Bravery

They say I'm brave, but I'm bulletproof.

Ordinary men and women who put their lives on the line,

they're the real heroes.

- Superman

Untitled

What is Hello without Goodbye?

Can't find a tear without a cry

Been there, done that; nothing to hide

Pain usually occurs with self pride

Why does love have to end?

Do I hold on or just pretend?

That it no longer hurts to remember

Promises made, return to sender

Like the setting sun or a sinking ship

Darkness fades, each time you quit

Once whole, then half, sinking fast

Why do good things never last? ..

No Turning Back

I had my last shift last night, logged out for the last time this morning. The whole shift I was trying to make everyone laugh so no one (including me) would feel any sadness during my last shift with the team, but as the hours turned to minutes, the mood turned into something else. The usually noisy team suddenly became silent as they silently counted down my stay with the team and with the company.

At 4:02 AM, I logged out from my Avaya and my PC, kissed my station, and gave my letter to my team mates. They all wished me well, and told me they'll miss me. I know they will. I know I will. I hope I made the right decision. Only time will tell.

Before going out of the production floor, they made me promise to put my mugs (I bring 2 every shift) and my headset in my locker and come back to the floor to say goodbye to everyone. I said yes. I hurried out to my locker and was about to go back in when I met Chazzy, one of my closest team mates who is like a little sister to me. She hugged me tight and told me she'll miss me and that she doesn't have a Daddy anymore. I was The Daddy to a lot of my colleagues and friends in the office. I hugged her tight and told her that I'll always be there for her. Tears started to fall from my eyes. I just realized I already miss everyone. I wanted to go back to the floor, but I didn't. I couldn't. If I did, I would be more emotional about it.

I went straight to the elevator, and went straight out of the office. I went home and cried myself to sleep.

I miss my team. I miss my team mates.

*sigh*

Earning my Respect

The wrath of super typhoon Ondoy was felt by the world, but Manila had the worst experience. Looking at the videos and the pictures, it reminded me of the movie The Day After Tomorrow. I never thought this could happen to the Philippines, but it did. No one was spared from the calamity, not even our country's rich and famous. A lot of people died, but many more survived, thank's to our real-life heroes. People who risked their lives and limb to save others. These are the everyday people who put others first than themselves.

One is Gerald Anderson.

I didn't really like him when he first joined the Teen Edition of Pinoy Big Brother. I thought he was this conceited Fil-am boy who just had the looks with no talent and attitude to back it up. As time went by, I slowly changed my opinion about him. I realized he's a gifted dancer, a good actor, and a disciplined gentleman.

Then I saw the now-famous pictures posted by Dr. Divina Gracia R. Murao at her Facebook. Pictures of heroism never before published nor publicized, unlike other celebrities who went to "rescue" others with a camera crew with them. In Dr. Murao's case, she was inside her house when she saw Gerald and his brother brave the muddy waters to help their neighbors. She took some pictures and posted them, not expecting people would be sharing them.

Because of Dr. Murao's pictures, I was able to see another side of Gerald. The side I didn't expect from him. A side I truly admire.

I am now a fan.

Gerald Anderson earned my respect.

Heroes

I was bored and was also looking forward to the new season of my favorite, Heroes, so I kinda inserted myself to Season 4's promotional poster.

I always believe that every person is a Hero one way or another.

We dream of hope, we dream of change, of fire,of love,

of death, and then it happens,

the dream becomes real.

And the answer to the quest,

this need to solve life's mysteries finally shows itself,

like the glowing light of the new dawn.

So much struggle, for meaning, for purpose,

but in the end we find it only in each other.

Our shared experiences of the fantastic, and the mundane.

The simple, human need to find the kindred, to connect,

and to know in our hearts that we are not alone.

Last Days

I'm trying to make my last days in the office as happy and as positive as I can. I will have my last shift on Sunday, then process my clearance on Monday. It's so surreal and bittersweet for me. I don't want to leave but I have to, I can't take a chance to be forced out by the account, not the company. I will leave behind a lot of friends who became a family to me. It's really not easy. I have to move on. I must move on.

Some good things never really last...

A Fresh Start?

Since yesterday was my first rest day for the week, I went to two companies to try my luck. Company A is one of the biggest call centers in Cebu, but every time I go to their office, even just the recruitment office, there's a negative vibe that I can't understand. Maybe it's because the company is very rigid and strict. They told me everything went well with my exams and all, but they have to contact ALL my previous companies to double check everything, and it will take them until next week. They said that if the background check will be favorable, they will just call me. There's that line again, "we'll just call you." Am I expecting a call from them anytime? No.

