A new blog, a new me! (hopefully haha)

Just an hour before noon, instead of sleeping (which I usually do because of my work sched) I got myself to clean my room, errr, half of it actually. Like a spring cleaning, but during Christmas. You know, where you throw out the stuff that you've kept before 'cause you think it's still important, then you just forget about it and now it is accumulating space?
Yep, I was able to fill two big shopping bags of stuff that I threw away. Surprisingly, I didn't feel sleepy while doing it. It's actually not the cleaning part that I enjoyed, but going through stuff that brings back memories.
I was able to run through a lot while I was sorting them out:
-flyers from the college job fair, where promises of immediate hiring are written. I was able to remenisce the different places I went to just to apply for a job. doing tests and interviews, then hearing from them after 2 months or so.
-my name pin at Shangri-La. This is somewhat one of the...well you can say 'bitter' memories that I had. And I'm not even sure what I'm being bitter about 'cause it's not clear what happened with my training there. Like three days of work then suddenly bye-bye. I did what I can while I was there, I even got tips. But I guess it happened for a reason.I can't see myself working in the hotel anymore.
-drawings. Some were uber funny that I had to keep it.
-sketch of a 'floor plan' for my room. I still want it to be put to work. Well, my room's outline is almost the same, I would just need to buy a new desk, a round rug, pillows and a nice TV.... and a new closet, repaint the walls, have the light fixed, buy a new mirror. Woah, lots of stuff to do.
-application forms of my current company. Remembered how I rushed my documents within two and a half days. When I signed the contract, I was advised that if I wanted to start training ASAP to rush my documents because the next batch would start in a week. And that's what I did, so now I'm here.
-leather gloves. This was lent to me by a college friend. He lent it to me when I tried their gym at their condo, but I guess he forgot about it, so they are still with me.
-copies of my thesis. Remembered the fights that occured because of it. And of what happened during the defense.
-2 Timezone powercards. Those reloadable plastic cards for the arcade. I miss those times when my classmates and I, or Nyl and I (and Almi and RG sometimes) would go there and play air hockey or karaoke, or that horse game that makes your thighs sore.
-movie tickets. It's for Sex and the City and Speed Racer. I collect the tickets as souvenir. And when I enjoy the movie and the people I am with.
-price tag of a polo shirt I bought. I kept it, not just because the tag itself looks good, but because it's one of the polo shirts that I love, and it costed me a lot more than the usual. You see, it's one of those shirts on the stores wherein when you see them, you can't take it off of your mind and you just have to go back there and purchase them. Well, that's what it's about. Really, after going through the other shops I went back there after two hours just to buy it.
-college notes. I don't know why I keep some of them. But there was this one activity in a subject that caught my attention the most. It is one of those that yeah, you know you wrote it, but I weren't able to know until reading three or four sentences. It's one of those that you wouldn't believe you wrote it yourself. It's just that I already forgot about it, and then it popped out of nowhere. (and it's a sensitive topic that involves recordings of conversations.)
-and some other stuff that is somewhat private and can't include here.
It's like the desk alone where I got all these things is like a vault of memories wherein I am the only one who would know about them when I see them. And I didn't throw everything out. I am somewhat sentimental so I kept a whole box and a folder of those that I didn't want to throw out.
The good thing here is my room now is 50% cleaner. And I was able to run through my memories again.

It's Christmas again, and I remember the days wherein this holiday season is one of those that I look forward to and enjoy every year. But this year, it has changed.

As I logged in on my Avaya (the phone set that is used in call centers) I felt like something is missing this year. I should be at home was what I was thinking as I was setting up the programs to be used for my work. Usually at 9PM of December 24, I'm at home cooking and preparing the ever-present spaghetti and fruit salad. Dressing up for the Christmas mass. Sending text messages, greeting everyone a merry Christmas. Looking forward to the inuman later on.

But just this past night, at that time I was in front of the monitor, worrying if my team lead would fry me on Friday for being late 10 minutes, becoming anxious of whether majority of my calls would be bad calls. Honestly, I wasn't happy during this shift. I was hoping that something would come up, particularly this: that they would announce at 10 for everyone to log off and go back home as a Christmas treat to all of us. But still the hours went on while being in front of th e LCD monitor. It completely replaced the Christmas lights that I always look at and admire when I was a child.

Oh how I missed Christmas. I thought I would be able to endure being away from home while I was hearing everyone on the floor great everyone a merry Christmas 12 midnight. No, I did not cry at that time, but instead I find myself crying 11 hours later while typing this entry.

Missing out on a lot of holiday activities this year did not sink in quickly. I realized just now what i missed when all of it has already passed. Yes I know, I would still be able to live without these, but to realize that you missed on several things that you enjoy every single year? That's what's killing me.

I wasn't able to attend our yearly Christmas party with my highschool friends last week. I wasn't able to be there with my family during that midnight. I wasn't able to have a drink with friends at our beighborhood after that midnight. I wasn't able to say yes to my college friends when they told me that they are going out to drink. And why? Because of this job.

