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?

Be Your Own Miracle

JUST STAND UP
by: Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Beddingfield, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Keyshia Cole, Leann Rimes, Ashanti & Ciara


Beyonce: The heart is stronger than you think
Like it can go through anything
And even when you think it can't it finds a way to still push on, though

Carrie: Sometimes you want to run away
Ain't got the patience for the pain
And if you don't believe it look intoYour heart the beat goes on

Rihanna: I'm tellin' you Things get better
Through whateverIf you fall, dust it off, don't let up

Sheryl: Don't you know you can go be your own miracle

Beyonce: You need to know

CHORUS
Sheryl: If the mind keeps thinking you've had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don't give up

Sheryl/Beyonce: Who are we to be
Questioning, wondering what is what
Don't give up THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!

Fergie: It's like we all have better days
Problems getting all up in your face

Leona: Just because you go through it

Fergie: Don't mean it got to take control, no

Leona: You ain't gotta find no hiding place

Keyshia: Because the heart can beat the hate

Leona: Don't wanna let your mind keep playin' you

Keyshia: And sayin' you can't go on

Rihanna: I'm tellin' you

Miley: Things get better
Through whatever

Rihanna: If you fall

Miley: Dust if off, don't let up

LeAnn: Don't you know you

Natasha: Can go

LeAnn: Be your own

Natasha: Miracle

Carrie: You need to know


CHORUS
Mary: You don't gotta be a prisoner in your mind

Ciara: If you fall, dust it off

Mary: You can live your life

Rihanna/Carrie: Yeah

Mary: Let your heart be your guide

Rihanna/Carrie: Yeah yeah yeah

Mariah: And you will know that you're good if you trust in the good

Ashanti: Everything will be alright, yeah
Light up the dark, if you follow your heart

Mary: And it will get better

Mariah: Through whatever

CHORUS (2x)

Fergie: You got it in you, find it within
You got it in now, find it within now
You got it in you, find it within
You got it in now, find it within now
You got it in you, find it within
You got it in now, find it within now
Find it within you, find it within

Everyone: THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP!

-o-
Tonight's such a depressing night! Thoughts of how hard work is now and the urge of quitting is creeping in... but of course that idea I could not entertain right now with the recession and bond..

I wish this is over soon...

Thanks Len for the inspiring advice... =)

In time for a Kung Hei Fat Choi

And so I went home last week... it was a sort of a planned surprise.

So much for the details of the reason...I'll go sidetracked and talk on something lighter...

Good thing Bacolod is a festive City... people have all the reasons (or think up of any reason) to be happy and celebrate...the trademark "City of Smiles" suits it very well. Just in time for the Chinese New Year celebration, Bacolaodiat was held in Shopping to welcome the year of the ox. Shopping, I often refer as the Chinatown of Bacolod since most of the shops/stores are Chinese owned. And there is a Chinese school in Shopping, St. John's Institute, where 90% of the students have a one syllable family name. Some Chinese families could be found in Shopping too.

A street in Shopping was closed for the festivities and Chopsticks Alley stood in place... it is a food strip where Chinese goodies are sold... There was concert too and big lanterns of the animals. What was so sad was that there was a strong drizzle (is there such a thing??). And what was bad was we didn't bring any umbrella nor jacket. But we braved the night just to take pictures with the lanterns... all 12 animals and the big dragons and all.

It was a fun night... =)

And then we proceeded to Business Inn for cansi and tears fell once more. =P

No Late Comers for Cebu Pacific

I went home last weekend. Our (me and my brother) flight was scheduled at 4:55 AM. So we took off in the wee hours in the morning, and pursued the airport via commute (which we used to do)! We arrived at the check-in counter around 4:16AM and was told that the check-in counter closed at 4:05 AM. Yikes!!! We missed it by 11 minutes!!!!

So amidst our pleading, we were directed to the ticketing section to have our tickets rebooked. And lo and behold!!! We are to add Php 5580.00 if we want to ride in the next flight. After so much debate with my mom, we decided to take a refund of my brother's air plane tickets and just give the additional payment. If not for the urgency of going home for the weekend, I wouldn't push through with the trip.

