The best thing in working in a BPO company like mine aside from earning more is being able to travel.  But nobody knows or even care how we work like carabaos.  I mean, get this picture, you sit on your butt for 8 straight hours, face the computer and do your work like hell.  I don’t complain coz everyone here does what I do.   But here comes the policy.  Nobody should ever commit a mortal sin.  Speaking languages other than English is a mortal sin, even in the most intimate conversation with a colleague.  It’s included in the evaluation or the PMP.  I totally don’t have a problem with that.  None at all.  I can speak english for all I care.  Just base it here in my blog, I seldom use Tagalog words or phrases coz I can totally speak the language, not that it’s perfect but I can.  The thing is, you wouldn’t really enjoy the casual conversation at all with all English.  There will still be Tagalog words you’d love to insert to spice up the conversation.  I even have a hard time expressing myself in Tagalog, let alone express in English.  I’d rather be in Bacolod right now and blab Ilonggo words.   

Other than this English-Only Policy, there’s this No-Technical Device Policy.  We are also not allowed to bring our cellphones inside the office.  Only supervisors and managers.  Imagine my envy, my camera phone is useless at these hours.  Every gadget should be left inside the locker including MP3s and camera. 

Here’s the deal, I work during the unholiest of the unholy hours.  Which means, when I get home, it’s expected there would be nobody left at the boarding house.  It’s great to have the boarding house all by yourself the whole day, nobody would bother you when you sleep.  There’ll be no footsteps you can hear or chatters from the next room.  But the thing is, you have nobody else to talk to as well.  Nobody would care to open up the gate when you forgot your keys.  So goodluck! 

By the time I so wanted to text, or be absorbed with my usual text habits during daytime, I’m so sleepy to carry a conversation, sometimes I ended up not texting anymore.  Even with my family, I would only text at a certain schedule and for how long.  I don’t do the usual kumustas to my friends in Bacolod I already lost contact with them.  I haven’t had a regular chat with them.   

So, combine all these policies along with other policies they can think of, you’d probably think I’m living the life of a robot.  That is, if there’s a life in a robot.   I already feel so detached with other human beings with my schedule.  Aaaaargh!

photo from americanidol.com

Even before the new American Idol season started, my stats for my previous posts about American Idol alumni skyrocketed to numbers I never imagined. That’s merely because there were searches on Katharine Mcphee’s pictures in my blog. Some of the words used are weird but some, you’d be surprised are horrendously pervert searches. But those pictures I have here in my blog are also pictures I’ve found in the internet, I reiterate, there’s no way I could capture one since I’ve never even seen Katharine or any of the Idol, except of course, Clay Aiken. I was able to attend his Fourth of July concert in Texas last year.

McPhee, season 5’s runner-up will be performing tonight’s elimination of American Idol season 7. That’s one of performance I anticipate coz after that season I never really heard anything about her except that she’s now married.

The judges claim, this season is one of the best, if not the best roster of contestants in AI history. I agree at some point but there were those in the Top 12 who I think should have left the competition earlier than some in the bottom 12. Alexandrea Lushington for example, is such a good singer in my opinion, but a wrong choice of piece, according to the judges, unfortunately sent her home earlier than expected.

For our very own Ramiele Malubay, I wonder when she could sing better again. This is her third week in a row for a lowly performance, it’s like she’s been swallowed by the stage and the music. She seemed so small literally and figuratively in that bigger venue. The orchestra was louder than her and her whispery voice. I know the judges adored her, or is it just Paula? Lucky for her if she could still stay in the competition, if the fans won’t easily give up on her and prove that she really has this big voice.

Kristy Lee Cook’s was worst in last night as no one among the judges was impressed or even given her credit for a country style arrangement for Lennon-McCartney original, although David Archuleta also messed up the lyrics on his part. He admitted he wasn’t comfortable of his song choice. Ironically, he was impressive in his previous performance a few weeks back in his interpretation of John Lennon’s Imagine.

photo from americanidol.com

Who must go home: based on last night’s performance alone, four were the worst, David Hernandez’ “overdoing”, Kristy Lee Cook’s “didn’t-work rendition”, David Archuleta’s “all-over-the-place performance” and a so-so from Ramiele. But knowing Archuleta’s the obvious favorite, and only “messed-up” this once, he’s safe. Kristy-Lee Cook for me has so far haven’t registered a great performance so she must go home.

 

NEW YORK - Some things John Grisham knows: He got 15 rejections before his first book, “A Time to Kill,” was published. He made $9 million last year. He’s not James Joyce or William Faulkner. He’s an entertainer.

“I’m not sure where that line goes between literature and popular fiction,” the mega-selling author says. “I can assure you I don’t take myself serious enough to think I’m writing literary fiction and stuff that’s going to be remembered in 50 years. I’m not going to be here in 50 years; I don’t care if I’m remembered or not. It’s pure entertainment.”

Grisham is happy to write what he hopes is “a high-quality popular fiction.” But that matters not to fans, who gobble every word.

