March 30, 2008
life ain't that bad
March 20, 2008
AI7 : Top 11 Results
Bottom 3 :
Carly Smithson - safe!
Kristy Lee Cook - safe!
Amanda Overmyer - eliminated!
March 18, 2008
mac update ... and some other stuff
i'm liking this new show "new amsterdam" about a detective who is immortal. the main character is that guy from the "wimbledon" movie who was the best friend of paul bettany. in some angles, he reminds me of david boreanaz (of "angel" and "buffy" fame), rather the slimmer look-a-like. the plot is quite interesting and i am hoping that this series, while a mid-season filler, picks up enough audience to not be some flash-in-the-plan show. four more weeks though and most of our favorite shows will be staging their return. can't wait for grey's anatomy, house and the rest.
March 15, 2008
i'm on the list
Master of Business Administration major in Supply Chain Management has a pretty nice ring to it. That looks good on my resume (lol). I got my measurements for my toga yesterday. Graduation is on April 26.
Now what would be a fitting graduation gift for myself?
friendster is so last season
nowadays, i'm pretty much hooked on FACEBOOK. so yeah its basically the same thing except that it has gazillions of add-ons that gets you crazy hahaha too much applications that i still have 55 requests pending and will probably just stay that way. what is funny is that i'm addicted to the MY HEROES ABILITY and PETROLHEAD applications - the former being to be the most powerful "hero" and right now i'm already at level 25 (lol!) and in petrolhead (some sorta racing), i've managed to upgrade my car twice already. i just find its a good way to pass time when online, uhmmm ok, add that to scouring the net for american idol studio recordings (i'm missing na lang yung top 16 performances). The other cool thing is the texas hold'em application - really can turn you into a gambler. good thing gambling isn't really for me so i just play with it occasionally.
so yeah, facebook is the new thing - at least for us who just discovered it recently.
if there's a mac god somewhere ...
if it turns out that the motherboard is the problem, i don't plan on spending another 40k to get something i use like 3-4 times a month repaired. if that's the case, its pretty much the end of my being a mac user.
March 13, 2008
March 11, 2008
Stronger Woman
this boy needs fixin'
today, i went to a plastic surgeon to have this wart-like growth on my neck removed. i've had since i was still a kid and since our company health card covers it, i decided it was time to have it removed and take advantage of the benefit. i was surprised that instead of a dermatologist (or something), i was consulting with a plastic surgeon. suffice it to say, i knew i was in better hands. the procedure was pretty quick, probably a good 30 or so minutes and i didn't really feel any pain except for that strange feeling of knowing a part of you is being sewn up. i'm actually sporting a big bandage on my neck right now and turning my head takes a bit of an effort. no heavy lifting, no physical exertion - there goes my gym time. i took ponstan a while back and will be taking my antibiotics in a while. hopefully the sutures won't sting so much as the anaesthesia wear off.
tomorrow, i'm going back for the results of another consult. i'm really gettin' old - but its a good thing these procedures i'm doing are more aesthetic rather than because of some life-threatening illness. i should be thankful for that. but still, hospitals = gloom, regardless of whatever reason you go there.
March 09, 2008
goodbye's not forever
over the last few times i've managed to catch up with van, it was difficult to talk about what her family was going through. there's something about these difficult times that turns kids into adults, that sheds immaturity and makes someone more responsible. i guess in some way, facing up to bigger problems makes you realize that playtime is over. like i said, being a grown-up sucks.
Daddy Pio is now with the Lord. No more pain and suffering. We should all pray for the eternal repose of his soul and pray for strength and peace for van and her family.
March 07, 2008
hilarious!
March 06, 2008
the road ahead
the somewhat good news is that while its been a really slow process, jfc/rr updated that they haven't managed to find the time to screen through the other candidates. it means my application is still active and there's still reason to hope for the best. maybe this is all a timing thing - that God in His eternal goodness will be giving me the best of both worlds - a package and a new adventure. while that's probably hoping for a whole lot, sometimes you just get a windfall of luck.
when you least expect it, there seems to be a whole lot of windows opening. i think opportunities do abound and its just a matter of really looking for the right one. there's some sidelines that may happen - cross my fingers - really a chance to earn some extra cash. its too early to say how it will pan out but believing it can happen is a first step.
the bit of bad news is that most likely our plan to attend the singapore grand prix this september may not happen. most of the freakin' tickets that's affordable are sold out - there's a few remaining at the grandstand. the best seats cost 40k pesos - and i'm not really too keen on spending that much. in my head, its a toss-up between the singapore grand prix or a nikon-D80. and yeah, the nikon D80 is winning.
the one thing to look forward to is me and some friends are off to the beach this weekend. we're starting summer quite early this year.
