There are some changes that will take place on the floor by next week. We will be moving to the corner side on the floor. QA people are moving to the 35th floor. There are new agents now on the floor. In our team, we have three new team mates. It is good to have new people on the floor. However, I get jealous when everyone is giving more attention to those newbies. I know it may sound silly but I still feel like I am one of the newbies on the floor. I know I should be happy because it only means that I will be taking more responsibilities now, that I am growing professionally. There is nothing big deal about this petty jealousy I am feeling right now. Perhaps it is because the newbies are male, no happiness with that. Err, how can I explain that? It is like they are just another form of competition? Err, I don’t know what I am saying here.
Anyway we, the team, failed the last CSAT, the survey for the customers about the quality of the customer service we provide. I don’t really know how is the process, but sometimes it feels like it is unfair. Like in my case, I already waived a fee and still, I failed the CSAT. It was so unfair. Considering it was the fault of the customer why there was a fee in the first place and they let me down after giving them the favor of waiving the fee? And to think that majority of our calls are well-served, it is just that there are some arrogant and, sorry for the word, as much as I don’t want to say bad things about our customers, I just can’t lie.
Enough of the bad stuff. We are enjoying our work on the floor. The gods still act like kids sometimes. They are the coolest Team Managers and System Manager in the whole wide world! Laughs! They really are! One time I heard Ms. Agatha, the System Manager, said that she was getting worried because it was availing like five minutes before another call comes in. I continued what she was thinking. “That we are running out of customers?” She was like nodding to that. She even joked that I needed to knock on the wood as an antidote to what I just said. I knocked on the top of the table of Ms. Shee. Jasmin said it was not a real wood but a synthetic one. I panicked jokingly and said that we needed to find a real wood or else, it would be our end. Laughs! I got one with the little white boards we have on the floor. Sigh, what a relief!
Everyone now is excited about the system building this coming April. This must be the busiest April in my recent life! Aside from the system building, I have eightmiles with Gracia for Baguio, and Jaypee, Cherie, Lohan, and Mine for Cavite. I am a little pressured with losing fats around my waist. I want to redevelop my abs! Seriously! Laughs! And, boy, it is killing me! And before I forgot, I brought the Spike Jacket this week. It was funny. Some said I looked good in it. Elve Jane said I looked like a professional killer. Laughs! I had so many pictures in it.
And one more thing, Jasmin and I usually take our lunch in KFC or in Chowking. Whenever we are eating in Chowking, I always order a fried egg. Jasmin would make a happy face on it with the catsup. We call it ‘the Happy Egg’. Then one time, when we ate in Chowking with Trish, we missed that part. On the floor, I told Jasmin that she did not make my egg happy that day. Ms. Shee heard that. It was funny to see the reaction of Ms. Shee to that. We laughed really hard.
And that’s just another week on the floor.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
And As They Have Said
By Jasmin
1. Jasmin just shared a bit of her secret past. Trish said Jasmin sounded bitter.
“I am bitter but I’ll be better.”
2. Fernand Yim just received a five-minute Aux8 and was a bit upset for a very short break.
“It is better to have something than to have nothing at all.”
3. While waiting for a call.
“Fernand Yim is not handsome. He is awesome!”
By Elve Jane
1. Elve Jane was on mute while servicing a call with a rude customer.
“Get some education, sir.”
2. A caller said that Elve Jane was just reading a script that she did not know what she was saying.
“No, ma’am. It’s coming from the top of my head!”
3. Elve Jane was explaining to the caller why the payment was considered late even if it was made online on the due date.
Elve Jane: Ma’am, you missed the cut-off time online which is 3pm EST. That is why it was considered late.
Caller: How could that be? You’re not telling your customers about the cut-off time so that we’ll be late when we make our payments!
Elve Jane: Ma’am, the posting timeframe is made available online as you make the payment.
Caller: What if I don’t have a computer, how would I know?
Elve Jane: Logic tells us both that you wouldn’t be able to make that payment online if you don’t have a computer.
Caller: (Embarrassed)
By Fernand Yim
1. Fernand Yim was asking Aux8 (The instant break) from Ms. Shee.
“It’s okay you don’t give me an Aux8. But if you insist, who am I to resist?”
2. Jasmin was explaining why she asked too many questions during the Team Meeting to one of the newbies. Jasmin said she was just interacting.
“You did not interact, you did interrupt.”
3. Fernand Yim was being teased by almost everyone in a Team Meeting.
“Can I just walk out?”
4. Everyone asked why Fernand Yim did color his hair.
“It’s allergy. I ate something really bad.”
5. Elve Jane was finding Fernand Yim a little weird, too lively on an ordinary shift.
“I think it’s the hair’s new color.”
6. Fernand Yim was talking to a Chinese caller.
Fernand Yim: When is your date of birth?
Chinese Caller: What?
Fernand Yim: May I know your date of birth?
Chinese Caller: What?
Fernand Yim: Your date of birth? The day you were born?
Chinese Caller: Did you say I’m boring?
Fernand Yim: Err! (On mute Button) (I didn’t know how to talk to him. Err.)
7. Fernand Yim was a bit sleepy while servicing a call. The caller was asking for a breakdown of all the recent charges on her account.
“There was a charge…ano ‘to?”
8. Fernand Yim was asked by the caller if it was okay to put him on hold for a minute.
“Sige, go ahead.”
9. Fernand Yim was having a debate with one of the newbies, Christy, on the floor until he ran out of words.
“Ms. Shee, can you just terminate her?”
Callers for Fernand Yim
1. “If all people in the world are like you, it will be a better world.”
2. “You know what, (between sobs) when my friends ask me what’s in my wallet, I’m going to tell them it’s Capital One.”
By Ms. Shee
1. Ms. Shee received a transferred call from Alex.
Ms. Shee: Hello?
American Caller: Hi!
