12 Rounds

It took several months for me to watch this movie, maybe because I failed to watch his first movie, The Marine. The director of this film is the same director of Die Hard 2 and Deep Blue Sea, which gave me interest to watch 12 Rounds. Starred by John Cena, a wrestler superstar, whose relationship with World Wrestling Federation (WFF) reached to a higher level of producing films. WWF has already produced four films which include The Marine, See No Evil, and The Condemned. Two of the films are starred by John Cena and I won’t be surprised if they still have movies installed for him. ‘Coz despite of not so being a box office success, their films are not poorly rated and earned a lot through DVD rentals and sales.

Donnie (John Cena), starred as a police officer who made the most outstanding job in his career by sending a famous gangster, Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) to jail. Donnie got promoted with the job and after a year, Miles broke off from jail and started to haunt Donnie, his wife and his best friend. Playing a very exciting game of Miles, Donnie needs to survive the 12 rounds to save his wife and his best friend.

Mr. Cena needs to work on his acting, but since he is a new comer, what he did in this film was bearable. Every round is breath-taking, it’s like watching a boxing fight except that knock out is impossible without reaching the 12th round. Not the best but one of the good action-packed films that shouldn’t be missed.

2012 - The mother of all disaster films

"2012" is happening now in the Philippines and I have finally watched the movie yesterday. I was planning to watch the movie today, but couldn't wait for it. So while waiting for my interview schedule yesterday (application for abroad) I passed by Glorieta Cinemas and the first screening was almost starting at around 11:45. I immediately bought a ticket, grabbed a burger and a large coke from McDonald and headed to the cinema and looked for my seat. After several trailer, 2012 started. The first main character (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) in the film looked so familiar. I have seen him in Redbelt movie. I can't forget his character because of his excellent performance in that film. It was after several minutes 'til John Cusack was shown with his funny act. He played a not-so-known author of the book in the film which later taught a very important lesson or realization to Ejiofor's character.

After several minutes, disasters begun in different parts of the world. I had nothing to say but "Whoa, wow...what the f***.." again and again. It started by a mini quake in which earth cracked like an egg shell then followed by a real monster earthquake, gigantic tsunamis and a fireballs from the sky. The disaster effects and thrilling action were to be expected in the film, but what I didn't expect was the story. It is more inspiring and very touching. It tells us that there is always hope no matter what, may it be an end of the world. Indeed 2012 is the mother of all disaster films that should never missed to watch.

Letting go..

Been so not good for past few days. Worried about the things that I've been doing for quite a while and never realized it up to now. I never thought that I could be a complete A** H*** and can screw up everything, big time. After several months of having a special bond which we called "try", it finally ended last Nov 7.

I still remember that night, when I told her" why don't we give it a try". Despite the idea of a long distance relationship she said "Yes". Then after three days, I left for Manila, for first few days, the exchange of messages was frequent, like normal couple who misses each other. But after few weeks, I don't know what had gotten into me. I wasn't able to keep up with the responsibility even for simple way of replying her text messages. Until she buzzed me with her message "do you still want this to work?". I apologized to her and somehow it fixed that issue after a whole night of talk about it (through text messages). When she told me that she's goining to Bicol and would stay in Manila for few days, I immediately filed for a leave to be with her. While together, conversations regarding our conflict religion was brought up, which was never an issue between us before. Then she started talking about what happened way back in Zamboanga, how she waited for my text messages just to show that I still care for her. She was telling me like "what if after a few days of being together here in Manila, it will happen again?I don't want to go back to Zamboanga and to hope again that you would still care for me, that's why, if we can't handle it, let's call it off..."

