Best Ever Year 2011

First day at work was alright. Except as we expected being a Monday the calls were voluminous. Over time work was required. Some of my office mates were not able to report for work. Either they went abroad or been with their respective families during the Holidays. They were stranded on their way back to Manila. I was excused from going on overtime. My voice corroborated my alibi. I had just recovered from allergic cough. I was happy to be home early.

I know some countries or other places are getting ready for the Three Kings celebration by the 6^th of January. 

I hope and wish you, ALL the BEST GIFTS from these Wise Men. I also hope the star that guided these Wise Men will guide our way to the BEST YEAR, 2011!

Thanksgiving Vacation

We do not celebrate Thanksgiving in the Philippines but I am happy to be off from work comes the 25^th and 26^th. Yes, some of us were allowed to go on vacation leave because we are expecting less call by then.  Our team captain approached me if I want to go and vacation and he got a positive reply from me. It is not that easy for us to go on vacation leave. I am happy for being given the opportunity to have a rest day along with some of my officemates.

The vacation leave is just the right timing. I have cold this time. Although manageable because of the cold medicines I am taking. It will give me time to rest and sleep with gusto. I seldom get sick but when I do. I would like to rest for fear I might end up in a hospital. We do have hospitalization benefit but being at the hospital makes me sicker. Why? It is because I am unable to rest being at the close watch of a nurse, getting my temperature every now and then. In line with duty, a nurse has to write something on the clipboard for the doc to see the progress of the patient. If the hospital has a nursing school, pray that a throng will not come inside your room to ask you how many times had you visited the toilet. Oh, no please do not get me wrong. I have nothing against the nursing profession. Nurses are doing a noble job. I am just saying I am not comfortable being at the hospital, okies? Likewise, please do not be alarmed I am alright. ☺

To some of my American friends who are to celebrate Thanksgiving, please take it easy on the drinks. After Thanksgiving there will be Christmas to spend your precious dollars with your godchildren. 

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All Souls Day VS Halloween

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Except for those homes located in posh villages, offices, and shopping malls. Halloween is not a great festivity in the Philippines. Most Filipinos would rather be at memorial parks and cemeteries to be with their departed loved ones. We visit departed loved ones on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, bringing candles and flowers. To some, just to avoid traffic jams, they visit as early as a week before or on the 31^th of Oct or 2^nd of Nov.

All Souls Day is the 2^nd of Nov. following All Saints Day. In the Philippines, however, we celebrate All Souls Day on the 31^st of Oct through the 1^st of Nov. Traditionally All Souls Day is great fiesta for Filipinos. It had been handed down from generation to generations. Filipino families gather themselves at the place where departed loved ones were laid to rest. Some would stay overnight from the 31^st of Oct. to the 1^st of Nov. To some however, they spend the vigil lavishly. Such that, some would bring wines and liquors, intoxicating themselves forgetting some wants to celebrate the occasion solemnly in prayers. To maintain peace and order, police officers are posted inside memorial parks and cemeteries. Bags are inspected from the entrance. Items like, karaoke, kitchen knives, playing cards are confiscated and returned to the owners upon leaving the area.

I visited my parents with my brother and sister in law, Monday 25^th of October. Good enough I heeded the advice of my sis in law. I filed vacation leave for Friday, 29^th of Oct. Lady luck did not smile at me. The vacation leave was not approved. The 1^st of Nov. is a holiday in the Philippines, but sad to say. No holiday for those working in Call Centers. The good news is we get additional pay working on Philippine holidays.

Off to Work Today

Speaking of Christmas shopping, my apology to the daddies and mommies who do not want to think about the occasion yet, yes some of you are correct it is too early. However, the reason why I shop early is because of pre-Christmas discounted sales. I guess some of the malls in Manila are trying to dispose some of their stocks to replenish with new ones. Manufacturers instead of taking the items back. They sell the items at discounted price. I developed the technique of scouting for items that might go on sale. I checked on the original price of the items.

During mid night madness, it is how we call it here. Malls are open until twelve midnight during the sale. That is why it was called midnight madness. When the items go on sale I tried to check how much they are being marked down. I noticed mall owners had been wiser this time. They would only get few stocks and would reorder when needed. Before, I could buy books for as low as seventy percent mark down, now not all the books go on sale. If all of them do, only up to twenty percent off. Budgeting? Count me in, folks. Well, just being wise when it comes to spending.

Today, the 30^th of August is Philippines National Heroes Day, and therefore it is a holiday. No work for those that goes to the other offices at daytime. Not me, I got work. Call Centers do not have work Holiday. We do get additional pay though when we work on Philippines Holidays. I received a text message from our team captain at work that we have to render at least one hour overtime today. I replied okay, count me in. Hush! I do not want to frustrate him in exchange of my remaining vacation leave. I want him to approve the vacation leave at the latest next week. ☺