Journey

looking at the people around my current workplace, i see a breed of young people working hard, and each has his/her own story to tell. this made me look back at the work/jobs i've done since i graduated from college. i wasn't a family breadwinner, and job-hopping seemed to be a delight for me...

media practitioner
after a couple of months after college graduation, i walked into the building where i had my on the job training. i was that young, naive, thin adolescent boy who just absorbed everything instructed to me. i began transcribing english articles into tagalog write ups. then i was asked to learn how to rehash news items, then monitor news reports. it was a long six-month training without pay and along the course of my training, i was also asked to join the production that assists live radio program. i eventually became a production coordinator who sets interview schedules for the live program the following day. i started memorizing basic phone numbers such as the MMDA Metrobase, PAGASA, MERALCO, MANILA WATER, and some public officials that we needed to contact for interviews. most memorable in being a production coordinator was the phone call to then-presidential spokesman, Jerry Barican*. as months pass by, my task grew in the station. i began voicing reports and at the same time arranged news items for the 12 o'clock & 4 o'clock news programs. i only stopped arranging news items for the 4 o'clock program when i was dispatched as a beat reporter in Malacanang. i did cover some events outside Malacanang and the most memorable was my coverage during Leo Echegaray's execution*. i didn't really have the full coverage of it but nonetheless i was dispatched there to serve as a support to the more senior reporters of our station and our sister-station. i was also sent there by our station manager late and i was sick that time so i really didn't have the best opportunity to maximize my presence there. anyway, i knew i was a valuable person in the station that time. i had a segment (environment monitor) in the early (6am) news program, i did time checks and news breaks in the morning after our news & public affairs program, then go to my beat after lunch. my day would end after i air my report from the beat to our 4 o'clock news. career-wise, it was the best job i ever had. i did almost all things that a media practitioner should be doing--- jack of all trade, in other words.

the introduction to customer service field
since compensation was insufficient from the job i loved doing, i decided to jump to another field of career and started in the customer service field in what was once the 2nd largest wired telecommunication company. basic salary was slightly higher and the job just required me to answer complaint letters from our irate (and poor/unfortunate) subscribers. most letters came from the province--- yeah, through snail mail. i had a template ready, i just needed to tweak on some format to make the reply suitable for whatever complaint was raised. then i helped my superior in creating FAQ's for our new product offers. this is also where i began my coffee addiction.

career jump to banking
this came in as a surprise for me as i was hired as a new accounts clerk in one of the busiest branches of the then-top 3 commercial banks in the country. i was fortunate to have been assigned in a branch where the new accounts clerk serve as an all-around client assisting personnel of the bank. some branches assign only the opening of accounts to the new accounts clerk but our branch requires us to look over investments too. i had to quickly learn banking terms and its ins and outs. aside from opening accounts, i credit online payroll, accept BIR payments (the most dreadful of all during deadlines), monitor SDB transactions, enter debit/credit transaction at the end of the day, market bank products, monitor time deposits, and attend to irate clients. my most memorable banking experience happened in just one day*, that i couldn't help but cry it out with my immediate superior. yes... i cried that day!

seeking for higher horizons
i admit i was having a great time in the bank when speaking of compensation and benefits. and it was the time i learned how to value saving up money, and considered opening up bank accounts. but things have to happen. my sister had to migrate to Canada and our life had taken a turn since then. but after just barely two months, i returned to Manila and was lucky enough to be offered a job by my former boss after knowing that i came back. this time, it's for a new player in the mobile phone network industry. i excitedly accepted the offer and became a part of the new mobile network. it lasted for a few good months after the great launch until i decided to pursue my immigrant application to Canada.

new environment
the new country introduced me to a new and different environment. to survive financially, i needed to do the what we call "blue-collar job". i earned 40 dollars from manning an open house for 4 hours. a church mate offered me this part time, on call job. i was delighted. then i soon applied in an agency where i worked in an on call factory job. i learned hard work literally. there were 8 "lines" in the factory and the supervisors get to choose on who's to work on a particular "line". eventually, i get to be assigned on the "line" where the "favorites" were always assigned. i also did paper deliveries with my brother-in-law thrice a week in the neighborhood. when my brother in law gave up because of his tight schedule, my two good friends caught the same assignment for me to continue on with it. it lasted until Christmas when heavy fliers that needed to be inserted in the paper took so much of our time and felt the pay wasn't a fine compensation anymore. and talk about delivering papers while heavy snow is pouring and piled up high. my last and final job there was being a warehouse man. it was a perfect job in terms of work companions, freebies and pay. i learned receiving, picking, and putting away items for warehouse storage and deliveries. all of these i've done while my immigrant application paper was supposedly "in-process".

