First Batch, Graduation, and Tears

De La Salle Canlubang Integrated School had their first graduation ceremonies last March 30, 2007, and I am just glad that I am part of that historical moment.

After weeks of hardwork, practices with the students, polishing the movement on stage, stapling hundreds of programs and mass guides, it is finally over.

I somewhat predicted that I would cry on my students' graduation ceremonies. But I can't help running around during the whole cermony to make sure people are doing their jobs right. I am such an obssessive-compuslive (OC). I can't bear seeing dull moments. I want everything in order and at the right pace for the 1st graduation ceremonies. Reflecting on what I was doing, I thought again, I don't think I can cry anymore being stressed out by all the coordinating I was doing. Oh well. It's not a problem, in fact, it's a relief that I won't be able to cry -- I mean, I am soooo ugly when I cry!!! :D

The last part of the program is when the students sing the alma mater hymn and proceed to descend the stage. As for me, I was hell-bent on congratulating my students because I don't want to regret not being able to congratulate them. (I hate regrets!) So I welcomed my advisory class at the side where they would go down from the stage, and one by one, I shook the hands of the boys, and embraced the girls. As I embraced one of my students, she whispered "thank you, miss" to my ears with her voice cracking, and when I let her go to look at her, I couldn't help shedding my own tears because I was moved. I continued to congratulate the rest. I offered my hand to another student, and instead he offered me his arms and we embraced each other. Another gallon of tears flowed. Then I embraced another student, and I found myself huddled in the middle of a crowd of students. It is the closest to heaven I could get here on earth: those 30 seconds in my students' embrace.

I looked around and saw no teacher and administrator left among the students and the parents. I was all alone, but I still continued to congratulate the students.

I cried at the "congratulations" I receive. I cried at each "thank you" I heard. I cried at each invitation from the parents to have a picture with their son or daughter. (Golly! I wonder how I looked in those pictures!!!) When I finally thought that I have given my congratulations enough, I proceeded to the venue where the teachers and administrators gathered for a celebration dinner.

Our brother president asked if I was okay, but I was still sobbing (hagulgol in tagalog) a bit so I couldn't give him a straight answer. I couldn't tell him I was crying not beccause I was sad, but because I was happy, I was moved by all the sentiments, and I was relieved that the graduation is over. I lined up for the buffet, and a student strayed in the midst of teachers and administrators video-taping each teacher, and when my student reached me, she thanked me for the carabiner I gave them last Christmas. She told me that in 10 years, she will show me that she will have her own car keys hanging in that keychain, and even perhaps her own house keys. She also thanked me for teaching her about time. Again, I poured another gallon of tears.

I cried gallons that night. And as i write this very momentous event, I can't help crying another pint more.

Congratulations to the First Batch of high school graudates of DLSC! I will surely miss each of you. Just remember what the red pen symbolizes. Each of you is unique, but we are one in revising our lives to make the best novel we have ever written.

This is why I don't join women's rights advocacy groups

Don't get me wrong. I definitely hate it when men consider women as "mere" women. We are not mere women. We are women. They are men. Women and men (or men and women) are both persons of equal dignity but of different functions. Their dignities are on the same level. This doesn't mean that I hate it that women are considered "mere" housewives. Women are not "mere" housewives. They (because I cannot consider myself a housewife yet) are housewives. They are executives. He is the CEO. She is the CEO. He is the breadwinner. She is the housewife.

If there were only one thing I'd fight for is to remove the adjective "mere" before women. That's it.

For your reference, I particularly like the article I read in the Inquirer today. Below is the full article.

------------------------------------------

<a href="http://business.inquirer.net/money/columns/view_article.php?article_id=42121"<"Faulty math of women's right advocates"></a>
By Honesto General
Inquirer
Last updated 08:56pm (Mla time) 01/07/2007

WOMEN'S rights advocates continue to fight for a bigger share of the national landscape. But, their arithmetic is faulty.

Their claim is based on the fact that the population is 51 percent
female. To be fair, they say, the female participation in every line of
activity--whether in the professions, in politics or elsewhere--should
be at least close to this figure. Four lady associate justices of the
Supreme Court are only 27 percent of the total 15; there should be
eight lady associate justices.

The arithmetic is faulty. The advocates have not considered one
factor: by God's plan, child bearing is a woman's strict monopoly.

As a result, child rearing, thank heaven, is still a woman's noblest
profession. We should stop using the adjective "mere" when describing a
housewife.

