I didn't go to work last Friday. Though it was my second day, I'm not like the other girls who grimace in pain everytime they have their period. I was not really sick or anything, I just didn't feel like going to work. I figured I still have four more Sick Leaves (SL) left, so why not take advantage of it. Right? Right.
Team Bali
I'll definitely miss my team once I decide to leave (that is, if the company doesn't find any reason to force me to resign first). I love Bali - that's my team's name. We're like the trend-setters in the company. We were first to have team meetings once a week, sometimes even twice/thrice a week. We even complained that it was too much and we were telling each other that how come the other teams are not doing it (of course, this was behind our sup's back; but she eventually knew about it coz we told her so since the team was that open and we were all friends). We were also the first to check our everyday stats after shift. We had our own team chat room that the others were surprised to find out about. And we were also the first to conduct a team building activity. The others just followed suit.
End-shifters
Our shift is at 3am-12pm. That's the last shift for the CSRs. Since a lot of 'em are coming in, they cannot accommodate us all at the 29th floor (for CSRs). End-shifters take calls first at the 27th (TSRs) or at the training rooms at the 28th (HR Ofc). This is the price we have to pay for being the pioneers, not to have permanent seats! If we're taking calls at the 28th, some sup would joke and ask their own team to occupy another room since they wouldn't want us to set (bad) examples (especially to the newbies). Then around 5 or 6am, we are asked to go up since the earlier shift would be going home. Everytime we'd go up, we'd always hear comments like "nandyan na ang bali, maingay na naman eh!" or "sabi na nga ba nandyan na ang bali eh!" Admittedly, we talk a lot and we just can't seem to stop. The only problem is we talk in the vernacular. Tagalog kung tagalog ito - and that's not allowed. Yup, loud and proud. Offense #1.
Happy team
Not one of us is excited to take calls and talk to irate customers, especially if we weren't able to get enough sleep. It's a stressful job. But still, we look forward to going to work everyday coz we don't want to miss the fun of being with friends. My team is a talented bunch - great conversationalists, great dancers, great singers. So even if we're really pissed off and we're having a bad day, we still know how to turn things around. We joke around, make fun of each other, tell stories, sing and dance. All these we do on the floor, even if someone is in a middle of a call. Laughter would soon follow. The funny part is, we all have this weird way of laughing and that would just make us laugh even more. Next thing we know, we're being told to hush it by the sups on the floor. Offense #2.
(Over) breaks
We are a tight team. Everyday, we would take our two 15-minute breaks and lunch together. I think we were also the first to do that; you know, have team breaks together. We can't seem to get enough of each other that even our rest room breaks are synched. We have noticed that the breakers have been trying to give us different scheds. They can't break us apart. If some of us were given an earlier time, we would try to get another call and then would log out a lil late. Or we would just take it at the given time and then extend our breaks. A good 15-minute break would be extended to 20, 25 or even 30 minutes. That goes for our lunch too and for our rest room breaks as well. We are only allowed 10 minutes the whole day. Hellur! Paano kung balisaw-sawin kami?! We couldn't care less. We just want to spend our breaks together and have a lil fun. Offense #3.
ACW
In the call center world, aftercall work or ACW is the time allowed for an agent to document his call. This is only for 30 seconds and after that the agent must log in again to take another call. It doesn't matter how short or long the call is, you still have just 30-second to make notes. Aside from our legal breaks, that precious 30-sec is the only freakin break we are allowed to get once we log in. It's not even a "break" break since we have to document the call. And I tell you, that is so not freakin enough! Naturally, we would exceed the 30-sec limit. Come on, who doesn't?! Even if we're done with our notes, we would space out or just have some time off. They would have to understand that we know this is our job and it's a part of it. But they also have to understand that it's really tiring and mind-draining. Sorry, but sometimes we don't really care about those stats.
There was also this time that Cherry cried coz Rich and Eric were ganging up on her. Alex, the man of a few words told us to click on "make busy" so that we wouldn't get any call and initiated a group hug. That was so sweet. It didn't last long coz one of the sups shouted "Aftercall!" Offense #4.
Irate agents
Offense #5. Yup, we all lose patience and we do raise our voice and we do curse. The last one, we make sure that we hit on the Mute button first. We can't help but be irate coz almost all the customers are being difficult, unreasonable and racist. Not to mention those stupid ones. Others are even threatening to sue us. Go ahead, make our day!
