Surprise! I'm back.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zamboanga-Peninsula-Brokerage/406284502768384?ref=hl

It's been quite a long while since I last posted. To be very honest, I miss my being here. Lots of other things that happened in one's life that one tends to forget, no not that word, but, to miss out a part of oneself that's integral to one's being. And that exactly how I felt moments ago. Especially when  some friends ask me what had happened to "Mr. Callcenter Boy", I often said to them he's currently on vacation indefinitely in a remote island paradise. LOL!

And right now, "he" is back today. Postings might be not that frequent but I'm sure not on very very long intervals.

Till next time!
<signed>
The Callcenter Boy

And the Verdict would be...

1. "Public Service should not basically be just a birthright or as simplistic as a career change but rather, should be a worthy, noble burden or life's mission that one should carry on one's shoulders wherever he/she may go."

   
   

   
   

   

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

   The impeachment trial of the Chief Justice is ongoing as I type this. Whatever the verdict, this should be the beginning of Change for my beloved country, the Philippines. 

   
   

   
   

   I'm all for change!

   <signed>

   The Callcenter Boy

   
   

   
   

   
   

Please pass this on. (A daughter's search for her biological father.)

Amid the expected greetings from friends and family(and online marketers too!) and the constant posting of everyone's pictures on Facebook, one can really say, "Is there anything a little more profound than all these?" Just a day or two ago, I was taken by this lady's post on one of my Facebook pages' wall, the Pagadian Tricycle. And right now, I feel I am on a mission to share this message. 

Please pass this on. Share it on any social networking website, whatever you think very effective. I believe in the power of this wondrous invention that is the Internet as a tool for us to help others in any way we can, especially this lady whom I assume is now living in Germany, as she has a German-sounding location (seems to me, but I could be wrong). She personally doesn't know me, she might even had just chanced upon my page while browsing about anything else online, and perhaps she might just even decided at last moment's notice to post this message as an afterthought of something very different. Although she obviously doesn't have any other detailed information about her father, I am optimistic that well-meaning individuals would get in touch with her so she can gather some bits and pieces of the puzzle as this message gets on around. 

And going forward, I would be more than happy to know how her story ends. I just hope her father is still alive and well enough to meet her. I have faith that eventually her wish would come true. And she needs all our help to fulfill it.

God bless everyone!

<Signed>

The Callcenter Boy

As real as Real Estate

facebook.com/Cebuprimeproperty

I have been quite busy these days, reason why I am not able to blog as often as I can and want to. It's not because of my being a call-boy, it is of a totally different field: real estate. I have just recently realized that this "personal craze", as I call it ( and admittedly, I have had taken granted of, especially since my mom sort of nagged me to be involved in it a few years back) is just about the most lucrative and stimulating thing I've indulged in so far!

I already have learned so much for the first few months since I started, most importantly on laws governing real estate ownership in the Philippines. It is really very important for me to know that a foreigner cannot own land in the Philippines, especially since a significant number of inquiries are coming from foreigners who married Filipinas. But they can own the house on which land should be legally "owned" by his Filipina wife. On the other hand, foreigners can own condominium unit themselves though, according to The Condominium Act of the Philippines, R.A. 4726.

Aside from it being in line with my finished degree, (which is Architecture by the way), it serves my need on a higher level: the satisfaction I get when given the chance to help people find what's the best home for them, or investment for that matter, if they're of the entrepreneur kind. And that somehow makes me a part of their lives too. Just being contented to imagine that whenever they, at any day, sit in a corner of their house/condo/office unit, they might remember the person who helped them get the very nice place they are living/working/doing business in right now. <Smiles>

Till next time.

<signed>

The Callcenter Boy

What's bad is also delicious!

Crustaceans have always been one of my favorite food. The natural umami-ness of this food group of the Class Crustacea of the Phylum Arthropoda(let's get to be a bit more academic sometimes, LOL!) gets me into something short of an orgasm of the senses; these delicious, juicy, salty-sweet crustaceans makes my mouth water everytime I think of them.   BUT there's one thing and one important thing at that, I am ALLERGIC to these gastronomic creatures.<sniff> I can eat any other kinds of seafoods without any problem though.

I can recall I was not even allergic to any of them when I was a child; along the way it just happened. Well I guess one of the weirdest things in nature, i.e. cancer cells, black holes and other watchamacallits. <chuckles> I still eat prawns, crabs though, who couldn't resist them?! But I always have medication on hand just in case, you know. It could kill me. The allergy could constrict my air passages and suffocate me. I know it's just about the lamest way to die. <Laughs> But again, who can resist them? 

