January 2008

Kung kailan in the mood akong magtrabaho, saka naman lalapit tong si She-ra para mang-gulo.

She-ra: Beks, nakita mo ba yung newbie na agent na umaaligid sa floor na nakasando lagi?

Callboi: Alin? Yung mukhang bagong ligo na construction worker na mahilig uminom ng glutathione?

She-ra: Kurak. May moment kami kanina sa CR.

Callboi: Oooows? Aling CR?

She-ra: Yung CR natin!

Callboi: Puta ka talaga. Ano nangyari?

She-ra: Di ba andalas niya kasing pumunta ng pantry natin? Flexing those somewhat flabby biceps of his?

Callboi: Uh-huh.

She-ra: Eh tingin siya ng tingin sa akin...

Callboi: Baka naman na-chachakahan sa iyo.

She-ra: Gagah! Everytime dumadaan siya, nagsestretch ako para lumabas yung abs ko.

Callboi: Ew.

She-ra: Whatever. Anyway, malagkit talaga makatingin ang lolo mo. Yesterday, he was passing by again and he gave me a knowing smile.

Callboi: And by "knowing smile" you mean tinignan ka niya ng may libog sa kaniyang mga labi.

She-ra: Kurak. Dumiretso sa CR ang lolo mo. Eh di nag-personal moment muna aketch para masubukan na ang ihahain ng Sando Boy na ito.

Callboi: (whispering) Aaaand?

She-ra: God was with me yesterday, kasi himala, walang tao sa CR kundi siya lang. Nasa urinal siya.

Callboi: (whispering) Aaaand?

She-ra: Tinabihan ko siya. Dun ako sa urinal na katabi niya. Pero daahling, I didn't take a leak. And apparently, neither did he.

Callboi: Buhay ka pa sinusunog na kaluluwa mo sa impiyerno.

She-ra: (laughing) Good thing sanay ako magbilad sa araw.

Callboi: So ano nangyari?

She-ra: I was taking a peek at his frankfurter and he was checking out mine. Eh biglang may pumasok na agent na asungot.

Callboi: Yuck. I'm never eating another frankfurter again. Nahuli kayo?

She-ra: Hindi. Di naman kami halata na may ginagawang masama eh. Tsaka, naghugas lang ng kamay yung asungot tapos lumabas na rin. Napagod na ako sa pagpepeekaboo, kaya itinago ko na ang dapat itago at umeksenang lalabas na.

Callboi: How anticlimatic. Yun na yun?

She-ra: Wag kang atat. Nung palabas na ako, ay! Ang lolo mo! May-I-hila sa akin papasok sa cubicle sabay sabing "Wag muna. Dito tayo."

Callboi: OMG. Ano ginawa mo?

She-ra: I shrugged him off. Sabi ko ng mataray, "Naka-personal lang ako. This is sooo not worth an overaux."

Callboi: Tumanggi ka? Ikaw? Tumanggi ka? Weeh. I don't believe you.

She-ra: May delikadesa din naman ako noh? And anyhoo, ang frankfurter niya? It's actually more of a vienna sausage.

Callboi: Light snack lang pala siya.

She-ra: Actually. Parang gusto ko tuloy siya abutan ng ten pesos sabay sabi ng "Pa-go bigtime nga!"

A friend of mine is leaving this company soon. He’s a close friend of mine. He’s leaving for greener pastures. And he did something that I have been dreading for the longest time: He gave me an option to also leave.

Don’t get me wrong; I don’t dread the fact that he asked me to do as he did, leave my job for a supposedly better one. What I dread is the fact that I would really be tempted to do as he did: Leave my comfort zone.

I don’t hate my job, not entirely anyway. I’ve stayed here just because I’ve made great friends here. Being without a family, they’ve filled a hole in my heart that I seldom acknowledge.

But as Meja has insistenly sung over the years, “it’s all about the money.” It’s sad to think that I am easily lured just because of financial reasons. But hey, let’s be realistic, right? I have to be smart. The chance of a higher position with a way higher salary is just too good to pass.

Then why am I so hesitant? I guess I’m scared.

You see, this is my first job. A lot has happened to me in this company. A lot of bad things, a lot of good things, and a handful of spectacular ones.