March 04, 2008
great article
how to prepare for a layoff
Lately, it seems like every day brings yet another headline about impending corporate job cuts. Maybe you’ve even heard rumors that your own company is planning to downsize. Could your job be at risk?
Unfortunately, in today’s world, no job is ever 100% secure. Layoffs have become standard operating procedure for many companies. They hire when business looks good and cut jobs when results fall short of estimates. And it often doesn’t matter how good you are at your job or how hard you work.
Nobody relishes the idea of becoming suddenly unemployed, but a layoff doesn’t have to be the end of the world. The key to minimizing the stress and negative fallout is to prepare now for the possibility of a pink slip.
Trust me, I speak from experience. In more than twelve years of working for large corporations, I’ve lived through countless downsizings, reorganizations, and mergers. In most cases, I survived to work another day. However, I twice found myself among those packing up their desks and turning in their employee IDs. The first time, I was caught unprepared. The second time, I was ready, willing and able to embrace my layoff for what it was — an opportunity to finally make a career change that I had been dreaming about for years.
Follow the advice and you too can make sure layoffs won’t knock you for a loop:
- Stay in the Game – First and foremost, never stop looking for new career opportunities – even if your current job feels comfortable and secure. You never know when your dream job might open up. Keep your resume updated and make sure that the right recruiters have your phone number. You should always have a passive job search in progress. That way, you’ll always enjoy a steady stream of job leads and you’ll have a head start on landing your next position if you get laid off. This may sound like obvious advice, but few people truly take it seriously until it’s too late. Don’t allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security. When the layoff rumors start buzzing, goose your passive job search and get a little more active about exploring your options.
- Demonstrate Your Value – To increase your odds of hanging onto your current position, do whatever you can to show your manager the value that you provide. This is no time to be modest. Make sure you document your contributions and ensure that your boss understands how much harder her job would be without you.
- Don’t Take Any of It Personally – While it doesn’t hurt to demonstrate your value (see above), keep in mind that even the most valuable employees can be laid off. Layoff decisions are based on many factors. Sometimes, it’s about who was hired last. Sometimes, it’s about who makes the most money. Sometimes, there is no clear reason for who winds up on the chopping block. Don’t let rumors and speculation mess with your head. There’s only so much you can do to influence whether or not your name will show up on the layoff list. Don’t waste energy obsessing about what might happen. Channel your energy into figuring out your Plan B.
- Build Your Emergency Fund Cut back on discretionary purchases and put as much of your paycheck into your emergency savings fund as you can. Financial planners recommend that you should have enough in your emergency fund to cover your expenses for between three and six months. Hopefully, if you do get laid off, youll also have a severance package that will help you pay the bills. However, the more you can sock away, the more peace of mind youll have if the axe falls.
- Do Your Research Find out what kind of severance packages your company has offered in the past. Chances are that some of your colleagues have survived previous rounds of job cuts and can give you some general guidelines regarding what to expect. With a little luck, you might be pleasantly surprised at your companys generosity and realize theres no reason to panic.
- Do Your Housekeeping Often, when layoffs are announced, employees are rushed out the door and given little time to pack up and say goodbye. This is generally to prevent unpleasant scenes. However, if you think you might be facing a quick heave ho in the near future, you’d be smart to pack up your important possessions in advance. Make copies of work samples, performance reviews, and other key documents. Make sure you transfer all of your contacts to your personal computer. Start lugging home your extra pairs of shoes and family photos.
- Remember to Look on the Bright Side At worst, getting laid off is a temporary trial (and you will get through it, I promise). At best, your layoff may be the kick in the pants you need to find a more fulfilling job. I interviewed dozens of successful career changers for my forthcoming book and many of them spoke of being thankful for their layoffs (some of them volunteered or even begged to be let go). Their severance packages gave them the time and opportunity to pursue the careers of their dreams. If youve been unhappy in your current career path, this layoff may be your chance to explore your options.