August 29, 2005

1st day at work!

Finished first day of work today.

WOW! That's probably what I can say for now. I'm just so thankful that I chose to work for eTelecare. Such a great company to work for.(and for me to say that after only the first day says alot!) If they mean half of what they said (and I think they mean and practice all of them) my stay in this company is gonna be worthwhile. Just a few of the things I remember from today's company orientation.

eTelecare Global Solutions

Vision: World Class Worldwide

Mission: Creating Superior Value for our Clients, Employees, Shareholders and Communities that support us

Culture: Global, Solutions-focussed , Performance-based, Development-oriented

Values: Proffesionalism, Integrity, Pride, Fun

Looking at all these...I think it's a company worth working with and being a part of. There's so many things that I'm happy about too. The people are wonderful. Our trainees are just awesome and great speakers. (not to mention pretty;p) Ms. Len and Ms. Roni are my favourites. Hopefully we'll get to see more of them in the coming days ahead.

Plus factors:
1. Benefits and Compensation (probably not allowed to divulge here so I won't and they'll disucss it in detail in tomorrow's session).

2. Facilities: besides the state-of-the-art equipments at our job stations and the whole network and all (not very techy- don't know what to call them hehe) the facilities that are made available to the employees are great too. The lounges, games room, pantries (with unlimited drinks-pomelo,dalandan,cofee, choco latte, etc), day care (for those with babies :), and a few more I can't recall right now.

3. Emphasis on developing their employees. Everything from personal to professional development. (7Habits, PSsomething something* etc etc)

4. Promoting balance of work and fun. Funds for team outings (general assemblies), summer outings (the funds per person is impressive!!) frequent programmes to improve working conditions at work...like this Sept there's a coming Massage Day, then there's fitness programs, arcade day etc etc.

5. Meritocracy. That means no matter how old you are or how long you've been in the company if you perform and give results.... rewards, merit, promotions where appropriate is in order.

There's so much more I can say. But I'll go on and on (and this is already a very long entry...once again! haha) I just thank God that I made the correct decision to join eTelecare. (this is such a promo for the company, but that's ok...i'm proud I'm part of it)

OK, I gotta go back now and study the map of the US! (that's our assignment for today...to memorise the geography of the land of the free.)

What states surround the state of IDAHO?
?
???

How am I suppose to know? hehe

Ok better get to it...might have a quiz (CFUs Check for Understanding) tomorrow.

Archie...memorise...out!


August 27, 2005

Jobs, friends, cousins

Alright...must blog before I 1.forget and 2.get lazy to update again...haha so here goes..

PTL! I have a job now!!! :) After looking for a week, my efforts finally paid off! Finally found a call center job here. I think I underestimated the job hiring processes of call centers here in the Philippines...GRABEH! It's really difficult. The tests and interviews are easy by themselves...but putting three tests (50min each) and a throng of interviews (min 10min, max 1-2hrs!!!) and simulation activities...you'll go crazy... just the job that I got, I had to do everything in a span of three days!!! there just wasn't enough time in a day (well probably there is but we'll fall dead on their carpeted floors by the end of it).

So anyways, I got a job in eTelecare. Pays just how I expected (and budgeted) so everything's fine with that one. I'm actually gonna start training as early as this Monday! That fast! There's just one thing that isn't exactly an issue but nevertheless is still something that I consider will be a slight challenge...I'M IN SALES!!! (both outbound and inbound) I'm ok with sales and I have no problems with inbound (of course!) but it's the outbound part that I'm worried about. Tried it before in Singapore and the rejection rate is nasty!hehe really...but I just pray for strength... anyways, being in sales means having COMMISIONS! hehe so there's an opportunity to earn more. We'll see how it goes. I hope we get as much support and understanding from our supervisors as I did last time in inCall Systems.