I didn't want it first, I forced my self to make it up, But there was nothing I havendone that pleased her. I met her father formally with her brother the night before her flight to Zamboanga. The whole night was a total disaster for her, as I failed her expectation again. I was also thinking of my own "like" to happen. As we were waiting for our ride back home, there was a silence again. I didn't talk the whole time we were together that day, except when we met her father and brother. She broke the silence with her comment "kanina ka pa di nagsasalita, napipikon na ko"..Then I said "lahat ng gusto ko ayaw mo, and then you are asking me what do i want?what do you want me to say?"..There was a silence again, then we sat on one of the benches in Mall of Asia and finally talked seriously. There was an exchange of blame and complaints, both parties seemed to be of against each other. 'Til both of said, "Ok, let's call if of"..As I said "if you think that there is no way for us to make this working, then let's call it off"..We ended the conversation that night with both parties agreeing to call it over. She was crying while we were talking, it was not easy for both us to say it though, but we let go with one another that night.

Among my previous relationships, my relationship with Kristine, is the one that has the most meaningful end for me. I learned a lot of things that will make me a better person, a better man to my woman. She is in Zamboanga now, and we are still texting, we are still friends. I may always know what happen, but for me and Kristin, I'm sure that if we can't be together again, we will remain as good friends.

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.

Shit happens sometimes but best things can happen anytime

Just got home from work today, thank God the sun is showing up now, hope the typhoon Pepeng is not going to visit Philippines anymore as what Pag-asa said ‘coz most people here in Metro Manila have not yet recovered from the havoc of Ondong (previous typhoon) last four days ago. I didn’t have much a bad day today, except for little conflicts which really bothers me. I don’t really understand why sometimes people think that you are capable of doing something bad which you even never thought of. I never thought the people that you thought were good to you, your company every day, the ones that you treated as friends are the same people that are not really true to you. That in some point they would do anything so that you will feel sorry for yourself, and despite of everything they still go with you, as if they really care for you. I don’t know how they could stand living with it. Thank God I have seen the real them as early as now and I can’t do anything about it but to get rid of them. You can’t just risk a fresh tomato to join the rotten ones, unless you want to end up like the rest in the basket. At least now I know what to do.

I’m honestly not productive in my work right now, it’s not that I’m not giving my best, it so happened that I’m not just producing good results and not contributing to company’s effort despite the fact that you think that you are doing everything to be good. Maybe that’s just what I think, maybe I need to give more…whatever these undertakings are, I know that I can handle it, it’s just one of the lessons that I need to learn. Life is not easy sometimes, tough and unpredictable but you just need to get along with it, there is always a choice to be upset with it, or to enjoy its ups and downs like rollercoaster. Shit happens sometimes but best things can happen anytime. It could be later or tomorrow, so I need to sleep now, good stuff will happen when I wake up. Good night everyone!

A Simple CARE

Last Saturday was my worst day here Metro Manila, it rained so hard that even the whole production floor (in our office) was field with water. It is because we are occupying the ground floor of the building, thank God it happened almost 1 pm, the time when everyone was already logging out. But we were not able to go home yet not until almost 4pm when the rain started to drizzle. Management asked us to stay and gave us free meal. I thought they wanted us to go on over time for I don’t know what purpose, because our office is closed by 1pm to 8pm. Then I just realized that they just wanted us to stay because we couldn’t go home because trips for buses and jeeps were cancelled due to heavy rain and flood. Then this afternoon, I received a call from our HR to check if how I was able to go home safe, I was really surprised with the call, and I feel so important, especially when the woman from HR said “Mahal po kasi kayo ng SITEL, kaya kinukumusta namin ang lagay nyo”..It was very touching (can’t think of any word), and can’t wait to report on Tuesday. In a very simple way, SITEL showed that they care for their employees and I really appreciate it. I don’t remember the HR Dep’t of my previous company did something like this, or even close to it. The call didn’t last for more than 3 minutes, but it’s something that I won’t really forget for lifetime. If every company does this to all their employees, they won’t be having problems keeping them.