I’m scared that if I do apply and get hired, I might not like the working environment there. Or that I might not cut it in the position given to me. What if I screw up and get fired?

But then again, what if all my worries are for naught? What if this opportunity is the one I’ve been waiting for? I really don’t know the answer yet.

I’ve had a lot of screw-ups in this company. And yet, I can honestly say that I’m still having the time of my life here. My friends make it all worthwhile.

I am reminded of a line in Conan O’brien’s commencement speech for Harvard’s class of 2000, wherein he was referring to making big decisions in life and leaving places you were comfortable in:

“I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I'm as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good.”

As of this point, I don’t know what I’m going to do if I do get accepted. Life here in PS is relatively secure, but is job security really what I'm all about? Pakshet, I really don’t know.

Paalala:

Ito si Gian.

Siya ay kapitbahay, kapitbahay niyo.

Siya ay nadukutan ng wallet sa bus habang natutulog. Her wallet contained most of her salary.

Oo, hindi niya naramdaman na may bumukas ng bag niya. Pagod kasi siya sa trabaho eh. Mahirap ang trabaho ni Gian.

Pakiusap: Kapag nakasalubong niyo si Gian, bigyan niyo siya ng pera. P20 for each reader of this blog.

Matitiis niyo ba ang ganyan ka-cute na bata?

Wala akong magawa kanina so I decided to checkout online kung ano na ang pinagsasabi ng mga tao tungkol sa PS.

And then I found this site: http://www.callcenterdirectory.net/call-center-companies/PeopleSupport-48.html

Natawa naman ako sa mga comments nung mga tao. Para tuloy may rivalry ang Sykes at PS.

Check it out. I collated what I thought were the funniest lines:

1) cute bldg. ahihih.

2) low salary. dont apply here.

3) low salary? mabuti na kesa wala. hehe

4) i'd been with other call centers pero halos pareho lang ang offers nila... hello sa vonage account ng PS e mahina na ang 25,000 per PAYDAY... low salary?? depends sa account. (totoo ba ito? - callboi)

5) salary fine lang pero stable ang PS at kung magsara ang isang account hindi katulad sa SYKES na tanggal kayo lahat. dito nililipat kami... ok na.

6) application process really sucks!they make u wait for too long,if u make it to the final interview they dont say if ur not qualified coz ur demanding of a higher salary,they ask u to call about the result but they wont give u the #,u have to find it ursel (siguro dahil chaka ka magspelling - callboi)

7) bulok nman equipment...parang nde call center! yaiks!

8) Actually, PeopleSupport so far has the best corporate environment there is in the industry. I have never seen people who are happy and contented with their jobs than here. (feeling ko si Bong Borja nagsulat nito - callboi)

9) great culture! PS rocks! (si Bong talaga oh! - callboi)

10) the hr associate was impressed by my assessment, resume and my final interview but she didnt call me for the final job offer. what happened? the application process sucks (are you sure na-impress ang HR associate? - callboi)

11) people support? how d u guys support people? it doesnt make any sense.. apply at sykes- real people real solutions and besides dadaan ka muna sa matinding screening.sino ba namang call center ang lalaban sa sykes u show know that being first has its advan

12) PS is ok, the environment is cool but still professional, depending on how well u do with the stats totoo na sa isang upuan u can earn as much as 40,000 depending on what account. Like any other company, u need to comply with rules and policies. (aaaah laban na to! - callboi)

13) hey pal, if high salary is what you need we don't need you here! we are cultured people, professional persons, who enjoy working with eact other & not competing with each other. if you want a job that you wanna stay for long and build your career & (bitin! - callboi)

14) dun sa nagcomment na s(he) stayedm here in peoplesupport for 6months cguro kasi bitter xia... baka na-endo xia kaya hanngang 6months lang xia... peoplesupport won't allow uncultured employee like you to stay with them for long... (bwahahahaha! - callboi)

15) ok nman...kaya lang like any other company.....may pulitika pa din......but ps is good comapany. they molded me into a better person. love ps... (aaaw.. love you, too... - callboi)

