career-ing
12 February 2007
[mood |
| overwhelmed ][music | fidelity by regina spektor]
"Don't be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, because most of the time the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you'll get everything you wish for. Maybe you'll get more than you ever could have imagined. Who knows where life will take you. The road is long and in the end, the journey is the destination."
Job Fair '07 aka Pormalidad Day
I am officially employed! I got accepted as a Technical Support Representative in Sykes- a Cebu based call center. It's very rewarding to get this job because the recruitment process was no joke. It was very long and nerve wracking. My entire weekend was spent sitting (plus tossing and turning) at the lounge of Casa Leticia, where the job interview took place. I bet the receptionist of the hotel already memorized all of our faces! hehe
Before going into the details of my whole recruitment experience, I'm gonna rewind a few events which leads me to Sykes in the first place. So our school conducted this Job Fair to give the graduating batch an opportunity to look for a job. It's a great thing actually. We don't have to wait for March to go job hunting. But the catch is, we were required to wear business attire during the whole duration of the event. Ahmm...yeah imagine the slacks and those high-heeled shoes. If make-up was added on the list it will no longer be a job fair for me but more like a circus. No offense to those who wear make-ups! I just don't know a thing about it. If I'm to apply it in my face I may end up looking like a clown or something. Lip gloss and powder are the only decent stuff I can manage. Anyone up for a tutorial? lol. I think I'ma need one soon. For someone who isn't used to wearing formal outfits, it can be pretty difficult. But I survived the discomfort except for that of my feet which hurts a lot because of the shoes.
We already prepared some of the necessary documents beforehand so we just photocopied them by Friday. There were about sixty participating companies. Some of them were familiar while others were totally unknown. But it wasn't that big a deal for the company profiles were posted on bulletins near the elevator.
Ever since I heard about the booming industry of call centers in the Philippines I became interested with it. I search through forums and websites to gained knowledge on their processes and transactions. I came to know the big three in the industry- Sykes, E-telecare and PeopleSupport. Even before our educational tour in Cebu I'm already certain that my first career move will be on this field.
When I spot the three names on the company list I was thrilled. This could be a good chance to get hired! However, I was taken aback when I heard that the companies were conducting initial interviews. What the hell will I say? Just the thought of a job interview weakens my knees. I have no idea what kind of questions they're gonna ask. It would've been ok if I'm prepared. At least I'll have something substantial to say about the company. But then, there's no room for preparations so I did what I had to do.
The very first company I approach was E-telecare. Dang! Wrong move! Just so you know, this company was my first choice. I've been to there office in Cebu and I was impress. I probably won't forget Etel because I had my first ever job interview with them. Which sucks a lot by the way. I stutter and then mumble just about anything that crosses my mind, hoping it will be relevant to the questions. I can't think straight because I was too busy being nervous. I didn't even notice if I was making sense! At that time I had no idea that "we'll call you" equates to rejection so I happily stood up and thank the interviewee after. How lame! haha! Seriously, I'm a bit disappointed. I tried reevaluate myself, but it only crashed my self-esteem. Then I realized that it's not healthy to dwell with these stuff. Some things are just not meant to be. We have to accept that. Maybe there are better things in store for me. I can't afford to give up. This was just the first. Way to go!
I slowly pulled my self together and gathered my confidence back. I'm on track again. I randomly applied on different companies. Among all the interviews I've undergone, the one with Sykes was the longest and the most interesting. *_* My classmates also applied in Sykes but the exam messed up with their interview schedule on other companies. So only a few of us took the exam the next day. It took almost 4 hours and fortunately we passed everything with flying colors. Our application was forwarded to the next level which is an English assessment phone interview. Cherry (Sykes' HR Personnel) said that the key to passing this one is to relax and be confident. Those phrase became our motto. We have about 2 hours before the next interview so we hurriedly eat our lunch and proceed to the 6th floor to practiced. We read this booklet given by Maersk (the only reading material available) from cover to cover. hehe! A "speak English rule" was also imposed, we conversed in English for the next two hours! Chadang! haha! When we were in the elevator I saw the operator laughing at us. But who cares?
When it was my time to enter the room I was pretty scared. But as the interview progressed I became at ease. It allows me to think clearly and answer confidently. When I heard the words "we will endorse your application" I want to leap for joy. And that just what I did when I was already outside the room! hahaha! I am so glad that I'm sharing this unforgettable experience with my friends! *_* There were 5 of us from the class who passed and was endorse to the next level- the HR Interview. After HR we were told to go back the following day for another interview. Whew! I practice reading and studied a little bit on American accent that night. I did not sleep well because of the uncertainties I'm faced. The next level is the most difficult. We've exert so much effort already, it will be very disappointing if in the end we will fail.
Here comes Sunday-the judgment day! When I arrived at the hotel I'm not at all well. My throat hurts. Maybe I over do the reading. hehehe! We were very lucky to have Cherry and Mariz to give us tips and comfort. They were very friendly and helpful. Surprisingly my nervousness vanished during the interview. I think I did ok despite the mistakes I've made. The result was given right away- we all passed! Did I mention that I totally forgot about lunch? lols According to Cherry we were good as hired, but we need to pass yet another interview which will be the deciding factor for our account. They gave us this white Sykes shirt and discussed the relocation details. After all the talks, Mariz treat us to Picobello! Weee! Pizza! yum! I went home with a big smile! *_* At around 11:30pm I finished my account interview and was officially hired the morning after!
I am truly happy and super excited! The vivid plans that we used to imagine is now materializing. This is my first step to independence!
storya og kinabuhi
15 January 2007
[ mood | 
| okay ]
| okay ][ music | in my life by the beatles]
ngano complicated man ang life noh?
...ngfoodcourt mi kanina after sa data security na class...ako nglunch (ky wa pa man koi kaon) , c teptep and mae ann ky ng milo...milo-ers kaayo ni clang duha ay...ana pa si teptep na lami daw kaayo ang milo sa foodcourt...hehehe tas c marci nisabay pd, wla mn cya nikaon, bka busog lng cya...tama ang boys ky naa diay sa kilid (sa other table)...busy mn to clag storya...wla ko kbalo unsa topic nla...ngstorya na lng sd mig amoa...wla lng gd, wla may special pero rare na man gd namo mabuhat krn ng mg storya-storya lng...busy naman ang life! graduating mn gd daw...
