My Life's An Open Book

I spent the whole day processing my S pass. Went from Raffles Clinic at the Tampines Junction to the Ministry of Manpower to Lucky Plaza...It was very very exhausting. I took 1 taxi, 3 buses and 11 mrt coaches all in one day. When I got home, kararating lang ng new housemate namin. Since iniwan kong magulo ang kwarto, i fixed it muna. Tapos dumating na si Rommel from work. Had to cook dinner for the 3 of us plus 2 visitors. While cooking, naglaba na rin ako. Tapos naligo...tapos nagbihis at lumarga ulit. Naki-celebrate kami ng Chinese New Year sa mga taga Chinatown. While waiting for the show to start, naglibot libot muna. Nang mapagod, kumain muna ng pansit at sio mai sa isang Chinese resto. When it was almost midnight, naghanap na kami ng pwesto to see the fireworks. Maganda sya pero sabi ng mga kasama namin, mas maganda raw yung fireworks ng New Year celebration natin sayang lang at hindi ko napanood...may pasok kasi si Rommel that day.

Uploaded videos and pics...

I've passed my 2nd exam! The long wait has come to an end. I have 1 week to claim my S pass and I can start work after. Although it took me almost 4 months to find this job, I know in my heart that this is what God has reserved for me so I'm going to make the best out what He has given me. What I look forward in this job is the flexibility of pay. If you need more money, you just have to sell more . You need not stay long hours for OT and just be judged for being inefficient. If you don't get a lot of sale, you can still live with the basic salary. Haaay. Of course, I will have to learn a lot about selling. Siguro I'll just search the net or watch 'Boiler Room' for tips.

Now, since that part is done, I am now focusing on how to get Zia to live here legally. It's either through a DP (Dependent Pass) or Rommel applies for PR (Permanent Residency). I have downloaded both application forms but of course I will also need to decide whether to leave her with a yaya or send her to a child care center until January when regular school starts. I've searched the net for maid agencies and child care centers (CCS). I have compared prices. If I send her to a CCS, I will be paying an average of $500 monthly (ang nakakatakot don e uso dito ang manakit ng bata). If I hire an agency to get my yaya back from Pinas, I will have to pay a one time package of $772.60 and arrange the salary at maybe, $250 per month. If I hire from here naman, I'll have to take the risk of hiring a child abuser or kleptomaniac...so that's an option for me. Other necessities (food, clothes, etc) have already been considered as well. Sabi naman ni Mama, why not leave Zia with them while we work here...again that's not an option. Kung magagawan naman talaga ng paraan na magkakasama kami, gagawan ko ng paraan. Again, if it's God's will, then let His will be done. =)

the other day, i received a call from teleperformance. the gentleman on the other line said my s-pass (work permit) has been approved so i just have to pass my last exam this friday and i can start work on feb 11. yipee! pero kabado parin ako sa exams. dito na kasi nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ko..hehehe. bahala na si Lord!

trying to be positive paid off. these past few days, i was preparing for my BCP exam scheduled yesterday. it was hard not to know how they conduct their exams here because i didn't know what to expect. andun yung kaba like when i prepared for my board exams in the philippines. i spent a day reading the whole book. after that, i made notes to familiarize myself with the important points. then, the last 2 days were allotted for memorization. sabi nila, i have to give my best and that was it. however, i have to call on HIM to do the rest, right? while on the mrt, i prayed the 'our father' over and over until i reached the venue. i just sat on the floor while i waited for the room to be opened. when it finally started, i answered all the questions with enough time left for review. after which, i shakingly clicked 'finish'. the only letters that took my attention were P-A-S-S. yahoo! one down, one more to go on feb 1.

yun lang...share ko lang. :)

im not feeling myself lately. i don't know if it's depression or pms. the things i ignore before, make me ballistic now. could it be hormones? or could it be the lack of things to do...no, it can't be the latter as i have a lot on my hands now....well, maybe that's it. maybe thinking about my upcoming exams, doing the budget, cleaning the house, cooking meals, doing the laundry, and buying the groceries stress me out.  i like being a housewife but since im not used to doing this EVERYDAY back home, it really drains me out.

well, i don't know if im making it worse but just recently, we adopted 3 pinays, one of which was a colleague at my 2-day-job. well, it's a long story. im keeping them until the end of this month when they get their salaries and find a place to stay. they were kind enough naman to offer us groceries as contribution. in other words, if i do everything for 2 before, i now do everything for 5. ain't that grand? i can't complain because we're also running out of funds, without them, we'll be eating salt flavored rice. so, i should still say, "thank you, god!"

as much as possible, i try to be positive but when i see or hear anything negative, i easily lose it. i just hope people around me would understand what im going through. i think i just need a pat on the back or something good that would really make my day. it's just like instead of criticising me because i get easily annoyed on the smallest thing, tell me something nice about myself to make me feel better...you'll see a positive me.

