RPG Metanoia is astonishing - A movie review

Went into a digital theater with high expectation for RPG Mentanoia despite being the pioneer 3D Filipino film. Put my 3D glasses on as soon as movie started but tried flipping it and checked what the visuals like without the glasses on. Well, the 3D is not as promising as Hollywood films but the movie as a whole is really astonishing. The animation was beautifully created so as the story and characters.

The movie centers on a boy named Nico (Zaijan Ranilla ) whose passion is computer gaming. He spends most of his time in a virtual world and plays the Role Playing Game (RPG) Metanoia. It's an interactive game where you can design your own avatar, level-up and get to fight bad guys along with your friends. But when Nico and his company lost the game he was leading, they were thrown out from the computer shop by some bullies and was not permitted to step a foot ever again. Outside the shop they get to experience the real game like normal kids do as Nico's mom (Eugene Domingo) wished him to be. But when the world of Metanoia got infected by some malware and paralyzes its users including their loved ones, it's up for Nico, May, Bryan, Bobby and Mark to lead the remaining players of the RPG to save the other world they lived in.

The film sticks to its authenticity as it shows 100% Pinoy through out the film. It features the Pinoy food like bangus, longanisa ang games 'laro ng lahi' like 'sipa', 'piko', 'syatong', 'tumbang lata' and 'patintero'. These were shown and presented beautifully in Nico's real world and even in the virtual world of Metanoia, some of the background settings were noticeably authentic which really shows that creator has been carefully taken small details into consideration to stay true to its goal of promoting Filipino values and culture despite the modernity of its plot. It's also filled with humor that everyone can relate to (one instance is how kids picked their names for their avatar), which is simple but made the film more meaningful.

What amazed me most was the fight scenes which were made outside mediocrity. It was magical in its own simple way and amazingly creative. Though young voices in the film showed some opportunities for improvement, the other characters like Eugene Domingo, Aga Muhlach (Daddy) and Vhong Navaro (shop owner) did pretty well. In general, the movie is a great breakthrough, it's a technical achievement in local film-making history that even most of us didn't think of achieving this sooner. It's a realization for our local aspiring animators who have been passionately involved in advocating animation in our country and as a former member of academe, I've seen young minds who are really seeing themselves in the future making something out of this passion and what's left for the rest of us is the utmost support and appreciation. It was really a good idea that the film was introduced during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) where it can get more attention that it deserves. RPG Metanoia is amazingly beautiful and I've never been this proud for a locally-produced film. See it for yourself.

My Best 10 Films of 2010

2010 is almost over and Oscar is busy screening the next best movie of the year (not until February) . But if you would be given the chance to list your own best 10 movies of 2010 what are those?...Check out my own list (also available in Imdb.com click here).

10. Ip Man 2

If you have enjoyed the first movie, there is no reason for you not to enjoy this sequel. Donnie Yen (Ip Man) shows more of Wing Chun Martial Arts in this film. Unlike the first part, the second film got a happier ending. The last fight against Western Martial Art is my favorite part. I heard Ip Man 3 is on the works, we shall see if got the same punches like its predecessors

9. My Name Is Khan

Bollywood film that will make your heart melt. A story of an autistic Muslim Indian who goes to America and fulfills a promise for someone he loves and that promise is to see the President of America. Funny and filled with love and hope, My Name Is Khan is a type of movie that you would want to watch over and over again and you just like it more and more every time.

8. The Town

Forget the Ben Affleck of Armageddon and the pathetic Daredevil and focus to Ben who directed and starred in this one the most critically-acclaimed films of 2010, The Town. I've never imagined him becoming a good director 'coz Ben Affleck is just the worst actor I've ever known in Hollywood. After watching his first directorial effort "Gone Baby Gone" thought it was just a beginner's luck, but after watching The Town, damn, I can't just wait for his next film (as a director, still don't like him as an actor though). The Town was beautifully written and amazingly acted. I would be so sad if this won't be nominated as one of the best films in Oscar.

7. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

The funniest comedy film that I've watched this year. The film is presented in a video-game-like where Scott has to defeat several characters with extra-ordinary powers to earn points and to win his love interest. He gets power-up and gadgets and can earn extra life too. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is an example of a very unique way of making people laugh.

6. The Expendables

Ever since the buzz about Sly and these action stars in a movie came out, I've never been so eager to watch it. The film was completed and finally released in theaters after a year. And just like what I expected the film filled with never-seen action thrills with never-seen all-stars line-up. It gets your adrenaline pumping from beginning to end. And at the end of the film it makes you shout for more. Let's just keep our fingers crossed for the sequel next year or on 2012.

5. How To Train Your Dragon

I've always liked animated films and I have watched a lot of them this year, while some of them are just 'ok', two (or three if I expand my list to 15) of this year's animated film really stood out. Apart from Woody and Buzz adventure, I was amazed by Hiccup and Toothless in How To Train Your Dragon. Their unlikely type of friendship would make you believe that everything is really possible once done with courage and heart. Funny and moving.

