Saturday, May 4, 2019

A Beautiful Disaster

Universal Studio Singapore
It was a roller coaster ride. A vacation leave turned into indefinite soul search. A beautiful disaster, sabi ng kaibigan ko isa na naman maling desisyong ginawa ko. Nag quit ako sa first job ko, it was immediate because i can no longer do rendering due to the fact na nasa ibang bansa ako that time. Wala akong masabing masama sa dati ko kumpanya, they offered me the best training platforms from global communication to product specific. As a former human resource student, malaking cost yun para sa company but i'm seeing what they are rooting at, they are aiming not to be the biggest but the best service provider sa Industry and I'm grateful that they allowed me to be part of their story and they are part of my journey.

Going back, I went to Singapore and stayed their for roughly a month, I looked for a job and step out sa comfort zone ko. Fortunate ako kasi may host family na nag offer sa aking ng accommodation in minimal cost, almost food and transportation lang ang nagastos ko for staying in a high end and expensive country like Singapore. Di lang ako swinerte sa paghahanap ng trabaho due to quota na pinapatupad ng Ministry of Manpower. Promising yung opportunities at salary, kung doon ka nagtratrabaho, yung perks ng security, convenience, transportation at inter cultural experience, isang malaking factor. Masyadong maiksi ang 30 days para masabi kong ganun kaganda at kaayos ang Singapore pero enough na for me to find myself. 

Botanical Garden
Sabi ko i lost myself habang tumutulong at nag bibigay ng feedback sa ibang tao. Hindi ko masabi sa supervisor ko noon na, ang hirap magcorrect sa ibang tao kung ikaw nakikita mo ang sarili mo na nalilito at karamihan ng nasa paligid mo sinasabing nakakalito ka. Nawala bigla lahat ng hilig ko, nawala yung hilig ko sa painting at sa pagsusulat, nawala yung natural kong tawa at saya, na pressure ako sa kung ano gusto ng magulang ko para sa akin, kung ano ang tama sa kung ano ang masaya.

At the age of 24, feeling ko kailangan ko mag catch up, na pressure ako mula sa kung ano tingin ng school to how they see me at home, and i saw myself drowning na from that growth mindset sa corporate ladder. I tried to contain everything but nahirapan nalang akong huminga, minsan nakikita ko nalang sarili ko umiiyak ng walang dahilan. Pakiramdam ko malaki utang na loob ko sa mundo, frinustrate ko ang sarili ko sa mga bagay na wala akong control like promotion, salary, work life balance, everything. Bumili ako ng mga financial literacy books, nakinig ng podcast, nag aadvise sa ibang tao about what is ok and what is not but hindi ko naitanong sa sarili ko, are you ok?

It was a roller coaster ride, with just one snap, sinabi ko na di na ako babalik sa company. Feeling ko nakapag desisyon ako, feeling ko may makwekwento ako sa ibang tao about one in a life time decision. Siguro masasabi nila na it doesn't make sense but for me, not everything does, not everything has to. 

I realized sa paglalakad at pagagala ko sa Singapore, Singaporeans are very humble which what separate me from them is that arrogance and fear still keep me from learning the simplest and most significant lesson of all, It's not about me. I know na napaka fast phase ng working environment nila but kung makikita mo yung sa East part ng Singapore, and even sa small alley nila. Old people are still working maybe because of the high end living but you can still live for roughly $5 to $10 a day which make sense for me that they are working not for their selves but you can see how happy they are serving other people, serving other nationals. I went back home, baon ang pahinga at aral, na kahit saan ka pumunta at dalhin ng paa mo, may mga bagay na tayo lang ang sasagot sa mga bagay na tayo lang ang nagtatanong and prumoproblema. Handa na akong harapin ang susunod na phase ng buhay ko at magsimula uli. 

