hubaaadddd!!!

I’ve been dodging it for some time. Dapat talaga August pa lang medical exams ko na pero kakaiwas umabot ng December. And this time, hindi na pwedeng mag-inarte, mag-dahilan or mag-drama. Otherwise, mare-report na ako na parang tax evader at masasama sa statistics na ipi-present sa mga amo na ang title eh ‘mga pasaway’!

Ewan ko ba pero ever since ito talaga ang pinaka-mahirap na parte pag mag-aapply ako ng trabaho o kung dito nga sa Saudi, part ng requirement sa iyong pinagta-trabahuhan. I hate a lot of things about medical exams. Samantalang ito lang yong paraan para makita natin kung kailangan na ba ng maintenance ng ating mga ‘tumatanda’ at ‘kinakalawang’ na katawang lupa!

First, perennial problem ko na dati pa ang high blood pressure. I always have to convince the nurse na hindi mataas ang bp ko. Normal sa akin yon. 150/90? Sa iba oo. E sa akin ganon talaga yon eh. 23 years old pa lang ako, first medical exam ko para pumunta ng Saudi, 130/90 na ang bp ko. So what’s the big deal? Eh sa masipag mag-pump ang puso ko ng dugo eh!

Tapos kung pre-employment yong medical, andyan na yong hubaran portion! Susmiyo! Kaya nga hindi ako nag-artista! Why in the world do I have to disrobe for someone na hindi ko naman ka-intimate. Sa kwarto lang at sa banyo ako comfortable na naka-birthday suit! Tapos pagbo-boldin mo ako sa harap mo eh ni hindi kita kilala!

One time nga noon, ka-chipan yata yong clinic na ka-tie-up nong recruitment agent, akalain mong parang hazing sa frat ang nangyari. We were lined up against the wall, sampu yata kami. Tapos sabi ng doctor (an old man) sige, hubad. Hubad naman kami. Sabay-sabay yong sampu huh! Sa isip ko lang ano to, audition para sa isang bold film? Titingnan kung sino ang may malaking ‘qualification?’

Meron namang isa, and old lady doctor. Old na talaga as in ang bagal na nyang magsalita at kumilos. At least this time, one on one naman ang labanan. So walang masyadong hiya factor. Pero comedy si doktora. She’s seated behind a desk almost 3 meters away from me. Pakikinggan mo mabuti ang instructions nya kasi mahina na rin ang boses. Sasabihin nya, Hubad. Tuwad. All the while, iilawan nya ang gusto nyang makita using her flashlight! Bwahahaha!

Lately dahil sa edad ko na qualified na sa ECG (o bakit, I’ve always been proud of my age ah!), kasama na rin yon sa mga requirement. Nakakairita din na kakabitan ka nong ilang suction ends na yon na pag natanggal eh daig mo pa ang sinipsip ng pitong bampira! Ang tagal mawala ng chikinini!

But the hardest parts is, and will always be, the ‘sample’ gathering. Yong specimen ng solid at liquid waste mo. Dito talaga sumusuko ako. Bumabaligtad ang sikmura ko, tumutulo ang luha at uhog ko sa parteng ito. Kaya nga sabi ko ni hindi ko inisip na mag-take ng any course related to medicine eh. I simply don’t have the guts to deal with my own, pano na kung sa iba pa!!!

Ay teka, bago mapunta sa kaduwal-duwal na bagay ang usapan, at least ginawa ko na whatever is required of me, for now. At kung dati-dati eh problema ko ang mga triglycerides at bad cholesterol ko, this year halos nasa normal level sya. And I hope I can maintain it. Yong iba, wala na talagang magagawa. At my age and lifestyle na hindi ko na kailangang i-esplika ang pagiging couch potato ko at ang exercise lang na inaabot ko eh ang pag-click ng mouse at pag-pindot ng keyboard, maswerte na ako dahil nasa tolerable level pa rin yong mga yon. Kaya next medical exam na lang ulit ako mamo-mroblema! Meantime, I miss a huge piece of SK’s yummy T-bone! Hahaha!

holiday mode

It’s the start of a week-long holiday with the kingdom celebrating this year’s Hajj holidays. Actually mahaba-haba sanang holiday ito para sa akin coz it started last Thursday/Friday which is our regular weekend plus the 5 day-holiday and the weekend after that. 9 days sana ulit akong babad sa kama para matulog, with mornings actually starting at mid-day. Gigising lang kung nagrereklamo ang bituka for having missed breakfast. Minsan pati lunch.

But here I am, tied up to my work station, cursing the system for yawning and crawling while I was pummeling it with my uploads that was the reason why I was here in the first place. Damn system! Looks like he’s on a holiday mode too! Grrr… hindi ka pwedeng mag-holiday no. Gumising ako ng maaga para pumasok kaya hala, mag-trabaho kaaaaa!!!

Actually I’ve stayed away from work during holidays for the last 3 or 4 years now. Most of the adiks would say it’s ‘sayang’ coz work during these days is paid double. But I have my reasons. May malalim na hindi ko pwedeng i-share dito. Yong mababaw na reasons na lang like yon nga, mas gusto kong i-enjoy ang kawalan ng ginagawa kahit 9 days lang at naka-tambay sa kwarto ko. Or mag-lakwatsa paminsan-minsan kung saan maisipan. In short, gusto kong i-exercise yong katamaran ko sa mga ganitong araw.

But sometime last week nilapitan ako ng boss ko. Porke kailangan matapos ang ganito, ang ganyan. At lumalabas na kung hindi ako papasok this week, I’ll be in a hell hole after the holidays. As in maraming bida ang sisigaw at magwawala dahil hindi natapos ang ganito at ganyan. They sure will breath fire on somebody’s neck. And it will be nobody else’s neck but mine.

O sya hala, di sige pumasok. Kahit masira ang panata ko sa mga ganitong panahon. Kahit sabihin ng mga adik na bigla akong naghirap kaya pinatulan ko na rin ang overtime pay. Totoo naman. Hehehe.

Ang usapan namin ng amo, 3 days ang ipapasok ko out of the 5-day holiday. Ibig sabihin I have until Monday to finish all the stuff that was supposed to be ready by Saturday next week. Pero may pahabol naman sya na kung hindi raw matapos, pwede pa akong mag-work even beyond the agreed 3-days. I-inform ko lang daw sya. Kung ikaw naman siguro ang sabihan ng ganon at nag-inarte ka pa, wala ka nang budhi. The message is loud and clear: tapusin ang dapat tapusin!

Kaya lang, at the rate the system is doing his part, mukhang aabutin pa nga ako ng Tuesday nito. Sana naman wag nang umabot ng Wednesday. Kahit 1 day na lang, I just have to experience Hajj holiday for myself this year. Kaya hala kang sistema ka! Trabahoooo! (kung pwede lang gamitan ng latigo ito! Hmmpffttt!)

excess baggage, anyone?