4. Toy Story 3

The best animated film I've watched this year. I'm not really much of a fan of Toy Story series but it took a while for me to move on with its story. Nearly cried at the end of the film (when Andy played his toys for the last time). It's seldom for an animated film that would make you do that. May be the last Toy Story film that the Pixar will ever create but that magic that brought to our hearts will stay in it to infinity and beyond.

3. The Kids Are Alright

This film is the most honest movie that I've seen this year. Everything was so simple but smooth, there was no exaggeration done on the story. Most movies are done in a way it appears to be cinematic but 'The Kids Are All Right' is just what it is, a reflection of what's really happening out there somewhere. The acting was outstanding especially Annette Bening, hope she wins the Oscar this time. This movie reminds me of George Clooney's Up in the Air last year for some reason. Surely one of the all-time favorites.

2. The Social Network

The second best movie I've seen this year. One of the strongest contenders for this year's Oscar Best Picture. Be amazed on how a nerdy Harvard student turned out to be one of the world's billionaire by creating the famous social site Facebook. The film is well acted and beautifully presented. David Fincher is really amazing, He makes magic from out of almost everything. From fiction drama to biographic to mind blowing thriller, he is just one of the versatile directors in Hollywood, perhaps the best one after Steven Spielberg.

1. Inception

The best movie I've watched this year. Christopher Nolan made every ingredient of a film that you think of worked out perfectly in this film. Drama, suspense, action, thriller, sci-fi, with great musical score, mind-blowing special effects, not to mention the never-heard-plot before, great performances, name it! Inception is an example of a film that every director or movie writers should create, where everything is new and unique. Oscar should really name this as Best Picture or at least Christopher Nolan as the Best Director.

The Origin of A**holes

I just don't understand why some people have to be assholes. I envy their consistency sometimes on how they can move you big time with their simple words or actions. It's amazing that you don't even see them exerting effort to mess with you. Really, been thinking about it, how do they multiply? Anywhere you go, one or two of their kind follow you. Their like shadows that you can never can get rid of, a very sophisticated shadow that glows in the dark, isn't that cute!

Anyway, I bumped with this type of human form at work. Though the collision wasn't really that hard it was enough for me to be sent to our OM for a talk. Her first question was, "Is there a problem with your RS?". Apparently they call him RS which stands for Resolution Specialist, but not to me as he f*cks up almost everything. He comes up too strong, a too-proud type of person that you would think has been in position for quite awhile. But guess what? He is just a starter, amazing right? Sometimes I ask my self if it's just me or maybe I'm new and I don't know him so well so I have to give a time to get along with. Then I found out that my colleagues are also having issues with him. I know it's not enough for me or us to judge him but whatever he is doing, it's not just so healthy. I don't know what he is trying to prove. Though he seems smart, in some ways (maybe), but most of the time, he is just really an asshole. I'm sorry can't think of any lighter words. I can't use stronger words than that here hehehe.

But we can't just keep people like these tormenting us everyday. I mean it's not that we need to fight back physically or to answer them back (though I did twice). We need to find a shield that wont let him enjoy whatever his doing. What I'm doing (as of the moment) which I know sometimes don't work 'coz there are times it becomes too unbearable, I just ignore him . Ignore his ways of making me feel so small, idiot, or whatever words that associate with making you so insignificant, I think "belittling" is the exact word. He does that unfortunately. But what's funny about it the more he does that the more he appears to be less-capable or dumber to me . I guess that's why people wear badge visibly to let other know that their strong, smart, but deep inside they feel incompetent (I can justify how he appears to be like, but that's not the point I'm arriving at) and I think that's where asshole originated from. They can't just level with you in some ways, too bad!

So that is just my own view on that matter. I know we tend be assholes ourselves to anyone but making it a hobby 'coz you are really enjoying it, that's already something else. But let's not forget that people do change and who knows some of these assholes will become your best buddy, though it's kinda difficult with the person that I'm talking about but still possible and I wanna hold on to that possibility (fingers crossed). Blessed afternoon to everyone!