re-building my career in Manila
situation led me back to Manila where i had to wait for the processing of my immigrant application. and since i knew that the cue will take time--- years literally--- to be processed, i looked for a job that will not only compensate me but will also make me feel good by doing something for a public cause. after weeks of job hunting, i ended up training in a call center company. i didn't plan to stay long there but took the job anyway since i was still looking for that job which i feel i'll be more suited. i also took the chance to enter the call center industry to know what exactly is the environment in it. true to my expectation, i just had a four-week short stint in the company--- just long enough to finish my month training and took a glimpse of what "call center" is all about. then i got interviewed in this distribution company where the major cause is to curve the country's population by introducing the use of contraceptive products. i made sure they didn't promote abortion, though. my prime job was to coordinate with distributors and oversee the ordering cycle. it's more on the customer service field... again. and since i was waiting for my immigrant application results, i ended up almost six years in the distribution company. yep, it was waaaay overdue. i literally ended my connection from the company after a year my application in Canada was released and found a job that will get me back on track practicing my chosen field of study.

home sweet home?
i got back to my field. i'm now working as a writer-slash-producer in the flagship news program of a newly-formatted TV channel. plus factors are, it's a famous TV station and i'm working for a famous news personality. but of course, not everything is great... there's always a downside to everything*.

* phrases marked with asterisk merit a separate blog entry/story each
- - - - - - - - - - - -

ending this blog post with Lea Salonga's "Journey" lyrics:

Half the world is sleeping,
half the world's awake
half can hear their hearts beat
half just hear them break

I am but a traveler, in most every way
Ask me what you want...to know

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been.

I have been to sorrow
I have been to bliss
Where I'll be tomorrow,
I can only guess

Through the darkest desert
Through the deepest snow,
Forward always forward, I go..

What a journey it has been
and the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been...

Forward, always forward...
Onward, always up...
Catching every drop of hope
In my empty cup

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been...

What a journey it has been...

my girl is two!

daddy & mommy love you! :D

Fathers Day

what does it mean to you?

Lunar Eclipse

it was my first time to witness a total lunar eclipse which was seen a while ago in the skies of Manila, Philippines. i took a time out to step outside our house and take a good glance of the "red moon". i have to admit though that the darkness outside the street and the sight of the big red moon gave me goosebumps. but it was beautiful. nature at it's best, God's creation at it's perfect beauty!

[caption id="attachment_2160" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="photo courtesy of REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo"][/caption]

2 Dekada Na...

photo courtesy of https://pubs.usgs.gov

ganitong-ganito ang natanaw naming eksena ng mga pinsan ko, dalawampung taon na ang nakalilipas... isang tila napakagandang "cloud-formation" na yun pala ang tinatawag na "ash cloud". bunga ito ng pagputok ng bulkang Pinatubo na noo'y hindi pa gaanong tanyag sa karamihan. 15 taong gulang pa lang ako noon, nagbinata sa probinsya at hindi pamilyar sa mga ganung matatawag na "phenomenon". nasa Zambales ang bulkang pinatubo pero yung ash cloud na natatanaw namin, parang ang lapit lang sa San Fernando (Pampanga). naroon ako sa lalawigan ng Pampanga noong panahong iyon. at ang ganung tanawin, nakapagbigay pa ng ngiti sa amin... pero hanggang ilang sandali lamang... bandang alas-9, nanonood kami ng mga pinsan ko ng palabas na GHOST sa VHS nang makarinig kami ng pambabato sa bubungan namin. paisa-isa, hanggang sa parami nang parami at naging sunud-sunod. lumabas kami para sawayin sana ang mga bata na sa puntong iyon ay lalong nagkaka-ingay sa labas. "mumuran balas!" sigaw ng mga bata. medyo makulimlim na nga sa labas at hindi kami nagkamali ng narinig, umuulan nga ng buhangin! maya-maya lang, nagpasukan na kami sa kani-kaniyang mga bahay, pati mga batang naglalaro sa labas, wala nang lahat. alas-10 ng umaga pero ang kalangitan, kasindilim na ng dapit-hapon. umuulan, sa pagkakatanda ko, hindi lang tubig na dala ng kasabay na bagyo kundi maging ng buhangin.

