Thursday, March 31, 2005 6:06 PM
You don't really know what to expect from life. Every time I cram things, I always think that I could have given more. Aside from that, I have a tinge of fear that I've messed something up and I'd get a heated lecture about it.
Well, today I got a lecture. But it wasn't about the first grant report I made for USAID (which I'm really nervous about because USAID people are coming over here tomorrow to discuss about it), nor was it about the trainings I prepared for the past few months. None of that.
I got lectured because of the stupid internet connection (or lack of it for that matter) because the Chairman of the Institute can't check his mail. And he accused me and the rest of the staff to be just standing around and let Destiny Cable slide.
If only he knew that I've already made four customer service agents pee in their pants. Not literally of course, but I'd like to think that my complaints somehow got through their thick heads for us to be placed in the top 5 priority companies to be serviced. It's not that I like being the irate caller (okay maybe a bit), but I do feel bad for the people taking the calls... especially the last agent I spoke to who got the call after I got burned in the Chairman's office.
I applaud call center agents. I can never do what they're doing.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005 6:45 PM
sprained in the line of duty
Nothing really prepared me to how this day will end. I woke up at 9 since I had overtime til midnight the night before. I arrived in the office at 11 because of traffic. I was informed by the secretary that I received another bouquet of roses, which is always a good thing. But I felt guilty again.
The afternoon was hectic because a lot of pending responsibilities had to be done before the Holy Week break. As luck would have it, I had to go over the Securities and Exchange Commission to pick up some documents for a case study on CAP. Who would think that something as innocent as catching an elevator would be so darn dangerous? I tripped but managed not to fall on all fours, but the pain in my right ankle was excruciating. I had to concentrate really hard not to cry in the elevator or in the lobby of the SEC. But I cried like a baby all the way in EDSA from Greenhills to Makati.
I also pleaded to my boss' driver not to tell anyone in the office about what happened and how hard I cried. A huge pride is another dangerous thing.
I caused a bit of commotion in the RCBC Plaza when I got back. One of my interns and two security guards brought me to the clinic in a wheelchair. The X-rays showed that nothing was broken, but considering how my ankle resembled one giant suha, the doctor concluded that it was really a bad sprain. (Gee! It's that obvious huh?). Right ankle was bandaged, ego was still bruised.
And now, I can't freakin' drive! %$*@!!
I've already told my boss that ICD will get a medical bill from all of this. I, after all, got a sprain in the line of duty.
Going to the restroom takes time and a lot of effort. I was immensely embarassed when my favorite guard had to wheel me to the clinic's restroom. The doctor, though, was very, very good. I liked her, purple suede shoes and all.
Monday, March 21, 2005 9:18 AM
Contrary to what Lai thought, Churchboy took two years, not three years, to finally have the guts to come up to me and ask for my number. After breakfast with my cousins and my ninang, I walked to where Bembol was parked and waited for the guard to give me my parking ticket. This white vehicle (I am really bad at identifying cars, so you have to bear with me) just shot out of nowhere and Churchboy suddenly yelled, ”Di ka na makakalabas ngayon!”
Huh?
Brain work is usually slow in the morning so it took me the whole time he was sliding out of the SUV-looking thing to realize that yes, he was right, it was impossible for me to get my car out of parking slot without doing some damage. But then why would I do that to Bembol?
”Bigay mo naman sakin number mo.”
He gave me his card. He left his cellphone. I didn’t have a pen. And seeing that I was not making any effort to get his number (it seemed wrong), he memorized my cell number.
I went through my archives in 2003 and found a funny entry to refresh your memories:
he's the guy who serves in masses in the chapel we usually go to. At first, we thought he was cute, he still is... although not as cute as the first time we saw him. Heaven forbid we call him lay-boy because his uncle also serves in the mass as a lay-man. Anyway, we call him Church Boy because we are not really fond of calling him by his real name because it reminds us of glue.
It was also in the same entry that his uncle invited us for breakfast one of these Sundays. But then, I wouldn't hold my breath. That might take another two years.