We Were Soldiers

Still wiping off my misty eyes while writing this blog. And I've never cried like this over a movie in a very long time. As you can see from the above picture I'm referring to "We Were Soldiers" of Mel Gibson. It's an old film but I just got the chance to see the beauty of it today. It's a two hour film and the moment it started 'til its very end I got my self sobbing over each scene. It's a war film but the movie is not just all about it. While most movies of the same genre are made with beautiful ending that you can celebrate their victory with, We Were Soldiers got a different one. Perhaps they were victorious for some reason but the ending is just so sad but uplifting at the same time. As you started watching the film you would know that most of them would die in the end, but still it won't make you prepared enough not to take it emotionally. The last 30 mins of the film is just the best part where everyone was struggling for survival, caught between orders and dignity. Col. Morris (Mel Gibson) as the commanding officer that lead the troupe against Vietnam soldiers that stayed true to his words 'til the very end. He never faltered, kept his faith to God and to his people. One journalist in the film that joined the war to cover the story made the film so interesting, one character that made the movie unique from other war films. For me, apart from the Col. Hal Morris, Joe Galloway (the journalist) is one the most significant characters in the film, his part was short but very powerful. He said, not in verbatim though "If I can't help to stop war, then I would just help to understand it". Which is really true, no one can stop war, and none of us understands it either. The movie however is not about how you would understand the war, but it's a question to everyone of us. Some of us witness it, our loved ones are even involved, but we never understand what we are really fighting for. It makes sense to me because if we do, there would be no war otherwise. 'Coz people fight because of misunderstanding, the order was never put into place for both parties resulting to collision, and the casualties are even bigger than what we want to achieve.

As one of the critics said on the movie poster says "The best war film in years" and indeed 'We Were Soldiers' is extra ordinary, one of the best movies I've watched, another film added to my all-time favorites. For those who haven't watched it yet, please do so, and see the beauty of the film yourself. 'Til next movie experience, Great Friday to everyone!

Moving to a New Home

After a year of staying in a fully furnished house in Boni, Mandaluyong, I decided to move to a smaller but more comfortable room of my own in Cubao. It's just a plain room with no bed or anything, so I really have to start buying my own stuff. Though I haven't officially moved yet (not until this 15th) I already checked the place this afternoon and got my self a comfortable cushion with sheet for my bed and a desk fan (no not a desktop lols).

There's nothing wrong with my current place though, it's just really far from my work, since we were moved to different site in Eastwood. Apart from distance I'm really spending a lot for my fare, so it's time consuming and pocket depleting at the same time and not to mention your effort for taking three rides (or six rides back and forth) plus the super crowd in MRT. I couldn't stand having my face almost next to the train's window glass every time and sometimes if you feel unlucky you will be standing next to someone who is drunk or smelly. But sometimes, when you are lucky, you will be surrounded with pretty girls (evil smile), but that's very rare. The new place has no cable tv anymore, no fridge, no hot and cold purified water and no unlimited wi-fi access. So I'll be back to using my mobile Globe broadband so I can get on line once in a while. But at least I got privacy, all my stuff is secure, and I can wash my own clothes, cook any food I want, these are the things that I didn't have despite the luxury I mention above, not so bad right? I'm hoping too that I'll be able to save up this time.

Western Digital again!

In a world where everything is digital, losing a single file is almost unbearable. It's even more tormenting when your PC just starts to freeze and you can't do anything but to have it reformatted. Reformatting is never an issue but the files that you have been keeping since day one is. In my case I can't imagine losing the most important files in my drive, and these are my mp3s and my precious movies. And just this week, I realized that that my PC is really getting older, it's almost five years already and though it still works normally (at least for most part of it) except for battery which only lasts for 5 to 10 mins and the optical drive which doesn't read anything anymore, I feel like it's gonna give up on me very soon. And what I'm afraid of, in case it crashes and I have to reformat it and since the optical drive won't work how would I reinstall the OS? Plus I don't have the installer for drivers and all. You can think of the worst think can possibly happen to my Jurrasic laptop. Poor me. I'm thinking of getting a new one but that would be very costly, so I just decided to have a portable hard drive for me to at least back-up the files for the mean time in case it the doom starts. So I closed my eyes and picked 3,000 pesos from my wallet and purchased a 500GB external hard disk this afternoon and started doing the back-up. Wish I would be able to save enough money for a new laptop before anything happen to my current one.

I got a 500GB Western Digital portable hard drive, my second one actually. The first one which is already full is a 250GB which was given to me as a gift by one of my best friends (I always get gagdets as a gift from us, so lucky me hehe). I don't have issue so far with WD so I think it's a good brand. It comes with one year warranty. And besides I was able to get a 310 pesos discount. I looked around this afternoon in almost every computer shops in different malls, the price is almost 4,000 or even higher. I found a stall in Cubao called Compex and they were on sales and before I knew it I was making my way to MRT station with a plastic bag in my hand with the portable hard drive in it. Cool!

Your way to Neverland

"Time is chasing after all of us" said by Mrs. Snow in the film "Finding Neverland". This is the line that really lingers on me after watching the film two days ago. I was so surprised that even "Peter Pan" got an interested story to tell. It may sound so babyish at first but the film requires a deeper understanding that even normal adults sometimes may not be able to conceive its point...But before I go on with this, I just want to point out that this is not a movie review, but rather an emphasis of how movie somehow affects our lives or how we see things in a positive way. Anyway, the film is about the story of James Barrie (starred by Johnny Depp) and the people that inspired him to create Peter Pan (the flying boy with a fairy friend Tinker Bell). It started as a play in London before it became an animated film that now every kid loves. The people that inspired him were not just the ones who believed in him, but also the people who hated him.