pagdating ng alas-tres ng hapon, madilim na sa paligid. wala nang kuryente at ang kalangitan, parang alas-10 na ng gabi. ganun na kadilim. ilang sandali lang (magbabandang alas-4 ng hapon), naghain na ng hapunan ang lola namin. nalito na siguro sa oras dahil sobrang dilim na. ang bumubuhay na lang sa natitirang araw namin ay ang maingay na pagbabalita ng DZMM na nakatutok sa sitwasyon sa mga lugar na naaapektuhan ng pagputok ng bulkan. malaking pasalamat ko sa de-bateryang radyo ng lolo ko. dahil dun, naa-update kami ng mga nangyayari sa paligid namin at nalalaman namin na sa mga sandaling iyon, hindi lang kami ang takot na takot. iyon na yata ang pinakamahabang magdamag sa buhay ko. mga oras na halos hilahin ko ang kinabukasan para muling matanaw ang sikat ng araw... halos tuwing limang minuto ay yumayanig ang paligid at naririnig ko ang langitngit ng bahay na kahoy ng aming matanda. walang tigil ang buhos ng buhangin. ang mahinang ulat ng mga reporter sa radyo ay umaalingawngaw sa madilim at tahimik naming paligid. hindi ako makapikit para matulog... "ano ang mangyayari bukas?" tanong ko sa bata kong sarili... pagkalipas ng ilang oras, tila tumigil ang maya't mayang pagyanig... pero ang buhangin mula sa bulkan, hindi pa rin tumitigil ang pagbuhos. nakatulog din ako at muling nagpasalamat sa Diyos nang idilat ko ang aking mga mata kinabukasan at muling sumilay ang sikat ng araw. paglabas ng bahay, para kaming nasa beach resort. maganda ang buhangin na ibinuga ng bulkan pero pinagmukha nitong disyerto ang paligid. may ilang mga puno na itinumba ng magdamag na buhos ng buhangin. at kaming magkakapit-bahay, nagkita-kita sa kani-kaniyang bubungan nang umagang iyon... lahat naglilinis at nag-aalis ng buhangin sa bubong dahil kapag hindi ito natanggal at nadagdagan muli ng panibangong ulan ng buhangin, posible na ring bumagsak ang bubungan ng bahay namin.

photo courtesy: tripodandslippers.blogspot.com

ilang sandali lang ay humahangos ang nanay ko mula pa sa Maynila. sinusundo nya ako para lumuwas at agad kaming nag-impake para habulin ang mga byahe ng bus pa-Maynila. magtatanghali pa lang pahirapan nang sumakay. sa dating abangan ng bus, walang bus na dumadaan at kung meron man, punung-puno ang mga ito. minabuti naming sadyain ang terminal ng Victory Liner sa Guagua at doon nakita ang maraming pasaherong lahat ay naghahangad makaalis sa lalawigang pininsala ng pinatubo. walang bus na gustong bumyahe. kahit pa kinakalampag na ng mga pasahero yung opisyal na nagpapalakad dun sa terminal. nakakita kami ng nanay ko ng isang bakanteng bus na nakaparada. wala itong karatula kung saan papunta. "bahala na basta makaalis tayo," ang sabi namin sa sarili. sumigaw ang isang opisyal ng bus company sa istasyon at tinukoy kaming mga sumakay sa bakanteng bus... "hindi na po bi-biyahe yan. wala na pong biyahe kahit saan." hindi rin kami umalis sa loob ng bus pati ang ibang pasahero na nag-akyatan na rin, ang sa amin kase, mahalaga na makaalis kami sa lugar at pasasaan ba't aalis din yung bus na yun. nagkatotoo ang hinala namin mga sampung minuto mula noong sumakay kami. lumindol kase ulit at yun ang naging hudyat para i-byahe ng bus company ang lahat ng natitirang bus doon sa terminal nila. kahit paano, swerte kami dahil nakaupo kami ng nanay ko at higit sa lahat, makakaalis na kami sa lugar na parang bangungot lang ang mga pangyayari...

pagkalipas ng ilang mga taon, hindi pa dun natapos ang kalbaryo ng aming lalawigan dahil mapaminsalang lahar naman ang hinarap ng aking mga kababayan doon. nang mga panahong iyon, nasa kolehiyo na ako at nagsimula nang mag-aral sa kamaynilaan.

