I joined 106.7 Dream-FM almost four years ago, back in February of 2007. Every time I think about that fact, it again brings me to the realization how quickly time passes by. It honestly doesn't feel like it's been nearly four years...! But it has. But a few months ago, I got a job as one of the DJs for Shakey's (yes, Shakey's.....they've recently started their own Live Radio thingamajig, heard via Shoutcast over the internet and broadcast at almost all their 500-plus restaurants). And since October, I'd been working almost 18 to 21 hours a day everyday! I'm a workaholic, what can I say? I actually managed to squeeze in my Shakey's gig along with my radio stint for Dream, my numerous dubbing projects, the occasional voiceover jobs, as well as hosting gigs. Whew! The thing is, working that hard for months on end, with hardly a day off (I've got work for Shakey's and sometimes have hosting and/or dubbing even on Fridays, my day off), can eventually take its toll on a person. And I've succumbed to the feeling of being burnt out.At first, I thought I was just in one of my mood swings. I told a couple of people I know, about how I felt like I wanted to resign from my Dream-FM job, but one of my friends/colleagues told me I say that this time of the year every year (I do? I honestly don't remember). So then, I thought that it was probably just the Holidays kinda bringing me down. That I would get over this hump after awhile. But it never happened. One morning (yesterday, Monday, to be exact) I simply woke up feeling that I've had enough.
It wasn't that I was miserable at work. Even though we weren't exactly getting paid better, I didn't really have a problem working at Dream-FM (it was never about the money for me). It was a quiet place to work at, I didn't have a problem with any of my other co-DJs, there were hardly any intrigues or inter-office politics (I guess that's because we were only a small group). So what was the problem? First off, there was the daily commute. Novaliches (specifically, Quirino Highway) had a different breed of moronic drivers. Almost everyday, I would find myself playing chicken with douchebags on motorcycles, as well as jeepney and taxi drivers, etc. These bastards always love to overtake unnecessarily! Then there's the parking situation at the TV5 compound which has frustrated me to no end. In the beginning, the parking slots at the already-small compound was slowly disappearing due to the addition of a couple of new shows, Face To Face and Juicy. Fortunately, that was remedied. Until Willing Willie came along. With the addition of that show, everyone else who wasn't part of WW bid goodbye to getting decent parking (parking, period!). But then, SM Novaliches came along, and they saved the day by opening up their parking as early as 6am (lucky for those who have to do sign-on at Dream-FM almost everyday). Thank God. But then, Christmas came, SM started to offer up free parking AND opened their parking at 10am! So there goes (my) happy days again. There was no way in hell I was going to commute all the way from home to Novaliches and then to where the Shakey's head office was! That was going to be too much of a hassle for me. And let's not forget about the fact that I was working for nearly 21 hours a day everyday! So, lack of sleep being factored in as well, I had to make a decision. And that decision was one that was logistically sound.
Well, it's been fun, Dream-FM.
Au Revoir! Who knows? Maybe given some time, I'll find myself back there again. Next year perhaps? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
'Nuff said.