All through out this situation, I was so angry. I was so bewildered with the amount difference blaming all of it to Cebu Pacific. My brother who was so calm about all of this, was telling me that it was not Ceb Pac's fault but ours (but specifically me) since we came in late... But I guess, I was just so frustrated with all the money spending... =(

(Chinese) New Year's Resolution

Monday's Chinese New Year. And since I haven't drawn a list of my resolution for 2009 in time for January 1 (which is way over), I am making this list to make that sort-of tradition when a new year has come.... but not for tradition's sake, I hope to fulfill what I'll list here. Hmmm... lets see...

1) I need to drink plenty of water... which I took for granted or sometimes forget... I declared myself dehydrated last 2008!!!

2) One more year at Manila Water, I guess, I should deal with work professionally this year.... there will still be complaints, grunts and whines, but that should be lessened. I have to see the positive of each demand of work...

3) I have to say my prayers more... especially when I am close to be tempted. Praying makes me think... makes me reflect... makes me sort out things...

4) Eat the good and right stuff. I'm going healthy this year.... vegetable over meat, sea foods over other meat, chicken over red meat. And I'm cutting off my softdrink intake.... Hmmm... exercise... I always lose to laziness. I guess it is a bonus if I have some exercise... but if I can't do it, then I guess it will only be a disappointment if I include it here.

5) Explore. Explore. Explore. Go lang ng go!!! As long as I have enough money, I'll travel to unknown (to me) places, dine in new restos and Manila's good finds, see plays and concert... experience new things... discover unknowns... =) Tira tira!!!

6) Number 5 spells expenses... So before doing it, I have to save... kaya nga merong "As long as I have enough money..." which means, whatever is left of my pay after I have deposited to either my WASSLAI or a new savings account which will be untouched for the whole year...hope to have savings reaching 6 figures in total by end of 2009... I'm crossing fingers here.... (gusto ko na kasi magloan for a house and lot through Pag-ibig in 2010)

7) Have an open communication with my family... It seems last year was a busy year... I seldom got to talk to my family... hope this year, it would be part of the new things to happen for 2009

-o-o-
Ending it at 7 since it is God's favorite number. =) Hope with God's grace, I would be proud of myself a year from now... Ang pinakamahirap dito yung #2!!!! =P

Confirmed Hell Week!

Oh yeah! Now I could confirm this week is hell...

I was so late going to the office today. I was up until 2AM watching the coverage for US Presdident Barack Obama's oath taking. So I rushed my bath and forgo breakfast... I reached the office 45 min 8AM!!!!

And there were incoming call centers of no water in the area. So I told Sir Lawrence to come with me to find out why my area is experiencing no water. Good thing before leaving the office, I approached our SWAT team, Kuya Mana to come with us to do some valving...Which I found out, that he lessened the opening of the valves at Lawton by 15 turns (yikes!) to build up the pressure at the portion before the valve (for the McKinley account) as ordered by Sir Mar. So the area getting water at the Lawton line suffered which is AFPOVAI and Pasong Tamo Ext.

So we called up Boss Mar and told him the status of the area... we then proceeded to monitor the pressure and went to the throttled valve to increase its opening to give water to the affected area...After the incident we went back to the BA for monitoring... I had the SWAT team move in the area for further monitoring of the pressure and eventually Sir Ed returned the settings of the valve to its initial status to return the water and high pressure in the area.

When Boss Mar came,he looked for Kuya Rene's reading of the Bonifacio Naval Station(BNS) account, which I didn't take from Kuya Rene because I was not thinking that it is so urgent and important, more than what is happening in my area. So Sir Mar got so angry because we didn't take the readings and he needs it to compute the consumption of the camp. Bad thing was, Kuya Rene's phone was empty and Tita Tess who was with him can't be contacted too...all the more that Boss Mar got angry...he also got angry at Sir Lawrence and Jovert because they went to do collection leaving our targets pending...

Frustrated with his subordinates, He went to BNS to get the readings himself... :P

Returning to the BA, the Getz he was riding was at stop speed. According to some of my officemates, they were almost hit by our raging Boss...I've seen how the getz was driven inside, amidst the turn, he got it in in 5 sec.

He went directly inside the conference room. By that time, I have Kuya Rene's reading and the my weekly monitoring at hand. I told Kuya Rene to just go with the pressure monitoring team I sent to AFPOVAI and wait til Sir Mar's temper to cool down. Sir Lawrence and I were debating who will go to him and start the discussion of BNS. Since it was my area, it was best that I go to him and be at his mercy.