...dghan mig topic! katong mga na food poison sa ASEAN summit sa Cebu...100+ bya to tanan daw, louy kaayo...pero mas louy ang image sa Pinas..ky sa tanan-tanan nilang prepare against sa mga possible bomb threat, terrorist attack og weather interruption, food poisoning ra diay kahinatnan...sa lechon og pancit pa jd cla nadaot! tsktsk...nkita mn nko to sa news last night murag wla mn ko care usually pero nitan-aw lng gd ko...
...so kato nausab na pd topic namo..naabot sa future...kalimot ko ngano naabot didto oie...sa una ky murag layo pamn kaau tong future sa vocabulary namo...krn doul na lng kaayo si "real world"... kataw-anan jd mi bah...kung kbalo lng lagi ni among parents unsa mi ka problemado sa among future career...mashock-shock jd cgro akong maderaka...pirte na biya nilang expect, mao man jd ng role sa parents- mg assumed-assumed. wa tay mabuhat kung madisappoint cla, wla btaw nato cla sugua nga mgexpect...kani laging skwela-skwela og IT human dli gusto mgprogrammer...toink! ingon pa ni mae ann mg-unsa na lng daw mi...good question meh...wla jd bya kaayo mi ngtake og mga exam sa mga company...programmers mn gd mostly gnapangita...nakora na mi atong software alliance intawon...feeling gd nko na bulok kaayo ko after sa exam...ingon pa ni teptep na maski simple math problem daw dli na cya kasolve..nah..unsa na lng jd ko na expert pd kaayo sa math with a degree to prove! (phd!) pagkapait bah oi! sauna katong 3rd year...lipay-lipay pa...dali ra kaayo ingnon na "ah layo pa btaw na oie!"... pero krn wla nay mu-dare ingon ana...ayus unta mu-graduate, hadlok lng!
:food court scenes:
...niabot dayon c jc, nachange among topic sa mga call centers...nkakita kog light gamay...ingon niya naa daw cya friend sa people support...human ngapangita daw og mga technical staff agents ilang company...ang question ky dapat super english-er bah jd ka bago mkasulod sa ana na job...dli man sd cgro noh...ky itrain pa mn ka...dli mn kaayo ta tantong bala cgro mg-eningols noh? ana pa c mae ann na unsaon na lng kung parehas ky jc ang customer! hahaha (rewind ang awarding moment ni jc) patience na lng jd cgro dpat ipuhunan...according to teptep naa sa telephone ra btaw daw ng kastorya nmo...tama jd! so if lagot na kaayo ka pwede na nmo dilaan or pikatan imong customer! dli btaw na kita sa imo...hahaha!
...human ngtransport na sd mig topic! naabot ky kc concepcion. perfect kaayo cyag life noh...gwapa,bright,rich then humble pa jd. naa pa kaya nay problemahon ng ana na tao? tama naa diay, ingon niya sa multiply nya dli daw cya mkapamalengke dri sa pilipinas! mao lng cgro na ang downside sa sikat...dli ka pwede mglaroy-laroy sa public place... wla jd diay perfect life! pero hinoun kung sa france pd ka mamalengke why not? sayang wla ko kita og sharon gabie. ingon nila ky ngkanta daw c sharon and kc! dghan daw kaayo og diamonds c sharon...haha! maayo pa ni c sharon...wla mn nko na-imagine sa akong life ng diamond intawon oie...bato na lng ni darna pwede? or ni captain barbel? aww! naa ba na cyay bato? haha
...last namo nga nastoryahan ky ang Ateneo de Davao. kbalo bah mu na top 5 daw ang AdDU sa survey sa mga top universities in the philippines? (source ky c padotz!) shocks mn c jordan! haha naa pd diay ibuga ang school nani...pero hinoun pg mkabalo ang tao na sa ateneo ka ngskwela ky murag mabilib mn cla...para sa mga tgamindanao lng cgro na mgapply...i dunno if nationwide ba na nga impression, mas dghan pa mn ayus na skul gd. pero anyway, top 5 or not dli na machange ang fact na dri mi natagak na school. human ngmeet mi tanan. hehe! maayo na lng sd oi nga nag-IT ko!
...kung isipon ordinary lng mn among mga gipangstoryahan...ordinary lng sd nga day... pero maski unsa cya kasimple and kaordinary mkasmile ghapon ka bsta i-appreciate lng nmo ang moment!
dli man diay complicated ang life kung kabalo lng ka unsa imong gusto buhaton! *_*
on change
09 January 2007
[ mood |
| confuse ][ music | ready to rise by vaughan penn ]
"Sometimes, you have to step outside of the person you've been. And remember the person you were meant to be. The person you wanted to be. The person you are."
-from Mouth of One Tree Hill
It's probably late for this but I'm still gonna make my list of resolutions this year. I gave my self a week to ponder on what aspect of my life is in need of serious reconstruction. I reckon they'll be plenty, since I've been living a really healthy lifestyle (insert sarcastic smile here).
Unless you take a look at yourself closely you'll never discover the person you've become. I learned in my Philosophy class that human beings set an "ideal vision" of himself and then direct his life towards achieving that. I used to imagine myself to be "this" and "that" (basically putting together the "ideal me" vision). Funny thing is I didn't exert any effort at all to achieve what I want.Unconsciously I turned out to be someone I don't recognize. The last time I check, I was just trying to make the most out of my mundane life. Now, I wonder why I arrived in a conclusion that in a way I am a stranger to my own. Weird huh? There are instances wherein I'm surprise by the way I react to others, especially my family. I became this dense/hotheaded/selfish person. It was never my intention to hurt people's feelings. Its just that when you're in a sour mood you tend to forget that the world doesn't revolve on you alone. You do or say things you don't really mean then regret it later. Other people exist and they are not required to bend just to please you. I appreciate those who are brave and honest enough to confront me about my attitude. They're usually the ones who care. Normally we have no idea how others perceive us. The last thing I want is to be misunderstood. If you happen to know me, please tell me who I am (harhar). I got lost and now I'm confused. Do you think I'm being too hard on myself? or maybe I'm exaggerating? Yeah well, think whatever you want. You're entitled to that anyway.