Now I'm not even sure if I am still able to hold on to my job. I am missing a lot of people because of this. It's not that the people at work aren't pleasant, I love the people i'm with at the office. It's just that I wasn't able to join those that I love to be with, specially during this special occasion. I used to be the person who would always say yes at the drop of a hat when someone invites me to go out and have a drink or do whatever. But this December, I wasn't able to be that guy. And I wish for that part of me to come back.

But still, I will go on. I will stay with my current job. I need this.

Anyway, Merry Christmas guys!

---This entry was made a month ago. And it still is true.---

This isn't about the movie with girls fighting, or the video game.

Lately, I'm beginning to think about quitting my job. I do feel stressed with it. It's like most of the time, I find myself dragging itself to work, like if I only had the choice of not going to work for a week then I wouldn't. But then again, we need to work or else, no bucks, and a bad record on file.

The problem is, I'm really not that interested with what I handle at work. Cars? Woah, I don't even know how to drive. I'm not even interested in them. And irate customers who wish for cost assistance even if they are already out of the parameters. What a life.

I was just thinking: what if I just waited for HSBC to call me? Would I be happier? Looking through bulletin posts at an online community for call center agents, I've seen some comments that if the position offered is for customer assistance, then it would be toxic. No thanks.

My ideal job is like this: I have the service, people call me for that, and I give them that service where I am very efficient at. (Note: not a 1-800 BRITNEY hotline or anything erotic). Meaning something wherein when you call, you would know automatically that that call is something that is within a specific range. Not like what I have now: a call comes in, and good luck: it would range from warranties to vehicle operations, up to vehicle complaints, reimbursements, bluetooth pairing, parts delay, some supervisor calls, dealer complaints and others. Others say it's just easy, but I still find it hard.

I just hope that I would be placed in something that is somewhat with a boundary. I want to be efficient, and even though it would be repetitive, I don't care. I'm the type of person who can go on and on being repetitive, just to know that I am being the best in that task. I don't want doing something wherein I'm not good at.

Just 5 minutes ago, I caught myself staring at the pictures on my slide at my homepage here in Multiply. Literally. Lying on the bed while looking at the screen. I miss my old self.

I miss the times when all I worry about is getting above passing grades, and if I would be able to or should spend my allowance on drinking or just eating whatever. I miss the times when my classmates and I would head to Cubao or some other place after class and just drink. I miss the times when after classes I would head to Nyl's condo and just do whatever: drink coffee, drink beer, play Boggle, just chat.

Okay. Seems like every sentence on the previous paragraph has the word drink or drinking in it. Hahahaha.

I miss my old self who seems to be happy most of the time. I guess I'm not that happy right now. I don't know. Maybe I'm not enjoying work.

But I think what keeps me going is the people that I am with. They made my stay in the office pleasant and memorable. If ever I was assigned to a team with members who snobs you on your first day then maybe I wouldn't be working the next week.

But mind you: they're not my teammates anymore, but I'm still able to be with them on the floor or go wherever with them. I really did not want to leave the team but I had to. I was part of the last four people in the team that entered the floor, so four of us were transferred to other teams. But I'm still with them, and it touched me. If only I had a choice I wouldn't leave the team. I already like the team.

I just thought: yes, I might be missing my old self. But if I were to remain as my old self then perhaps I wouldn't be able to do what I can do now: pay for my own clothes, eat out with friends, and sit in a coffee shop.

REALLY. You would never be successful in convincing to stay in a coffee shop before. My friends know that. They even tease me that I am angry at the lady in the logo of Starbucks. It's just that when I was still in college, I'm thinking that it isn't practical to spend 140 pesos for a cup of coffee because it was pricey and there were lots of people in it. Before I am usually in a coffee shop just when my friends and I are waiting for someone else to arrive, or when I'm with my friends who I'm not able to see for months now and then decided to stay in a coffee shop to catch up on what's happening with each of us. Really, if I would decide where to stay: a bar or a coffee shop? I would choose to stay in a bar, because I don't feel good when I'm at coffee shops, because I feel like I'm paying for a pricey cup when I don't even earn my own money. But now, I feel more at ease (but not completely) to stay. And it's not because of the coffee but because of my friends, the people I am with. And also because I already have a job, hahaha.

Come to think of it, maybe I just miss the people that have been a part of my life. I miss being with them. I'm sorry, I'm just wide awake when everyone else is already asleep.

well, i'm currently in my 5th week in training... and it's a great experience for me i can say...

i learned a lot of stuff during my 4 weeks in training... well yes it was scary at first, but i'm getting the hang of it. well one of the things i am worrying about when i would start taking calls would be the accent of some customers. i mean there are some customers with heavy accents...HEAVY. there was even one sample call where the word 'folders' was pronounced by the customer as 'boulders'! hehehe and also another would be when the customer is using his or her cellphone to contact us. the line would be kind of choppy and at times agents would keep on requesting to repeat something..