Pasaway
I'm sure they would always find faults in us. And they would also find ways to commend us. We don't really care if they call us "mga pasaway" coz we know we are. I, myself, can be a certified pain in the ass. And I don't deny that. But don't get me wrong. We can be cooperative. We know how to compromise. We appreciate the things the company is doing for us. It's just that we don't think it's enough. So don't blame us. I'm not saying that being "pasaway" is the right way to get our point across. But if it'd make any difference, I'd be pasaway anytime.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Friday, September 24, 2004
Bad day, sad day
I hate this job! This is really a very bad day. One of my friends here in the office was forced to resign. Fuck! That is so freakin unfair! She was asked to resign coz she was caught cursing over the phone. What makes it so unfair is she was not cursing anyone, not even that stupid customer she was talkin to. I don't wanna elaborate anymore since this is really difficult for me. All I know is my friend made an honest mistake. That's all there is to it! Fuck 'em all!
I am now 10 minutes overbreak and counting. Hell I care!
I am now 10 minutes overbreak and counting. Hell I care!
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Books, books, books
My friend Janice asked us to go with her to Powerbooks in Greenbelt first before going to the Big Dome to watch the UAAP Cheerdance Competition. She was going to buy a book for her friend and since I miss going to Powerbooks, I immediately said yes. OHSI, the company I worked with before I entered the Call Center world, had a partnership with Powerbooks in Pasay Road, Makati. I enjoyed the times that we had to go there to conduct Usability Testing. Whenever I'm at Megamall, I always make it a point to drop by Powerbooks and finish the two books that I've started reading. And when I'm at ATC with Leizl, I always tease her that I'd stay in Powerbooks first since she'd have her cigarette fix. But of course I wouldn't do that and she would not let me. Hehe! I just love going to Powerbooks.
I enjoy reading but I think what I like more is the feeling of being surrounded by books. It gives me a different high. I dunno but sometimes even by just looking at the cover, I'm tempted to pick the book and finish it off. But I'm not really a voracious reader. I don't read all the time. I actually have to convince myself that I don't have enough time to read. The last book I read was "To Kill A Mockingbird" and I finished it the last week of August. It was a good one and instantly became one of my faves. I prefer reading the classics but I also enjoyed the Harry Potter series. Books that have girl power theme are funny and interesting but I don't think those are the books that I'd spend money on. I'm also not into self-help books or into those chicken soup for-what-have-you. I think those are hard-sell, but it's just me. But then again, it's all good. Books will always be a good source of fun and knowledge. I'll always be interested in reading as many books as I can just as long as I have time.
Right now I haven't started on a new book yet. Any suggestion?
I enjoy reading but I think what I like more is the feeling of being surrounded by books. It gives me a different high. I dunno but sometimes even by just looking at the cover, I'm tempted to pick the book and finish it off. But I'm not really a voracious reader. I don't read all the time. I actually have to convince myself that I don't have enough time to read. The last book I read was "To Kill A Mockingbird" and I finished it the last week of August. It was a good one and instantly became one of my faves. I prefer reading the classics but I also enjoyed the Harry Potter series. Books that have girl power theme are funny and interesting but I don't think those are the books that I'd spend money on. I'm also not into self-help books or into those chicken soup for-what-have-you. I think those are hard-sell, but it's just me. But then again, it's all good. Books will always be a good source of fun and knowledge. I'll always be interested in reading as many books as I can just as long as I have time.
Right now I haven't started on a new book yet. Any suggestion?
UP Fight!
Saturday. My West friends and I decided to watch the UAAP Cheerdance Competition at the Araneta Coliseum. Rich, who's from UP Diliman, called up Ticketnet and UP and she was told that the tickets were being sold at 510 pesos. Man, that was too much! Tickets were originally priced at 110 bucks but it came with a Gift Cert for 300 bucks. We weren't interested with the GC so we decided to watch it at home instead.
Sunday. Rich was told that the tickets were back at 110 pesos. She asked us if we still wanted to watch it live and we all said yes. I was excited since I always wanted to watch any UAAP game or in this case, the Cheerdance competition. But I was also hesitant since we weren't really sure if there were tickets left. I told Rich that Paranaque is a long way from Cubao and I'd rather see it on tv than miss it. She joked that we can go to her place to watch it but she also confirmed that there were tickets.