Looking back is such a disappointment, specially when you realized that you've wasted your time doing stuff that you shouldn't be doing. Technically, that will count as a mistake right? I consider myself an optimistic person so I view mistakes in a bright light. A chance to learn and grow. But sometimes there are habits that are so hard to do away with. Even if we get burn a hundred times, we never learn to let go. Like its much easier to hold on than to take the risk and face the dreading change.
No matter how excruciating it is. Sometimes in order to move forward, we have to go back. There are things in the past we've left behind that keeps us from moving forward. Guilt and regret are so far the toughest emotion to deal with. More than anger they poison our soul, blocking us from the freedom of growth and change. Acceptance will do the trick. If not to eliminate at least ease the burden. Life is built to be random. You'll never know what will be thrown your way. The only sane way to survive is to move on.
I truly believe that happiness is a choice. I'm maybe experiencing a difficult phase in my life but it is not enough reason to give up. The fact that I'm still young, possibilities of harder obstacles is certain. I am not raising the white flag 'til I ran out of reasons to live. Kudos to those who continue to fight their battle vigorously. The change you desire is just a wish away. Don't let other people dampen your spirit. As for me, I'm still hoping to repair the damage I made to myself. With the uncertainties I'm faced now, a lifestyle change won't come easy. But its never too late if you have the faith.
So here are some of the resolutions I made.
- save, save and save
- sleep early
- stop drinking
- take care of my health (this is a must)
- quit being a procrastinator (consistent in my list)
- value the purpose of cellphone (in other words mgreply!)
- laugh, love, learn and live
- be a better person
a recap
30 December 2006
[ mood | | cheerful ][ music | always love by nada surf]
"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of each."
-Henry David Thoueau
June started with Badjoy and Mario's Birthday bash. IT '07 went to Tagum and Gensan! Fun fun fun! I wasn't able to join them in Tagum due to some unforeseen circumstances but I went to Gensan. We stayed in Tropicana Beach Resort. The highlight of the event was ... *drum rolls* the hubog moments! Who would forget Leri's demonic shirt that bring forth unexpected behaviors? Such us ahmm setting one's hair on fire! (haha! winner!) And of course the scandalous crime of ripping JC's pajamas. Which by the way remains a mystery up to now. There are suspects but no sufficient evidence will prove him/her guilty! (hehe). I also had my moments that I'd rather not say for I can no longer recall most of them! We all had our first times right? As for me, It was the first time I got drunk!
After our two day adventure in Gensan, we went to Leri's Farm in Toril. It was Antonio's Birthday (we call our friends' parents by their first name). The place was really beautiful. If we stayed longer it would really be nice to hike and explore the place. We made a bonfire and drunk the famous IT '07 drink- Tagaka. We owe it to Leri's aunt who patiently taught us the right mix. This time around I had my first taste of that swaying while walking kind of thing. Then my vision was ahmm delayedslashblurred. haha On top of that I can't seem to control my self from talking nonsense. I guess the spirit of alcohol made my tongue real slippery. I became so outspoken thus leads to the creation of "theories why people drink". lol *_* As much as I would like to forget that unfortunate event, it's next to impossible for there's a hard cold evidence. haha! As if "parrot-ing" the incident wasn't enough noh! Oh well, at least now I know my limitation when it comes to drinking. *wink*
By the middle of the month, we were slowly moving on from the aftermath brought by SAD. Some gaps remained unbridge but as they say, "time heal all wounds". Its simpler to let things cool down rather than forcing something that is not possible. On the 15th, IT conquered Bigby's for Kristel's 20th Birthday celeb. The scariest experienced in the history of our outings happened that night at Times Beach! Some bastards threw stones at our cottage. Thank God, nobody got hurt. The boys almost caught a fight over the incident. As usual, some silly drunken stuff happened but I'm in no position to spill it out so lets leave it to those who were there. Anyway, the gathering that concluded the month was Lele's thanksgiving party or "the patay party" . Patay party indeed 'coz majority of us were knock out in the morning!
July was a busy month. Thesis eats up pretty much of our time. But the end of the month was a grand celebration (no class for 3 days + weekends) for we were able to rest from schoolworks and unwind a little. There's the Kikay Night @ Mae Anne's House, Kikoy Day @ Samal and lastly Eden Part II. Yes I know, we actually have this habit of naming and documenting our outings.
August is a happy month for me. Most school activities were squeezed within the month so it only means one thing- no class! Well, things like that can make a simple person like me happy. hehe... Addition to the overflowing scheds was our Retreat. It was not that memorable for me. Maybe the fact that we fall to the same retreat house and facilitator as last year eliminated all the possible thrill. Unlikely things such as that "letter thingy" are bound to happen. I don't know. Probably the plan materialize out of boredom. No offense but that was really immature. The little bits of fun happened off the session in the girls quarter. (dba girls?)
Intrams was ok. The same old-ateneo-intrams, crowded and still fighting over the few seats in the covered court. No change at all except for the increase of complains among the students. I'm just so glad that the CS Booth garnered the most profit. Our efforts were rewarded! Yay I almost forgot our Theology Immersion in Sirawan, Toril. I've learn a lot on that one. My perspective towards the Muslims entirely changed. I'm not gonna go deep on that right now, some other time maybe. (nahurot na sulat sa reflection notebook tanan idea nko!)
September! It's not just the beginning of Christmas season but also the premiere of all the TV series I'm watching. I hate to admit that some of them actually disappointed me. Lost, The O.C. and Veronica Mars- they're not as interesting as the previous seasons. I'm still watching it though, there are still room for improvements or a twist maybe. It's too early to lay judgments. On the other hand, graduation dilemmas begun to flood us. There were photo shoots to attend and applications to fill-up. No matter how jam packed the calendar is, we always find time to party. Teptep's 20th Birthday was celebrated at Eden Nature Park. Finally, I was able to join them. I was not able to attend the two previous Eden outings. Naturally it was named Eden Part III! hehe...