currently, we are 'y-jacking' as they would call it. it's actually listening to an agent taking live calls. we would plug these special headsets into their connection so we would here both the customer and agent talking, and also to get a chance to see how the agents are navigating the different tools that they are using in their documentation.

for now we'd just listen. but maybe tomorrow we would start typing the documentation as they talk to the customers...and maybe two days after, we'd be doing the talking (SCARY!!!!!) well i'm kind of scared to talk..well they say that you'd get scared at first and eventually get the hang of it.. but i'm just scared of making an error, or supplying the wrong information, because the calls would be recorded as that of the agent that we are y-jacking to, and i don't want anyone getting a low grade because of my mistake...right?

yesterday, one of the team leaders talked with us stuff about the industry. one thing caught my attention and kept me pondering about it even though i was already home. he said that most people would think of this job as 'pang-bobo' or easy-easy. but he says that it's not right, and i also agree. i mean aside from the talking, you'd also do documenting, escalating, and finding info and all that. yeah, it's not a 'pang-bobo- job. also he said that one of the reasons why call centers keep on hiring is because agents don't stay for long. either because of the pressure of the job, or of higher salary offers from other call centers.

ii know that being in a call center isn't part of my plans before, i mean i actually wanted to work in a hotel or resto before, but now i am thankful that i am here and experiencing this.

well wish me luck guys! i hope i can make it through this week...(and hopefully make it as a regular hehehe) i want to be here and i want to stay in this company....

This entry should have already been posted months ago....along with my interview odyssey in EDSA Shangri-La... don't know if I mentioned about this bus on that post.. anyway, I was only able to get this pic from my cellphone just yesterday...i mean there wasn't a pc-to-phone connection included when i bought this cellphone, so i had to use another cellphone with a connection just to upload this.
Well, i was sort of tired already as i boarded the bus...and as i was making my way through to the back, i was suddenly given an espresso boost as i saw the seats at the back....wow ala-jeepney style! so syempre dali-dali ako umupo diba, at nagkukukuha ng pics wahahahaha!!!

"another satisfied customer"

"the unexpected coffee boost"

....one more thing....within the week, i was able to ride THE SAME (take note: the same) bus!! woah it was freaky...maybe it was just a subtle hint that if ever I were to be rejected in a job (shangri-la) i'd get another (the one now)...ahahahaha ^_^ ssshhhhhh!!!

woah my last post was july 16? before my birthday? wow hahaha....
well some updates for you guys:
i started training August 4:
-yes, it's in a call center; and
-no, it isn't in HSBC.
well, i'm currently enjoying training...it's for a month. the first half would be for communications and culture training, and the second half would be for the product or service itself....
i just finished the first week, so after the second week, they would be taking out those who aren't good enough for them....i hope i'm not one of them hehehe ^_^
i really enjoyed training...i mean, one of the reasons why i wanted to be in the call center industry is for me to develop my English communication skills....so i was really positive in class. i learned to use more appropriate words and some Filipino-isms in english that isn't much accepted or understood in America.
also...i experienced waking up 5 or 6 in the morning for a week. haha that's a big accomplishment for me! knowing that I usually wake up an hour before noon...hehehe ^_^ it's because for the first two weeks, i was scheduled at 8 in the morning to 4...
well wish me luck guys! i hope everything would be fine.....

in this book, we are going to tackle on the advantages of having seperate circuits for your lights and outlets/sockets. hahaha

when i woke this morning, the electric fan wasn't running, so i thought that maybe the plug was just loose. but as i went out of my room, i noticed that the refrigerator wasn't on, and all the other appliances. but the weird thing is the lights are working.

so we guess that it has something to do with the circuit breaker. but even though we kept on flicking it for like thirty minutes the sockets in our first floor wouldn't work. so we decided that it's time to get help from an electrician....but for tomorrow or so.

the electrical sockets at the 2nd floor are working fine. but still, having none working on the first is a big no-no for me... first, my room's in the first floor, so it's like i'm LIVING ON THAT FLOOR, so basically, i couldn't use the TV, computer, karaoke, coffee maker, refrigerator...and the washing machine when i'm washing clothes. haha it would be a nightmare. imagine: staring at walls doing nothing...errr maybe reading, but i'm not in the mood for reading today anyway.

luckily enough, since the lights are working, my dad turned one of them into an outlet, by inserting this lightbulb-end-to-a-socket thing (they can be bought, those with the metal end of bulbs on on end, and a socket on the other) and then plugging an extension cord in it...and voila! instant sockets!hahaha

so what's the moral? have circuit breakers, and separating the electrical sockets/outlets curcuits from the lights' circuit. haha

this past friday, the day after going to PeopleSupport, i went to HSBC global resourcing site in Commonwealth Avenue, which is pretty near Philcoa. I mean from our street, I could take a taxi and it would only cost about P50-60... that's pretty convenient, if i would ever be working there haha. ^_^

so i arrived there around 10 in the morning. the process there is more intricate compared to people support. first is the initial interview, then the exams, then the pre-final interview, then the final interview, then the job preview, and after that: the soon-to-be job offer.