Rich got first at the place. She was already in line and when we met her, she told us to fall in line and she'd just go to her UP friends who were at the other side. Baka raw kasi mas madali ang pila don. Every now and then, she'd check on us and one time she told us "wala na atang ticket." Coming from work and without enough sleep (we've been up since 11pm the night before since our shift was from 1-10am), that was definitely bad news. Not to mention that it was so hot and we were falling in line that didn't seem to move at all. Our excitement was starting to fade and we all felt like going home instead. Rich went back to her UP friends and after awhile texted us that there were still tickets. Then came another text. She told us to leave our line and go to the ticket booth coz it's almost her turn. While we were finding our way to where she is, one of the guards told them that they can fall in line on the other side. Rich saw that the line was shorter so she left her place and went to the other side. It turned out that it was for general admission, meaning, sa pinakadulo ka na nakapwesto since libre lang yun. She went back to where she left off and the guard would not allow her. Her friends were allowing her to sneak her way through, but the guard was adamant. And so was Rich. When we got there, Rich and the guard were having a heated discussion. The latter was saying that since she left the line already, she couldn't go back anymore and that she needed to fall in line again. Of course that would be the last thing on her mind. She argued that he didn't make it clear that it was for free and she would have not stayed in that line for a long time if she was not willing to pay for it. The guard still said NO! Rich was furious. She was now cursing and shouting at the guard. The guard was shouting back. Rich would curse and shout even harder. She was really fighting with the guard and when she got hold of the rope, she lifted it and ordered us to get into the line. No one dared to move. "Pasok!" Rich shouted with more force. It was like something hit us and made us move forward. All of a sudden, we were all back in line and was almost near the ticket booth. I didn't dare look back at the guard coz I was so scared. Until now, it's a puzzle for me why he was arguing like a mad man before but never asked us to step out of the line when we crossed the rope. Maybe he just decided to let it go.
We actually had a hard time looking for Rich since there were lotsa people. Cherry even asked me to go back to where we were before just in case we wouldn't find Rich, but I told her that I couldn't do that. We left without saying anything, we couldn't go back just like that. I know for a fact na maldita at mataray ako but I wouldn't be able to defend my case if someone protested. So when we found Rich fighting with the guard, we all got scared. Though I agree with her that it was the guard's fault, I was so damn scared we might get hurt, that I was willing to give it all up. I told 'em that we'd better just leave. Good thing, they didn't listen.
When we got our tickets, we rested for awhile and got a hold of ourselves. Rich told us what exactly was going on her mind at that time. She said that she could only think of me and how she wanted to make sure that I'd be able to watch the show and wouldn't let me down. She wanted to fulfill my "goal" since I've been wanting to watch any UAAP event. Rich also thought of the fact that I live in Paranaque and there was no way for me to catch it on tv if we go home at that time. So she did what she had to do. She stood up and fought for her rights - even if it meant fighting with someone who had a gun! A true-blue Iska ng Bayan! UP Fight!
Although UP was only second to UST, we were so pumped up! The tension we had felt before was replaced with triumph, joy and positive enegy. I, personally, felt so much happiness and was so thankful to Rich coz she was willing to fight and sacrifice her own safety. All for a friend. For me. I love you mah friend! :-)
Sunday. Rich was told that the tickets were back at 110 pesos. She asked us if we still wanted to watch it live and we all said yes. I was excited since I always wanted to watch any UAAP game or in this case, the Cheerdance competition. But I was also hesitant since we weren't really sure if there were tickets left. I told Rich that Paranaque is a long way from Cubao and I'd rather see it on tv than miss it. She joked that we can go to her place to watch it but she also confirmed that there were tickets.
Rich got first at the place. She was already in line and when we met her, she told us to fall in line and she'd just go to her UP friends who were at the other side. Baka raw kasi mas madali ang pila don. Every now and then, she'd check on us and one time she told us "wala na atang ticket." Coming from work and without enough sleep (we've been up since 11pm the night before since our shift was from 1-10am), that was definitely bad news. Not to mention that it was so hot and we were falling in line that didn't seem to move at all. Our excitement was starting to fade and we all felt like going home instead. Rich went back to her UP friends and after awhile texted us that there were still tickets. Then came another text. She told us to leave our line and go to the ticket booth coz it's almost her turn. While we were finding our way to where she is, one of the guards told them that they can fall in line on the other side. Rich saw that the line was shorter so she left her place and went to the other side. It turned out that it was for general admission, meaning, sa pinakadulo ka na nakapwesto since libre lang yun. She went back to where she left off and the guard would not allow her. Her friends were allowing her to sneak her way through, but the guard was adamant. And so was Rich. When we got there, Rich and the guard were having a heated discussion. The latter was saying that since she left the line already, she couldn't go back anymore and that she needed to fall in line again. Of course that would be the last thing on her mind. She argued that he didn't make it clear that it was for free and she would have not stayed in that line for a long time if she was not willing to pay for it. The guard still said NO! Rich was furious. She was now cursing and shouting at the guard. The guard was shouting back. Rich would curse and shout even harder. She was really fighting with the guard and when she got hold of the rope, she lifted it and ordered us to get into the line. No one dared to move. "Pasok!" Rich shouted with more force. It was like something hit us and made us move forward. All of a sudden, we were all back in line and was almost near the ticket booth. I didn't dare look back at the guard coz I was so scared. Until now, it's a puzzle for me why he was arguing like a mad man before but never asked us to step out of the line when we crossed the rope. Maybe he just decided to let it go.
