What's for your exchange gift? :P

In our wishlist, I asked for a stuffed toy, specifically "yung malambot at masarap yakapin", but I got more than I've wished for. :)

I got this as an exchange gift from Sir Borge, these three sweet little bears. I'm still deciding on what name I should call each of them, but I want to call one of them Borge, in honor of their giver. :P

So, how about you.. what did you get for your exchange gift? :)

Disappointments.

I guess being disappointed in small things often hurts as much as disappointments in big things. It's not just about a person being unwilling or incapable of fulfilling promises or simple favors, it's also about the other person feeling unworthy of such favors.

But asking for and doing favors are equally important in building a relationship. It leads us to being someone whom other people can depend on, someone accountable, a man of our word, someone considerate. Asking favor can teach us to trust other people, and helps us to be more understanding when it's not met. It shows how to lower our expectations, and to be grateful when someone delivers.

Even in our work place, it is important to learn to say no when you can't instead of saying "Yes" and back down eventually. I guess we should realize that as a part of a team, or a company, we start building our team work by simply fulfilling our promises or delivering the things we are expected to do in and outside our work place. We all have our limitations, but raising other people's hope only to fail them isn't a good way to earn their confidence and respect. If you can't, say it, it's much better than getting them deliberately disappointed.

Trust is something we earn, and we earn it in both little and big things. So keep your words when you can and try to make up when you can't. I know other people will do the same for you if you will be a good example for them. I guess, "palabra de onor.." is still a filipino virtue, right?

SPI Shuttle Bloopers Part 1

This thing happened last week, I don't know what day because I don't even want to remember that embarrassing day, but for the fun of it, let me narrate that first incident of my being late, and the stupidity that followed...


I was literally brisk walking as soon as I got off that stupid jeepney who wanted to get every innocent people standing on the side walk as his passenger. I sighed, that was the very first time I believe I will time in past our schedule. I was furious, so I stommped my way to our company's shuttle..

Then I hold the knob, pulled it, got irritated because it didn't open and nobody from the other side had the kind heart to open it for me. So I tried again, and even pulled harder, then finally! Helluvah! It opened, I looked up to see a man holding the door.. and in my almost dazed state, I heard him say...

"Miss... HINDI PO ITO SHUTTLE NG SPI.."




So I let go of the door and watched as the man who slapped those words on my face slowly closed the door. Damn.. What was that? Is he joking? It's a white L300 Van! and it's parked where our service shuttle were supposed to be..


Then when I turned around, it hit me...


There was a queue behind me. and they are all wearing this smart casual attire almost the same as I do. Okay.. I got it..


thanks for a wonderful night..




End of the story?
I timed in at around 10:07 because it took me another minute or so before our most awaited shuttle arrived. Lucky..

that was the day I realized...
"if it's late.. it's me.."

Tax, Politics and being underpaid..

Underpaid.

I never thought this word can really sound so bad when you are actually the one working hard to earn your money but then it will suddenly puff out of nowhere. UNDERPAID. Such an awful word.

Actually this god forbidden word surfaced in one of our conversations on our break time, and suddenly it hit me, we are all aware that we are underpaid, and yet why the heck we accepted this job offer! haha. I guess it's about the charming HR who wooed us to this direction, but kidding aside, I guess, we are all just after for the experience since most of us are fresh grads, so here we are! welcome to the world!

In the middle of our discussion about our new job, someone blurted out, "okay na sana mababa ang sahod, wag lang mataas ang tax o masyadong mahal ang mga bilihin.." Of course, the rest of us exhaled our sigh of dismay.. "Asa!" But then again, who won't wish for a lower tax, right? But since we live here in the Philippines, where our taxes cover most of our country's expenses, some of our politician's living allowance, and a little for misaligned projects, of course we have to deal with "kaltax" as our trainor called it..

I guess there is no helping in discussing politics when we talk about salary, being underpaid, and of course, taxes. Our conversation even trailed as far as our presidential bets last May 2010 national election and why or why not PNOY should indeed be our president, or if there's somebody else to fit the position. But since we can do nothing about who won the election last May, I guess we can only work hard, pay our taxes, and pray to God so our politicians will spare our meager contributions for our country.

But I guess paying taxes is somehow a good thing. I actually even smiled at the thought that finally, I dropped in some peso on our "kaban ng bayan..." That those little amount actually marked my being part of the work force of our country, an asset and not anymore a liability..

"Let be your reward, equal to your hard work.." So one day, I hope I'll earn as much as I work hard, although I am perfectly aware that it's almost impossible.

*cheers!