On another note...I met Kuya Eric here in the Philippines (He's one of my mentors in Singapore, same church.) He is here for work (in Easwood, Libis Quezon City where coincidentally I will be going to in the next month for my training). Met with him, he picked me up at Holiday Inn just beside Robinsons Galleria. We met up with Ate Ivy and we ate at this really good Japanese restaurant. Got to catch up and had a few laughs. Ate Ivy wished she was able to attend the Single's retreat in Sebana Cove, Malaysia. (we told her all the fun things that happened there)

Afterwards we had ice cream!!! woo! sinful man! It's pretty ex but it's just sooo good...it's a mix and match thing..here's what we ordered

Ate Ivy: Ferrero Ice cream plus cookie dough
Kuya Eric: some really good ice cream plus brownies
Me: Caramelicious plus Pound Cake

Whoa...just thinking about it...I already think I'm gaining weight...hahah hopefully with my graveyard shifts in the call center I'll lose plenty of these handles! hehe...just you wait jl! and everyone else!!! hahaha... maskulados na pagdating nyo dito! hehehe

Well, we went home afterwards. I'm meeting Ate Ivy again tomorrow for this dance party that her ENLI class organised. Kuya Eric is flying back to Singapore tomorrow! And Ate Tina is replacing him...hehe so many visitors...excited about next week...alright gotta go for now... having dinner already...

ps. I took my cousins (ten of them...five didnt come coz they were too lazy) out (with my mom and Aunty Leda). We went to Museong Pambata (Museum for Kids)...but that's another post...I'll put up the pictures as well...had so much fun there! haha...anyways, gotta go.

Archie.... awt!


August 24, 2005

Updates! Updates!!!

OH no!!!! I haven't updated my blog for a while now... :( im so sorry to those who come here and were frequently disappointed on the lack of updates...anyways here it goes...

1. My Life

Well thing's have been good so far. For my UP (or other universities for that matter) application, it won't be happening til October so I have some time to settle other stuff. Currently talking to some people who have friends who have friends who can help me with my (as what the registrar lady in UP said) "unique" case. hehe...

Jobwise, I've been applying to a couple of jobs. Mostly call center jobs...I applied for a writer/copywriter position in ABS-CBN though (for the non-filipinos...it is the "leading broadcasting company in the Philippines...better than GMA...hahaha personal opinion....sorry "kapamilya ako" ...

trivia: The philippine TV viewing population is divided into two parties namely: KAPAMILYA (meaning: same family) by ABS-CBN and KAPUSO (meaning: same heart) by GMA. Both are industry leaders and have shows that cater to the different tastes of the Filipino community.

Back to the job applications...I applied in ABS-CBN but they haven't called me back so I'm not counting on those anymore. I've also applied in several call centers...and I currently have 2 job offers. One from eTelecare and one from Convergys... PTL!!! :D I'm having one final meeting with them tomorrow to discuss my salary and stuff like that...I'm probably gonna take the Convergys one though... They're alot more attractive for me...but I guess we'll see tomorrow won't we??? :D

Life back here in tondo is good. Been reconnecting with several of my close friends. But I still find myself being alone (but not lonely! :P ) alot of times. Mainly coz of different lifestyles and schedule. Hopefully it'll get better. I'd really like to spend more time with those friends of mine... been friends since when we were still "uhugin" (the literal meaning is disgusting but the figurative one is: since we were very young...if you're curious email me and ill explain hehehe...) Although sometimes I find myself underestimating the safety or lack thereof here in Tondo...hahaha I walk around at 11pm-3am...sometimes alone hehehe...but not to worry...im fine and have decided not to do that anymore... afterall im not in Singapore anymore hahaha...but if it makes any difference...one of my close friends is a drug lord here near my place...so i have immunity hehehe....ok ok...ill be careful so don't worry.

Ok enough about me...this later part is just random updates on what's happening here in the Philippines...if you are non-filipino and find yourself uninterested feel free to read on...wouldn't hurt to know what's happening to your neighbours hehehe...

2. Philippine updates... disclaimer: im gonna list this down as I remember it...and it will probably have my own views and opinions...hopefully it won't offend you...but if it did forgive me not at all what I meant it for... and hopefully i won't get into any trouble hehehe...(anyways, im not that spiteful lah hahahaha) "wala hong personalan...trabaho lang" (meaning:dont take it personally, it's only business...ang jologs ng translation! hahaha)

