Boredom 101

Its the second week of May 2013 and this is my first entry for the Month of May.

The month of May is not really a good month for me. It didn't start good. So probably for the entire month I will be negative and all..hahah..

Well, I just realized a lot of things, you know. Especially about my employment here in the DSWD. I just turned one year last April 27 and it seems like nothing happened. No salary increase, no benefits and still my contract is under MOA.

It is just so sad. If it was in a private company then I should have benefits like vacation leaves, sick leaves, medical benefits. SSS, Pag-ibig, PHIC and so on and so forth.

Many have thought that working in the government is good. But for me its not. I feel like they don't value us (MOA workers). In our agency, MOA workers comprises 90% of the workers and only 10% are the regular employees. So basically, most of all work or all the works are being handled by the MOA workers.

I should not divulge these information but I really can't help it.

Prior to working in the government, I spent my employment life with private companies and I was able to enjoy the benefits of working the private companies. But when I decided to work in DSWD everything changed. I didn't know it at first. I was only made aware of it when I already signed my contract. At first, I thought, probably this only applies if you are just a newbie in the government agencies. So I decided to continue my contract with them, then months passed, I reached six months then one year but nothing happened. Its all the same.

For me it is so unfair. Why??? because I see that these 10% regular employees are receiving bonuses and they are not really doing anything. But for us, MOA workers, we put 150% efforts to our work but they wont even give us recognition, worst, no benefits and no bonus at all.

WTF!!! 

I weigh the pros and cons of working in the government and in the private sector and based on the results. It is better to work in the private sector because of the benefits and SECURITY of tenure, rather than working in the government. The salary may be smaller in the private sector but I can live with it and I know that my efforts will be recognized. 

I am already drafting my resignation letter. I am just looking for suitable job in the private sector to where I can apply then after that I will resign. I am not closing my doors to the government agencies though. I still can see myself working as a government employee in the near future. I just hope that they will change the policies  when it comes to hiring employees.

Just a thought!



Till next time!

Cheers.

Mharj :)

The Real Mharj

I may look happy.

I may look fulfilled.

I may look successful.

You may feel positive vibes in me.

You may say that I am living my life to the fullest.

You may say I almost have everything.

But no, you are definitely wrong. I don't really show my real emotions to the people I know. 'Coz it felt like its not right and awkward at the same time. I always joke on almost everything. But deep inside I am also fragile. I only show this when I am alone. 

I always have the "me time alone" where I will just go to places and sit there for hours contemplating and procrastinating on what's happening on my life. This is the time that I use to let all the negativity sets in on my system. 

I don't know, I really just have this tendency to be really really negative about life and also an instance to be really really positive about it too. Well, this is just me. Probably, I just need somebody who could understand me. Who could really feel the emotion that I am feeling. Not just the one who will say things that could cheer me up.

No matter what I do to cheer myself up, to motivate myself up, its just not really enough. 

I know one day, things will change. I am still waiting for that day. 

I am just so emo today. haha!

Mharj:)

'Twas A Year Ago....

One year ago, I made a major decision that completely changed my career and my life. It was tough and it has been difficult for me that time.
One year ago, I was just a simple person who wanted to get out from my comfort zone and experience life, the normal way.
One year ago, I accepted the fact that leaving my comfort zone will be difficult and accepted that there is no coming back.
One year ago, I promised myself that whatever happens and whatever problems that may arise in my journey, I can no longer go back.
One year ago, I left Sitel and Green Dot.


Leaving Sitel and Green Dot was indeed a difficult decision that I made, specially that I worked with them for 2 years. I made a lot of friends and I quite made a mark. It was in the peak of my career as a Mentor when I left and many have questioned my decision.

Probably others may say that Sitel has been a great help to them financially. Yes, it is, indeed. Sitel also helped me financially but I am not being motivated with money. I am the type of person who is searching and wanting more. I really do not settle for something that doesn't know my worth.
For 2 years, 2 months and 29 days in Sitel, I can say that I have already experienced a lot. Frustration, demotivation, demoralization, degration, happiness, success, loneliness, etc.
My journey with Sitel was a roller coaster ride 10 times (haha!) If I will give a word for my experiences in Sitel it would probably be "challenge". It was very challenging, really challenging. Waking up and preparing to go to work to render 8-hour shift is a challenge. Talking non-stop and resolving customer's issues is another challenge. Multi-tasking and thinking about ninja moves is another challenge. Having coaching sessions to my coach is another challenge. Everything is always a challenge. I can't even imagine that I was able to surpass those challenges. 