October smells like sheets of photocopies and pages of books. Indications that the final exam is coming. I wonder why I usually turned lazy on the last term. Not that I'm not lazy during prelim and midterm...lol(I am always lazy! cgro mas mutamad jd sa finals samot!). Is it just me or most students feel that way too? hmm... Every corner of Ateneo scream the words- "thank you for being honest", "don't cheat", "please be honest in your exams". I just have to mention this you know...'Coz it really caught my attention (sensitive issue!). I heard its part of OSA's campaign against cheating which is a severe case in the university. I hope those friendly reminders on the bulletins were enough warning for the students. Expulsion is not that appealing.
Our thesis defense made us nervous and edgy more than anything else. It will be our last obstacle before we graduate. So far, it goes well. All our proposals were accepted. The most challenging subject for me last sem was Philosophy. It brought out the skeptic in me and later on I gained a broader understanding on my faith in God.
Even before exam week my excitement on our Educational Trip in Cebu is already bursting. Thinking of all the preparations not to mention the shopping we've done made me laugh now. It was like the majorest trip of all , if there is such a word. Cebu is a really great place. The high rise buildings, the companies and the bars were magnificent. Its really an ideal place to live plus the tons of job opportunities for IT professionals (sounds so ehem formal...I'm having a hard time picturing myself as one..haha). I will always love Davao of course, in fact I can see myself growing old in here. But for the meantime Cebu seems to be the best place to start a career. By the way, I also met my cousin for the first time. I've been wanting to met her ever since so it made my trip extra special. After staying in Cebu for almost four days we went straight to Camiguin. I had the time of my life. The pictures would testify the outcome of the trip.
November start off with JC's surprise birthday party. I was gone for 3 days to attend the National Youth Day. A week after was Kuja and Leri's party at Isla Reta. Through all these, one thing had changed- my color! hehe... I've been exposed on too much sun. Good thing I didn't had sunburn.
December blast! Kuja, Tep, Badj, Benjie and I went to Bamboo's Concert on the 2nd. And I must say that it was the best concert ever. I totally salute the band for being so great on stage. Bamboo makes me high! haha If my mom had seen me jumping and screaming the way I did, she'll probably think that I'm on some sort of drug. lol The last major party I attended before I went home was the IT '07 Xmas Party. I had a great time. Thank you for the people who work hard to make the party a success.
After Christmas, Thea organized a get together party exclusive for our clique. We are like a sorority minus the rules and formalities. hehe...I treat them as my sisters. We stick together through all the problems and controversies over the years. It's been 5 wonderful years of friendship and more to go. I've never seen some of them for months. I'm just so glad that we were able to catch up on each other lives again! ^_^
2006 was a fun filled year for me. I want to thank everyone who made me smile, laugh, sad, angry and cry. Those emotions made me real so I'm grateful to you for making me feel alive. For those people I've hurt or offend I'm truly sorry.
Let's leave all bad energies behind and face the new year in a clean slate. Advance Happy New Year!
July was a busy month. Thesis eats up pretty much of our time. But the end of the month was a grand celebration (no class for 3 days + weekends) for we were able to rest from schoolworks and unwind a little. There's the Kikay Night @ Mae Anne's House, Kikoy Day @ Samal and lastly Eden Part II. Yes I know, we actually have this habit of naming and documenting our outings.
August is a happy month for me. Most school activities were squeezed within the month so it only means one thing- no class! Well, things like that can make a simple person like me happy. hehe... Addition to the overflowing scheds was our Retreat. It was not that memorable for me. Maybe the fact that we fall to the same retreat house and facilitator as last year eliminated all the possible thrill. Unlikely things such as that "letter thingy" are bound to happen. I don't know. Probably the plan materialize out of boredom. No offense but that was really immature. The little bits of fun happened off the session in the girls quarter. (dba girls?)
Intrams was ok. The same old-ateneo-intrams, crowded and still fighting over the few seats in the covered court. No change at all except for the increase of complains among the students. I'm just so glad that the CS Booth garnered the most profit. Our efforts were rewarded! Yay I almost forgot our Theology Immersion in Sirawan, Toril. I've learn a lot on that one. My perspective towards the Muslims entirely changed. I'm not gonna go deep on that right now, some other time maybe. (nahurot na sulat sa reflection notebook tanan idea nko!)
September! It's not just the beginning of Christmas season but also the premiere of all the TV series I'm watching. I hate to admit that some of them actually disappointed me. Lost, The O.C. and Veronica Mars- they're not as interesting as the previous seasons. I'm still watching it though, there are still room for improvements or a twist maybe. It's too early to lay judgments. On the other hand, graduation dilemmas begun to flood us. There were photo shoots to attend and applications to fill-up. No matter how jam packed the calendar is, we always find time to party. Teptep's 20th Birthday was celebrated at Eden Nature Park. Finally, I was able to join them. I was not able to attend the two previous Eden outings. Naturally it was named Eden Part III! hehe...
October smells like sheets of photocopies and pages of books. Indications that the final exam is coming. I wonder why I usually turned lazy on the last term. Not that I'm not lazy during prelim and midterm...lol(I am always lazy! cgro mas mutamad jd sa finals samot!). Is it just me or most students feel that way too? hmm... Every corner of Ateneo scream the words- "thank you for being honest", "don't cheat", "please be honest in your exams". I just have to mention this you know...'Coz it really caught my attention (sensitive issue!). I heard its part of OSA's campaign against cheating which is a severe case in the university. I hope those friendly reminders on the bulletins were enough warning for the students. Expulsion is not that appealing.
Our thesis defense made us nervous and edgy more than anything else. It will be our last obstacle before we graduate. So far, it goes well. All our proposals were accepted. The most challenging subject for me last sem was Philosophy. It brought out the skeptic in me and later on I gained a broader understanding on my faith in God.
Even before exam week my excitement on our Educational Trip in Cebu is already bursting. Thinking of all the preparations not to mention the shopping we've done made me laugh now. It was like the majorest trip of all , if there is such a word. Cebu is a really great place. The high rise buildings, the companies and the bars were magnificent. Its really an ideal place to live plus the tons of job opportunities for IT professionals (sounds so ehem formal...I'm having a hard time picturing myself as one..haha). I will always love Davao of course, in fact I can see myself growing old in here. But for the meantime Cebu seems to be the best place to start a career. By the way, I also met my cousin for the first time. I've been wanting to met her ever since so it made my trip extra special. After staying in Cebu for almost four days we went straight to Camiguin. I had the time of my life. The pictures would testify the outcome of the trip.