The movie requires you to at least know a little story about Peter Pan, otherwise you'll get yourself asking what is the film about up to the end of it (but I guess everyone knows the story of Peter Pan). Every character in the story even the crocodile that always carries the clock has a very significant part in the play. Something that tells us that everything surrounds us plays a very important role in our very own story. In reality we also have our own crocodile with its own clock telling us "hey! time won't wait for you, keep your ass moving". Yeah for sure sometimes you need to take things slow, how slow it can be, that's really up to you. It's an advantage if you know how fast this crocodile can catch up. And you always know what happens if it catches you, so you better move as fast as you can while avoiding to fall.

There are more to tell about the film and I'm leaving it with you to discover them. It's very touching and full of lessons that maybe helpful in dealing your own issues in life, perhaps in finding your own Neverland. 'Till next movie experience, Happy Monday to everyone!

Ben Affleck's The Town

Before we start talking about the film "The Town" let's go back to history a bit with its director Ben Affleck. I first saw him in Good Will Hunting, one of the best movies of 1997 which won 2 Oscars including Best in Screenplay for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Both of them starred in the film but I totally didn't care about Affleck, I remember me and my colleagues saying back then that Ben didn't do anything for the movie and that it was just Matt Damon who did all the works that's why they won the Oscar. I honestly never liked him, he is the worst and pathetic actor I've ever known in Hollywood. His past films like Gigli, Bounce and the douche-bag superhero Daredevil are just some of the worst films in history. Ten years after, Ben Affleck decided to come back and made a good name in Hollywood and that's through working behind the camera, as the front man Director. His first full directorial effort was "Gone Baby Gone" in 2007 which received positive reviews from critics and viewers and managed to get one nod in Oscar. Though I like the film Gone Baby Gone, I still didn't much appreciate him, thinking it was just a beginner's luck or something. Not until this year when the buzz came out that he is coming back to direct the Oscar nominated actor Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, Chris Cooper and Blake Lively in the new film The Town. His second works as a director has received better reviews than his first and even managed to open as number one on its first week in North America. The film is also being considered as one of the contenders for Oscar Best Picture and Best Director. Want to know why? You can see it for yourself, but in the mean time you can go on reading my brief movie review below.

The title 'The Town' refers to Charlestown in Boston where crimes is just part of people day to day life (as emphasized in the beginning of the film). A group of friends headed by Doug(Affleck) and Jem (Renner) robbed a bank (while wearing masks) and took Claire (Rebecca Hall), the bank's manager as a hostage. They freed Claire eventually and the group moved on with their normal lives. When they found out that Claire was just living in the neighborhood, Doug started to check on her and fell for her. The two began an intimate relationship while Claire wasn't totally aware of what was going on. She had no idea that the man she was sleeping with was the same man that asked her to open the vault in the bank, the same man that took her as hostage. The movie goes on for more than two hours, but I'm telling you every scene is just so good as it showcases the talent of each actor which is so fit in to their characters. Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall and Blake Lively are the best performers in the film. Jon Hamm as an FBI agent did pretty good as well, though Ben Affleck did some good acting, he was outshone by his fellow actors. Filled with intense action and drama, The Town is just the one of the finest crime movies that has been adapted on screen. An Oscar worthy. And to Director Ben Affleck, what can I say? I think he just found his cup of tea and should really just stick with it.

Oscar Race

Not missing a single movie doesn't make you an official movie geek if you don't know which movies are great or not. And when I say great movies I mean its an Oscar standard. A lot of people are still confused with Oscar Award from Golden Globe and other Hollywood award giving bodies. Just an FYI for everybody, Oscar Award is the prestigious and the highest award for Hollywood films. Once you're an Oscar winner that means you are really good and that you have attained the highest value of being an actor or a filmmaker.

Perhaps most of the movies that we love are either nominated or an Oscar winner. A perfect example of this are Titanic and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King which both won the Best Picture. E.T, Jaws, Sixth Sense and the latest films like, Up, The Blind Side and Avatar were also nominated for Best Picture category. While most of our all-time fave actors and actresses that are making a lot of money for each movie they make are Oscar winners too (though some of them are not much making box office movies anymore). Of course I'm talking about Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington, Russel Crowe, Meryl Streep, Resse Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock who are Oscar winners while Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise were nominated at least once in acting category. The trophy and the nods that they get make these stars glitter than what they used to be. And besides the money, they give their best effort to have an award, not just an award but an Oscar Award.

Most of my favorite movies and actors are also Oscar winners. Let's start with my fave actor Russel Crowe who has been nominated twice as Best Actor and won once for portraying as Maximus in the film Gladiator which also won Best Picture. He was also nominated a year after for portraying the lead role of John Nash Jr biography in A Beautiful Mind which also won the Best Picture. A Beautiful Mind is my all time favorite movie, the very first movie that I really adore. I fell in love with its cinematography, the screenplay, actor's performances, the plot and everything. Watched the movie for several times.

Before A Beautiful Mind, one movie that started it all was Titanic. This is the film that turned me into a movie freak basically. I was still in my first year high school when I started to get hooked up to it, but due to some reasons I have only watched limited number of movies then, I didn't have enough money to go to cinemas, we didn't even have a VHS player then, I just relied on my cousins who also love watching movies, so I only watched what they had then. But now, due to the abundance of dvds and vcds plus the free download and streaming online I can already watch whatever movies that I want to watch. Plus I got enough money now to buy myself a ticket to watch cinemas, even in HD and 3D. So since 1997, I have watched maybe thousands of movies and collected almost 500 dvds, vcds, and downloads of my favorite movies.

Going back to Oscar Award which takes place by February where movies that are released from this year will be racing for Best Pictures trophy. Oscar buzzes are already available online and I'm glad that I have watched most of the movies that would possibly end up in top 10 nominees for the award. These are Inception, The Social Network, Toy Story , How to Train your Dragon and The Kids are Alright. Other movies in the list like Ghost Writer and The Winter's Bone are also next in line since I got the copy of the these two films, just need time to watch 'em. So far The Social Network and Inception are my personal choice to win this February. Though 127 Hours is also strong as well as The Town, I couldn't just give comments for now since I haven't watched them yet. But whatever will win, for sure they really deserve it, otherwise it won't get even nominated. Oscar Awards winners will be announced this Feb 27, 2011.

A lifelike movie

Wished life is like a movie, where ending or conclusion of the whole thing is confirmed at the end of two or three hours. Though sometimes it got a sequel but at least you won't have to wait for a lifetime for it to end, sad or happy ending, at least it ends and you move on to the next movie and start over with different characters, different people, a brand new experience, totally new adventure. But of course we all know life isn't like that. But seriously, what are these movies for?Aside from entertainment (and we know that very well) that makes you laugh, cry, scared the shi* out of you, what else? Is making you full of hopes that everything will be ok soon a part of it? What if everything won't turn out to be ok?what now?..I just don't understand sometimes. No matter how you tried yourself to look at the bright side the other side just keeps catching up, it's like a race, your vision becomes unclear and this dark side is really competitive you know!. Grrr, I feel so pathetic thinking about the problems that have been around for century.

You might be wondering what's this ranting all about?I'm writing this not because I'm blaming my family nor I blame myself for how things are going right now. Its just that you don't know who to blame and to whom you can talk to, so just let this blog take all of it. For sure it listens and speaks for you, though it won't give you any advises at all. Anyway, the problem of the century that I'm referring to is 'money'...simple thing, but yes, without it, everything falls out of place (atleast for our family). You work hard or harder than you thought to provide your family, sacrifice your personal needs and dreams just to give them money' at least to help them with their everyday need, still not enough for them. Sometimes I really wished mom and dad were still alive to back me up for all of these. I mean I may not be giving them a big amount but at least I'm helping them, I don't have my own savings for crying out loud. I'm getting older and soon I'll be alone, who will take care of myself when that happens?..I want to have a family of my own too. Don't they see it. How can I start saving up for myself if all the extra money that I earn goes to them? I know these thoughts or sentences I'm writing here just don't go with one another anymore (just forgive my sentence construction and all that). I hope I have the courage to tell them that they can't just leave everything to me, I mean I have to earn for my self as well [Big sigh..really big sigh]

This is long enough for a drama movie, I'm not used to it 'coz I'm into funny stuff. Anyway, for sure there will always be a way how to end everything with smile. If this is a movie for sure my director is doing a lot of cuts and retakes to make this movie inspiring and he is having a hard time now (hehehe)..and in case it ends not so good this time, then expect a sequel and I'll make sure it's gonna be a happy ending..'til next part, great day everyone..smile",)...

Production Floor here we come

Two weeks of nesting period is over and we are heading to the floor next week (this coming Saturday already). Well, don't know if I still feel the excitement 'coz we will be doing the same thing as what we've been doing for past two weeks in OCP basically. Glad that we were not ask to extend for another week, though we would love that 'coz we have two hours of training, which means we only have 6 hours phone call left (petiks mode hehe).

I don't feel the pressure just yet, maybe because scorecards are not yet rolled out and I think that I was able to handle the task just fine. After all I've been in call center industry for almost two years now, so call handling is not really an issue at all. I just need to learn more about the troubleshooting and the tools are still strange to me, it takes time I know.

I'm looking forward to be enjoying my work in Dell. And besides it's time for me to get elevated, I know it's pretty early since its been what?two months with Dell?..but considering my stay (a year and 5 months) with Sitel since at&t, it's already something and who knows 2011 is just my luck year. I can start with being an Resolution Specialist (RS) maybe then a Trainer position, which is really my goal, my passion. Thinking of all these makes me really wanna go to work everyday.