I wonder if the National Statistics Office has any data on how many
of our women, with college degrees from the best schools, choose not to
pursue a career outside the home, and instead enjoy taking care of the
children. Are they wasting away their college education? Of course not.
At the very least, the mother helps the children with their homework.

The equation changes when the number of women who stay home to take
care of the children are deducted from the total female population.
Perhaps then, four lady associate justices of the Supreme Court are too
many. But if a woman is brilliant enough to be the chief justice,
that's fine with me.

Don't misunderstand me. I want the Filipino woman to pursue a career
if she will be good at it. Once I was at a court hearing. The witness
was a woman, about 30 years old. The private prosecutor and the defense
lawyer were both women, well-coifed and good-looking. The elderly male
judge was thoroughly enjoying the show unfolding before him.

In Asia, if not the world, the best place for a woman to be in is
the Philippines. The rice farmer's wife helps her husband in the field,
but she is never allowed to carry heavy loads. At a restaurant, the
waiter serves the women first; in other parts of Asia, the women are
served last. The Filipino woman won her right to vote 80 years ago; the
Kuwaiti women first voted last year. Even if she comes from a poor
family but is bright enough, our universal educational system allows
the Filipino woman to earn a doctorate degree; in some parts of Asia,
girls are allowed only six years of schooling.

The numbers game that the advocates of women's rights play is not
only fuzzy arithmetic, it is unnecessary. Women can carve their
rightful place in the sun by sheer persistence. This way, they can even
overwhelm.

Let's take the life insurance industry. Fifty years ago, the
Filipino male ruled the life insurance business. At Insular Life, there
was only one lady section chief. Today, most of the vice presidents are
women. There was then a handful of lady insurance agents. Today, 80
percent of the agents are women. This table of organization is repeated
in every life insurance company in the land. The life insurance
industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Fifty years ago, the few actuaries in the country were all male.
Today, Filipino female actuaries, all good-looking, entirely dominate
this profession.

The non-life insurance industry has not been safe from the inroads
by women. Women occupy executive positions in many companies. More and
more lady insurance brokers qualify for licenses every year.

My concern when a woman pursues a career in the professions or
politics or business is that the family is possibly being sacrificed at
the altar of success. That can be tragic.

The Poor Philanthropist

I was watching a year-end special on ABS-CBN featuring great Filipinos in 2006. What made me shed tears were their features on Filipina philanthropists. What is amazing is that these Filipinas were not surnamed Zobels or Ayala or Lhuilliers, but they are the ordinary Dela Cruzes. When you look at them, you know they don't live in Forbes park, or in any posh condominium in Makati.

One was even a domestic helper from Japan, also a mother. While working in Japan, she noticed an encyclopedia in the trash and took it. She said that the book looked unused and that the receipt was still inside the book. She then remembered her poor countrymen who lacked reading materials, and decided to salvage all usable books that she would see in the garbage. It has become her passion, and it eventually became her second job to housekeeping. She looked for a cargo company who would be willing to ship her books to her hometown in Iloilo, and found one run by a Filipino. She established her foundation and called it "Pinokyo Foundation". With her work, she was awarded and granted 4 million pesos to invest in her philanthropy. Her employers noticed that she has become busy with her foundation work, so they asked her to go back home, and even offered to pay for her plane fare. She willingly accepted and knew that it was meant to be.

Though she is now based here in the Philippines, she still helps. She has a little canteen where she donates a peso for every transaction that she makes. She uses the money to help her poor neighbors.

There are others featured who started to put up a building where they will help prevent drug use in their poor neighborhood, by keeping them busy and educating them about drug use. There is another one who put up a center for children who are abused by their parents.

These are the Dela Cruzes. They are not the Zobels nor any other Spanish-sounding names. Do we still have to wait until we become rich in order to help my less fortunate countrymen? No, I don't think so.

Omigosh, I could have been on TV tonight!!

Following our report on ADB, I missed a call from an ABS-CBN guy. I returned his call and he was asking if I were available sana for an on-cam interview about the ADB report! Imagine?! Too bad I'm based in Laguna now that the ABS people couldn't make it due to time constraints. If I were in Manila right now, I could have had that on-cam interview!!! Major exposure! Hehehe. Even if it pushes through, I sure need to read my own research again to be able to say something. Heck I forgot what I wrote already! I mean, that was two years ago and many things have happened already in between!