Changi Airport - Terminal 4
Published: Comment

Monday, December 25, 2017

#BiyaherongPuyat


Dami kong narealized after ng Christmas Eve, ang swerte ko pala - dahil sa dami ng mga kwentong aking maibabahagi, daming pakikipagsapalaran at labanang walang katapusan. Narealize ko sa haba ng panahon pinipilit kong maging influential sa language na di naman ako comfortable, don't get me wrong but it seems like na pinipilit ko lang sa English ang mga blogpost ko, which is pwede ko namang gawing taglish to make it easier for me to express my thoughts and adventure. [Na-Inspire talaga ako ni Bimbi hahaha]
Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte
Back in September, I and my barkada went to Ilocos Region for like 2 days and 1 night escapade. Umalis kami ng late thursday evening, pick up point: Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Around 9:00 evening. Kasama ko sa biyahe ang mga college friends ko. Very Supportive brother Mark "Kim", Bubbly with a little bit of spice, Samantha. Gorgeous Flat, Resie and Feeling Soccer Player, Daniel [wala na akong maisip na name para saiyo]. 

[Left to Right] Daniel, Resie, Sam, Mark at Ako 
Dahil first time kong magtravel kasama ang barkada at first time namin ang mag travel package, medyo kabado at the same time excited. Sa dami ng activities, sobrang memorable ng first and looking forward para sa mas maraming escapade. Di ko malilimutan ang taho ni kuya, "Kuya puro sago lang po?" for real, kuya is about to give us a cup of tapioca. The experience of meeting great people like Kuya Patrick, Kuya Nier and Ate Alex, giving us pieces of advise about facing individual lives, love struggle and personal endeavor. Minsan sa di mo inaasahang tao mangagaling at sa mga estranghero mo maririnig ang katagang "Ako nga nasaktan na't lahat pero eto lumalaban pa rin. Baka hinulma lang talaga ako para maging palaban" Ate Alex. Thank you sa Travel 8 Tours [www.triple8travel.com] for safe and memorable travel experience. 10 Stars kayo for this Escapade. Bawat isa sa atin may kwentong maibabahagi at may aral na mapupulot, ang mahalaga patuloy tayong matuto. Check my instagram post [@iskolar_studio] medyo marami rami ang post nung gumala kami sa Ilocos, where we sought out the rich treasures of Ilocandia.

Instagram: @iskolar_studio #IlocosEscapade
Sinimulan ko naman ang month of October with a breeze, i went to City of Baguio. I was with my office mates (di ba hindi nauubusan ng dahilan para gumala at mag unwind). Eto ata yung mga panahong kailangan ko isigaw ang lahat ng problema ko. Sa trabaho namin, di mo maiiwasang maabsorb ang tantrums ng mga customers, dito naman kasi kami binabayaran, kasama ang stress at patience sa job description. Madaling sabihing, idaan nalang sa tawa at understanding ang customer but di mo maiiwasang magdalawang isip na bumitiw at maghanap nalang ng ibang trabaho. At yung mumunting panahong makatakas sa mga sigaw at panunumbat ng customers, simpleng kalayaan kung tutuusin. Pero sabi nga nila, yung mga customers na rude, irate at medyo bastos over the phone, sila yung mas kailangan ng understanding, patuloy lang tayong lalaban bilang biyaherong puyat. Feeling ko din photographer ako that time, mobile photography na walang extra battery or power bank man lang as back up (Malaking pasasalamat sa mga kaibigan kong laging nagdadala ng powerbanks)

Instagram: @iskolar_studio #BaguioEscapade
Masasa, Tingloy Beach, Batangas
Bago matapos ang taon, pumunta kami ng barkada sa Masasa, Tingloy Beach, Batangas. Una kong punta dito is, kasama ang team namin sa work for team building back noong February. Nakakawala ng stress ang dagat, kasama ng bawat hampas ng alon ang problemang dala dala mo, di mo na kailangan isigaw kasi aanurin at may kasamang maalat na yapos na nagsasabing di ka nagiisa. Siguro normal lang sa newbies ang maghanap ng extra curricular activities (newbie pa ba akong matatawag? hahaha) tahimik ako through out noong travel, nakatingin sa malayo at naghahanap ng sagot sa mga bato at alon. Maybe my soul is wandering around, pinakikiramdaman at nilalasap ang maalat na hangin. Sinasagot ang mga sariling tanong, patuloy tayong lalaban at bibiyahe. 