I’m sure nong mga bata tayo lahat tayo naka-experience na umiyak or mag-alburoto dahil pinangakuan tayo ng isang kendi or isang laruan tapos hindi binigay sa atin. As far as I can remember, meron akong experience na ganon although hindi ako umiyak at nagwala. Pero matinding dabog ang ginawa ko noon sabay simangot na halos maka-mukha ko na si Donald Duck sa haba ng nguso ko.

As kids, that was how we handled the feeling na hindi pa natin alam kung ano ang tawag. Basta ang alam lang natin, somebody reneged on their promise, tricked us o kaya, pinag-tripan lang tayo ng matatanda kaya hindi nangyari ang inaasahan natin. Didn’t get what we wanted. Ngayon lang malaki na tayo natin nalaman na disappointment pala ang tawag sa feeling na yon.

Just recently, something happened at work that caused disappointment not only for me but for most of my friends as well. Hindi ko na ide-detalye dito kung ano yon, I still believe in ethical blogging kaya pag-pasensyahan nyo na.

What I can share though is the fact that we felt hugely disappointed. Dahil hindi nangyari ang ine-expect namin. At may naririnig pang kung ano-anong kwento that only worsens the feeling.  Ito yong kwentong sisigaw ka ng ‘that’s unfair’ sabay hagis ng kung anoman ang mahawakan mo. Buti kung may director na sisigaw ng ‘cut’.

Nakakatawa nga kasi one of my friends sent a pic of a cat na cute na cute pero galit na galit habang hawak ang isang baril ala Rambo. Natawa ako don sa pic but the truth is, it totally captured the sentiment of the moment. Ah well, eksads lang yon, hindi naman kami hahawak ng baril and hurt anybody. Pero ito yong mga sitwasyon na kung sa Pinas lang nangyari, siguradong malaki ang kikitain ng Gerry’s Grill sa amin dahil marami-raming case ng beer ang maiinom ng grupo habang nag-e-emo.

Behavioral experts say disappointment comes from unmet expectations. Para daw walang disappointment, wag mag-expect. Hindi naman ako agree don. Para sa akin, people who don’t expect things to happen in their lives don’t have much of a dream. Coz dreams, aspirations and expectations are almost family. Pag may dreams ka, may plano ka, may pinupuntirya ka, may goal ka, you certainly would have expectations. Kung wala, then you probably have to reassess your life.

Eniweys, kung noong bata pa tayo, madali nating makalimutan ang mga disappointment natin, it’s a different story now that we’re older. We deal with disappointment depending upon it's severity.  Some will cry a river. Some will vent their frustration on something. Kung matindi yong disappointment, ang mahina-hina nag-a-amuck. Worse, iinom ng silver cleaner.

But that's on the extreme. Hindi naman ganon ka-grabe ang sitwasyon namin. We can still joke about it and laugh it off. At wala pa naman kaming balak mag-tayo ng Ampalaya Anonymous Saudi Chapter. In fact, after two days of sulking, we’re all in agreement that it’s time to move on.

Pano daw ba mag-move on sabi ng isang friend ko. Madali lang sabi ko. Take a step forward. Not backward. Ang daling sabihin pero sa totoo lang, pag masakit, mahirap humakbang forward. That is why some people find it difficult to move on.

Fortunately, I’m one who can kick frustrations out of my system easily. Maybe because I’m overly pragmatic. Pag tapos na, nangyari na, wala na akong reason to hold on to it. I’ll learn whatever lesson the situation offers but I’ll leave it right where it should be. I’ll feel the pain syempre dahil hindi naman ako bato. At halos malagas din ang ipen ko the last two days from clenching it out of frustration.  Pero hanggang don na lang yon. Hindi ko na siya dinadala as I move along.

Sabi nga ng mga kabataan ngayon, iwas nega na lang tayo. Coz I believe they are baggage that we don’t need kung gusto nating bumilis ang takbo natin sa karera ng buhay. Kung wala tayong dala-dalang ganito, we can think clearer, run faster and probably find something else much better.

Disappointment.  Frustration.  Discontent.  Things that you shouldn't be holding in your hands for you will be tying them down instead of doing better things.  Hindi mo rin dapat itanim sa utak mo dahil parang nasa recycle bin yan ng computer mo. Junk and useless yet kumakain pa rin ng memory.  At lalong hindi dapat ilagay sa puso.  Coz it would sure cloud your vision.  There's only one thing to do sa mga ganitong negative feelings.  Purge it.  And moving on will be easier.

patience my friend, patience!

Taon-taon na lang yata, kapag parating na yong contract anniversary ko sa trabaho, I’m always thinking of packing my bags and catch the earliest flight out. Yong tipong ayaw ko na and this is the best time to call it quits. Parang pini-pressure ko yong sarili ko na sige na, make it happen now. Afterall, ang tagal mo na yang pinag-pa-planuhan.

And that season is here again dahil early next month, 7th year ko na. At kung gagawa man ako ng desisyon, it’s gotta be within these days. Any day later will mean I’d have to stick it out for another year. At dahil tipong hindi ko pa rin magawang mag-alsa balutan like what I’ve been dreaming of doing for the longest time, babagsak na naman ako sa simangot, walang gana at super tamad mode.

Nandon na naman ako sa panahon na walang magawa ang dalawang alarm clock sa umaga. Pahirapan bumangon, hihilahin lahat ng parte ng katawan para makaalis sa kama. Maliligo, magbibihis, bababa ng hagdan – all in a zombie-like movement. No sense of urgency, no eagerness, simply no zest.

Madalas, nakasinghal na naman ako sa mga makukulit na Indyano o katutubo sa trabaho. I’m no different from a firecracker with a very short fuse. Konting kanti, sasabog. Ito rin yong mga araw na hindi ako camera friendly dahil mahirap akong patawanin, daig ko pa ang naka-botox. Ito yong mga araw na pwede akong pumalit kay Oscar the Grouch habang kumakanta ng Sick and Tired ni Anastacia.

Nandyan na naman yong aking bmw (bitching, moaning and whining for those who have’nt read my previous posts). Up to the point na maglilinya na naman ako sa ilang malalapit na kaibigan na gusto ko nang umuwi ng Pinas. Pagod na ako. Tinatamad na ako sa buhay dito. I think most of them have grown tired of it all by now and never take it seriously anymore. Yong iba siguro tinatawanan na lang ako sa mga pinag-sasabi ko.

Sa mga ganitong araw, panay-panay na ang kwenta ko ng kakaunti kong savings. Na para bang everytime na kukwentahin ko sya eh may makikita akong significant interest samantalang mabagal pa sa kuhol ang pag-tubo ng interes na binibigay ng RCBC at PNB sa dollar accounts ko.

