Let Me Tell You All About It

Art Contest Results are Out! 

I'd been at the edge of my seat since the moment I submitted the entry. What if they don't get it on time, if they even get it at all? What if it gets there on a weekend where the person in charge is not there and the one who received it misplaced it and forgot about it the coming Monday? What if? What if? What if? It's amazing how my nonsensical imagination can run amuck in a matter of seconds!

December came and went with me eyeing the 9th closely as this marks the contest's judgment day. I constantly checked their website hoping for a hint of the results. I even memorized their contact number, just to be prepared, while I debate with my alter egos whether to call for update or not. Impatience got the best of me as I eventually did pick up the phone - only to learn that the results were still with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for verification. I was told that it would most probably be out by the end of the month. Week after week, I waited. During idle moments in the office, I'd occassionally look up and see my entry hanging proudly in my cubicle. Does it stand a chance? Is it even competition-worthy? "Yes!", I'd beam with the thought. The longer the wait however, the usual "Yes" answer would be accompanied with a "Kahit consolation man lang diba?" (At the very least, it's worth a consolation prize, right?)

Fortunately what little hope I had left did not go with the year 2004 as it bid its goodbye. My visits to the website still remained the first thing I do whenever I'm online - half hoping to see a list of the winners posted (it's the new year already, update your website!) Still no list, still no phone call, still no telegram though.

Surprisingly on January 5th, out of his own accord, my brother texted me to ask about Sterling's contact number. The following conversation ensued:

Him : Num ng sterling?
Me : -I gave the number-
Him : Adult or youth?
Me : Adult
Him : Nah
Me : Anu ibig sabhin nun? Wla?
Him : Hmmm la award
Me : Kahit man lng consolation wla? tlga? o?

At about this time, I looked solemnly at the entry posted on my cubicle wondering if I had just been falsely hoping all this time. Are my works eye candy to just me and nobody else? Those who had said that it looks good could have just said it so as not to hurt my feelings. I so wanted my brother to reply back to say that he was just kidding and that I did win the first prize (haha fat chance!) Just then, my celphone beeped again with an incoming message.

"Hmm mayrun Pahabol", the message read.

"...U won!!", the next message said, arriving shortly after the first.

With my hands trembling and my heart beating a hunderd miles a minute, I deliriously replied, "Anu ba talaga? Should I be jumping for joy or crying out na?"

The reply came much too late, a single word "Jumping", which I had not understood the meaning of until much much later. Even before the reply came, I had already called him up on the landline. He confirmed that I did win an award, some sort of an award, the prize of which he didn't know. It could have been something lesser than a consolation prize but during that time, I could have cared less. I was just thrilled to know that after skimming through the list, the person he had talked to did find my name, even if it's at the bottom of the very bottom.

Despite the sudden rush of emotions overwhelming me, I managed a silent thank you to God before drifting off happily to Smugville...

Author's note:
Pardon my enthusiasm but this is the first time I've won something from a nationwide contest. The complete list of winners was posted in The Philippine Star dated January 22, 2005 (Saturday) and it turns out that what I had won was an LSL Special Award. I've often joked that LSL stands for LaSaLista. Kidding aside, LSL stands for Lim Seh Leng (if I got it right), the founder of Sterling. It's below the top 5 but at least above the 10 consolation prizes. I haven't gotten my prize yet as I'm still supposed to wait for a telegram. In the meantime, I'd better be thinking of what to do with PhP 7000 worth of Sterling products. Now, those who had cried out "Libre!", would you care for a free notebook? Some specialty paper perhaps?

P.S. Don't worry, I'm back from Smugville and am quite normal again hehe Ü