Ang natutunan ko ngayong taon, Sa bawat usad na ginagawa natin at sa bawat laban na hinaharap, may kwento tayong maibabahagi, hindi ito kwento ng kung anong meron ka at anong narating mo, kwento ng kung anong natutunan mo. Maraming magsasabi ng kung ano ano saiyo, ang mahalaga alam mong wala kang nasasaktan at tuloy lang ang paglayag at laban. Oops, medyo napadrama ang sulat ko, but thank you nakaabot ka sa part na to, hayaan mo dadamihan ko pa ang travel adventure ko. #BiyaherongPuyat. See you around ka-iskolar. 
Published: Comment

Monday, April 24, 2017

Adult Life Starts this Year


It's been a while, i never thought that i would stop by in this page again. Sorry, I just wander around and look for more spaces to look after. After all the experiences i have right now, i think i'm turning into an adult, more light years to come. Writing and sharing thoughts are very interesting - reading back all the things i had before and the journey i got, nothing can pay it off, a very worthy adventure.

I'm in the middle of deciding, if i'll continue being a Call Center Agent or not. I have nothing against them like what my very last post, they are really great. The pressure, stress, changes and even with all the will issues that we have. I have to say they are Agents of Shield. We woke up late, changing the body clock, we even turn breakfast into dinner and lunch into breakfast. Endure all the shouts, curse, pains and personal issues that we pretend that we are okay. I'm in the middle of deciding, is this industry deserves a soft heart creature like me. The industry is very strong, with great foundation and diverse pool of individuals with superhuman confidence.

I'm fortunate i started with Eperformax, they let me realize that graduation is just an introduction and not yet the whole story. Day after day before, i really enjoy having conversation with customers, the wiggle and wobble you create with each talk you have with them, not just about the metrics, not just about the stats, it sounds irony because i sound flat and bored with the recordings but you'll gonna see me smiling and that's what i really love but now i'm doubting myself to have it again. I'm guilty and shamed of saying i'm tired, most of my college friends already moving and making their own family portrait, most of my training batch mates already made their own stories and here i am don't know what to do, i'm just 22 and already asking too many questions.

Maybe you are gonna say "Weak", "Noob" or "What the heck are you saying, you just got your 6th month" I don' know if this is normal for those student jump in immediately the corporate world after graduation. Maybe you are gonna say "You just need a break", "You just need some talk" maybe yes but i don't know if i'll just go with the flow but i'm not a dead fish. I'm not even a beautiful fish that companies gonna look after or even a shark that they are gonna be scared of, at some point i'm just wondering if this is just part of a much better story [Not about Finding Aeron hahaha] I'm not a quitter, i'll be fighting until the end but the question is, is their will be an ending for a clown fish like me? See you around ka-iskolar.
Published: Comment

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

A Mid-lane Journey


I had this encounter with a customer, asking me why did i choose the industry where i am right now. BPO Industry is a very tough industry, employees are struggling though out the process from training to production. I'm fortunate to have a very long process yet a very good transition from academe to actual work place. I encountered several attempts to give up and to choose a different path but instead i strive to know more about how it works, now i thoroughly understand how heavy a call center agent's job.

Sometimes i feel so guilty that i can't assist certain customer, I feel sorry for  myself for not going beyond extra miles or tried to call customers that got disconnected/hung up due to high volume of calls. When i was in learning lab, i can sense the emotion of my customers but my supports back then taught me not to take it personally then i shifted to transaction mentality (trabaho lang walang personalan) I thought it was a good start. i removed that emotional connection i do have with my customers, my average handling time is very good but it turned out not satisfying my customers i wasn't able to identify the needs behind their needs, I'm the one in a hurry not the customer. Gradually i become more insensitive with my customers, i think about myself alone, i think that if i do this fast i can assist more customer, i can give more assistance but at the end of the day i just lose millions of opportunity to give an assistance to other people.