Ms. Shee: Hi! Sino ‘to?
And…
New CSR: May I have your date of birth?
Caller: What?
New CSR: Please verify your date of birth?
Caller: What? I can’t understand you.
New CSR: May I know when you were born?
Caller: I can’t really understand you.
New CSR: (Pondered for some seconds) Sir, I need to know your date of birth. You know, like…Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you… (The new CSR did sing for the customer. Laughs! )
1. Jasmin just shared a bit of her secret past. Trish said Jasmin sounded bitter.
“I am bitter but I’ll be better.”
2. Fernand Yim just received a five-minute Aux8 and was a bit upset for a very short break.
“It is better to have something than to have nothing at all.”
3. While waiting for a call.
“Fernand Yim is not handsome. He is awesome!”
By Elve Jane
1. Elve Jane was on mute while servicing a call with a rude customer.
“Get some education, sir.”
2. A caller said that Elve Jane was just reading a script that she did not know what she was saying.
“No, ma’am. It’s coming from the top of my head!”
3. Elve Jane was explaining to the caller why the payment was considered late even if it was made online on the due date.
Elve Jane: Ma’am, you missed the cut-off time online which is 3pm EST. That is why it was considered late.
Caller: How could that be? You’re not telling your customers about the cut-off time so that we’ll be late when we make our payments!
Elve Jane: Ma’am, the posting timeframe is made available online as you make the payment.
Caller: What if I don’t have a computer, how would I know?
Elve Jane: Logic tells us both that you wouldn’t be able to make that payment online if you don’t have a computer.
Caller: (Embarrassed)
By Fernand Yim
1. Fernand Yim was asking Aux8 (The instant break) from Ms. Shee.
“It’s okay you don’t give me an Aux8. But if you insist, who am I to resist?”
2. Jasmin was explaining why she asked too many questions during the Team Meeting to one of the newbies. Jasmin said she was just interacting.
“You did not interact, you did interrupt.”
3. Fernand Yim was being teased by almost everyone in a Team Meeting.
“Can I just walk out?”
4. Everyone asked why Fernand Yim did color his hair.
“It’s allergy. I ate something really bad.”
5. Elve Jane was finding Fernand Yim a little weird, too lively on an ordinary shift.
“I think it’s the hair’s new color.”
6. Fernand Yim was talking to a Chinese caller.
Fernand Yim: When is your date of birth?
Chinese Caller: What?
Fernand Yim: May I know your date of birth?
Chinese Caller: What?
Fernand Yim: Your date of birth? The day you were born?
Chinese Caller: Did you say I’m boring?
Fernand Yim: Err! (On mute Button) (I didn’t know how to talk to him. Err.)
7. Fernand Yim was a bit sleepy while servicing a call. The caller was asking for a breakdown of all the recent charges on her account.
“There was a charge…ano ‘to?”
8. Fernand Yim was asked by the caller if it was okay to put him on hold for a minute.
“Sige, go ahead.”
9. Fernand Yim was having a debate with one of the newbies, Christy, on the floor until he ran out of words.
“Ms. Shee, can you just terminate her?”
Callers for Fernand Yim
1. “If all people in the world are like you, it will be a better world.”
2. “You know what, (between sobs) when my friends ask me what’s in my wallet, I’m going to tell them it’s Capital One.”
By Ms. Shee
1. Ms. Shee received a transferred call from Alex.
Ms. Shee: Hello?
American Caller: Hi!
Ms. Shee: Hi! Sino ‘to?
And…
New CSR: May I have your date of birth?
Caller: What?
New CSR: Please verify your date of birth?
Caller: What? I can’t understand you.
New CSR: May I know when you were born?
Caller: I can’t really understand you.
New CSR: (Pondered for some seconds) Sir, I need to know your date of birth. You know, like…Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you… (The new CSR did sing for the customer. Laughs! )
Failed Pick-up Line
Again, Gracia and I were in 711 in San Pablo City. I had my brewed coffee while she contented herself with her bottled juice. I remembered the pick-up line I just invented. Err. It is about after you got the name of the girl, flatter her by saying something like, “You know what, I can spell the word beautiful in just the-number-of-letters-of-her-name.” Then spell her name instead. That is really cool. I thought I could try that to Gracia, I bet she would be happy with that.
Fernand Yim: You know what, I can spell beautiful in five letters!
Gracia: (Thinking. She is always like that. She always knows if something is coming. Can’t hide anything from her.) It is six letters.
Fernand Yim: What? (I got confused.)
Gracia: It is six letters, not five.
I thought for a moment.
Fernand Yim: Six? You knew it already? (Then I started counting the letters in her name. G-R-A-C-I-A. Err!) Yeah, I was thinking of six but I said five!
I was so embarrassed. I felt so stupid in front of her. Then she mentioned something about the future. She was wondering if her future would be wonderful.
Fernand Yim: Yes, your future will be wonderful. Because I will be there.
Hey that was coming straight from my heart. I was even surprised with what I just said. I thought it was romantic. I am not sure if she liked it. But I am so sure that those words were true and felt by my heart.
Fernand Yim: You know what, I can spell beautiful in five letters!
Gracia: (Thinking. She is always like that. She always knows if something is coming. Can’t hide anything from her.) It is six letters.
Fernand Yim: What? (I got confused.)
Gracia: It is six letters, not five.
I thought for a moment.
Fernand Yim: Six? You knew it already? (Then I started counting the letters in her name. G-R-A-C-I-A. Err!) Yeah, I was thinking of six but I said five!
I was so embarrassed. I felt so stupid in front of her. Then she mentioned something about the future. She was wondering if her future would be wonderful.
Fernand Yim: Yes, your future will be wonderful. Because I will be there.
