PARALUMAN: AN ANTHOLOGY CRYSTALLIZING WOMEN
by Jasmine Fiona Tan | Published March 2021
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jasmine Fiona is a 20-year-old aspiring interior designer studying at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde where she currently serves as the president of her home organization, GRID or the Guild of Rising Interior Designers. She is a Batch 2018 senior high school graduate of Philippine Cultural College where she served as Tanglaw's Editor-in-Chief during her senior year. Jasmine firmly believes that education is the best way to empower women as it gives women (and men) the ability to contribute to society.
Saturday 1:53 AM – Home Office
[guest speaker’s & volunteer’s hats, off]
“Done.” Alice whispers to herself, satisfied, as she sits back on her high-back, leather office chair and closes her eyes. Images of the long (yester)day flash through her mind – reflecting.
Friday 5:08 AM – Master Bedroom
Baby Alec is awake. His wails are deafening. Still drowsy, Alice gathers all her strength and willpower to get up from bed quietly as Allan, her husband, is still asleep. She is not a morning person, but it is not for her to choose. She drags her way to Alec’s room and calms the little troublemaker she loves dearly.
It may be too late to sleep again, she thinks as she makes her way to the bathroom – oh, and it is the time of the month, again. “Great,” Alice sarcastically says to herself, feeling anxious of the pain that may come. At the same time, she cannot help but feel excited as she remembers this day is the launch of her company’s new furniture line. She forgets about the red day and heads to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and do other wifely duties like waking her husband.
Alice briefs the nanny of everything Alec needs. She fixes herself and goes through her schedule to not miss anything.
**Note:
Friday
9:00 AM – Client 1 Meeting
10:00 AM – Webinar (Guest Speaker)
12:30 PM – Client 2 Meeting
2:00 PM – Furniture Launch
4:00 PM – Site Visit
5:30 PM – Staff Meeting + TGIF
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11:00 PM – Webinar USA-10 AM (Guest Speaker)
Saturday
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1:00 PM – Church Volunteer Work
3:00 PM – Site Visit
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7:00 PM – Family Dinner
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Slightly overwhelmed, she does her final check and hurries to the parking lot with her essentials – praying for a smooth drive to the office.
[mother’s and wife’s hats, off]
Friday 11:48 AM – Office Building
[Boss’ hat, on]
Her team has started working as early as seven with the needed preparations for the launch and client meetings. Alice finishes a successful webinar for women’s month as a businesswoman-guest speaker. “What’s next?” Alice asks. “Lunch! … And then client 2,” Assistant Ashley replies with enthusiasm, which is reciprocated with chuckles as they drop their work and head out for lunch.
Friday 1:00 PM – Launch Studio
Client 2 does not like their proposal. The team is a bit down, but Alice knows that she should put these negative thoughts away – reflect on these later – and boost her team’s morale up again for they have a launch to prepare for. After some words of encouragement, with smiles and hugs and not another word, the studio is noisy and busy once again.
Alice is feeling weak from her period cramps.
Friday 2:24 PM – Launch
Not even half an hour from the launch, Alice receives a call from the nanny about her son’s fever.
[Mother’s hat, add-on]
She instructs her nanny to give Alec a cold compress and watch how he reacts, and to keep her updated. Alice cannot help but worry about her son, but she knows not to overreact as she has babysat before.
Friday 4:48 PM – Site
The launch is smooth, and many are interested in their new product line. Fortunately, Alec’s fever goes down, and it’s all good for now.
After checking out the construction site and talking to the contractor, Alice removes her hard hat and drives to her office building for the final meeting of the day.
[Boss’ hat, off]
Friday 7:18 PM – Kitchen
[Mother & wife’s hats, on]
After showering and relaxing from a long day, Alice starts preparing dinner for her husband and son. She can’t help but feel tired from the period cramps she’s been ignoring until now.
A cheerful exchange happens in the dining area. Alec is put to sleep, and Alice is able to find time to rest from her pain when Allan offers to clean up. Careful not to miss the US-based webinar where Alice is a guest speaker, she sets the alarm to 10:00 PM before closing her eyes.
Friday 10:13 PM – Home Office: Webinar
[guest speaker’s hat, on]
Feeling a lot better, Alice readies herself, writes some notes, and skims through her presentation.
3, 2, 1, and they're LIVE.
Saturday 1:33 AM – Home Office
[volunteer’s hat, on]
The webinar has ended, and Alice is delighted to be able to impart her knowledge to the aspiring designers and design enthusiasts on the other side of the planet.
She decides to send some emails and do some volunteer work for church.
Saturday 2:16 AM – Home Office
Alice opens her eyes and realizes how many hats she has worn for the day. She feels tired. But she smiles as the family photo catches her eye, and it’s clear to her why she wears these hats.
Suddenly, the cries of baby Alec ring through the monitor. And there she goes, again - it is time to wear the mother’s hat.
[mother’s hat, on]
-end-
You are brave, strong, and capable. You may feel overwhelmed or far from your goals, but you will get there. It’s perfectly normal to trip or fall along the way, so do not be afraid to ask for help. Do not feel discouraged. Remind yourself that it will be all worth it. Be positive! Hold your head high as you wear your hat/s and tackle the day ahead. You can do it!