Sometimes he wraps a serious issue around a plot — the death penalty in “The Chamber,” insurance reform in “The Rainmaker,” homelessness in “The Street Lawyer.” Now the self-styled political junkie and former Mississippi state legislator has written a book that’s more political intrigue than legal thriller.

“The Appeal” (his 21st book) tells the story of a huge chemical company that loses a $41 million lawsuit for causing cancer deaths and then essentially tries to buy an election for the state Supreme Court — where, yes, the appeal will be heard.

“I guess every year now is a political year. … And it just felt like it was time to write this story,” Grisham’s says, alluding to how the run for the White House has become a marathon of sorts.

Grisham, who turns 53 on Feb. 8 and still has the lanky look of an athlete who once chased a baseball career, is a big supporter of Hillary Clinton and says the Democrats have been outmaneuvered by the Republicans.

“I think what the Republicans have done in past elections is brilliant. Because, they’ve convinced a lot of people to vote for them against their own economic self-interest, and they’ve done that by skillfully manipulating a handful of social issues, primarily abortion and gay rights and sometimes gun control,” he says. “And the Republicans have used those to scare a lot of people into voting for Republican candidates. It’s skillful manipulation.”

Grisham is so addicted to following the presidential race that he jokes he might need rehab.

“My wife and I went out to dinner a couple of weeks ago, and we actually called somebody to find out if they had any results from the Nevada caucuses,” he says, chortling almost sheepishly. “And I said this ought to tell us something: ‘You know, we’re in this thing way too deep.’”

 

Grown-ups love figures.  When you tell them that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questions about essential matters.  They never say to you, “What does his voice sound like?  What games does he love best?  Does he collect butterflies?” Instead, they demand:  “How old is he?  How many brothers has he?  How much does he weigh?  How much money does his father make?”  Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him. 
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, 1943, translated from French

For the longest time, I was able to finally finish the book Protect and Defend by Richard North Patterson.  The first book he authored I’ve actually read.  The central theme in the story is abortion, as it applies to American setting - families, politics and law. 

It so happened that I bought this book from, of course BookSale in MOA, before I left for the states on my second trip and I only get to finish it yesterday.  There were so many things that happened between my travel and now that I wasn’t able to touch it.  I even bought 5 books in one of the stores in Las Vegas and until now I haven’t flipped a page from any of them.  That’s my goal for now.   To read them all.   Those books are varied in themes and right now, after reading 95% of Grisham’s books, I try to find another comfort author - if there’s such a term.

Abortion is a very critical topic more than it’s controversial.  Its arguments span from religious and moral to sociological and political.  And after reading the book, I was so much enlightened for a topic I thought I already knew.  I knew very little in fact.  It affects the moral fiber of the society, the law and most of all the family.  It is a dilemma I wouldn’t dare be into.  And I’m not sure how will Christians or Pro-Life advocates would deal with a fetus with no brain.  Is it just right to abort it or you’d rather choose not, face the consequences of not bearing a child again? 

taken in Mall of Asia on Dec. 8, 2007

I feel tired everyday for not having enough sleep.  I only get to sleep about 4 to 5 hours at daytime and I don’t really know the reasons why.  I’m trying to figure out whether there are things that really bothers me but I can’t find one.  In fact, my days are quite normal.  Except of course when I have to be up the whole day of Saturday to meet my duties at church.  But there’s no reason to complain.  In fact it’s the only day of the week that I most enjoy.  It’s fun being inside the church, meet friends and participate in Holy services. 

But I think my nightly schedule at work is draining me off.  I don’t think I could go any further than my two year bond.  After that, I have to look for a work with a normal schedule.  I’m not even sure if after two years my lungs would still be intact or I’ll still be as healthy than I’m used to.  I’d die younger that I’m supposed to with this kind of schedule.  I don’t even have vices. 

There are days when I’m thinking what I shall I do after my two year bond.  I plan to go abroad and find a peaceful environment.  The pollution and congestion here in Manila adds up to the daily stresses one could handle.  And I couldn’t even go back to the province and find a stable job.  Opportunities isn’t as vast as one can explore here in the Metro.  But I don’t also see myself breathing the same pollution everyday in my life.  Though I can’t trade off my experience and friends that I made while I’m here in Manila.  Most especially at church.  My week isn’t complete without going to church on Saturdays.  I’m thinking I could always catch up on my sleep the following days. 

When I was in the States, I was always pondering what I really wanted in life.  And I now know what I want.  There, I was able to see the better side of life, no worries with what to eat, what to wear nor how much money I still have in my pockets.  I have no worries on that aspect.  I feel the comfort and privilege, and even luxuries.  But it’s never been good enough without somebody to share it with.  It feels lonely despite the comfort.  It feels lacking despite the luxuries.  The good life will only be good when you have somebody to share it with. 

And it feels way better to have somebody to have good conversations with.  Somebody to share your laughter with and most of all, somebody to share your thoughts with.