A Lost Boy's Dilemma: Thoughts in behalf of my Generation

I am by heart an individualistic person. Who else wouldn't? In this age of in-your-face commercialism, factory-made things where everything almost always look the same, living in this privacy-starved and privacy-abused culture is downright impersonal. It's even harder to know exactly what/who you really are. One could just easily blend into this cookie-cutter culture like everyone else. Well, I wouldn't want that, though I might be showing random symptoms of being like the majority.

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While reading between the covers of my recent read, "X Saves The World - How Generation X Got The Shaft But Can Still Keep Everything From Sucking" by Jeff Gordinier, seeking some enlightenment on why my generation is here, I am imagining the song, "Next in Line" in my head. <chuckles> Though the book is largely based on an American Gen Xer's point of view but it still does strike unknown chords inside me. It's pretty scary when you feel unsure what your life mission is or what you really really like to be a couple years from now. Call it "Generation Lost". It sounds more suitable, but then again it seems any present generation is usually called by that moniker. I guess our own granddads might have also been calling themselves that, when they were in our confused stage of life.<Laughs> 

As this year comes to a close, I sincerely hope that each of us would know who we really are, individually. That way we can be happier persons. Happier persons' dreams tend to come true always, you know. <smiles>

Advance Happy New Year Everyone!

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Call(center) Boy's Christmas Eve Message

http://5ad596bc.whackyvidz.com

Today is just routine for me though it's Christmas Eve but I'm just at home doing exactly the same things I am doing at any other regular day. I would be sleeping after I post this, would still be working later at 9PM so that means I have to spend Christmas working, answering calls, giving excellent customer service as much as possible. <smirks> It is expected there would be some watery eyes among officemates later in the office in the moments right before the long-hand of the clock strikes 12 midnight, especially those callcenter moms who have to go to work as they're unable to file their holiday leaves on time or that the  leave/s they've been requesting had been denied. It's always been that way for me for some years now. And the comfort I get from this is that on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (at least on the part of the world I'm in), I am helping people with their issues with the product/services they get from the company I represent.

Amidst the things that upset us or make us sad, such as the most recent Typhoon Sendong calamity, for those of us who have generally been doing ok, or are finding Life boring at least, we should feel blessed and that we were not those who have been through painful ordeals. I feel so sorry for the flood victims. The best I was able to do was to send some of my stuff, including the used clothes that our christian community had originally set aside for our rummage sale as fundraising, with the approval of our community head of course; I wish I could do more though... If we think our own personal life is a mess, it could've been worse. We are all still blessed, one way or another. It's just that we usually don't realize that we already are. And it's really good to share especially at Christmastime.

http://a1625971.whackyvidz.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
<signed> The Callcenter Boy

Help for the Typhoon Sendong Victims

from website:http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate

I had arrived  in my hometown just a day before, when I heard about the flood in Cagayan de Oro City. I saw pictures and the devastation was extensive; vehicles being washed into rivers takes my memory back to the footage I saw on the most recent tsunami in Japan. Just less than 24 hours before it happened, I was at the airport waiting to get home; was even worried that all the flights to Mindanao would be cancelled but due to some fortuitious event, the expected Philippine Typhoon (codename: SENDONG) Signal No.1 was not declared till about 4PM that same day. I arrived at about 10 in the morning by the way. I was even glad I had beaten the typhoon on its path. I found out about the extent of the damage caused by the calamity the day after and it was overwhelming, aggravated by texts from people I know on that same day who happened to be located in the areas affected, with one very close friend in Dumaguete City, Negros Occidental who was still able to text me while she and her family were saving the things they still can grab. Good thing she saved her cellphone first, that way she was able to let her friends know otherwise we would all be very worried.   

In this connection, let us extend our hands to the people not only in Cagayan de Oro (the area with the most number of deaths) but also to all the areas affected. This is the first time parts of Northern Mindanao and Visayas have experienced this kind of tragedy as normally these areas are not on the usual path of typhoons.  

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I am posting here some websites links for ways we can help:

http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate  >>> Philippine Red Cross website

http://www.istorya.net/forums/general-discussions/460987-istorya-net-operation-sendong-donation-drive.html  >>>  iStorya.net forum

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=261131883947025  >>> Facebook page

http://naffaausa.org/typhoon-sendong-how-you-can-help-with-donations-and-information/  >>> National Federation of Filipino American Associations


Let us do our part. Let us make Christmas ever more the season of sharing and giving.

Redeem the Callcenter Boys and Girls!

A callcenter that mainly supports U.S. customers starts on either 8 P.M. (if it's daylight saving time) or 9 PM and closes variably between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. if it's not a 24-hour support. So it was basically a complete 360-degree turnaround for someone who's a day person like me especially when I was still starting. I even at one point, started calling myself a "vampire" because I was always wearing shades during daylight whenever there's a dire need to go out to buy or do something out of the dark comforts of my bedroom. <LOL>. With these struggles and then some, I have been thinking about how it feels to carry the "callcenter boy/girl" tag on our foreheads. Not that the big eyebags or stressed/distressed faces are enough to justify the stresses this kind of job brings, but there are a lot more things that we in this field, should be more concerned about.