(if you aren't interested in the narration of events, just skip the next three paragraphs ^_^)

so that friday, i passed the initial interview and was set for the exams which would be at 1:30. so to pass the two hours i went to their cafeteria. it was a good place. good food, and i liked it so i'm looking forward to be working there (hehe). so i spent the first hour there, then the other in their waiting room with a movie playing on the wide screen and free drinks. (haha) i passed the exams, and since it's already around 2:30 i think, i was set for the pre-final interview the next day at 9:30 in the morning.

so that saturday, i arrived there 15 minutes earlier. and i was called 5 minutes later. i passed the pre-final interview, but not with flying colors as the interviewer said, but i have a shot at the final interviews. (that was scary somehow, knowing you didn't ace it) and during the final interviews, i thought i wasn't going to pass it because there was the question of giving an example on how i used my skills at work. i gave examples on thesis-making (for the typing skills) and making of proformas, sales invoice and delivery receipts, but the interviewer kept on saying to be direct with my answers or something like that.... so on my third try at answering the question, i said plainly that i still haven't had any work, but i am pretty sure that i'd be able to use these skills on the job, and given the proper time and training i'd be able to handle the job perfectly. (that's what i said there)

i passed the final interview as what the interviewer said afterwards. wow i made it! hehe... so afterwards, i was sent to the job preview thing, and it's watching a video (a desktop capture video) which is of a call handled by an agent. so it basically shows the multi-tasking done by the agent during the call, so multi-tasking is a necessity in the job. afterwards the interviewer asked me a set of questions about the video and if i'd be able to handle it. and so i was informed that they'd give me a call on what my schedule would be for the training..
i'm just worried that it's already wednesday, and i still haven't received anything from them. the receptionist said that i'd get a call monday morning. so i called and they said that they aren't finished yet with calling everyone and that i should wait, and someone whom i met there (an applicant also) said that their processing is slow so i'd just have to wait....and that's what i'm doing now..

haaa, i hope they'd call. i really am worried about my application there. i hope i'm in.

here again is another blog entry from an unemployed single would-be-more-urban soon-to-be-professional independent-in-non-financial-ways person.wahahahaha ^_^

i applied for an ad in jobstreet.com posted by jobstreet select, which i think is a placement agency/subdivision of jobstreet. it was for an opening as a customer service representative for a directory assistance account (as the ad said). so within 7 days' time, i received a text message from them stating that i have an interview with them at their office.
so i went there and did the interviews and the tests, and i passed. from 25 plus people, i think only three made i through the interviews, typing skill test and grammar, reading comprehension and vocabulary tests. so i was given two envelopes for recommendation in two callcenters: one for peoplesupport in makati, and another for HSBC in commonwealth avenue.
so the next day (which is today) i went there at 10, and applied. i passed the initial interview (from 30 in the batch to 11) and the tests (typing, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension. listening, one of the 11 was eliminated) and got a shot at the final interview w/ phone simulation.
it was scary. the interview was okay, but the phone simulation...whew it was really bloody. the situation in the phone simulation would be i am a csr for a flight and hotel booking site. sounds easy? not on the first phone simulation ever!
haha well to say it plainly, i think i didn't pass. the interviewer said that they would assess what position would be the best for me then they'd call me back.... well those words (we'll call you) would 90% mean that they would, but not to say that you're accepted, but that you are not qualified.
anyway it's my first so i was sort of panicking, and i fully do not know what i should be doing. but i think i'd be good in it if i'd have training on it so i'd have a concrete idea as to what i should do, and so that i'd fully know the service we are selling. (I do great when i fully know the product/service).
oh well, at least i have another shot..for HSBC in commonwealth avenue tomorrow...yay ^_^

application odyssey... odyssey... well i didn't apply at a recordbar. odyssey because i walked for like 5 blocks in a dark-coloured long sleeved polo an hour or so after noon on my way to an interview. it was like jogging for 15 minutes.hahaha
i was at Astoria Plaza Hotel for an interview, which at that time I didn't know yet the position that was open. turns out it was an application as a waiter, which i wasn't interested in, and as the interviewer noticed. well i really didn't like to be a waiter so i told the interviewer after he made the comment. it's better to be honest and follow what you want, i guess. i mean at this time where i still have no job i still have the choice of not getting what i do not want.right?
choosy? maybe. but at least i'm not forcing myself into something that i might regret later on. (like studying nursing for a year?haha upon seeing a patient with an axe on his forehead, i might just vomit or faint)
so from here...apply apply mode. : )
so after that, which ended around 4:30 i took the route that is somehow not directly going to SM Megamall when i saw an old lady begging for money to buy food. i was searching for coins in my pockets or a 20, but i only had a 500 and 100 bill. so i said i had no coins with me.
as i was walking away i just though that she looked hungry and that it would somehow be rude/weird not to give somthing (i mean i was in long sleeves with a gold necklace and carrying a leather folder-like thing and i can't give anything?) so i went to the ministop at the block ahead, and thought of buying something for her. i bought a 48pesos rice and meat meal for her which i had reheated, and a liter of C2. but as i went back, she wasn't there anymore, so i tried to find her. i trusted my instincts on where she might have gone to (if she walked towards the block where the ministop was, she wouldn't be near there, so i went the other way). luckily i saw here, asking for money from those walking out of a small office. so i approached her and gave here what i bought, and she thanked me, saying she hasn't eaten all day. so i just smiled and said to her to be careful in going around, who knows what might happen to her.
well, it wasn't on a main road, it's only a drive. but, i mean she's alone by herself, unlike the others that i see, and she's in her 60's. her kids (if there are) or someone else has to take care of her.
i was thinking...would i be like her when i get that old? i don't want to live like that...

