An eye-opener to every Filipino

The world witnessed the hostage drama that just ended an hour ago in a tourist bus in Quirino Grandstand, Manila. It took more than 10 hours and left 4 tourists from Hong kong dead along with the hostage taker, who was a former police officer. He was shot in the head by the SWAT who took over the rescue after hearing series of gunshots while on negotiations with policemen. It was really saddening, most especially the people involved are foreigners. I could just imagine how foreign people are thinking about our country now. Nine months ago, Philippines was on every news channel worldwide because of the massacre in Maguindanao that left lot of innocent people dead. Now another incident just happened which sent message to the world that our country is one of the non-peaceful places to live in, maybe next to countries nearby in middle east.

I still do not know the details on why the hostage taker did it, though it was mentioned that he was dismissed from service because of the involvement in serious cases and wanted some demands. But whatever the reason is, end doesn't justify the means, a basic rule. A basic rule that most of us forget to obey. The hostage taker might have wanted a better life for him and his family or may want to send positive message to his superior or to government because of possible neglect of their responsibilities that resulted to his dismissal. He might have wanted to clear his name for whatever reasons. And somewhere along the way, these positive ends that he wanted to achieve was taken to a bloody and gruesome act that took away innocent lives and hurt not just his family but the entire Filipino nation. This is really a challenge for the new government. Hope this would serve as an eye-opener for every one of us. We can't change what just happened a few hours ago, but starting today moving forward, we can always make things better by always doing the right thing. A good act will never turn out bad no matter how tough the consequences are. In the end, good always prevails and God is always with those who do good deeds.

We've been experiencing low volume calls for more than two weeks now. The average avail time is 30 minutes which is really a long wait for us compare to last months which calls on que are atleast 5 calls. We almost had no time to take our breaks and some of us were forced to render overtime for atleast an hour more.Our team is so far on top, passing all the major metrics.

My scorecard is looking good too.Passing all major metrics except for one, which is just corresponding to just 1 point in our scorecard. With the perfect score of 20 points, my score so far is at 17.5 points. And I just need to get at least 8 points to pass.

We really need to keep an eye on our scorecards as it determines our job with at&t. Once you failed the scorecard three times consecutive or not, you will be removed from the account (at&t). Though there are possibilities that you will be transferred to another account, you will be lucky if you will be starting right away. And most of the time it takes a few months before another account would be available for you, so the chances are, either you take a long vacation first (that is if you have a lot of savings) or you take your chance applying to another company. And most of time, it's always the last option that works best.

I'm so happy that I'm still with Sitel - at&t for more than a year now and I really love the job, though it's difficult sometimes and the salary is a bit lower compare to other company, I still like it here. It's more challenging and i'm enjoying the company of my co-workers. And I think that's what matters most. As of now, don't know yet 'til when I'll be staying here, I couldn't really tell, but I'm pretty sure, as long as there is no better opportunity for work abroad, I would still be with Sitel, Inshallah!

Wish things would go back to the way it was before

Just had a hot choco-milk and cheese bread for Iftar today. Woke up almost late and wasn't able to prepare the curry noodles with egg that I was thinking off having for Iftar. Though I was still planning to cook it, the bread and milk made me full and I realized that I still have rice from last night suhoor and couldn't just waste it. So I just ate it with corned beef and sardines along with cold mango juice. Though it's my second Ramadaan here in Manila, this is the first time that I'm eating Iftar alone. Last year I was with my cousins in Taguig and it was never boring during Iftar time. You can prepare your own choice of food without as wet market is accessible. Mosque is just fronting the house so I can always pray Tarawee. I really miss it, I feel so guilty fasting without praying. Hope time comes that I could go back to the way it was before, where praying five times a day is my only hobby Inshallah! This is not the life that I always ask for, but I know this is just temporary.I hope I would already have a job abroad in Saudi or Malaysia whereI can be freely do my responsibility as a Muslim Inshallah!

Salt - Movie Review

Watched this film after the trip to Malaysia. Though this was shown before my flight I didn't have the time to watch it on the first day. I was planning to watch it in Malaysia but didn't have time either. So I waited to come home and watched it the next day after arriving to Manila.

Though the film got mixed reviews from the critics, most viewers (the ordinary people who watched the film and not the professional movie critics) liked it. I didn't expect a lot from the film, 'coz as a movie geek, I really trust the critics, but of course even them got their own views, and getting 50+% from rottentomatoes is already something, it means more than half of the critics like it.

The movie started with Evelyn Salt as an CIA agent (starred by my female action favorite Ms. Angelina Jolie) being tortured as mistaken to be a spy, she was rescued by Mike who later became her husband. While working as CIA agent again and living her marriage life with Mike, her reputation as CIA agent put at risk again when an interrogated Russian suspected her to be a spy and is planning to kill the Russian President. She ran for her life and tried to save her husband.

The plot may seem to be known and has been used in several movies but Salt offers more than we we have seen before. Twists were unpredictable and actions were breath taking and even made more intense by Jolie's effortless acting. Aside from the action thrills, movie is also filled with drama and romance for viewers' takeaway. With powerful support cast from Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origin: Wolverine) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (2012) the movie is one of the best spy films that I have seen. The movie somewhat ended telling the viewers that Evelyn Salt is coming back soon, and if its true hopefully it would be as good as this one.

Visited Malaysia at last

Just got the chance to write again here. Lot of things that I wanted to write about, many things that I wanted to share. Like for instance my trip going to Malaysia. It was the best vacation so far. I was able to meet my sister again after almost five years of not seeing each other. I finally meet my brother whom I never met, 'coz he left the country before I was born. Played with my very cute niece Putri, and met some relatives who really made me feel so at home. Almost everyday we went out and visited the center of trade of Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu and ate Malaysian food. The food was really amazing, and the people were nice. The place was not polluted, it was clean and peaceful. They don't even get stormed there, just mild rain shower but sunny and windy most of the time despite the strong storm here in our country. Food is cheap and most employed people have cars so just imagine the economic status of the country. Salary is higher and no taxes for most employed both government and private workers. I really want to work in Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur, hopefully there would be opportunity for me soon, inshallah!

I really miss everything, more than the food, I really miss my sister, my brother and their families, especially Putri. Hope I can find work there so I would have more time to spend with them. Inshallah!

Some of the photos taken in Sandakan and Kota Kinabaluh Malaysia

Kah Bong and Me

My sister Indah Lai and my niece Putri

With Kah Joe and his wife Inda Saripa at the airport in Malaysia

the last two shots taken in one of the parks in Kota Kinabaluh