Monday, September 30, 2013

Growth


Rome wasn't built in a day. So as the French Revolution. There is no short-cut to success. You will have to do it the hard way. The classic way! I have seen some managers from my former employer in the construction industry and I think they are one of the best managers I have been with in my entire work experience. They can decide with such ease and elegance some sensitive and threatening situations. I admired them for that.

I want to give credit to DSJ, my former boss and he introduced me to the classic adage that "the boss is always right..because he is the boss..". I liked his management style as well as his people-handling skills though at first it was so irritating but eventually I have got his points.

And now I am on a crossroads. I have to make some decisions. Some life-changing decisions that will make a very important impact on my present and future condition. Yes I am taking one step closer to what I want now. And the universe is somehow conspiring to achieve it.


Saturday, September 28, 2013

Yesterday And We Almost Finished The Counting


I may not be in good health now. I should take that paracetamol. Our inventory counting is almost finished. It is my 8th year of counting these spare parts to ensure the inventory accuracy. And now to determine also the obsolescence of a given material. It is my 8th year of that periodic counting! Wow! Eight years of hell of a ride! We've been through thick and thin in material management and we have managed to survive. We have survive those audits, those manager, those other issues that mainly concerned the improvement of the flow of materials for the sole purpose of the smooth operation of the power plant.

And I think we have succeeded! And if ever I will be transferred to other organization I can say we have made those changes and we are proud of it! I also learned a lot from that experience of managing material and inventory parts of the plant. I have learned to make meaningful reports, to make those data mining and to make a very good judgment whenever needed. I have learned the importance of those assets and its intrinsic and extrinsic importance to the plant's operation itself. The power plant may not continuously run it is full capacity if there are no spare parts. I have learned the value of supply chain. I have learned the value of systems of purchasing. I have learned a lot!


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Shame On You


( from Rappler.com - so that I will not be sued for using unauthorized photo)

http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/39566-up-student-admits-plagiarized-photos)

A graduate student from UP Diliman? Are you kidding me? for the sake of money? He believed he can get away from it. He thought that because he is from the premier university no one will question his credibility? In this age of no privacy everything is subject to scrutiny. And I guess he is a no brainy at all. He has this confidence so high he overlooked that someone out there is watching. Everyone is watching. Our very own moves every seconds of everything we post on the internet.

Shame on you but that will pass too. Just do not do it again. I know that he has this photo ability but please do not steal from others in case you have the face to join another photo contest. I bet you will never again!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Losers And Gainers


(photos courtesy of google image)

This is not about innocence. I have remembered that movie ( in which I have forgot the title) that the first victim of war is innocence. Is true? I do not know. This is not about the Philippine Stock Exchange in which some of my neophyte office-mates gamble it all because of their risky attitude and lose some of the money from the fluctuating market. I thought they are all intelligent. I guess I am wrong. This is all about going abroad. Not about going there as tourist but as a worker. Not necessarily an expatriate status. Just a plain worker.

First gainer. The economy. The Philippines may not rise as one of the fastest growing economy in Asia if not for the remittances of our OFW's. We will never have such dollar reserve if no Filipinos are abroad to have their talents being used by others for such a dollar fee. Think of any professional and for sure there is someone out there somewhere in the Middle East, in down under in Australia or in The cold countries of the northern hemisphere who are working and they are Filipino proud to say. We are so adaptive and can withstand any heat of the sunny Saudi Arabia and can stay longer in the thick snow of Russia just to bring money for the dear family in the Philippines. Never forget also our countrymen in Europe especially in Italy that will do everything just to have meaningful source of income for their loved ones here in the Philippines. And their money paid off. Some of our real estate industry are being ushered into its new heights by a sudden surge in the sales of condominiums mostly from our OFW's. They have invested their hard-earned money to have a decent home and some investment in the form of condominium or townhomes so that when they retired they will have a steady source of income
.
First loser. Dysfunctional Family. Usually the family of an OFW is a happy one. Usually the financial gain will make their life easier. Much easier. But the absence of any parent will definitely have a significant bad effects on their children. Remember "Anak" movie in which Claudine got so angry with her mother Vilma Santos in the movie? Remember those children in your neighborhood in which got into drugs and other trouble because no one is there to guide them because either their mother or father is an OFW? A reality. A reality that becomes the new norms of the society. And the worst is that someone from the husband or wife will have its other partner outside of marriage that will eventually break everything all!