16) I want to work in PS but I've only reached 2nd year 1st sem. I wasn't able to enroll for the second semester because of financial problems. Do you think PS will consider such cases? (of course! reliance ang account mo! - callboi)

17) ok ang PS. except for their policy of offering higher salary to new hires and not increasing salary of tenured agents. sometimes mahaharang pa ang promotion mo dahil yun ibang manager gusto isingit mga bet nila..i worked in ps for almost 3 yrs. (daming issues! - callboi)

18) hmmm..peoplesupport..actually thankful ako kasi twice ako na confine last year sa makati med..buti na lang, on the time of my confinement, ready na ung maxicare ko..ps is really a good company, so mga sakitin gaya ko, apply na kayo sa ps..ok ang maxicare (para siyang endorser ng Maxicare! - callboi)

19) this company rocks! i've been with PS for 7 mos. so far ok naman esp. 'yung acct namin pa-doggy-doggy lang, sobra petiks & yet you're going to get paid 13K/mos. BETTER THAN ACS

20) AT PEOPLE SUPPORT, IF YOU WORK HARD, THEY PAY HARD.. PEOPLE SUPPORT ROCKS!!!! CERILO GUDY GALLEGO.. DR ACCOUNT! (antaray! may name! bilis! tignan niyo sa mugshots kung ano itsura niya! - callboi)

21) ok ang PS!!!!! the best!!!!!! i've been here for 9months already.. ok na sana ang lahat nang biglang mahanginan ata ang utak ng mgt ng T&C.. baka malapit na ako alis

22) exploiter ( ??? - callboi )

23) hay, lahat ng call centers pareho lang, dog eat dog world! malas mo pa pag OM or sup mo epal at bobo, pati ikaw maging gago!!! tag hirap ngayon, basta trabaho lang, wala naman madaling trabaho, basta binabayaran ka, hayaan mo na mga epal at bobo hehe!!! ( ehem - callboi)

24) hindi hamak na mas maganda ang sykes, ive been with ps and dduhhh it really sucks workin there!!! especially the people!! yaakkkk common people u know that sykes offer the best!!!! i am successfull!! i am well known and respected, i am thriving... (thank god nagresign ka - callboi)

25) I AM SUCCESSFUL! I AM WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED, I AM THRIVING, ADVANCING AND SURPASSING.. I AM SYKES!!! TAKING YOU FURTHER (tanginang yan - callboi)

26) YAKK PEOPLE SUPPORT??? YIKES!!! (mas yuckers ka, ngepal - callboi)

27) I REALLY LOVE PEOPLE SUPPORT!!! I PLAN ON STAYING HERE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. SALARY MAY BE LOW, BUT THE WORK ITSELF IS STABLE. NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT BEING LAID OFF, ESPECIALLY IF YOU`RE A REGULAR EMPLOYEE.. ALDOUS JAY VICENCIO.. TOP QA PERFORMER.. DR (naks! top performer ang lolo mo. pa-kiss nga! - callboi)

28) I AM CONVINCED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO BETTER PLACE TO WORK THAT PEOPLE SUPPORT! THE CULTURE IS THE BEST!! JULIUS ANTHONY IBLASIN.. PERMINT SKILLED PRIO 1.. DR.. (ang galing galing ng DR!!! - callboi)

29) I'm from the Management team of one of PS' travel account, One thing I'll tell you this company is a money-making company.. they don't take care of their agents and kiss the client's ass just to make them happy... (ummm... Aries, ikaw ba yan? - callboi)

30) PEOPLE SUPPORT? they are filled with people who are paclass class ang dating! atay lang! puro mga plastik mga tawo! (Tawo? Tawo? tawo ka ba? - callboi)

31) Starting Salary 13K basic+1.1K rice allow. + comm & incentives dep on account. D co-terminous sa acct. Kuripot. Bad retention program. Attrition: Apr 845 & May +600 ang nagresign. CERILO GUDY GALLEGO.. magsalita ka.. d ba apply ka now sa Convergys? (kawawa naman si Cerilo... - callboi)