District 9, rare and a real fiction

It's my off again,that means blog time again hehe..I have a split off this week, sunday and thursday,but not anymore for next week, I saw the schedule with my coach, it is back to Sunday-Monday off again, atleast I have more time to rest, more time to surf the net, more time for movies. Speaking of movies, I just watched Peter Jackson's District 9. It really surpassed my expectation. I thought it was just a foreign film created by LOTR Director with unknown actors. ***this contains spoiler*** The story is too alien for me, (Yes! too alien) 'coz it was about Aliens who landed a ship on Johannesburg and later lived with people in District 9. After couple of years, Prawns (name of aliens as called by people), relationships with people has resulted to conflicts. I won't really spoil the story, you should watch it yourself, and please don't watch it in telesync copy, it's still showing in cinemas or wait for it in DVD copy so that you will really appreciate the film. It is one of the fiction films that rarely produced nowadays. With just $30 million budget, you will see prawns live, in the day light, unlike other alien films that are usually shown on screen during night time or in gloomy or animated background just to hide the effects.
It is really worth watching, lessons may learn as you watch it (if you care about it hehe)..

I still have The International and Drag me to Hell to watch later or during my next off. Let's see if these films are also worth spending my off for.

Happy Eid'l Fitri to all

"Allahu akbar, Allahu Akbar,Allau Akbar, La Ila ha Illa Allahu Allahu Akbar..", as the people from the mosque is reciting started Saturday night until Sunday before the Sala'tul Eid'l Fitri (prayer during Eid'l Fitri). That means, the Ramadhan is officially over, and each Muslim in the world is now celebrating the end of it.

Alhamdulillah I survived the Ramadhan (for 29 days) without missing any of its days despite of the difficulties here in Metro Manila. This is the first time that I spent my Ramadhan and Eid'l Fitri away from my family and friends in Zamboanga City. After praying the Sala'tul Eid'l Fitri at around 7 am, I spent the whole day at home and waited for the Mayweather and Marquez fight instead, not the usual Ramadhan though. I missed those times where relatives (upto the nth degree) are visiting the house just to greet each other. That's what I'm proud of as being a Muslim, or Tausug, we have a very strong family-ties.

Inshallah (if Allah wills) my next Eid'l Fitri will be in Zamboanga City with my family. I'm missing them so much now. I won't be here in Manila if not because of them anyway, so I have to be strong and be patient, this is not permanent, things will be the same again for us. Sacrifice needs to be done for a long time pleasure as they say. I'll keep the faith and hope for the best.

Happy Eid'l Fitri to all my Muslim brothers and sisters.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

I finally watched G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra yesterday, after a month of release here in the Philippines, I still got chance to witness Duke, Ripcord, Scarlett, Baroness, Heavy Duty, Snake Eyes, Breaker and the rest of the Joes in action. I thought I wouldn't be able to watch them in the big screen anymore, thanks to my recent discovery, a local movie online portal, Clickthecity.com where schedules for movies shown in the cinemas here in Metro Manila are posted. Out of 85 cinemas, only SM North Edsa in Quezon City still offers screening for the film for over a month now, and just got the chance to watch it because it is really far from our place (Taguig City to Quezon City, north to south). I tried to watch it in our place, but I was one day late when I went to Market-Market (the nearest mall to our place), I even went to Monumento to watch it a week after, still didn't catch it on time, It was already replaced by Kimmy Dora, wanna watch it though, but I thought of waiting for it in DVD instead.

Anyway, going back to G.I. Joe, it really rocks!...so cool, that I even forgot that I just had 3 hours of sleep 'coz I watched it after the night shift. It didn't send me to sleep, unlike Transformers 2, which made me missed 4 - 5 seconds of the film towards the end for several times, but I still like Transformers 2, can't wait to own it in DVD. Effects were really great (what would you expect for 175 million dollars production budget), and the story too, I like the way Stephen Sommers (also the Director of Van Helsing, The Mummy, and The Mummy Returns) presented the plot, especially the quick flash back of the characters. The actions were really breath taking. Sienna Miller and Rachel Nichols really kicked ass/asses. Can't wait to watch the sequel, I'm sure there would be a sequel, two or three years from now. G.I. Joe now is earning $283.7 millions world wide and currently at No. 13 for 2009 and at No. 225 for all time box office record. It will not surpass the Transformers 2 or HP6 earnings, but G.I. Joe will still remain the best action film and number one for me so far.