Friday, March 18, 2005 3:05 PM
when will it ever rain men?
I like waking up to the smell of summer rain. Preferably on a weekend, not on a weekday. Imagine how hard it was to get out of bed this morning, the alarm started going off at 6:45, but I was only able to stomp my way to the bathroom at 7:15. A decade from now, I should have already snagged a husband, so on days like this I wouldn't have to get up so early. I'd snuggle. Yes, snuggling would be perfect. I'd bury myself into the covers, as deep as an orthopedic mattress would allow.
Thursday, March 17, 2005 11:51 AM
I really think that the European countries should block US' choice of the World Bank's new President. It's not just a matter of sweet revenge and giving the Americans a kick in the ass for what they did five years ago when they blocked the Europeans' choice of IMF head. It is blatantly obvious that Bush has an agenda (not so hidden with this one) in putting Paul Wolfowitz after James Wolfehnson. Wolfowitz was one of the architects of the Iraqi war, and one of the top officials that denied Iraq reconstruction contracts from countries that opposed the war in the first place. As the new President of the World Bank, he will, for sure, deny grants and international aid to countries that will oppose America's foreign policies. Rather than becoming the World's Next Banker, he will be the World's Leading Extortionist, selling aid and loans for a political price.
11:39 AM
The Difference Batween Focus on Problems, and Focus on Solutions:
When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity. (Ink won't flow to the writing surface) In order to solve this problem, they hired Andersen Consulting (Accenture today). It took them one decade and 12 million dollars. They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, under water, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.
The Russians used a pencil...
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 9:03 AM
from the interns with love?
I came in early today and found this neon-orange post-it stuck on my screen.
Miss,
Nangiwan kayo. Sama.
Wala kayong good deed kahapon.
Anonynous
I don't know if they spelled anonymous wrong on purpose. Besides, when did I ever do a good deed for them in the first place? To me they are just minions. My minions.
Minions who carry 5-gallon water bottles, tabulate evaluation forms, call the compliance officer of every major corporation, etc etc.
+ + +
My mom texted me this morning to ask what my plan is for Holy Week. Am I going home to Surigao?
No ma, I'm going to try raising 3 Million Pesos for the whole chorale to go to Greece.
U buy looto.
Everybody seems to be misspelling words today.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 11:22 AM
I committed a major sin against the environment today. [those who know what an environmentalist I am can enter gasp here]. I have an empty Body Shop shower gel bottle in my shower rack which I have been meaning to bring to the Body Shop for recycling. Unfortunately, I always forget. Whilst showering, I discovered that my visiting mother sentenced the poor potentially-environmentally-dangerous bottle into the black void of the garbage chute few doors down the hall.
Now I'm having a bad day just thinking about it.
Monday, March 14, 2005 6:40 PM
looks like i've been hanging out in bbc.com as well
Americans can no longer sue fast food restaurants for making them fat. I honestly thought that the lawsuits that sparked this Cheeseburger Bill were curiously stupid --- so stupid that only the US could come up with something like that. But then, I don't really know the side of those in the prosecution.
However, since I'm an advocate of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, I believe that the US Senate should review the clause that says, "...the food industry now does not have to worry about public health". Fast Food restaurants have to be responsible too, just as they are claiming that the people who consume their products should be responsible enough to not choose their products if they want to be healthy.
Fyi, the bill is formally called the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act. I think it will go down as one of those silly, what-were-they-thinking kind of regulations that actually get passed.
9:42 AM
economist.com
I have been crazy in love with Economist.com the past few days, although I have an ass of a time figuring out how to prolong my account until October. I don't like reading off a computer screen, but I am unusually addicted. I thought I wouldn't want to have anything to do with political economy anymore. I even delayed my renewal for subscription of the print edition months ago until an irresistible offer came last Christmas to persuade me to come back.
Now I am hooked. As hooked as one can weirdly be hooked on an economic magazine. What the hell is wrong with me now???
Friday, March 11, 2005 11:29 PM
to layla
Te amo, mi prima.