Oh well, at least I know the report will be featured on TV tonight. :) I'll try to record it and post it here if I catch it. But if you catch it, record it for me. Hehe. :)

Feeling intellectual right now? Try this: Philosophy of Work

Here's a summary of my Philosophy class on why persons work:

Work is part of the humanization -- that which makes a person more human, and different from animals -- process of man. By definition, "work is the activity which man exercises in a free and burdensome way, with the purpose of acquiring the means to satisfy his own needs and wants."

Let's face it. We have to work if we want to achieve something. Analyze the statement closely. Work is clearly a means, and not an end. it is an activity that has an end outside itself. The activity that does not have an end outside itself is contemplation, an end in itself.

Distinguishing roles, as in your role as a CEO and your role as a father or mother, has a tendency to split the personality of the person as if he or she is a different person at work, and at home. [Maybe that's why there are schizophrenics... hmmm.]

Although work humanizes us, it can also dehumanize us when we start becoming workaholics. We know that we are workaholics when we have already destroyed our social life.

To end, "Work is for man. Man is for others. Man is for God."

What's your worth?

I just saw an episode of Grey's Anatomy season 3 (don't ask me how I got to see it already) when our dear Dr. Preston Burke deals with his nerve problems in his right hand. He has lost control over his right surgical hand. The girlfriend forces him to practice and do home therapy to improve his "nerves" because she says, "You're Preston Burke. You need to practice." Christina implies that Dr. Burke won't be Dr. Burke without his surgical hands because he is good at it.

That episode promotes function as our worth. If we don't function, we are nothing. Same philosophy that drives people crazy and eventually to suicide (or at the least depression). People who lose one of their body parts undergo some sort of crisis. They start feeling worthless. When a painter loses his sight, he suddenly feels worthless. When a pianist loses his hands, he feels worthless. When a runner loses one or both his legs, he feels worthless.

It is as if our value as persons lies on how we function. But we are not just our eyes, our hands, our legs. We are our whole body. Our being, our soul, is not concentrated in our little pinky or in our hands. Our soul is in our being. Our worth is based on the fact that we have souls.

We will really commit suicide or euthanasia if we think that only people who function are worth keeping or loving. Might as well terminate the life of a sleeping person right?

Going back to our dear Preston Burke. Christina Yang should not later decide to break up with Dr. Burke because he "stopped" being that Preston Burke she originally fell in love with (i.e. the famous cardio-surgeon in Seattle Grace Hospital).

Haaay, love. When you have finally married your boyfriend now, would you give him up if he loses one of his body parts or even his sanity? Just remember, he may not be the same old guy before he lost his hand, but he is still the man you fell in love with and made a vow of being with him "'til death do [you] part".

So, what's your worth based on?

Very Catholic at the Core

Last night, like any other time when I drop Veevs at her place, we have an hour or so "car talk" before she really goes down from my car. Yes, with the A/C and engine running. Good thing we still haven't been poisoned. :P

She was telling me how the people in her workplace were. She told me that most of her openly gay colleagues have recently gotten converted to "Victory", a Protestant sect popular among the famous celebrities. She told me how her colleagues tried to convince her to join Victory with them, and how Victory has turned them into a celibate. Now they are turning their conference room into a Bible study sessions room.

What's funny is that the Catholic faith does exactly the same. We have a group called "Courage" that encourages admitted gays to live a celibate life. We are also encourage to study the Bible although memory of the text is not the key to going to heaven.

The thing is about Victory and similar protestant sects, they give their constituents a picture that it is very easy to go to heaven as opposed to the apparently rigorous teaching of the Catholic Church. Well, for a fact, nothing is really easy in this life. It is just that we want the "easy way out".

Veevs, for the first time, has felt that she is part of a minority, and has strongly felt the need to protect her faith even more strongly. A director she has worked with also told my friend that she did try to attend of the Vitctory sessions, but as soon as she heard the Pastor badmouthing the Pope, she exclaimed, "Ah that's it. I'm outta here." Mind you, this director is openly a lesbian. She confesses to my friend: "You know, although I am like this, inside, I am a conservative."

For people like this director, they know that the Catholic faith is The One. The true faith. They just find it difficult to embrace everything about the Catholic faith. It's like you know that ampalaya is good for your blood, it's just hard to eat it because it is so bitter to the taste. Nevertheless, people eat ampalaya and have grown accustomed to its taste because they use their heads and think that it is indeed good for them to take ampalaya.

For the converts out there, we try to look for other religious organizations, only to find that whatever it is that we liked in our newly found "family", it was there all along in our Catholic faith. We just didn't give the true faith a chance.