Second gainer. The experience. Working here in the Philippines will teach you the working culture of us Filipino. Working abroad will teach you the multiple and variety of diverse culture that you can imagine. You can learn from the Indian, from the Middle Eastern and even from other Filipino whom you work with in other parts of the globe. You will definitely raise your standard since you are working in a different environment. And it will make you a better if not the best person as you wanted to be.

Second loser. Losing of Filipino talents here. Imagine a hospital five years ago that almost all of the nurses are old. Imagine the construction site where almost all of the civil engineers are fresh graduate. Imagine that in other areas of expertise or industries. And you will get the real scenario. Brain drain as we call it. Most of the talents and skilled workers here are flying abroad to exchange their ability to that much higher dollar salary as compared to a minimum wage here if employment is possible luckily. Most of our graduates fly to Middle East and other Asian countries. And they become millionaire and expert there.

The list of losers and gainers in working abroad may take us up to ten or even more. But for now those are the major gains and loses.

It is up to me when I will become the gainer. Hopefully sooner.



Monday, September 23, 2013

Sold: Everything Is For Sale

Yes everything you can think of and anything you can imagine is for sale. With a price tag. Even your principles! Your ideologies. May it be for financial gain or for some interest to be protected, everything we can have is for sale. Everything is up for the highest bidder.

Last week an incident occur to my consciousness though I am not much interested at first but when I have
talked to some people involved in the case, I am somehow moved by their testimonials. I got curious on how one man has been the root cause of it all. The "root-cause" is somehow a notorious man in our watch list since he has this attitude of being the jack of all trade in order get things done. He uses his skills of negotiation as well as connections to iron out something. He even influenced some people to favor for him to get those things he needed most. He is so notorious we called them "Ochoa".

And for his latest "victims" are those innocent and not-so-informed group of people who are just working for the sake of survival because of the underpaid situation that they have. And so they elevated their issues and concern to the right authority. And this Ochoa threatened them. That's the area in which he is so good at. At its finest! In threatening those people whom he is supposed to support! Ironic but he was paid to do it. He was paid by his bad conscience to do it to continuously amass some amount of money, some amount of power and not afraid of losing dignity upon doing it. A trash!

So  much for him as he became the limelight and he does not deserve it. What else are for sale? Yes, even the mandated work/positin is for sale if you are being paid to make side for your opponent. Imagine at first that you are so eager to win the case. Imagine that you have gathered enough evidence to convict or to swing the vote in favor of the masses. Then all of a sudden you have disappeared.  And you take your vacation. And the suspicions grow. The days became weeks, months and eventually you cannot be reached by all means. Are you hiding? No. You are sold! You are bought already! Shame on you!

I hope I could be a lawyer and defend them. I hope I could be a Saguisag or Salonga who fought Marcos in the 80's and 70's. Still the spirit of a Marcos is upon some people!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Just Like The Pouring Rain


Beginning this Friday the typhoon Odette has never stopped raining. The rain is pouring like a dam is being break in heaven and all its fury and rage has been pour into earth. Some of my schedules are cancelled. And some of the unexpected things has happened. For a reason, for a very good reason. Thanks God for that.

Nothing can stopped me to stop by at Wanam and eat that lomi. No amount of rain and wind can block me from getting that delicious noodles which can be more delicious in this time of rain. The cold weather adds to the ambiance in which I have tastefully eat that dish. Guess what the secret of Wanam in their pansit and other noodle menu? Yes! that unique taste that somehow keep us coming back to the one of the oldest food establishment in Batangas City; San Wanam Restaurant. My grandfather Lolo Severino used to eat in that food chain. Imagine that! In the 1960's the food place legend has been around and have made some trademark and noise that even our generation today appreciate. And it will continue for the longest time.