I really do have a lot of stories about my experiences in Sitel but its not really that good if I'll just write 'em here. It will just be a boring blog. Its actually better if I can tell it personally 'coz its more funny and you can really feel the emotion (chos!..hahahaha)

When I was still working at Sitel, everyone thinks that I am a very good agent, but the truth is I am not (hahaha.. I do have my evil side too!). Here's a run down of the evil things that I did way back then: (this acts can cause termination if and only if they caught you..) 1. I transferred my customer to the Spanish queue instead of transferring it to a Supervisor. 2. If I don't want to talk to my customer anymore, I will just place them on mute and wait for them to hung up. 3. I talked Tagalog during one of my calls. 4. I released calls (not just once but many times...hahaha... i am so bad..tsk tsk). 5. I pissed my customers. 6. I intentionally pressed headset to end the call. Actually all our calls are recorded so, if they caught me then , I am dead. I will be terminated right then and there, but the fact that I reached 2 years that means that I was not caught.. Well, I really can't blame myself, I was so pissed that time and it is already tiring to talk and solve issues over and over again. Its frustrating.

During my employment in Sitel, the only instance where i felt that I was important was during awarding ceremonies, where best and top agents in the account are being recognized. Gone are the days when my name was called and was recognized in the account. I have received numerous awards back then and its pretty amazing 'coz I was able to show them that I can have a spot in the BPO. But that was way back then. I challenged myself that time and those were the fruits of my labor and hard work. That was the mark that I made. I made my own name in GDC. 

It was April 26, 2012 when i rendered my very last shift in GDC. I was already a mentor then. I was part of the T2 listening session and the client gave me an A. It was very good call and I was able to give the customer the best resolution. I was given a Client Commendation that time. It was my first time to be part of the listening session and also the last. After that client commendation, I gave my resignation letter to my coach and told here that my resignation is immediate. My coach didn't question my resignation, she was even happy that I was able to find a normal job. The only frustrating thing that happened that day was when I talked to our Operations Manager Nadja. I showed her my resignation letter and she immediately offered my 1 month indefinite leave and I told her that I will not accept it and then she told me in verbatim : "you are choosing DSWD over invictus?" (Invictus by the way is the name for the mentors) I really don't like her remark. I think it was very insulting. I didn't feel like I was not important after all the sacrifices that I made for GDC. If she just told me what I want to hear like appreciating my efforts as a mentor and tell me how important I was then I probably have second thoughts in resigning. But I didn't hear those things. They don't know how to value their employees, they don't know how to appreciate them. And it was just so disappointing. I am a business admin graduate and I was taught how to value employees and how to motivate them. I guess real world is really different. And we really can't have it all. I promised myself that I will never go back to BPO industry again.

Well, it was just nostalgic reminiscing all those things that happened 1 year ago. I just miss it, despite of what happened. I miss it, I miss my friends, the bonding moments, the reklamo moments (hahahah..) and the non-stop talk about our calls. 

Here's a picture of me 1 year ago:

This was taken during my duty. It just so happen that we are availing that time so we are able to take this picture. As you can see in the picture, our bay is a typical computer shop, we don't really have privacy in our calls, our seatmate can hear us talking to our customers. This picture was taken at around 3-4am (hahaha.. I can still remember the time).

Despite of the frustration and motivation that I have experienced in Sitel. I am still glad of my experiences there, It made me a better person and I proved to myself something that I can always treasure for the rest of my life. So, SItel, big thanks! :)

'Till next time!

Toodles.. :)

Mharj :)

Revisiting UC-BCF

Before I start babbling on my second entry here on my blog. I would like to thank Azeil, she is actually the one who gave the idea about my first entry on my blog. Big thanks tol. I really appreciate it. :) mwaaaahh!

I actually don't have any idea for my second entry, then suddenly and idea came across on my mind today. I suddenly miss my Alma mater. I don't know what happen but it happened (haha! the what??). So I asked my co-worker Jackie (she also from the same university) if she would like to go our school and see what are the new developments there. She then immediately said yes.

It was so surreal. It felt like it was only yesterday that I am seeing myself walking on the hallways of my school. But reality is that I left the University of the Cordilleras 4 years ago (OMG!, I am that old already!!). 4 years ago, University of the Cordilleras has been my home and just like any other students, I can be seen sitting on the hallway, canteen or in the library or you can see me walking or running going to my next class. Here are some pictures of the hallways that I am talking about.

Beautiful isn't it??? hehehe.. those were taken from 3 different areas from our school. The first photo is the 2nd floor of the Science Building, the second photo is the 2nd floor of the Main Building and the third photo is the 2nd bldg of the Science Building as well (but it used to be the extension building).

There are certain places that I really love in the University of the Cordilleras. Here's the first one:

Yep, its the College of Accountancy (COA) office. I can basically say that this is where I started. This is where I worked as a student assistant for 2 years. I can say that COA gave me the opportunity to explore my horizons as a student and as an individual as well. Thanks to Dean Colorado for giving me the chance to be your student assistant. 

Second would be this: 

My favorite spot. This is where I usually sit along with my classmates while waiting for our next class. This area is just across the office of the College of Business Administration (my department).