Kwenta rin ako ng kwenta ng mga susuwelduhin, kasama ang mga benefits na makukuha ko kung aalis na ako. Na parang everytime kong kukuwentahin eh may madi-discover pa akong detalyeng nakaligtaan ko at lalaki pa ang nakikita kong numero. Samantalang ilang beses ko nang kinulit si Tserman sa HR namin about those benefits.

Sabi siguro ni Tserman pag nagtatanong ako ‘hay naku, heto na naman po kami’. Pero syempre hindi nya masabi yon sa akin dahil mabait syang kaibigan. At yong mga nakarinig ng BMW ko, they must be laughing hard by now coz here I am, months and years later, and never have I moved an inch. Hindi naka-alis at nagmukha lang engot sa mga pag-eemote na ginawa.

Naisip ko lang, kung tinuloy ko kaya ang paglayas last year or even the year before, ano kaya ang nangyari sa akin ngayon. Para siguro akong dinaanan ng twister nong nangyaring economic crisis na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa fully recovered and ibang bansa. Maraming nawalan ng kabuhayan. I could have easily be one of them. Buti sana kung may food stamps sa atin, grocery stamps at kung ano-anong charitable assistance na ginagawa ng gobyerno sa mga westerners. Sa atin, buntot mo hila mo. Sikmura mo, bahala ka.

Ang masakit pa nito, kung nawalan na ako ng pera at wala na akong makain, mag-aaplay ulit ako ng trabaho. Pero dahil sa economic crisis, may isang trabahong available pero ang kasabay kong applicants, tatlong libo. Isang libo doon ay mga fresh graduates, the other thousand ay mga ex-abroad din, karamihan galing USA and the last ay mga dating managers at executives ng malalaking kumpanya. Ang masakit, all 3,000 of them are willing to accept the job kahit halos barya na lang ang ino-offer ng sweldo. Krisis eh.

Tapos biglang nagkaron ng major event sa pamilya ko. Something na hindi lang emotionally taxing kungdi financially din. My heart bled and so did my bank account. Kung lumayas siguro ako sa trabaho noon, nagmamatira na ang kakaunti kong naiipon sa bangko. Worse, baka nage-email na ako sa mga kaibigan ko para mag-do the needful (sikat po ang phrase na yan sa mga Indiano na ina-adapt din ng mga Pinoy in jest). Something that would be very difficult to do for someone like me with an ego bigger than Faisaliyah Tower.

So saan ako pupulutin? Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine.

Pasalamat na lang ako at malakas pa rin ang command ng utak ko kesa sa emotions ko. I was able to put some checks into what can be a potentially crippling decision na gustong-gusto ko nang gawin. And in the process, napatanuyan ko yong sinasabi nilang patience is a virtue. A virtue which I didn’t have and now I’m slowly letting it grow on me.

Sa ngayon, nandon pa rin yong kawalan ko ng eagerness sa araw-araw. But at least I’m managing to keep it under the surface. I’m trying to minimize the grouching, the touchiness, the sparks of temper. Nandyan naman ang mga adik at iba pang mga kaibigan para sa araw-araw na chikahan o mga spur of the moment na lakwatsa. I owe them a lot kasi malaking tulong yon para mawala ang pagkaburyong ko. I just have to wait. Afterall, madali lang ang isang taon. Pagdating non, saka ko na ulit pag-isipan kung anong gagawin ko. In the meantime, I’m keeping my spreadsheet updated.

san na si batman?

In my current job, I regularly conduct classroom training for end-users in our department. Last Sunday/Monday, I did the two-day, 4-sessions training for the ERP software our company is using. It’s the same software that I worked on in Makati a decade ago.

Back then, I also did quite a few trainings and presentations. Every now and then, I’ll be a part of the marketing group who does the sales pitch to prospective clients kaya isa ako sa magpi-present nong binebenta naming package. Our audience ranges from middle executives to top ranking CEOS of some of the largest companies in PI.

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Sa mga clients naman, nagtuturo din ako nong system as part of the project. I also conducted team building activities here and there, both for our company and our clients. That’s why I’ve gained some level of confidence when it comes to presentations and trainings (read: kapalmuks na! hahaha)

With that amount of experience, I think it I’d better share with you some things that I’ve learned when doing these things. Some practical tips that might help you if you are starting out on jobs that involve speaking in front of a group of people.

The first thing that you should remember when doing this presentations and/or trainings is that you should be prepared 100%. Leaving a gap somewhere sabay ‘bahala na si batman’ can sometimes lead to disaster. Coz if something goes wrong, it’s your face you’ll have to save in front of many people.

There were times that I did exactly that, bahala na si batman. And batman never came to rescue me from utter humiliation. Aside from the fact that those people might have branded me forever as an idiot without giving me the chance to redeem myself. Since then, I’ve tried as much as possible to prepare the best I could. If, after having done my best at nagkaroon pa rin ng palpak, then at least I wouldn’t go down so hard.

So here are some rules I observe whenever I’m doing presentations/trainings.

Know Your Topic. It’s the universal rule when it comes to public speaking. If you will talk about origami, siguraduhin mong alam mo kung ano ang meaning ng origami. Just because you know how to fold a paper doesn’t necessarily mean you can impress your audience. Eh kung may magtanong kung ano yong origin nong word, background, history, etc.. at hindi mo nasagot, baka ikaw ang matupi sa kahihiyan! Knowing your topic gives you a certain level of confidence kaya iwas-nerbiyos ka. It can also make you talk more candidly and credibly without having to memorize things na para kang nasa college.

Know Your Audience. Ok, so you’re one of the experts in quantum physics. Does it mean you’ll pull off successful presentations or trainings all the time? Not necessarily if you don’t adapt yourself to your audience. If you’re speaking to your fellow geniuses, by all means, itodo mo ang pagka-genius mo. But if your audience are mere mortals like me, medyo ibaba mo yong level. Don’t use complex matrices and terms like Planck’s Constant and expect us to understand that. Else, baka mag-walk out ako.

Calibrate your material. After knowing who your audience is, develop your materials around them. Prepare your presentation, hand-outs and exercises according to the level of your audience. If it’s for a CEOs and top bosses, make sure it looks smart, sharp and professional (my friend Ega does this excellently). Whatever my audience is, I also try to veer away from fancy colors and dizzying animations in my slides. You’ll look amateurish if your audience are CEOs. Kung mga ordinary people naman, they might dazzle at your swooshing graphics but never really pay attention to your topic. Keeping enough colors and animation will prevent your audience from yawning but don't let it throw the main topic to take the backseat.

