Life Goes on

A poem I made year 2005 pa... Those time I was not yet a part of Call Centre Industry and it shows! The poem is so simple yet this is my favorite. I posted this in all my Friends' testimonials in Friendster...

Life Goes On

Hear my Friend a thought to ponder

For every trial has an equal wonder

Everything has its own reason

Life's purpose in every person

Hear my friend, the voice within

However it may, you should win

Coz lifes a battle, in middle of war

Losers are those who gave up a far

See, God created the world in no perfection

But provides us heart and mind to decide on

Opportunity do comes with great responsibility

Lifes aint easy, but beautiful as it can be

Coz Life goes on, it never ends

But here I am if you need a friend

One of Countless people by your side

Through thick and thin, bounty or strife

As a friend I may promise nothing more

But to be there when you call

Though how long life goes on for

Ill stay by your side forevermore

Ang Madamdaming Pamamaalam ni Aces

I was not able to send this farewell letter before I left eBay. So with the help of Facebook, I hope these special people would know how grateful I am that I met them. For those I was not able to mention, you've been a part as well and as special as the friendship that grew between us. Please tag those for some reason I can't =)

---- Napakabilis ng panahon. Parang kahapon lang nung nagtry ako magapply sa West sa EBP, subalit nung magbukas ang elevator sa 9th floor, tumambad sa aking paningin ang napakahabang pila ng mga aplikante. Naenganyo kaming bumaba sa floor na yon, at nalaman namin na Sutherland pala ang pangalan ng Call Centre na ito. DAhil me kilala kami dito, ay minabuti na naming ipagpabukas ang West at nagumpisang magpasa ng aplikasyon. And the rest is history ika nga... 3 years in the making...

Bagamat hindi sasapat ang mga salita upang ibahagi ko ang aking pasasalamat sa bawat taong aking nakasalamuha sa kumpanyang ito, pipilitin kong kahit paano ay maipakita na kung gaano sila kahalaga sa akin.

Wait, EOP nga pala... at ala akong planong pahabain pa ito. I know any moment from now ay magqq-ing na at babaha na ng sup call at man call. So here it goes...

First and foremost, I would like to thank the eBay UK Management, VOice and Non Voice teams, especially to Boss Monica who gave me the chance to upgrade me career path though she had interviewed me in my most unprepared moment. I was wearing a four pocket maong pants with wearoff tshirt during that interview. But still she gave me the chance to learn more in terms of leadership by hiring me as an SME. Thank you din po sa pagtatago ng aking litrato hehe =)

To all Supervisors who became my mentors during my SME days, especially To Boss Roma, to whom I honestly learned a lot from despite of our differences. To Bosses: JAce, Roan, Elle, Allen, Pam, Lea and to my former Co- Smes who were promoted as well, Heiken, Kat, Rocille, Devon. Thank you. 

To those people whom I shared Sup call, Man Calls, Escalation Issues and Floor Difficulty Issues with, The Elite SMES of the floor whom I can call the best people of support group. Keep it up. Its an honor working with you guys. THank you for helping my Blackpool team for these past few months. Rage, Via, Leanne, Justin, Jihan to name a few... 

To my one and only team: Blackpool... I had a separate message for you guys. Despite of the issues, I am proud of what you can do to fight for your integrity. 

To the whole Voice Community, especially to those who always looked for me for sup or man call, thank you. In one way or another I learned a thing or two from you guys. Thank you for the respect that you always showed me.

To my Batchmates, especially to the three remaining defamation and Suspension appeals: Lheo, Mommy Joanne and Yani... I'll be missing you guys. I know there had been a lot of changes since I transferred in Voice, but one thing remained that same, Im still the Aces whom you knew 3 years ago.. 

To Mommy Rose, Mommy Rics, Mommy She, Mamita and Mommy Ghe, I would keep in my heart all the things that I have learned from both of you. Thank you for being like a mom to me.

To QA and Training team, especially to those who vouched for me last eBay 4th anniversary.. I really appreciate the effort guys. 

BOss Maki, Boss Yen, Boss Anju, Ate PRecy, RJ, Kathy, Lynell, Yhangge, Sir DYno, Boss Ash, Boss Jeff, MItch!, Matt, Russell, Yani gurl, Val, Rhye, te Janice and to all who knew me from the Non Voice team... (Its not that I dont know you but I dont know who among you are still staying) -- Thank you very very much for being a part of my eBay Life.

Three years passed by peacefully, happily and blessed. Three years of my life that I will always be thankful of because of the people that I grew up with in the eBay UK - Sutherland Community. 

=) May God Bless each and everyone of us!

GWEN SOLDEN signing off...

Ang Aking Talumpati

Sa aking kapitapitagang guro: Binibining Novalinda Jurada, Sa aking mga Kamag-aral, BSCS 1D AM, at sa ating ibang Panauhing Pandangal, isang mapagpalang umaga po.