It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.  ~Roy Disney

Decisions become easier when your will to please God outweighs your will to please the world.  ~Anso Coetzer

Character is the final decision to reject whatever is demeaning to oneself or to others and with confidence and honesty choose what is right - Anonymous

Just thought to share with you these...

I started applying for jobs again last Jan 2. Hindi talaga ako consistent. Like now, hindi na naman ako nag aapply. Well, Im expecting a job early Feb. Sana nga ito na coz I had a trial job just last Jan 7. It was a telemarketing job selling Google adwords. Ok sana kasi Google pero walang systema...hindi organized...at manu-manu. They had me sign an agreement na kapag nakumpleto ang 15 days, they'll give $25 for each day. Tapos kailangan maka 16 ako na sales at the end of it. Pag na-meet ko yung requirements nila, dun palang nila iisipin kung iha-hire nila ako. Otherwise, wala akong makukuha. Sabi rin nila na pag ayaw ko na, I can just leave the company.

Edi eto na, on my first day, akala ko may training, pero pinagbasa lang kami ng tungkol sa google adwords. The next day, pinag-calls kami. I saw na there were 2 teams. Yung isang team puro locals at puro may telesales experience at yung isang team puro pinoy at walang telesales experience. Hulaan niyo san ako? Syempre dun sa mga pinoy...san pa nga ba? Anyway, after we had lunch that day, napagusapan namin ang mga tinatagong hinanaing sa kumpanya and without realizing it napag desisyunan naming umuwi na. Ang suma total e nag boycott kami at isang grupo ang nawala sa kanila.

Malakas ang loob ko kasi nga like what I said, may naghihintay na kumpanya sa akin. Kailangan ko lang maipasa yung exam for insurance na requirement ng govt, which sabi ng mga pinoy na kakilala ko, madali lang. Naisubmit ko na nga yung mga documents ko e. Im also waiting for their call kasi I asked kung pwede nila akong i-consider sa Campaigns Reporting Executive position na nakita kong naka post online. Mas gamay ko yun kasi reports generating ang trabaho kesa pag pinagbenta nila ako ng insurance na kahit sa panaginip hindi ko pa nagawa. Well, let's see what happens.

Yun nalang muna. Hanggang sa susunod na kabanata.

Dec 21

It's Rommel's day off and he went with me to my interview. The job's not for me. They need someone who can lift printers, copiers, etc. Haha. Mukhang dun parin ako sa insurance telemarketing job.

Dec 22

Happy 41st wedding anniversary to you, Ma & Pa! They're in Cebu with my little girl celebrating with my sister and other relatives. See you on summer!

Dec 23

Singapore, Canada and Cebu had a conference call through Skype. Nakakainis lang 'coz Ate's webcam and Kuya's microphone kept on turning off. I don't know why. Wala rin ang 'da kids' 'coz they're taking their siesta. Sa uulitin.

Dec 24

Kahit malayo kami sa Pinas, I made it a point to have something for Noche Buena. I went to Giant in Tampines to buy the ingredients. I planned to have leche flan, churros con chocolate, and pasta on our table by midnight. Nadagdagan lang ng honey bbq chicken and california maki. Since Rommel had work and I knew he'd be hungry, I made him a shrimp dish and pasta in pesto sauce for dinner. Walang rice for a change. Bagay naman. I had pictures kaya lang they're too big to upload.

Dec 25

Rommel and I attended the 1030 am mass. Then, we went to Rommel's friends' flat for a get-together. Food binge na naman. They also exchanged gifts. Syempre audience lang ako but it's ok. Again, Singapore, Canada and Cebu reunited...this time with the kiddos. Ang saya talaga kahit sandali lang.

Dec 26

I just stayed at home and did nothing. I didn't have to cook as there were leftovers I needed to finish.

Dec 27

I started watching Heroes season 2. YahooI Im again addicted.

Dec 28

I finished Heroes season 2. Im now waiting for Season 3. :)

Today is my 2nd monthsary in Singapore...haha. Jobless but still beautiful..naks! Kahit sandali palang, ang dami ko ng natutunan at narating on my own. Dito ko natutunan ang value ng video streaming. Since I arrived, ang dami ko ng napanood na movies na kahit hindi pa pinapalabas sa big screen, available na online. It keeps me company lalo na nung wala pa kaming cable tv. Kahit hindi malinaw, basta naiintindihan, pinapanood ko na. For you who have not discovered the sites yet, here are some of our favorites:

1. Telebisyon - http://telebisyon.spreebb.com/. Sorry, they don't accept new members anymore. Aside from movies, meron din silang mga palabas like soap operas, news, and other tv programs sa pinas.