Visualize The Result. If you’re doing a sales pitch, then your audience should buy whatever you’re peddling at the end of your presentation. Kung nagtuturo ka naman tungkol sa pagluluto ng puto bumbong, then your students should be able to cook some nice puto bumbong after the session. In short, your whole effort should achieve it’s purpose. It will only happen if you, yourself, have the conviction that you will achieve the often bulleted objectives you present at the start of your slides.

The cliché: Practice Makes Perfect. It’s a line so jurassic yet true. When you think you’ve got your whole act ready, try running it once even with your dog as your audience. You’ll be surprised how simple things like alignment, font size or minor spelling errors can ruin your entire presentation. Do it again and you’ll find that your slide sequencing is totally askew. Do it once more and you’ll realize you’ve done a 1-hour presentation while you’re given just 30 minutes. Run it over and over until you’re sure everything’s okay. Besides, the more you run it, the more you become familiar with it. With that, you can anticipate the next slide or topic. Then you can easily do ad libs for seamless transitions.

The Moment: Deliver it. Okay, so you’ve done some heavy preparation. Polished that presentation to perfection. Prepared hand-outs neatly. The last thing is to deliver it to your audience. Here’s a few do’s and dont’s while doing it:

· Do dress for the occasion. T-shirt and jeans are always perfect when malling but not when speaking in front of executives. On the reverse, a coat and tie would probably alienate a group of blue-collar workers. Look the part but never overdo it.

· Do keep some water handy. Unless isa kang concert king or queen, manunuyo ang lalamunan mo after a few minutes of babbling. So keep some water within reach. It will prevent your throat from going dry and your voice from cracking. Besides, a gulp of water can smooth your nerves at nababawasan ang panginginig ng kamay mo kung inaatake ka ng nerbiyos.

· Don’t be a clown nor a Gestapo. You might want to command attention which is okay but don’t overdo it at nagmukha ka nang terror professor sa college. Make your audience feel comfortable and relaxed. But don’t go cracking silly jokes. Wala ka sa Klownz. Unless you're doing motivational speaking for depressed people in an emotional rehab.

· Do speak clearly and audibly. Size up the room and audience and deliver your lines in just the right volume. One thing I always do before I start diving into my presentation is to ask the guys at the back if they can hear me loud and clear. Then I maintain that volume level. I never murmur things to yourself. Afterall, my audience should hear me, not the fly languishing a foot away from me.

· Don’t pretend to be mr-know-it-all. Even if you know your topic, there will come a time that someone will shoot a question that'll floor you. In case someone does that, don’t stare back at him as if you wanted to shoot him with a pistol. Lalong wag kang ma-rattle. Just be cool. And never ever attempt to get smart. You can always say something to tell him that you don’t know the answer without actually saying it. Expert na ako sa mga linyang ‘I’ll check on that and I’ll get back to you’ (Kimmydora, remember?). It's one of the trade secrets I learned back in that Makati stint. Believe me, it always works.

· Don’t ignore your audience. Try to get the audience interact with you. Ask them if they have any question before ending a topic. Whenever possible, encourage discussion and exchange of ideas. You’ll be surprised dahil marami kang mapupulot sa kanila. Things that, if not outright brilliant, can help you improve your next training or presentation.

· Don’t forget to roll the credits. Close your session by giving back the credit to your audience. Thank them for their attention and participation. It’s a grave sin if you ignore the fact that you’ve taken a day or an hour of their time but never acknowledge it.

There you go. It’s quite long eh. I didn’t realize I had this many things to say when I started writing this. In fact, in-edit ko pa nga ito from the original kilometric version. Darn, I should start writing a book about it! Hahaha!

survey says.....

A few days from now, malalaman na natin kung gaano katotoo ang mga opinion polls na nakita natin during the past few months. If after consistently leading various surveys, it really is Noynoy who will be the next President. O mag-iiba ang resulta at biglang sumigaw si Dick Gordon na tama sya at dapat talagang i-TRO ang mga survey na yan.

Having had a couple of jobs in the market research field during my younger days (ehem… tanda na talaga!) medyo may insight ako sa mga survey-survey na yan. I know that some things are going on in the background na hindi natin basta nakikita. Some things that can really affect the veracity of the reports that the public are being fed.

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I wouldn’t name names dahil wala pa akong pambayad sa lawyer in case I get sued. But I’d be talking about some recognizable names when it comes to market research in the Philippines. Two companies during that time na swerte naman at pareho kong napag-trabahuhan dati. Based on my experiences with them, I’ll highlight two points at bahala na kayo to judge for yourself kung gaano ba talaga ka-credible ang surveys and opinion polls. Here goes….

Point 1: The hand that rocks the pen

Twas mid '80s when I got hired by Company B as a field researcher. Ang gagawin ko lang, mag-interview ng mga MIS officers ng mga top companies sa Pinas, most of whom are concentrated in the Ayala Area. Pa-survey kasi ng isang international computer giant yon.

Sa isang tulad kong malakas ang loob, walang hiya (notice the space in between ha!) at medyo makapal ang mukha, very ideal yong trabaho. Binigyan ako ng database ng contacts – names, companies and positions – ng aking prospective respondents. All I have to do is to set an appointment with them, show up in time, do the interview and presto, may 150 pesos na ako! Nakaka-2 or 3 interviews ako a day. Malaking pera na yon back in ’85.

The hitch is, hindi mo pwedeng i-submit yong questionnaire na may isang question na blangko (unanswered). It will be nullified at hindi ka babayaran. Ang problema, dahil puro mga executives ang respondent ko, lahat sila limitado ang oras, laging nagmamadali at umaangal sa dami nong tanong. Ewan ko ba naman kung bakit ang daming tanong. Kaya yong ibang interviewee ko, nilalayasan na ako at the 45^th question. Ayaw na ring magpa-follow-up interview sa akin. And I’ll be left in dismay.

Eh ano pa ang gagawin ko, di imbentuhin yong sagot sa ibang tanong. Aba, sayang ang effort ko kung hindi ako babayaran. Napudpod ang daliri ko sa telepono kakatawag sa mga supladang sekretarya. Nagbihis ako kuntodo necktie at nag-taxi from Malibay to Ayala. Tapos masasayang lang dahil hindi nasagot yong 5 questions out of 50. Unfair di ba. Kaya ginagawan ko ng paraan. Although I know, a big 'cheat' sign was plastered up my forehead during that time.

So what’s my point?

Surveys are largely dependent on the integrity of the survey itself. Lalo na sa mga taong gumagawa noong actual survey. Kung marami sa researchers ngayon ay tulad kong marunong ding mangdaya, maaring malayo din sa katotohanan ang resulta nong survey. Lalo na kung walang fool-proof mechanism yong survey at madaling manipulahin sa umpisa pa lang.