• There are alot of news lately that President Arroyo and former President Estrada are talking about reconcilliation. Although the Estrada camp are dubious about the timing of the proposal of the Administration (with the impeachment procedures and the passing of Charter Change happening in the Congress right now), they said they "might" be open (not sure ha??hehehe ako lang to...from what i remember) to the reconcilliation. Probably because of alot of 3rd-party people (catholic leaders and influential people in the government) talking to both sides, convincing them to go through with it. (and maybe because of personal reasons too)... They said the "Sandigang Bayan" (i dunno the english of that...someone post it please hahaha) is willing to give Estrada some form of release if the reconcilliation happens... (if you ask me...he doesn't even look like he's imprisoned...the filipino people have forgotten - too fast i must say - what he did...the reason why he was impeached... he was even given permission to attend (after his medical check up... which other prisoner in the philippines gets such treatment??? huh? huh? HUH???) the birthday celebration of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde cum anniversary of the same catholic organisation... HUWAAAAT???!!! (tr. what???!!!) ) But this reconcilliation is probably not gonna happen soon...huwaaaay??? (tr. why???) In the said celebration....the President also attended and everyone (both parties) made sure that the two never were on stage together!!! humphhh!!! parang mga bata!!! (tr. like children!!!)
• oh no....no more time....hahaha so...blitz update...kris and james yap (prominent basketball player in the philippines) are talking about marriage...private wedding tho hehehe... y did i put this?? like i said random hehehe
• alright...no more time hehehe...next time ulit!!!

see ya guys!!! love you all!!!

Archie...out!

August 15, 2005

Letter to my friends and family in Singapore...

I sent a letter to my friends and family in SIngapore... but Im sure I missed some people...so Im posting it here... miss you guys

Hi everyone!!!

How's everyone doing??? Just emailing for a
quick update...was walking around the mall and saw an internet cafe so decided
to drop and email to everyone. This one's very general...haha sorry for the lack
of personalization (is that the word for it?hehe) there's just so many of you
hehehe...will find time soon...

Anyways, my flight was fine. THanks
for all the prayers and support. Really missing everyone now. But before i get
emotional and digress from my main goal...i shall continue... more or less
settled at home now... just opened a bank account today (haha...banks here are
scary...here in tondo...doesn't feel like it's safe hahaha...) spending time
with the family now. just buying stuff for my two sisters....things they need
for school.

Also, im getting an interview with the University of
the Philippines this week. calling them later but its probably this wednesday or
thursday (the day im getting my atm...hehe) After that's settled and I know when
im going in then im gonna apply for a job. Everything's going fine, thank God.

Being in tondo again, I'm just adjusting with the life back here
in my hometown. It's funny coz sometimes I feel like i'm a "maarteng sosi" (not
too sure how to translate that to english...the filipinos can help me translate
haha sorry)....for example...last time im one of those kids that wade and play
in the flood (it's monsoon season in the philippines right now)...now i cant
even lay a toe in the flood ...im even "eek"ed out by water drops trickling from
roofs...haha

anyways, enough about that. Im just glad to be home
right now. Just reconnecting with friends and classmates here. (i think among my
group of close friends- all between the age of 18-25 - im the only one who's not
married yet) nyek!!! hahaha...sometimes i shudder to think what would have
happened to me if i never went there and met all you wonderful people... :)
Praise God for that.

One last quick one...I went to the ENLI
building at FORT...the place is so great...feels like home...only new
faces...hehe...anyways, im gonna be attending some of their cell groups...just
connecting and meeting more people here....I met Ate IVY here...she's doing
well...and i think she's very well adjusted now... im not sure if she lost
weight though... im bad at judging such things...gonna meet her for lunch next
monday and we're gonna arrange to meet korina, roda and the rest soon...so i'll
tell you guys about that...

Well, I gotta go now...gonna eat at
jollibee...jolly hot dog!!!! yUMMM!!! (hehe sorry for making "inggit"
(jealous)...)

god bless
everyone!!!

Archie
:)

ps. mike and tim can you pass
this to the rest...i don't have their email hehe...thanks guys!!!

pps. kuya howie, help me pass to those i haven't included
also...like ate rita, amy, marc...etc...hehe

ppps. MISS U GUYS!!!
love you all!!!

August 11, 2005

Home...sweet...sweet...home

Im Home!!!

I thank god for bringing me back safely. The day was a pretty interesting day for me. Having to travel all the way back home alone is quite a good opportunity to just think and reflect.

