Because great things happen when you take a bite...

Dahil mami-miss kong mag-rant about sa bane of my existence, huhuling-hirit lang ako.

I just read his email to me, copied to my colleagues. Ang title ng email ay "Thank You". Sabi niya he's sad to let me go, chorva chorva chorva. I put in the most number of hours sa work (oo, gumawa siya ng studies ng mga time in-time out namin) at he's grateful achuchuchu. Dami ko raw na-contribute, etc. etc. etc. Pero disappointed daw siya kasi di ko pa tapos yun sideline projects ko eh dapat daw pumasok ako ng week na 'to para dun -- kesa nilalasap ang natitirang VL ko na di naman niya babayaran kung di ko man gamitin. (Take note: mga basurang projects lang yun [sorry pero kapag nasaktan ka, ibig sabihin di mo dapat binabasa 'tong blog ko] At wala pang nakakatapos kahit sino sa mga empleyado niya. Pamatay-oras lang. Pero sabi ko nga gagawin ko yun from home kahit until next Friday kasi ang dami naman niya talagang binagsak saking trabaho, di ko kayang isingit yun.) Taena talaga, naiyak ako sa magkahalong sarcasm at ka-evil-an ng email niya. Ako pa rin, oo, ako pa rin ang walang silbi at v. disappointing na empleyado sa kabila ng kupal niyang intro. Kung kilala mo siya gaya ng pagkakakilala ko, malalaman mong hindi siya talaga nag-te-thank you gaya ng title ng email niya. In fact, sinusumbatan ka niya at pinapaalam niyang irresponsible kang tao. Sinasabi rin niyang wala siyang dapat ipagpasalamat kasi binayaran ka niya para gawin ang lahat ng ginawa mong sakripisyo -- na apparently, ay kulang pa. Na pinapaalala niyang nung una kang humakbang sa opisina niya eh sinanla mo na ang iyong kaluluwa.

Paksyet. Ang haba pa naman nung mga hirit niyang yun na nagliliyab sa sarcasm. Ang haba ng iyak ko ah, namaga ang mata ko. Tang-ina talaga, hayup sa Finale.

Idiot who?
I am looking for things to do while waiting for tadah.. dismissal time. Just like highschool. Hihihi! Don't get me wrong, I have a loooot of things to do. I just do not dare lift a finger when I am not in the mood. Because if I do so, a 5-minute crap will take me 5 hours to finish. I usually get my energy up and running an hour or two before the clock strikes 6pm. Adrenaline or excitement to leave the office, I'm not sure.

After taking a Friday to Monday leave from work, I resumed Tuesday job with red, bold emails from the spawn of the D, himself. Saying-- using elaborate english words -- that I am an irresponsible piece of shit that graced his pristine office after taking my vacation leave. Red and bold. Blimey. It was blinding, I needed to wear shades to read it properly. So I stretched a little, yawned like there's no tomorrow and hit the reply botton. In a manner and words that can be understood by a third-grader, I explained my side of story. Before I log out of my PC, I received his response, saying "Thanks" and that my point is "clear". Read: He wanted to take back his harsh, demonic words but the red, bold email letter are just too shiny you could see it with eyes closed . At first I thought I got hurt when he sees me as an irresponsible idiot. Then later on I realized that really, I don't give a damn about his perception of me. Apathy is pricesless and just oh so sweeeet. =p

Words over Matter.
I got hooked -- To this two bloggers I discovered across this amazing world I am living in. Meet:
1. Drew Schemera http://schemera.blogspot.com/ - I mentioned him in my blog regarding ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). He is a US citizen and will soon visit Manila after his operation in China. My Dad is currently looking all over the place for Father Corsey, the healing priest, so he can bring him there this December. Amazing how high his spirit is. I especially love his entry when he tried to explain how it feels like to have his "challenge":

I am having the urge to delete all my previous posts related to work. Lahat ng kwento, ng rantings, ng ravings. Lahat ng memories. What if? Hmmm.