I approached him and gave him the readings, and hurriedly did some calculations. Afterwhich, he told me, in a neutral (not ok but not angry) voice that I'll include the calculations in my presentations for the challenging later which I did right after.

Lunchtime came and the whole Fort Boni (Sir Mar, Boss Lawrence, Caster, Sir Taggie, Jovert, me and Kuya Rene (!)) plus Ma'am Odette, loaded two service vehicles and went to Chowking at C5. I don't know how Sir Mar was ok with Kuya Rene all of a sudden. But I think it was because before going to lunch, it was C5's turn for challenging. And he gave C5 Business Zone a hard time with their targets to the point that "he made a fool out of them", as he says, which he really enjoys doing. =(

Lunch was like bonding for the team... which we seldom do... times like those, I remember my cadetship... time which has passed and will be in memory...

We came back to the BA to present our targets... which after some debate and justifications, were approved. Sir Mark, the BZM of C5 got back at us and pushed us to increase our targets...It was already 6PM or maybe 6:30PM until the debate, of which Business Zone has to increase their targets, is done. I think my energy was all drained justifying such small growth in the area...just to not have my targets increased.

I got out of the BA planning of watching a play... just to vent out such stress. But thinking of my unwashed undies piled up, I thought of going home instead. =P

It was surely a hell week.. I don't know what will happen tomorrow..

-o0o-
Just before going home, McKinley once again experienced no water in their area. Sir Mar ordered to throttle, once again, the valve at Lawton, decreasing its opening with 10 turns... which of course had me panicking... I don't want to have numerous low pressure and no water complaints!!! So I texted Sir Mar that we'll only decrease it with 5 turns. I hurriedly went to Sir Elmer who is at the pumping station... after discussions regarding McKinley, he ordered me to do some pressure monitoring in the morning, 6AM, which is at peak demand. I bidded to have it done at maybe 8 AM (which is the start of work). And he told me which really took me off guard, "Yan kasi ang problema sa inyo, hindi kayo nagbibigay ng kaunting sakripisyo... Pwede mo naman i-off-set un... pumasok ka ng 6AM para mag-monitoring at umuwi ka ng 2PM kung gusto niyo... Bigyan niyo naman ng oras ang area niyo." I just kept quiet and kept my cool (as usual).... but deep inside, i felt like bursting...

Is it not sacrifice that we extend our working hours everyday to 10 hours to meet the demands of work? Can't you call coming in on Saturdays or even on Sundays without collecting OT pay because it is "responsibility", sacrifice? Or beter yet, losing sleep and still at the BA because of a breakage or doing presentations for the management and still get nothing because they say it is part of work.... hays!!! Maybe they just don't know the meaning of sacrifice.... =((

A Start of the Hellish Week

I think I beginning a hellish week... Is it just because it is the start of the year and that everyone is up to their toes to meet the demands of the pending work left from the very long December holidays and Billed Volume Challenging is here once again.... it is a month of setting targets and coming up with the best justification for the targets set...

Yesterday, I was just at the office... doing the targets for the team... I was rushing all of it because Sir Lawrence took a half day off because his kiddo Kevin is having a hellish cough because of the cold weather...so I took over doing all of it... we have to get it back to our immediate boss so I have to rush it leaving lunch unattainable... hays... good thing, I ate heavy breakfast before going to work... so I haven't really felt hungry until 4PM.

The targets I passed were then asked to be revised.. it was too high as my boss says... so I did a few bargaining with my teammates which took most of my time in the afternoon... so I haven't done any of the piled work...

Today, everything went fine.. I attended the quarterback and when I was out, I continued on the revision of the targets. Lunch came I went to the Makati BA with Sir Nestor and Ma'am Pat... afterwhich I waited for Sir Lawrence to be back at the BA so that I could endorse a customer to him... they went out for lunch with the other guys...

And after doing the above, Kuya Rene and I went on field... it was maybe only about 30 minutes when Sir Mar called me to go back to the BA since there was a customer I need to talk to...

And when I came back, a very very irate customer faced me...

And she was angry because I didn't go to her place to check on her meter and her network... she was billed even if they were out of the country for 3 months and she suspects that the readings of our Meter Reader is ficticious...

She told me, "We are your customers, without us, you won't have salary... Kami ang nagbibigay ng sweldo niyo...If you could not do your job, you better quit." right in front of my boss and some of my colleagues..