Hey that was coming straight from my heart. I was even surprised with what I just said. I thought it was romantic. I am not sure if she liked it. But I am so sure that those words were true and felt by my heart.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Just Learning The Adobe Photoshop CS2
I am just starting to discover what Adobe Photoshop CS2 can do. I know I am not as good as my sister Nicalyn when it comes to things like that. But I am learning, err, little fast. And here are some of the pictures that I had worked with during my rest night, that's what you call it when you are working as a call center agent. I know they are not that impressive but they made me really happy and occupied.
Thank You!
Thank You!
Waiting For The Wind To Change
Here I am
Standing still
Waiting for the wind to change
As if like a dream
I'm losing my will
To this wait that seems forever.
Here I am
Empty and still
Hoping for the wind to change
Holding back a scream
So much time to kill
So much hope to lose
Asking in silence, how long is forever?
And so here I am
Almost dead and still
Praying for the wind to change
So I can live my dream
Though it's so obvious to fake,
To believe my dreams are real
I'm growing frail and withering
Then, what am I waiting here for?
Yes, here I am
Damned and still
Begging for the wind to change
So I can start and dream
Yesterday I was here waiting
Last year I was here waiting
Years ago I was here waiting
For the wind to change
And like a slap on my face
I woke up, feeling like it had been forever.
You know here I am
Far and still
Struggling for the wind to change
Many times before I tried fooling Time
With grains of hope I'd win
Felt like I'd been running in circles
I ended up standing here and still
In silence of the depths of my soul
So numb to feel anything at all
That is, if ever happiness would find me
I'm afraid I would never even know.
Again, here I am
Small and still
Crying for the wind to change
Is forever coiled in circle?
If that so, my wait has no end!
Never thought I could still cry
When rivers of tears surrendered to fall
Showing the world that I'm not really strong, not brave at all
Feeling defeated but still, here I am...
Waiting for the wind to change.
by Fernand Yim
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Words From Cherie
"I want to travel, I want to be stranger, I want complications, I want to try something all new to me and all so different from the norms of my life. Maybe we'll get there, I will get there, in fact I'm starting to feel I am."
I am happy that many of my friends now are blogging. I just read recent posts of one of my new friends, her name is Cherie, and I really enjoyed the way she writes her articles. I always believe that when you write something, you don't need to involve big words to make your article impressive to the readers. Just be true and be free. Say whatever you have to say. And make it simple as possible. There is beauty in simplicity and it applies so well in writing. Like what Mrs. Lindo said, "We write to express, not to impress."
And Cherie just hit again my sensitive writing heart. She just said what exactly I am feeling. She wrote:
"I want to travel, I want to be stranger, I want complications, I want to try something all new to me and all so different from the norms of my life. Maybe we'll get there, I will get there, in fact I'm starting to feel I am. "
To read her complete article, just click here.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Puzzling Changes
I finally signed my new contract with Sykes. I am, of course, very happy about it. I am really happy with everyone I am working with right now. TMs on the floor are cool, especially Ms. Shee and Boss Ivor. Even Ms. Agatha is cool. They are like kids sometimes. They are so funny. We always have fun on the floor. I know I should be very thankful for these blessings I have right now and I am.
Just a quick summary of changes, physical changes, I had gone through this first quarter. In February I had my hair cut to Semi-kalbo. Just last week I had my hair colored. Then just this Sunday, I had my first earring. I thought it was cool. Then I bought some exciting clothes from, ehem, ukay-ukay, laughs! I never thought that it could be fun buying clothes from ukay-ukay. There were many great items there that, believe it or not, I had a hard time choosing which would be the best item to buy. You know, I am on a budget, can’t buy them all at once.
Many had asked what was about this sudden change. I didn’t know what to say for an answer. Not that I was running out of words to say. I just don’t have any specific reasons why I am doing this now. I am just enjoying myself with all this little transformation. That’s it. And it is fun.
The first time they asked me why I colored my hair, I simply told them that it was an allergy, that I ate something really bad. They would just laugh at that. When I got my first earring, Dian joked that by the next time we meet on the floor, I might have already a tattoo. I laughed at that. I even joked back by saying, that was a good suggestion. Honestly, I don’t know what is going on. There must be something that I have not yet come to realize. Maybe soon I’ll find out what it is all about. Hopefully it is not something bad.
And speaking of changes, there are some people on the floor who have changed. I don’t know. It is like there are some people who secretly hate me. I don’t like it. Especially, when you are considering them as friends. Like May and Blue. I don’t know but it is like they are avoiding me or something. I know I am not imagining this, I can feel it that something made them act like that towards me. And something is wrong, I know it because I can feel it. I wish I could know. And I wish I could do something about it.
Right now everything seems plain, almost dead. That’s weird, right? Being happy and feeling dead don’t fit together. Last Saturday I had a dream, no, I was sleeping and awake at the same time. I knew I was in the process of dying that afternoon. I knew I was about to die. That is, if I let go. But I tried really hard not to let my soul leave my body. It was not yet the time. I am just starting to live. It is okay to die but not now, not this time when everything is becoming beautiful.
I want to spend a life with Gracia. I want to have a family, have children. Two would be fine. I want to be a writer, a best-selling one. I want to spend a real good time with Mr. Yim. I want to hear him say sorry, really sorry about being not that strong enough to fight for me. I want to make Mama’s secret dreams come true. I want to achieve something, something that would make my family so proud of me. I want to see Psyche graduate from college. I want to do something big for my LORD God. Something that even if none of my dreams comes true, as long as I could fulfill the gift that was given to me, that will be enough.