insecurities and desperations season 1:
-i wish i have such a good voice like David Cook or lead of The Calling: so that I could make good music, and just be able to sing on open-mics or jamming sessions in bars when I'm tipsy.
-i wish i could speak english well so that i could penetrate the call center industry with ease, and not be so conscious when speaking the language.
-i wish i was born with the best facial features and be extremely fit so that when i have no work i could just get a modeling stint or runway job or something.
-i wish i was in culinary school so i could be in a hotel or be a celebrity chef with a TV show.
-i wish i was born to owners of many restaurant chains so i'd learn the inner workings of the restaurants and manage them someday with ease.
-i wish i was born to socialite rich parents so i could enjoy life to the fullest...
(err, take the last part out, i still could enjoy life somehow without that)

anyway, things aren't going so good lately. still have no job. maybe i just applied with the wrong establishments or for the wrong positions or something.

just this morning I applied for work in a call center where my friend is working. well i've been considering applying for work in it the past weeks. it's just that when you check the 'jobs for new grads' section of jobstreet.com, lots of jobs in call centers are posted...more than the other industries combined...like 80% are call center jobs and the rest share in the small 20% left in the pie.

to make the story short, i wasn't accepted. the agent said that we (I and other 15 or so) weren't qualified for the job, and only 2 were chosen. when we were leaving the place, I and the other applicants were just in positive mood and were even making jokes about it...that maybe it was just a setup, that the two accepted weren't really accepted, and us 15 would be called later in the evening to say that we were actually accepted.hehehe suntok sa buwan.

well i was fine, but 30 minutes ago, while i was just sitting and collecting my thoughts at our backyard, i slowly felt the reality that i am still unemployed, and chances of being employed are really really slim. (reconstructed: chances of being employed with generous pay and benefits are really really slim)

i just said to myself: 'maybe i'm like this right now, but someday, i'll make sure that my life would be something worth of writing for in an autobiography/biography book.

i wish.

well, just being at home, aside from the daily tasks like, cooking, washing clothes and drying, washing of the dishes, sweeping, and the every-Saturday-mopping, the rest of my time was spent on the occasional application for jobs, interviews, some karaoke at home, going out with friends once of twice a week, surfing, and playing games on the computer...

about two weeks ago, i started playing this online game, Perfect World by levelupgames, and there I rediscovered the joys of online gaming...haha... well, 're-discovered' is the right term, because last year, i played an online game, but not as faithful as how I am playing now....

i mean, when i am done with all the chores and other tasks set to me (like the typing of proformas, sales invoice, delivery receipts, and others) I just find myself logging-in to my account and playing to my heart's content....pics of my characters:


Eiichi the Wingkind Magic-user (Yu Ling)


Yuharo, The Human Fighter (Wu Xia)


Aiyoko, the Human magic-user (Fa Shih)

oh well, I guess this is what it's like to be a bum.....

while venturing their site, i eyed an opening for a community manager...what is a community manager? well here is the description from the site:

COMMUNITY MANAGER
Community Managers function as the main line connecting the gaming community with the game and brand. They liaise, communicate, enforce, administer and coordinate with the different venue available with the game to ensure that all acquisition and retention efforts are on track with the goals set by the brand manager.

Qualifications:
• Must have a passion for gaming
• With excellent written and oral communication skills both in English and Filipino
• Knowledgeable in desktop applications especially in MS Word, Excel and Power Point
• With the ability to prioritize multiple tasks
• Organized and has a high regard for detail
• Proactive and highly analytical

'bed time'...or 'sleeping time' or 'time for bed' or whatever you'd call it....this is one point in your day wherein you have the deserved time for yourself. and as silence kicks in (not to some maybe) and you are lying there on the bed, when you are not yet too exhausted thoughts start to accumulate, and part of them is not jsut about future plans or goals but also of the past.

just today, an hour ago actually, i just needed to get sleep because I have an appointment for an interview at 9 in the morning.. but until now, and it's 3:30AM already, I still can't sleep fully...well i did have a very brief sleep, around 2AM i dozed off but after 30 minutes I still can't go back to sleep!!! so now i'm here in front of the computer, as I wait for myself to feel sleepy.

the hours that passed wherein I wasn't asleep were just used up lying there on the couch (i sometimes sleep on our couch, it's just so comfy and nice to sleep in) and just thinking of random stuff...a lot actually crossed my mind... people in highschool, jokes among friends, a classmate in college, someone I liked, what should have happened if i did this and that, and what I would tell my old self if I (the present me) were to go back in my high school days...

well, to share it with all of you, these would be what I would tell my old self:

1. don't touch your nose! dont squeeze them out! those zits, and those white thingiess even if it gets addictive..haha. squeezing out whiteheads turned my nose into what it is today... may baku-bako, uneven..