I like what you did for the Tao. I love this template. Very nice.
I OWE YOU SOMETHING VANILLA.
1:38 PM
MU
I may not understand why Mapuans (probably the MIT acronym has a nice ring to it) do not want their university name changed to Malayan University, but there's just something so stirring to see students defend their alma mater or just coming together for a cause.
It is an amusing break to take to see students shading themselves under those malnourished trees and expressing their ire directly at the building where I work (the latter probly not so amusing). The Yuchengcos own the MIT, and the building I am in is the Yuchengco Tower, what a duh moment for me. Another thing I noticed is the Yuchengcos' love for the name, "Malayan". They like anything Malayan... they own Malayan Insurance for example.
Secretly, I like the fact that they're outside yelling their hearts out and occasionally singing their school hymn. It sounds so anima, or unitas, or ad majorem dei gloriam, you get the picture. There's nothing like school spirit. It's intoxicating.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005 7:58 PM
I am bringing work home tonight.
The horror!!!
7:17 PM
they call me the queen bee
They even make sure that I get coffee and dessert after lunch.
They talk into their imaginary walkie-talkies and make sure the coast is clear when we are about to cross the street.
I am the Queen Bee. The interns are my
I don't think people really cared about all the action happening with the four of us. They might have thought it weird and by now forgotten about it.
But the guards downstairs were very much amused. They liked my entourage. And they expect to be entertained again tomorrow.
How much do you think are those bee antennae things in the toy shop?
Monday, March 07, 2005 3:47 PM
I hate to break it to the world, but...
ALL LIVING HUMAN BEINGS ARE INSANE.
I say "living" because corpses 6 feet under still count as human beings, which is why it was a mortal sin that we got a real human skull for Variations on the Death of Trotsky four years ago.
SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE INSANE THAN OTHERS.
Insanity varies in different degrees. Some even end up in the Mental Hospital. Some end up in an office on the 24F of RCBC Plaza.
OTHER PEOPLE JUST THINK THEY'RE INSANE BECAUSE IT'S IN.
But it's not when one is medically mentally insane.
Bah. The world and I aren't friends right now.
Thursday, March 03, 2005 6:12 PM
I was going to post something smart today, something that should catch attention and irresistible to comment. Something that should enumerate how retail therapy lightens my mood (I love my new shoes from PrettyFit) or how talking about literature (will buy Griffin and Sabin next) with one of your closest friends make you forget that you have a seminar next day that you disappointingly know will have a loser number turnout.
I am just incredibly tired.
To the point that having dinner with your Singaporean friends who are about to leave Manila this Saturday becomes a chore.
Who says that I have no social life?
Wednesday, March 02, 2005 2:29 PM
fighting fire with sweets
The interns gave me a bag of doughnuts from Countrystyle downstairs.
Where did I go wrong?
8:16 AM
From the Economist.
"A 'blogging' Iraninan, Arash Sigarchi, was sentenced to 14 years in prison by a revolutionary tribunal, after it found him guilty of insulting Iran's leaders and spying --- meaning that, among other things, he had contributed to Radio Farda, which broadcasts from America."
Talk about the absence of freedom of expression. I'm happy the Philippines doesn't monitor blogs, or does it? Nah... Wish mo lang.
Stung by a British diplomat's allegations of corruption in the Kenyan cabinet, a Kenyan minister announced that civil servants who leaked information about corruption would be charged with treason.
Hmmm... sounds like another GMA and Ricciardoni squabble to me.
Spain's voters overwhelmingly endorsed the European Union Constitution in a referendum, but on an embarassingly low turnout. Eyes now turn to trickier ballots in France and the Netherlands.
Aha, so that's why students in UA&P are so damned apathetic (it took what? ten years to finally decide to finally have a charter change?)!!! The teachers were trained in Spain! Ha!
Audi, Volkswagen's luxury-car unit, said that net profit in 2004 had risen by 7.4% to $1.1B...
Lemme get this straight. The Beetle is not a luxury car? At the price that they're selling it here?