1. Fewer quality time with family members and/or loved ones could really take a toll on the relationships. I have known people in the business who have had been happy at some point, but got separated; among any other reasons for the break-up, but I believe HAVING TIME for each other is basically the most important factor in any relationship.

2. Then there's this larger risk of getting held-up by criminals while on the way to work, especially at night. And it is a fact that callcenter boys and girls are a significant percentage of victims of these good-for-nothings. We can read all that in the papers. The "Callcenter rep" or "callcenter agent" moniker seems to be equated with lots of money. 

3. And very importantly it's also very sad to note that callcenter agents, according to studies done by authorities, are also prone to promiscuity and Sexually Transmited Diseases which in a way degrades the profession and seem to demote it on the level of low-lifes and deemed dirty and not desirable. I guess being away physically from a loved one or the lack of intimate human touch almost everyday might be one of the factors for it.

What does this tell us?

That the callcenter people can be considered abnormal, not in the clinical way of course, but it's about like getting a bit more consideration and compassion from those people who lead "normal lives." And of course, we who are in this field should also be considerate enough to at least show to people the good side in us, that being one doesn't mean we have to be what other people deem us to be, with all those negative aspects. For me who have had the opportunity to start working in the callcenter business when it was not as saturated as it is now or hyped up, when the "callcenter boy" or "callcenter girl" was held in due respect, without tarnish on its name, I feel sorry for us. But it is not too late to redeem ourselves from all this bad publicity.

<signed>

The Callcenter Boy

A Hold-up Story

http://a2200fcd.ultrafiles.net

I have heard lots of crime stories involving callcenter agents. Some were tragic and some were just plain funny in a way. The most recent I heard was about a guy wearing a dark jacket (I guess it was a stylish one, LOL). He was standing alone near a street lamp, waiting for a jeepney ride I suppose. Maybe he is on his way to a party, when a man stopped him and held him at gun-point and demanded for all his valuables. The surprised guy said he doesn't have anything valuable apart from his wallet; the gunman retorted that he must be hiding something more than that. The guy said how come he think that way; the hold-upper replied, "You must be a callcenter agent! You're wearing an expensive jacket. Apparently you're on your way to work!"

That ends the story. No one seems to know what had become of that poor guy; not a tragic one I hope. It is quite amusing how these low-life criminals think that callcenter boys and girls are all rich and laden with "goodies" for them! Funnier still is when these guys associate things with the callcenter boys and girls like, an expensive or stylish jacket, mug or any liquid tumbler (especially if it bears the  name STARBUCKS, beware you guys!) or even a pair of shades. Isn't it funny? <Laughs!>   

Till here, next time.
<signed>
The Callcenter Boy

ON PATRIOTISM AND POLITICS

Disclaimer: Dream Weaver does not side with any specific political affiliation and is supportive of the current government administration regardless of the political party the majority of the people it constitutes.

Image courtesy of Charlie Sindiong

ryanericsongcanlas.wordpress.com

I always have been trying to avoid politics in the course of my collective consciousness. I find it a very sensitive topic; it might even get me into a fight. And although I love my country ( I just cannot replace it with a Green Card or whatever color any other country may have it on) and would dream about seeing in the not-so-distant future our beloved Philippines as prosperous in every aspects, I personally deemed it useless to add to its miseries by getting too much involved in its politics. Not that I come from a political family, which  I don't by the way, but of just being a responsible citizen aware of all the goings-on and such. I don't need to be in the streets to join rallies to prove my point although if you come to think of it, I might even be more deserving to be there than some of those who had participated. For one thing, I pay taxes dutifully as they are deducted from my monthly earnings even before I receive it on my account. Not that I complain about it since it's my duty and I'm proud to be fulfilling just that. I don't need to be very vocal on my views, not because I can just write it <LOL>, I would only say my word when I feel it's more than enough and always make it sure that  its done in a constructive way; Criticism is not always negative and a good one does not take sides, you know. Ranting about the current government is not my thing, coz in the first place its not always helping. Taking some other definite and effective actions are, whether individually or in a group.

Working for a cause or joining a group whose goal is making the world a better place to live in is one way of helping and paying back society. Most importantly I guess, we all need to be aware of what's going on around us. Not just the bad things that we, a cynical hard-to-please lot, tend to easily notice and pinpoint BUT the good ones as well. What we basically lack as a people is our sense of trust in our government and we cannot blame ourselves for doing so, with our history mired with corruptions and exploitations by people we thought we had trusted enough to vote for them. But then again let's don't forget there's always another day to look up to things and be more positive and trusting. I mean, although it might look that majority of them might be less of what we expect, especially value-wise, but not all of them are like that. If there's bad fruit, there's always a good fruit. I also believe it is really good to attend conferences or invitations by our local governments and knowing about the plans our local fathers have for our respective towns or cities, because it gives us a deep sense of pride. Love of place is the root, Patriotism is the bigger picture. We would help our country, regardless of the leaders who are in position right now if we have it truly burning in our hearts.  
  

grabbed from:
 http://ryanericsongcanlas.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/philippine-independence-day-june-12-1898/

It is my ardent wish to still be alive when the Philippines attain its absolute prosperity. How about you?