2. your hair! you have to know how to fix your hair! last years of grade-school i was referred to as toupe or wig. my hair was just messy. i didn't know how to groom myself then.

3. i would tell myself: go to a salon, a decent salon not a barbershop, and ask for a decent haircut. i always went to barbershops, and they always did not-so-nice-looking haircuts. or should i say it didn't fit me well...

4. have a better body! it's just that i was thinking, it would be better if my weight before would be something near what i have now, or even better. that way, i would have had more confidence.

5. throw away the glasses ASAP and reach for a pair of contact lenses ASAP. (double ASAP) glasses didn't look good on me.in my opinion.

6. just beat the hell out of those who tried to bully me. haha. but it's okay now, nobody's hurt..

7. have facials. my skin then wasn't good, and actually, until now, i just want to have a 'miracle operation' on it, if there ever is such a thing as a 'miracle operation', you know, just lie down for hours and then you'd have the skin of a model.haha

8. do a curse on myself that for everytime i'd self-pity myself, a magical hand would smack me on the face. hahaha... actually the better version would be the 'safeguard ghost' (you know commercials of safeguards, the mom being advised by her ghost self? something like that)

oh well, the others are pretty personal, the what i should have done to some people, yadi yada etc..

oh, IF YOU EVER READ THIS, SHARE SOME OF WHAT YOU'D TELL YOUR OLD SELF IN HIGHSCHOOL OF THINGS HE/SHE SHOULD DO..okay? just for fun : )

hmmm.... if you don't want to then it's okay i guess hehe : )

well, i'll just play some games till i feel sleepy...zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

whew! another Monday of being a homebody.... well, not exactly the homebody 'couch potato' lazy unproductive type... yeah, i have no work yet, but I am doing stuff that would at least generate money for someone who would be hired to do it: katulong mode!

actually, it's something that I've been doing while was still studying: i cook our daily meals, i wash the dishes, wash the clothes and hang them to dry, sweep the floor, mop once a week... I'm not complaining. I am somehow proud that I do these.. I feel that I still have a duty, worht, or purpose...yeah, purpose is the right word... I still have purpose, somehow... but the 'purpose' that I really want to be of is to generate and bring in money to the family.. I mean, we all study not just as a hobby or past time, but to eventually have a more dignified career..right?

When we were still kids, our challenges would be to tie our shoe laces right, brush our teeth everyday, and recieve stars from our kinder and preparatory teachers...(hehe) and we go to elementrary to prepare for a bigger challenge, which is highschool, and then we go to high school to prepare for college, and pursue college to prepare for an even bigger challenge/responsibility/call-it-whatever: to have a fulfilling work... fulfilling in terms of money and contentment and self-fulfillment and self-worth.

Right now, these are the things that I want to have.. self fulfillment and self worth. yeah, I know you can still achieve these even without a job (i still have that self-worth thing by doing chores) but to be able to support your family, and to be able to stand on your own feet, and purchase what you need and what you want with your own money - that's priceless. To know that you'd have the ability to be independent and that you can support your self is a big confidence booster.

Okay, so what is the 'not-so-secret' secret? Here it is...

Remember my post about missing two interviews at Edsa Shangri-La? Well I was again called for an interview a week after...and to make a long story short, I was chosen to be a trainee for being an Amenities Officer...well I'm not exactly sure if that's the job title..but the position is responsible for the replenishment of fruits, and fruits of the day, and upon the guests' request, the wine, chocolates, sparkling water, etc... it's like room service, but these are the things that you bring in.

So, among four of us who were present on the interview day, I was the one picked...I didn't ecpect it to turn out like that because they all have jobs and experience, while I have just graduated months ago...

Tey said that training would be for seven days, and after that if it turns out to be okay then you get hired. But the sad thing is, after just three days they said that the following day would be my day off of training, and during that day off, I was informed that they would just call me if they need me.... okay, at first I was still very optimistic that maybe that's their process: train, then train others, then train some more then pick among them; but since it's already two weeks now, I'm thinking that maybe that's just their way of saying that 'you aren't what we need'...ouch!

Haha, I really just feel soooooooo bad just thinking about it.... hah, just writing about it pains me...

(...okay, I'm becoming emotional again...)

I did what I can.. I made sure that I followed the standards.. in my first and second day, I refused to eat from what was stored! (okay, I ate a donut on the third day...but it wasn't in our section, probably it was from some department and was brought to ours, and I ate it because i was thinking that maybe they's think na di ako nakikisama or something..but those chocolates and fruits, I never ate any! kahit inalok nila ako!) I did my best, and I admit it was hard at first.. but on my last day, which was the third, I was already enjoying my job! and I even got tips!