November start off with JC's surprise birthday party. I was gone for 3 days to attend the National Youth Day. A week after was Kuja and Leri's party at Isla Reta. Through all these, one thing had changed- my color! hehe... I've been exposed on too much sun. Good thing I didn't had sunburn.
December blast! Kuja, Tep, Badj, Benjie and I went to Bamboo's Concert on the 2nd. And I must say that it was the best concert ever. I totally salute the band for being so great on stage. Bamboo makes me high! haha If my mom had seen me jumping and screaming the way I did, she'll probably think that I'm on some sort of drug. lol The last major party I attended before I went home was the IT '07 Xmas Party. I had a great time. Thank you for the people who work hard to make the party a success.
After Christmas, Thea organized a get together party exclusive for our clique. We are like a sorority minus the rules and formalities. hehe...I treat them as my sisters. We stick together through all the problems and controversies over the years. It's been 5 wonderful years of friendship and more to go. I've never seen some of them for months. I'm just so glad that we were able to catch up on each other lives again! ^_^
2006 was a fun filled year for me. I want to thank everyone who made me smile, laugh, sad, angry and cry. Those emotions made me real so I'm grateful to you for making me feel alive. For those people I've hurt or offend I'm truly sorry.
Let's leave all bad energies behind and face the new year in a clean slate. Advance Happy New Year!
nyd '06
08 December 2006
[ mood | |happee]
|happee][ music | in my place by coldplay ]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"
Psalm 119:105
It's been exactly one month since the National Youth Day! The thought of those memorable days still makes me nostalgic. The experience was really overwhelming I can't even grasp the whole thing and put it into words. That's why when someone asks me how was it I don't know exactly what to say. Attending the NYD change a few of my perspective in life. The whole event was a wonderful learning process. You will meet people from different walks of life. All you need is just an open smile and you'll be surprise where it can lead you. No matter how diverse we are in terms of personality, family background and culture there is always a common ground. In this case it is God. We were all united to praise and glorify Him.
I tried to wrap everything in this entry. It took me a while to finish the whole thing so I hope you will have fun reading and somehow learn from it.
I tried to wrap everything in this entry. It took me a while to finish the whole thing so I hope you will have fun reading and somehow learn from it.
For me, joining the NYD was like going to battle without an armor. I totally have no idea what I've gotten into. My friend Thea just drag me in without actually providing much details. Just the assurance that it will be fun and I'll be excuse in class for three days. :) Well, I'm entitled to disagree actually but I don't know, I just said yes for no apparent reason. I have so much on my mind that time, I'd rather agree with her than have an endless debate. I did not register personally so I'm clueless of all the essential information. My first day didn't went well as planned because of a the simple negligence of not knowing.
(Day 1) The Disastrous First Day
I woke up really early. I'm not yet through packing all my stuff and the call time is 8am. Unfortunately, preparation consumed all my time so I didn't eat a heavy breakfast.I just grabbed some bread and a glass of milk. Little did I know that those will be the only food sustaining my body for the rest of the day.
We arrived at Ateneo High School Campus at exactly 8:30 sporting our big maletas. By the way, I'm with my three friends- Thea, Dece and Rarai. The other delegates (Digos Delegates) were still on their way to Davao so we stayed at MTS to wait for them. Waiting...waiting..still waiting...it seems to on forever. (nalosyang na lng among beauty didto wa lng gihapoy delegates nangabot!) Five hours had passed and still there were no signs from them. We look like lonesome travelers abandon by the world. I was beginning to think that my karma has just arrived. You see, I told my classmates before I left that my sole purpose in going to NYD was "boy hunting". (lol..one step ahead ang gaba! paspas kaayo!) Maybe the whole waiting dilemma was just a wake up call. A reminder for me to rethink my purpose, say perhaps spiritual enrichment. How does that sound? (hehe)
When our hope was just about to sink, a convoy of four buses passed. Finally! We quickly went across the street. The buses stopped in front of Ateneo to wait for us but it appears that they were causing a traffic jam. So before we even successfully cross the damn street, they already left. Haay! (Naa pa ba may mas malas anang mabiyaan ka sa bus na gihulat nmo og almost 5 hours?!) Left with no choice, we stayed near the gate depressed and looking like idiots. (take note! ngdala2x mig maleta! ang saya!) A bunch of kindergartens were staring at as strangely but we were not in the mood to go cute and cuddly with them. Their adorable faces were not enough to cheer us up. Then here comes this traffic aide asking "Nabiyaan mo dai, asa pa diay mo gkan gnina ra mn mong alas osto dri?" (ay jus ko! obyus mn cgro sa among nawong noh? wa na lng mi ng-ingon na tga davao ra mi ky mas mu-ulaw ng samot.) We stood there for like 30 minutes trying to call Bro. Joe (our delegation head) but he's not answering his phone. I saw some delegates entering inside, since we don't have an ID yet we just hang in there a little more. Another 30 minutes passed, the embarrassment and heat became too much to bear so I approached the guard and asked if we could enter without an ID. Guess what?! He just said, "Sure, where are your bags? Let me check it first". (di englishero ang guard ha!haha feel lng nko xa itranslate gd for the benifit of those who don't understand the dialect! Og sa dihang pirti pa namong pa init2x og hulat noh! Pwede dy musulod!)
