Chapter Two

Change Is Constant

"We already posted another job listing as per your request and Rosie will handle the interview." Tumango ang huli sa sinabi ni Tamara.

Ibinaling ko naman ang mga mata kay Rocco, ang financial director ng hotel. He said the usual boring things that I know already. Sumunod naman sa pagsasalita si Ezra, our F&B director who suggested to revamp the whole menu and try taking a leap on food trends just to keep up. Sa ngayon ay kailangan namin ng mga bagong pakulo para hindi lang ang hotel ang makabawi kung hindi pati na rin ang restaurant. We badly need it.

"Can you work on that before this week ends?"

"Sure, Miss Lacey. I'll be working on it right away."

Sa aking pagbaling kay Polly ay siya naman ang naglabas ng sama ng loob sa kanyang departamento. She said some of her people were leaving because again, the new hotel is offering a bigger salary and better incentives than what offer.

Good thing Rocco and Bill, the sales manager jumped into the conversation to save me from another mind-boggling dilemma and stress.

Gayunpaman, kahit maraming napagkasunduan sa meeting na 'yon ay napakarami pa ring dapat ayusin hindi lang sa sales and marketing department kung hindi pati na rin yata sa kabuuan ng Coastal Rock.

I do think we need to revamp everything before we all end up being eaten by the new competitor. I will never let that happen. Itataya ko ang buong buhay ko bago magpatalo sa bagong kalaban lalo na dahil may idea na ako kung sino ang mga ito.

"We're sorry but unfortunately we don't have any news yet, Miss Elizalde." A man's voice said on the other line after our meeting ended.

"Just call me if something came up." Tanging naisagot ko pagkatapos ay mabilis nang ibinaba ulit ang cell phone para tapusin ang pag-uusap.

Everything is draining me right now. Hindi ko na alam kung kakayanin ko pa ba. Tila ba sa bawat araw ay patuloy ang pagdating nang patong-patong na problema.

Bago pa ako mabaliw at malunod sa kaiisip ay napagpasyahan ko na lang na maglakad-lakad sa labas ng Coastal Rock.

"Good morning, Miss Lacey!" Maligayang bati sa akin ni Daryl, ang guwardiyang naka-duty sa main gate.

Sa lahat ng bumati sa akin ay siya lang ang hinintuan ko. Gaya ni Tamara ay isa rin si Daryl sa mga matagal nang nagtatrabaho sa hotel kaya pamilya na rin ang turing ko sa mga ito.

"Good morning, Daryl. Kumusta? Okay na ba ang anak mo?"

"Ay mabuting-mabuti na Miss Lacey! Salamat nga po ulit sa tulong n'yo. Ang sabi ni misis ay bibisita sila rito sa hotel upang makapagpasalamat ng personal."

Ngumiti ako at tumango na lang sa kanya. After telling him that I'll wait for his family, I continued walking outside my property.

Sa pag-ihip ng malamig at preskong hangin kasabay ng pagdampi ng sinag ng araw sa aking balat ay natigil ako.

I turned around to see Coastal Rock. The hotel was properly maintained. I had a huge and inviting sign located at the fourth floor of the hotel. Kapag nasa island hopping ka at pauwi na sa daungan ay matatanaw mo kaagad iyon.

I take pride in building this place. I was hands on since the very beginning that's why I made a lot of friends and created my own family in this island. It was a shame that even though Coastal Rock is still standing proud, I can see that the light and popularity of it was slowly fading. Nakakalungkot dahil ito ang buhay ko at hindi ko yata kayang mawala ito sa akin.

I shook my head and resumed walking as I felt my tears lingering at the corners of my eyes. Sa patuloy kong paglalakad hanggang sa maabot ko ang public road ay napakarami kong nakilala. Nakatulong ang mga nakausap ko upang malibang ako at mabawasan ang pag-iisip.

I enjoyed watching everything. Simula sa mga street vendor, mga abalang bangkero, mga bagong bukas na establisyimento, hanggang sa mga naglalarong mga bata at nagkukumahog na turista. I realize that this place was really different from the place I migrated to fifteen years ago.

Noon, wala pang masyadong turista. Wala masyadong establisyimento. Ang mga daan ay hindi gaanong pulido at marami pang mga lupang unoccupied pero ngayon, kahit saan ako lumingon ay may nakaukopa na. The place was always booming with tourists all throughout the year. Kahit lean season ay mayroon pa rin at minsan madalas marami dahil ang iba ay pinipili din ang lean season para mas ma-enjoy nila ang isla na hindi masyadong crowded.

Change is really inevitable. It was the only constant thing in this world. Minsan nakakatakot pero parte na talaga 'yon ng buhay. Whatever the change is, sana lang palaging patungo sa mabuti. In my case, I don't know.

I continued walking. Hindi ako huminto kahit na dama ko ang pagiging marahas ng sikat ng araw sa aking balat hanggang sa matanaw ko na ang mas malaking signage sa pinakataas ng limang palapag na bagong resort na pagmamay-ari ni Esquire Rozovsky at dalawa pang kaibigan.

"Sunset Royale Hotel and Resort..." wala sa sariling basa ko.

It was bigger and more modern than ours. I will not say that it's better than mine because I won't ever betray myself like that, but they really did great turning the piece of land into a paradise inside a paradise.