Sometimes we are asking for sana day off na lang uli, tinatamad, napapagod, mabilis mabugnot ang ulo. We are just mere humans, we have peak of performance and the best days of ourselves but be honest we also have days that we want to end up immediately. The enthusiasm that i have before when i was in training is kinda blurry right now, i lose the sight of knowing and understanding how can i give further assistance. Before when i was in college, i was asking why most of the people i know doesn't want to work in call center industry, because of the language? Work schedule? Difficulties of work? I Don't know. They come up to Call Center agent lang, every time i said i'm an agent. It doesn't sound right and disheartening scenario but i always took it positively. While typing this article,i thought that this industry provides a lot of growth opportunity, facets like personality enhancement to professionalism. I saw my stats, i'm not a performer like most of the people i know at the floor but i know what are the things that i need to fill out.

Now i'm in my third month as a regular employee, i'm happy with my team they are very positive and always strive to give an assistance, Yes we might not be the best but we are more than the best people at the floor that know how to be happy in the middle of the journey. I'm a newbie, i accepted it and embraced the fact that i need to learn more, a lot of questions and bugging attempts that entice me to give up but in the end of the day we asked questions because we want answers and we are the actual person that knows how to figure it out. Ikaw ka iskolar, ano ang positive mantra mo? Kindly share it below Muchas Gracias!
Published: Comment

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

OPPO F1s Selfie Filter

http://ownermanualpdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Oppo-F1s.jpg

For all the night works and jives throughout the week, selfies and escapades is such a relief for us. I find taking photos as your magical power to freeze time and hold on with your memories, and along with that kind of magic - you need a wand to hold your mémoire and to share.

OPPO F1s is a perfect partner to be wizard or witch. I think even Newt Scamander would gonna grab one of this phone to take photo of all the fantastic beast he is encountering. I'm looking for a gift for myself for this coming Holiday and i saw their advertisement online and i even checked for reviews about this one, One of my colleagues bought one of this and i had a chance to checked it as well and i'm amazed by its filter and specification. A total package of a camera phone, a gift that will surely be worthy.  

I'll probably use Soft, very authentic and original. Because i'm working at night the OPPO F1s also have 13 MP Rear Camera perfect for night shots, maximizing light sensitivity and making wonderful night time performance just like magic.  

Soft
You can also check other filters that OPPO F1s have, things that most of us gonna look forward to share, you don't have to look to other filter mobile application because it is sure instagramable. OPPO F1s is now available in limited edition space gray. Kindly grab your OPPO F1s and lets the magic begin.

Fade
Bright
Candy
Cafe
Mono

Shine
Published: Comment

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Blogapalooza - Charting The Uncharted

I had a very interesting getaway after the shift, a stress reliever event. Yeah it is kinda weird that after shift you are going somewhere else instead of going home, especially if you work at night and the event is for morning people (Now playing: Ariana Grande - Side To Side ft. Nicki Minaj)


I registered prior for the event to make sure i have a slot, i encouraged one of my workmate to go with me. Our shift ended exactly 9:00 enough to go straight to the event, because the event gonna start 10:00 am. Exactly it easy to travel because of MRT going to Cubao from Buendia station and the event is also around the corner of Araneta Coliseum. The event was held at Novotel Manila.

WHAT IS BLOGAPALOOZA


We met a lot of people from business to co-bloggers. The event is fun packed with goodies and games which made it more exciting. Aside from that while having fun with the booths, there is an ongoing lesson and experience sharing with expert inside the auditorium. You can also checked businesses like Current Ph, that took care most of the photos of the blogapalooza. Habitat for Humanity Philippines support sustainable and transformational development, providing hope and envision a world where everyone has a decent place to live and Many more.






The event is full of colors, different walks in life, different people with just one core of reason: To make friends and widen their connection. Blogapalooza is a sure win for both businesses and bloggers, i realized while going home. The reason why i made this blog site is to encourage young individual to make a difference even though no one cares about my post because most of them are just for myself, i realized that even though no one is liking your post, no one sharing your post at the end of the day - your blog is a personal endeavor, your experience is your story and lessons you've learned are your treasures. 

