The Queen's reveries...
Alright, I won’t use numbers on this piece anymore. Why? ‘cause you’ll know what the bleep bleep would mean. Yeah, we get wiser every year! *evil laugh*
Okay, I heard you, and I agree with you guys, I still look 5 years younger and Rayhan believes that, it’s all that matters. :)
A big thank you to those who remembered my special day! Cheers to life! Let’s all stay happy!
First week of January, 2012, though it’s the first working week of the year, a rumor was confirmed. This made me realized that rumors can sometimes be the prelude to truth.
February 2012… February 5th to be exact, many of us lose our job. Not because we want it to happen, but because that’s the way it is. It’s the company’s ultimate design.
I thought I would not cry on our last day. But I did! (Ako pa naman yung super lakas mang-okray na may iiyak, ako pala yun!) Okay, I admit it, I’m a cry baby. I’m not good in goodbyes. Whoa cheesy!
I will not forget you Teletech. Thank you for the 4 years! Thank you for the Manager’s Check!
Losing my job made me worry big time. Though I have the Manager’s check, everything’s still uncertain. I have bills to pay and a life to live. Finding a job and getting back on my feet is never a piece of cake. At ambilis lumipad ng pera! Alam nyo yan!
When I lose my job, I started to feel less of myself. After 4 years of consistently doing something, a sudden stop really hurt a lot. I said before that I wanted to get the pay so I can just work at home. Ben told me that I got what I want nga eh. Yeah, and I thought, bakit hindi ako masaya? Why do I feel unsatisfied? So what do I really want?
My attempt to fully work at home: Since 2009, I have a profile in an online global marketplace. I partially worked online since I have a full time job. After losing my job this year, I started to work online full time. I don’t know, but I easily get jobs there. I have a total of 4 full time online jobs. 3 of them are active as of this writing; I just resigned to 1 last week.
My attempt to find a new job: Going on a job hunt after 4 years of being employed is never an easy thing. I forgot how interviews go. Interviews and Exams are more like a heart attack. Nose bleed muna before heart attack. :P
I applied to several companies. I pursued 7 of them because of several reasons; that this company pays well, that this company will make me work on day shifts, that this will have me on their pioneer batch, blah blah blah. 5 of them rejected me while I almost grab an offer from this company but I have doubts with it, so I declined. I always reach the final part, but I never get the job. I started to get depressed. What was wrong with me? Now that I already mastered the art of going through interviews, I am not getting some love? I don’t even get nervous anymore, so what now? Maybe, I just have to work at home na lang. :(
Just when I thought I had given up. The 7th company was my stairway to heaven. I got to retain my title din. Lahat ng gusto kong makuha sa 6 na inapplyan kong company eh nakuha ko sa pang-pito. I hit several birds in one stone sabi nga hehehe. Thank you LORD!!! Indeed, 7 is a lucky number!
Matinding dasal: I prayed to God that my next job would give me my asking price, would give me a morning schedule, and not too far from where I live. That’s what I asked from God, the rest bahala na ang Diyos sabi ko. With what I went through, I want the next company to be better naman. Kahit hindi matunog ang pangalan sa BPO industry, basta stable at generous okay naman sa kin. Minsan nga yung mga famous BPO’s yun pa ang madaming kalokohan sa mga empleyado nila. Like what happened to us. Lesson learned: No rush. Be certain with what you need. Confess it to God. Pray sincerely. Be patient.
Thank you God for answering my prayers! I will be forever grateful! All the praises are for you alone!
So that’s it, come May 14, I’ll be saying hello Makati! Hello dayshifts! :)
I saw the beauty of Caramoan Peninsula in Camarines Sur last holy week. I experienced Island hopping, sun and sand. I was a little disappointed because Survivor US was shooting there at that time and closed 7 islands as if they own the place. It is not really good for local tourism. How could you satisfy tourists from other country when you can’t even satisfy your own? Their governor must look in to this instead of him doing ad shoots and billboard pictorials to promote Caramoan. You must’ve seen his commercial on TV and if you pass by the railways in Mayapis going to Gil Puyat in Makati, he has billboards there. Hahaha
CWC in Naga is not worth to visit.