We entered Ateneo at exactly 1 o'clock sweaty and hungry! To our surprise Bro. Joe was inside with the 300 something delegates. (Nituyok lng diay cla og sa pikas gate ni-agi! toink! malay ba nmo noh) There were a lot of delegates fighting for Bro. Joe's attention (he was segregating all the delegates to the different parishes) so we didn't add to the growing tension. All along we thought that the four of us will have the same foster family so we assigned who will bring the toiletries and stuff. To our horror we were separated! (kana laging mgtinamad! ngpagamayay pa jd og bag.. dah tagam!) Three of the four buses already left. That's when we started to be alarmed! What if our name were already called? (tsktsk ma-award mn jd mi ani bah!) We were all hesitant to ask Bro. Joe because he seems busy and pissed off. (sa among pagtanga2x didto sa kilid naligsan na lng noun ang bag ni thea sa bus!ngtan-aw lng sd mi..dugay kaau ang reaction time.. mau na lng wlay ndamage sa iyang gamit! pero nilakra pd lge ang ligid sa bus sa iyang bag!haha) After a minute or so, Thea and Dece's name were called. They were assigned in the same parish. Waahh!! What about us? (oh no!) That leaves Rarai and me, unfortunately her bus already left. Instead of feeling sad, we were glad because Bro. Joe transferred her to our parish. By the way, the toiletries were separated equally in case you're wondering! (naa btaw convinience every kanto so chox lng! ulaw lng ky gi-abri jd nmo ang mga maleta infront of the madlang pipol...hehe!)
So we get on the bus and went to our different destinations. I don't know what the heck happened but there were only 3 of us assigned in San Lorenzo Parish in Talomo- me, Rarai and Jammy( a sixteen year old girl from Malita), the rest were about 10-15 in every parish. They even have group leaders which were given instructions on what to do. So I started to wonder. Maybe there's some kind of mistake here. (Ngano tulo ra mi? Dw beh knsa mn himuon nmong lider2x nga pare-pareho mn mi wlay alam! Fatay na! Di mn gni mi kamao aha among parish dapit!) We were the last group to be drop off, the driver was already asking us the direction. But how on earth will we know? When we finally locate the parish it was already 3 o' clock! I haven't eaten anything since breakfast! The minute we arrive my stomach began to growl. (Kakuyapon na gd ko sa kgutom ay chuper! Lechon na panan-aw nko sa mga ng-welcome sa amoa didto!) Some volunteers offered to bring our bags and guided us to the receiving area. The first thing they asked from us was our Official NYD ID which was not given by our delegation head. That's where the problem originated. They can't give us our NYD kit (the bag, journal and etc.) if we don't have an ID so we were not entertained. We were like lost sheep in a flock. (mura mig mga outsider didto, way id, way kaila, way kaon, wa tanan!) I almost gave up, you know. Why would I suffer to be there, when my house is just a cab away? I can easily go back, anyway I haven't invested anything yet except for wasted energy. But when I entered the church and saw the faces of the delegates from all over Philippines. Whew! I realized that I can't just gave it up. What happened was meant to be. Whatever the underlying reasons, I don't care anymore. Even with an empty stomach I was already excited. I just stopped worrying and leave it up to Him. We met some fellow Digos delegates who helped us get through the registration. They were all very kind and helpful. Later after the mass I met my foster mother-Nanay Cora. She's the best foster mother ever! ( Ang gi-question dayon ky gi-gutom na ba dw mi! O dba winner ky psychic kaau!) Supposedly she'll just be accommodating two delegates but I beg her to take Rarai because she was not registered in that parish and she agreed instantly. ( kitam! d best jd!) My other foster sisters were Ate Weng (from Diocese of Digos also) and of course Jen (Nanay Cora's daughter). (Ngkasinabot jd mi tanan! First thing na gbuhat nmo pg-abot sa ilang balay ky ngkaon! hehe)We stayed at Ulha Village in Ulas, a very nice neighborhood. (But-an kaau ang mga tao pramis!)
Though my first day was a total disaster still I had fun. At the end of the day we had a good laugh at all the misfortunes that we experienced. :)
We arrived at Ateneo High School Campus at exactly 8:30 sporting our big maletas. By the way, I'm with my three friends- Thea, Dece and Rarai. The other delegates (Digos Delegates) were still on their way to Davao so we stayed at MTS to wait for them. Waiting...waiting..still waiting...it seems to on forever. (nalosyang na lng among beauty didto wa lng gihapoy delegates nangabot!) Five hours had passed and still there were no signs from them. We look like lonesome travelers abandon by the world. I was beginning to think that my karma has just arrived. You see, I told my classmates before I left that my sole purpose in going to NYD was "boy hunting". (lol..one step ahead ang gaba! paspas kaayo!) Maybe the whole waiting dilemma was just a wake up call. A reminder for me to rethink my purpose, say perhaps spiritual enrichment. How does that sound? (hehe)
When our hope was just about to sink, a convoy of four buses passed. Finally! We quickly went across the street. The buses stopped in front of Ateneo to wait for us but it appears that they were causing a traffic jam. So before we even successfully cross the damn street, they already left. Haay! (Naa pa ba may mas malas anang mabiyaan ka sa bus na gihulat nmo og almost 5 hours?!) Left with no choice, we stayed near the gate depressed and looking like idiots. (take note! ngdala2x mig maleta! ang saya!) A bunch of kindergartens were staring at as strangely but we were not in the mood to go cute and cuddly with them. Their adorable faces were not enough to cheer us up. Then here comes this traffic aide asking "Nabiyaan mo dai, asa pa diay mo gkan gnina ra mn mong alas osto dri?" (ay jus ko! obyus mn cgro sa among nawong noh? wa na lng mi ng-ingon na tga davao ra mi ky mas mu-ulaw ng samot.) We stood there for like 30 minutes trying to call Bro. Joe (our delegation head) but he's not answering his phone. I saw some delegates entering inside, since we don't have an ID yet we just hang in there a little more. Another 30 minutes passed, the embarrassment and heat became too much to bear so I approached the guard and asked if we could enter without an ID. Guess what?! He just said, "Sure, where are your bags? Let me check it first". (di englishero ang guard ha!haha feel lng nko xa itranslate gd for the benifit of those who don't understand the dialect! Og sa dihang pirti pa namong pa init2x og hulat noh! Pwede dy musulod!)