So if you feel like giving up on blogging because of low traffic, calm down it is not the traffic anymore, it is for yourself to save, to write down all your history, your Diary. Yes, People are earning through blogging but at the end of the day we share our post to make sure we have a detailed summary of what happen for that day. Earning is just a bonus, as long as you love what you're doing, enough to say to continue the journey and that is what Blogapalooza taught me, love what you are doing and we can chart the uncharted. 

Blogapalooza releases a new platform letsbuzzin.com, Buzzin connects businesses to influencers by using a high technology system that enables streamlined matching, objective measurement of key performance indicators, and monetization of content. They compare and measure hits, reach, and engagement among all content creators across all campaigns. Buzzin is a search trawler that figures out what you write about, what niche interests you the most, and what your stance is. Then it matchmakes you, our favorite Blogger/Influencer, with your perfect Business partner.

You ka-iskolar what is your blogapalooza experience? We want to hear you fun experience, kindly share it below, Muchas Gracias!





Published: Comment

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Blending in and Moving Forward


I'm sorry if i wasn't able to write for about a month because i focus a lot with my job and to be honest i need a break to breath in, as of the moment i don't know if this is what i really wanted. To be honest, speaking with customers are very entertaining and interesting, but to be scolded because you missed some words, you missed some spiel is kinda off i thought it's gonna be a good environment but i was wrong. Coach is right i assume a lot of things, i thought i'm in a good track but right now all things are dragging me where i was - a newbie. 

I hold on to my mantra, learning is a process but i'm in a business world right now, not school, not training anymore. They don't need slowpoke like me lurking around with my tone. Yeah i'm efficient in terms of handling my calls but i'm focus on the quality to serve with our customers and i don't know where to place myself because they are looking for customer representative who can do both efficient and quality. I believed that this things will fall into places, but right now every words i heard is ripping me off. 

When i started to join the Company, i was alone - i was able to meet a lot of people, made friends, create more circles but at the end of the day, I'm alone. I have to let them go not because they do have their own stories but because i have my own story to write. From 19 trainees in Global Communication Training then mixed with several people in Enhance Training and were able to make peers of 22 trainees at Product specific training, now we are down to 5 trainees. 

Like what my Performance Analyst said "this is survival of the fittest and the reason why you are here because you perform well, don't be complacent and don't stop learning." As i go further, i forgot to settle myself and i thought i was ok but i learned i have to learn to blend in while walking, doing things and moving forward no matter what. Sorry about my post, i just i have to let go all of the things inside me so i can be productive. Thank you Ka-Iskolar, Muchas Gracias!
Published: Comment

Monday, September 5, 2016

Designing, Building, and Eating at Project Pie

Hello there, World! Gjorj here :)

It has been a while since I wrote a blog post due to that I cannot write any good material without going out. But now I do! :)


I just thought of writing because hours ago, I was in an interesting restaurant. This restaurant is called Project Pie. From the name, you'd think that it's a pizza place. Well, it is, but it offers more than just pizza. They also serve salads (for you health-conscious folks out there) and pastas (for you pasta-lovers out there).

My mother brought me along to meet her old officemates, and we ate at Project Pie for lunch. We were rather lost as to what to do if a waiter will come to us or we will go to them. The staff was so nice to help us out, and guided us on what to do.

One of the main things that makes this place interesting is that you can build your own pizzas, salads, and pastas. Of course, being the pizza lover that I am, I took the build your own pizza route.

First, on a pizza dough that I estimated as about, a foot in diameter, you choose what sauce that you want, like tomato sauce, white sauce, etc. I chose the classic tomato sauce. Then, you move on to cheeses. I chose to put the blue cheese, and mozarella. Next, you add whatever topping that you want, from meats to veggies. I chose mostly meats, and a bit of veggies too, so that the guy that was putting together the pizza for me won't judge me.
Finally, it goes in to the oven and all you have to do is wait.

My mother and her friends got pasta and salads. Have you ever tasted a salad with raspberry sauce drizzled on it? I know, weird right? A leafy salad with raspberry sauce on it. But surprisingly, it's actually good. I mostly ate that salad than the savory salad. I didn't got the chance to taste the pasta though, maybe next time?