Ano nga ba ang pag-ibig? Bagamat napakaraming ibinibigay na pakahulugan si Ginoong Webster, hindi pa rin madaling ipaliwanag ito.

Simula't sapul ang mundo'y isilang, sinasabi nang may eksistensya na ng pag-ibig. Ayon sa Bibliya, tayo ay nilikha ng Diyos dahil sa pag-ibig, at  ibinigay pa nya ang kanyang nag-iisang anak, si Hesus, upang tayong mga makasalanan ay mailigtas ng dahil din sa iisang dahilan: ang pag-ibig. Tayo'y isinilang dahil sa pag-ibig ng ating magulang at nagpapatuloy tayo sa buhay dahil sa pag-ibig ng mga tao sa ating kapaligiran. 

Gayundin sa ating pagtanda, hindi maiiwasan na tayo'y maghanap ng kapareha na ating makakasama sa hinaharap. Ngunit sabi nga nila, sa ating pagtanda pa. Bilang payong ate, mas irerekomenda kong ienjoy muna natin ang ating kabataan, na minsan lamang darating sa ating buhay. Ang mga kabataan ngayon ay dapat munang nakatutok sa kanilang pag-aaral, sa kanilang paghahanda sa hinaharap. Higit pa sa kahit anong edad, ngayon, sa inyong pagiging adolescent, ang pinakamagandang panahon upang umusbong. Ayon nga sa isang talumpati ang pinakamasamang "pagkabansot" ay yung hindi na paglaki sa isip, puso at diwa. 

Sa gayon, dapat rin pala tayong umusbong sa puso. Di rin masamang magmahal, magkacrush o puppy love sa inyong edad, bagamat, dapat nating matutunan ang tamang pagpaparyoridad at limitasyon. 

Iibahin ko ang tanong.. ano nga ba ang tunay na pag-ibig? Sabi nga sa mga pelikula, "two way street" ang pag-ibig. Kailangang mutual ang nararamdaman ng dalawang tao para umusbong ang matibay na pagiibigan. 

Ang iba naman ay sa pisikal na anyo ibinabase ang pagmamahal. Sabi nga nila Boyfriend or Girlfriend material. Ang iba naman ay sa kasikatan o katanyagan at nakakalungkot ngunit ang iba naman ay sa kayamanan. Ang mga ito ang hindi tunay na pag-ibig.  

Ang tunay na umiibig: di ka iiwan sa pinakaalanganin mong panahon, di ka lilisanin kung ika'y tumaba, pumangit o tumanda, di ka huhusgahan kung ika'y sasablay sa desisyon o malilihis sa landas ng buhay. Bagamat siya ang dapat unang gumising sa iyong kahibangan, pagtanggap nya pa rin dapat andyan. Higit sa lahat, alam nya na ang pagbabago ay parte ng buhay, kaya't anumang mangyari dapat handa nyang harapin ito kasama ka at hindi yaong tatakbuhan ka na kapag ang pagkaperpekto mo'y nawala na. 

Hindi ba't kay sarap makahanap ng taong kakanta sayo ng "I wanna grow old with you..."? Huwag kayong mainip, dahil may tamang panahon at darating din siya. Mga kamag-aral, ang huling masasabi ko ay: aral-aral muna.

Start of My New Life...

21st of November: 

I am writing this in advance... I'm quite excited with the changes that I would be facing and of course, anxious with the new challenges that would be given to me. After my untimely Ovarian Operation, here I am, bidding goodbye to my bumming world and preparing a timeline of my own to make sure that everything I'll do would have their own given time and place in my life. Everything would be critical since I am still pursuing my late blooming studies. 

But still the excitement is there. The feeling of being useful again is nothing less than the happiest thought in my life. I am not really into bumming. Though I was not able to save a single centavo in my past years of working, I always make sure that the spending worth it. I managed, though with the help of some debts, to put up with my 9 PC - Internet Cafe and I was able to buy Mac (my Netbook - Emachine) and SamC (my mobile - Samsung Corby)... and it will not end there. I am planning to upgrade my life, to secure my future before I decide to settle on my own. I wanted to take part of the plans that my family was planning ever since, which due to some unfortunate series of events, would not be supported by all the member of the family. But I wanted to be one of those who would make that dream come true. I need to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to make it up with the wasted years of my life...

Aside from excitement, there is nothing like the gratefulness that I am feeling right now as well. Imagine an undergraduate, who seems to have nothing but herself could be admitted, employed and offered benefits in such a reputable company. From the start that I was referred, to the moment that I was offered the job, I know, I was very blessed. And I know that the blessings that was given to me should not be taken for granted, but should be used for the best of everyone.

Again, thank you Dear Lord for this. =D

What "The Future of the Nation" lacks...