EVENT ASSISTANTS for Urgent hiring
- be part of a team that organizes conferences in Asia

Qualification requirements:
- graduate of a four-year course
- must have a good command of the English language
- multi-tasker
- good interpersonal skills
- willing to work long hours, if needed
- knowledgeable in Adobe In Design and Photoshop
- masochist

*travel opportunities abroad (w/ allowance)

Interested parties may call us at 812- 6288 or 813-3024. We need 8 individuals to fill this position ASAP.

Job Nature:
- full-time

Company:
OIC Events and Conferences http://www.oiceventsasia.com/

Additional location info: Makati City

--------------
Baka may interested. :p Our Their events next year will be in Bali, India/Singapore/Phuket, Manila/Taiwan, China and Dubai. Tempting na ba? ;)

Special Note:
For those interested to apply, please DO NOT backread my previous entries tagged as "work". ^_^"

Sa bawat event namin, meron kami laging student volunteers. Last year for our Manila event, we had volunteers from UP Diliman and from New Era University. Some of them are still in my friendsters. :) (While one I almost murder with my bare hands.)

In Pattaya, half of our volunteers ay galing sa isang elite na exclusive school.
Officemate: So what's the population in your school?
Student Volunteer (in a "The OC" kinda slang tone): Lika around a hundred-eighty or somethin'.
Officemate: That small? How come?
SV: 'coz it's expensive.

Oh-key. Most of them spent more time doing their make-ups than in helping out sa mga dapat gawin. There was this girl na pinaka-bratty. Nagtutulog siya nang harapan while nagle-lecture yun officemate ko during their training. Siya rin yun walang pagdadalawang-isip na dumiretso sa boss ko para alamin kung anong oras ang uwian "because I need to tell the driver what time he should pick me up." At syempre, kanino pa siya mapupunta kundi sakin, di ba? Her name is Nang.

Hate is such a strong word but I really, really didn't like her. Kapag nagdidiscuss ako sa kanya ng task niya, she had this very bored look on her face na as if I was the reason why she couldn't curl her eyelashes right.

On the evening before the first day, I asked her (with another student volunteer) to set up the plenary hall. Feeling ko gusto na niya ko isumpa nun dahil almost 11pm na nun pero wala siyang magawa.

I almost give up on her. I already accepted the fact na kelangan ko siyang tutukan kung ayaw kong mamatay ako sa bawat screwed up task na gagawin niya for me. So as soon as she walked inside the Plenary Hall the next day, I handed her a hard copy of the protocol at inutos (yes, hindi na ako naki-usap) ko sa kanya lahat ng dapat niyang gawin sa anong oras sa paanong paraan at kung how long I expected her to accomplish it. Kung sa iba at dating volunteers namin, sobrang nilalambing at sinusuyo ko pa para gawin nila yun task nila, for her, hinde. Straight to the point. Apparently, that's how it would take her to respect me. She looked at me straight in the eye. She asked questions to clarify if she got my instructions correctly. And she assured me that she will not screw up. "I'll do it, Armine. Please don't worry. I'll do it." Then off she went to her expected position.

By the end of the day, she asked me if I got enough rest. She sneaked out some food from the snack counter for me. And nagvo-volunteer siya mag-help kapag nakikita niyang busy ako. Since then, oks na kami. And I then called her my prodigal daughter. hehe!

My Vietnam Volunteers, Dung and Vi, are different. Pareho na silang teachers sa University nila. Half of my burden sinalo talaga nila. Sobrang bait, sobrang sipag, at masaya kakulitan. Minsan nga nata-Tagalog ko sila at navi-Vietnamese nila ko nang di sinasadya. Ganun na kami naging at ease sa isa't-isa. Dami ko na nakwento sa kanila at nakwento nila sakin about sa mga buhay-buhay namin. Yun tipong animated na kwentuhan na parang long lost friends kami. Siguro kaya naging less strssful din for me yun event na yun dahil sa kanilang dalawa. At sa ampon naming volunteer na bibong bata na si Tran. Everybody just loves her. She studied in Singapore for her highschool bilang scholar. Tapos after ng college, magaaral daw sya ng med sa Australia ata. Sya ang batang kahit bibo eh di nakakaasar kasi alam niya kung pano lumugar. Sayang lang hindi kasi uso ang friendster sa kanila. hehe!