We actually had a hard time looking for Rich since there were lotsa people. Cherry even asked me to go back to where we were before just in case we wouldn't find Rich, but I told her that I couldn't do that. We left without saying anything, we couldn't go back just like that. I know for a fact na maldita at mataray ako but I wouldn't be able to defend my case if someone protested. So when we found Rich fighting with the guard, we all got scared. Though I agree with her that it was the guard's fault, I was so damn scared we might get hurt, that I was willing to give it all up. I told 'em that we'd better just leave. Good thing, they didn't listen.
When we got our tickets, we rested for awhile and got a hold of ourselves. Rich told us what exactly was going on her mind at that time. She said that she could only think of me and how she wanted to make sure that I'd be able to watch the show and wouldn't let me down. She wanted to fulfill my "goal" since I've been wanting to watch any UAAP event. Rich also thought of the fact that I live in Paranaque and there was no way for me to catch it on tv if we go home at that time. So she did what she had to do. She stood up and fought for her rights - even if it meant fighting with someone who had a gun! A true-blue Iska ng Bayan! UP Fight!
Although UP was only second to UST, we were so pumped up! The tension we had felt before was replaced with triumph, joy and positive enegy. I, personally, felt so much happiness and was so thankful to Rich coz she was willing to fight and sacrifice her own safety. All for a friend. For me. I love you mah friend! :-)
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Wishful thinking
Kaka and I watched "The Notebook" almost two weeks ago. I liked the story but am not really into it. I didn't even cry - well, I almost did (but can't remember now which part of the movie.) I don't really believe that it will happen in real life. "It" here refers to you and your first love ending up in each other's arms. Maybe for some lucky couple it will, for some it won't. But what I really liked about the movie is the feeling of hope, faith and the unconditional love it imparts to the viewers. It will definitely feel wonderful to experience that same kind of feeling.
I've read somewhere that it is alright to dream - especially when reality gives it a push. Although right now my reality is saying otherwise, I am still here...dreaming on.
I've read somewhere that it is alright to dream - especially when reality gives it a push. Although right now my reality is saying otherwise, I am still here...dreaming on.
Saturday, September 11, 2004
August highlights
A month of not blogging...
Busy? not really...
Nothing to write about? I guess, hehe!
First Friday of August - my friends from the office and I went to Malate and party til the wee hours of the morning. It was my first time to go out again and have fun. Have fun, I did! I danced til my feet hurt and I was out of breath. That was most welcome.
A week after, my OHSI friends and I decided to get together. It's been quite a while and we wanted to dance the night away also. We decided to go to Ortigas kahit na limited yung options since it's near my friend's house. At least hindi kami mahihirapan umuwi. Watering Hole was already packed and we really didn't like the place. Wala na rin ibang bar dun na medyo ok. I suggested that we go to 8th Day Bar in El Pueblo and they all agreed. When we got there, we all had a laugh coz the place was a big mess. The bar was nowhere to be found kasi nagiba na yung place. It's a sure sign na outdated na talaga ako sa mga gimmick places. Waah! Malate was not an option since it's kinda far from Ortigas, so we decided to go to Makati. A friend suggested that we hit Strumm's, but when we got there, the place was already SRO. Arrgh! Considering the fact that it was Friday the 13th, all the night spots in Makati were packed.
It was I/O KTV for us. There was nowhere else to go. It was our first time and we had a blast! We sang our hearts out, we couldn't care less even if we're out of tune! I don't really sing when I'm with other people coz I really suck. But since I was with friends, I sang my hearts out. It felt sooo good holding the mic and singing (or was it shouting) my blues away! Hehe!