Point 2: Sino ba ang nagbabayad?

I must have done a good job in Company B kaya nong nag-apply ako sa Company A, I got a recommendation from my previous boss kaya madali akong natanggap. This time, office work na. Hindi kasing-dali nong trabaho ko sa Company B, hindi rin kasing-laki ng bayad pero hindi na 6-months contract ang labanan. This one’s a lot more stable dahil 8-hour job na. And this time, may sarili na akong desk in an airconditioned office.

I was assigned in the consumer survey division. Subscriber namin ang ilang manufacturing company sa Pinas. Companies who wanted to see how their shampoo, bath soap, detergent bar, toothpaste, etc are doing in the market. Kung anong brand, size, packaging at promotional campaign ang bumebenta at hindi. Kaso, I think they are not seeing the real figures they’re supposed to see.

Data Inspector ang tawag sa akin pati sa mga kasamahan ko sa aming maliit na section. Ito yong section na gumagawa ng dirty job dahil kami yong unang binabagsakan ng data after ma-input sa computer ang resulta ng survey ng mga field researchers na nakakalat sa mga department stores, grocery at sari-sari stores sa Greater Metro Area. And what do we do with the data? Hindi lang basta ini-inspect. Ina-adjust pa.

Para kaming mga doctor na nagda-diagnose ng pasyente kung may lagnat o wala. Kung normal yong trend ng data base sa previous survey period, okey lang. Pero kung may lagnat (a spike) yong data na biglang tumaas o kaya nag-chill at biglang bumaba, eentra kami. We will do the calculations para ma-minimize ang gap, ke plus or minus, at mailapit sa dating data point.

Noong ginagawa ko yong trabaho, I was also wondering kung bakit kailangan gawin yon. But my officemates who studied (and graduated BS Stats) explained the principle to me. Hindi pwede ang sharp curves sa graphs. Kailangan laging may statistical regression. Ahhhh… ganon pala yon. Although at the back of my mind the word “cheat” is flashing once again like a bright neon sign.

Eh bakit kailangang gawin? Kasi we have to please the one who pays for the survey. Matutuwa ba sya na biglang nilampaso ang product nyang top seller ng isang bagong produkto? Syempre hindi. So even if the real picture is ugly, we have to give it to the subscriber bit by bit. Hindi pwedeng biglaan. Baka biglang i-pull out yong subscription.

And that’s exactly my second point.

May bahid ng katotohanan ang accusations ng ilan na ang resulta ng survey depends on who pays for it. Sa dati kong trabaho, ang nagbabayad ay yon mismong mga manufacturing companies. And the data we must present them should at the least ‘suit’ their taste.

There you go. Based on experience lang ang kinuwento ko sa inyo. Kaya wag kayong magtaka if I don’t take surveys seriously. Unless I know that the survey is done in all honesty. Tulad nong survey natin dito sa DS. Ito talagang 100% accurate. All the rest, we’ll just have to take it with a grain of salt. Kahit pa rock salt yan. Dahil hindi natin alam kung gaano talaga ka-accurate yong result. And we’re left to believe what we want to.

the best years...

one thing i always do during holidays is to organize my files - be it hardcopy of telemoney remittances or electronic copies of personal stuff. as i was rummaging through old disks from yesteryears, i found these pix from my 2-yr stint in makati.

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working in saudi arabia maybe financially rewarding. but my two years with this company was, without a doubt, the best years of my career. not only professionally but personally as well. work was very challenging and highly demanding. but friends like these people in the pix made it a lot bearable.

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i miss these guys. and i'm sure they'll get a laugh when they see these pix... and oh yes, this is how i look like ten years ago! hehehe

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it all started with des (donson, ethelston and simms). and this is the first bunch of sap academy '98 survivors - mark (sd module), petite (hr), pam (abap) and our basis consultant (sorry i forgot the name! hehehe) so proud of our sap certificates.

ma (maria asuncion, sd) who snubbed the camera while having a chat with ferdie (fi) and ed (mm) at the first des headquarters in antel towers

attorney lee clowning around in the new offices at the citibank towers

here's ma in her office with a breathtaking view of ayala

and here's my corner where i can take a break from pressure just looking out to makati ave and ayala (recognize the pen and the shang?)

but it's not all work.

we also get to bond in fun activities like attending the cebu sinulog 2000.

behind me is hes (who happens to be from cebu and was gracious enough to accommodate us in his house thus saving a bunch from hotel bills!). pam brought along her sister. then there's madeline and petite. at the back are sweethearts precious and peter.

the face paint can't deny they're a lovely couple.

getting a pic just before the parade started

if i remember it right, this is the shrine where the famous magellan's cross is located

of course the gang can't pass up the trip without experiencing one of mactan islands' luxury beaches. this one is in maribago bluewater resort.

then it's christmas time. company party was held in an irish pub somewhere in salcedo village area.

that's our cool ceo bill donson posing for posterity with his hadeed proteges - me, norman and vic

then there's the group pic... i never thought we'd grow fast and big from our humble beginnings at the basement of bill's house in dasma village.

but the party ended a bit early so we trooped to io ktv...

where we just went crazy and had fun

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hhhaaayyyy.......how can you not miss those days!

a time to shine

A rather long article was forwarded yesterday by one of the adiks (thanks Ren). It tackles the most common questions thrown by an interviewer to an applicant. The article tells us how to respond properly to those questions instead of some misguided and often loose answers that can cost us the job we are applying for.

Magandang guide yong article coz it covers 50 possible questions na kung makakabisa mo yong suggested answers, will help you a lot to have a successful job interview. Although it focuses on the interview itself. Para sa akin kasi, the actual interview is just one part. There are many other things na ginagawa ko pag humaharap ako sa isang job interview. And these things I wanna share with you with the hope na makatulong.

My CV. First thing na ginagawa ko ay nire-review ko ang aking CV and make sure na ito yong CV na pinasa ko sa kumpanyang magi-interview sa akin. Baka mamaya matagal na yong application ko at lumang version pa ng CV ko ang hawak nila. So I make it a point that I have the latest version of my CV pagpunta ko ng interview, just in case. At syempre, kailangan kabisado ko yong mga pinag-susulat ko doon. It’s a no-no na tatanungin ka about one point from your resume tapos maghahagilap ka ng sagot dahil hindi mo matandaan na nilagay mo doon. Baka isipin pa ng interviewer, galing Recto ang papel.

The Company. It pays to do a bit of research tungkol sa kumpanyang ina-aplayan mo. At least dapat alam mo kung anong line of business nila, whether they are local or an international organization. Maganda rin kung alam mo kung anong pwesto nila sa industry. It will give the impression na talagang interesado ka to join the organization. Mahirap mag-linya ng ‘I want to join a top-rank company like yours’ without you knowing na bagong-bago at start-up pa lang pala yong kumpanya. It’s so obvious you’re just jerking them around.