After this weekend. I promise, I won’t travel in boats for the next 6 months or so. I got my fixed already. I really had enough of these boats!!!
Battleship and The Avengers, so far, are the best films for me this year. I hope meron pa! :)
I fell in love with Gong Cha’s teas. Good thing they have a branch in Glorietta 4 Makati. I can pass by once in a while after work. (Because I am not a bum anymore!) :D
I will surely miss watching Eat Bulaga and Hiram na Puso when I start working. Inaaliw talaga nila ko tuwing tanghali. And oh, I will also miss cleaning the house, washing the dishes, doing the laundry and other errands. You know, I learned to love them, pass time ko sila.
Raymart and Claudine vs. Mon Tulfo and his scary brothers. so far, is the funniest issue for me this year!!!
I miss Cebu. This hot, scorching weather reminds me of Bantayan and Moalboal beaches. Really! I am thinking of going back there as a reward when I get regularized at work. Probably will do a side trip to Bohol. I want to dive again too! Maybe by the end of the year, or early next year. Oh, now I can plan my life! :P
Just yesterday, I learned that Lee Min Ho celebrates his day of becoming a celebrity every May 10 of each year. He said that May 10 is very memorable for him. Oh my! That’s my birth day! :P We’re really meant to be!
I am thinking of losing weight. Seriously?! Then I think again! Seriously?! hahahaha
I cooked Penne in Red Sauce today. I bet it was a success! Thank you Ivy for the cake! Love it!
Chieken called me earlier to greet me. She said she’s a little sad kasi malapit na kami mawala sa kalendaryo. I told her, 24 pa lang ako, so 7 years pa! And then she said she’s just 21 blah blah. A good friend is someone who will make you feel comfortable kidding about your age and will make you believe that you’re still young at heart. I had fun talking with her and I miss her. :)
To end my blabbing for today, I just hope that the rest of this year will bring all of us better days. I want to hear good news, bubbly laughs and nice stories. Let’s avoid negative vibes/people and if you need to remove them in your Facebook or in any of your social networking sites, DO IT! It’s for your own good! Keep on smiling!
Good Afternoon World! Good Afternoon Philippines! Since I am already feeling the excitement for my trip nextweek. I will share 7 random things about me. I was tagged by a friend of mine and because it looks exciting to me, I’ll go ahead and give it a shot!
This is it!
- When I am eyeing a guy, I never easily get attacted sa mga guwapo. I think that’s the least I would look on to before I fall or magkacrush (very highschool naman!)… hahaha 3 qualities lang- clean hand and toe nails, can hold an intelligent conversation and good sense of humor. Pero pag si Lee Min Ho yan,wala na tayong pag-uusapan, choosy pa ba ko? :D
- Hindi ako mahilig sa matamis. Lalo na ang ulam na matamis! I crave for sweets once in a while but if my tongue had its fair share na, I’m good with that na. Cakes? Di rin ako choosy. I could eat those that came from classy bakeshops and those that we can buy sa panaderia sa kanto. :p
- I was an active member of a music group when I was in elementary. It was the school’s singing group. I was even part of the concert but I was not even given a solo, kaya galit ako sa adviser handling us that time. But then I realized that it’s not for me.Sintunado daw talaga ko sabi ng sarili kong Ama! Kaya siguro wala akong solo hahaha
- My weakness is Migraine Attack. Sumakit na lahat sa kin, wag lang ang ulo ko. It pains me only at the right side of my head and while I’m under attack, imbalido na ko. Can’t do anything, I don’t like noise, bright lights, scents, etc. The attack also lasts for 3 days, lalo na pag di kinaya ng pain killer.