I didn't try to defend myself... I'm not really used to join in with someone else's anger...and I'm not used to be tongue lashed.... So I just kept quiet and kept my cool... after the conversation we proceeded to her place for the inspection that she needs... after a few minutes I was done... although i keep on telling myself that i am ok, deep in me, I have never felt bad and degraded by someone who I didn't know and who didn't have the right to do so... but I told myself, that this is all just part of the job... yeah right!?!

After a few minutes, I was disturbed by the non-stop text messages I kept on receiving. So I proceeded to the area reported to be having no water... and found out that one of our pipes were hit by a backhoe of the contractors doing the drainage in the AFPOVAI. Argh!!! Breakage at 3PM... so I guess I'm doing overtime with no pay later as I could not leave the place with the mainline unrepaired...

So the usual operation, I called on a contractor and I told my boss regarding the status of the area... after 2 hours or so or pacifying the customers of why they have a poor pressure to the point that they don't have water, Richard, the head of the contractor came... I was about to get angry since they have to respond to the site ASAP but he brought no one along...it was almost 6 when his people came but we waited a little more for the materials from the stockyard in San Juan. Waiting time was about 3 hours but the job was only done in about 20 minutes...

Good thing, the contractor was used to doing such work... What was so frustrating was the mobiliation and of course the traffic... they can't be at the site in the shortes time possible... =)

I was out of the site by 7pm!!!

So today, it seems that I started the week in hell... but there was a man sworn to office today, starting his presidency in hell...as the US and the whole world awaits for change and hope, I hope he comes out in victory... believing that a representive from the minority can help and make miracles... Yes we can!

Now

Now
by MYMP

Now is all I know
Now is all I got
And I don't know
If there will be tomorrow for us.

Now is all I care about
Now that you are here
Now that you're the contents of my heart.

Now you're all I know
Now is all I promise
And I don't know
If there will be a future for us.

Now is all I live for
Now that you are near
And it was best that from the start it was clear.

Refrain:
Loving is not owning
We can let it go
We can let it go.

Loving is not owning
You can let me go
You can let me go.

Chorus:
There's a reason
Why we love each other now
And we don't know if this is forever.

There's a reason
Why we are together now
And we don't care if it's not forever now.

Now is all I think about
Now that I am happy
And I'm not sure
If there will be a future for us.

Now is all I offer
It's everything I got
And I still wish
That there will be a tomorrow for us.

(Repeat Refrain)
(Repeat Chorus)
Ad Lib
(Repeat Refrain)
(Repeat Chorus except last word)
(Repeat Chorus)

Coda:
We love each other now...

-o-
I love the song... and its message...

I love the line saying, "Loving is not owning, you should let me go..."
I guess that is one of the best definition of loving.. letting someone flap his/her own wings... to fly for individuality...

But I think this song does not believe in forever... it simply says to love your best at the moment... Contradicting, I think love should be seeing oneself together with someone (you are with now)not just now but later in the future as well.. That's why romantics paint their dreams with their partner... =)

But I guess, amidst with the unforseen, Now tells us to take the risk of loving... even for the moment.

Freezin' in a Tropical Country

It is F*CK-ing freezing cold!!!! It has been almost been 15 days since the cold month of December yet here we are experiencing the coldest night so far. Two days ago, news had it that temperature has dropped to 11 C. So I guess now we're down to a 9 C??? Yikes...

We're in our cold-deflector clothes... geared up in pajamas, jackets, scarf/shawl, and socks...Mel has almost the same outfit as mine plus the "bonnet" he made out of an old shirt. He even prepared warm water and we soaked our cold feet for temporary warmth.

I don't know how much more I could take of this before my system breaks down and catch a flu. A lot of people are sneezing and coughing in the MRT... and soon enough each one will be a virus holder... =) Which give me an idea... I'll pretend to be sick because of the very cold environment and not go to work... hehehehe!!!! I wish i could do it really, but it will still be me who will suffer as work will be piling up due to not attending to them... = (

In the Demand at 33

I left my work phone at the house today. And when I got home, I found it full of new messages... 33 new messages in exact number. To date, I think this is the most number of messages I received in a day without initiating conversation with anyone... let alone replying to any of the texts. And unfortunately, all these texts message indicates the demands of work since I have separated work from my personal line... At the other side of the coin though, this spells my worth in my work... =) I'm worth 33 messages.. wahahah!!!