One Prayer Answered... Need To Pray Doubly Hard.

Good news... I got the Technical Assistant position...

The not so good news... the Management of Taguig is holding back my transfer.

Here's the story of the whole day (which was actually the whole day yesterday):
We had our team huddle first thing in the AM. And during the huddle my immediate boss clarified the issue of my intention to transfer at the main office. So I told him jokingly that there was no announcement about it but I'm crossing my fingers on it and told him that if I have to go, I'll go of course. And all through out the morning, he was always hinting on that.

Then I went to the main office for our project presentation. During that time, my batchmate texted me that I'll give them a despida, which I didn't entertain afraid of getting my hopes up. Then I have to call our office to talk to our collection manager. It was Bernie, a good friend and former teammate who answered, who was in panicked regarding the news (which was all over the Taguig office) that I would be transfered. I told Berns to wait for me at the office for things to be clarified...

Then Ma'am Ron, our OIC, texted me regarding the transfer. She was asking questions like what position did i apply for. Was the position offered or did I apply for it? and the final question was, "How much you want it?"

I texted her that I have to talk to her (to get things clarified) at the office and not in text.

So when I reached the Taguig office, I hurriedly went to the Boss and confessed the whole story... from day 1 (when I was invited to the main office one Friday of January) until today.

According to Ma'am Ron, she got the news just this mornign when Ms. Camela and Ms. Sharon (both from HR) approached her and told her that I need to report to the main office effective March 2, urgent. The urgency shook her of course considering that I have only less than 5 days at the office.

Her verdict: She personally doesn't want to release people from Taguig for the follwoing reasons:
1) The Taguig Office is under-manned right now. Some Territory Managers (TM, which is my level...) have 2 areas to be managed because of this.
2) There is lack of time for transition or turn-over of the area. Usually, it takes a 15 days to a month just to exposed a new TM in an area since we need to study the network of the pipeline, need to be introduced to the baranggays, homeowner officers, etc.,
3) I'm holding the biggest area in terms of demand because most of my accounts are government and big corporations. So the area is critical.
4) On Mar 10, 2009 and Apr 10 are management presentation which is very critical for the BA because this is when we present our targets and have them approved. All the directors and even the president of the company is going to attend.

Even though I have informed Ma'am Ron how much I wanted the position, it seems I can't be released!!! Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was crying about this last night... thinking of what to do just to have a win-win solution...

I understand Ma'am Ron and the Taguig's situation but I can't seem to swallow the thought that just because of that my growth is hampered.

Tag Happy: Day 2

Today is quite a hard day. I got to work past nine even if I was at Que Ave platform before 8AM!!! I missed lunch doing our presentation and had it only by 4PM. But the hard times makes you appreciate the good ones all the more.

>> Amidst being late because of the exhausting MRT, I was able to resist cursing. It was my venue actually to communicate to my God of my situation and the hardships of life.

>> The Business Zone Review went very well. Although Ma'am Ron was not able to attend our review, Sir Elmer gave us good pieces of advice. The inputs from the Technical Service Manager is commendable.

>> Surely we had our lunch by 4PM. But having the joyride (we rode to and around FTI looking for food...we even reached DOST)with the boys of Fort Boni was quite facinating... especially with their antics!

>> I surely missed Bugong chicken. I had that for lunch! Yum yum!!! I used to eat Bugong almost every weekend during my first year in UPLB and have looked forward to it each time I have extra money from the allowance my parents gave me.

>> I got a hitch ride from Ma'am Belle and so I saved on transportation.

>> Thank God for a generous brother!!! I arrived at the house with an ice cream filled Ref. I know it is fattening but it is not everyday that I get to eat icecream.

Monday na po ulit.. I'll write my Friday-Monday blessings and post it when I get back from my weekend escape. =)

Tag Happy: Day 1

I'm doing this tagging thing because I like the concept of this... to appreciate everyday's blessings, however small it may be.. Thanks to my cousin, Cyhna, for dragging me to do this.

Rules: Post about something that made you happy today even if it’s just a small thing. Do this everyday for 8 days without fail. Tag 8 of you friends to do the same.

Since I read about the blog post last night (around 12:15AM...hehehe!) before I sleep, I think I'll start my "Day 1" with yesterday. So here goes the list of my blessings.

>> MRT is much better today... I alight a not so packed train and got to work relatively early.

