I will not stay up until 2 a.m. to talk to Pen again. I will not stay up until 2 a.m. to talk to Pen again. I will not stay up until 2 a.m. to talk to Pen again. Thou shall be in bed by midnight forever and ever and ever.
Anyway, I needed therapy because of what happened yesterday. After 24 hours, I think I'm in a better state to talk about it in a civilized manner.
I’d like to think that I’m open-minded. I understand that we’re all different and that we have our own ways of doing things. Yet, time and time again, Filipinos have a way of showing me that I’m not open-minded enough. Let me give you a timeline:
1:30 - I arrived at a TV station
1:40 - HR Girl asks me if I had a copy of my resume. I said no. She said to fill out an application form
2:00 - I turned in a completed application form
3:00 - I was still staring at the walls unattended
3:45 - After two whole hours, I was led inside to take a psychological test
4:05 - I finished answering 156 questions; I was led outside again
4:20 - HR Girl finally gives me the time of day
4:40 - "I will call you"
First of all, I didn't know that I had to bring a copy of my resume. American Girl thought that if a company asked her for an interview, then they already had a copy of her resume. Okay, I learned my lesson.
Second, let's talk about the application form. Most notable "what the hell are these questions for?": blood type, height, weight, Pag-ibig number, sketch your residential address (as in, draw!), and two 50-word essay questions on the back. All together now, "The hell?!"
Third, I was told that my interview was at 2 p.m. I even confirmed it via text the day before. Why the hell did I spend two hours staring at the walls?! I understand Filipino Time, but this was in a professional setting! Do we not care about the company image?
Fourth, why did I have to take a test before I got some lip service? Why are you using a test booklet from 1975? Why did it have questions about pre-marital s3x and falling in love?
Fifth, the interview questions were just traumatizing: "What are your parents' and siblings' occupations?", "Do you have a boyfriend here or in the States?", "Why didn't you major in 'Mass Com'?", blah, blah, blah...
If the Philippine corporate world wants to be like this, then okay, I'm willing to submit to it regardless of how "old school" their practices may be. What I'm pissed about is the two hours of wasted time. It’s one thing to make me wait; it’s also another thing to make me take a test for nothing. If you don’t think your time is worthy, I think your time and mine are.
For the record, I’m here because I want to. I traded my whole life to be here in the Philippines because dammit, I love this country and its people (itayo ako ng monumento, please!). Don’t doubt my sincerity when I say that I’m here to stay and work my butt off. Yes, I didn’t major in Communications (because we don't have "Mass Com" in the U.S.), but I’d like to think that I have the skills to do well in this field. I’m here because I’m passionate about the work that I'm trying to get and I think that’s worth more than getting any entry-level “Mass Com” graduate who is applying anywhere just to earn a living (in my very biased opinion, of course).
If you work in Human Resources in the Philippines, care to enlighten us all? I'd like to understand your processes. Please make me understand your ways. Please, oh, please!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Missing You
It’s been a month, people. I don’t know if I should congratulate myself for making it this far or I should start cursing myself for still sticking around.
Reality has kicked in, though. Nowadays, I have to beg people to take time out of their usual (and normal!) lives to hang out with me. Flashback to a month ago, I had to pull out my planner to schedule people’s invitations. Simply put, people don’t think I’m going away anymore. LoL.
I miss the family (but not the drama). I miss having a car. I miss the convenience and cleanliness of Seattle. I miss my DVD collection. I miss biatching to Pen each and every day. I miss having a position in a familial hierarchy. I miss only taking half an hour max to get to places. I miss seeing different ethnicities (whenever I see white people at the malls here, I start smiling!). I miss Target and Costco. I miss not being criticized about my clothes, weight, quietness, my whole being. I miss VH1. I miss the comfortable weather. I miss doing everything myself. I miss the public library. I miss hip-hop dance classes. I miss not being needy and KSP. I miss not feeling poor and not having to budget my money. I miss being content with just being at home. I miss conversations with strangers. I miss not having my cellphone tied to my hip. I miss buying stuff on eBay. I miss snail mails. I miss not being eaten by mosquitoes whenever I’m wearing shorts. I miss being confused because I’m finally here to make things happen.
I’m now more scared than confused these days. I’m scared that I only have a few places to apply to and when I have exhausted those options, there’s nothing else to do, but move on and accept that things were not meant to be. I’m scared that what I want isn’t what God wants for me (yet again).