The look. Unless specifically instructed, hindi ako nagko-coat and tie sa isang job interview. Ayaw kong umani ng hagikgik behind my back dahil overdressed ako at talo ko pa ang CEO ng kumpanyang ina-aplayan ko. Baka ma-turn-off pa ang magi-interview sa akin. Because I’ve always been applying for office work, the safest way to go is to wear dark pants, preferably slacks, but definitely not ‘maong’. Syempre out ang rubber shoes and I always use simple black leather shoes. At syempre, kailangan shirt na may collar. Never yong sport t-shirts, kahit sabihin pang La Coste or Nike yan. Kahit walang brand, as long as it’s medyo formal. Collared shirt nga pero may malaking print naman ng Megadeth sa likod, talo pa rin yon. Kung Makati, lalo na sa isang hotel ang interview, always bring a necktie with you. At least madaling ikabit yon if you find the situation calling for something a bit more formal. And if you’re a guy na may hikaw sa isang tenga, tanggalin muna. Maligo at mag-toothbrush. At wag munang i-gel ang buhok na para kang pupunta sa punk rock concert. If you can’t afford to look formal, at least be normal.

The mindset. I always go to a job interview with a positive attitude. Iniisip ko lang lagi, a job interview is nothing short of an oral examination na ilang libong beses na nating ginawa noong nasa school pa tayo. And because you come prepared, you should expect to do well and pass the oral exam. And by prepared I mean not necessarily knowing all the answers to all the questions. Dahil hindi mo naman alam kung ano ang mga itatanong. Ang importante, how you deal with difficult questions. Kahit hindi mo alam ang tamang sagot pero naipakita mong hindi ka madaling ma-rattle, hindi ka inaatake ng nerbyos at hindi nanginginig ang iyong baba, you’d still win points. So just go in there and believe that you’ll do the best you could.

The first minute impression. As soon as pumasok ako sa interview room, I always make sure na maaliwalas ang mukha ko. Kahit pa nabwisit ako dahil pinag-antay nila ako ng isang oras, aalisin ko yon sa mukha ko and make it as pleasant as it can be. Wearing a smile always does the trick. Wag naman yong ngiting labas ang bagang, mukha ka namang hunghang non. Simpleng smile lang. Malaking tulong yon if you want to create a good first impression. And so does a firm handshake. The smile says you’re happy to see them and the handshake reaffirms it. While doing the handshake, say something like “good morning sir/ma’am”. Never ever let “Hi” be part of your greetings. It’s so informal and indicates familiarity which is a no-no at that point. At ito ang tandaan, after the exchange of pleasantries, wag agad uupo kahit alam mong yon ang chair for the interviewee. Antayin mong sabihan ka na umupo. Coz if you did without being told, adelentado ang dating mo non. Good manners is very critical at this point.

While on the hotseat. Very important: wag kabahan. Remember that the interviewer is usually an expert in human behavior. Pag kinabahan ka, it could be taken as a sign of low self-confidence. Minus pogi points agad yon. Besides, pag kinabahan ka, maaring lumabas ang mga pangit mong mannerism. Di mo alam picking your nose ka na pala. Bagsak ka na non. Again, believe in yourself para hindi ka kabahan. Then answer questions as briefly, honestly and professionally as you could. Wag mag-banggit ng kung ano-anong bagay na hindi relevant sa question. Wag magpaka-intelligent kung hindi kaya ng powers. At wag gayahin ang mga contestant ng Miss Universe na simpleng tanong eh kung ano-anong eklat ang pinag-sasasabi. Wag mag-quote ng mga Freudan principles kung tinatanong ka lang about your personal strengths. Wag magpaka-philosophical kung hinihingan ka ng opinion about your ideal job, personal goals and future career plans. A job interview is designed by companies to know more about yourself. Not to test if you can be an ambassador of goodwill.

Remember: it’s a two-way conversation. Don’t forget that even if they (the interviewer/s) are the ones driving the conversation, you’re still very much a part of it. Sagutin ang mga tanong but never miss the points na pwede mong sundutin din ng tanong to make it a more interesting conversation. Kung isang-tanong-isang-sagot ang gagawin mo, you’ll present yourself as somebody with very limited conversational skill. Worse, baka isipin nila na limited ang knowledge mo. Although this one’s a bit difficult to balance. Pag nag-over ka naman sa pagiging conversationalist, fresh naman ang dating mo. So just do it here and there during the whole course of the interview. And when it comes to the point na ikaw naman ang binibigyan ng chance to ask questions about the company/work you’re applying for, magtanong lang ng 2 or 3 very important and relevant questions. Wag yong halos imbestigahan mo na ang kaharap mo. Remember, you’re just a passenger kaya wag agawin ang manibela.

Closing it off. Pagtapos ng interview, may ilan akong linyang laging sinasabi to seal of the meeting. Basta it runs along the lines of “Thank you for your time and I hope I will be hearing from you soon”. Words that express your gratitude sa chance na binigay sa iyo and the same time expressing your positivity na mapipili ka sa trabaho. These words are just as important as the first few words you said during the first minute impression. Say these words while you’re shaking their hands. Coz again, the right words and the firm handshake seals the conversation in a positive manner.

Some job interviews can be nerve-wracking. Siguro dahil gustong-gusto mo yong trabaho or kailangang-kailangan mo para may income ka. Either way, you just have to do your best while going through the application process. Lalo na during the interview. It’s your moment under the spotlight. So do your best and shine.

know thyself

I just had my yearly performance appraisal at work and I thought it’s one good blog material. Pero kahit juicy ang kwento about this performance evaluation at ang ganda sanang i-discuss dito, professional etiquette restrains me from doing so. Kahit ba naman marami akong BMW sa trabaho, I still wouldn’t compromise myself from discussing something that is supposedly ‘sensitive’ info and should remain safely tucked inside the gates of the company I work for. (I gotta give myself a pat on the back for exercising this restraint ha!)

Instead, magpapakalalim ako about that performance review and make it my own. Kasi sa totoo lang, it maybe your performance evaluation at work, as viewed by your boss, pero mas magandang meron ka ring evaluation ng sarili mo. There’s nothing better than an honest self-inrospection. Sabi nga ni lolo Confucius, know thyself.

Sa dati kong trabaho, I’ve had a couple of chances na ako ang nag-evaluate sa sarili ko. Those were the days when my boss was cool and liberal enough to toss me the evaluation paper and say ‘here, rate yourself then we’ll discuss’. Di ba ang saya pag ganon. Bigyan mo ng full marks ang sarili mo, excellent lahat ang rating.
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But not quite.