There is this calling that I can’t still figure out what exactly it is that I keep on ignoring. It is because I am afraid. I have a feeling that it is too big for me to handle. Err, I might sound crazy writing all these stuff here, laughs! Anyway, something spiritually powerful is in the process. The more I ignore it, the more I commit mistakes. Sometimes I feel so bad that I am starting to hate myself. Sometimes I just want to be alone. Sometimes I feel like I need to go somewhere far in my past, like something unfinished left there that I need to fix. It is hard to explain. It is like there is something that wants me. Sometimes I just want to cry for no reason at all. Sometimes I thought I am happy but I am not. Sometimes I want to write something that I don’t know yet what that is, then I’ll be spending many hours in front of our computer without any complete sentence coming from my fingertips. It is all bland. So many things going on, I know there are all connected to each other. But they are so confusing that I get tired and just leave them there, untouched.
I know it is just another day in my life. Tomorrow I might be fine.
And there is more…I want to be FERNAND YIM.
Just a quick summary of changes, physical changes, I had gone through this first quarter. In February I had my hair cut to Semi-kalbo. Just last week I had my hair colored. Then just this Sunday, I had my first earring. I thought it was cool. Then I bought some exciting clothes from, ehem, ukay-ukay, laughs! I never thought that it could be fun buying clothes from ukay-ukay. There were many great items there that, believe it or not, I had a hard time choosing which would be the best item to buy. You know, I am on a budget, can’t buy them all at once.
Many had asked what was about this sudden change. I didn’t know what to say for an answer. Not that I was running out of words to say. I just don’t have any specific reasons why I am doing this now. I am just enjoying myself with all this little transformation. That’s it. And it is fun.
The first time they asked me why I colored my hair, I simply told them that it was an allergy, that I ate something really bad. They would just laugh at that. When I got my first earring, Dian joked that by the next time we meet on the floor, I might have already a tattoo. I laughed at that. I even joked back by saying, that was a good suggestion. Honestly, I don’t know what is going on. There must be something that I have not yet come to realize. Maybe soon I’ll find out what it is all about. Hopefully it is not something bad.
And speaking of changes, there are some people on the floor who have changed. I don’t know. It is like there are some people who secretly hate me. I don’t like it. Especially, when you are considering them as friends. Like May and Blue. I don’t know but it is like they are avoiding me or something. I know I am not imagining this, I can feel it that something made them act like that towards me. And something is wrong, I know it because I can feel it. I wish I could know. And I wish I could do something about it.
Right now everything seems plain, almost dead. That’s weird, right? Being happy and feeling dead don’t fit together. Last Saturday I had a dream, no, I was sleeping and awake at the same time. I knew I was in the process of dying that afternoon. I knew I was about to die. That is, if I let go. But I tried really hard not to let my soul leave my body. It was not yet the time. I am just starting to live. It is okay to die but not now, not this time when everything is becoming beautiful.
I want to spend a life with Gracia. I want to have a family, have children. Two would be fine. I want to be a writer, a best-selling one. I want to spend a real good time with Mr. Yim. I want to hear him say sorry, really sorry about being not that strong enough to fight for me. I want to make Mama’s secret dreams come true. I want to achieve something, something that would make my family so proud of me. I want to see Psyche graduate from college. I want to do something big for my LORD God. Something that even if none of my dreams comes true, as long as I could fulfill the gift that was given to me, that will be enough.
There is this calling that I can’t still figure out what exactly it is that I keep on ignoring. It is because I am afraid. I have a feeling that it is too big for me to handle. Err, I might sound crazy writing all these stuff here, laughs! Anyway, something spiritually powerful is in the process. The more I ignore it, the more I commit mistakes. Sometimes I feel so bad that I am starting to hate myself. Sometimes I just want to be alone. Sometimes I feel like I need to go somewhere far in my past, like something unfinished left there that I need to fix. It is hard to explain. It is like there is something that wants me. Sometimes I just want to cry for no reason at all. Sometimes I thought I am happy but I am not. Sometimes I want to write something that I don’t know yet what that is, then I’ll be spending many hours in front of our computer without any complete sentence coming from my fingertips. It is all bland. So many things going on, I know there are all connected to each other. But they are so confusing that I get tired and just leave them there, untouched.
I know it is just another day in my life. Tomorrow I might be fine.
And there is more…I want to be FERNAND YIM.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Had My Hair Colored
I went to see Ramon yesterday. He gave me the printed pictures of me and Gracia. It was so funny to see those pictures and it really did make me happy. After six months, I think, and everything about him was still the same. I mean, he is still jobless! Laughs! Just joking.
He colored my hair. He said it was brown. As he finished the whole process, it turned out the color was orange something! I was alarmed that I did not know how could I report to work with my new firey-looking hair. It was a trouble to me, however, he assured me that it looked just fine. Well, I don't think that was enough encouragement, laughs! It was so scary, you know.
Then he started giving me those fashion advice. We started with what shoes and pants to wear. Not satisfied with just words and the imagination along with it, he went to his room and came out with the pants and shoes he was talking about. Then he discussed about vintage clothes and he concentrated on vintage polo with loosened necktie around his neck. He also gave me lecture about which bag would match the look. Funny thing was, every detail he was telling me, he went to his room and came out with that detail until he looked like he was going out. It was so funny.
Then I met Gracia around seven in Sto. Tomas. There were couple of little accidents I had with the bottle of Lemon C2 on the bus. First was when we were looking for seats, I hit the seated girl in front of us with the C2 bottle on her head as I sat down. I said sorry, really sorry and she calmed down. When we were boarding out the bus, there was this another girl that I hit on the head as well with the C2 bottle! The sound was loud enough that I could not ignore the fact that it must hurt. Right away I apologized by saying again, sorry, really sorry. The hardest part of it was holding back the laughter stocked in my throat. When we were far enough, there I laughed really hard. I was so bad.
We stayed in the park near the Sampaloc Lake. It was so wonderful there. With the full moon and cool soothing wind, those moments seemed so perfect. We laughed a lot like crazy. We talked about silly and funny things. It was so wonderful to be next to her. There were moments that when my skin touched hers, I was, ehem, turned on. My heart was so alive even if my eyes were a little sleepy already, laughs!