2 dekada na pala... June 15, 1991--- ang petsang hindi ko malilimutan sa buong buhay ko. ito ang petsa kung saan lalong napatunayan ng tao na suko sa Diyos ang lahat ng mga bagay.

Alin Mang Lahi

Kundiman ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Alin mang lahi, isinasanggalang
Sa lupit ang kanyang lupang tinubuan
Tuloy pinaghahandugan
Ng buhay at dugo kung kailangan.
Ang kamatayan man, kung saka-sakali't
Igiginhawa ng mga kalahi
Tatanggapin na may ngiti
Kaaliwa't tuwang di mumunti.
Nguni’t pagkasawing-palad yata
Ng katagalugang napapanganyaya
Bukod pa sa ibang umaaba
Lalong nagbibigay-hapis ang ibang kapwa.
Sabagay di kulang sa pupuhunanin
Lakas, dunong, tapang, yaman ay gayon din
Aywan kung bakit at inaalipin
Ng bawa’t lahing makasuno natin?

"Kalayaan: Kayamanan ng bayan"
MALIGAYANG IKA-113 TAON NG ATING KALAYAAN!

rainy wednesday

after the typhoon last week, the sun came out again with its fierce heat (speaking of heat, nba finals best of 7 series is now tied, 2-2 heat vs mavs)... then today is another wet day. it's been raining since this morning. the only thing i like when it's raining is the not-so-hot weather and it definitely lessens a tense mood. although, it makes you just wanna lie down in bed and sleep. while i was driving on my way to work today, i was listening to APO music. feels nostalgic if you ask me. their songs fit perfectly on a laid back rainy day. makes me wanna go back to the good ol' times when life was more simple.

i'm pinch-hitting for bente kwatro on saturday. it'll be my first time to write for the program and i'm a bit, well, excited(?) primarily because it's THE flagship news program of the mother station and most especially it pays good (so they say). well, i need those moolah to pay up the bills and get those baby necessities... i'm actually doing two programs on saturday. must be my lucky cut-off period. :D

bounty times still far at hand... need.to.be.patient.

kthnxbye! :P

Hunyo!

ok, so June na. kalahati na ng 2011. ang bunga ng positivity motto, nalalapit na rin kaya? :D

[caption id="attachment_2138" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="happy burpday, wifey!"][/caption] nag-birthday ang pinakamamahal kong wifey. maliban sa mga nabanggit kong 'regalo' sa kanya sa nakaraang blog post ko, wala na kong iba pang naibigay. pramis, babawi ako next year! :D malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa misis ko. noon kaseng binata pa ako, nasabi ko na sa sarili ko na kapag mag-aasawa ako, ang unang-unang obligasyon na gusto kong i-prioritize ng magiging asawa ko, nagagawa nya with flying colors. at yun ay ang mag-alaga, magpalaki nang maayos, gumabay at ingatang mabuti ang aming anak. bonus points pa sa akin yung kasipagan nya at kasinupan sa bahay. totoo talaga na ang mabuting asawa ay nagbubuhat sa Diyos ;)

ngayong buwan din ang hinihintay kong "biyaya" na "mag-aahon sa amin sa kahirapan". LOL. sige, ako na ang OA. at dahil OA, there will be no further details regarding this matter. at ayon nga sa kasabihang ingles: "don't count the chicks while the eggs aren't hatched yet." :P

pero pag nangyari yun (sori di pa ko maka-move on... part of 2011 positivity :D ), mababayaran ko na ang kautangan sa credit card, maaayos ko na ang health benefit ng pamilya ko, maipagpapatuloy ko na ang paghuhulog ng kontribusyon ko sa Philhealth at SSS, magkakaroon ako ng paunti-unting savings na sa di kalaunan ay dadami rin--- na siyang mag-aahon sa amin sa kahirapan :P

uhmm.. yun muna. sabi nga ng blogger bi-ep ko na si kuri, kahit walang pera... stay pogi! :D