- I love Tagalog and Korean Romantic Comedy movie/series. Minsan iniiyakan ko pa. :P
- Yes, I love spicy foods. Si BF, hindi. Si Tatay ko, sipa lang ng spice ang kaya nya. Ako gusto ko nananapak. Mga sisters ko hindi nila masyado bet. So I guess, I’m different talaga. :)
- I love to cook. Pero ang pagluluto ata ang ayaw sa kin. I know the process of how to come up with sinigang, nilaga, kare-kare, menudo etc, pero pagdating sa lasa, dun ako sablay. hahaha
Could’ve been :(
Yes! This is my cooking! Chicken Afritada. Chicken, Potatoes, Hotdogs, Tomato Sauce . Hmmm Family’s happy for dinner! :P
I am doing a web research yesterday for my client and came across an Australian forum about fruits and vegetables. This male Australian, who started the thread, was actually looking for a budding or a seed of a tree named Moringa Oleifera or Drumstick Tree or Miracle Tree or Magic Tree or Benzolive Tree or Horseradish Tree. He did not post any picture of that tree, but I became curios as the thread already has 20 replies and 280 views. He also said that he loves the sound of the trees’ name and that he wants to learn more about it. Some responses said that they have obtained one on Ebay and some on Asian store in Australia.
“What is Moringa Oleifera?” I thought. So I went to Google and searched for an image of the tree and was really astonished of what I saw. Call me the dumbest but I will admit right now that I did not know that this tree is called Moringa Oleifera or Drumstick Tree or Miracle Tree or Magic Tree or Benzolive Tree or Horseradish Tree. I really don’t know that it has a lot of names because all my life I have known it as “Malunggay”!!! And I don’t even consider it as a tree. Hahaha
The post starter did not mention why he needed the tree. But a lot of them vouch for its nutritional value. One even had to post a representation of how healthy Malunggay is (see picture above). I thank my parents that they taught us to eat green leafy vegetables like malunggay. I don’t miss the goodness it brings.
It just felt cool that someone wants it so bad when Malunggay appears to be so common in our surroundings. Some of us, in fact, don’t even give value to it.
My father had planted a Malunggay tree in front of our house. I wish I could give that Australian some of its stems FOR FREE, so he won’t have to purchase it from Ebay anymore. :P
As I am writing this sentiment of mine, my mind was thinking about this. Summer slowdown. Soon.
Because I am jobless…
Getting back on my feet: 3rd tryout
The Publishing Company did not contact me anymore. It has been, I guess, 2 weeks now. The Financial one, I declined. I don’t like the idea of having me work on holidays, graveyards, weekends, yeah on a shifting schedule in short. Why? Because there is nothing special with their remunerations (the manager already discussed it with me). Or maybe, I just became that choosy and ambitious being freed from the trash. They’re looking for 4 Quality Analysts, I could be one. I could be. “Could”. But I am tired of all the crap- working hard and getting paid less… OH B-P-OH! I could blame my previous employer all my life for not giving us a raise for 4 years and now I’m having a hard time bargaining my well deserved pay! My cousin, who’s also from a financial company told me about hearing some not so good feedback about that company. Maybe their new? Maybe, but I don’t take it now as an excuse.
Right now, I am working online. I don’t know, but I sent out 10 application one day, the next day, I got 3 jobs. And I planned to add more. I am earning dollars. An income to cover my 2 important expenses every month. I hope it will last until I find an “outside” of the house job.
Meditation to self: I am in no rush. I want it to come not because I just “want” it to come, or someone else wants it for me, or someone else force me to be on it. I want it to come at the right time because I need it and I am comfortable with it. Surely, it will come as a blessing. A BIG ONE! :)
Coffee? Check!
Nice Conversation? Check!
Bubbly Laughs? Check!
Tomorrow is March 4, 2012 and it’s been a month since I lost my job. Though I have been in this situation for 29 days now; still, the thought and the sound of it when I say it out loud irritates me. I constantly worked passionately for 4 years and then a terrible halt happened. Imagine my body and my mind was relentlessly in use up to the point that I already forgot the meaning of “relax”. It is up to the point that stress became my best friend. It is up to the point that I am not used to of staying home anymore. Now it makes me feel bad when I’m left behind and everyone else leave the house for work or school.