Now, the challenge is reporting to work tonight. Err.
He colored my hair. He said it was brown. As he finished the whole process, it turned out the color was orange something! I was alarmed that I did not know how could I report to work with my new firey-looking hair. It was a trouble to me, however, he assured me that it looked just fine. Well, I don't think that was enough encouragement, laughs! It was so scary, you know.
Then he started giving me those fashion advice. We started with what shoes and pants to wear. Not satisfied with just words and the imagination along with it, he went to his room and came out with the pants and shoes he was talking about. Then he discussed about vintage clothes and he concentrated on vintage polo with loosened necktie around his neck. He also gave me lecture about which bag would match the look. Funny thing was, every detail he was telling me, he went to his room and came out with that detail until he looked like he was going out. It was so funny.
Then I met Gracia around seven in Sto. Tomas. There were couple of little accidents I had with the bottle of Lemon C2 on the bus. First was when we were looking for seats, I hit the seated girl in front of us with the C2 bottle on her head as I sat down. I said sorry, really sorry and she calmed down. When we were boarding out the bus, there was this another girl that I hit on the head as well with the C2 bottle! The sound was loud enough that I could not ignore the fact that it must hurt. Right away I apologized by saying again, sorry, really sorry. The hardest part of it was holding back the laughter stocked in my throat. When we were far enough, there I laughed really hard. I was so bad.
We stayed in the park near the Sampaloc Lake. It was so wonderful there. With the full moon and cool soothing wind, those moments seemed so perfect. We laughed a lot like crazy. We talked about silly and funny things. It was so wonderful to be next to her. There were moments that when my skin touched hers, I was, ehem, turned on. My heart was so alive even if my eyes were a little sleepy already, laughs!
Now, the challenge is reporting to work tonight. Err.
Secret Dreams Un-secreted
Last night, I was on the rooftop. Thinking of many things, as I always do, while waiting for a shooting star. The sky was very impressive. I was thinking if there would be a new star for Francis M., the Master Rapper. Foolish grown-ups who make children believe of so many hilarious myths. When a kid asks where dead people go, they would say that they become stars. Err. Anyway while watching the stars, I felt this intense honesty in my heart. I wondered, what if people would be so honest that feedback doesn't count anymore? It would be fun. And dangerous? Anyway, here is the list of my, ehem, wild and not-so-wild secret dreams.
1. I want to become a rockstar.
2. I want to be a recording artist, perform on stage, have my own concert. I do songwriting since I was a fifth grader. It is pretty normal for me to have this kind of, ehem, brave dream as a result of hundred songs I already had writtened.
Quick Trivia: I joined MetroPUP Songwriting contest in PUP-Batangas Campus in 2003. I got the fourth place. It was fun.
3. I want to have my own TV series which I'll be one of the main casts. (Or is it cast? I don't know.) It will be about people's lives and Filipino Empowerment. There you go.
4. I want to be a best-selling Author. Boy, this is my biggest dream.
5. I want to see Katrina Halili in person. And Angel Locsin!
6. I want to be a model hunk. Arg, that was a brave one!
7. I want to change the Philippines especially its people. Sigh.
8. I want to be a secret agent of an underground organization who kills evil politicians and law enforcers.
1. I want to become a rockstar.
2. I want to be a recording artist, perform on stage, have my own concert. I do songwriting since I was a fifth grader. It is pretty normal for me to have this kind of, ehem, brave dream as a result of hundred songs I already had writtened.
Quick Trivia: I joined MetroPUP Songwriting contest in PUP-Batangas Campus in 2003. I got the fourth place. It was fun.
3. I want to have my own TV series which I'll be one of the main casts. (Or is it cast? I don't know.) It will be about people's lives and Filipino Empowerment. There you go.
4. I want to be a best-selling Author. Boy, this is my biggest dream.
5. I want to see Katrina Halili in person. And Angel Locsin!
6. I want to be a model hunk. Arg, that was a brave one!
7. I want to change the Philippines especially its people. Sigh.
8. I want to be a secret agent of an underground organization who kills evil politicians and law enforcers.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Pictures: Better Late Than Never
Jaypee, Fernand Yim, and...Marian Rivera?
By The Telephone Booth
Jaypee and...Mine? What are you doing there?
Dancing Mine
By The Telephone Booth
Jaypee and...Mine? What are you doing there?
Dancing Mine
Bad Tummy. Super Bad.
Working as a call center agent on a night shift spells danger. Robbers. Rapists. Sleepy drivers. Drug addicts. Gang wars. Rushing trucks and cars. Slippery roads. Mad dogs. Mosquitoes. And so many more. However, the worst danger that could put the bravest call center agent into a knee-shaking situation is none other than…ehem, LBM. Just three letters and it could ruin a career of a professional agent. Here’s my story.
Part One
Before I went to work on the Monday shift, that was Sunday, I was not feeling well already. I knew that my very sensitive stomach was on protesting mode. I took one capsule of medicine and went to work. It was so scary. Good thing, nothing bad happened.
Before I went to work for my Tuesday shift, I was already thinking twice if I would go or not. I didn’t have that much luck kept in my closet, you know. I thought of Ms. Shee then I decided to go. I was thinking I might go on half-day instead if nature was in total bad mood, you know what I mean. When I left the house, it was raining. I thought it was a sign that I should not go. However I was thinking of my $250.00 for the month of March. I already lost my $150.00 for February. That was enough catastrophe. I couldn’t afford to lose them both. I have so many financial liabilities to pay, err.
Going to work, I was trying to feel my stomach. It was like there was me and my stomach, two different persons talking to each other. I was talking to him, begging him to behave and let the whole shift pass without putting me on unimaginable status of embarrassment. I thought he heard me because he finally behaved. It is all in mind, Fernand Yim. I kept telling this line to myself that it sounded like a chant already to me.