Dahil sa respeto ko sa very cool kong amo, hindi ko magawang samantalahin yong very tempting opportunity. In fact, naunahan ako ng hiya sa sarili ko. My guardian angel must be poking on my right ear incessantly dahil yong nasa kaliwa eh binubulungan ako na ‘sige, excellent lahat ang ilagay mo… go, go, go’.

Besides, alam ko naman na idi-discuss pa rin naman naming dalawa ng boss ko kung anoman ang gawin ko. Hindi naman nya pipirmahan blindly kung anoman ang isulat ko. He’s just giving me the chance to be introspective. So I had to dig deep into the inner recesses of my conscience (lalim… hahaha) to come up with the most objective self-evaluation I can give myself.

Fortunately, walang violent reaction yong boss ko when I gave him the paper. We discussed a few points and in the end, he changed one evaluation point a grade lower (where I admittedly over estimated mylsef) but gave me higher marks on two areas na medyo in-understimate ko naman yong sarili ko. Ang ending, naging very effective yong appraisal dahil parang lalo akong na-challenge to give him (and the work) my best.

Fast forward to the present, kung ako ulit ang mage-evaluate ng sarili ko, ganito ang kalalabasan:

Knowledge of work: with all honesty, excellent ang ibibigay ko sa sarili ko. It’s because I have a very high level of understanding kung ano ang dapat kong i-deliver to meet the requirements of the job. And it comes from the fact na 6 years na ako sa trabahong ito (not to mention the previous years na dala-dala ko before I joined this company). Pag ganon ka na katagal sa trabaho at hindi mo pa na-grasp ang dapat mong gawin para maging worthy ka sa sinu-sweldo mo, there must be something wrong with yourself.

Communication skills: very good. I often get excellent marks from my boss in this area and that’s because he only sees how i express myself orally. In that aspect, payag ako sa excellent rating. But it’s just half of the whole thing. Pagdating kasi sa written communication, may problema ako. My boss sees only the end product of what I write. At akala nya eh ang galing-galing kong gumawa ng memo/e-mail, work procedures, project proposals, documentation, etc. But the truth is, bago ako makagawa ng isang effective business document, katakot-takot na editing ang ginagawa ko. It’s because I have the penchant for writing in prose. Pang-magazine at pang-blog ang writing style ko and sometimes it’s a struggle to keep my written material strictly business. One time, I wrote a work instruction and used the word ‘albeit’. Tama ba naman yon!
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Interpersonal skills: very good. Excellent din palagi ang binibigay sa akin ng mga boss ko. Maybe because I can express myself well. But the truth is, expressing yourself is not even the question here. It’s about how you interact with other people at work. And I know I really have to improve on this one. A previous boss of mine once said something like ‘dante, the secret to successful meetings is knowing how to adapt to the level of communication the other person is commanding’. Pag nga naman executives ang kausap mo, huwag mong kwentuhan ng finals ng american idol o kung sino ang nag-number one sa FHM. You’ll be seen as a dud. Kung messenger or janitor naman, wag mong i-expect na makikinig sya sa mga nangyari sa G8 meeting o yong tungkol kay Madoff. It’s unfair to the guy. But despite the fact that I have those wise words in my data bank, it’s still a struggle to keep my cool lalo na pag makukulit and/or plain stupid ang kausap ko (marami dito nyan). Madali akong mabuwisit at pag ganon, madalas akong nakakapag-bitaw ng sharp retorts. Kaya alam ko, I still have room to improve on this area. I still have to learn how to smile habang minumura ko ang kausap ko under my breath.
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Punctuality: ah, dito. Bagsak ako. Kung si Jalil (driver ng shuttle service namin) ang mage-evaluate sa akin, sigurado he’ll give me a negative rating. Dahil lagi ko syang pinag-aantay. Lagi kasi akong late sa umaga. At kung hindi lang shuttle bus ang transpo ko to and from work, I would have probably been fired for tardiness. Very good lang ang rating ko ngayon because I have no choice but to keep up with the bus’ timing. But if I were to drive myself to work, siguradong late ako palagi. Sarap kasing matulog pag pa-umaga na!

Flexibility: Fail. Madali rin akong mainis pag inaabala ang isang trabaho ko, lalo at may deadline para lang gawin ang isa pang trabaho just because my boss says so. Though in my previous work (yong sa Makati) I’ve learned a few things tungkol sa flexibility. Dahil nasa consulting work ako noon, I was doing a project in Quezon City one day and do a presentation the next in Makati. Or conduct a training in Taguig saka tatakbo ng Cebu para sa isang convention. It totally burned me out kaya balik ako sa isang mas normal na 8-hour office job. Kaya hindi ako pwedeng artista. Hindi ko kayang mag-drama at one scene then action the next. Hirap non!
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Overall, I have a good grasp of my own strengths and weaknesses. I harness those strong points and try to work on the weak ones. Pero sa totoo lang, mahirap mag-improve ng mga weak points na yan. It’s a continuous process. But what’s important is that I know what I can do and what my limitations are. It keeps me grounded and provides the much-needed reality check pag umiinit ang ulo ko sa trabaho. And mind you, madalas mangyari yon!

a spark

I’m getting tired of sitting in an office 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I’ve been doing it for soooo long now. In fact, I’ve gone past being bored with it quite a long time ago. And now, I think I’m right on the verge of being tired watching that clock move so agonizingly slow on workdays. I think I need a change.

Since I love writing, I’m seriously thinking of shifting to the print media. Maybe I’ll write for a magazine or broadsheet. Some column about life, work, culture or anything. Maybe about OFW where I have the first-hand experience to lend credibility to whatever I’m writing. No boss, just an editor. No time in/time out, just deadlines to beat. I can sleep anytime I want and get up as late as I want. That would be glorious.

If not, I’ll probably write some stories. For movies or for television, doesn’t matter. I’ve got some crazy story ideas stored somewhere in the dark recesses of my sometimes twisted mind. I've got better plots than those stories being published in one tabloid that some of my addicque friends loves reading. I’m sure one or two of my plots will make a blockbuster film or a top-rating ‘tele-serye’. Maybe I can give the televiewers some option aside from watching rehash of Carlo Caparas novels.

Better yet, I’d love to try the broadcast media where I can do a talk show. Afterall, I’ve got a lot to say on anything - highly opinionated, in case you haven’t noticed. Might as well put it to work to my profit. But not on the molds of Boy Abunda. Entertainment talk shows are a bit trivial. I’d prefer social commentaries. Though I might easily get death threats with my sometimes uncensored tirades, specially when I’m pissed off with our politicians.