Ngayon, bat ko nga ba naisipan ikuwento sila? Wala lang. Naisip ko lang sila last night. Yun mga funny, amusing anecdotes they shared with me. They are the people na sure akong di ko na makikita ulet for the rest of my life, but have definitely gave me some colorful stories to tell and remember.


L-R: Armine, Tran, Vi, Dung and Ktin (officemate)

Asteg 'tong video na 'to. Love love love it!



We had the talk last Friday. I have finally told him I won't stay and I am already decided about it. Decision casts in stone. Fears of being jobless, of eventually putting myself from the frying pan to the fire, etc. didn't stop me from loosing the rope tied around my neck for the longest time.

My officemate asked me earlier kung bat di ko pa raw paabutin ng December? Eh kaninang umaga nga lang hirap na hirap na akong i-drag ang sarili ko out of bed eh. Hanggang December pa ba ko magpapakahirap?

On another news, Belated Happy Birthday, Lloyd Blancaflor!!!!!!!!!! Sana, sana, sana naging masaya ang iyong transition to quarter life. Wekkam to the club, pare. ;)

Few steps away from the door now -- a door that's left ajar. I can even peek through it without hassle. With heavy burden of luggages behind me, I will be out in a sunny pavement shortly. I can hardly wait.

But just like this same time last year, someone is blocking my way. Making it even harder for me to reach for the knob.

Will somebody please show me the back door?

Greetings from Ho Chi Minh City!

-----------------------------

Since you are taking good care of AF, I am able to think a bit about OIC.

OIC has a big year ahead: OR(Bali), APOSing/Bkk), AFOSing) and HM(China) sure. Dipc(Dubai) is almost certain. Clean Med and Asian Management Awards with AIM pending.

So we need to act fast - and early, esp in taking stock of who all will be involved till when next year and who and how many to hire and train, right away really. (Already, Joe, Raymond and Jim are leaving. )

We need a fairly long and important soul searching, future career path, mutual ecpectations meeting - a pulong pulong, no holes barred session. Its a two way street.

Believe me, what's good for you is good for OIC! You will find this out very soon.

Sorry there is no time to be lost. Let's meet the whole morning of Thursday Oct 4. 9 am to 12 noon. I will then need indications from each of you, your plans for 2008 on Friday and a commitment by following Monday

(But hold your decisions, EITHER WAY, till we neet on Thu 4th.)If anyone cannot make it on the 4th, please let me know now. Its important enough for everyone to be present.

No one takes days off or is absent until this meeting.

Thank you,
Akn //



----------
May nagpa-panick. First paragraph pa lang gumugulong na ko kakatawa. Dagdag pa natin ang blooper (in red and bold). Pero pinaka-natawa ko sa punch line (in bold and blue).

If not for my officemates, there is no way I could survive this day. Pati yun EM kong sumasalo ng lahat ng work ko sa Manila na alam kong malapit na kong ibikti knows how to make me smile. Ni-piture-ran niya si Eddie (Gil) – yun stuff toy kong horse na kalbo – tsaka yun piggie stuff toy nung isang officemate ko. Ni-photoshop niya with matching birthday hat and balloons tapos background ay beach. Hehehe! Hangkyut! Tapos yun avatar niya the whole day. Kunyari daw binibisita ako ni Eddie sa Pattaya ngayon. =D

Ang lungkot ng phone ko. So hoping it would ring but it did not. =(

Anyway, the day’s (almost) over. “It’s alright, I’m ok, I think God can explain” blaring right now in the background. Thanks to those who remembered. Much much appreciated. And many thanks to our hotel for the cake, flowers and fruits I found at our room. Inusisa nyo talaga ang passport ko noh. =D

Onti na lang matatapos din 'tong event na 'to. Buti na lang naturally happy joy joy persons mga kasama ko. Sabi nga nung isa, "we might as well enjoy the worst event of our lives.."