By the way at around 8 pm when I was in the National Bookstore, a familiar text sender called me but I was so busy looking for my next book to buy. So I called him back. He had this special announcement. I thought it was his flight but thanks him it was for me, for us. And we had went this morning to the venue he had suggested. And the rest for us is history for me. To be continued in other post. Upcoming post maybe next week or next month.

Until the rain subside I will forever be grateful to those wonderful little things some friends of mine has done to me and to the rest of us. I maybe depressed for some obvious reason last week but now I am recovering and it is really God at works within my system. He has this rightest timing of all!

I trust in HIM!



Saturday, September 21, 2013

Long Reading, Long Writing, Full Conversation


Oh I forgot it is a windy day. The storm Odette is wrecking literally the northern part of the Philippines. Hoping that we are safe always. God bless us! God bless the Philippines! I do not know if the coastal clean-up has pushed through. As of now I am listening to the new album of Linkin Park. I have missed them.

After almost two hours of sleep maybe around 9 this morning I have woke up with much livelier self. I guess I really need more rest. More relaxing moments. Stressful at work? Not really. As a matter of fact it is all in my mind maybe. But I will try to forget it. But what I do not want to forget is what happened yesterday. A day of pure incident? coincidences? I don't know.

On the sidelights my mind or our minds were somehow tricked again by the two individuals who took every chance to do their things. Well for the benefit of the doubt, we really doubt even up to now. Maybe we should put them as friends on social media? Nice idea but definitely it will not work out.

Okay so much for the time with them. The real score happened at around 3 pm yesterday. The little rain kept me from creeping and hiding from my place. But when the sun beamed its rays for a quite some time I got myself rushed to the building. Then my new mentor came up. We had a few talks. And it centered on coastal clean up. We had our very first long conversation. And we deepened it by exchanging ideas about paradigm, about framework. We promised each other we will talked much in-depth as we will embark in a new project. Wow! I hope it could come true. For the sake of it!

I do believe now that somethings happened or not meant to happen because something much bigger or much better will happen. And it happened before my eyes yesterday. I was so happy to have such conversation with people who talked no non-sense. I know he is much learned than me. But maybe I could offer some of my ideas. A start-up maybe of a good intellectual relationship. Or something for the time being. I hope so.

And last night as usual I had my coffee at Starbucks but at that time it was for free since I have accumulated twelve stars to complete a free coffee. Good for me. I have read some magazines, some articles on the newspaper. I have seen those familiar people I have been to in the coffee shop. A regular. A group of people who talked much of just nothing but pure simple conversation. I have heard them since their voice was much louder or maybe the space in the shop was such as small as they really needed a renovation maybe this year or next year. I heard Blas mentioned me about the renovation of Starbucks. So if that time comes where should I go for a coffee? I guess I'd better buy those 3 in one coffee hahahah so that when the addiction strikes I can have a handy solution.

This past few weeks some admin people were so busy because of recruitment of new employees. By the way some friends and acquaintances of mine submitted applications and I hope they could get in. It's really a good thing that somehow I have helped them get their job because I am so grateful too to some people who helped me in my journey as a working man. I cannot say but thank you very much! I will never forget all of you and in return I will do my best to help others the way you have helped me to step a ladder further and nearer to my dreams! You know who you are and honestly I cannot repay you somehow and God for sure will bless you in other ways.

And as of now Saturday I am listening to the three CD's I have bought but actually it is six since every album has two CD's. I have bought Alice In Chains, Miles Davies, and Linkin Park. There is no substitute to the real thing as compared to listening to youtube or soundcloud!

Till the next big story!





Friday, September 20, 2013

Better Be Alone Than Sorry


Not the usual scenario..for several years I am attending that occasion but last night I have missed it..I have missed it intentionally..I do not want those circus of idiots..circus of ineffective! bunch of non-sense! bunch of people who acted not like human..magbababoy! nambababoy!..in short..EVIL! God bless them..