Till next time... Care for a Crustacean Treat? <smiles>

from: http://www.slashfood.com/photos/photos-from-the-2008-boston-international-seafood-show/663504/

<signed>

The Callcenter Boy

An Ordinary Day

I had gone to work at 12midnight last night, as usual. Got the routine calls, with a completely unique or difficult call from time to time. Had gone on break, as per schedule as usual. Took my lunch a bit behind schedule due to a long  but engaging call with a nice grandma, very much a lady in her own right, from somewhere in the Southwest. Got out of the office at about past nine-o-clock in the morning. Nothing extra-ordinary. Walked the same route I take everyday. The sun was just about getting hotter by then. Went home. Eat some bread, cheese, tuna; drank my favorite choco drink. Some friends, officemates texted, greeted. My mom and younger brother also texted. A friend called, then greeted, talked about some other things. Some time after that, my brother and mom called. Then the same greetings again. Asked how I was; some other things discussed. Said goodbyes.

http://a1625971.whackyvidz.com

Now I'm in front of my laptop on the desk typing this blog. Later on I'll be answering inquiries about some real estate for sale online. The usual things. In an hour or two, I would be resting, maybe read a book then go to sleep; I still have work later. As usual.

Just like any other ordinary day except for the fact that today is my birthday.

<signed>

The Callcenter Boy.

I'm Back

It's been a while since I had last indulged myself in writing; been very busy lately with other things. It is really good to be back!

I will write more on my next post.

Promise.

A Leap in a Year

http://5ad596bc.whackyvidz.com/

It's interesting to note that today is the only day of the year we get to experience once every four years, so we better enjoy this day more than any other days! By the way, Leap Years are actually applied on all kinds of calendars (Chinese, Hebrew,etc.)the whole world over. And to the question why the Leap Year in the Gregorian calender (thats the current standard calendar that almost all of us use) always happens on the month of February is something we need to research further on. <chuckles> As this is something we cannot get every year, so I feel there should be something special everytime a Leap Year comes along...aside from the fact that people who are born on a Leap Year are much younger than the rest based on the numbers, like my officemate, Sharky.

I just wonder if being born on a Leap Year makes one feel younger than one's actual biological age..? Hmmm..well, I guess it's all in the mind.

Just one of my musings...
Till next time,
<signed>
The Callcenter Boy

Xyza: Good Friend, Blogger, and a Sendong Survivor!

http://a1625971.whackyvidz.com

Who can forget the Wrath of Sendong, that recent calamity in December last year that had struck the northern parts of the island of Mindanao, Philippines? It drove the tragedy "closer to home" for me as I have a number of friends, officemates on those parts of the country, people whom I personally know whose properties/things had been washed away by the devastating flood; thankfully everyone of them was safe.

And no other person makes the onslaught of Sendong more real to me than my good friend Xyza. From the blogposts she made about her experience, in her own words,  as "an evacuee," how she and her family managed to swim through the deep floodwaters towards their neighbor's house, to how she had bought a camera the day before, was to enjoy it for just about a couple hours until it, along with her other precious belongings, got completely soaked in the muddy floodwaters in the wee hours of December 17th, 2011. I can still feel the underlying sadness and emotions of those all who had suffered, despite the seemingly straightforward way her blogposts were delivered. 

I was able to meet her again during the SFC ICON in Bohol just about a week ago. She's still her naturally bubbly self. With her black T-shirt emblazoned with the words, "One for ILIGAN," she is in every respect an effective advocate for the victims of Sendong. A very good example of a survivor: strong, resilient, still manages to smile inspite of what had happened.

Keep it on, Xy!

A Kick on the Balls

Allen, my girl housemate could have been a victim of a snatcher somewhere in the wild city streets of Cebu, but she opted not to.

She had gotten out from work at a callcenter then dropped by the church as it was a Sunday. The incident happened on her way home when she got into a jeepney that ply the route between the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino and Panagdait, codenamed "03A". As she needed to send an important message, she took out her new cellphone and began pressing on the keys, when a young man demanded that she gave the cellphone to him as it is a hold-up. Apparently insulted at the thought of how easy and casually the hold-upper reached for her cellphone, she began a tug-of-war with the man inside the jeepney. Although the young man threatened he has a knife but since she's not seeing one, she managed to struggle with the man, petite she may be. Had she seen the knife, she later claimed, she could've given her cellphone right then and there. The other passengers were too surprised to react when it happened, even the driver stopped driving to watch the scene. Seeing a chance at her attacker's crotch while she was lying prone on the passenger seat, she let out a very strong kick, with her heels landing smack right on the dangling targets! <Laughs> Good thing the man was wearing a sportshorts/basketball shorts made of thin fabric.

http://a1625971.whackyvidz.com

Her forceful kick got them out of the vehicle and on the street near the Lorega, San Miguel market where they continued on; one of her high-heeled shoes (thank God she's wearing those, which is her usual fashion statement anyway, hehehe)left inside the jeepney that ran off a short distance away. Maybe out of the pain he got from the kick, the attacker gave up on her and ran away. The jeepney was waiting for her at some distance away. She got back on it. Although crying from the ordeal she had just gone through, she was very thankful she hadn't been harmed, not a bit. The other passengers were amazed nothing was taken from her, apart from her sobbing, crumpled clothes and muddy shoes, she was perfectly alright!