I kind of gave myself this timeline of one more month to do the unthinkable-one month to be a Kapamilya, Kapuso, or something else. I don’t think I have the heart to stay unemployed for six full months in this country, nor do I have the heart to say goodbye to the nice people that I’ve met here after six months.
So to those who are willing to lend a helping hand (or know someone who can), here are the job sectors I’m aiming for:
- media (tv stations, music companies, magazines)
- advertising agency
- marketing position in a multi-national company
Any contacts or job leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to Kuya Heinz, Bajeng, Mayie, Alessa, and Pon who have done their share already.
Reality has kicked in, though. Nowadays, I have to beg people to take time out of their usual (and normal!) lives to hang out with me. Flashback to a month ago, I had to pull out my planner to schedule people’s invitations. Simply put, people don’t think I’m going away anymore. LoL.
I miss the family (but not the drama). I miss having a car. I miss the convenience and cleanliness of Seattle. I miss my DVD collection. I miss biatching to Pen each and every day. I miss having a position in a familial hierarchy. I miss only taking half an hour max to get to places. I miss seeing different ethnicities (whenever I see white people at the malls here, I start smiling!). I miss Target and Costco. I miss not being criticized about my clothes, weight, quietness, my whole being. I miss VH1. I miss the comfortable weather. I miss doing everything myself. I miss the public library. I miss hip-hop dance classes. I miss not being needy and KSP. I miss not feeling poor and not having to budget my money. I miss being content with just being at home. I miss conversations with strangers. I miss not having my cellphone tied to my hip. I miss buying stuff on eBay. I miss snail mails. I miss not being eaten by mosquitoes whenever I’m wearing shorts. I miss being confused because I’m finally here to make things happen.
I’m now more scared than confused these days. I’m scared that I only have a few places to apply to and when I have exhausted those options, there’s nothing else to do, but move on and accept that things were not meant to be. I’m scared that what I want isn’t what God wants for me (yet again).
I kind of gave myself this timeline of one more month to do the unthinkable-one month to be a Kapamilya, Kapuso, or something else. I don’t think I have the heart to stay unemployed for six full months in this country, nor do I have the heart to say goodbye to the nice people that I’ve met here after six months.
So to those who are willing to lend a helping hand (or know someone who can), here are the job sectors I’m aiming for:
- media (tv stations, music companies, magazines)
- advertising agency
- marketing position in a multi-national company
Any contacts or job leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to Kuya Heinz, Bajeng, Mayie, Alessa, and Pon who have done their share already.
Friday, August 26, 2005
So Close
After a day of Divisoria, we ate dinner at Edsa Shangri-La last night. I’ve noticed that the hotels in Manila always have their dining areas right as you walk into the hotel. Tells you what the priorities are around here. HeHe. Anyway, I wore my new green skirt with matching necklace. You wouldn’t have guessed it was me had you seen me. Besides, I blended in with all the Chinese people there. Whatever happened to Ongpin being the place for Chinese people?! HeHe.
Tonight, I thought I would have good news to tell. Today was definitely the epitome of “So close yet so far away.” I was so giddy when I set foot in that office, but my giddiness disappeared after two hours of waiting for nothing. Perhaps I have more details to this story by next week or the week after. Cross your fingers!
And before I forget, let me just say “Lecheng Hale!” I’ve been complaining to my cousins that Hale is friggen everywhere these days. Their video is on every five minutes on every channel; they’re the artist of the week/month on every channel; they’re Smart endorsers; even sa Jollibee, tugtog pa rin yung song nila; and today, well, I finally saw the boys in the flesh. I was sitting quietly when they all walked in. If I hadn’t been sitting on my butt for at least an hour and I wasn’t trying to look professional, I would’ve asked for a picture. Marunong din pala akong mahiya. HeHe. However, if Pen was with me, I have no doubt in my mind that she would’ve exclaimed, “They look poor!” Sis, si Bamboo lang naman kasi ang conyong rockista. LoL.
Tonight, I thought I would have good news to tell. Today was definitely the epitome of “So close yet so far away.” I was so giddy when I set foot in that office, but my giddiness disappeared after two hours of waiting for nothing. Perhaps I have more details to this story by next week or the week after. Cross your fingers!