>> I had free eat-all-you-can lunch at Kamay Kainan!!! Sir Mar was invited by a contractor and since I was tagged along, I had my stomach filled with a variety of food all of which are delicious. =)

>> I got a text from an Abyan that he got me tickets for Ang Kiri on the 26th!!! Thanks Byan Ghe! I'll pay you soon! Yebah!!!

>> My team ended work around 8PM because we have to prepare our presentation for the Supply Zone Review. But instead of going home directly, we headed for dinner feasting over Chowking food . I was actually one of the boys being the only girl in the team but they never treated me differently... The guys, Boss Lawrence, Caster, and Jovert would actually joke around dirty stuff even I'm around.

>> We (I plus my cousins and my brother) finally have tickets for Penagbenga next week!!! I actually got to the Pasay Terminal at around 10:15 PM. Instead of going home after dinner with the team, I headed to Pasay since Victory Liner is open 24 hours a day. I just thought of just going through what is scheduled so that I won't have to do it the following day. Good thing I did, because I got the last four tickets to Baguio for Feb 27, 8PM... Lucky me!!!


There goes yesterday... I'm on to my blessings for today.

I'm tagging the following to do the same: Lenny, Boy, Frae, Chris, Ji, Pao, Ricili, and Kat Kho.

MRT Jungle

The MRT is such a jungle. Men and women would throw fists just to get in especially peak hours going and from work. I for one commutes using the MRT and it is surely getting worse each day. Just for laughs, this is a compilation of the true remarks during MRT rides.

At GMA Kamuning Station
As the doors of the MRT is about to open, and people keep pushing to get in,
Commuter: Oh! Oh! Oh! Teka lang hindi tayo taga-Cubao! Taga GMA tayo!

At Cubao Station
Guard: Paraanin niyo muna ang mga bumababa!
Commuter: Wag niyo silang salubungin, hindi niyo sila kamag-anak.

Try using the MRT and you'll find it more amusing!

SMILE!!!

I came out of the house a little late. The sun was beaming at my face that early as it is, I was already squinting. I'm not in a bad mood... just squinting the sun's rays.

And there was this foreigner, I think an American, crossing the main road of the subdivision. And while I was walking towards him still with my face cross-looking, he said, "Smile, lady. It's too early in the morning not to smile!" And I did... smiled at the stranger... I thought it was funny that he said it outrageously... The thought of him just telling me that, lasted that toothy smile...the whole day...

Opportunity Loss

I just had a chat with my brother. He told me that PNOC (Philippine National Oil Company) called and asked for me. But he doesn't know much of the details since it was my tita who answered, who didn't think much of the big deal herself about the call. Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!! That is an opportunity and I lost it. So I instructed to post my contact details and give it to any company who calls. All of it.. emails, contact numbers even my address.

I don't know if they'll ever call again. Hays... but I hope, calls will keep on coming. =)

Sick-o

I'm sick again and my first for the year.

Maybe due to low resistance or stress. Either way, nothing to be bothered really... just colds... a little fever, a clogged nose, and a few sneeze here and there.

But I didn't report to work today. Took my first SL for the year. Have to put it in use from time to time and give the body some rest. I'm drowning myself with fluids while continuously giving instructions to my teammate.

I might get some sleep in a while... =)

Meantime Girl

She’s the one you call when you’re bored because she makes you laugh. She’s the one you talk to when you’re feeling down because she’s willing to lend an ear and be a friend. She’s not the one you call when you need a date to your company’s Christmas party, or to go dancing with on a Saturday night. She’s the one you spend time with between girlfriends, before you find "The One". You know, the one who you keep around in the meantime.

She’s not one of the guys, not a tomboy, but you don’t look at her as a "real" woman, either. She’s not bitchy enough, moody enough, or sexy enough to be seen in that light. She’s too laid-back, too easily amused by the same things your male buddies are amused by. She’s too understanding, too comfortable – she doesn’t make you feel nervous or excited the way a "real" woman does. But she’s cool, and nice, and funny, and attractive enough that when you’re lonely or horny and need intimate female companionship, she’ll do just fine. You don’t have to wine and dine her because she knows the real you already, and you don’t have any facades to keep up, no pretenses to preserve. You’re not trying to get anything of substance out of her. She’s not easy, but you know that she cares about you and is attracted to you, and that she’ll give you the intimacy you need. And you know you don’t have to explain yourself or the situation, that she’ll be able to cope with the fact that this isn’t the beginning of a relationship or that there’s any possibility that you have any real romantic feelings for her. It won’t bother her that you’ll get up in the morning, put on your pants, say goodbye, and go on a date with the woman you’ve been mooning over for weeks who finally agreed to go out with you. She’ll settle for a goodbye hug and a promise to call her and tell her how the date went. She’s just so cool . . . why can’t all women be like that?!

