Saturday, June 21, 2008

stereotype

It was not too long ago when the mere idea of being a call center agent crossed my mind and was battled with the stereotype perception of the public about them. Actually, I wanted to be one just to collect plenty of clothes for partying and going out, also, I always thought that I look good or to make it less boastful I look decent with business attires. So I with Tin and Anj armed with lots of resumes went to Alabang to try our luck on being employed. I always thought that being one is just easy, you get hired, get orientated for some time and take in calls after, that your sole purpose is to answer calls and help the customers, you do this every night, be a vampire, miss the fun and get your generous salary after. But I was wrong! Completely wrong. Like all other jobs out there, you first need to undergo strict training before they send you to the floors, and that’s approximately 4-6 weeks of basic, specific and advance training, but the good things is you get paid even when you’re not taking in calls yet. So basically, you get paid while listening to the company’s policies on the first few weeks, but get trained with the graveyard shift while still training on the next weeks. The stereotyped CSR job is far from reality. Yes, unfortunately speaking, you just need your good communication skills and rapport without any educational background needed to be hired. Like what I see, people there are heterogeneous, from fresh graduates like us, to professionals, teachers, old experienced men and women, college undergraduates and so many more from different fields. So what are you waiting for??...Apply now..haha.. I’ll be more glad to refer you…lol.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

lost writer

When was the last time you read the Sunday broadsheets? I came from a family of avid newspaper readers. My lolo would always have his daily news as he eats pandesal over a cup of coffee, criticizing the government and posting remarks and its implications to the nation. My uncles and dad brings those reading materials as they do number 2. I, on the other hand follows my favorite writers and columns as they write and talk about interest topics and life stories. My favorite Sunday broadsheet is the Philippine Star and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Before we used to have only the Star delivered to us but due to my discontentment, I asked my mom to have the PDI delivered as well.
Today’s, June 8, 2008, news talked about different issues as usual but one issue keeps on being on everyone’s columns, the gay, same sex, homosexual and marriage cliché. So long have the world fought for the rights of different groups and so long have they appealed in the legal department of every nation to approve equality of rights. The California government just recently approved same sex marriage, Ellen and her girlfriend tied their knots already!! but the law making body is again making a petition to abolish it. I don’t care, I said. In one column that features letters of advice from readers, a letter from a soon to be married gay man ask if he has to tell his girlfriend about his true sexuality. The truth will set you free said the writer! It’s not the exact words but after how many paragraphs, it’s the bottom-line. Then there is this column about RULES inside the university campuses. One UP rep said, “over at UP….the very idea that we have rules is considered offensive to many students.” Instead of using the word “bawal” which is nowhere to be seen, they use the word “masama” instead. I dreamed of becoming a scholar, a UP student during my high school days and up until now wishes to continue medicine in UP but failed to utter any comments about this. In La Salle, rules are everywhere. In the De La Salle-Health Sciences Institute, where medicine, nursing, PT, midwifery and RT students spend their hospital bounded education, rules are every students identity. In the College of Nursing and Midwifery, ladies are required to have their hair made into a bun whenever they go the school, nails should be kept free from polishes and ears without earrings. Gentlemen are required to have their hair kept clean, earrings free from bling blings and white shoes polished everytime. Slippers like ipanema and havaianas were not allowed so as shorts, sandos and spag straps. Although these rules are to be followed strictly, most often than not, we find it entertaining not to follow. I remember wearing just my briefs instead of boxer shorts during our duty, comparing printed colored undies with my group mates while smacking each other’s butts. But rules are made to make distinctions from others. They were made for order and conformity of a community, thus making them responsible but sometimes rebellious. In those two broadsheets that I said, two different writers wrote in each columns why they blog. I almost thought that they are one. I’m still not sure, though, but I find it intriguing.
Newspapers are the window to reality. They give readers snapshots and headlines, the tip of an iceberg they always say, because the exciting part on an event is just what is featured, however the interesting part is still for you to uncover.

Monday, June 02, 2008

BUM

It was four years ago when I first stepped into college life, excited and anxious just like any other fresh high school grad I walked through the roads of La Salle, feeling its fresh air courtesy of the numerous big trees that sends a feeling of being a character in those koreanovelas where Autumn leaves fall and are scattered all over, unfortunate if you were hit by a falling branch causing minor injuries on your beloved hairdo, feeling deprived of the luxuries of being an upper year nursing student where they stay on air-conditioned classrooms and are exposed on the ambiance of the hospital setting all year round. Anyway, freshman year ended with very little discomfort and brain injury….toot toot toot toot……..3 years after here am I now, with a degree BSN, waiting for something that will dictate my future and a BUM!... But being active and can’t tolerate inactivity for such a long time, I decided to deviate from my line of career and try the call center world. Hahaha…. So am I ready??... I am not.. I lived my school life without having to commute to school and without suffering the hardships of getting into a jeepney or a bus, I learned to cross the highway when I went into college, I learned to commute very well on my first year but still unsure of my commuting skills up until now.. I often ask my mom for instructions about stuff, she got my birth certificate although I was the one who got my cedula and…and what else?..hahaha.. My resume does not have any job experience that I can be proud of, does not have any major company to be my credential… It is just a one-page description of my demographics and my educational background edited to fit a call center job instead of a nurse. Many people try so hard to get a job, I heard and I saw.. but I don’t know the reality. As they say, to see is to believe or should I say, to experience is to believe.