As many know, I flew with tiger airways this morning. And we alighted at clark-diosdado macapagal airport in Pampanga. That's a good 3hrs (no traffic jam) from my house. Plane touched down at around 1030am. I slept through most of the 3.5hrs or so of the flight.Thus I don't hav emuch to say about services of budget airlines. I woke up when the pilot announced that we would begin the final touch down. Saw - for a good 20min - just immaculately white clouds and then when we were lower just acres and acres of green fields... the view above Pampanga is alot better than the view above Mandaluyong (where the major airlines land in Manila)

Through out the journey, I just soaked myself again with the Philippine culture. Taking in as much as my senses could. This time around though, it's just different. I am still a tad irritated with a few of the stuff, but this time around...I jsut felt this feeling of love for my country again. Despite all the problems I see, hear, smell and feel everywhere...i saw hope. This time around, not just for myself and my family. A lot of Filipinos have that mentality now..."I just gotta get out of this rut myself, probably take my family with me...forget the philippines...it's far too broken for repair"...that's an attitude that I realised I had for a good part of my stay in Singapore. I realised, however cliche'd, that if one person starts to act differently, at least there's one...did that make sense? Pastor Steve or Pastor Rice said this...the only way for evil to flourish is for the righteous ones to keep quiet...applying the same thing...as long as there's one..philippines will come through this!!! And whoelse would make sure that there's at least one but myself right???

I love my country.

I grew up here man! Just this afternoon while me and my mom was waiting for my youngest sister outside her school (which happens to be my alma mater as well)...I heard the ice cream man approach so went to him to buy some. Lo and behold...he was the same guy that my other sister and I used to buy ice cream from almost everyday when we were young...only now he seemed greyer...old physically...but somehow he still had that same spirit that he had when he sold a cone or two to me and my sister more than a decade ago... He saw me and said that Im "binata na" (young man coming out of age)... this and several other things that happened today made me reflect on my roots again. And boy, was I nostalgic..ahaha but that's another post.

Im just really glad to be spending time with my mom and sisters...I have yet to see my dad coz he's out somewhere...probably when i get back home later.

Thank you god for your blessings and plans for me!!!

I admit...I am missing everyone I know there in Singapore. Thank you guys so much for all your support and prayers. Keep coming back here to read my updates! Love you guys!

Archie...out !

all my bags are packed im ready to go... (D-Day)

...
...

...

Here we go... i find myself finally crossing this junction...

"but the dawn is breaking this early morn
the taxi's waiting he's blowing his horn...

This is getting harder every minute... but i will trust in the Lord forever... Im gonna miss all of you guys soooo much. These were the best years of my life...and im so glad to have shared it with everyone of you. I can start saying thank you one by one but my plane would have left and landed on philippine soil but im still here typing (it's 411am 2hrs40min away from take off). I beleive I've said thanks and farewell to most people. To those i haven't...please accept my deepest apologies...im sure you'll understand...

All of You guys have been the most awesome friends, brothers, sisters, dancemates, classmates, councilmates, etc ever! Everytime I think of Singapore...I'll look back fondly on the experiences I've had, lessons I've learned, places I saw...but most importantly people I've had the honour of sharing all those with.

(as im writing this I'm just balling my eyes out...gotta do this now that im alone...don't wanna break down in the airport...so many people...heeh..i probably still will...we'll see)

I love you guys so much...no other words can say what im feeling right now... i know we'll all meet again some time sooner or later... but til then... take care, ill keep you all in my heart and prayers...

thankful friend,
archie

August 02, 2005

D-Day - 9

Song in the background: nothing

Been sometime since my last update...10 days ago...lotsa things have happened now. One thing's for sure...I am homebound...I have yet to tell my mom...I've been trying to reach them but the phone is either busy or not working when i call...i sure hope i can tell my mom soon.

It's so difficult to leave. So many mixed emotions. Last night was a true testing of one of what i consider as my strongest friendship thus far. Flopped miserably. It's really times like these that tests friendships like that. Although we failed so badly, one thing i've learned...some friendships are made to last...however big the trials are...however major or trivial your fights are...

"A man of many companions may come to ruin. But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

I'ts really so easy to just go and slowly detach myself from the people here. But I know that's not the way that it should be. Must act in a different spirit...must act in a different spirit...

a repost of a song last time: