It's The Most Wonderful Weather of the Year!

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It's the most wonderful time of the year!(To the tune of the christmas song with the same title.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtb3EtjEic

 

 

We are now having cooler weather thanks to the trade winds coming from the Northeast, the "Amihan". This is such a welcome respite from the hot humid one we had the previous months, and fewer storms and typhoons at this time of the year too!

The country's weather is at its best this time of the year they say, when the "-ber" months start. This is the time for longer walks in the morning even as late as 8 A.M. when we start to feel the good ol'e Sun getting uncomfortably warm every minute. I think this period of cooler weather ends sometime as late as March or even the first weeks of April when the hot summer takes over again. I also notice that during these months my head is cooler than it usually is, I get fewer allergy attacks (by the way, I have lots of allergies, which I would be blogging about soon), my electricity bill of which airconditioning occupies a considerable part of the consumption, is cut in half; people are more carefree than they already are and also, fewer crimes I guess. I hope I'm right on that last part. <chuckles> I do not think it is only due to the magic of the upcoming Yuletide season; I believe the weather is the prime denominator.

Till next time,
<signed> The Callcenter Boy

Drunken State of Wakefulness (or, A Day in the Life of a Callcenter Boy)

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**The word "circadian" is a 20th-century invention. It was coined in 1959 from the Latin "circa" (around) + "diem" (a day).
It refers to events occurring within a 24-hour period, in the span of a full (24-hour) day, as in a circadian rhythm.
(http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6766)

 I got home from work about 3 hours ago and I am still up writing this blog; I am a bit sleepy so please forgive me if there are typos that I might have missed after I publish this. <sheepish grin> It's been a long dragging day at the office. And let me say, a "day" in a callcenter person's life is not circadian** -specific(my own term, actually<grins>). In my case, it's from 9pm to 6am. And that should be it for me for the next two months or so, then it would be changed again. No permanent schedules in this kind of job.

Last night, I arrived as usual 15 minutes early for my shift. Only two of my officemates were there. Nico and Tisha (not their real names, to protect privacy) were already preparing their tools of our trade - and that includes but not limited to the headset, which to me is our "crown of glory and agony". <Laughs>. Now these two guys have had been with the company for longer than I have been; I do admire their work ethic. It was really good they're already there, at least I wasn't alone "on the floor", a callcenter term for the agents' working area. Our day started smoothly since it was still a Sunday for them and we were what we call the "opening" agents - those who answer the first calls of the day. We open their day (the callers') so it is assumed we should be upbeat and perky although we are on the other side of the globe and just about a little more or less 24 hour time difference. Haha! So much for acting as if sunlight is streaming from our office window (by the way, we don't have windows in our building; a compact structure with centralized airconditioning) while assisting their various needs. There were times I'm just slumping on the office chair, but still on upbeat voice mode nevertheless. <Smiles>.

Anyone who says that a callcenter agent's life is a breeze, well it's not totally true. A lot of things people hear about us callboys and callgirls are just hype. I guess there are more hardships than what have collectively been assumed as the good life. Firstly we have to be awake when our body says "sleep" and don't forget those difficult callers who can drain our energies appeasing, pleasing them, making them happy. I mean, here's where the "selling" ourselves take place. Haha! The challenge to bend some people's view/s, previous bad experiences with the product and/or the company we represent, into positive results that should be a win-win situation between both parties is not just a walk in the park. AND about the big salary hype about callcenters, all I can say that one would get paid exactly for what he/she had really strived hard for. It's real hard work. And amidst it all, there's nothing much more rewarding than to know that we are able to help a person regardless where he/she is in the world. I can imagine the unseen smiles our callers are wearing everytime we are able to resolve their issue over the phone and made them feel they're valued. I would also do the same way too. If you love helping people, then I bet this kind of job is for you!

Have a great day!**(remember, not circadian-specific,ok? hehehe)

No Goodbyes but Farewells

Another callcenter girl, a friend of my friend who is working in another company, has just resigned over the week. It had been, is and would always forever be a cycle. The coming and going of things, of people. The sun. The tides. The starting of a journey w/ the first step and the dusting of the wanderlust dust on one's clothes once it ends. The opening of the first page of a book we are so eager to read and the closing of it once it's all been read and over with. it's inevitable.

I was used to departures and arrivals when I was still small. For one, in the course of my adolescent life, my father was always assigned to other places because of work; seems like missing someone even dear is not such a big deal. I guess that started it. But it doesnt mean I care less for people when they are far and away. The caring never change, memories never forgotten; deep inside all of those things are still in here and here <pointing to head and heart>.

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I am quite amused to realize how "farewell" evolved into something that means departing because for starters, it actually is a shortened word (see how people tend to be quite lazy in talking? hmmm..) for the archaic "Fare-thee-well"; "Fare-you-well" in modern usage. Isn't that kind of sweet and thoughtful, much more profound than just saying "Goodbye?"  <smiles>  Seriously, it's all about hoping (and praying) that everything good would come in the way of the ones who are leaving. A very good friend once asked me how it might feel if she's the one who's leaving (she left anyway, and naturally I'm happy for her). I'm almost always happy for those who are leaving, I know they're following some kind of "dreams" so to speak. I didn't answer her but I just thought that whichever perspective we see it, its seems fair on both sides of the fence. You see, it's just Yin and Yang, it's Balance. Both sides lose something or things, and gains some too. It's just like how the Sun sets to make way for the Moon,vice versa, give-take; those things, you know...yeah...I'm mumbling now... And when one is leaving, I know how scary that can be; the BIG unknown might lie just across the street even. So for consolation and propping up of one's spirit it is good Karma to think that everything should all be well and nothing's to worry. More so when you say the phrase itself.

So if ever anyone of you is leaving, it won't be Goodbyes you would all be getting from me, but always "Fare-you-wells".

Lost in Time and Date (or, How does your job change you?)

Look how time flies!
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There are 365 days in a regular year (except on leap years); I suppose holidays or other special occassions are redmarked on everyone's calendar. But not me, not on my calendar if I ever even have one. I just rely on my cellphone's date and time. To me, the days are all the same when I started a call(center) boy. And I'm bad at remembering birthdays. The times I was able to greet some friends were those when I was able to read their birthday notifications on social networking sites, almost always on the unavoidable (LOL!) Facebook. For one who works even during holidays, every day of the year seems to be the same as any other. Even the spark of Valentines Day and the feel-good atmosphere of the Yuletide season don't sink in to one's core anymore.

I don't even celebrate my own birthday, especially when it falls on a workday. So I just spend the day sleeping, as I'm always (and I guess, forever will be) on night shift. It might sound pathetic to some but for me, always having this grateful mind especially on one's birthday is just about enough. On the contrary, I don't feel sorry for myself for not having to celebrate it, much less with other people since there are always other days to do that. Aside from being able to save some bucks in doing so, I would rather sleep or rest than to go out and have fun. I bet a lot of "call" boys and "call" girls agree with me on this one. <chuckles>

Some say I'm an individualistic person and I respect what they think. Anyway I guess it's just my own way of evolving with my current work. We have to know how to adapt to anything, especially to things as essential as our jobs.

What's your job and in what way/s does your current job change you?

My Daily Mantra

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love. And be loved in return."

                                                                                 --from the song, "Nature Boy", sung by Nat King Cole 1947

Very well said (or sung)...

Just that.

Truly Filipino Music Going Global

Russian Choir: Russischer Knabenchor DUBNA

The song is in Filipino. Visayan or specifically Cebuano, to be exact. Although it was first introduced in 1973, it is still popular among Filipinos probably due to its infectious lively tempo.

I know that any Visayan or Filipino for that matter who speaks and understands the dialect, can't help being amused by the song's lyrics. I just wonder if the singers in other countries do know what they were singing about; specifically what the following stanzas mean. But I can see that they do enjoy singing the jolly melody! <chuckles>

"Ayay usab si Dodong
Nagtan-aw kang Inday
Nagtabisay ang laway"

(English Translation by Tom Marking)

Hey!, also the young man
He's looking at the young lady
His drool is falling

The song tells of a country lass (Visayan: inday) going to the village fair, performing a sing-and-dance number and in doing so, looked more like food to a certain young man (Visayan: dodong) than an attractive young woman dancing, since he was drooling (saliva dripping from his mouth, to be more detailed as we please) while watching her. <Laughs> 

Another version of the song.

San Francisco State University Chamber Singers

under the direction of Dr. Joshua Habermann. From www.youtube.com

And here is the complete lyrics and English translation of this beautiful song.

Cebuano Version

English Version (translated by Tom Marking)

ROSAS PANDAN Ania si Rosas Pandan Gikan pa intawon sa kabukiran Kaninyo makiguban-uban Sa gisaulog nga kalingawan Balitaw day akong puhunan Maoy kabilin sa akong ginikanan Awit nga labing karaan Nga garbo ning atong kabungturan Dika ding dika ding dika ding Ayay sa atong balitaw Manindot pa ug sayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Dika dong dika dong dika dong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Ayayay ayayay ayayay Aya-ay sa akong balitaw Kanindot ba mosayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Tigadong tigadong tigadong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Balitaw day akong puhunan Maoy kabilin sa akong ginikanan Awit nga labing karaan Nga garbo ning atong kabungturan Ayayay ayayay ayayay Aya-ay sa akong balitaw Kanindot ba mosayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Tigadong tigadong tigadong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Ayayay ayayay ayayay Aya-ay sa akong balitaw Kanindot ba mosayaw Daw yamog ang kabugnaw Tigadong tigadong tigadong Ayay usab si Dodong Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway Nagtan-aw kang Inday Nagtabisay ang laway

ROSAS PANDAN Here is Rosas Pandan Just arrived from the mountains To be with all of you To celebrate the fiesta This song is my livelihood An inheritance from my parents A most ancient song The pride of our hill country Dika ding dika ding dika ding Hey!, our song Is still nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Dika dong dika dong dika dong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling Ayayay ayayay ayayay Hey!, my song Is it nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Tigadong tigadong tigadong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling This song is my livelihood An inheritance from my parents A most ancient song The pride of our hill country Ayayay ayayay ayayay Hey!, my song Is it nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Tigadong tigadong tigadong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling Ayayay ayayay ayayay Hey!, my song Is it nice to dance to Like fog on a cold day Tigadong tigadong tigadong Hey!, also the young man He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling He's looking at the young lady His drool is falling

from the website: http://www.tomandcathymarking.com/cebuano/rosas_pandan.htm

This and other Filipino songs being sung by choirs/chorales in different parts of the world are an enduring legacy of our own groups of singers who have toured around the globe, promoting our own musical heritage and sharing/teaching them these songs that truly represents what and who we are as a nation.

A big toast to them!

Random Thoughts in a Busy Place

Everything is a show unfolding before our eyes.

I see by myself other peoples' lives found, lost, broken, made whole again. I am part of it but an outsider as well. People choose to see or not to see me; some go past through me as if im a specter. This is the good thing about it; I can go and come as I choose. They cannot see especially when I don't will them to see. The things that I do, dont really matter; if at all, just seen only by that Infinite Being above. 

Looking at everything from some "tinted glass" romanticizes everything, that if theres pain unfolding, it muffles it...and made pain mute as if a picture roll on a silent film of that bygone era. And Happiness through it, is just akin to a drunken state of mind, a temporary antidote to everything sad...as if making it not too intense so as to make you believe you would never ever know Pain again.

I see myself through the tinted glass as a refuge. We are all just faces on a wall sometimes, almost always wearing masks. Mostly poker faces. Who knows how much emotions are hidden in those masks? Through the looking glass, my eyes are shielded from those faces seemingly emotionless but judgemental. My eyes, our eyes are windows to our own being.

This Clicking Life

I had chanced upon a former officemate not too long ago in a mall. After the usual pleasantries, our talk went into the topic about work. I quite proudly said to him that I'm still with the same company, even joked about me getting a loyalty award or something of that sort. Then it was his turn. He just said he just "click" to work. And I was like, "Are you sure what you're talking about?" Like, "No way would it be that easy! Sure, I also click on the mouse at work in the office.." But then he further clarified that it's from the comfort of his own couch, chair or wherever he is sitting on at home, just clicking on advertising pages being sent to him. I sure do hear about these online jobs, work-at-home part-time jobs mostly. But I never really had gotten myself into that trend, not yet. Then he encouraged me to try it and gave me a website link of which you can see below.   

http://www.clixsense.com/?3819350

After giving it much thought, I did finally click on the link above and signed up. Actually my main reason why I hadn't tried it before was the fear of malicious programs that might infect my system. So I basically did make sure first that my laptop (I don't have a desktop, by the way) is completely covered by a very trusted antivirus program. And then I fully convinced myself that I'm not that stupid to give anyone who's asking for my own account password online, or other personal information. I guess it's really common sense and the gift of hunch that spare us all from being victims to these pathetic hackers.   

It was tough going at the start, and as with everyone else, I also started on mostly on $0.001 per click per advertising page. But that didn't discourage me. There were times I felt a bit bored just clicking on some random advertising pages being sent, but just imagining how much would I be getting at any targetted time is enough to keep me back on track. I realize how easy can this job be!  And besides, clicking on some pop-up advertising pages is way less stressful than explaining to a customer over the phone on how to resolve their own problems with the product we, as "callboys" and "callgirls", represent. THAT realization definitely made me stick to this PTC (Paid-to-Click) job. Since then I have been earning. Yet, not that much that it levels up to my current pay in the callcenter business for now, at least it's a welcome addition to my funds, some little extra money to put into my "gimmick" or recreation. <chuckles> And maybe in a year or two if all goes well with it, I might even do this full-time. <Smiles>   

The Pacquiao Phenomenon

Streets were deserted. At times you can hear the breeze blowing, which you would rarely be able to do so in a noisy busy highway just about midday, unless it's a windy day. Was this Twilight Zone? An aftermath of a major catastrophe? But there's no evidence of a devastation anywhere. No really, it was all because of the Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez fight. You have just witnessed the "Pacquiao Phenomenon" in the Philippines wherein virtually all Filipinos are glued to the boob tube to watch the "Pride of the Nation" engage the next boxer who aspires to any of the boxing titles under his belt. 