Sa kabila ng kasagsagang puyatan, pang-ha-harrass ng Dementor, gutom, pagod at ka-toxic-kan, nakuha pa rin ng mga offcemates ko na i-surprise ako! ^_^" (Kaya pala agit na agit sila nung magtu-twelve - Manila time - na hindi pa lumalayas ng Secretariat ang boss ko) Nakakatuwa talaga. :) Tapos pati yun mga nasa Manila office tumawag pa talaga sila mula sa office (nago-OT rin sila until ala-una kanina -- kahit walang pasok) nang naka-speaker phone at may sing and dance performance pa for me! Funny. =D Sobra, asteg kayo mga tsong. ;) Salamat talaga!

Putsa.
Konti ka na lang.
I swear.
Wo-walk out-an kita.
Hindi ako magdadalwang-isip na bumalik sa airport, bumili ng sarili kong ticket (salamat sa credit card) at hindi na mgapapakita sayo forever.
Konti na lang pasensya ko syo.
Pasalamat ka na lang pinalaki ako ng tama.

Greetings from Pattaya!
Ayus yung blogpage na 'to, nakikita ko sa monitor ko..all in Thai. Buti na lang kabisado ko ang commands ng blogger by heart. hehehe!
Can I just rave how I just fell in love with this city? Asteg talaga!!! We are staying at Dusit Resort, at ang buong city ay may beach-y feeling. V. relax. Tyangge everywhere. Even a not shoppaholic person like me got so giddy seeing all those tyangges. And the redlight district..whoa! Remember those forwarded emails na huhulaan mo if babae or gay ang mga nasa photos na sexy girls? They are literally flocking this place. Aparrently, sa mga hospital dito nagaganap ang mga hocus pocus na operations. At parang napaka-normal ng pagbebenta ng aliw dito. We're strolling around the city by foot after dinner. At ang mga pub, open air, mga boys-turned-gays-turned-girls ay mga nasa ledge at well.... dancing? Pero not in a wholesome manner. haha! We are in awe. My officemate is organizing a trip to this pub called "A Bomb: Boy's Club" na may posters sa labas ng mga half-naked men. Bwahaha! Kulet.

Anyway, I am freakin' tensed about this event. Sabi nga ng officemate ko, kitang-kita sa mukha ko. Hindi pa kasi talaga ako ready. I will head the plenary halls for the first time. And I am the Floor Director of the Awards Night. Who? ME? Sleepless OT months didn't prepare me enough for this.

"nuff about negativity. Back to work. ^-^"

- 8:45pm, Sunday, August 19
- Alone in the office
- Struggling with a stupid presentation
- Eternally waiting for the trophy supplier
- Wondering kung until what time ang MRT, at kung makakaabot kaya ako
- Starving to death. What, no biscuits/cup noodles in the pantry?
- Boss: "I don't know about you, Ah-min. But I cannot sleep well tonight if I don't see those trophies delivered tonight."
- aRmine: "Oh I can sleep very well, Sir. That is, if I can get some of those.. sleep thingy. I understand, Sir. But for the life of me. I really cannot finish this stupid presentation tonight. Can I just show you what I have so far? And yeah, I'll be here until the trophies got delivered. I know you want to see them tonight."

Have you heard "In The End" by Eric Benet?

RedT, poocha, alam ko nasabi ko na 'to sayo, pero it cuts deep, pare. Heavy. (oo, sosoli ko na CD mo, bu-burn ko lang =D)

I discovered something quite amusing just now. All along I thought I was the only one documenting my life in referral to my boss. Until I stumbled upon this blog of my used-to-be-ex-officemate, who incidentally came back to OIC for another two months -- because we begged. ^_^" She actually created a blog about the Dementor of our lives -- he sucked out all the happiness in us. Bwahaha! See this link for your own amusement. =D

Just an excerpt:

Who Is He?
"I call him the god of evil. GOE for short. He has a knack for attaking one's ego, crushing it into bits and sitting on it afterwards. If he's still not contented, he would spit on it and just walk away as if nothing happened. The next day, he would still have the nerve to look you in the eye, smile at you and crack some stupid jokes. Another one of his brilliant talents is sending nasty emails to us whom he thinks are all idiots. As if we do not know how to send documents in standard formats, as if we don't know how to use "track changes" in MS Word, or sometimes as if we don't know how to answer the phone right. By nasty emails i mean big bold fonts screaming at your face, saying only one thing - you are an idiot."