Some truths are stranger than fiction.

1. Petitioned to be taken out - siya pa ang nakakuha ng prize!

2. Called for a prize - pero binawi kasi dapat hindi kasama..so bakit tinawag pa? obviously tanga yung nag-include ng name ng pobreng mama..umasa na kanya na ang prize eh hindi pala..

3. Those two up there are acting as if tinotopak lagi..hopefully they can be flushed out here..some are planning about it..

Anyways I just soaked myself in rain and coffee last night..better be alone than sorry!

P.S. - that chicken with kabute ( photo below) one of the despidida meal for Japs - maybe next week he will be in Qatar! Goodluck! Buti pa siya makakaalis na!

P.S. - ah that sad state of Pinoy komiks now..but surprisingly I have bought one in 7-11 and it is in English..evolving? I hope so.

Extended edited version -

4. there is someone who would like the vacant position but not qualified..buti nga kasi lahat na lang gusto niyang kunin..gahaman talaga!

5. there is someone whom might return and she is a "threat" to someone here - such marital problem that should be flushed away or be forgotten forever..

6. isa pang gahaman - he got the positon  -actually a very high one - then all of a sudden he still got the one intended for a much lower individual like us? in broad daylight!



Thursday, September 19, 2013

I Need Some Retreat

This morning I have talked to one of my friend Christian, an HR officer. I have aired some of my concerns
and issues that seems to baffle me for quite some time now. I have let some opportunities to let me pass by. And I could have done something but in the end I choose not to. I choose not to because I guess it is the right thing to do.

And I need some days off. I am planning of a retreat to Tagaytay maybe beginning tomorrow. Or maybe this weekends. I have talked to one of my colleague here too and we have discussed some "decisions issue" and it is good to know that there are someone whom I can rely in this kind of times.

These past few weeks and months got me into something in which some major decisions have to be decided to improve my current situation. However in the end I think I have chosen what is really best for me.

Just wait for that right time. Patience is a virtue. And for now I just want to share some articles I have seen on Medium.com



Making big decisions

its not about choosing the defaults

Each of us typically make one or two big decisions about our lives every so often. For

example, which career to choose? whether to buy a house or not? finding a life partner, or deciding where to take a big vacation. The implications of each of these choices is varied, but one thing is common — the defaults are well laid out for you.
Defaults are what you are supposed to choose. Thats what normal or good people do. It is what society expects you to do, and will shower you with positive energy when you ‘stick to what is right’.
Fred Wilson wrote a thoughtful article about Foursquare and their deliberations to decide the future of their business.
don’t let conventional wisdom force you into making decisions you don’t need to make and you aren’t ready to make, particularly about very big decisions that you will be living with the rest of your life
I find these words extremely valuable in times of ambiguity and lack of a clear way forward.
You are told that the default choice works, despite being either unprepared or in gross disagreement with it. Some times we do it for loved ones, and at other times we refrain from rocking the cradle.
Its not about spending more time with big decisions, but about spending enough to iterate and not be afraid of making an unconventional choice.
Recently, I made the choice of moving back to India after having stayed in America for a little over a decade. Many friends, colleagues, relatives, and general observers were quite baffled by my decision. I made the choice within the context of what is important to me, and that is what matters most.

Do what you think is right for you.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

"I Want To Fire Him"

I do not want to start my day as bad as it is. Yesterday I had this encounter with the devil. The ineffective devil. The wrong man being there. And act so naive to his mistakes. Everyone shouted at him. Disrespect him. Until I got my chance yesterday.

A non-sense task and eventually it ended that I was the one who gave him advice to do much better for the section. Imagine that! Nakakatawa na lang..nakakatawa and ironically I have no choice but to accept that some people are so naive. And should be fired!

And as I have heard someone has aired his concern to fire him. I hope it could push through. I hope.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Before I Go Home


Such a rushing night..after Rigg's I have to go home..and this store got this..isaw and BBQ..in midnight..once in awhile I tried this food..not so often since I was afraid of some disease allegedly associated with this after eating for quite some time..long period of time frequently..