Company B is a smaller but growing company. During the initial interview, upon seeing the companies I've been with, the HR Associate immediately asked me if I had any idea with how much their compensation is and would that be an issue for me. I told them that yes, I fairly have an estimate with the compensation, and no, it's not issue for me. I kinda lied. Of course, compensation will always be a concern.

Company B's recruitment process was so tiring. I walked in around 1:30 PM, I walked out a little after 10:00 PM. It was tiring because we, the applicants, did a lot of waiting. more than half of the time we were there was spent just waiting. The waiting and the hunger paid off though as most of us got accepted. Finally! I have a new job to go to after I will quit my old job at the end of this month. Compensation is really.. uhm, low. Although no formal job offer has been er.. offered yet, I heard that more or less, I would be getting a little more than half of what I'm currently getting now. It will be a big adjustment. A VERY BIG adjustment.

Two things that attracted me to this company: They're growing so a lot of opportunities for career growth, and it's a very relaxed environment, far from the environment I'm in now. How did I know about how relax they are? My wife has been with this company for more than two years now. It's not as bad as it seems. Other people find it uncomfortable being in the same company as their spouses. I don't. I mean, we've been together for a very long time, we're very comfortable and open with each other, and that would be very useful if ever we'll be given the chance to work together.

Douchebag

Kanye West is a douchebag.

Nuff said.

YRS

One of the segments I love about ASAP 09 is YRS because it showcases the talents of YRS - Yeng, Rachelle and Sarah, three of the most amazing singers of this generation, all winners of reality singing contests.

This is one of my most favorite YRS aired September 6, 2009, when they sang the hits of the 80's. Featured songs were Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper, Call Me by Blondie, and Dangerous by Roxette.

As 1

Martin Nievera has always been my greatest musical influence and I always sing his songs in all of my singing engagements, be it weddings, birthdays, company events or contests. It's an extreme honor to have been compared to him a few times in my short musical career. He will always be my musical hero, and his songs will always be the songs I will be singing forever.

Gary Valenciano on the other hand, was my first idol before I knew Martin. I started as a dancer before I became a singer way back in elementary and high school. His concerts were among the first concerts I watched when I was young, way before I started watching Martin's concerts. His songs were among my favorites growing up.

Put the Concert King and Mr. Pure Energy together and you get the team-up of a lifetime. The people in Manila will be the first witnesses as AS 1 the Concert will be at the Mall of Asia grounds this September 19, 2009. They will then take their acts to the U.S. and Canada in the next months. As for me here in Cebu, I have to be contented with the album for now. Yup, there is also an AS 1 album with the following songs:

1. Together As One - Martin Nievera & Gary Valenciano

2. Sana Maulit Muli - Martin Nievera

3. Be My Lady - Gary Valenciano

4. Reaching Out - Martin Nievera

5. How Can I - Gary Valenciano

6. Hang On - Martin Nievera

7. You Are My Song - Gary Valenciano

8. Take Me Out Of The Dark - Martin Nievera

9. Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin - Gary Valenciano

10. Kahit Isang Saglit - Martin Nievera

11. Tayong Dalawa (Theme from teleserye "Tayong Dalawa") - Gary Valenciano

12. Ikaw Ang Pangarap (Theme from teleserye "Lobo") - Martin Nievera

13. Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos - Gary Valenciano

14. As 1 - Martin Nievera & Gary Valenciano

This rare recording features the two iconic artists singing each other’s hit songs as well as the carrier single AS 1 – an original song written by Gina Tabuena-Godinez and Albert Chang Co and arranged by Gary Valenciano. AS 1 is a duet featuring Martin and Gary and it is the official theme song of the concert.

Enshrined

It was so wonderful to see the Greatest ever, Michael Jordan, finally enshrined at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. It was touching to see Jordan very emotional, wiping off his eyes prior to delivering his speech, at the same time, appreciating and recognizing the people and the incidents he encountered during his voyage to basketball supremacy.

Thank you, Michael, for inspiring us and for making us believe that a man can really fly.

Naught

I called in sick for work in a critical working day just so I can go to Company C for my again-re-scheduled final interview. Again, I waited for five hours only to be told the usual BS, "..if you get the job, we'll just be calling you within the week."

Yes, I'm disappointed. Very. After being inconvenienced a lot of times this week, it was all for nothing. Everything went to naught.