When I was to log-in on HRIS, all the computers froze and they were not accepting my finger print! Another sign? Err. While walking on the hallway, I felt my stomach move in a painful way and it alarmed me in I-saw-dead-people-walking kind of feeling. I went to the sleeping room, sat on the comfy sofa and had the chant again. It is all in mind…all in mind.
Before I took my first call, I approached Ms. Shee about it. Sincere concern registered on her face. It made me happy a bit. I said it was not that serious but it was serious. She asked for a clue. I told her it was about me. She then said, LBM? Arg, did I stink already? How did she know right away? She assured me that all I needed to do was to call her attention whenever I needed to leave my station. She was under the impression that going to comfort room would make me okay. My stomach issue was different. I couldn’t explain it. Like I said before, as much as possible I don’t want to take any medication because it is just a natural occurrence in the body that needs to go into process. Besides, drinking the medicine has a side effect on me, a very painful and irritating one.
After two calls, I told Ms. Shee that I thought I needed to go. She advised me to go to the clinic first which I did. The clinic, by the way, is located on the 36th floor on the other side of the building. The elevators on that side of the building are super slow so…a big good luck to me.
In the clinic, I met this fortyish nurse who accommodated me right away. I told her about my case. She asked me if there was sipon (What’s sipon in English?) in my you-know-what. You could say yuck. I would understand that. I was like, err. I said none. Then she gave me two capsules of medicine. I told her about the side effect it had on me, hoping that there was something else she could offer me. And it turned out there was none. She just advised me that instead of taking them at the same time, there should be six-hour gap before the second capsule. I was waiting for her to say more, thinking that I might need to lie on the white bed they had there, or they might need to do some check-ups on me, Don’t you think you need to listen to my heartbeat? Things like that, however, she already nodded to me like saying, you could go now so that I could watch TV alone. Then I left the room.
Going down from 36th floor was another challenge to me. Inside the elevator with other nine people, I thought I felt my stomach move in a most threatening way, err, please not now! Then the elevator stopped at the third floor. I was already screaming inside my head. But then again, like a miracle, my fear had not yet materialized. Sigh.
Back to my station, I was hardly moving on my seat. Ms. Shee approached me then Ms. Agatha showed up behind her. Many thanks to both of them that they let me go home. I heard Jasmin remind me of eating banana and hard-boiled egg behind my back as I approached the door.
Part Two
I was waiting like forever in Dela Rosa for a bus going to either Sta. Cruz or Alabang. I didn’t have a watch or a cellphone but I knew an hour had already passed by. I should do something. I couldn’t just stand there. While walking, I felt my stomach had a bad twist that I needed to stop and summon all my powers to take over the control of my body. “You are just one part of my digestive system, so you should listen to me!” I told to him, to my stomach. I think it was a bad move because I was starting to sweat really badly. I remembered the other capsule, didn’t care of the six-hour gap, with my shaky hands I took it with one quick gulp of a bottled iced tea. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. When my stomach was finally dead silent, I started walking again.
More minutes passed by before I got a jeep to Ayala-MRT. There I waited for any bus. It was not the right time to be picky on which bus to ride. Besides I didn’t have any other option but to take those suicidal buses. Those buses which are like flying that you need to hold real tight on your seat or you might be thrown out the window even before you have said, “Para sa tabi.” To some point, I was thankful that the driver was driving like that. That night seemed to be the longest night of my life.
Many times I wished I could pull the end of the road towards me so that we could get there right away. Sometimes I wished I could fly. Problem was that I didn’t know Manila or Makati that much. I might be lost in the atmosphere. Then I wished I could do teleport. Same problem applied. I might appear in crowded place or something like that. I also wished that in just one blink I could wake up from this painful nightmare. And, of course, none of these happened.
Along the way, the suicidal bus had to stop for the two passengers. Trouble was that they had so many things with them and I hated them for that. So it took like two minutes before the bus started to fly again, err. I tell you, that was the longest two minutes of my life.
At the Toll Gate in Alabang, the electronic pre-paid thing was not working. I was really running out of patience. Why now? Why now? After that was fixed, the suicidal bus stopped again for the Inspector to let him…err, inspect the bus? That was the first time in my life that I felt so much anger for someone who was doing nothing bad to me. Well, indirectly they did. Then the bus flew again.
It was so hard to believe but it was another waiting game I had to endure in Alabang. My stomach was in total pain already. I needed to get home as quick as possible. It started to rain softly. Why all of these should happen on the same day? Why the world hates me so much?
Then a jeep, not a bus, arrived. There were few passengers inside. However, I still chose to sit on the front next to the driver. I didn’t care if I got wet because of the rain showering by my right side. I could bear the rain, not the embarrassment, just in case, you know what I mean. And it was a long journey. I thought it was because jeeps have smaller wheels than buses. I noticed that it seemed like there were more trees at night. They even looked like heads of sleeping giants in the middle of the dark night. I got a view of my face on the side mirror. I smiled, knowing that I was still cute through all this. Err.
I was already feeling cold when we reached Calamba. I was so wet because of the rain. But it was fine. I was getting closer to home. That time I was brave enough to take a trike (tricycle) from Crossing to Spring Homes. I asked the driver how much would be the fare. One hundred pesos. Err.
Epilogue
I am thankful that it is my rest day. The side effect is the hardest part of it. I also got a fever. But I’ll be fine soon. I’ll give you an idea of the side effect the medicine has on me. It is like a combination of diarrhea and constipation. It feels like my soul is being drained out of my system that every time I go to the comfort room, I feel like being sentenced to death. There is no comfort with that. Sigh. And another sigh.
Photo By Ramon
Part One
Before I went to work on the Monday shift, that was Sunday, I was not feeling well already. I knew that my very sensitive stomach was on protesting mode. I took one capsule of medicine and went to work. It was so scary. Good thing, nothing bad happened.
