN SOB, Russell SOB, Hart SOB.
It used to make me laugh but now I am part of the SOBs. I love these names. They are the rooms in my “family home.”
That was 35 years ago, that I sat down across from Mr. Farrar, who I would sign documents on his signature decades later when I reported to him as the Budget Officer.
I did not know it that time but I could have asked for more money. I should have been a little bit greedier! The first week, even months of my job, Mr. Farrar sat down with me to draw pictures of the IBM main frame, the printers. He told me how these computers work. I was assigned the job of Assistant Tape Librarian. It was the most boring job in the whole world. I saw no one except the person I was supposed to assist, John. My coworker called him the “Geezer.” I did not know what geezer meant but I imagined a bald eagle because John was bald. He was very kind to me. He was a Navy vet. He cursed like one. In the 70’s there was no law against pervasive language that could rise to the level of harassment. One day, I was very tired and someone wanted a tape. I responded, loudly, and in jest, “Yo man! If you want the goddamn it tape, why don’t you go get the fuck it yourself!” “Say what?” someone asked. And buoyed with renewed courage, I said, “Don’t be a jerk off!!” Everyone stopped and then they all stood up and clapped their hands. They were laughing uproariously. “John, she is learning, she is learning!” I have since finessed my cursing to remove the extra direct object, article, and/or preposition. I can say an imperative or a reflexive, depending upon the situation.
Anyway, we maintained the tape library –every tape looks just like the next. We catalog, clean, label, and store them. I started taking courses at the community college so I can understand the binaries. One day, I inadvertently erased all data from one whole cart of tapes. I thought I was cleaning them. That was the opportunity for our group to show our capacity to “back up and recover.” It was cool. No problem.
In the Senate, I learned how to be patient, to listen, to stand my ground, to seek better opportunities within the organization, to be non-partisan, to be assertive. Within its confines, I thrived. I have held many various positions. Every time I was assigned a new function, I ran to the community college to take courses to make me more competent. Accounting, business math, business law? No problem. Computers, binaries? No problem. Contract Law, Contract Administration, piece of cake. I even took courses in behavioral science. Algebra, of course! Biology, definitely. Commercial Spanish, claro que si!
About ten years ago, I was curious what my employee records show. I asked for a copy of my records from the Human Resources. The most interesting part of that file was a hand-written note by Mr. Pimentel to the Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the Senate. “Mel, I want you to look (underscored, bolded) at this resumé. Below is a notation presumably from Mel. “Get this young lady to meet Ops Manager at Computer Center. ASAP.” I learned later on that Mr. Pimentel was really a very powerful aide. He was a big deal but to me he was just our family friend; he loved to cook, eat, fish.
I did not fail you, Mr. Pimentel. The Senate has become my second home and my extended family. It has been there for the milestones in my life. The Senate gave me the stability that I may be able to pursue my other interests in the performing arts, foreign languages, travel. I learned to advocate for myself, articulate my thoughts, and defend my decisions; I learned to insist that I get credit for things I have accomplished. I pursued higher education, the Senate helped me pursue even more; I gave back to my community, became a mother and wife; and I have an untarnished career at the Senate. I have doubled, tripled, quadrupled and much more the $10K that you so generously negotiated for me.
I am about to retire in a couple of years. I would like to thank you, sincerely, for what you have done for me. I promised you that I would not disappoint you. I spoke to you when I completed 25 years of service. I am celebrating my 35 years at the US Senate this year. I am about to receive a plaque in July. I have not forgotten that I owe you so much for changing my life. Tinatanaw ko pong utang na loob sa inyo, ang success ko sa Senado. You appeared in my life like Santa Claus, asking me what I wished for and then granting it. You were my miracle on 1st and C Streets, NE.
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