It’s now hard for me to plan my summer escapade because I have to think of my finances while others are free to spend and still get paid for their time off of work. Now, I have none. I was once a work horse and now I’m a mere lamb doing household chores and updating all of my social networking sites. I am a sacrificial lamb. Well, a beautiful, sexy lamb. Accept that! :P
Getting back on my feet: 1st Tryout
A week before my dooms day, around end of January, out of my great fear of becoming a “bum”, I started applying and I started out at a Financial Company located in Robinson’s Pioneer in Mandaluyong. It was for a Quality Analyst post. I still tried even if I don’t have a background handling a Financial Campaign. During the Initial interview with their Recruitment person, they said, they’re not a BPO/ Call Center, though their setting is just like one, she emphasized that they are not. I got interested.
When I heard about the company’s compensation/benefit package as she explained, I developed a great desire to work for them. It was too good to be true. So I was scheduled for a Final interview with one of their Quality Analyst. It happened the day after my initial interview. I was made aware that they are still starting out their Quality Processes and they currently have 2 Analysts and still looking to hire one within the following week. Our conversation went well and it ended up with an advice that they will review all the applications and if I pass, I will receive a call from the HR department for the next step. I asked her if I will still be informed if I don’t pass, she said that she was not sure if HR does that. So I left the place hoping and praying that I get the job. Even if it means that I will not be able to rest anymore.
The following week came. I waited earnestly for that million dollar call. I got no call and that made me know I wasn’t the one. Yes, I expected that’s why it hurts. Remember, your expectation is directly proportional to your disappointment. So if you expect gigantically and it’s not met, you fall the hardest. That’s what happened to me. But I realized not all people get lucky on their first try. Maybe I got a NO this time because the job was not meant for me. But It would still be damn great if they call me even if I did not pass, right? What’s that company you may ask? I won’t mention it anymore for confidentiality reasons. :P
Getting back on my feet: 2nd Tryout
Next was a BPO situated in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. They gave me a call 3 days after I applied at their opening through Job Street. Still, it was for a Quality Analyst post. I was invited for Assessments and Initial interview which I successfully passed. During the briefing for my endorsement for Final Interview, I was made aware that it was for a Technical Account- it is my forte as I worked 4 years for a Technical Campaign. I got excited. Adrenalin rushed. Maybe this was my piece of cake. I assessed what happened on my 1st try out and went on there to improve my answers. I was REAL ready. I waited 1 hour and 20 minutes to be interviewed by the Operations Manager only that the questions was not those that I expected. That person started out by asking about my professional background- which I answered clearly and magnificently. After that, he asked me of my remunerations with my previous employer- which I answered clearly too. That’s it, no challenge. I felt relieved that it was done but was a bit uncomfortable about it. It will be easier to justify your failure, if you know that you gave an obscure answer to a question. That you can blame yourself that you uttered the wrong responses at the most important moment of your life. But that didn’t happen to me. Still, I waited for the call, which happened 2 days ago. The recruitment person informed me that an internal promotion happened and was prioritized so they have to stop the external hiring processes. My application, she said, was placed on hold, but for me, it is already a closure. Probably, during my Final Interview, the Operations Manager already knew that an employee is already eyeing for that position, so he did not waste my time anymore and did not make my life harder by asking questions when he knows that they don’t need me. Fair enough. Well, it’s a NO again but at least, I received that courtesy call. :D
Upcoming tryouts…
I still have 2 pending applications. I am already waiting for the results of my Final Interview with this Publishing Company in Makati. I still won’t give you the story about it yet as I am still waiting for their call. It hasn’t been a week yet, so I think they will call. Fingers crossed!
The second company was a Financial Company in Taguig. Again?! YES YES YES!!! Well, my appointment is still on Monday and that’s still the first part of my application. They said that I have to take an Aptitude and Typing Test. Yiiiiiiiiii!!!
On making plans…
Somebody asked me about my plans now that I don’t have a job. Well, I did not give an answer because I don’t have one. I’m just taking one step at a time. I know God has bigger plans for me than I have for myself. I worry, Yes. I get bored, Yes. But I think I have to take this time for now to spend some for myself and for my family. They said that if it changes your life, it’s meant to be. My life’s changing and I’m excited what’s next. Join me on my job hunt mode experiences until I get that wonderful YES. The next one’s a blessing. God guarantees that. *winks*
“Life is full of surprises and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it-and then, not now, think about what comes next.”
– Condoleeza Rice