Dizzizzit. The first team is off to KL for the first leg of our events. Bracing ourselves, the engine of our roller coaster ride has started. Lemme share with you an email from an ex-officemate. It really brings back the chills and pumps up the adrenaline rush of the Team:


To the AP team (and to the whole team) -

Congrats in advance to another successful event! Matagal niyong pinaghirapan ito, so always stay positive lang. Wag magpadala kung may negativity around you; wag mag-aaway; wag iiyak; wag magpapahuling kumakain ng nissin cup noodles habang naglalakad from your hotel room; at lalong wag magpapahuli sa camera habang kumakain ng nissin cup noodles sa ilalim ng table! Hehe. Most importantly, ENJOY. Hindi lang yung conference, pero pati ang post conference paglilibot at gimiks. Will keep you in my (and our bible study group's) prayers =)

Awwwww… first event niyo na wala ako…. I'm sure mamimiss niyo ako!!! Hahaha joke lang! =D ako mamimiss ko kayo at ang mga kalokohan sa event!!!

Pakirelay na lang kay Kuya. =) Pakisabi na lang din kay emil goodluck on his first trip alone! Kaya niya yun!
O sya, have a safe flight mamaya, ingat sa KL (and ENJOY!!!), see you soon uli! =D

Hugs ng mahigpit and Mwah!

PS. Pwede pang pakidakip na rin dun yung crush ko, bigay ko yung address mamaya. Haha.

PSS. Sa mga maiiwan sa manila, PARTY tayo habang wala sila!!!! Hehe joke =D

-=-=--=-=-

We'll reach the finish line in two months time...Kontiiiii na laaangggg... AJA! \(^O^)/

Sabi nga ng officemate ko. I resolve. I resolve not to be affected by you. I resolve to ignore your presence in my life. I resolve to simply not care. Akalain mong nakagawa kami ng bagong life mantra because of you? One lucky moron. Oh, sorry. Pasalamat ka talaga pinalaki ako ng tama ng mga magulang ko kaya niri-respeto pa kita bilang nakakatandang tao.

So there, I resolve to do my job efficiently. (Oo, 6am pa rin ako pumasok ngayon.) Kahit naging paper mosaic ang self-confidence at dignity ko ng dahil sayo. Hmpf.


Ps. I just updated my Jobstreet account, by the way. :) Woooooosh!

Ito na sana ang isa sa pinakamasayang araw ko para sa isa sa mga taong pinaka-importante sa buhay ko. Pero successful ka pa rin sa pagsira ng araw ko. Congrats.

Warning: this is nonsense. Please ignore this post.

&%#@(*$!!!!!!!!! At bakit ako magso-sorry sa bagay na wala akong kasalanan???? Kasalanan ko bang tanga sila at hindi marunong magbasa????? Kasalanan ko bang hindi yun pinadala ng dapat magpadala???? Eh kung di ka ba naman isa't kalahating k*p@l eh bat mo ko pinagso-sorry syo tungkol sa bagay na clearly NOT my f*kcing fault??? At kung di ba naman ako isa't-kalahating tanga eh bat naman ba kita in-indulge???

"I don't hear 'sorry sir, etc' ".
"It's because I am not." "My apology for this. I am sorry, and this will not happen again."

