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Showing posts with label Manila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manila. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Thank you 2017! Welcome 2018!

This early let me wish all my blogger  friends and readers. -


A PROSPEROUS 2018! HAPPY NEW YEAR!


We got work early morning of New Year. My home buddy niece treated me to this sumptuous lunch. The salad alone made me felt so full. 

Some left over chicken and mashed potatoes will be our dinner tonight. Get some sleep in the middle of the celebration. Wake up, head to work. 

Same thing happen last Christmas. I was also at work. To save on cooking effort. We likewise ordered food.  

Manila Philippines is around 8 to 15 hours ahead of other countries. Today is the 31st of December here. So yes, New Year here is just few hours away. 

Sunday, July 02, 2017

Welcome Me Back World Wide Web

The days are passing by too fast. It is July now, half of 2017. Few more months, everybody will busy again shopping for Christmas presents.  So what have I been up to?

There are so many things that happened in the month of June. My brain is too busy to think of one topic to write. I have yet to mention, I was on training again last end of March as chat tech support.  I thought I know how to communicate though chat, having chatted before with some online friends. But I was wrong. Casual conversation is different from business conversation. One of my struggles is how to pacify an irate customer through chat. At least if I am speaking with customer through voice call. The customer on the other end of the line can hear the tone of my voice.


From April to May I struggled with dissatisfied, surveys.  Oh no, I did not make my customers upset. There are many ways customers would give dissatisfied ratings on a survey. One is they would wait on the queue for so long. Their time is precious like anyone else.  Sometimes some company procedures and policies they are not aware of. Services outage is another one.  Who would want to lose phone or internet connection just when the service is needed most. They would take the survey, not knowing the survey would fall on the agent they chatted  or spoke with.  Hopefully soon as June scores will be tallied. I hope to pass.


Yes, we do have monthly scores. In some call centers, if agent is not passing the monthly scores repeatedly.  The agent could be transferred to another department. Worst scenario the agent could be terminated from the job. In the company I am working. If we do not pass the yearly average we will not get salary increase. I am hoping for the best to pass this 2017 for another salary increase.  Some people may say working in a call center is easy. Call center companies do not require four year college degree. Not really. Try to apply and see for yourself. This is the kind of job where you will be technically and analytically challenged. 

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Emergency Alert

This was an emergency earthquake alert on my cell phone that woke me up. It came in three times. 

English translation “Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit San Marcelino Zambales at 10:27pm, 25th May 2017. Aftershocks are expected. Be prepared, ensure your safety and your family as well. “

San Marcelino Zambales is located along the northern coast of Subic Bay in the Philippines. Earthquake was felt in some areas in Manila, but not where I live.

Although you woke me up, thank you PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) for the alert. You are much improved now. Keep up the great job!


Thank you to the inventor of smart phones. Thank you to my office for giving me the smart phone. A gift I received for being a loyal employee for ten years of service. Emergency situations are disseminated to the public instantly through this powerful gadget. 

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Time Off from Work Well Spent

I have been contemplating on cleaning this AC unit but I just cannot extract my niece from her favorite place at home. Where else but her bedroom. We have the same day off. She does not  want to be disturbed watching movies or playing online games on her computer. Yesterday being my vacation leave.  I took the chance after she left for work. I do not  have AC in my room to save on electricity bills. My sister bought this AC unit for my niece. My niece shares on our electricity bills. 


Accumulation of dust on AC filter balloons electricity bills.It has been four months since the last time I cleaned this AC unit.  Dust could hinder its operation. As a result it would use a lot of electricity for cooling off a room.


I cautiously scraped off the dust using used toothbrush. Then, wash the filter with bath soap and water. The bath soap made it fresh smelling when I put back the filter and covered it up. The owner of the room was very pleased. 

Friday, April 14, 2017

Welcome Summer 2017

It is starting to get warmer now in Manila, Philippines since summer has been declared by our weathermen end of March. Being a tropical country Philippines has only two seasons, summer and rainy reason.  Summer starts around middle of March until the end of June.  Our temperature scale measurement is Celsius.  Although most foreign visitors who come to Manila consider the weather to be always warm.  The warmest months we would have are April in May.  

My work schedule is at night time. It gives me the advantage of cooler temperature when reporting for work.  The air condition system inside the work place would even make us wear jackets and sweaters despite the warm temperature outside. When the morning sun is up after my work shift, I am on my way home.  Shower cools me off before hopping in my bed.  I share a rented two bedroom condo with my niece, which is good.   I have someone to share the cost of my rent. 

Without a balcony I hesitated before to take the rented place. It is only now I begin to appreciate without having a balcony. Being in an inner unit, it is cooler compared to those units directly facing the sun.  My niece has air conditioning in her room. I have electric fan in mine. The electric fan is enough to cool off my room as long as I close my door.