Sa tatlong minutong pagtitig ko pa lang doon ay nagkaroon na kaagad ako ng desisyon.

I walked back to Coastal Rock but a group of tourists holding the same familiar flier that made me reminisce caught my eye especially after seeing a familiar man walking along them.

"Justin?" I called, he heard me but he couldn't figure out where my voice came from so come near them.

"Justin!" I now shouted especially when I was sure it was really him.

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ako. My jaw automatically tightened as I realize that my most faithful and good friend is now betraying me by also jumping in to support the newest hotel and resort.

"Lacey, I'm sorry but it's just business. Kailangan ko ring kumita at sumabay sa gusto ng mga tao kung ayaw kong mahuli at malugi ang agency." Aniya matapos ipaubaya sa tauhan ang mga Koreanong turista.

It was as if faith planned for us to meet now. Hindi naman kasi siya sumasama talaga at sumasabay sa mga kliyente at hindi rin ako nagliliwaliw ng ganito sa labas ng Coastal Rock. The meeting was bound to happen and I'm glad it did dahil napakarami ko pang nalaman.

"This is bullshit!" I blurted as I almost break his coffee table.

Kita ko ang kaba sa kanyang mukha dahil sa galit at disappointed kong reaksiyon matapos bigyan ng atensiyon ang ipinakita niya sa akin sa kanyang computer.

"I know Tamara is managing the hotel well but you can't stop the people from posting and bashing Coastal Rock especially online just because of a minor inconvenience. You know how this works, right?"

"I know but a fucking rant and a low review in google just because or a noisy air conditioner? That's absurd!"

Tumango-tango si Justin. "This is one of the most followed vlogger now. Ang mga kabataang kilala ngayon sa social media ay ganito talaga kung umasta. They always want VIP treatment and perfection kahit na minsan ay hindi ko na rin alam kung paano pa sila ipi-please. The internet can really ruin a person or a business in just one click, Lacey."

I swallowed hard at that. I was still shock and annoyed after I left Justin. Naintindihan ko naman ang punto niya. Kahit paano ay nagpapasalamat pa nga ako dahil sa naging takbo ng usapan namin. He assured me that he will never leave Coastal Rock just because we're losing popularity. He promised that he will never do that and I believe him.

Akala ko kakalma na ako nang tuluyang makabalik sa hotel pero nang makausap ko si Tamara at sinabi niyang natatandaan niya nga ang insidenteng iyon ay mas lalong nag-init ang ulo ko.

She said she gave that man a voucher and offered him a good deal in tours and activities but he wanted a full refund. Nang hindi mapagbigyan dahil super minor inconvenience lang naman at inilipat din pala sila ng room ay nagalit daw ito at pinagmumura pa ang mga staff ko. That made my blood boil.

Kaya kong ibalik ang pera. Kaya kong magpakumbaba pero ang malaman na nabastos ang mga empleyado ko dahil lang sa reklamo niyang maingay ang aircon sa kwartong naka-assign talaga sa kanya ay hindi ko matanggap.

I googled the vlogger and found out it wasn't the first time he did the outrage. Nakakainis lang dahil late ko nang nalaman at wala na akong magagawa pa sa ngayon. It was too late to address the issue. Ang tanging magagawa ko na lang ay kumalma at ipagdasal na huwag mag-krus ang mga landas namin dahil kahit na hindi ako mapanakit na tao ay baka magawa ko sa kanya.

I spent most of my time reading every reviews on the internet. Ngayon ko lang nakita na sa apat na buwang lumipas ay mabilis na naging 1.9 ang rating namin galing sa rating na 4.9. It all started with that man and the fucking noisy aircon na sana ay pwede namang sulosyunan. Nakakainis dahil kahit hindi naman mga naka-check in sa hotel namin ay dinumog kami ng negative reviews at alam ko na kung saan galing 'yon at sino ang pasimuno.

Bumigat ang ulo ko. I decided to drink wine and continue what I was doing until I came across Sunset Royale Hotel and Resort's page and their reviews. Hindi ko mapigilang mapanganga nang sa unang pagkakataon ay mapanuod ang isang promotional video ng resort. It was five times bigger than Coastal Rock with five hundred fifty rooms!

Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha habang pinanunuod at binabasa ang lahat ng positive reviews. They score a solid five and it was unbelievable!

They have everything there. From good food, entertainments, brand new amenities, etc.! Everyone wrote that the hotel was amazing and a must visit when you're in El Nido.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapaisip kung paano nila nagawa at naitayo ang lahat ng needed trend components ng hotel in just a short period of time compared to how I built mine but then I realize who these people are. One Rozovsky is enough answer to all my question because being one means having an ultimate power and riches among others.

Two hours later, I was busy again. I was almost panting after standing firmly on the ground while gathering all my remaining strength as I stare at a grandiose and luxurious signage outside Sunset Royal Hotel And Resort.

Humigpit ang kapit ko sa hawak kong duffel bag. I never thought I'd be this keen to know more about the place that's been killing us all but here I am, holding my duffel bag full of my stuff and waiting for a staff to greet and guide me inside.

This is what I came up. Three days is enough to stay and spy. Pagkatapos nito ay sisiguraduhin kong matatapos na rin ang lahat ng problema ko. I said to myself after I saw a staff wearing a blue uniform waving at me and giving me the warmest smile I've ever had from visiting a luxury resort.

Fuck.