Umiikot ang Gulong ng Palad

Minsan nasa ibabaw, minsan nasa ilalim.

Akala ko I was on my way to better days when I joined the company. It's a new field, a totally new beginning for me. At first, things seemed to be going well. But then, all of a sudden, what started out to be a fun job (the only reason why I was willing to get into it despite the measly salary) has become a pressure cooker. Biglang may pressure to increase production -- the reason for implementing the Saturday work scheme and the quotas.

Sure this is a business, kailangang kumita ng kumpanya. But if your classified ad says you want "movie and/or TV buffs" for employees, naturally, you'll get people who'd want to have fun while working.

Ngayon, maliit na nga sweldo mo, forever ka pang threatened na you'll lose your job if you don't meet the company standards. And that's just three months after you learn a system that's totally new to you! Kesyo, marami namang applicants waiting out there to get your slot.

Bakit hindi na lang kasi nila suportahan ang pagdevelop ng skills ng mga tao and not resort to policies that take away the fun out of the work? After all, happy workers are more productive. And happy workers will suppport you through thick and thin.

Happy workers are also healthy. Napansin kong in a week, for sure, may team leader na magkakasakit at mag-aabsent. (Or baka may interview?) I wonder if they notice that in Admin.

Anyway, just when I'm starting to not feel good about working in this company, I get an offer to work somewhere na may four-day work week and profit sharing. Wheee! Like an answer to my prayers!

On Monday, I will file my resignation. End of this chapter of my story.

But the wheel will keep on turning. I wonder what lies ahead.

Sadurday Work

Nalungkot ako when they announced there's Saturday work in our office. Di naman every Saturday. Mga twice a month lang daw. Kasi, our Saturdays are paid. Therefore, we should work and earn it. A little detail they never mentioned during the interview.

Okay, fine, whatever. Mabuti kung tambak talaga ang trabaho, understandable. Eh before 3:30 PM, finished na most of us. Good thing na lang nagpauwi sila nang maaga.

Ang malala, come Monday, there's nothing much to do. Again, by around 3:00 PM, we were all done. Pero since it's a Monday, hindi na pwede ang early dismissal.

And so I go back to the point, why the hell are they implementing a quota? Eh there's not enough load to begin with. As for this Saturday work, haynaku. Sayang ang pamasahe. Sayang ang kuryente. Ewan ko ba. It's a lose-lose situation at hindi siya nakakatawa.

Quotangina

Last week, they announced an implementation of a quota for our department. Whaaa-- ?!
We just learned the skill and they already expect us to meet a quota? Tapos, they want quality work? Anobeeeh!

One of the guys said, "Quality ba o quantity? Kasi medyo difficult to have both." Korak! As the idiom goes - you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Sinita nga ako ng team leader namin na hindi ko raw na-meet yung quota last Friday (first day when the rule was implemented). Sabi ko - imbis naman hindi ako uuwi. Aminado ako I'm kind of slow. But that's because I want to do it right. Kasi team leaders din ang mahihirapan if we don't. Mas mahirap kung palpak yung trabaho ng tao mo. Kasi, parang uulitin mo rin yung work. Ika nga, "Haste makes waste."

Hindi ko nga maintindihan ang company minsan. Do they doubt our dedication? We spent almost three months of our lives training (and living with just an allowance). Now that we're probeys, di naman kataasan ang sweldo, pinagdududahan pa ang aming dedication to our jobs. Marami pa sa amin who live in far-flung areas, meaning, talagang tsinatiyaga talaga naming pumasok all the way to Makati para magtrabaho.

Last night, we were talking about training for the marathon. Actually, we can compare it to that. Initially, ang goal mo muna would be to finish. Learn how to do it right muna -- breathing, pacing, etc. Pag alam mo na ang technique, the speed will follow. Di ba? And then you start to go for the gold.

Kaya as far as I'm concerned -- "Damn that quota!" And you can quote me on that.

Rush ID

Last week, HR sent us a long list of requirements that we should submit on or before two weeks time. I think it was Tuesday when one of the guys in Admin suddenly informed us na kailangan na pala yung 1x1 pic the next day, or else next month pa raw magsa-start yung HMO coverage namin. Ganun?!

Eh Tuesday night bigla akong napa-OT. Naisip ko, Wednesday lunch time na lang ako magpa-picture. But then that Wednesday morning, wala namang pumasok na trabaho. Imbis na tumunganga, naisip kong what if I have my picture taken na? I saw a Rush ID booth doon lang sa may kanto. When I asked permission from the boss, siyempre hindi ako pinayagan. Ngak! I should do it on my own time daw. Ganun?!

Anyway, after lunch, Jenn (one of my officemates) and I rushed out to have our ID picture taken. Pagbalik namin nakalock na yung dungeon-like main door going to the office. "Papasukin n'yo kami!"

At that moment, feeling ko -- ano ba 'tong napasukan ko... Kumbento?

Shoes Ko 'Day!

I never learn. Sinabing huwag nang suotin ang shoes na matagal nang hindi nasuot eh. Last time I did, naagnas yung shoes right before my very eyes! It looked fine when I wore them, pero minutes later, parang biglang nagself-destruct ang faux leather. Buti na lang, nasa may Junction lang ako to make an over-the-counter bank transaction.

Anyway, yesterday, biglang I decided to renew my ties with this old pair of pink maryjanes that I bought years ago. Like all stories go, okay siya sa umpisa. Pero pagdating ko sa office, the sole started to crumble away. Slow death siya. Little by little, the chunks of sole fell off. I had to apologize to the janitor because I left a messy trail wherever I went. Parang si Gretel doon sa forest with her bread crumbs.

Sabi nila, tanggalin ko na lang nang buo yung swelas. Pero learning from the Tao of Pooh, ayaw ko siyang pwersahin. Buti na lang I didn't. Kasi by the end of the day, naubos na siya. At napansin kong without the sole, parang nagpaparamdam na yung pako sa talampakan ko. Pang Lenten season ba.

Hello?

I wonder if anyone actually reads my posts. No comments, reactions, objections... Sana magparamdam man lang ang nagbabasa.

My Memories of Francis M.

When I was in college, I tagged along with my cousins to the birthday party of their uncle. In attendance were some of his politician/showbiz friends -- the Concepcions (minus Gabby) and the Magalonas. Francis was very friendly, even if he was already a big celebrity at that time. I don't remember what we talked about. But I remember him showing a little tattoo on his hand -- something he got from a fraternity, if I remember right.

The next time I saw Francis M. in person was when I joined the Meron O Wala game after the dinner sponsored by GMA for the 1999 Ad Congress. The question was: "How many Pokemon monsters are there in total?" I didn't have an idea. I looked to the audience and two "angels" motioned 1-5-0 with their fingers. When I turned to look at the stage, Kiko (now also an angel) was holding the placard with number 150. I stood in front of him. And before I knew it, he was shaking my hand. I won! That is one of the happiest days of my life.

So there you have it. My two Francis M. encounters. May he rest in peace.

Pizza Sardinella

Now who's the culprit behind this ugly pizza name? Sardinella? Kung salmon ang gamitin nilang fish, salmonella? Ewww.