Talking to an Atheist

Yesterday afaternoon, while my students were busy fixing their Reading
Corner for the competition, a student of mine called my attention
saying that "how can Jesus feed 5,000 people with just 5 loaves and 2
fish?". Of course, my adrenalin rushed out to explain to my
self-proclaimed atheist student that it is because it was a miracle.
God does exist. He counterargued saying that science cannot explain
that, therefore, it is not true. It couldn't have possibly happened. I
have tried all arguments philosophical and theological, but typical of
atheist, he was closed to any dialogue about the thought that God may
exist.

His
point is that everything is based on science. I asked him to look
around him, and see the grandeur of the structure of the universe, and
he said, "Miss, it's all the art of science." Even if I asked him if he
actually believes that science created the tree, he would not budge and
just be convinced that everything is science. I asked him who created
science, and he said, science.

The problem with the way he
thinks is that science does not create. They invent. They discover what
already exists, and try to reinvent what is already created. Science
synthesizes parts of creation to make some new things like a space ship
or a car or a skateboard.

I am not saying the science is not
right. It is right when it only deals what it can. Theology and
philosophy studies the abstract things of love, happiness, sorrow.
Science studies the physical world, the non-abstract world.

Copies of Movies I have been trying to acquire

Here are some movies that I've been trying to acquire for the past years or whenever I remember to find them. :)

1. Psycho
2. Crime and Punishment
3. The Birds
4. Rear Window
5. Oro, Plata, Mata
6. Life is Beautiful
7. Colors of Paradise
8. Children of Heaven

Motorcycles, motorcycles, motorcycles.

I have a long-standing hate relationship with some motorcycle drivers especially here in the province. They drive as if they have a force-field that will prevent them from being hurt. They drive as if there were no cars around them. Some don't even have sideview mirrors to monitor movement behind them. They just look in front of them and don't mind what's behind them. They go through every space be it in between cars and trucks, or counterflow. To top it all, they don't use proper signals -- hand or light!!!

Every morning I have to go through a litany of "should-be's" and a morning exercise shaking my head from left to right everytime I see motorcylce drivers not wearing a helmet or lugging his wife and two kids on his tiny motorcycle, all without helmets, mind you.

In my head I would tell myself that one day, I'll have my moment with motorcycles. And so it arrived.

I was crossing the main intersection of C-5 southbound coming from Ortigas, trying to merge with the rest of the truck-anity (truck-ban not in effect). I was trying to defend myself from the car on my left, and steered my wheel to the right then I heard a loud scratch on my right side. How did you guess? Yes, a motorcycle on the fast lane with the rest of truck-anity and car-anity.

Just my luck. Just when I didn't renew my comprehensive insurance. Drat.

He turned right toward the curb and as a good citizen, I followed. I put on my hazzard, went down my car fuming inside, and checked the damage to my car. Drat. The rubber on his steering handle (whatever you call it) rubbed on my black paint. Double drat. My car's side had a dent, but at least no scratch. In my head, I was thankful because I can still easily rub off the mark with gas and rubbing compound, and I could probably ask someone to just push the dent out.

I was about to rant to the motorcycle driver, when I tried to keep my cool and asked if he was hurt. Again, thank God, he wasn't. He tried to show me what I did to his motorcycle. Just a bent foot rest. No scratch, no dent, no broken mechanicals. Of course, we had an argument with who's at fault. I admitted I didn't see him on my right because for one, I wasn't expecting to see a mini-motorcycle in the midst of trucks, SUV's and cars! He was accusing me of squeezing him into the truck! Heck, would I do that?

Then I realized that this guy wasn't happy with an apology, he was trying to solicit money from me. And so I immediately made it clear that I didn't have any cash to give him. I offered him cosmetics because that was the only thing in the car I could give him. I didn't have change that time so I couldn't really offer him 50 bucks. He was still persistent. I already told him that I have a more costly repair to be done than his. I even offered to straighten his foot rest, believe it or not, I did put my hand on it to try to budge it. Of course, it didn't work. :P The usiseros were already agreeing with me. Other motorcycle drivers passing by would slow down beside us to survey the damage of his vehicle, but they only shook their heads in disagreement with the motorcyclist. After 10 minutes, he realized that he won't get anything from me, he finally decided to leave. He probably thought he could get me to be soooo apologetic like some helpless lady drivers, but he bumped the wrong lady driver.

If I only have the powers, I'll legislate some laws requiring motorcyle drivers to get a license, undergo lessons on road courtesy and road rules, and to wear a helmet as well as their passengers.