Poht@h. Tapos ngayon namumula ang mata ko kakaiyak sa restroom out of frustration sayo?!!!!!
Alam mo ba kung anong oras on the average ako umuuwi for the last 2 months? 9 to 10pm Alam mo ba kung anong oras ako pumasok kanina? 6am. At alam mo ba kung anong bumungad na sermon sakin mula sayo? Na dapat pumasok ako nung Sabado at Linggo. BAKET?? Binayaran mo ba ang mga magulang ko para ipanganak ako at pagsilbihan ka? Sana mahiya-hiya ka naman sa sarili mo di ba? Kulang pa ang pasweldo mo para ika-buhay ng pamilya ko. Hmpf.

At oo, ang tanga-tanga ko.

Current Happy happy joy joy song amidst wrist-slashing 24/7 underpaying work. :p

Catch My Disease
by Ben Lee

My head is a box filled with nothing
and that's the way I like it
My garden's a secret compartment
and that's the way I like it
and that's the way I like it
Your body's a dream that turns violent
and that's the way I like it
and that's the way I like it
The winter is long in the city
and that's the way I like it

So please
Baby please
Open your heart
Catch my disease

I was backstage at Pomona
and that's the way I like it
She drank beer with coca-cola
and that's the way I like it
and that's the way I like it
She told me about the winds from Santa Ana
and that's the way I like it
and that's the way I like it
She told me she'd love me like fireworks
and that's the way I like it

So please
Baby please
open your eyes
and catch my disease
So please
Baby please
come on
and catch my disease

catch it
Na na na na na na na na na

(laughter)

they play Good Charlotte on the radio
and thats the way i like it
they play Sleepy Jackson on the radio
and thats the way i like it
and thats the way i like it
i hear beyonce on the radio
and thats the way i like it
cause thats the way i like it
they dont play me on the radio
but thats the way i like it

So please
Baby please
Open your heart
and catch my disease

So please
Baby please
Come onnnnnnnn
And catch my disease
Catch my disease!

nananananananana
Catch my disease
nananananananana
Catch my disease
nananananananana
Catch my disease

nananananananana
nananananananana

nananananananana
nananana
nananananananana (ooooo)

WebAdmin Email to All:

Dear All,

I’m requesting everyone to enable the “Leave mail on server”. Some of us are not getting emails. Leaving mail on the server can help the webadmin and InetU in investigating this matter. Email me so (another IT person's name) and I can help in changing this settings.

Thank you,
(WebAdmin's name)

------------
Reply of Boss to WebAdmin, cc'd to all:

It will not kill you I promise you, please try it – to send us the menu path. Many of us can change our own settings. Say: Go to Tools / xxx / xxx / and the check the box etc.

ALWAYS full story and full instructions assuming I am an IDIOT! OK?

------------
Reply of WebAdmin to all:

Dear All,

To those who wants to know and do the settings on their own, go to your main Outlook Window and follow the instructions below.
1. Select from the menu: Tools/Email Accounts
2. Select ‘View or change existing e-mail accounts’
3. click Next
4. Select ‘oiceventsasia.com’
5. Click Change
6. Click More Settings
7. Go to Advanced Tab
8. Under the delivery items, check the ‘Leave a copy of messages on the server’
9. Check the ‘Remove from server after’
10. Then put 20 to days – this is the period that email will stay in the server.

----------------
Reply of boss to All, cc'd to WebAdmin:

Will someone please check if (WebAdmin's name) is still alive – he might have been hurt or exhausted from the effort to give us the complete info below.

(WebAdmin's name), I am worried if you are Ok? Did giving complete info kill you? Did it hurt you? Did it take up half a day of your time? Any headache?

:) //

------------------
That's an example of our everyday exchange of email and/or conversation with my boss. Mas mahirap pa kapag conversation kasi you have to manage a fake, but not-so-obviously-fake-smile. Pero ako ganito lang ang best ko.-> :-I

New instruction from the boss: Write to your family and friends. Tell them you will be busy for the coming two months or so. Tell them you will be pressed with work so you cannot be there for them during these times.

For the record, this is the craziest instruction that I have ever heard in my life. It's so crazy I laughed hysterically. Who is this man kidding? Does he really think I will exchange this stupid job for my family and friends??! Is he mad or did he just completely leave his soul in the gutter???