We entered Ateneo at exactly 1 o'clock sweaty and hungry! To our surprise Bro. Joe was inside with the 300 something delegates. (Nituyok lng diay cla og sa pikas gate ni-agi! toink! malay ba nmo noh) There were a lot of delegates fighting for Bro. Joe's attention (he was segregating all the delegates to the different parishes) so we didn't add to the growing tension. All along we thought that the four of us will have the same foster family so we assigned who will bring the toiletries and stuff. To our horror we were separated! (kana laging mgtinamad! ngpagamayay pa jd og bag.. dah tagam!) Three of the four buses already left. That's when we started to be alarmed! What if our name were already called? (tsktsk ma-award mn jd mi ani bah!) We were all hesitant to ask Bro. Joe because he seems busy and pissed off. (sa among pagtanga2x didto sa kilid naligsan na lng noun ang bag ni thea sa bus!ngtan-aw lng sd mi..dugay kaau ang reaction time.. mau na lng wlay ndamage sa iyang gamit! pero nilakra pd lge ang ligid sa bus sa iyang bag!haha) After a minute or so, Thea and Dece's name were called. They were assigned in the same parish. Waahh!! What about us? (oh no!) That leaves Rarai and me, unfortunately her bus already left. Instead of feeling sad, we were glad because Bro. Joe transferred her to our parish. By the way, the toiletries were separated equally in case you're wondering! (naa btaw convinience every kanto so chox lng! ulaw lng ky gi-abri jd nmo ang mga maleta infront of the madlang pipol...hehe!)
So we get on the bus and went to our different destinations. I don't know what the heck happened but there were only 3 of us assigned in San Lorenzo Parish in Talomo- me, Rarai and Jammy( a sixteen year old girl from Malita), the rest were about 10-15 in every parish. They even have group leaders which were given instructions on what to do. So I started to wonder. Maybe there's some kind of mistake here. (Ngano tulo ra mi? Dw beh knsa mn himuon nmong lider2x nga pare-pareho mn mi wlay alam! Fatay na! Di mn gni mi kamao aha among parish dapit!) We were the last group to be drop off, the driver was already asking us the direction. But how on earth will we know? When we finally locate the parish it was already 3 o' clock! I haven't eaten anything since breakfast! The minute we arrive my stomach began to growl. (Kakuyapon na gd ko sa kgutom ay chuper! Lechon na panan-aw nko sa mga ng-welcome sa amoa didto!) Some volunteers offered to bring our bags and guided us to the receiving area. The first thing they asked from us was our Official NYD ID which was not given by our delegation head. That's where the problem originated. They can't give us our NYD kit (the bag, journal and etc.) if we don't have an ID so we were not entertained. We were like lost sheep in a flock. (mura mig mga outsider didto, way id, way kaila, way kaon, wa tanan!) I almost gave up, you know. Why would I suffer to be there, when my house is just a cab away? I can easily go back, anyway I haven't invested anything yet except for wasted energy. But when I entered the church and saw the faces of the delegates from all over Philippines. Whew! I realized that I can't just gave it up. What happened was meant to be. Whatever the underlying reasons, I don't care anymore. Even with an empty stomach I was already excited. I just stopped worrying and leave it up to Him. We met some fellow Digos delegates who helped us get through the registration. They were all very kind and helpful. Later after the mass I met my foster mother-Nanay Cora. She's the best foster mother ever! ( Ang gi-question dayon ky gi-gutom na ba dw mi! O dba winner ky psychic kaau!) Supposedly she'll just be accommodating two delegates but I beg her to take Rarai because she was not registered in that parish and she agreed instantly. ( kitam! d best jd!) My other foster sisters were Ate Weng (from Diocese of Digos also) and of course Jen (Nanay Cora's daughter). (Ngkasinabot jd mi tanan! First thing na gbuhat nmo pg-abot sa ilang balay ky ngkaon! hehe)We stayed at Ulha Village in Ulas, a very nice neighborhood. (But-an kaau ang mga tao pramis!)
Though my first day was a total disaster still I had fun. At the end of the day we had a good laugh at all the misfortunes that we experienced. :)
(Day 2) The Boat Is Sinking!
"The boat is sinking! Group yourselves into 10!". That was the cue, the next thing I knew all 3000 plus delegates in Catechetical Site 3 were roaming around the huge sports complex of Ateneo looking for group mates. I landed in Group Number 188! The best group in the whole wide universe! (haha!) If not for them NYD wouldn't be that fun at all. The language barrier didn't stop us from sharing our thoughts and feelings in the group. Personally, I was very comfortable sharing my opinion to them because they're all open minded. (bhala mgkabuang na og tagalog hala storya jpun! lol!) You can easily blend in the crowd. It's really amazing to see all this people united in one purpose- God!
The Facilitators:
Carlo (Davao)
Kuya Philip (Dipolog)
The Group:
Gen (Tagum)
Jea (Tagum)
Ken (Novaliches)
Ate Liway (Pangasinan)
Marc (Iligan)
Merlyn (Matti)
Kuya Otep (Pangasinan)
Rarai (Davao)
Shine (Matti)-
What we did in the morning was just basically faith sharing and some journal works. The Holy Eucharist presided by the Papal Nuncio followed later in the afternoon. His homily was quite inspiring. The Youth Festival in the evening made my eyes beamed with gladness! It was like being able to witness the different festivities of the Philippines. (So bongga! with all the costumes and everything jd! Murag kag ngtan-aw og sinulog or kadayawan!) The performance of each diocese represents some kind of cultural inclination. Too bad I was not able to finish the show. :(
The Facilitators:
Carlo (Davao)
Kuya Philip (Dipolog)
The Group:
Gen (Tagum)
Jea (Tagum)
Ken (Novaliches)
Ate Liway (Pangasinan)
Marc (Iligan)
Merlyn (Matti)
Kuya Otep (Pangasinan)
Rarai (Davao)
Shine (Matti)-
What we did in the morning was just basically faith sharing and some journal works. The Holy Eucharist presided by the Papal Nuncio followed later in the afternoon. His homily was quite inspiring. The Youth Festival in the evening made my eyes beamed with gladness! It was like being able to witness the different festivities of the Philippines. (So bongga! with all the costumes and everything jd! Murag kag ngtan-aw og sinulog or kadayawan!) The performance of each diocese represents some kind of cultural inclination. Too bad I was not able to finish the show. :(
(Day 3) Making Choices
I don't have much to say about what happened this day but what struck me most was the talk of Atty. Robert Quintain. He was a very good speaker. One moment you're laughing the next thing you know tears were already falling in your eyes. He had various stories but this one made me cry...