But deep down, if you really think about it (which you probably don’t because to you, the situation between the two of you isn’t important enough to merit any real thought), you know that it’s really not fair. You know that although she would never say it, it hurts her to know that despite all her good points and all the fun you two have, you don’t think she’s good enough to spend any real time with. Sure, it’s mostly her fault, because she doesn’t have to give in to your needs – she could play the hard-to-get bitch like the rest of them do, if she really wanted to. But you and she both know that she probably couldn’t pull it off. Maybe she’s too short, or a little overweight, or has a big birthmark on her forehead, or works at Taco Bell. Whatever the reason, somehow life has given her a lot of really great qualities but has left out the ones that men want (or think they want) in a woman. So she remains forever the funny friend, the steadfast companion, the secret lover, and you go on searching for your goddess who will somehow be everything you ever wanted in a woman.

She doesn’t captivate you with her beauty, or open doors with her smile. Mainly she blends in with the crowd. She’s safe. She doesn’t want to be the center of attention and turn the heads of everyone in the room. But she wants to turn someone’s head. She wants to be special to someone, too. We all do.

She has feelings. She has a heart. In fact, she probably has a bigger and better heart than any woman you’ve ever known because she’s had a front-row seat to The Mess That Is Your Life, and she likes you anyway. She obviously sees something worthwhile and redeeming in you because although you’ve given her nothing, absolutely no reason to still be around, she is.

- written by kristchan in www.urbandictionary.com

Upgrades

Next to getting freebies, I think upgrades and discounts are one of the best things one could offer hungry consumers. I for one, got upgrades for my drama experience last weekend.

Kat and I watched Joseph the Dreamer at SM Cinema 4 last Friday (January 30). And while waiting for the play, Kat approached the table where the tickets were sold to chat with her friends from church (who are also the organier of the event). And one of her friends exchanged our tickets with another set of tickets. Then Kat bought her food and we queued our way inside. And we found ourselves at the near-front part of the theater. Originally, our seats were at Row M but we were upgraded to Row F!!! Thanks to Kat's friend!

Joseph the Dreamer stars Franco Laurel as Joseph. A biblical story of Joseph, 11th son of Jacob and his favorite, Joseph the Dreamer warmed my heart with this very strong paternal story.. IT is obviously a paternal story... ties between God as a father and his sons Jacob, Joseph and the rest of his brothers, and the paternal relationship of Jacob and Joseph and the rest of his sons.

Joseph is so favored by his father so he was given a cloak of rainbow colors, which started the sibling rivalry and rage amongst them. Add to that the boasting Joseph did telling his brothers of his dream that they will bow to them (together with the moon, the stars and the planets). And so the older brothers plotted Joseph's downfall. They sold him as a slave to a traveling merchant and his cloak, they wet with blood of a sheep to make their father believe that he was dead, devoured by some animal.

Joseph was sold to Potipar, the Pharaoh of Egypt. He was made into his right hand he showed some leadership but the arrival of Potipar's wife, was Joseph' demise as well. Potipar's wife was in love with Joseph but to no avail, she punished Joseph by claiming that they have an affair. So Joseph was sent to prison. There he taught prisoners and even the jail guards to pray. At that time too, he was known to be interpreting dreams. His fame brought him a baker and a chef, who wants their dreams interpreted. He interpreted the chef's dream that the chef will be rewarded while he interpreted the baker's dream that the baker will die in a few days. All of which came true.

He asked a favor from the chef, that if the Pharaoh will reward him, he will mention him to the Pharaoh. Two years have pass and there is not a single word from the Pharaoh let alone the chef. Along with that is the agony of bearing the bad news for the baker, as well as the longingness for his father, Joseph felt that God has forgotten him. If not for a lady sweeper who cleans the jail who reminded him of God's goodness and how He, through Joseph, transformed them to be believers once more, Joseph felt that God has abandoned him.

At that time, the new Pharaoh had dreams... bothering dreams that he called on magician and prophets to interpret them. The first dream was that there are 7 fat and healthy cows graing then came 7 sickly and thin cows came and ate the 7 fat healthy cows. And amidst feasting on the healthy ones, the sickly remained sickly and thin. Then the second dream was that there are 7 fat and healthy corn cobs, then came 7 sick-looking corn cobs who devoured the healthy ones yet remained sick-looking. All the magicians and prophets attempted to give meaning on the dreams but to no avail. The chef, who suddenly remembered Joseph, told the Pharaoh about it. So Joseph was called and interpretted the dreams. 7 years of Plenty will come and will be followed by 7 years of Famine, Joseph said.