I'm sure some of you drivers will have some similar sentiments with me regarding motorcycles. I know some friends of mine who do.

Teaching is a thankless job...

I have always upheld the thought that teaching is really a thankless job. Literally because students don't really have the habit of thanking their teachers every after lesson. I don't remember verbally thanking my teacher for teaching me. Students normally realize that they ought to have thanked their teachers later on in their life when they become successful in the respective careers or most immediately when they go to college. This is why I never really expect my students to show appreciation to what I'm doing for them especially so when you always hear them complaining about requirements, due dates, and tests. Come to think of it, students do thank me...when I don't give them seatwork or homework. :)

Anyway, back to my original thought.

I just came from my students' retreat in Charles Huang Batulao, Batangas. Breathtaking view I tell you! It was really a place where you can commune with nature. There were gazebos to the side of the mountain (although scary thoughts would rush into your mind of a possible earthquake and your gazebo just comes sliding down the hill with you still sitting in it!!!). With regard to the activities that Tatay Jojo prepared for the retreatants, there were a lot of sharing, and therefore, crying going around. "Seeing" their hearts moved me to tears. They were sad, and I felt sad for them, too.

On their last day of retreat, I didn't know that more crying awaited us. Tatay Jojo asked the students to approach me individually and to thank me personally. Eeeeek! For once, I predicted my fate! I cried. I couldn't help myself from crying. Some of my students were also crying as they were thanking me. Some thank you's would be for not scolding them and for scolding them, for actually teaching them english and values, and for really caring for them. Some opened up some of their grudges with my being strict or hotheaded, but I understand them. They were nevertheless thankful.

Who on earth won't be touched with what they were saying?! Goodness, I wasn't prepared for it that I didn't have any hanky or kleenex with me to wipe my tears and what not with! Anyway, I threw my reputation away for that moment, and braved to listen to what my students had to say while my heart sobbed.

I just simply didn't know I had affected most of them that much. I have always had that impression they hated me for being so strict, for punishing them under the sun, for giving them the most dreaded reminder slips, and for giving them a lot of readings. I thought I was torturing them.

I am glad that happened. It has strengthened my relationship with them. I am sure there is more understanding between me and the students afterwards, and more heart and soul will be poured for the next 6 months before they graduate and go to their respective colleges.

Love is a one-way street

I heard a priest say once, "Charity [or love] is a one-way street." I immediately reacted in my head objecting to what he said. I objected because what I learned from Philosophical Anthropology class was that love has to be two-way because we cannot authentically love something that is incapable of loving. For example, we cannot say that we love our dogs because they do not love. They are just trained to be that way. We cannot say that we love our cellphones because our cellphones do not love us back.

Further on, the priest continues to explain that love is a one-way street because we should not expect something in return. This is what it means to have unconditional love. Now I get it. unconditional love is not putting conditions -- I will only love if you love me back. I will only love you if you will undergo cosmetic surgery. I will only love you if you get a job. Love means not appending our I love you's with if's.

This is why God's love is unconditional. God loves us without the if's. Despite our sins, our shortcomings, our not attending mass on Sundays (the least that we could do), He still loves us. He does not, however, love us to the point that sinful as we are, we still go to heaven nevertheless. The ones who struggle of the good people will not anymore be justified if that is so. God's divine justice still rules. Like any father or mother who will punish his or her child does so for the child's good. For the child to learn. God is our father pictured in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. He will do the same, but will welcome us in open arms when we ask Him for pardon in the sacrament of confession.

So take a stand: confession or not?

Crushed

Omigosh. It's been quite a long time since I had a crush on someone a bit more realistic. Because so far, two of my crushes are already married, and first one is even high profile. It's only today, I think, that I finally had a more realistic crush. I didn't expect to meet him today, but I did. Sir Leo had to introduce me to him because he was a potential publisher for the yearbook. Anyway, physically he passed my standards: a bit moreno, chubby (I don't like skinny or muscled men), medium height, owns a 17" Powerbook, and with great english diction. So far, so good. I didn't notice a ring on his finger (Yes, I tried to notice) so most likely he's single. Big problem is he does look a bit younger than I am. I am afraid he's just even a fresh grad from college. :( Other things to look out for: piety, schooling, family background, relationship status. Haha!

I feel like I'm in high school again! This is crazy. :P

Oh well, I guess he'll just be a crush. :) I'll keep you updated anyway in my 2nd teenage life.