So maybe I’ll just do the news. I’ve always envied those news anchors who are always wearing nice suits, just do a 30-minute news program and earns an indecent amount of money. Plus, the image they build among the public. Heck, these people can win any public office whenever they decide to go for it. Noli de Castro, remember? People think someone who reads the news properly can also be a good public servant. Duh.

So I’ll seriously consider these choices. When? Maybe soon. I’m just waiting for the right moment. And that spark. The spark that will ignite the desire to do things instead of just dreaming about it. And oh yes, I dream a lot in case you haven’t noticed! Hahaha!

meeting na namannnn???

In my current job, grabe ang mga meeting. Ito na yata ang kumpanyang nakita ko na kaliwa’t kanan ang meeting. There are days na halos wala akong magawa kungdi mag-attend lang ng meetings, one after the other.

Hate ko pa naman yan. I think it’s counter productive. Ang daming oras na nasasayang. But even if I don’t want to, wala akong magawa minsan kungdi mag-attend. And in all those countless sessions, may napansin ako. And that’s what I’m gonna share with you.

Napansin ba ninyo na ang mga nag-aattend ng meeting, iba-ibang klase ng tao? I mean, iba-ibang personalities. And if I’d put a tag on them, eto yon:

The Dictator – eto yong mga dino-dominate ang discussion all to himself. Halos walang makasingit at sya lang ang nagsasalita. Makes you wonder kung bakit ka pa nag-attend eh sya lang pala ang gustong makipag-meet sa sarili nya.

The Impressionist – ito yong mga taong gusto laging magpa-impress. Always trying to appear as the know-it-all guy kahit wala namang alam. Ang daming sinasabi pero wala ka namang mahagilap ng substance.

The Artist - you might see him busy scribbling on his notepad. Akala mo nagsusulat ng notes about the meeting. But look at his paper when the meeting is over. Most likely, naka-tapos na sya ng isang Mona Lisa kung mahaba-haba ang meeting nyo.

The Politician – pag may pinagtatalunan, hingan mo ng comment ang taong ito and most likely he’ll give you an answer na ikakataas ng kilay mo. He’d refuse taking sides para walang makagalit. Hindi mo maaasahan ang mga ganito pag may botohang mangyayari. Balimbing.

The VIP – he’d come late and burst into the meeting room, profusely apologizing at sasabihing marami syang ginawa o galing pa sya sa isang meeting kaya sya late. And long before your meeting is over, magpapa-alam na porke may naghihintay pang tao. Coz he’s very important at kayo ay hindi kaya kayo na lang ang magtuloy ng meeting nyo.

The Kitten – kung magsalita ang taong ito, akala mo kuting na ngumingiyaw. Sobrang hina ng boses and you have to strain your ears para maintindihan lang ang sinasabi. Either he’s so shy na magsalita o talagang ganon na ang speaking voice. Minsan gusto kong tapakan ang paa para mapa-aray at lumakas-lakas naman ang boka.

The Ghost – at least si kitten, maririnig mo. Pero etong Ghost, magugulat ka na lang and say ‘uy, nandyan ka pala’. Dahil after hours na naguusap kayo, hindi mo sya narinig magsalita. Either natutulog o ayaw magsalita dahil walang alam sabihin sa pinag-uusapan ninyo. Makikita mo na lang as you were leaving the conference room.

Well, I'm just trying to humor myself sa mga pinag-gagawa ko rito. But the truth is, minsan ako rin, dahil sobrang bored, uninterested at hate ang meeting, nagiging The Artist ako minsan. Kaya after the meeting, nakakagawa ako ng mga starts, flowers at kung ano-ano pa from repeated strokes of my pen. Hay naku, meeting na walang katapusan. We gotta use our time in a more productive manner.

a constant existence

Virgin Atlantic has just flown from London Heathrow to Schipol airport with one of it’s four engines partially running on bio-fuel. Beaming with pride si Richard Branson sa Euronews report kasi nga ground-breaking itong flight ng kanyang carrier.

Obviously, this is an attempt to do something about the global warming issue. Kasi nga, aircrafts daw are the biggest offenders when it comes to carbon footprint. Ang isa pang maganda nito, hindi lang global warming ang naso-solve. It also provides alternative solution to another huge problem that is fossil fuel running out in the very near future. Di nga ba analysts say that oil reserves in the Middle East are estimated to run out in 30 to 50 years time.

Dapat mag-celebrate tayo dahil mukhang killing two birds with one stone yong bio-fuel. Kaso, environmentalists think otherwise. Mas malala daw na global warming ang mararanasan natin if we clean-out vast areas of land para pagtaniman ng coconut (the main ingredient ng bio-fuel na ginamit sa flight).

In effect, parang sinasabi nilang it’s one vicious cycle dahil sa global warming pa rin ang bagsak natin kahit pa nakakita tayo ng isang effective alternative fuel.

Ewan ko naman kung nagko-kontrabida lang itong mga environmentalists. Or maybe they are just having reservations regarding the sudden change. Baka hindi sila comfortable from the idea of riding a plane with bio-fuel instead sa long-time nang naka-sanayan na jet fuel.

Yon ang isang problema sa kahit anong changes na ii-introduce mo. Be it in your business or your personal life. Lalo na sa trabaho mo. We do not accept change quite easily. Coz we have the tendency to stick to what we have been routinely doing. Naka-develop na kasi tayo doon ng comfort zone. Knowing that we have done something for so many times, hindi na tayo nangangapa. Thus giving us the confidence to go through it without any worries.

Kaso, hindi pwedeng sa buhay natin, we maintain a constant existence. We have to deal with variables any day, any time. And how to deal with change is something not many people can handle well. Kaya sumulpot ang mga consulting services who specialize in change management.

Fortunately, naka-intindi ako ng ilang basics ng change management in my previous work. Something which I am trying at my level best na i-apply sa current situation ko. Dahil I’ve come to a point where I have to do some considerations, serious thinking and a big step out of my comfort zone.

Leo ako at sabi ko nga sa header nitong blog, I pursue with much ardor kung ano man ang mapag-tuunan ko ng pansin. Ganon din ako pag nag-decide. Diretso. Because I do careful analysis bago ako mag-decide. Kaya pag dating ko sa isang decision, I can never be shaken unless may force majeur.

Buti nga ngayon, nag-iisip na akong mabuti. When I was still a bit younger (and that wasn’t so long ago, mind you), pag naisip kong ganito, yon na yon. Decision na yon. And I will go ahead with it no matter what. Pasalamat naman ako kasi I haven’t had major regrets so far sa mga decision ko sa buhay.

But now, of course, supposedly older and wiser na ako. So I will go through the whole process. And whenever I’ve come to a decision, dito sa dantespeaks nyo agad malalaman. Meantime, that’s it muna. Umpisahan ko nang mag-analyze.