I fulfilled the request for additional plates and cutleries.. I fulfilled the request for additional glasses.. I fulfilled the request for four shopping bags by some American guy... I informed the nearby employees that a room's lights wasn't working after a lady used her hairblower..

Okay, I had trouble at first on pushing heavy carts...but I didn't break any serving plate that I cleared on that third day..(that day, there were so many who checked out, that lots of plates, cutleries and F.O.D. plates had to be cleared floor by floor, and my cart was full of high-stacked plates...)

Honestly, I don't know the issue....is it because the uniform didn't suit me? (it was size Large, and I wear size medium..swear, while wearing the uniform I felt like I was back in high school wearing large or over-sized clothes....) is it because I wasn't as fast as the others? (i'm still starting and training, unlike my co-workers who've been doing it for months)

My guess is maybe they hired that one guy who looked better than me...taller, fairer, more blemish-free and more good-looking than I am...it's that guy that should have been with us during the interview, but was sent home because he wasn't wearing corporate attire (he was in shirt and jeans)...and I saw him on my second day of training, in nice corporate attire, in the agency coordinators' office, waiting for the interview, looking at me like he noticed I was one of those four that he should have been with during the interviews.

Or maybe I wasn't just fit for the job...oh well, I guess maybe it just wasn't meant for me... but seriously, I was already enjoying it.

Some more vids posted at youtube...nice to watch in your spare time...they are funny:

This is from Mad TV....two rivals about to fight...or not..:


The substitute teacher!:


High School Musical Parody:


Sluts in the City:


---the music vids of Mad TV:
"Umbrella" featuring Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama hehehe:


"Whatever, Don't Matter" - a parody of "Whenever, Wherever" by Shakira
beware to her fans..

hehehe

i just love choir music...and they're kind of like acelebrity :)
their sound is awesome!

this song, Kaisa-isa Nyan (made by Filipino composer) is extremely difficult, but they make it sound so easy...
this is from the contest itself, in 'European Grand Prix':


and the one after recieveing the award:


compare them, malinis! well done....

Oh well... in case those reading this doesn't know, well i missed an interview with Edsa Shangri-la for a job because of not knowing about it properly. Well that's the first. For the second time (which was today), I missed it again.hahaha this time not because of not knowing about it, but because I slept late so I was late for 2 hours from the appointed time, 8:30AM
Well, I didn't went to bed late on purpose. They texted me at 11:30pm last night, well it's okay for me, but because my phone was set to silent mode, I was only able to check it at 1:30AM. well, I didn't know that my phone was still on silent, so I had 4 messages, this including.
So as soon as i got the message, I went straight to bed....but the weird thing is, I set the alarm, and I'm used to sleeping for just 4 or 5 hours, but still I woke up at 9:15AM....woah!!! and even though I'm late...very late already, I still tried to go there...
But since I arrived there after 10:30AM (which is very very late) I was informed that interviews are already done, and that the next set would be around Friday, so they'd just call or text me again....
well I hope there would be job opennings soon.....and the kind of job that I would love....
haha oh well......

this is quite entertaining and funny.....

Luis, Iya, Nikki and Shaina doing a 'commercial' backstage....


know some vids of commercial what-ifs made by stars? share them!

nice vids at youtube....some are so funny! though some are more than a year ago haha

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spoof of amreica's next top model.....cleveland's next top model haha

lots more at http://youtube.com/user/atomicwedgietv

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I'm F*cking Math Damon! by Sarah Silverman with Math Damon himself
-don't know when this was made, but it was nice and entertaining..

1. real name
• Carlo Frederick C********** Taylor

2. like it
• yes...

3. single or taken
• single!!!!

4. zodiac sign
• leo

5. male or female
• male

6. elementary
• Claret School of Quezon City

7. high school
• Claret School of Quezon City

8. college
• Trinity University of Asia

9. eye color
• dark dark dark brown

10. hair color
• dark dar dark dark dark brown (black when not in a brightly-lighted environment hahaha)

15. are you a health freak
• sort of.... a healthy one and a slacker mostly haha

16. height
• around 5'10"

17. do you have a crush on someone?
• all do have crushes...right?

18. do you like yourself
• not entirely

19. piercings
• none...thought of getting one but friends say it won't suit me so i didn't haha.

20. tattoos
• none

21. righty or lefty
• is this in line with the government?lefty.

FIRSTS
22. first surgery
• circumcision haha

23. first piercings
• no piercings

24. first best friend
• Ranuel

26. first sport
• hmmmmm....if this would mean the first sport i considered to be my sport, then it is badminton.

27. first pet
•a dog....he went out after breakfast and didn't came back for lunch : (

28. first vacation
• don't know...i'm still a child by that time so i wouldn't know....