If still showing, I'll watch Gerard Butler's Gamer next week, then Bruce Willis's Surrogates a week after that, 2012 this November and James Cameron's Avatar this December.

Sitel and the Wonderland

Finally we are done with the "Pimp my Bay" & "Pimp my Coach" contest yesterday. Though we spent for the costumes and props and the fact that we didn't win anything, it was still worth it. Our theme was Alice in the Wonderland (it was a crazy idea I know!). Everyone was in the team was given a character to portray, I was the Cheshire Cat, so I had to wear stripe shirt and with paint on my face and cat's ears on my head. My colleagues portrayed Alice, The Mad Hatter, White Queen, Queen of Heart, The Rabbit, The Caterpillar, The Twin Tweedledee & Tweedeldum and our coach portrayed Mr. Mickey Mouse. Mickey didn't show in the Wonderland though, but according to our coach, he owns the Wonderland for Waltz Disney hehe..anyway, our bay really looked like in Wonderland, with bricks, grasses, flowers, trees, all the card's shapes, the clock and all stuff you can find in a wonderland (think of anything in a wonderland, you could find it in our bay, seriously!).

The whole production floor yesterday suddenly turned into a museum or a costume-party hall with different characters walking around. There were Horror House, Olympiams, Forest, Film Production Studio and other unusual themes which were products of creative minds. Taking calls was never suspended, so our common costumes was the headset (despite the make-up and other props on the body).You would see Alice and other characters with their headset on.
Everyone enjoyed it.

Here are some of the photos during the Pimp my Bay and Coach Month

Unwrapping the most important gift...Life

"Life is fun and everything about it. So enjoy it, and everyday is a new adventure"

Started with a new shift yesterday. From last week 4:00pm t0 1:00am, my schedule is moved to 4:00am to 1:00am this week, which means I have to leave the house by 2:00am. Normally, I allot at least 2 hours before my shift, not to mention the extra 30 minutes to prepare my stuff. But when I started my shift yesterday, I thought I was going to be late, 'coz I woke up around 2:00am already. So, I hurriedly took a shower, prepared my stuff and got going. Luckily, there was still a tricycle going to the terminal, which you don't expect in our area around that time. When we reached the bus terminal, the last bus for that hour was ready to go and I arrived to work an hour before my shift, that was really so fast. I really thought my new shift would be the most difficult shift, I was totally wrong, I gave my judgment right away, I thought of its negative effect without weighing things out. I was thinking, it was difficult for me to wake up, that there would be no rides at that time and all the negative stuff. It was the exact opposite, the trip was so smooth, no traffic, no crowds, everything was perfect.

That's how sometime we view things in life, we always think of the negative sides without weighing things out, sometimes or most of the time, complaints come first or the negative possibilities. We tend to miss the important side of it, which is the most beautiful. I never thought simple things like shifting schedules would teach me this very important lessons in life. Truly life is a gift with full of surprises, you will never know what's inside 'til you dare to unwrap it and appreciate it. Life is fun and everything about it. So enjoy it, and everyday is a new adventure.

It's not just yet for me...

It's almost 4 am and can't still sleep. I haven't taken my last meal for today (we can only eat till 4:30am this Ramadan), maybe 20 minutes before 4:30 hehe, not hungry yet though..Just done watching two films in a row, Baler and He's Not Just So Into You. Both love stories (so cheezy I know!), I don't know why I watched them, maybe I just want to convince my self once again that love can really happen. Maybe it happens only once in your lifetime, just maybe...Anyway, don't want to talk about love anymore, I'm contented with the one I am with right now, though she is miles away, at least I know she cares, that's enough for me. So, I just notice that I am not posting anymore here in my blog, there is nothing much to post though, same old routines since June, work, work and work while waiting for better opportunity. I hope by October I can only leave for Saudi, or any where with better salary. Agencies start to contact me now, hope this is really it. There is no assurance yet for it, but nothing is really sure in this world right?(seriously, it's really true), but it is nice to believe and hope for it.