2. Watch-movies.net - http://www.watch-movies.net/ This site shows English movies only.

3. Project Free Tv - http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/ English movies only.

4. Online Cinema - http://www.onlinecinema.org/ English movies only. Ito ang mga unang website na palagi kong pinupuntahan pero inulit nila yung links nila kaya naguluhan na ako.

5. Katambay - http://www.katambay.com/ Pinoy movies plus more. The last time I checked out this site, under construction pa. Dito ko napanood ang Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo ni Judy Ann & Ryan. Hahaha.

Some sites will require you to download veoh and divx to play the movies you like. Minsan lang maiinis ka sa bagal ng buffering pero wag ka lang magsasawa sa kakahanap sa google ng ibang version kung gusto mo talagang tapusin yung movie.

Anyway, that's just a suggestion but if you prefer the big screen, go ahead. :)

Last Tuesday, I got a call from Teleperformance (meron din sa Pinas nito) Singapore. They're looking for telemarketers. I think it turned out well pero hindi pa sure kasi I have to pass the exam required for people who will be selling insurance. Meron namang tutorial kaya mukhang ok lang. While I was waiting for the interviewer, I got another call from another company, scheduling me for an interview on Friday. Sana nga magsunod sunod na para makapagtrabaho na. Medyo napapahaba na ang bakasyon ko e baka pag tumagal pa, hindi ko na gustuhing magwork.

Wish me luck.

Week of Oct 8 - 14

Ever since I started my terminal leave, I'd been planning my trip to Singapore. I had several trips to SM para lang sa groceries and other stuff. I also had trips to banks to prepare our bank accounts para hindi mahirapan sila Mama...added her to our remittance account... linked their bpi acct to ours para madaling magtransfer...and got a supplementary credit card under her name for Zia's needs. Lahat din ng files sa mga loans, bank accounts and Zia's school, naayos ko na. Sana lang walang maging problema.

Monday, Oct 15

Packed my things to see kung may kulang pa and kung within the limit and weight.

Thursday, Oct 19

Arranged my clearance for my final pay. I went to the office at 3am and ended at 9am. Gusto pa nga akong pabalikin dahil raw ang IT manager in charge would come in at 2pm. Diyos ko! Hindi ko na kaya yon noh so I asked my friend, Dada, who finishes work around that time to bring it to the IT dept. Ayun naayos naman.

Friday, Oct 20

In the morning, I played badminton with Dada. Sobrang one-to-sawa pala pag umaga kay naman nanakit ang mga legs ko. Planned to go to SM again for some last minute requests kaya lang sumabog ang Glorietta kaya natakot na akong mag-mall. That night, I met up with my closest friends, Dada, Jai, Jinkee, Cherry & BF, and RJ. Kasama nga rin pala si Zia. Ang masaya diyan ay at last, nagkita na si Jai and Che na medyo nagkaproblema before. Hindi naman sa nakikialam ako pero dapat na talagang tapusin nila ang hindi pagpapansinan.

Saturday, Oct 21

D-Day! Woke up at 7am to prepare my things for the nth time...takot kasi ako baka may makalimutan ako or baka mag excess baggage. Grabe! Magkasing bigat lang ang checkin ko at ang handcarried. Pano naisip ko hindi naman nila sinusukat yung handcarried kaya yun ang dinamihan ko. Ang nilagay ko nalang sa checkin yung mga hindi pwede sa plane.

Anyway, medyo late na ako nakapag check in pero umabot parin. We boarded the plane siguro mga 10 mins before 12pm and it took off siguro mga 1210pm. Hay naku, tinulugan ko lang ang 3 hrs na flight ko para hindi ko maramdaman ang gutom.

Pagdating ko, pumasyal agad kami ni Rommel sa mga malls sa Orchard, namely: Lucky Plaza, Takashimaya, Paragon, and Wisma. Tapos we met up with Reena, yung GF ng brother niya, sa Borders (parang Powerbooks) to eat dinner. Dapat it's our treat kasi birthday niya ng Oct 21 pero nagpumilit na siya raw ang magbayad. Anyway, nakauwi siguro kami ng mga past 10pm.

Sunday, Oct 21

We went to Suntec kasi may job fair daw pero when we got there, lahat ng companies require Singaporeans or PRs to apply. Hindi pwede ang foreigners. Haay nagpagod lang kami. After that, malling na naman kami. Punta kami Marina Bay, Raffles City, Takashimaya, Wisma, OUB Centre (closed naman), and Giant (Supermarket). Sumusuko na talaga ang mga kalyo ko sa talampakan pero go parin. Pag uwi dito, konting galaw galaw at ayun nakatulog na si Rommel. Ako naman tiningnan ko yung classified ads kasi pag Saturday maraming job postings sa dyaryo. Marami naman akong nakita kaya bukas wala akong gagawin kundi magpadala ng magpadala ng email.

Kapagod pero masaya...unti unti ko na binubuo ang dreams ko dito.