Bobby was in Grade 1 when he delivered the first speech of his life . His English teacher Ma'am Abby was the one who taught him everything, from the speech itself to the proper way of delivering it. The speech will be presented in their Teacher's Day celebration. They practiced almost everyday. Then here comes the big day! He was all set and ready. But when he arrived at school he was faced with the terrible news that his beloved teacher was killed the night before. Though he was at the verge of sorrow he still carry on with the speech. Everyone was applauding and admiring him after but he didn't noticed any of them. He just cried endlessly at the stage. A teacher approached and asked him why he was crying then he replied, "All of these are nothing if Ma'am Abby is not here".
It will really break your heart hearing that statement from a 7 year old boy who had just experienced his first taste of pain and loss. *sigh* The session was extra heavy that day because it started with deep reflections.
We went home early to our designated parishes for the holy hour. After the confession nghause party kmi...hehe! We bought food and share it to the family, then later on we tour the village and visit the other neighboring delegates. (nalingaw jd mig maayo!) The delegates from Tagum were really fun to be with. (Mga tabian kayo cla and mga joker!) For someone like me permanence is the hardest thing to establish so I'm not really used to being active in anything in my own community. I witnessed the true essence of being in a community there and I'm actually participating. It felt like I'm in a different world. (Murag nsa davao lng ko na murag wala...wierd!)
I am so proud of myself. I successfully walked shrine under the heat of the freakin' sun! Woohoo! (dli jd xa sayon! super kapoi...lami kaau mgpaligid na lng pababa tong ngstart na ang pasaka! init, kapoi, uhaw, abog name it present na tanan wa nkay mawish!) The heat was really unbearable but knowing that everyone experiences the same suffering keeps you motivated. If kaya nila, kaya ko rin! We just talk and laugh and laugh some more to ease the feeling of weariness. Good thing my group mates keeps on cracking some jokes. And the boys offered to bring the girls' bag. (how sweet! gentlemen kau cla...) We all stayed together util we reached shrine. By the way, thank you for the free mineral waters along the way! That really helped a lot! (ky jusko! ang tubig nko nahmo nag hot water dahil sa ka-init! pwede na timplahan og coffee..haha)
Shrine was divided into three areas alloted for the respective catechetical sites and a big stadium was at the center. Wow! 7000 youths! How often does this happen? Though I'm very exhausted the overwhelming sight made me want to jump and shout! What matters is that moment! And the fact that YOU are actually THERE!
The youth jam was a blast! Everybody was dancing, singing and jumping. I was having the moment of my life. Even if the instruction was to stay at the designated Parish area our group stayed together! That was the last moment that we will be together. Kuya Otep initiated a group hug and almost everybody cried! I didn't realize that these people who were just plain strangers days ago will occupy such a big space in my heart. It was pretty hard to let go. The pain of goodbye. Its a part of life that all of us must deal with. I'm just grateful that I met them in this lifetime. Who knows? Our path will cross again someday.. :) See you then!
Thank you to everyone who made National Youth Day 2006 so memorable! ^_^
Bobby was in Grade 1 when he delivered the first speech of his life . His English teacher Ma'am Abby was the one who taught him everything, from the speech itself to the proper way of delivering it. The speech will be presented in their Teacher's Day celebration. They practiced almost everyday. Then here comes the big day! He was all set and ready. But when he arrived at school he was faced with the terrible news that his beloved teacher was killed the night before. Though he was at the verge of sorrow he still carry on with the speech. Everyone was applauding and admiring him after but he didn't noticed any of them. He just cried endlessly at the stage. A teacher approached and asked him why he was crying then he replied, "All of these are nothing if Ma'am Abby is not here".
It will really break your heart hearing that statement from a 7 year old boy who had just experienced his first taste of pain and loss. *sigh* The session was extra heavy that day because it started with deep reflections.
We went home early to our designated parishes for the holy hour. After the confession nghause party kmi...hehe! We bought food and share it to the family, then later on we tour the village and visit the other neighboring delegates. (nalingaw jd mig maayo!) The delegates from Tagum were really fun to be with. (Mga tabian kayo cla and mga joker!) For someone like me permanence is the hardest thing to establish so I'm not really used to being active in anything in my own community. I witnessed the true essence of being in a community there and I'm actually participating. It felt like I'm in a different world. (Murag nsa davao lng ko na murag wala...wierd!)
(Day 4) The Pilgrim Walk
I am so proud of myself. I successfully walked shrine under the heat of the freakin' sun! Woohoo! (dli jd xa sayon! super kapoi...lami kaau mgpaligid na lng pababa tong ngstart na ang pasaka! init, kapoi, uhaw, abog name it present na tanan wa nkay mawish!) The heat was really unbearable but knowing that everyone experiences the same suffering keeps you motivated. If kaya nila, kaya ko rin! We just talk and laugh and laugh some more to ease the feeling of weariness. Good thing my group mates keeps on cracking some jokes. And the boys offered to bring the girls' bag. (how sweet! gentlemen kau cla...) We all stayed together util we reached shrine. By the way, thank you for the free mineral waters along the way! That really helped a lot! (ky jusko! ang tubig nko nahmo nag hot water dahil sa ka-init! pwede na timplahan og coffee..haha)
Shrine was divided into three areas alloted for the respective catechetical sites and a big stadium was at the center. Wow! 7000 youths! How often does this happen? Though I'm very exhausted the overwhelming sight made me want to jump and shout! What matters is that moment! And the fact that YOU are actually THERE!
The youth jam was a blast! Everybody was dancing, singing and jumping. I was having the moment of my life. Even if the instruction was to stay at the designated Parish area our group stayed together! That was the last moment that we will be together. Kuya Otep initiated a group hug and almost everybody cried! I didn't realize that these people who were just plain strangers days ago will occupy such a big space in my heart. It was pretty hard to let go. The pain of goodbye. Its a part of life that all of us must deal with. I'm just grateful that I met them in this lifetime. Who knows? Our path will cross again someday.. :) See you then!
Thank you to everyone who made National Youth Day 2006 so memorable! ^_^