I always make it a point to have plants in the house.  Aside from serving as decor, plants help to cool off the temperature and freshens the air inside my small space. I have a pot of plant inside my room, my niece room, in the living room, kitchen and bathroom.  I go for plants that are easy to grow like sansevieria and some plants that grow in water, without much need for sunlight.

You can count on me when it comes to recycling pots.  As you can see in this photo, the pot I used is an old pot for rice cooker. Empty glass bottles also serve as flower pots for water plants. I just do not have much time to decorate the bottles as flower pots.  These bottles have special place in all corners of my small space, rather than inside a trash bin. 

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

A Day with Glenda

Nice name, yet Filipinos dreaded this name last 15th of July, Tuesday. This was the local name given to typhoon Rammasun.  

My sister lives in the Bicol area. We had been exchanging text messages about the situation in Bicol. Manila was also part of  signal number two then later number three.  I was telling her Monday evening the weather inside our unit was still warm. It was my day off.  I kept vigil at the news on television. I am at the inner unit and I cannot hear rains or wind from the outside. At around two in the morning I heard some neighbors talking to our lobby guard. While some were busy on their cell phones.  I went down to the lobby.  My unit is at the second floor. There it was the rain and wind.  


Monday, April 15, 2013

Election 2013


I forgot to mention in my blog post another hot event in Manila and throughout the country is the ongoing campaign for our 12 Senatorial bets, Congressmen and local officials. We are to have the election comes 13th of May this year. As usual candidates have time to make themselves lovelies and handsome in the presence of their constituents and spectators during campaign rallies. I do hope if they get to be elected their promises are not to be broken. 
Our Commission on Election Chief and Officers all of a sudden became famous. The Chief had laid out rules for the campaign. Disqualifications were made on some nuisance candidates. In the Philippines, our constitution has provision for party list representatives to run. Whoever is the representative of a party list is given a seat in our Congress.  He also enjoys the benefits accorded to a Congressman. Our Commission on Election Chief was marred by criticism when he disqualified some party list to run. Motions for reconsideration were filed and left to the decision of our Supreme Court.

In the end, the sole judge for this sovereign exercise will be us, the Filipino people. I rally behind Filipinos who would opt for conscience voting. I want the taxes I am paying to be in good hands.

Friday, April 12, 2013

What is Hot in Manila?



The weather in Manila Philippines is about 35 degrees Celsius but even warmer in some Northern Luzon provinces. It is summer as declared by our weathermen. While some are getting ready for the beach escapade some prefer to stay home and save their money for their children school expenses comes June. June is the opening of classes in Philippines. My neighbor bought a plastic pool for their kids. The children about three to four years of age enjoyed throwing a toy penguin at each other inside the pool joined by some kids in the neighborhood. Our common yard became an instant swimming pool. 

My summer becomes hotter due to body temperature of almost 40 degrees. I had fever as I was attacked by my allergic cough.  I could not stop the cough despite my antihistamine cough medicines.  I went to see a doctor for the right medicines. Doc prescribed anti bacterial antibiotics and allergy tabs. Accordingly, I have asthma that is manifested in cough instead of shortness of breath. This normally happens to me when there is change of weather from cold to warm.  No worries this time folks. I am feeling much better now, no more fever but still coughing a bit.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Economy Booster




Some say this is a hoax.  They have not felt the change as they are still jobless or underpaid. I am not into politics or I know someone who works for Philippine government. I respect the opinion of everyone. But let me share what I have in mind. 

There are lots of job openings, sad to say only few are qualified. Filipinos are technically qualified but when it comes to soft skills most applicants are having difficulty expressing themselves.  Foreign investors on BPO industry hire Filipinos as we are known to speak English language in the best way British and Americans could understand. 

Corollary to this, I encourage Philippine government to consider English language as the medium of instruction to start at least in high school. Filipinos should likewise do away with Juan Tamad (Lazy John) attitude waiting for the guava to fall, to eat it. We must hone our talents. In this way, when opportunity knocks, we are ready.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

From Cool to Warm Weather



No more cool weather in Manila, Philippines. Yes, it seems our summertime will come early this year 2013. As oppose to the previous prediction of our weathermen, we are to enjoy cooler temperature until March, it is getting warmer now especially at noontime. At least it is still cooler at night in my place. 

I hope no intense heat come summer time.  This could result to plenty of rainfall during rainy months and possibly cause flooding. I guess I am getting paranoid a bit. I had not been affected by flooding in Manila. I pity those people who are more likely to suffer from weather disturbance. The government funds allotted to fortuitous events could be used for livelihood of Filipinos. In this way, Filipinos could feel the growth in Philippine economy. My appreciation goes to some government officials, businessmen and Filipinos who worked so hard to contribute to this achievement.