Oh, of course I got to eat my pizza. It was good and yummy. The blue cheese made it interestingly tasty too. There are also some desserts and almost of their dessert items contain nutella. Can't wait to try that too! The best part is that you can also refill your drinks.




About the interior of the restaurant, it has that rustic feel in it. And there's a cool wall that looks like a white board and it contains these quotes on them. We chose to sit next to the window because it looked quite comfortable to sit there, and it is. While they were chatting away about the good ol' days, I just looked at the people walking by.

If you want to visit Project Pie and design, build, and eat your meal, it's located at Makati, Metro Manila, near the Dusit Thani Hotel, and SM Makati.

I hope you enjoyed reading, and I'll write again soon. :)
Published: Comment

PST Batch 35A

We really had a very fun experience with our trainer, well he is actually my first guy trainer through out my training with Eperformax. Should i call him Sir? nope, i think he'll not gonna like it. He is a not so typical big brother you gonna meet around the corner because he treat us as if we are his younger siblings and most of the time he bully us in the most positive way.


The first part of training was more of fun oriented on how to know more about our co-trainees and what we are expecting and what to expect from the training proper. Sprint is a telecommunication account based on US and we will be providing information, instructions and clarification about the product. Well according to what i heard, for a newbie like me its not a good idea to be part of this account because irate customers are rampaging. Our trainer never sugar coat the insights of other toward the account, he even said that "lahat naman ata ng account merong irate". To be honest, i was terribly scared of what's gonna happen, thinking of what will be my first customer and what can i render to make sure he or she will be very happy. Over thinking is all around the corner, but he assisted us not to stress ourselves, he even make the discussion light and easy to understand, he always ask us for questions if it is not clear 

The Second part of training was to be aware of the floor experience, we were able to see people who are currently working, doing what we will gonna do in the next several years of our lives. He gave us tips and hacks that surely help us to thoroughly understand what is an agent should be. Practical tips and motivational quotes gave us the drive to continue our journey. We started 22 in number and we were only 16 endorsed for launchpad. The training is very complex, that is kinda complicated with a twist but like what i said, maybe it depend upon whose your trainer.

The Last part of training was the actual call of real customer within an hour. The interesting part of it, that you are combining all what you've learned through out the product specific training and global communication training. The mock call and even other activities we had before, is actually different of the actual experience. The training environment is almost the same but the difference is the real experience we can have, maybe because it is an actual customer.

Our numbers are chopping down, people go and people choose to have a different story, we might not be part of their story but they are part of ours, which make the story very interesting. All we have to make sure everyday that we have to improve, don't be complacent and stop over thinking. Training is part of my corporate journey, the ladder is kinda scary and it seems endless and surely the learning will always be limitless. I have to give my faith with the company and trust them as how they trust me. 



You ka iskolar what can you say about your training? We wanna know more about your story, kindly share it below. Muchas Gracias!
Published: Comment

Dong-A Doodle Fight

Along with Guhit Pinas Laguna, Dong A Philippines successfully organize the Caravan last Sunday, September 4, 2016 at Robinsons Place, Sta Rosa. Seeing young art enthusiast participating in this kind of event, drives me to participate as well. As like what the speaker said, events like this is not limited for those who are currently studying but also for out-of-school-youth who has the interest of expressing their thought through arts.

An on the spot doodling challenge with a theme of Equality. I registered around roughly 11 in the morning and the competition started exactly 1 in the afternoon, The concierge and people at the front desk are very hospitable and easy to deal with. They always smile at you and give you brief details of what gonna happen.





The event provide equal opportunity for everyone, whether Young or Old, Student or Not, Newbie, Amateur, Professionals, even with people who are currently working. Event like this give insights of what lies ahead if you give a little shot of what's your passion. Art is not limited, like doodling, all you have to do is come up with an idea combine it with strokes and enjoy the color. 

We are looking forward for more events. Muchas Gracias Guhit Pinas, Laguna y Dong-A Philippines.
Published: Comment
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )