Ramil

Another typhoon (code name Ramil this time) hit Metro Manila today. As usual our area in Taguig is not excused from this disaster. This is the 4th typhoon that I have experienced here since May this year. This is one of the things that I hate about living here, the only time it won't rain if it's extremely hot. There is no middle temperature. Actually everything here is so extreme, food, the people here, environment, everything is so extreme.

Anyway, I'm the only one awake now 'coz I was about to report for work for a 3:45am to 12:45 shift. I got my stuff hoping the rain which started from 7pm last night had stopped or started to drizzle. But when I was about to open the door, I could hear the wind howling, and the rain even fell harder. Then the light went out, so I called the office instead, telling them I may be late or I may not be reporting at all. Although they considered my excuse,they still wanted me to report to work, which I also understand. I told them I'll stay up 'til 5am today, if the rain stops, i'll try my best to report.

As of now, I don't hear the rain anymore, I think it had stopped. Which means, I need to go and report to work. I don't want my paycheck to be deducted this coming payday hehe..

the Interview with an employer

Got lucky again with another opportunity last Friday. I was able to meet with an Arab employer for my application, this time the destination is for Qatar. I don't know yet if the offer is better than what is offered to me by another agency but at least, I have another option to consider. Honestly, there is no assurance yet for both opportunities though, but it's good to hope and if ever I won't make it, then as they always say, "charge it to your experience".

The interview or should I say the talk with the employer was really smooth ('coz he didn't ask me dance or to do some stunts hehe..). He made me somehow comfortable with the usual questions about my self, my family, my dreams and why am I applying for abroad. I don't know if I impressed him, but he told me I did (tampa humble or hambog). He was telling me "Inshallah you will meet all your goals in life". He even asked me if when can I possibly start with them if they will select me for the position.

While waiting for the result for these applications, I'm still trying my luck in other agencies, planning to visit them during my off (gawing hobby ba!). According to the head recruiter prior to our interview last Friday, there are 1,300 agencies here in the country, land-based alone (meron daw kasi sea-based, baka may agencies sa barko hehe) so there are still thousands of it that I still need to visit hehe. Anyway, I'll just try all the possibilities and opportunities while working at the same time.

Honestly don't know yet if I am ready to work abroad, 'coz I started to enjoy my work now. I'm learning a lot especially in enhancing my communication skills. I also learned some new IT Stuff, as part of our support scope I am able to familiarize the environment for latest Mac Operating System and the latest Windows 7. Despite the difficulties of taking a very long ride everyday, there is somehow a price that is more than twice its worth (whatever that means hehe..).

Another opportunity opens

Just got home from an interview for an application for Saudi. It was just an initial interview, don't know yet if I'll make it or not. But the interview went well so far, Angel (the interviewer) told me that I have the edge 'coz I have a call center experience. They will just call me for final interview with the Arab employer this November 9. I'm not sure yet with the job though because of the basic pay, but at least more than what I earn here in Manila. Anyway, I still have another interview tomorrow for Qatar, got to have more options for me to weigh which one is better.

Next week would be another job hunting for abroad. I won't stop 'til all the agencies for abroad here in Manila will receive my CV hehe..Honestly, I started to love my job now here in manila (unlike for first few months, which everything was difficult for me), so I won't mind waiting. My sister in Malaysia wants me to leave the country after March next year, after the graduation of our younger sister. She will be finishing Midwifery course this school year (Inshallah). But of course, if better opportunity comes, why would I not consider it, after all its the reason why I am here in Manila now.

Lucky with so many women in my life

Woke up 11pm tonight and I felt like I was asleep for a day. It really feels good 'coz I don't really feel any drowsiness despite of sleeping only for 6 hours. Usually it takes 8 to 9 hours for me to complete my sleep without feeling my head. When I woke up tonight and turned on my celphone from charging the battery, messages kept coming. One of the messages was from my sister in Malaysia. She lives now as a Malaysian Citizen with her husband and daughter. She told me that she is feeling ok now, 'coz she was sick for two days. I'm happy when she told me that she is taking driving lessons now, it was really her dream to drive their own car. I hope I can spend my vacation with them this coming December.

Another SMS I got was from my younger sister in Zamboanga City. She was asking me to check her grammar for an invitation letter that she wrote. The grammar was really 'awful' hehe, it made me smile though!I used to be helping her with those stuff before and even upto now, no place that far for her (what does celphone do right?hehe), she's still taking time texting me all those funny sentences that I need to correct for her (it makes me laugh again now hehe..). I replied as soon as I read the messages but i think she was already asleep 'coz it was already late. Expect to hear from her tomorrow morning.

I just miss those days when my sisters and I are still together with our mother in Zamboanga City. I'm so lucky 'coz I have so many women in my life that really love me. I'm the only son in the family (at least from our own family tree..it's complicated, but I have three family trees hehe). I'm second to the youngest, our eldest is Inda Lai, the one in Malaysia now, next to her is Itting who is Bongao, Tawi-tawi with her family with two children, and me working in Manila now, then our youngest Queng-queng in Zamboanga City who is graduating this year . I don't know why we are not together now, but there is one thing that I'm sure of, we will always love each other, and we show support to one another despite the distances. I know our parents in heaven now are also happy with us.

Oscar Best Picture Collection

Just got home from Mall of Asia to check for DVD/VCD on sales (para makamura hehe)..Right now, I'm collecting the Oscar Best Picture Winners from 1920's to present. Currently there are 81 Best Picture recognized by the Academy Award, and I know that I can collect all of them, although for films from 1920's to 60's are harder to find, I could order online for them just to complete the collection.

The first Best Picture I bought is the 2001 winner, A Beautiful Mind of Ron Howard and Russel Crowe which is one of my personal favorite films and to date I already have 9 Best Picture Films. (all original copies) Why just 9?'coz I just realized collecting them this year after buying Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977 winner) this August. Since then I have been able to collect Titanic (1997), Gladiator (2000), The Departed (2006), No Country for Old Man (2007), Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and just added to the collection are Forrest Gump (1994) and Shakespeare in love (1998).

This coming payday, 2 0r 3 more films will be added to my collection (that really depends on the budget hehe..)

Greatest Movie Collection and a Home Theater

One of my personal goals in life is to have my own mini - theater room with one big television (start from regular flat screen to every latest model released), a Media Player (starts with regular DVD to Blue Ray player) with sound-surround stereos and a big red couch on a round red carpet. On both sides of my TV are thousands of movies, videos and music collection. It should be placed in a cabinet with a transparent glass cover. My movies are organized by actors, director, genre and Oscar Best Picture winners. Actors like Russel Crowe, Johny Depp, Bruce Willis, Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks will be placed in one compartment. Directors like Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, M. Night Shaymalan will also be separated in one of the compartments. Best Picture for Oscar will also be separated and the rest will be grouped by genre not limited to Action, Comedy, Drama, Love Story, Thriller and Adventure.

Currently I have almost 200 original copies of films and they are placed safely inside the box, honestly, I haven't watched some of the movies yet. I watch them during my off or whenever I have a time on my 2-year old laptop or in a regular TV and DVD player at home.

I can't wait to have this Greatest Movie Collection and a Home Theater, I know with in 5 years from now this starts to become real.