For now, I need to keep a job,'coz I don't know if I can still stand for it 'till next month. I can handle the work (I think..or not) but the trip from home to work is like 'hell', I need to allot at least 2 hours for for me to get ready to work, not to mention the super traffic or the delay of MRT (which always happens at peak hours). I don't like it here but I need to like it, for me to survive.I really believe this is just one of the assessments or examinations that I need to pass, and I know I can make it. For now, whatever I like is not just yet for me, but someday it will, I just need to be someone who deserves it.

The hardest and most important lesson of Life

Woke up so early today..after four hours of sleep (not the usual 6-7 hours of sleep atleast from a night shift) i rose from my bed figuring out what to do. I realized that I have been worried the whole week now (didn't know that I just realized it again). I don't know if "worried" is the right term. Last 2 weeks, in my work, our Coach Melai rolled out to us a program for new agents, luckily I was the first one to undergo the training from our group. We started with the accent training, customer handling, etc. It wasn't easy at first, but Coach Melai made it easy for me, I don't know how but she just knows the right approach to get through me. She saw the resistance on my part, made me realize it and the next thing I knew everything just working fine. She followed through my progress by monitoring my calls, and she was shocked with the quick result. She told me that she wasn't even done with the proper training and yet everything is working out for me. It was later confirmed by the survey results from our callers who gave me Very Satisfied comments. It really made me happy and somehow made me excited to work everyday. Coach was also very happy with my progress, especially she'd been pressured by her supervisor for being a first time coach (she used to be with the training team for Communication Skills).

This week, she made a shocking revelation, Coach Melai was tasked to handle other team for a communication skills training. It saddened me because I knew she was doing great and she is doing everything for the team to stay solid. She fought for all of us when our team was almost dispersed because of not so good performance. But now, the team is getting better, but she had to leave the team. It wasn't easy especially for me, we just got to enjoy the work together with her..but she told us, she would still be monitoring our progress and would buzz us anytime whenever she has the time.

I guess that's how life is, nothing is permanent. Things may last for just a couple of minutes, days or months and you learned so many new things...just don't forget the most important lesson of life, which is" letting go"..It may not necessary mean that everything is through 'coz some things may remain the same, but that would be just for a while..

2009 Films - Making money or not...

2009 is almost over, thus the real king for this year's World Wide Box Office Film is almost at hand. The Dark Knight ruled Box Office last year, with a total earnings (the difference of total grosses and the production budget ) of $ 816.9 millions world wide. Let's take a look at the films this year who are earning more or less or not at all. Who knows critics or film producers will come across this post and consider this in making future films (as if my post really matters..lolz).

	Movie Title	*Word Wide Grosses	*Production Budget	*Total Earnings
1	Ice Age 3	769.5	90	679.5
2	Harry Potter 6	826.1	200	626.1
3	Transformers 2	823.3	200	623.3
4	The Hangover	390.5	35	355.5
5	Angels and Demons	483.4	150	333.4
6	Fast and Furious	343	85	258
7	Night at the Museum 2	387.2	150	237.2
8	Star Trek	382.3	150	232.3
9	X-Men Origins: Wolverine	363.2	150	213.2
10	The Proposal	249.1	40	209.1
11	Up	380.7	175	205.7
12	Monster Vs. Aliens	379.5	175	204.5
13	Taken	222.8	25	197.8
14	Terminator Salvation	369.1	200	169.1
15	Paul Blart: Mall Cop	183.2	26	157.2
16	Knowing	176	50	126
17	Friday the 13th	90.6	19	71.6
18	Public Enemies	159.8	100	59.8
19	Coraline	116.8	60	56.8
20	Watchmen	183.8	130	53.8

Among this' years disappointment includes films from Will Ferrel (Blades of Glory, Talladega Nights and Step Brothers), two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington (American Gangster, Remember the Titans), Michael Cera (Juno and Super Bad), Jack Black(Kung Fu Panda and Tropic Thunder) and Eddie Murphy (Shrek 1,2,3,) whose earlier films are box office hits.