And before I forget, let me just say “Lecheng Hale!” I’ve been complaining to my cousins that Hale is friggen everywhere these days. Their video is on every five minutes on every channel; they’re the artist of the week/month on every channel; they’re Smart endorsers; even sa Jollibee, tugtog pa rin yung song nila; and today, well, I finally saw the boys in the flesh. I was sitting quietly when they all walked in. If I hadn’t been sitting on my butt for at least an hour and I wasn’t trying to look professional, I would’ve asked for a picture. Marunong din pala akong mahiya. HeHe. However, if Pen was with me, I have no doubt in my mind that she would’ve exclaimed, “They look poor!” Sis, si Bamboo lang naman kasi ang conyong rockista. LoL.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
It's a Deal
Every single time I go into a mall, I usually end up in Bayo and Kamiseta. However, I don't dare buy anything because, well, I'm unemployed. And after bringing all my Kamiseta loot in 2002 to Seattle, I realized that I shouldn't have spent that much money on clothes that you can't even stick in the dryer because they shrink.
Hence, I've been feening to go to Divisoria since the day I set foot in this country. I want girly clothes, but I know that I will only wear them while I'm here in Manila so I might as well not spend much money on them. So today, I wore one of my many gusgusin outfits and some tennis shoes and headed to the bargain capital of Metro Manila - Divisoria.
I could've splurged more, but I didn't. I could've bought my Korean DVDs, but didn't ("Attic Cat" for P600...di ba, mahal 'yon? I mean, for a pirated copy?). In other words, I need to go back. HaHa! My most prized possession is my P200 skirt. That's less than $4 for a skirt! My bargaining skills are so top notch that my mom would've been so proud. Of course, that only works on nice tinderas. Screw the supladas and lazy tinderas; I refuse to give them a single penny even if they have something cute.
I didn't find the denim jacket that I was looking for (Think Ciara's "Oh" video). I didn't find any accessories that can make me look girly (Alessa, you might be the only solution to my problem. HeHe!). Yet, I have some other stuff that can start me off to my road to womanhood. HaHa! Granted that none of them makes a whole outfit, but it's a start.
Hence, I've been feening to go to Divisoria since the day I set foot in this country. I want girly clothes, but I know that I will only wear them while I'm here in Manila so I might as well not spend much money on them. So today, I wore one of my many gusgusin outfits and some tennis shoes and headed to the bargain capital of Metro Manila - Divisoria.
I could've splurged more, but I didn't. I could've bought my Korean DVDs, but didn't ("Attic Cat" for P600...di ba, mahal 'yon? I mean, for a pirated copy?). In other words, I need to go back. HaHa! My most prized possession is my P200 skirt. That's less than $4 for a skirt! My bargaining skills are so top notch that my mom would've been so proud. Of course, that only works on nice tinderas. Screw the supladas and lazy tinderas; I refuse to give them a single penny even if they have something cute.
I didn't find the denim jacket that I was looking for (Think Ciara's "Oh" video). I didn't find any accessories that can make me look girly (Alessa, you might be the only solution to my problem. HeHe!). Yet, I have some other stuff that can start me off to my road to womanhood. HaHa! Granted that none of them makes a whole outfit, but it's a start.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Girl Talk
I had dinner over at Zara’s place. I’ve been meaning to come over to see the wedding photos and video for some time now, but the weather has not been cooperating. Today, regardless of the weather, I told myself that I was coming over. Luckily, the rain clouds went away by nighttime and Jerwin was able to drive me home via their motorcycle. I’m hoping that this was a stepping stone – my next goal is to learn how to ride the tricycle, jeepney (the non-Ikot/Toki kind) and FX. I can do it, dammit! HeHe.
Anyway, while having some girl talk time, Zara made a comment about dating and all its intricacies. And like a good listener, I’m willing to put her advice into action. Naks! Pero sis, baka mamaya sabihin mo naman, the third time is the charm ha. Sana naman by the second date, medyo lumiliwanag na ang mundo, di ba? HeHe.
Mas aliw pa rin ako sa storya na may nagsabing mataray daw ako during the wedding. Huwagi! Siguro naman, kung natarayan kita ng not once, but twice (Hi Susan) eh may ibig sabihin na yon, di ba? Either mahina ka lang, or I’d rather pass you to Pen. LoL.
Anyway, while having some girl talk time, Zara made a comment about dating and all its intricacies. And like a good listener, I’m willing to put her advice into action. Naks! Pero sis, baka mamaya sabihin mo naman, the third time is the charm ha. Sana naman by the second date, medyo lumiliwanag na ang mundo, di ba? HeHe.
Mas aliw pa rin ako sa storya na may nagsabing mataray daw ako during the wedding. Huwagi! Siguro naman, kung natarayan kita ng not once, but twice (Hi Susan) eh may ibig sabihin na yon, di ba? Either mahina ka lang, or I’d rather pass you to Pen. LoL.
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