Last Wednesday was my first day at Taguig City University and I can't keep myself from writing what I went through -- rather what my classmates and I are going through as of the moment. I'm not quite a critic but it just keeps bugging me that though I am getting College Education with no cost at all, I know in my heart that it should not be like this at all. 

I used to work at a Business Process Outsourcing Industry and I am quite aware how harsh taxes are being charged from Philippine employees. I know how Filipinos failed to understand the large amount of Value Added tax is being charged against them in everything they eat, wear, drink, ride on, enjoy, and basically live on. These taxes, if being used in the right way, should be enough to shoulder and elevate the Educational System in the Philippines. So as we all know, but never have took the courage to check on our National Leaders.

That day, I learned that the professor for the some subjects have not attended the class ever since the curriculum year has started because they thought I was a professor as it was the first time that they met me. I realised that we would be probably spending our whole semester under a nearly roofless warehouse that was turned into classrooms with plywood divisions because the original rooms at the TCU building was made to Computer Laboratories, which we are not yet permitted to use. I noticed the danger in their improvised rooms as you can see electric fans with no covers, electric wiring all around, and because it is roofless we can be as warm as the sun or as wet as the rain, whatever the weather is.

The Rooms and some Professors attitude towards work reminded me of no less than my 2nd year High School Classroom in Taguig National High School -- definitely worst. 

We are also asked to attend an orientation for our Course. Well I was excited that maybe we can have a chance to raise out our issues. But I was wrong, instead we have heard a lot of good promises. Like election, but they do not need our votes. I heard a lot of Policies. I heard Student's Rights, but only basic. But I did not hear any encouragement for us to talk. And worst, there was this one person who called us "Scholar of TCU, Scholar of the Mayor.", and suddenly it hurts. It made me realize that we do not have the right to complain because we did not pay anything for this education. Well in fact we do, maybe not directly but we do paid for everything that the government is giving us. What are taxes for anyway?

I was so furious but then when we returned to our classroom, a Professor came up and introduced herself. After some introduction, she suddenly told us that we should not look into these imperfection as a reason to stop attending classes, thus we should make it as an inspiration to carry on with our education and make sure that no one in the future would be in the same situation. I agree she had a point there, so I stopped mumbling and composed myself and gear for the next days of my semester. 

Still, we should not hear the words that we are "Scholar of Someone". Every Filipino should be aware that Every Filipino students deserves not only Free, but Quality Education. That is what "The Future of the Nation" is lacking nowadays. Extending School years would be null if the same Education System applies. If we can just reconstruct and provide better for the students then we can expect a lot from them. Imagine a keyboarding class that use paper printed keyboards in their Drills. I can tell you its hard, because I have been there that day.

Karen Jean Estilo: A Friend

Today is the 1st of July. I used to text a friend the same date to greet her "Happy Birthday". But that was years ago, before I received a text that we already lost her. 


Her name was Karen Jean Estilo. She's fond of being called KJ, but I prefer calling her Karen or Kams. I met her when I transferred High School here in Taguig due to my difficulty of travelling to and from PUP Sta. Mesa, which greatly affected my health. She's my classmate by then, in the most strange section I ever was, II - Soliman or Section 20. Like Karen, it was my first time to be in the lowest section which really broke my pride and soul. 


But as the days goes by, I was fortunate to realize that what had happened was not bad at all. In fact, I learned a lot of lessons, I gained a lot of lifetime friends and I came to strengthen my dignity by proving that I can be on the top again. Karen was one of the people who made me realize that life ain't over and I should not suppose to give it up. Just like her, we strive to push ourselves in studying and come 4th year, we're both on the 1st section again. 
=)


Karen was known for her smiles and her being optimistic at all times. She was loved and respected as one of the officer of Medics in High School. She used to tease people in a very childish way that you would say, "Si Karen talaga oh!", then blush. She never failed friendships, as her best friends Theresa, Che and Emily, can never say no to her. She was courted by many guys, whom even after the courtship and be rejected would still be considered as her friend. 


It will always be evident that Karen Jean Estilo is a real friend to each and every individual that she meet. The number of people who weep during her wake and burial is a just evidence. Her being a daughter and a sister would always be a moment of happiness for her family. 


As a facebook comment goes: "Karen Jean Estilo, we will always be celebrating your birth... We missed you so much!"

A Proud 90's Child

                                        As long as there is music we'll be coming back again...

 This was a line from a song that was introduced by the famous "Backstreet Boys". Who among us does not want it that way? The pride for the unbeatable year of 90's Music can prove how great a person can get in terms of expressing himself through music. Such songs that were delivered by artists whom, yes were doubted with their sexuality which causes their downfall, can be considered very talented despite of their flaws. People of all ages and all races can appreciate their skills even beyond disbandment. Why? As I said in a Facebook comment: "Nothings more clean, dignified and with sense as 90's..".
Well, too much for boasting but, hell, yeah. I'm a proud 90's child. Who's not proud of their era anyways?