Land of the Lost	60.1	100	-39.9
Imagine That	16.6	55	-38.4
The Taking to Pelham 123	92.2	100	-7.8
Year One	53	60	-7

*All of the grosses are in million US Dollars and taken from the Boxofficemojo.com

The Half-blood Prince

Just got my 2-day off at work and later tonight, back to normal work mode. I woke up so early this morning (around 5:30 am) after sleeping so early last night (7:30 pm). Maybe I exhausted my self the whole day by doing the laundry, fixing my PC, and went to theater to watch the latest Harry Potter. Speaking of HP6, I wasn't really satisfied with the story and effects. Maybe I was just expecting too much, and I was looking for the actions (fighting scenes) towards the end of the film. Sadly, they didn't include it, the burial for Dumbledore wasn't even shown. And there are some scenes in the film that are not found in the book (especially the first part, the "bridge scene"). But it is nice to see how everything came to life once again especially after waiting for over a year for this part to be shown. The Deathly Hallows will be out in two parts, and will be release in 2010 and 2011.

But my over-all rating for the film is 8 out 10 (not bad though, as if my rate really matters lolz) . The scene I like the most is the scary scene in the cave with Harry and Dumbledore with too many "Precious" creatures chasing them (I'm talking about Gollum/Smeagol of LOTR).

Harry Potter and Half-blood Prince is the third film I watched here in Manila. Last month I watched Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and last May was Angels and Demons. I can't wait to watch G.I. Joe and Land of the Lost this August and 2012 and Twilight 2: New Moon this November.

The best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing

"I gotta a feeling, that tonight's gonna be a goodnight" as the song of Black Eyed Peas goes. I've been singing this line over and over again every night of my shift at work (singing only to my self, not really loud though). It really helps me to deal with the difficulties with my job. Technically there is no "easy job" but we can always find ways on how to deal with every difficulty of our work as long as we believe that the job or work that we chose will really help us in making our lives easier. You may not be having the best job you ever wanted that will give you the best compensation or the best co-workers or supervisor that will always understand your issue all the time, but at the end of the day, you are always happy that you get the job done, and you are doing better everyday. At the end of the month, apart from your own needs, you have a little amount (or more) that you can share with your family 'coz you think they really need it, and that's what are looking forward to do everyday. Just like what was said in the movie Bridge to Terabithia "The best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing". Not everyone gets the chance to have a job, and not everyone with job gets the chance to enjoy their job, not because they don't want it, but because they just failed to see the beautiful reasons why they are doing it.

To my team, and to all people who feel like not enjoying their work now, just think if its worth doing, if it is still, then go and make the most of it.

Break a Leg Wave 5!

The training is over, phone certification is done, and we are ready to work on the floor and to deal with customers. I feel so excited but nervous and sad at the same time. Excited because finally I made it through the training and passed the certification and can't wait to start with taking calls and assisting customer with their technical needs. Sad because, two of our co-trainees didn't make in the phone certification and the company had to let go of them. Nervous because, we have to meet all the expectations of our coach and trainer from us once we are already on the production floor.

The training lasted for a month and it was not just a training of learning how to use the tools or how to guide our clients with their needs on the phone. For me, it was as well a training on how to get along with new people (which I thought was so easy for me). I was a totally stranger for the group, first I came from Zamboanga City, which they thought is a place where bomb is everywhere, and second because of my religion. For the whole month of being together with my co-trainees along with our trainer and coaches, Islam and about Zamboanga City have never been out of the topics for our conversation. I was able to explain to them shortly about Islam and our tradition. The training came out to be an exchange of thoughts and ideas among us, which I really appreciated compare to the style where trainer is the only one talking during trainning. It was productive and a lot of fun. I am expecting and hoping for more of this on the production floor.

To the coolest trainer in the whole world of SITEL, Nathan, thanks to you bro, you made us feel welcome and you made the whole training more fun for all of us. To all the mentors, Sharon, Rose and Giselle thanks for all the experiences you shared, for the lessons, tips, for the JOKES and everything. And to our Coach Melai, thanks to you, we just can't wait to work with you on the production floor.