It's your Day, TIXIE GIRL!

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She is an only child and the sister I never had. Our friendship started from way back in kindergarten and as far as I can remember we were just about the two little artsy-fartsiest kids in our class as we were both inclined to Art (we still are!) and drawing. I remember some classmates would ask us to draw figures for them coz they didn't know how. Even way back then, I have not felt any rivalry between us. It also helped that our moms were both working in the same hospital and basically know each other quite well. Her birthdays during our elementary years were such a tradition among our classmates, of going to their house for her birthday party which were always fun. I played on their piano even on ordinary days whenever I get to visit.<smiles> Her grandma (God bless her dear soul) would avidly listen to my playing although I missed a lot of times on some keys and was not the child prodigy I imagined I was. Hahah! I actually haven't given it much thought until when her grandma died last year. She told me how her grandma used to tell her even when we've already grown up that if ever I should go visit, I should always play on their piano. I was touched when she told me that; it was the same day she told me her grandma had just died.

We had shared, opened to each of our life's struggles. She's just about the one single person I can tell, without apprehensions, what I really really feel. Although she's in a different city miles away, we still keep in touch. And Facebook plays a large part on it.<LOL> Though there were periods of not being able to contact each other by any means, especially when either or both of us are on to something that one needs to be alone, such as the healing period after a relationship that just ended, or that because we were just plain very busy with the humdrums of everyday living. But when we check back on each other it seems that only one day has just passed! There might be parts of our lives that we must've missed on one another, but we always catch up on things.

She is 'The Pencil-Pusher" and the one who introduced me to the wonders of Marjorie Evasco's verses, especially the "Animasola" among other things. I am very much grateful for her.<smiles>

      

Happy Birthday Tixie Wixie!

Those Spurts of Fleeting Inspiration

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I promise to write on my blog everyday.


Ok, ok, I take that back...just only when I feel like it. This is my 19th blog entry so far since I started in October, so do not bet on my first statement.<chuckles> I just don't want be a monotonous twerp blogging basically the same formulaic words everyday: I eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep, work, eat...ad infinitum.

Sometimes emotions get hold of you that you wanna burst so you need to let it out (this is exactly what I feel at times), or you think you have this best plot for a prospective best-seller or whatever it is that bugs you all day; the best thing to do to appease your tormented soul is to jot down these "ephemeral children of the mind"  but when these i-have-the-greatest-idea/story-and-i-wanna-write-it-down moments happen, it's usually you're nowhere near some piece of paper and a pen or anything to record those down. What a waste of ideas, forever lost in the drain of collective passing memories. Like dreams, they just pop-up and then gone. Just like love and midnight kisses, they "...seem to cool in the warmth of the sun." as one Nat King Cole song goes.

I won't promise on the everyday blogging, don't bet on me on that. And hopefully I'm in front of my laptop whenever those fleeting moments hit me. And for those ideas/thoughts lost, I mourn them. Darn! Who knows I could have been the next literary wonder....<sigh>


Till next time!
<signed>
The Callcenter Boy - Literary Aspirant

Christmas: The Season of Forgiving

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This Christmas I promise to be more participative on the Yuletide cheer and not be such a mini-Scrooge like the past few seasons and since today is the first of December so it is the most exact time to start. The past few Christmases are such a blur to me, they're just ordinary days. I mean, I go to church because some days in December happen to fall on a Sunday<LOL> but not really as much as to hear the ideals of this season. It just won't sink in. I don't think it's right that people are forced into making peace with the people they're still having "issues" with, just because it is the "Season of Forgiving" even if deep inside they're really not yet ok. And using Christmas as the only reason (or excuse, to be more blunt about it) to making people guilty for not being forgiving is just plain lame. I guess this "Let's-forgive-because-it's-Christmas" thing is primarily the reason why I got disenchanted with it. Just think about those people who have had traumatic experiences such as rape victims or the family of victims of murder like those in the Maguindanao Massacre, etc. I don't think that would be just as easy for them as it would be for everyone else. Well, any month or any day could just be the Season of Forgiving, right? Besides, true forgiveness comes from within at anytime. As long as one is ready and humble enough; it could take time though.

By the way I'll be working during the holidays, but like I said I promised myself to be just as cheerful and jolly this time, maybe even just short of like hohoho-ing like Santa! <laughs>

Happy Holidays everyone!

<signed> The Callcenter Boy