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They say crime rate in the Philippines goes to zero everytime the ultimate Pinoy boxer fights in the arena. How nice would it be if he fights everyday! Regardless of what fight analysts and critics say about his most recent victory, the Pacman is still undoubtedly the best. And the best of him comes primarily from his humble heart and unassuming character.

A "War" Thought....

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Today is Armistice Day(Veterans Day). It was on November 11, 1918 when the Allied Forces and Germany declared the end of "the war to end all wars" so to speak. I guess everyone thought then that World War I, of which officially had ended on Armistice Day, would be the last and biggest war the modern world would have ever had but then World War II happened that lasted from 1939 to 1945, a much more devastating war with huge losses of lives. And then onwards, wars such as those in Vietnam and the more recent Gulf Wars mottled the World History annals like stains on pristine white paper. Smaller in scope but destructive nonetheless. <tsk><tsks>

As most of the western part of the world celebrate Armistice Day today, I get to thinking what other "wars" would there be up coming for us in the future.

Just a thought...

Coffee-drunk

I drink coffee. Period. I drink it when I wake up to go to work. In the office right before I go on "auto-in" to take my first call of the day, I would fill up my small thermos with coffee till it's almost to the brim. I have the liberty to do so since it's basically free for everyone there. <chuckles> I guess that is one of the stronger reasons why I am hooked to it. I would get my second and third servings between my first breaktime and lunch (which is, by the way, usually in the wee hours of the morning, say 1 A.M.) And then sometimes another serving about 2-3 hours before my shift ends.

You might really want to ask me how bad it is? Well, let me list all the things I notice myself:

• It's an automatic task everytime I wake up and prepare for work. My brain doesn't need to tell my hand/s to pour the sweet smelling thing in the cup. Just like that. Snap! (LOL)

• My urine smells coffee when I pee but its almost always when I'm still in the office.

• My sweat smells like coffee. Even on times I'm not drinking coffee..really! A bit scary, huh?

• Maybe it's just my imagination but my head hurts when I can't drink coffee in a day.

They say that coffee is somehow beneficial (sort of) to our health. I've read about it somwhere... Some say it's anti-aging (though some studies say otherwise) and an anti-oxidant that could prevent certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes among others. But really guys, too much of a good thing, even the sweet aromatic lovely savory stimulating coffee that I love, is just plain bad if taken in excess. So at least to balance out the damage that might already have been done, I balance it by drinking lots of water or pair it with something healthy, say an apple.

My Mantra: Keep drinking coffee and eat an apple. A cup of coffee keeps you kicking and an apple a day they say, keeps the doctor away. <winks>

A Thought on my favorite Love Poem

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Excerpts from Cien Sonetos de Amor (One Hundred Love Sonnets) by Pablo Neruda

YOU must know that I do not love you
 and that I love you,

because everything alive has its two sides;

a word is one wing of the silence,
fire has its cold half.

I love you in order to begin to love you,
to start infinity again

and never to stop loving you:
that’s why I do not love you yet.

I love you, and I do not love you,as if I held

keys in my hand: to a future of joy–
a wretched, muddled fate–

My love has two lives, in order to love you:
that’s why I love you when I do not love you,

and also why I love you when I do.

*************************************

SABRÁS que no te amo y que te amo
puesto que de dos modos es la vida,
la palabra es un ala del silencio,
el fuego tiene una mitad de frío.

Yo te amo para comenzar a amarte,
para recomenzar el infinito
y para no dejar de amarte nunca:
por eso no te amo todavía.

Te amo y no te amo como si tuviera
en mis manos las llaves de la dicha
y un incierto destino desdichado.

Mi amor tiene dos vidas para amarte.
Por eso te amo cuando no te amo
y por eso te amo cuando te amo.

*************************************

There's always two sides to anything. Yin and Yang, Night and Day, Man and Woman, and what-you-may-call-its. But one thing that struck me really is not as how one complements the other but how differences can be just basically the same at one point. And translated to LOVE and LOVING, it shows that regardless whatever which side you are on, whether to LOVE or not to LOVE, with all the trappings that go with that...there's this raw, intimate feeling of well-being and a deeper understanding of one's existence.

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