To all of my co-trainees, or should I say "co-agents". Congratulations to all of us and let us all break a leg!

Wave 5's coolest and craziest pictures during training.

At the back (LtoR) Deuce,Rio,Dave,Jeth,Ellah, Yuki, & Gene. In the middle (LtoR) Bryan, Ben, & Lloyd. Infront (LtoR) Dom, Me, Drew, & our Trainer Nathan

Ben, Gene, Ellah, Jeth, Yuki and Me at thier normal mode!Had eaten but still hungry..

On our way home from a night shift..sun shines at the background!

Yuki, Ellah, Jeth & Me

It's SITEL...

Finally it's monday tomorrow, I've been waiting for this day since the day before yesterday. All my life I've never been this excited. What made me so excited? Well, it's because tomorrow would be a start of my new job. After a week of job-seeking here in Metro Manila, I finnally got hired as Technical Support Representative in Business Process-Outsourcing world in short Call Center Company. SITEL Philippines opened an opportunity last Friday to me, and I'm so happy that they just gave me the chance.

Honestly, I thought it was really easy to apply in a call center company, I was wrong, it's actually easier (joke!hehe) No! it was really really difficult. First, there are a lot of applicants and most of them are former agents already, the competition is really tough. And second they are very much strict with the accent, inunciation and pronunciation, which I am not good at. I could still remember when one company asked me if I know how to read 'phonetic', "what the hell is phonetic " I said to my self, to cover the embarassment, I simply said "Computer Engineering students don't actually learn them, so I don't have any idea at all " so after that final interview I didn't anymore expect to be considered by that company, so I attractted it and it happened.

The next day, I applied in a company located on a 34th Floor of a building, in an elevator I waited like overnight to reach the floor, it was like a long trip. I handed my resume to the guard, he noticed me trembling and I felt like wanted to vanish that building, I started to feel dizzy and almost fainted. "Relax, wait lang po, nahilo ata ako sa elevator nyo" I told the guard when he was about to ask me to log-in. I sat down on a chair reserved for applicants and after a few minutes I went to the guard again and logged my name in a visitor's sheet, when I was about to pull the knob of the door, the guard called me again "Sandali lang po sir, alcohol po muna". "Sosyal naman ang company na 'to, d pwedeng mag-open ng door nang walang alcohol" I told my self while laughing about it. I noticed that they did it to every person who came from outside of the building. After waiting for almost an hour for the interview, I still couldn't contain my head, I wanted to vomit, I held on to it and my name was called for initial interview, I couldn't almost understand the questions and I answered the interviewer like a fastball "slow down, some of your words are hard to understand" she told me. With that, again I did'nt expect anymore, so I went out of the office. "Eto na naman, elevator ulit!" I almost fell asleep in the elevator, and finally, I reached the ground floor, and headed outside hurriedly.

It was really a funny experience, atleast I tried and I took my chances, I stayed home in taguig after that 34th floor experience, and went on applying again after three days. As intructed by a friend, my feet led me to Ortigas, at the back of SM Megamall and I found the Recruitment Center of SITEL Philippines at around 4pm. After 25 minutes I was interviewed and given a topic to talk about. My topic was Space Exploration, "OMG, what is this? a punishment?". I didn't know about the topic, so I just talked about Niel Armstrong, the Mars as the next potential earth and etc. I passed the initial interview and took several examinations, I finished around 11pm and requested to go to other sites of SITEL also in Ortigas the next day by 8 am for the Final Interview. After a long process, it ended by a hand-shake with the boss, Mr. Apple "Congratulations, you are hired!". Finally, after two months of being jobless, I'm back to work again.

Goodluck to me!

Love For Your Brother What You Love For Yourself

I just read this short story from an Islamic Website an hour ago. It got my eyes teary after reading it. How I wished Allah would give me the faith of the boy in this story. Its very short and simple but will surely touch your heart.

