A Festive Family Gathering

I visited my parents again Sunday the 7^th, at the memorial park. I thought of seeing the caretaker of my parents plot for his allowance. The caretaker is on his early fifties who earn his living, taking care of the plots at the memorial park. I did not see him last 25^th of Oct, the last time I visited. Being a Sunday and a week after All Souls Day, the memorial park was full of visitors taking time off from household chores to visit their loved ones. Or I guess like me they did not have time to visit last 1^ST of Nov. I was at work then.

For some families who have cars either they visit early, prior to All Souls Day celebration to have a good parking slot. Or, visit after the occasion. For a fee, tents are provided by the memorial park with matching chairs and a table. The park was on festive mood that started early Sunday morning. As described to me by my parents caretaker. Since night vigils are no longer allowed by the memorial park after All Saints Day and All Souls day. The visiting family members stayed from early morning to late afternoon.  Packed lunch, water and juices were among those prepared for a day vigil.

Upon arriving at the park, a boy around I guess four years old was crouched with pout lips trying to blow a candle. His older sister was giggling as she tried to stop him. The boy probably thought the candle had to be blown like the candle on his birthday cake. The candles placed on the headstones or anywhere near the departed loved ones have to be left lighted.  Soon as extinguished, they have to be replaced until all the visiting family members decided to go home. Of course, beautiful floral arrangements are likewise laid on same places.

The Philippines is composed of several regions and ethnic groups that may differ, in honoring and showing love to departed loved ones. One thing sure is Filipinos attachment to their families, living or those in the after lives.  ♥

What’s In It with Coffee?

Had you visited Manila, and some other cities in the Philippines, you must have noticed a lot of coffee shops located almost everywhere. Among the top ten coffee shops are ~♥

1.      Starbucks

2.      Gloria Jean’s

3.      Bo’s Coffee

4.      Figaro

5.      Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

6.      Seattle’s Best Coffee

7.      Café de Lipa

8.      UCC Café Plaza

9.      McCafe of McDonalds

Let us stop and talk a while..

10.  Café Capreal 

In Manila, most of these coffee shops are located inside hotels, shopping malls or they have their own rented place like that of Starbucks. Starbucks rank number one. You could easily find one, either close to offices, golf course or any strategic locations frequented by people from all walks of life. To be more attractive to coffee lovers, this coffee shop sells, tumblers, coffee mugs, bags or other items bearing Starbucks name. Although Filipinos love coffee, those who have tight budget may not be interested buying the items. They are quite pricey. Coffee lovers do buy them as keepsake items. One thing I noticed about Starbucks is their accommodating place. You could enjoy your stay in the place as long as you want. In some coffee shops waiters would ask if you have other orders or needed something. As if to say, you need to give way to other customers.

As people used to flock to these coffee shops. The entrepreneurship mind of their marketing staff had conceptualized the idea of selling cakes and pastries to go with coffee. Coffee shops are even popular than ice cream parlors. After all who wants to sweat it out at the gym to ward off excess calories? So what is with coffee that made it so popular? Nothing really, it is the place that is more important. Coffee shops are places you could conveniently stay while waiting for your friends. It is a good place for buying time while waiting for a business partner for an important meeting. Or a place to simply read the morning news paper while enjoying a stick of cigarette all by your self.  ☺

Let Them Hear You Smile

Being a customer care representative (CCR) in a Call Center, your best asset is your voice. I am not saying you need to have a well modulated voice. I agree, not all of us are gifted with a voice that could qualify for a disc jockey. In simple words, let the caller or the listener on the other end of the line feels welcome. That is by giving the best tone of your voice. Apologizing to customer for making them inconvenience only becomes meritorious if the CCR has the proper tone of the voice. The tone of the voice must suggest or gives a good impression to the listener that sincerity is well conveyed. 

Can they hear you smile?