There is a certain bulletin board that I really love to see and here it is: 

You know why? Because, this is where they post the list of the University Scholars, College Scholars and Dean's list. It feels great to see the names of your friends on that list. You feel very proud, you know. If you are working student and if your name is on the list then you should be very very proud. I happen to see my name on that list twice! (achievement). Oh well, I suddenly miss being a student (sigh!).

University of the Cordilleras was formerly known as Baguio Colleges Foundation, but didn't you know that it was also called as Banana Cue Factory (BCF)? Hahaha. Yep, because before you even enter the gates of UC-BCF you can already smell the banana cue being cooked just beside the entrance and you can already see students eating their banana cue, which serves as their lunch.

Jeez! I just really miss UC. I just miss being student and student assistant at the same time. Waaaaaa... Memories,... Memories....

I'm glad that I made the right choice in enrolling at the University of the Cordilleras. It made me who I am right now. I've conquered my fear. I made a lot of friends, I have a lot of connections (that's one of the perks of being student assistant) and most of all I was able to get a solid background of quality education. I also experienced being rejected for the first time and the feeling of no one is believing in my capabilities. 

This is also the place where I was able to meet the person who really believed in me. And I thank him for that. Because of him I worked very hard and proved to all of them that I can. By the time that I graduated I was able to fulfill the goal that I have set when I was first year in college. I graduated Cum Laude.

I will never forget all the memories that happened in UC. If given a chance, I will study again and it will definitely in the University of the Cordilleras. Yes U Can!

Till next time!

Toodles!

Mharj :)

*Please leave your comments! Thanks.. Appreciate it :)

8 years and counting....

"People around you are like crayons. Once of them may not be your favorite color but someday you will need him/her to complete your master piece" -Anonymous

The quotation right there is definitely correct. We always meet new people in our everyday lives. We don't even have any idea that the person sitting to us in a bus will have a very big impact in our lives.  

In my 23 years of existence, I have already met a lot of people. I may not remember them all but there are certain people who has a big impact on my life. They probably ruined my life (hahaha!) or they helped me one way or another. 

Today is April 18, 2013 and this marks my first blog in the bloggerland. I may not be the best but I can assure all my readers that what my blog contain is true and all of it are based on my experiences. Honestly, I really don't have any idea on how to start my blog. I just mentioned it to Azeil and poof! a light bulb suddenly lit up in my head (literally! haha) and I decided to talk about these 5 crazy but wonderful individuals.

So going back on my first paragraph. I mentioned that meeting people will have a big effect on our lives. And I guess I have already met 5 wonderful and gorgeous people who made my high school like a roller coaster ride. 

When I met them in June 2004, I honestly don't have any idea if I will be friends with them. I don't even remember what happened on why we instantly became friends and tropa at the end of the school year. Actually, the only common among the 6 of us is being loud..(hahah.. wide grin).. And other than that there's nothing else. Prolly, the saying opposite attracts is really true and we are the living proof of it. Before introducing you to these wonderful people I would like to show you our old pictures when we were in high school.

Disgusting eh? Hahaha.. I can't even imagine that I am so dark way back then. hahaha.. Anyways, these are the only photos that I have since I was not able to get it all from Friendster and transfer to my Facebook account. hehehe. 

Allow me to introduce you to these wonderful people that I met in my 3rd year high school. They are Glieza Fernandez (Azeil), Jennifer Ibañez (Jen), Mylene Siocson (Len), Christine Macareg (Tin) and Mary Rose Vinluan (Rose). We formed our group and we called it TROPANG KALOG. The reason behind that name is that whenever we are together there will be no silent moments, it will always be full of laughter, asaran, kalogan and barahan..We really had a very good time during our high school life. I can say that I was able to enjoy my high school life especially that I was able to share it to these wonderful people in my life. 

We may have differences and can't be understood sometimes but what's good in our tropa is that we accepted and respected our differences. That is why until now we remained the same way 2004. We've been friends for 8 years now and on November 20, 2013 marks the 9th year of our friendship.

Wow! I didn't even expect that we will reach 9 years! I was so thrilled that we've friends for 9 long years and counting.. We might not see each other very often as compared to high school days but the best thing about us is that we still know what is happening to each one of us (unless, they are keeping a secret from me..hahaha.. LOL) We just recently had our reunion last March 29, 2013 and here are the pictures:

See the difference from the old ones?? Hehehe.. I was shocked when I saw my tropa.. 2 of them Len and Tin already has their husbands and babies. They are already parents.. and then there is only 4 of us left and they are waiting who will be the 1st one to get married first..haha. I just laugh on that thought.

I don't see them often because I am no longer living in my hometown but still there are ways that we can use to enable to contact each other and have a chat. I can say that I am very lucky having these crazy individuals and I know that they are lucky too having me! hehehe.. I just love these girls :) :) I really can't say that much..hehehe.. I just miss 'em. My life ain't complete if I was not able to meet these girls during my high school life. Love y'all.

Till my next blog!

Toodles! Zaijian!

Mharj:)