People with Integrity

I never wanted to become a teacher until that day I had the chance to help a poor community in Cadiz, Negros Occidental when I was going on third year in college. I gave up my selfish ways and learned to give more of myself to be able to share what I know. Then I decided to enter the service industry and become a teacher.

My first four years of teaching was almost utopic. I did not encounter so many problems, or grave enough problems for me to remember them now, until I tried to seek greener pastures - you can take this figuratively or literally.

Don't get me wrong: I love the students and I love my salary. It's some of the people around me that I have to really contend with. These are people who say nice things in front of you, but say another in official documents. These are the people who calumnize and defame other people among friends, and do the same to their friends when they are not around. These are the people who complain - in fairness, they do have basis for their complaints - but leave it at that: a complaint. These are the people who criticize efforts of other people dismissing them as fruitless. And these are the people who evaluate you at the end of the school year.

For some time, my brains could not absorb the fact that there are actually people who behave like this. I thought these people only exist in movies, but I guess not. Maybe I'm just really naive. Because I didn't understand why they think and act that way, I started nurturing dissatisfaction for the organization. I became an overgrown angst-ridden teenager. I wanted to understand so I approached a more seasoned colleague. Her advice: lower my expectations. It was and is still a difficult to do. I received another advice from a Philosophy teacher: The reason why people behave the way they do is because the person is endowed with so much freedom making him or her a real incarnated mystery.

True, so true. People are not robots. We can't expect them to behave in a certain way. God did not create us as if we are all programmed. (Thank God for that!) Then there is really room for differences and greater struggle to understand. Being persons with intellect and freedom, the way they behave is already beyond our control. We cannot simply control them. The only thing we can really control is ourselves - how we will handle and deal with them.

So I am not going to act like the victim here. Am I complaining? Yes, I am. Am I doing something about it? Yes, I am. What am I doing? I am not letting them ruin my day. I am not fighting back because I do not want to waste my energy on them. I am praying for them that God may enlighten them, and eventually see their true colors.

Perhaps the guilty people are reading this essay now. They will only react in two ways: admit their faults and decide to change, or flare up in defense.

You may be in the same position as I am now be it in the corporate or academic world. We also have two choices in front of us: to react or to be proactive about it and use our God-given intelligence to understand. I guess it's time for more people to take the road less taken. These are the people with real integrity.

They're still at it.

Well, as expected, those who did not attend the forum still kept on complaining. Can't they just face the people involved? Don't they get stressed complaining and not do anything about it? I think it's just really crazy and unproductive.

These are the people who lack integrity, and people in position ought to be people of integrity. They sadden me while they snicker in their corners for the tears that are shed for them. It is really quite frustrating.

SM City Sta. Rosa a great buffer for Smart's services

After my grueling and almost traumatic experience with Smart's customer service, I am quite relieved after how my brother and I were treated at SM City Sta. Rosa. We needed to have his Telesulit replaced with a Budget Card becaust he thought that Telesulit is the prepaid card you can use to call abroad. Honest mistake on his part. He didn't know that there is exists a special land-based phone that only works with pre-paid cards.

So we both approached the Information Center that sold him the card. The customer service representative cordially listened to our needs, and told us to go to the Customer Service counter inside the Department Store itself. So we followed her, went inside the department store, and since the counter was not in sight, we asked one of the cashiers where the customer service was. She told us that there were two: one on the ground floor and another on the second. I asked which one is nearest, but she asked instead what our concern was. We told her that we needed to return a product we bought, so she immediately told us to go to the second floor. We were about to take the escalator nearest us, but she instead told us to take the other one farther us because the customer service is nearer that escalator, and even told us which cashier number it was nearest to.

Wow! What a relief! Customer service at its best! This is what I call efficient customer service even if it was already 7:00 in the evening, and they must be tired already. But this doesn't stop there.

When we reach the Customer Service counter, the girl was also very courteous. She did not immediately give us a reply whether we could refund or not. She tried to call someone through the phone, and it took her a while. There was another man lined up after my brother, and the other free customer rep immediately noticed that there was another customer waiting, and instead of calling him to approach her, she instead approached the customer to spare him of moving around the cordon. Impressive!

When the customer rep finished her phone call, she gave us bad news saying that she already called the Branch Customer Service Head to verify his concern, and that he really couldn't return nor replace the card. Although they did not solve my brother's problem, they handled the situation very politely, and efficiently. Before rejecting our concern, she made all possible ways to make sure that she can solve our problem.