Chillin' Tuesday!


 With those beers..pulutan..kwentuhan..kantahan..Tuesday night to remember...at Rigg's Cafe..



Thanks For The Pasalubong


My friend and classmate Blas has just arrived from Singapore..official business trip..he had also that drinking session with Arvic, another high school classmate of ours..and wow thanks Blas really for those coffee that you gave me..



Badly Written? I Will Correct It


This is not about the movie itself. This is my reaction upon watching it and applying it on my own. Thanks to Director Joey Reyes for this masterpiece that I have questioned also myself my current status of mind. My current job satisfaction. My life satisfaction as a whole.

Unfair. Very unfair but we accepted it. Some illogical person. Some unfit persons occupying some positions. God knows who are they. God knows they do not deserved to be there. And they are very ineffective. And the whole people here laughed at them hahahaha! A circus of idiots!

I hope I could get out of here. And laugh about my experiences in here. I hope in other place I will not encounter some people na sobrang arte muka na ngang bading..so very conscious with his skin that he is like a girl wearing that fun-looking unbrella just to hide his skin. Ano ba siya bakla nga? eh ang balita ko he has a mistress in here..wow! astig mo pre hahaha!!

I want to change my environment. I hope it could be sooner! God help me!




What's On My List?


And I have been thinking this a long time ago. A post about some list. My bucket list? My wish list?

1. Paris - I really want to see and enjoy and feel Paris for some days or even weeks, months..

2. Czech Republic  - for some personal reason which I cannot really understand I just want to go into this country.

3. Sometimes I want to be an assassin..really no joke!

4. Harvard - if I cannot go to Harvard to study I just want to see it..

5. I want to work in a tunnel-construction project

6. I want to be a lawyer

7. and the list goes on..but for now thanks that I still have my sanity and my faith!




Measured


In my several years of staying in this power plant I have observed some pattern. I have observed some truth about people. About behavior. Measurable. Everything is to be measured. The system in the process in the power plant itself must be measured. Thanks God for the instruments that indicate its frequency or whatever data that it wants to indicate. And it takes a good reader ( technician) to interpret those data and find the right action for every numbers that the gauge is giving them.

But in case of people there is human to interpret it. Be it for the rules or against the rules they are the one being followed. They made decisions based on their perceptions. Even the perceptions are so blurred. So irrational they have choose that decisions. And we all laughed about it!!

In this organization where everything is recorded and being transmitted in the speed of light no one is exceptional. You will be scrutinize even your way of dressing and walking. They have all the eyes and ears for that. Good for them. They even have the luxury of time for that. I envy them really. But hell no I will never be the same as they are.

And speaking of perception I really do not care now if everyone is up to something. You act or you do not act it is still the same. They will drag you anyway. So I rather not act. Just do nothing. Or do something to make it even. In my own way.

I hope someday they will all be gone. Or please God grant me the wish to get out of here. Now!


Monday, September 16, 2013

Walk. Knock. See


Recently some changes are visible..most of the times  I have to decide based on pragmatic consequences..on quantifiable variables..and on basic instincts..to outweigh all other factors..please give me the enlightenment..and the luck to have it!



Chillin' Saturday


If you want a more "intimate" place to chill out and listen to just music or watch TV then you must come to Vivo..just in front of Days Hotel and you will be relaxed while drinking a beer and eating your dishes..and non-stop conversation with your friend..an alternative to Starbucks indeed!



Happy Birthday Arvin



Last Saturday at Pizza Hut..with my kuya and Inay and others..






Buffet Lunch


The newest eat-all-you-can in Batangas City!! at Ginazel Hotel and Restaurant just besides Ponte Fino Hotel..Php 399/per person..and it opened only this month of September..eat all your stomach full with this treat!












It Begins Now

 I am now here in Batangas City. My hometown. My city. That never sleeps. I have myself and my mother. She is 83 now. And I am turning 47 th...