Before I went to work for my Tuesday shift, I was already thinking twice if I would go or not. I didn’t have that much luck kept in my closet, you know. I thought of Ms. Shee then I decided to go. I was thinking I might go on half-day instead if nature was in total bad mood, you know what I mean. When I left the house, it was raining. I thought it was a sign that I should not go. However I was thinking of my $250.00 for the month of March. I already lost my $150.00 for February. That was enough catastrophe. I couldn’t afford to lose them both. I have so many financial liabilities to pay, err.
Going to work, I was trying to feel my stomach. It was like there was me and my stomach, two different persons talking to each other. I was talking to him, begging him to behave and let the whole shift pass without putting me on unimaginable status of embarrassment. I thought he heard me because he finally behaved. It is all in mind, Fernand Yim. I kept telling this line to myself that it sounded like a chant already to me.
When I was to log-in on HRIS, all the computers froze and they were not accepting my finger print! Another sign? Err. While walking on the hallway, I felt my stomach move in a painful way and it alarmed me in I-saw-dead-people-walking kind of feeling. I went to the sleeping room, sat on the comfy sofa and had the chant again. It is all in mind…all in mind.
Before I took my first call, I approached Ms. Shee about it. Sincere concern registered on her face. It made me happy a bit. I said it was not that serious but it was serious. She asked for a clue. I told her it was about me. She then said, LBM? Arg, did I stink already? How did she know right away? She assured me that all I needed to do was to call her attention whenever I needed to leave my station. She was under the impression that going to comfort room would make me okay. My stomach issue was different. I couldn’t explain it. Like I said before, as much as possible I don’t want to take any medication because it is just a natural occurrence in the body that needs to go into process. Besides, drinking the medicine has a side effect on me, a very painful and irritating one.
After two calls, I told Ms. Shee that I thought I needed to go. She advised me to go to the clinic first which I did. The clinic, by the way, is located on the 36th floor on the other side of the building. The elevators on that side of the building are super slow so…a big good luck to me.
In the clinic, I met this fortyish nurse who accommodated me right away. I told her about my case. She asked me if there was sipon (What’s sipon in English?) in my you-know-what. You could say yuck. I would understand that. I was like, err. I said none. Then she gave me two capsules of medicine. I told her about the side effect it had on me, hoping that there was something else she could offer me. And it turned out there was none. She just advised me that instead of taking them at the same time, there should be six-hour gap before the second capsule. I was waiting for her to say more, thinking that I might need to lie on the white bed they had there, or they might need to do some check-ups on me, Don’t you think you need to listen to my heartbeat? Things like that, however, she already nodded to me like saying, you could go now so that I could watch TV alone. Then I left the room.
Going down from 36th floor was another challenge to me. Inside the elevator with other nine people, I thought I felt my stomach move in a most threatening way, err, please not now! Then the elevator stopped at the third floor. I was already screaming inside my head. But then again, like a miracle, my fear had not yet materialized. Sigh.
Back to my station, I was hardly moving on my seat. Ms. Shee approached me then Ms. Agatha showed up behind her. Many thanks to both of them that they let me go home. I heard Jasmin remind me of eating banana and hard-boiled egg behind my back as I approached the door.
Part Two
I was waiting like forever in Dela Rosa for a bus going to either Sta. Cruz or Alabang. I didn’t have a watch or a cellphone but I knew an hour had already passed by. I should do something. I couldn’t just stand there. While walking, I felt my stomach had a bad twist that I needed to stop and summon all my powers to take over the control of my body. “You are just one part of my digestive system, so you should listen to me!” I told to him, to my stomach. I think it was a bad move because I was starting to sweat really badly. I remembered the other capsule, didn’t care of the six-hour gap, with my shaky hands I took it with one quick gulp of a bottled iced tea. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. When my stomach was finally dead silent, I started walking again.
More minutes passed by before I got a jeep to Ayala-MRT. There I waited for any bus. It was not the right time to be picky on which bus to ride. Besides I didn’t have any other option but to take those suicidal buses. Those buses which are like flying that you need to hold real tight on your seat or you might be thrown out the window even before you have said, “Para sa tabi.” To some point, I was thankful that the driver was driving like that. That night seemed to be the longest night of my life.
Many times I wished I could pull the end of the road towards me so that we could get there right away. Sometimes I wished I could fly. Problem was that I didn’t know Manila or Makati that much. I might be lost in the atmosphere. Then I wished I could do teleport. Same problem applied. I might appear in crowded place or something like that. I also wished that in just one blink I could wake up from this painful nightmare. And, of course, none of these happened.
Along the way, the suicidal bus had to stop for the two passengers. Trouble was that they had so many things with them and I hated them for that. So it took like two minutes before the bus started to fly again, err. I tell you, that was the longest two minutes of my life.
At the Toll Gate in Alabang, the electronic pre-paid thing was not working. I was really running out of patience. Why now? Why now? After that was fixed, the suicidal bus stopped again for the Inspector to let him…err, inspect the bus? That was the first time in my life that I felt so much anger for someone who was doing nothing bad to me. Well, indirectly they did. Then the bus flew again.
It was so hard to believe but it was another waiting game I had to endure in Alabang. My stomach was in total pain already. I needed to get home as quick as possible. It started to rain softly. Why all of these should happen on the same day? Why the world hates me so much?
Then a jeep, not a bus, arrived. There were few passengers inside. However, I still chose to sit on the front next to the driver. I didn’t care if I got wet because of the rain showering by my right side. I could bear the rain, not the embarrassment, just in case, you know what I mean. And it was a long journey. I thought it was because jeeps have smaller wheels than buses. I noticed that it seemed like there were more trees at night. They even looked like heads of sleeping giants in the middle of the dark night. I got a view of my face on the side mirror. I smiled, knowing that I was still cute through all this. Err.