I had written about my not so good experience with my internet provider in my earlier post. I had disconnects of service for several months at no fault of my own. I tediously waited on the long queue to get a tech support to attend to my concern.  Despite the long wait. I did not let up calling. I never changed my provider. My main reason, there is someone on the other line who is willing to listen anytime of the day I would call. The person may not be competent enough to resolve my concern at the time of my call. The sincerity of the voice of the person on the other line is enough to convince me. I will get my concern resolved soon.

Customers are calling not merely to complain but to verify if they are welcome by the company they do business with. I know how difficult it is to be the front liner of the company we are working for. Listening to the same mantra may not be very pleasant to hear. However, think about if you are the  one calling and the person on the other line sounds so unfriendly. Your possible reaction the next time you call is to sever your tie with the company. Look for another one you feel comfortable dealing with. And, you feel welcome, whenever you have concerns to be taken care of.

“Everyday can be great, because anybody can serve. You do not have to have a college degree to serve. You do not have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart and full of grace. A soul generated by love ♥ ”
Martin Luther King Jr.

Showing Your Best Smile

Have you ever been asked to pose for a photo session?

I bet the first thing you would think of, is to look your best. You have no idea who would be looking at your photos. For sure you will give your best smile. There are times when we have our photos taken and we do not like the outcome. We want to have another shot, to look our best. I recall what my sister used to tell me. I need not worry about not being so good looking in my photos.  At least I could make people happy by laughing at my photos. It is simple way of saying she wants not so good looking photos. So, we have something to laugh at.

Wacky smile. Yikes! :)

Smiling in front of the camera had its evolution too. Like many other events or phenomena. Here is a sample of a modern way of smiling, otherwise known as wacky smile. Did you say these two smile models have similarities with me? Yeah, to be honest, I am unable to deny they are my relatives, lest they are going to disown me. The girl is my niece and the boy is my nephew. Now … you know.  These kids just loved to take their photos from their cell phones. They call it wacky smile, or wacky pose. Whatever …

My niece is playful when it comes to taking photos. She had countless photos akin to what you see in here. She does not really care how she would look like. All she cares is to make the beholders smile. She is nice looking too. She is never bothered taking her photos with contorted face. For the sake of art, albeit. My nephew is also very playful even when he was a boy. He would crack jokes, we all ended up laughing. Not on his jokes but how corny the jokes were.

Happy Birthday Sarah ~♥

To my favorite girl Sarah ~ ♥

for

21^st of July

I have no treasures to offer you,  

Or a wrapped present to surprise you,

Yet I have my love, to let you know,

This day is well thought of, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to YOU!

With best of health and happiness,

To Infinity and Beyond without amiss,

I hope and pray for more blessings,

God bless always my BEST wishes!

New Blog Template

Surprise! I got a new blog template!

Yup! I did change my blog template because I am having trouble viewing my blog using Internet Explorer. I thought if I update my blog template to one of the new ones recommended by blogspot.com. I would be able to view my blog just like I used too with IE. To my dismay, my expectation did not happen. Since my previous template was on old one. I was unable to go back to it anymore. If you had been visiting my blog, this used to be how it looked. 

 

Well, I would say not bad for the update I did. I chose the simple template for me to be able to design my blog.  Pink is not actually one of my favorite colors but it denotes being young. Being a princess, I chose the color. My favorite colors are red, black and gold, extreme right? I like other colors of course and I can match colors to create a design. You got it!  I like every flower that grows on planet earth. However, roses and orchids are my favorites. It is not easy to design a blog. The thing is. I had to allot a certain time to do it. I love designing my own blog. I want my blog to look happy.  I am Jolly Princess after all. 

I had great time putting all together all the gadgets to make my blog looked this way. It was a bit tiring though. Yet it was worth it, when I see the end result. I mentioned about my internet browser. I am using Mozilla Firefox this time. I am not sure what will work for you. For me, my internet connection is faster when I used Firefox. I can view my blog in the manner I want it. I still use IE on other Websites, though. So I have two browsers I used alternately. I guess maybe there is something I need to do with IE. My busy brain has not figured it out yet for now.

 Thanks Josh Peterson!

I hope I made you happy with the blog template you designed.