Disappointed? Yes. Down? Yes. Out? Not by a long shot. I will not give up. I must not give up. I have a daughter who's my biggest motivation and reason. She's a lot bigger than all the disappointments around me.

I will rise up. I have to.

Happy Birthday Loudette!

It’s your birthday,
but I’m the lucky man
who got to be with you for another year.
It’s your birthday, and the older you get,
the more wonderful you become.

It’s your birthday,
and I’m privileged to share the years with you.
It’s your birthday, and each year
I find the depth of my love for you growing.

It’s your birthday, and I look forward with joy
to each day we spend together.
It’s your birthday, and I wonder how I got along
for all the birthdays I didn’t know you.

It’s your birthday, and it’s amazing
how easy and enjoyable it is to be with you each day.
It’s your birthday, and no matter what fate has in store for us,
I know it will be a pleasure to spend life with you.

It’s your birthday, but I got the gift--
You in my life for another year..
forever and a day.. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
MY DEAREST WIFE,
MY TODAY, MY TOMORROW,
MY LIFE! ♥

A Sign?

7:55 PM Arrived and logged with the guard...

7:56 PM Sat at the lobby waiting for my scheduled interview at 9:30 PM...

9:31 PM Still sitting at the lobby...

11:00 PM Still sitting at the lobby...

12:01 AM Still sitting at the lobby...

12:54 AM HR Lady approaches me..

HR: Excuse me, may I know your name, please?

ME: *gives out complete name*

HR: *looks at list* Oh! Your schedule was supposed to be last night and since you were not here, you were tagged as No Show.

ME: Ha?! I was first given last night's sked and then I was told that I've been rescheduled for tonight. I was here since 7:55 PM last night!

HR: You were rescheduled? It's not here eh. Do you remember the HR who rescheduled you? Would you like to be rescheduled for Wednesday next week, instead?

I left their office feeling like I just had my head cut off. If that was a sign, then so be it. I will not force myself to go to a company that is on the other side of the city, one kilometer from the main road with REALLY bad roads. Yes, their pay is higher compared to a lot of other companies, but even during these times when one needs to be practical, I don't think that's worth it. Professionalism is something that even the uneducated can do, and it's sad to know big companies with highly educated people don't know what professionalism is.

Will I be going there next Wednesday as they rescheduled again? People are encouraging me to give it another try. I would like to but something keeps telling me not to. I don't know. I still haven't decided yet.

Hunting

Since I already submitted my resignation letter with the effectivity on the 28th of September 2009, the next step was to go job hunting again. And in this modern world, job hunting is faster, cheaper and much easier with the worldwide web.

I sent out a lot of applications online to different companies and so far, three responded. I passed the initial interviews and examinations, and was endorsed for the final interviews in all three.

Company A's Site Director was an @$$. He was very unprofessional, unprepared, projected the aura that he was very confident, and spent most of the time talking about himself. For a moment, I thought I was the one interviewing him. It's annoying, but there are times that it's funny to know people are scrambling because they're intimidated, but trying their best not to show it.

Company B was a lot better. It's very obvious that the company is very new because their walls and chairs were still covered with plastic. The manager said that they really want me to join them but the final decision will still be from the CEO in Australia, and they don't have any timeframe as to the decision.

Company C is the largest and most established among the three, and one of the highest paying companies in the city, and even the country. I was scheduled at 9:30 PM so I left the house early because their location is really inconvenient even for those who have their own transportation. I didn't so I had to commute. I arrived at their office at 7:55 PM and sat at the lobby waiting. The time on my watch now as I'm writing this is 12:49 AM, and my name has not been called yet. People who arrived a lot later than me have been called already. I have a bad feeling about this.

*sigh*

And the waiting continues...

Rising Up

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.
I've lost almost 300 games.

26 times, I've been trusted to take

the game winning shot
and missed.
I've failed over and over and over again in my life.
And that is why I succeed.

- Michael Jeffrey Jordan

The Greatest EVER

The Greatest Athlete EVER in the history of the world is finally inducted to the 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame.

2 Olympic Gold Medals, 6-time NBA Champion, 6-time NBA Finals MVP, 5-time NBA Regular Season MVP, 10 Scoring titles, 14 NBA All-Star Selections, 3-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, 11 All-NBA Selection, 9 All-Defensive Selections, 2-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, ACC Freshman of the Year, ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year, USBWA College Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, Adolph Rupp Trophy, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, SLAM Magazine's #1 Player of all-time, ESPN Sportcentury's #1 Athlete of the 20th century, and the list goes on and on.