Afraid, the Pharaoh seek the help of Joseph of what to do. He made him one of his governor and Joseph facilitated the preparation of the succeeding years. After marrying the Pharaoh's daughter, Joseph was thrown to the Pharoah seat.

As the famine break in, his family heard that Egypt has supply. So all of Joseph's brothers except for Joshua, the youngest, grabbed their sacks and traveled. It was hard for Joseph to face his brothers, the ones that has harmed him. But the brothers did not recognie him. He interviewed them and pretended to learn about their father and their brother. He told them that one of them has to stay until they bring him Joshua.

So the other brothers returned home and told their father of the Pharoah's request. So they came back to Egypt with Joshua and Jacob and at that time, Joseph has in his heart forgiveness. And his hunger to see his father was sufficed. As he returned to his Jewish clothes and with the cloak of many colors given by his father, his family have known that it was Joseph. The play ended with a great reunion and praises for the Almighty.

-o-o0o-o-
Franco was splendid!!!! And the face, hays! Those boyish looks makes you swoon over him. And I love the facial expressions and he let go of a few tears during the touchy scenes. Plus the prowess of his singing voice, it was magnificent. I also commend the actors who played Jacob and Rachel (who also played the jail sweeper) because of their acting skills and singing voice. Sobra sa galing!!!!

Joseph the Dreamer did not fail to give his audience the message: that God has a plan for each of us, that our dreams and ambitions are not hard to reach as long as we are working and praying for it, forgiveness is not eay but in time it will come. I also love how they showed Joseph and Jacobs relationship, you will wish you have the same with your father.
=)

Verdict: 4 1/2

I almost forgot about Academy Days

I had a chat with a classmate who have a line saying "kolasa 2k, alumni lunch later! c ya!" as her status at YM. Just thought of extending my hi and hello to my batchmates who are coming to the get together. And she told me that they're going to the Academy Days!

Admittedly, I forgot about it... totally... I mean, it never occurred to me anymore. Maybe because after graduation in highschool, I never got to experience Academy Days anymore...Academy days happens in February in time for the Feast of St. Scholastica, the patron saint of the school. Back then, Academy Days is a most awaited event as there are less classes because of practices for the Field Demonstration. And at the Saturday of that week, it is a free gate day as anyone could enter the school grounds. On that day too, there are booths set up by each sections in Highschool. Booths of all sorts ranging from love booths, marriage booths, jail, horror room.. etc. etc. In my gradeschool years, a ferriswheel was set up at the parking area for the gutsy type... In the afternoon, everyone was in their costumes for a the much awaited, Field Demonstration. It was one event most Bacolodnons awaits.

And everything of that part of my Kolasa life, never occured to me not until I was reminded by a batchmate... Along with her reminder is the fact that next year would be our tenth reunion in highschool. Time has gone so fast! I'm looking forward to going home...

P.S. Last night, I dropped by a stall selling t-shirts. I saw one saying, "I am a Scholastican" with all the St. Scho uniform and all. I want to buy that shirt if given the funds.. (Paramdam na ba yun?)

A Cadet's Woes

There are two ways getting in our company... one is the route i have taken, the Cadetship training program. I think for the past 10 years, Manila Water has almost 500+ cadets. And the other route, is direct hiring to the position applied. The latter requires years of experience or expertise and all the credentials.

Lately, there are a lot of direct hires. And it brings a lot of questions amongst cadets. Questions like, How good are they? or Why can't they find among the pool of talents from the cadetship. Cadets are very diverse. Some are engineers (all fields), some are accountants, some are chemists, some have economics, finance and business management degrees. While some are architects, computer science graduates, or have chosen mass communications in their college years. The pool is plenty of fish swimming around waiting to be trapped in a net inclined to their true profession. True we lack in experience since most of the cadets are fresh graduates when they joined the company but as long as we are not given the chance to learn in the environment that could truly mold us into real engineers, or chemist, or computer scientist (etc.) we will never be chosen like the direct hires. We could never meet the standards a position requires, a position applied by the direct hires.

Just today, an email announces a new direct hired for the Quality and Standards Division, and I was thinking, does no one among cadets have the knowledge and talent for the position?