30. first crush
• can I be honest? i don't want to be honest..wahahahaha

CURRENTLY
49. eating
• nope

50. drinking?
• nope, but would like to....(oh! a frozen cocktail on the freezer!*gulp gulp*)

51. about to
• get it from the freezer....

52. listening to
• nothing, but can hear the movie my mom is watching.

53. waiting for
• getting a JOB!!!!!! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

54. wearing
• My CAT-I shirt and blue boardshorts.

56. want to get married
• with the perfect match, yes. with someone i don't like, no.

67. careers in mind
• One: be a bartender then eventually become a bar manager. Two: be in the Front Office of a Hotel. Three: cook in the kitchen. Four: a go-go boy at a bar.wahehehe won't happen! Five: be an OWNER of a resto, a bar, and appartments. hahahaha (may happen!hhahaha)

WHICH IS BETTER WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX?
68. lips or eyes
• eyes. chinky or deep. expressive ones.

69. hugs or kisses
• kissing while hugging....

70. shorter or taller
• shorter...someone taller would be okay, but it should be within like a 2 or 3 inches difference

71. tan skinned or light skin
• light...or dark. doesn't matter.

72. romantic or spontaneous
• spontaneous

73. dark or light hair
• black or dark brown hair.

74. slim or normal
• slim

75. hook-up or relationship
• relationship

76. similar to you or different
• similar, yet we should also have differences. ang gulo ano?

HAVE YOU EVER
78. kissed a stranger
• yes

80. broken a bone
• nope

81. climbed up a tree
• sort of. haha.only 'hugging' on the trunk.haha

82. broken someones heart
• looks like i din't. don't know of they were true.

83. turned someone down
• yes

84. liked a friend as more than a friend
• yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN
86. yourself?
• sometimes. it depends.

87. Santa Claus
• I did, but found out it was my parents.hahaha

90. kiss on the first date
• it happens. on some dates, not all dates.

91. angels
• yes

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY
92. is there one or more people you want to be with right now?
• yes. lots.

93. Do you hang out with these people?
• some yes, some no.

94. Are you cool?
• yes, still cool. keeping it cool.

LASTS
95. Text message
• hey almi, do you know who made this globe commercial thing with a kimpee de leon on a globe service center? -i swear, that commercial looked so unnatural and so corny i might smash our TV if they would show it three times in a row.

96. Received call
• demets

97. Call made to
• almi (nagkamali lang ng pindot haha)

98. Comment on friendster
• 'carlo!!! congrats!!!'

99. Missed Call
• from Leah

100. Person/s you hung out with
• high school friends.

101. You hugged
• pillow. and......

103. You talked to
• my mom

104. You slapped
• i never slapped anyone. no one i could think of. i did slap myself though.

105. Said I love you to you
* the last person? si.....................

Random Me...

yep, we just knew about it when my family and i were there during this day...
it just so happened that my father had his camera with him, so he was able to get pics of Angel and Piolo.... here they are:

it's a Sunday right now, and lots happened I guess..
anyway before anything else, I'd like to welcome all of you who are viewing this li'l blog of mine...it's my first post wahehehe.....
it's a Sunday, so we have mass at 11am, but we were late (not my fault this time haha, i had a shower early, my parents got up late that's why hehe)
and like every Sundays, this day of the week is like our 'family day': the day we spend together at the mall, to have lunch and to just unwind........and buy tissue rolls (hehehe)
we always get off at the Hypermart entrance of SM The Block... so after arriving, we were about to proceed to the main mall when we saw the stage with the set-ups...and there was the logo of Lobo, and the names 'Angel Locsin' and 'Piolo Pascual'.... which means they would be doing a mall tour here in The Block! my dad seemed interested in seeing this tour, as he said that he would like to take pictures of Angel Locsin, because he had his camera with him....(did my dad know Angel was gonna be there, so he had his camera with him?haha maybe just a coincidence)
so since it is still noon, and we still haven't had lunch (even breakfast) we proceeded to Chowking to have our lunch. Chicken lauriat, yang chow chow fan, and beef wanton noodles..yum!
after that, we proceeded to the department store and we were just looking around at the kitchenwares, then bought a shampoo/soap holder, then went to Lyric (music instruments store) because the agent has been calling my mom for like more than 7 times regarding the piano we were looking at, Sunday the week before. I really want that piano!hehe.... and after that, we proceeded to the department store to buy tissue rolls (yayy!) and some other stuff like this instant chocolate mix (for hot choco), and some snacks.....
after that mom and I felt it was tiem to go home, but dad said he'll stay for the mall tour of Angel for Lobo....anyway it's a good idea because he has his camera with him...so my dad was left behind, and got great shots! here they are....Angel Locsin and Piolo Pascual..

WARNING!
The poems which aren't exactly poems that you are about to view are very amateur, childish, corny, -drop here any word fit to your vocabulary-. By viewing these you certify that after reading these you wouldn't be too irrate, or become mad. mentally. in any way. haha

here are compilations of prose (which I am not proud of hahaha ut am sharing anyway) from my old blog.
Note: my 'poems' aren't really poems because whatever i think, i just type it down...