"A Brother Like That "
Published in Islamcan.com

Shuaib received an automobile from his brother as an Eid present. On Eid day when Shuaib came out of his house, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Uncle?" he asked. Shuaib nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Eid." The boy was astounded.

"You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Shuaib knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Shuaib all the way down to his heels. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Shuaib looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" "Oh yes, I'd love that."

After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Uncle, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Shuaib smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Shuaib was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Shuaib heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

"There it is, little brother, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Eid and it didn't cost him a penny. And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Shop windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Shuaib got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable ride. That Eid, Shuaib learned what the RasulAllah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) meant when he had said: "love for your brother what you love for yourself".

Across this New Divide

Life here in Metro Manila is really not easy, especially if you just started familiarizing everything. The route of vehicles from where you live to your destinations, plus the traffic and not to mention the flavored-air in the highways would be like killing you. Anyway, its still been a week and my body system would get used to all of these soon. As they say, it's just a matter of getting used to.

While waiting for the schedule of interview, I'm staying here in Taguig City with my cousins. It's so convenient here that they even gave me extra cable extended from their internet cafe for my own internet connection. In return, although not much an obligation, I am assisting them over seeing the cafe, with only 6 units, its not much hard to manage. So while keeping my self busy by surfing some cool stuff on the net, I came a cross this Linkin Park's new tune, "New Divide" which taken from the Original Soundtrack of the movie Transformer 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Just like what they did in the first movie of Transformer, LP would be rocking us once again along with the gigantic robots in action in cinemas this June.

Here is the lyrics of "New Divide" of Linkin Park

I remembered black skies
The lightning all around me
I remembered each flash
As time began to blur
Like a startling sign
That fate had finally found me

And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the thoughts cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect the space between
Let it fill up to reach the truth and lies
Across this new divide

There was nothing inside
The memories left abandoned
There was nowhere to hide
The ashes fell like snow
And the ground caved in
Between where we were standing

And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the thoughts cross
The distance in your eyes
Across this new divide

And every loss and every lie
And every truth that you deny
And each regret and each goodbye
Was a mistake too great to hide

And your voice was all I heard
But I get what I deserve
So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the thoughts cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect the space between
Let it fill up to reach the truth and lies
Across this new divide
Across this new divide
Across this new divide

So Cool Summer!

My summer has never been this cool. After 10 years, I had once again visited the place of our parents, where Tausug tribe came from, the Jolo, Sulu. I still remember before, where cell sites or even TV stations were not available in the place, with not so good roads, no department stores or even food chains. I even tasted salty water for drinking. I started to recall of these things when I left the city to see the place once again. As my sister and I stepped down the vessel together with my three nieces, I started to look around and tried to remember familiar views, I didn’t recognize any of the things I saw,I don’t even know where to take a ride, a tricycle or anything to reach out sister’s place. But my older sister just guided us and we rode on a ‘motor’ (we used to call it a ‘tricycle’ in zambo, the term ‘tricycle’ to Tausug refers to the ‘pedicab’), after couple of minutes, we started walking along the shore, It was really a long walk, with all the baggage from the trip, it took me several stops before finally reaching the place. For the first time I have seen where my sister and her family live. Her husband works as a policeman and my sister has a small sari-sari store. Together with their four children, they live in a very simple home between the sea and the woods. The place now has electricity, with TV station, cell signals and they even have water supply for free.

We had a small picnic with my sisters, nephews and nieces just outside their house and it felt like we were in a place somewhere else. We also attended a wedding, it was my first time to witness a very traditional Muslim wedding, although I attended some Muslim weddings in the city, it was really different, from the preparation, down to their clothing, the rituals and other stuff. The celebration lasted for three days.

In spite of the trouble caused by the ‘Abu Sayyaf Group’ in the province, people there managed to live their lives normally, somehow it’s just a matter of getting used to. Spending you summer doesn’t always have to be in Bora-like beaches or going on an expensive trip, a simple family get-together will do, as long as everyone is there and enjoying the simple things you do as one big happy family, that’s what matters most.

These are some of the photos our Summer Vacation in one of the Beaches in Jolo Sulu