32) I would like to thank PeopleSupport for having given me the opportunity and the wonderful experience of working with the Company for over two and a half years. My decision to terminate my employment with PeopleSupport, is based on the major flaws in PeopleSupport's Retention Program. With rueful sentiments, PeopleSupport, miserably failed to recognize and reward my honesty and loyalty to the Company. (I thank you! Bow! - callboi)

33) HOY ALDOUS, GEOFF AT GUDY.. MGA UNGAS KAYO. maganda sa PS pero nagresign na ako. kakastress exp****. grabe. haha! pero DR is the best! (para tuloy gusto ko na lumipat sa DR! - callboi)

34) Last march, i decided between sykes and ps..i know i made the right decision in choosing SYKES! Now I'm a Sykeser for 1 1/2 years already and no regrets at all! Mabuhay ka SYKES- OSMA! (Mabuhay ang SYKES! Mabuhaaaay! -callboi)

35) wag ka masydo proud sa sykes...pagumalis ang account pati ikaw tanggal........tapos lipat ka ng People Support.....ano ka ba naman!

36) d na healthy ang competition s exp****... mag-isip kayo bago maubos mga agents nyo! mga sups d lang individual teams nyo ang kailangan ng assistance..madami dyan deadma pag wla s team nya or hindi magaling magconvert

37) i was just trying to check how PS works! tapos ganto mababasa ko??? so PS sucks??? darn... i am planning to apply pa sana! (Oh talaga? OMG, so sayang naman! Like my gosh! Darn naman! I am so coño noh? - callboi)

38) culture? anong culture? wla n yan...nilipad n ng mga bagyong nagdaan. comp&ben? sobrang bagal kumilos. exp**** TMs and Sups alagaan nyo nman mga agents nyo bago sila umalis na lahat! (paging TM's and sups... - callboi)

Pero sa lahat ng mga comments, ito ang pinakapanalo para sa akin!

39) INUBOS KO ANG CHOCO MIX NIYO INUUWI KO PA ITO HINDI NIYO BA NAPAPANSIN ITO? HAHAHA INUUBOS KO NA ANG CHOCO MIX NIYO AT UUBUSIN KO ITO AT HINDI NIYO AKO MAHUHULI

Before reading this, you really ought to click (this )first so you understand what's going on...

Lonely Girl and Me. Parehong naka-personal aux sa pantry.

"Andaming nagtatanong kung sino ka..." I told Lonely Girl.

"Talaga lang ha? Sinabi mo naman kung sino ako tsismosa ka!" she retorted.

"Of course not," I answered, slapping her arm, "Ang hula nga ng mga tao ikaw si Bianca eh."

"Ngek. Wish ko lang dyowa ko talaga si Andro noh?" she said, laughing.

"Eh kamusta naman kayo ni Lonely Boy?"

"Haaay naku," Lonely Girl sighed, "Alam mo, parang hindi rin kami naghiwalay. Kasi, a week after kami naging officially over na, may nangyari rin naman sa amin. Actually, we're still some kind of a some sort of seeing each other."

"Ngek! So ano yun? Friendship na may side dish na sex?" I asked, incredulous, "Para kang budget meal sa Shelby's!"

"Ewan ba! Parang ang labo talaga namin," she shook her head.

"Hindeee. Anlinaw nyo nga eh," I joked.

"Alam mo ba, sinama niya yung anak niya minsan sa apartment ko, tapos feeling ko, two years old lang yung bata pero alam niya kung ano ako sa buhay nung daddy niya," Lonely Girl said sadly.

"Ang chaka," I noted.

"I know, I know," she replied, "At eto pa, pareho na naman ang schedule namin, at under pa ako sa kaniya!"

"Patay ka diyan," I said.

"Alam ko maling-mali to pero di ko naman siya magawang iwasan," she said, "Maiiyak din ako pag talagang nawala sa buhay ko ang mokong na yun."

"Pakamatay ka na lang kaya?" I suggested.

"Gaga! Wala ka bang ma-iaadvise na maayos?" she asked.

"Girl, alam mo naman kung ano yang pinasok mo eh, di ba? I really would be the last person to say this but it really is best for you to listen to your brain rather than your heart," I said.

She nodded, teary-eyed but smiling, and then asked, "So, over ka na ba kay Pumpkin?"

"Tanginamo," I answered.