Glad that I Passed the Certification

I passed the certification for Dell account successfully last Friday. I thought I was gonna retake it. My score wasn't really outstanding but at least I made it with only one take. Only half of us passed but the rest got a chance to retake it for the last time. Hope they will make it too.

We still have one more week to complete the Product Training. A week after that we will be endorsed to production floor and we'll start taking live calls already. I kinda miss talking to Americans for some reason, I miss taking calls.

I'll be turning a year and five months with Sitel tomorrow (Nov 8). Hopefully I'll be promoted to a trainer or at least floorwalker before I'll turn two years. I know it's a bit hard 'coz I'll be back to square one with Dell, but of course it's possible and I'm gonna work on it Inshallah (In God will). So for now, I got to do what I have to do out there and be the best that I can be.

One of the Best Weekends in Pampanga

These photos were randomly taken during our trip to Pampanga. Had a three-day consecutive off then so I took the time to unwind. Thanks to my closest friend Fhadzralyn for the invitation, it was not really planned actually but it turned out to be one of the best weekends I ever had.

Outside Clark

At Nayon Pilipino riding the old-style Pilipino Jeepney

With Aeta, The old katutubo (also in Nayon Pilipino)

At Fontana Village

Stayed overnight in an affordable hotel

Had dinner in Gerry's Grill in SM Clark

A Movie to Remember

This film was referred to me by Jigz, our trainer in Dell. It's a Korean love story whom he said was really a tearjerker. Jigz said that he cried his heart out with this film. I don't really watch Korean film or any foreign films that much (aside from Hollywood movies of course) but because the review was really good I took time looking for it. So I looked for the film and searched it in torrent. Luckily, it was available and downloaded it completely after an overnight download (apparently, it got lesser seeds, and my connection was a bit slow, so it really took time).

The movie is about a young couple whose love was tested with the wife ended up having an Alzheimer disease. The plot was very simple, but it was how the story was presented in general that made the movie very sweet but really sad. Actors were really good, especially the husband. His different facial expressions from the part that he met her to the part of almost loosing her was really shown on his face. Most scenes towards the end would really make you cry from the inside. Though you would know somehow how the movie will end, there are still scenes that are unpredictable, especially the very last scene which will really make you sigh and would make you wipe your cheeks one more time.

I bet Nicholas Sparks is really envious about this film 'coz the movie shows what his The Notebook somehow missed. It was indeed a wonderful movie, worth remembering. A Moment To Remember film marks the fourth Asian film (excluding Pinoy Films) that I watched this year. So far none of them disappoints me. 'Til next great movie experience, have a great Sunday to everyone!

Slice n' Dice

Two weeks of training is over, four weeks more before we hit the production floor. I'm excited but nervous at the same time. I honestly don't feel so confident handling customer's issue yet, there are a lot of stuff that I have be acquainted with first. Hope everything will be covered in four remaining weeks.

While training, I still have time to relax, coz it's not much tiring. And besides we are on a day shift, so my life is normal for six weeks hehe. No more lack of sleep, the only drawback is there is no Night Differential, so my salary is 30% lower compare to what I normally receive. But it's ok, as long as I get to pay my rent and buy personal stuff. Anyway December bonus is just two months aways hehe.

Yesterday I skipped again the drinking session with my team. They know that I don't drink anyway, though it's awkward to always decline their invitation, I don't have much a choice but to turn it down, 'coz it involves my religion and they know it, so I'd rather handle the awkwardness. So me and my fellow agent who chose not to drink went ahead and I invited them instead to try the T-bone Steak in Slice n' Dice. And it was very satisfying. I also like the Stir Fry Kangkong with mushroom. I wish to be going back there sometime and try the other menu.

Me and Queenie with our order T-Bone Steak (with unlimited rice) for just Php 119.00

Bob with beer-float and T-Bone Steak

Stir Fry Kangkong. This has mushroom too, and it's very satisfying for just Php 95.00

I Love Sony

Got a new headset for myself finally after planning to buy one for almost a month. I got a Sony Headset which cost Php 2,500.00, the most expensive headset I have. It's pretty cool that I could put it on the whole day without feeling my ears. I don't even feel it on my head after wearing it for an hour. It really sounds great and works perfectly with my Sony Erickson Walkman phone.

I was planning to buy just a thousand-worth of headset and was eying for Pioneer or Philips. But when I tried the Sony, for some reason, all of a sudden, I decided to buy it, maybe because of my phone which is also under Sony. I feel so attached to Sony Brands now, maybe my next laptop is Sony and I will get a Sony HD TV and Blue-ray player in the future. Who knows?After all it's Sony, one of a reputable brands. We work hard to earn more and to improve the quality of our lives and that should manifest in everything we do, with everything we have. So there is no such thing as expensive, only 'quality'. Good night everyone!