I was already feeling cold when we reached Calamba. I was so wet because of the rain. But it was fine. I was getting closer to home. That time I was brave enough to take a trike (tricycle) from Crossing to Spring Homes. I asked the driver how much would be the fare. One hundred pesos. Err.
Epilogue
I am thankful that it is my rest day. The side effect is the hardest part of it. I also got a fever. But I’ll be fine soon. I’ll give you an idea of the side effect the medicine has on me. It is like a combination of diarrhea and constipation. It feels like my soul is being drained out of my system that every time I go to the comfort room, I feel like being sentenced to death. There is no comfort with that. Sigh. And another sigh.
Walking Down The Memory Lane
I was wearing green T-shirt when I met Gracia and Jerlie in PUP-STE. Gracia was wearing green T-shirt, too. It was funny. Our outfits really matched each other. They already had their yearbook. In just a couple of minutes, I got mine as well. I told Mrs. Sanchez, the University’s Guidance Counselor, that I missed PUP so much. She did not say anything. There was no reaction to that. I was so disappointed. She could say something like, “Oh, really? That’s the first time someone is courageous enough to tell a lie right before me. Appreciated.” Or simply she could nod to that. But no, she seemed like not hearing any word I said. Plus the fact that I was not that happy to see the yearbook. Okay, I was a bit thrilled to see all the pictures. The memories. But to be honest, there was no high-school like feelings as I browsed each page.
We went around a little bit, checking out the old hangouts. Err, okay, there was a bit of sadness in the air as every memory tickled my already sleepy brain. We visited the canteen, which was still the extension of our library, and met…err, forgot her name, she was the cousin of Lilibeth Calimlim, one of our classmates in college. She told us that Lilibeth just gave birth to her first son just this February. And guess the name? I Am First. That’s right! At first I thought it was a weird name. What kind of parents who would like to give a sentence to be the name of their first child. Okay, it sounds cute but hey, okay, Gracia liked it. And we were told that if ever Lilibeth would have another child, guess what would be the name, I Am Second? No. I Am Last. I just wonder what kind of future these kids would have with their so unique names.
We waited for Comy in Malvar Shrine. It felt like the old times. The comfort of the place was still there. Same old green grass. The sky was still blue. Same old feeling. Like if I would let my imagination fool me, I would believe I was still in college. I could feel the hands of time moving backward, bringing me back to where I was three years ago. But in just one quick snap, I was there again with Gracia and Jerlie. We have grown up real quick in just few short years. So many things already happened, already had changed. And Comy finally arrived. He was wearing polo shirt with a shade of green. Cool, huh?
We went to Jeff’s house in Kaput Valley. Everything that day seemed like the old times. We were so happy about it. We dropped by the Walter Mart along the way to buy lunch and some snacks. We had ice cream for dessert. In Kaput Valley, we found Jeff wearing a green T-shirt. Wow, it seemed like everyone was so connected with each other in spirit. It was so cool. We watched video while checking out the old pictures. It was so funny to see all those funny pictures. We were so young-looking, so innocent, those hairs, outfits, everything was so funny. Gracia was a little chubby way back then. Err, you should see the pictures to know what I am trying to say here. After all, I missed us. When that realization hit me, I had this secret wish that we could this more often.
Then we watched You Changed My Life in Walter Mart. It was a beautiful movie. Gracia could so relate with the character of Sarah Geronimo. And, err, every time Sarah said to John Lloyd, “I love you more…” I felt Gracia moved a bit on her seat. There were some lines that really touched our hearts, sigh. Laughs! There were particular lines from John Lloyd that I told Gracia, “Listen to him.” It was like the movie did the talking for the two of us.
We went around a little bit, checking out the old hangouts. Err, okay, there was a bit of sadness in the air as every memory tickled my already sleepy brain. We visited the canteen, which was still the extension of our library, and met…err, forgot her name, she was the cousin of Lilibeth Calimlim, one of our classmates in college. She told us that Lilibeth just gave birth to her first son just this February. And guess the name? I Am First. That’s right! At first I thought it was a weird name. What kind of parents who would like to give a sentence to be the name of their first child. Okay, it sounds cute but hey, okay, Gracia liked it. And we were told that if ever Lilibeth would have another child, guess what would be the name, I Am Second? No. I Am Last. I just wonder what kind of future these kids would have with their so unique names.
We waited for Comy in Malvar Shrine. It felt like the old times. The comfort of the place was still there. Same old green grass. The sky was still blue. Same old feeling. Like if I would let my imagination fool me, I would believe I was still in college. I could feel the hands of time moving backward, bringing me back to where I was three years ago. But in just one quick snap, I was there again with Gracia and Jerlie. We have grown up real quick in just few short years. So many things already happened, already had changed. And Comy finally arrived. He was wearing polo shirt with a shade of green. Cool, huh?
We went to Jeff’s house in Kaput Valley. Everything that day seemed like the old times. We were so happy about it. We dropped by the Walter Mart along the way to buy lunch and some snacks. We had ice cream for dessert. In Kaput Valley, we found Jeff wearing a green T-shirt. Wow, it seemed like everyone was so connected with each other in spirit. It was so cool. We watched video while checking out the old pictures. It was so funny to see all those funny pictures. We were so young-looking, so innocent, those hairs, outfits, everything was so funny. Gracia was a little chubby way back then. Err, you should see the pictures to know what I am trying to say here. After all, I missed us. When that realization hit me, I had this secret wish that we could this more often.
Then we watched You Changed My Life in Walter Mart. It was a beautiful movie. Gracia could so relate with the character of Sarah Geronimo. And, err, every time Sarah said to John Lloyd, “I love you more…” I felt Gracia moved a bit on her seat. There were some lines that really touched our hearts, sigh. Laughs! There were particular lines from John Lloyd that I told Gracia, “Listen to him.” It was like the movie did the talking for the two of us.
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