Something needs to be done here. No one feels safe on the streets of Cebu City anymore. No one would even dare help a hold-up victim for fear of getting involved or get victimized themselves. <TSK TSK TSK!> My housemate is one very lucky girl, armed with feistiness, good timing and with a bulls eye!

Till here, next time.

<signed>

The Callcenter Boy

Blank on a Saturday

http://913935cf.seriousdeals.net

Normally, this is a regular workday/night for me. Being free on a weekend still hasn't sinked in. I honestly don't know how to spend it amidst all the possibly interesting things to do on a weekend aside from blogging. <LOL> I haven't actually planned on being free on a weekend. Now that's peculiar...

Might as well spend it catching some lost sleep.

Might as well read some pending books on my reading list.

Or do what the Italians call, "Il dolce far niente." <winks>

Till here.
<Signed>
The Callcenter Boy

A Funny Thing Happened after a Calamity

A tsunami scare made a multitude of people stupid in downtown Cebu City. It was an after-effect of an earthquake of about Intensity 5-strength that made all this possible. The earthquake happened just right before noon yesterday. I woke up to my room shaking as if jolted by an angry giant. Naturally enough I went to the most structurally secure part of the house and stayed there till the tremors stopped. After that, since it's just about noon and finding it kind of difficult to go back to sleep, I just watched a movie. Right before it ended, I heard some commotion outside. I saw people milling about in our neighborhood. Overhearing from the talks below (as I was in the terrace), I got words like, "tsunami", "flood", "calamity" and other kinda scary words of the doomsday..I was kind of like, "For real??" So I switched on the TV and got from the news that everything (as far as Cebu City is concerned) is ok. I went back outside; people still are kind of bit agitated, seems like everyone's readying up for something. Then the texts came from friends, etc. telling me to be very careful.. or to pack up some important things,just in case,etc...to that effect. Some were even texting that water from the sea had already reached SM City Cebu. I was like, "Huh? If ever that's true, there should have been at least a calamity siren or warning sounds that can be heard all around. Thank God I don't live near the center of city wherein I had soon found out everything went haywire. LOL! Even sane, practical people could have been affected by that very apparent mass hysteria it caused! Looking back i can't help feeling amused at how some poeople might have realized by now how silly they were to be falling prey to such baseless rumors of a destructive tidal wave.

Till next time.
<signed>
The Callcenter Boy

Patriotism is the Drive

P.S. A repost from my Facebook Personal Wall. I was burning with a love of my country when I wrote this.

‎"Cleansing" of the government is not a one-day affair. So do are the implementation of the laws of our beloved country. We don't need new ones, we have more than enough laws, the only difference is only the veracity and the drive to implement it all, and no one else should start but the Government itself. Nobody's perfect, there might be blunders, goofers, gaffes along the way; everyone is still learning, and in the process, it might take years to fully realize its goals but I'm just glad that it's starting right now in my lifetime. MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!!!

· · Friday at 9:19am

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  Nemia Da-al, Feammay Mascual, Aldrin Trabasas and 17 others like this.

Working during the biggest Festival of the Year

There is nothing more disappointing than working one's butt off while a large part of the city's population is enjoying one of the Phillippine's biggest and must-see festivals, the SINULOG. This weird, at times, queasy feeling we all have whenever we feel left out of the fun...anyone feels like an outcast.

But I have to, my work is an integral part of my life structure. My only consolation is that I would be spared from the stress of having to "wade" through multitudes of people and also, the thought of being a potential pickpocket's victim at least assures me that it's still ok I won't be able to join this year. I can catch up on this festivities' leftovers of fun anyway, on my restdays; two days after this city's biggest event of the year. Although it might be a bit late, but the most important thing is that I'd still be able to have fun. And that I'm not that pathetic. <smiles>

http://913935cf.seriousdeals.net

Happy Festivities everyone!
<signed>
The Callcenter Boy

Burn Money, Welcome the New

REUTERS/Pichi Chuang
http://a1625971.whackyvidz.com 

I had been working on New Year's Eve last night. And as I was walking on the way home earlier this morning the first day of the year 2012 on this side of the world (the Philippines) looked just like any ordinary day. There's the good old tropical sun shining. I would have wanted something a bit extraordinary, like, falling snow perhaps? <chuckles>  The streets are noticeably deserted though, at that time of day. Shreds, bits and pieces of paper all around gave away the fact that last night was a celebration of noise and smoke as people brought in the New Year and scared out the Old with all sorts of firecrackers. I wonder how much money people had set aside and prepared for this every year, only to just blow them all up in just a fraction of a day. Of course we cannot leave out Tradition but the Scrooge in me is just imagining all those hard-earned money being "burned", with some people even getting more what they've bargained for: lost fingers, limbs, other body parts... <Tsk tsk tsk>  

A Prosperous New Year to all! Be safe always.

<signed> The Callcenter Boy

  

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.

http://913935cf.seriousdeals.net

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!

.    

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.  

=============================================
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