There is nothing so exciting than doing what your heart really desires

I love my schedule this week (day time shift 7am to 4pm). I reached home earlier today 'coz Jigs (our trainer) sent us home 30 minutes earlier, since we finished the module ahead. I was able to skip the traffic and the peak hour for MRT. My head is not aching anymore like yesterday too. Maybe because I slept for more than ten hours last night.

We started with the training in Dell (did I already mention this?) last Monday and I'm really enjoying it. New people, new workplace, new stuff to do everyday, new learning, which means new adventure. It was easier for me to be at ease on training since I'm with some my colleagues from u-verse. The learning environment is comfortable and our trainer (Jigz) seems pretty cool.

Dell is really a tough account 'coz you need to do a hardcore troubleshooting with the customer over the phone, more than doing diagnostic on the problems, you really need to dismantle and reassemble the pc (both laptop and desktop). I honestly know a little about troubleshooting since I worked with old computer units before, but I'm confident that I will be able to learn a lot during the training. So far we were exposed to different computer models and peripheral that we will be supporting. It's really cool 'coz most computers are really new and highly advanced. And as what Jigz said, if you have worked for Dell, it's really a feather on your cup, since it's a big company, and if you do good, any Dell companies world wide can hire you and I'm looking forward to that.

Transferring to Dell was a bit rough for me at first, I had to apply to other company thinking I won't be admitted. I really thought I was gonna be transferred to a Sales account, which I strongly disapproved ever since. But God is really good for me (Alhamdulillah!), He gave me to Dell 'coz He knew it's what my heart wants. That's why no matter how far my place to Libis - Eastwood is, I'm still excited to go to work everyday. There is nothing so exciting than doing what your heart really desires. And as long as you believe that you can do it, there is nothing impossible, just let your self out there and always keep the faith. 'Til next time, great Tuesday night to everyone!

Thank you Sitel - U-verse team.

The end had come. For the very last time, the at&t u-verse team spent time together for a farewell party. Though the last working day was last Thursday, Sitel organized a night for everyone to be together and celebrate the great job that the team accomplished for previous months. It was indeed a wonderful journey for everyone.

Though I don't hangout in a place like pub or bar (or whatever you call it) where everyone drinks alcohol and get drunk, I still joined the team, of course I didn't drink (Audhubillah!) and glad that my supervisors and the team respected that. Actually if there is one thing that I have gained from the team, aside from the skills and knowledge and the friendship, it's their respect for my religion as a Muslim. Though at first they were so surprised that someone like me don't really eat pork, drink at all or even smoke, which is really different from what most Manila people do (despite of their religion), they never made me feel unwelcome and different. Although there are times that there were jokes about me being terrorist or selling pirates dvds (lols), but that was it, I know those were jokes and you can feel that they didn't mean it and it's part of being comfortable to one another.

And during Ramadhan (I spent two Ramadhan in at&t u-verse) where I had to take my breaks so early and sometimes so late 'coz I need to follow a certain time to eat, I didn't need to explain myself much and they just let me observe Ramadhan without struggling, they really made it easy for me (Alhamdulillah). And there are a lot of instances where everyone gets to eat pizza and food for free, and of course it's natural for them to have pork in the menu (which I really understand), my bosses exerted their effort to have a separate food for me that I can eat, which is really very touching. I didn't expect them to do that, not at all, but to my surprised, they did and it was heartwarming, really a beautiful feeling.

There a lot of things that I'm always thankful for, but the above instances are the most important to me, it always has a great impact to me. To my coaches and trainers, from Nathan, my very first trainer, to Coach Melai, my very first coach and my real mentor, both inside and outside work, to Coach PV, to Candy (who always takes care of my locked password, and my trainer as well) down to my last Coach Luther, you guys really rock. To all the RTAs and to the rest of the at&t u-verse team that includes my teams and other agents, thanks to all of you guys. You made my very first call center job very meaningful and full of colors.

It's just so hard to say goodbye, but we say it anyway, not because we are ready to end things at once and put them in the box we call it "past", but because memories are best treasured and well-kept if it's in it and we always carry it with us through times.

Actual pictures during the Party will be posted here soon, enjoy these two photos during the last two days for the mean time

the very last u-verse call in Sitel, taken by Jaime

the whole team posed on the floor for the last time

Goodbye at&t u-verse

Last night was our last shift with at&t u-verse in Sitel. Everyone updated their Facebook status with goodbyes and farewell messages. Some kept on saying "Good luck" to one another. Most of us took the last pictures, packed our stuff, turned over the headset and our key lockers. It wasn't easy though, especially for some of us who started the call center career with at&t u-verse in Sitel. I, for example started the first call center job with at&t u-verse, and for more than a year with the company, I can say that I really learned a lot of things.