Kudos to SM City Sta. Rosa! So far, the best in customer satisfaction. I wonder when they will fail me. Hmmm. Hopefully not. :)

When we reached

Airing out a Frustration with Smart

Pardon if I have not been replying to your texts or returning your phone calls because my SIM is still blocked ever since last Friday.

I thought I lost my phone so I asked Smart to bar all outgoing phone calls from my SIM. Boy! Was I impressed with the quickness they granted my request! The next day (Friday), I was able to retrieve my phone because a kind-hearted soul surrendered my lost phone to the authorities of an establishment. Was I relieved! So I immediately faxed a letter of request (as instructed by the Smart customer representative) to the number they gave me. I faxed once, twice and thrice on the same day because I was having problems faxing page 2 (the photocopy of a valid ID). Anyway, I tried to follow-up in the evening and the rep said to wait for feedback within 24 hours. I did not get feedback.

Saturday, I was just too busy to address my problem.

Sunday came, and still I have not received any acknowledgment of receipt of my fax. I called again and the person said she'll follow-up and told me to wait for another 24 hours to wait for the reply. A text came in after two hours saying that they never received any fax from me!

I knew there was something wrong in the faxing.

So I asked her what other ways I can send my letter of request to unbar the outgoing calls. She said to email. She gave me an email address. I scanned the letter of request and the ID, emailed it to the address she gave. I was quite confident it went through so I logged out my email. Hoping that within 24 hours I will have my phone working already, I didn't follow-up. But Monday came and still no reply. I already followed it up again, and to my frustration, they have not received my email! I tried to email the same letter again and only now that I realize that the mail bounced back to me! So they were really not receiving my emails! I tried faxing the letter again Monday three more times. Still waiting patiently, I was hoping that in 24 hours, I will have my phone working. But no, Tuesday came and still no confirmation. Another follow-up is done and they said they NEVER received any fax from me.

For the nth time, a follow-up is done and the customer rep said that she is already exasperated that they are not getting anything from me. I wonder who's more frustrated. And she finally said that I can do my request by visiting a Smart Wireless Center. [Pulling my hair.] Imagine how I would have felt if I knew that a Smart Wireless Center is just 10 minutes away from my home? But too late they said that, it's already evening.

How frustrating can it get when in 5 days, you are not returning important phone calls, and replying to texts! i do have Chikka access, but how could I do that without a computer?

So guys, until now, my phone is barred from making outgoing calls and sending SMS. Pardon me, and pardon the lousy service of Smart.

REALIZATION: Cellphones are important in official matters. Oh, the timing! Just when there is so much coordination to be done!

Angsty Teacher

Teachers can be angsty too.

I just came from a small get-together with my MA friends yesterday somewhere in Ortigas. We were there planning for a friend's wedding, choosing flowers, conceptualizing, and squeezing our not-so-creative brains for a great theme. Of course, my "new" outspoken me could not help my mouth from blaring out some "candid" comments as were planning. A friend commented something to this effect, "Hey! What's up with you? Ang taray mo ngayon ah."

Reflective me, of course it hinted on the fact that I wasn't mataray before. True, some of my college friends would always tell me how mild-mannered I was, but as years passed, as my experience grows, and as I get to know people I never thought existed in real life "You trying hard copy cat!" (Splashes wine on the face of the "copy cat"), I adapt to my environment and start growing my horns and start locking them with other people's horns. In my friend's word, "Angsty."

Angst was only specific to teenagers, I thought. But maybe I'm acting like a teenager -- again! I already forgot how it is to be mild-mannerd. Hmmmm... I guess I need to do more reflection, and talking to an objective reference.

April 24, Universal Studios and a Boyfriend

Great. My cousin gave us several coupons for a free pass to Universal Studios. There was only one problem: It was not transferrable. But as cheapskate Filipinos - or to be politically correct, as Filipinos trying to be smart - we nevertheless tried our luck. We had crazy ideas like to ask my cousin-in-law Aldo to represent himself as "Ed Halili". Anyway, we got to the booth, and thank God, the only condition is that anyone of us who has Halili as a last name (or middle name for that matter) can avail of the coupon. Good thing my cousin Cynthia brought her Philippine driver's license that shows Halili on it. :) Instead of paying f$44 for my ticket, I got to save that and I could buy anything worth that much now for shopping spree tomorrow. Haha!