I figured it was my only chance.
Video-okay
Most of my friends from the office can sing and almost every payday we drop by Digi's to chill out and of course, sing. But during all those times, I just lip-synched and just let 'em do the singing. I don't have the courage to go to the stage and embarrass myself. I know they're my friends and that they won't laught at me, but still it's not my cup of tea.Every now and then, I'd be up on my feet dancing - then back on my seat again. I'm always hesitant to go with them but since I'm gonna be with friends, I always end up going. And I have no regrets.
The Village
My West friends and I also watched "The Village" by M.Night Shyamalan. We wanted to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind first but since we wanted something scary or atleast something that would make our heart go jumping, we saw the former. Majority liked the movie, while I got disappointed. I'm no movie-critic, I don't even know how to write one. All I know is that I didn't like it. The plot is nothing new to me, I'm pretty sure I've seen it done before. And truth is, it's a love story first and foremost. I was expecting to get scared out of my wits, but I was not. If I wanted to see a love story, I should have watched another flick. If there's one thing though, I liked how the lead actress portrayed her role coz she was so effective.
Asking for something like the movie "The Sixth Sense" isn't too much, right?
UAAP
I'm a big fan of basketball and I know that one of these days, I'll be blogging about it.
The first time Ateneo and Lasalle met, the Ateneo won. Second round of eliminations is about to end, and this time Lasalle beat the Ateneo. Man, it sucks!
I'm not an Atenean (how I wish!), my school is not even part of the UAAP. But I am a big FAN.
Busy? not really...
Nothing to write about? I guess, hehe!
First Friday of August - my friends from the office and I went to Malate and party til the wee hours of the morning. It was my first time to go out again and have fun. Have fun, I did! I danced til my feet hurt and I was out of breath. That was most welcome.
A week after, my OHSI friends and I decided to get together. It's been quite a while and we wanted to dance the night away also. We decided to go to Ortigas kahit na limited yung options since it's near my friend's house. At least hindi kami mahihirapan umuwi. Watering Hole was already packed and we really didn't like the place. Wala na rin ibang bar dun na medyo ok. I suggested that we go to 8th Day Bar in El Pueblo and they all agreed. When we got there, we all had a laugh coz the place was a big mess. The bar was nowhere to be found kasi nagiba na yung place. It's a sure sign na outdated na talaga ako sa mga gimmick places. Waah! Malate was not an option since it's kinda far from Ortigas, so we decided to go to Makati. A friend suggested that we hit Strumm's, but when we got there, the place was already SRO. Arrgh! Considering the fact that it was Friday the 13th, all the night spots in Makati were packed.
It was I/O KTV for us. There was nowhere else to go. It was our first time and we had a blast! We sang our hearts out, we couldn't care less even if we're out of tune! I don't really sing when I'm with other people coz I really suck. But since I was with friends, I sang my hearts out. It felt sooo good holding the mic and singing (or was it shouting) my blues away! Hehe!
I figured it was my only chance.
Video-okay
Most of my friends from the office can sing and almost every payday we drop by Digi's to chill out and of course, sing. But during all those times, I just lip-synched and just let 'em do the singing. I don't have the courage to go to the stage and embarrass myself. I know they're my friends and that they won't laught at me, but still it's not my cup of tea.Every now and then, I'd be up on my feet dancing - then back on my seat again. I'm always hesitant to go with them but since I'm gonna be with friends, I always end up going. And I have no regrets.
The Village
My West friends and I also watched "The Village" by M.Night Shyamalan. We wanted to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind first but since we wanted something scary or atleast something that would make our heart go jumping, we saw the former. Majority liked the movie, while I got disappointed. I'm no movie-critic, I don't even know how to write one. All I know is that I didn't like it. The plot is nothing new to me, I'm pretty sure I've seen it done before. And truth is, it's a love story first and foremost. I was expecting to get scared out of my wits, but I was not. If I wanted to see a love story, I should have watched another flick. If there's one thing though, I liked how the lead actress portrayed her role coz she was so effective.
Asking for something like the movie "The Sixth Sense" isn't too much, right?
UAAP
I'm a big fan of basketball and I know that one of these days, I'll be blogging about it.
The first time Ateneo and Lasalle met, the Ateneo won. Second round of eliminations is about to end, and this time Lasalle beat the Ateneo. Man, it sucks!
I'm not an Atenean (how I wish!), my school is not even part of the UAAP. But I am a big FAN.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