More than other jobs, being a call center agent takes a lot of patience and perseverance for you to succeed. It really takes a lot of extra effort. Just imagine you would stay awake the whole night and leave the house or reach home late or early dawn, you don't only put your health at risk but putting yourself in danger as well. Then the moment you put your headset on, calls start coming in and you would be grateful if you will just get a single irate customer that keeps on swearing at you, that no matter how you get used to it you still can't stop yourself from being upset or mad at them (though you don't really let them know that you really are). You hold on to your temper and keep on uplifting your spirit that they are not mad at you but at the service that your company you are working for. Well you represent the company so it's still the same, you deserve their yelling (at least according to them). You will also learn to multi-task, pulling up the customers account, checking their profile while talking to them understanding their concern while fighting your self to be awake. You tend to keep the work done precisely in a very timely manner.

A lot of people criticize our job 'coz it doesn't require a degree to make a career out of it. Yes it doesn't, but it's one hell of a job. A job that's even more rewarding than other professional jobs. It's saddening that here in our country, teachers, engineers and some professional jobs get lower salary that we do as call center agents. Well, maybe because we deserve it after all.

My Sitel at&t u-verse Family

Some of my teammates (LtoR) Coach Luther Mejia, Virginia, QA Brent, Chui and Me

Boring

Boring...don't know what else to do, I ate, watched new season of CSI but still feel so bored today. I only had one rest day and yet it feels like a week. It's not really my legal rest day, but my head was freaking aching last night so I informed my supervisor that I won't be going to work last night.

Tonight will be my last shift this week, the last shift with at&t account then it's my rest for three days. Don't have plans yet, don't know what to do, I got to have plans to entertain myself apart from watching a lot of movies 'coz it for three freaking days or I'll kill myself with boredom. Maybe I'll text Genie or Bien or Dats for whatever plans they have in mind hehehe..Good luck to me tomorrow..

Aftershock

Just done watching a Chinese film called "Aftershock". I came to know about the film when it was featured in one of the pages in my Facebook account. The movie was praised with positive feedback though I didn't read the whole review I already thought the film is a nice film to watch. I immediately looked for the movie online and found a copy of it and downloaded it and indeed, it's a good film. Your heart will cry to it from first to last.

The movie was based from a true story about the earthquake tragedy in China in 1970s. The story of a simple but happy family who got separated by the disastrous event. The aftershock made them suffer for almost their lifetime 'til one day, after 32 years, the same tragedy happened that brought these people together and were able to patch things up, healed the long overdue wounds and longing. "Aftershock" may not be the best tragedy-drama movie that you would ever see, but it's worth watching as it would inspire you to deal with you own aftershocks in life.

So far, this year there are two good foreign films that I have seen, the first one was an inspiring Indian film "My Name Is Khan" and this one. Too bad movies like these don't get a chance to be shown here in our place. I'm looking forward for more heart-warming and inspiring movies like these and I would always share it here. 'Til next time.

It's finally Dell

Relaxing at home while listening to Train's Save Me San Francisco album. I was not a fan at first, except for their old hits "Drop of Jupiter", but when I saw their album available online and downloaded it and started listening to it, darn it, i just can't stop listening anymore, their songs are really irresistible. "Parachute" and "It's Not Goodbye" are my favorite.

What have I been doing lately?Well, everything seems the same, normal week, nothing seems especial. Though still thinking about having another job next month, but I know too much thinking will just pass. I tried my luck in different companies, I made it in one company but the offer was not good. Though the basic is a bit higher than my previous job, you won't get the basic salary 'til you pass the training stage for a month, so I thought where will I get my money to pay my rent for the whole month. So I just decided to stay with Sitel with Dell account, it's a bit far (in Libis) but I'll give it a try, the account is pretty cool and for sure I will learn a lot. Training starts this Oct 4th and that would give me four days rest after our last day with at&t this month.

I'm ok with Sitel, but I still wanna know if there still better opportunities for me out there. I might apply in other centers and who knows I might just get the best one there is. Keeping fingers crossed, Inshallah!

Mall of Asia Escapade with Bien, Rex and Sweet

Had a great time with Bien, Rex, and Sweet (Alvin) in Mall of Asia tonight. We had a never ending stories about our new careers here in Manila and the past experiences in STI. It was our first bonding time since we moved to metro. Rex was our clinical instructor and Sweet was our math teacher while Bien and I were IT instructors in STI.

We talked things over roasted chicken and some menus in El Pollo Loco. After eating around 10pm, we decided not to go home yet and sung our lungs out in Timezone karaoke booth. I reached home around past 12 midnight already. Everyone enjoyed it, especially me, that's the only fun I have apart from watching movies in cinema.

Hope next time, other STI friends here in metro like Nikka, Genie, Anale and Amor can already join us. It would be a lot of fun, I could just imagine. After all life is not just moving on, there are things in the past that is always fun going back with. Out past experiences with STI may all not good that there were some frustrations and bitterness when we left, but meeting these people who I can consider friends is one of the reason to be thankful of, one of the beautiful things that happen to me in STI. Someone that you can always depend to freshen you up after the hard days work. I'm looking forward for another get-together and fun time with these people.

Here are some of our photos ....