What I liked about Universal. I got to see the stage in which they tape CSI Las Vegas: Stage 25. No, I didn't go inside. I just got to see the outside and the words "Stage 25" on the walls. That's the closest I can get I guess, but funny how I still felt like I actually saw them live. Heehee. I also liked the Shrek 4-D. Great show. It was funny. When Donkey sneezes, you actually feel a sprinkle of water splash on to your face. And when Lord Farquaad's ghost appears, you could feel cold breeze pass through your hair (or your nape, depending on your height). It was quite cool. The crew in Universal are really funny people. Not too funny, but they just like to kid around. For example, before we started the Shrek show, the voice over announcer was telling us to make sure we put on our seatbelt and that we could find it on the right side of our seats, and as we were just trying to look for it, he suddenly says, "just kidding"! I like the Jurassic Park ride and the show on different visual efffects. It was quite educational. :)

Lunch was also an issue. Imagine paying for hotdog and chips for $6.99? Or just a chili dog for the same price? You're going to go hungry inside if you're saving! That reminds me, we brought our own chips and water jugs for Universal. The water jugs were no problem, but the chips were. The security told us we can't bring big bag chips, but only small ones, so we decided to eat part of the chips before we enter so we can bring them in, and throw half of them into the trash. Embarrassing, but hey, I won't buy small bag chips for $2.99 each!

So we finished and went home early enough not to catch the rush hour traffic. I slept through the whole ride home because I was so tired.

Other things worth mentioning is tonight's blackout. What are the chances that there is a blackout when we are here, and while I was enjoying watching the latest CSI: Miami?!

Well, here I am working on my laptop on battery. Gotta sleep now.

April 23, Flight to LAX and Bladder Problems

Imagine, I only double-checked my scheduled departure for Los Angeles the night before I was going to leave, and I already told the driver that we're leaving at 4am. Anyway, I tried to be calm at my own mistake, and patiently waited. The driver came and we sped off to the airport. Mom was with me to see me off the airport. Boy, what a long line to the check-in counter to think that I was only 2 1/2 hours prior to my scheduled departure! As I lined up, a Northwest attendant approached me to ask if I was willing to be bumped off and get paid $740 NW voucher. I immediately declined. I hate changing my schedule going there but I would be willing if it were going home. :)

To make the long story short, I got to the check-in counter. When the NW personnel asked what my address was at my first stop and I didn't know! I said that I only know the city and state. So I wrote "Los Angeles, California", which I now realize is still wrong because it is actually Sta. Clarita, CA. Then he asked me if I already tried the Business Class, and I said "How I wish!" Then he continued sticking the labels on my check-in baggage, and as soon as he finished he handed me my boarding passes and told me that I was upgraded to Business Class for my Manila-Nagoya trip. I couldn't believe it at first, and at least I have 3 hours to stay and get to know the "Business Class". So I proceeded to Gate 11, and conveniently arrived just in time for boarding.

Boy, was I like a child playing in Business Class! I made sure I did everything I could to enjoy the privilege of being upgraded for free and without deducting mileage plus points. Hehe. I took advantage too much I took a complimentary bag of toothbrush and toothpaste from the lavatory. Cheapskate! :) After riding the Business Class, Economy felt and looked so cheap. Some marketing tactic! There is definitely a big difference between Business and Economy, and the most important is: getting out of your seat to go to the lavatory without disturbing your seatmate! There were three times that I had to go to the lavatory, but decided not to because I didn't want to bother my seatmates since I sat by the window. I hope my bladder is still okay.

I had a stop at Narita, when I felt really hungry. The only thing I could afford was a pork bun (siopao) which probably had more onions and ginger than meat! I only finished half of it and I gave up.

I arrived at LAX earlier than expected. We had to wait for another 5 minutes before we could deplane because the customs said so. Haha. They probably had to still settle into their seats since we arrived earlier. Line to the Immigration Officers were long. Since I passed by the washroom first, I was almost at the end of the line. Good thing, there was a Filipino personnel instructing NW2 passengers form a new line after all the U.S. citizens were already done with their passports. So again, I was "upgraded". Funny, another immigration officer was explaining to the ones left behind in the long line why we were given "special" treatment. He said, "We asked the Northwest passengers to form new lines because they take more time during the interview." I was a bit offended by that comment because I thought it was insulting. But nevertheless, we still finished ahead of them. The officer gave me six months despite my having a return ticket on May 19. Great!

Customs was not a problem for me too maybe because my box is a third the normal size of a balikbayan box, and my suitcase was rather small. I breezed through the whole ordeal in just an hour. Not bad, not bad at all. And boy is it cold here in LA!