Ah, well, que serra serra ... be positive. Life is a challenge. The option to be happy is within us. To my Chinese friends, Chinese bloggers, and to all Filipino Chinese –

           Kong Hei Fat Choi!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Congratulations Miss Philippines

Janine Tugonon is 1st Runner Up- on the recently concluded Miss Universe 2012 Beauty Pageant. Filipinos are VERY proud of YOU!

Coronation night was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Wednesday night 19th of Dec. 2012, Thursday morning 20th of Dec. 20 in Manila, Philippines.

Miss Universe 2012 Winners
Miss Universe - Miss U.S.A  Olivia Culpo
1st Runner Up - Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon
2nd Runner-Up - Miss Venezuela, Irene SofĆ­a Esser Quintero
3rd Runner-Up - Miss Australia, Renae Ayris
4th Runner-Up -Miss Brazil, Gabriela Markus

Friday, November 30, 2012

Home Hobby



Whenever I am on day off from work I would slumped on my red couch to watch television for early morning or evening news. Mostly not good news, but at least I am updated with what is happening around Manila, the entire Philippines and other countries as well. 

My television is the first appliance I bought since I started working at the Call Center. I call it call center baby.I still do not have cable as I am still debating what provider to choose.  Well, I guess not a priority for now. It is alright, I have access to international news anyway through internet.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Drastic Weather Change


Powerful adjective but that is how I could describe our Philippine weather these days. Being a tropical country, Philippines have summer and rainy seasons.  For several days we had warm weather and I was to blog about the sun shine.  The other night it rained, last night it rained real hard. Manila, Philippines is on storm signal number 1 as strong typhoon Ofel visited some areas of the country for the past two days. Several air and sea commuters were stranded as their planes and ships were not allowed to travel. Despite the dismay of some passengers, authorities are careful for safety of all travellers. 

The good news is, we will have fine weather over the weekend and on All Saints Day. All Saints Day is a feast Filipinos observed yearly. We visit our departed loved ones at their resting places offering candles and flowers. To some they offer prayers. It is the time of the year when families gather together. Memorial parks and cemeteries are on festive mood from the 30th of October to the 2nd of November. I will visit my parents on the 31st of October.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Breaking News


After the flood and surviving typhoon Helen, Filipinos are again deeply saddened as a private plane crashed yesterday, around 4pm, 18th of August, off a shore Masbate City, south of Manila. On board the ill fated plane is Jesse Robredo our Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary.  The plane pilot, Captain Jessup M. Bahinting, a veteran of flying aircrafts sent distress call to Masbate airport for emergency landing due to engine trouble. The plane did not make it to the airport. It crashed off the sea about 500 meters away from the airport.

Rescue and retrieval operation is still ongoing as I am posting this blog. Prayers and Catholic masses are being offered for the safety of the Secretary, the pilot and the co pilot. Their fate or chance of survival is still uncertain as of now. Don Abrasado the aide of Secretary Robredo survived the crash by jumping off the plane. The crash was witnessed by some fishermen and residents who mentioned of seeing smoke on the tail of the plane before it went down. 

Monday, August 13, 2012

The Aftermath of Monsoon Rain


This was taken by my nephew outside their office.

Manila, Philippines and nearby provinces, such as Batangas, Cavite and Laguna, experienced another weather disturbance. It happened last 6th of August 2012. I did not pay much attention to the continuous rain as my place has less rain compared to other places In Manila. Little did I know in most places, residents were being evacuated from their houses as flood water begun to rise to its alarming level. Rained poured its fury in some areas in the evening of the 6th of August.  After my work shift in the morning of the 7th, I received text messages from my family members asking me about the flood. I sent text message to my niece, who also works in a call center like me.  She was safely home at five in the morning.

Monday, July 02, 2012

Rubber Shoes


I was at the shopping mall last Saturday, the 30th of June, destination, SM Mega Mall Ortigas Center, Pasig City, one of Manila, Philippines, busiest shopping mall. After treating me, for lunch at Shakeys Pizza my niece first pay was spent on her favorite rubber shoes. She is currently a trainee at another Call Center, not same Call Center where I am working.  It was the same brand of shoes she wore in her college days. The sales lady at the department store was smiling when my niece chose the new arrival pair of shoes. It was also paid in cash.

I could commend the sales lady for her good disposition. When my niece and I were heading towards the shelves, where arrays of pairs of shoes were neatly lined up, the sales lady smilingly said –“Ma’m rubber shoes?” She looked down and noticed the old shoes of the same brand my niece was wearing. The sales lady immediately mentioned they have a new arrival pairs of same cortex shoes. The features of the shoes apparently, are as follows. –

Lightweight, 1 lb 2 ozsC
Molded nylon arch shank
Waterproof nubuck leather
Ortholite,  anatomical footbed
Antimicrobial solution resists odor
Air cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability

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