Taking on the World

I went through the process of preparing my development plan for work. I pretty much committed myself to influencing the customer satisfaction rating of the teams. *sigh* Yeah right, as if one person can influence what our customers around the world think.

Things are being hurled at me one after the other. It has floored me several times this past week but I think things have picked up from how I was feeling last week. I managed to get one project that has been pending since March off the ground today.

Didn't matter if I had to go in to work today, at least the training session was pretty well received. I didn't conduct it but I fought hard to have this particular vendor conduct it for us since they are way much better than the one that we used to have. The training manager and I split up the logistics between the two of us. I got aprops from the consultants so I take it that I haven't botched up the job.

Next week, I have to go oversee sessions on Saturday AND Sunday. Actually, Saturday might also mean that I will be delivering a training session for another team. And it's possible that I would not get paid for those days. It's not a loss for me altogether since I will learn and pick up stuff that I can use some time in the future in the sessions that I will be handling.

I have a clearer mandate now but it means more work for me. I've always said that it's not the money that drives me but the learning and the fun. It still is true today and I hope it will carry me through.

rant
Results of my performance review...

What do you do when you learn that you have been working under the wrong assumption for the past seven months? Me, I'm not so sure that it has sank in yet.

I took this job primarily as a change of pace. I have been inside a classroom teaching and training for a year and a half previous to this post. It's not that I don't like teaching - I LOVE it! However, when it became too tedious and routine, I found myslef trying to break away from it. This is the reason why I decided to take on the quality assurance position in this company.

All along, my boss had different plans for me - plans that she did not communicate clearly. I thought that handling the soft skills training for the department is just an interim job while we are setting up the QA team. It was fine with me and I enjoyed pitching in to train whenever needed. Knowing that my position is under QA, my mindset is really on developing these ideas that are primarily QA functions.

I just had my performance review this morning without any real worries. I knew that I was working well enough with the people and that the job was of no major burden to me or anything. My review turned out to be consistently meets which was fine. When I asked her to clear up my focus and responsibilities, she dropped the bomb that I was hired primarily to be THE soft skills trainer. She recounted how she had to defend the creation of the position, etc. I am uncomfortable about this on several points.

First of all, I did not prepare my mindset to stay with soft skills. I am not too comfortable with soft skills training. My forte is more on the technical side of things. However, in this company, technical training is really technical requiring certification from Microsoft and other companies.

Second, soft skills is not a priority in this organization. I would need to sell my expertise and the idea of having a full time position of such skill in the organization. My boss had to go to the top just to defenc the need for this position. Now, I have to maintain that and reinforce my tenure by showing improvement in the numbers.

Third, with the prevailing attitude toward soft skills, I would need to be thick-skinned to face the barbs that are liable to be thrown my way. I do not like having to play office politics. However, if I want to keep my job with my reputation intact, I would have to be actively looking for alliances with those in the management team so that I can sell my expertise to all levels of the organization. There is enough politics on the higher levels of the organization and I do not want to get involved in it.

Fourth, No one here is going to watch my back with the risks that I would like to take in the position of the soft skills trainer. I have no resources to speak of and most of my resources can only be gotten through the people around me. That means that it is another round of politics. My boss backs me up all the way but she can only do as much.

I need to settle the thought first. I have a clear mandate from the boss to make sure that the program I am handling is smooth sailing and worth the time and money that they spent on it. This with virtually no resources to speak of!!! I even had to shell out MY OWN money (which I need for a hospital procedure) just so I can get it started. Given the chance, I would have been screaming my head off at this very moment! Gaaak!

Know Your Presidentiables

Again another email received...

PRESIDENT ARROYO
Banking on "experience and integrity"

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president in January 2001
following the successful People Power 2 Revolution that deposed her
predecessor, Joseph Estrada. Arroyo will run for president under the
Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan or K-4.

She was elected vice president in 1998 with the largest electoral
margin in Philippine history, with a vote of more than seven million.

As vice president, she was given the portfolio of Secretary of Social
Welfare and Development, a post which she held until October 2000.

She was first elected as senator in 1992 and reelected in 1995. She
also topped the elections with a record number of votes (16 million).
Her legislative efforts as senator were focused on building the
economy.

During her two terms, she filed 472 bills and resolution, 54 of which
were enacted into law. Among these laws are Tax Exemption for the
13th Month Pay, Export Development Act, Loans for Women Micro
Enterprises, Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Bank Entry Liberalization
Law, Thrift Banks Act, Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, Crop Insurance
Law, Indigenous People's Rights Law, Poverty Alleviation Law, New
Rent Control Law and the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers,
Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel in Government.

During the Aquino administration, Arroyo was Assistant Trade
Secretary. She was also appointed Executive Director of the Garment
and Textile Board. She was later named Trade Undersecretary and
Governor of the Board of Investments.

She obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Economics degree, magna cum
laude, from the Assumption College (1968). She was a consistent
Dean's Lister during her studies in International Trade at the
Georgetown University in Washington D.C. She later earned a Masters
degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a
Doctorate in Economics from the University of the Philippines (1985).

Macapagal-Arroyo is a recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation
Scholarship (1978-1983), the Japan Foundation Grant (1976-1977) and
the UPSE Fellowship (1970-1971).

She was also chairman and president of the UP Health Maintenance
Organization (1989-1998); executive director of the Philippine Center
for Economic Development (1994-1998); and chairman of the UP Economic
Foundation (1994-1998).

From 1994-1998, she was member of the Presidential Task Force on Tax
and Tariff Reforms. She was also a member of the Technical Working
Group of the Philippine National Development Plan for the 21st
Century (Committee on National Framework for Regional Development and
Macroeconomics Framework for Development Financing.)

In the academe, Macapagal-Arroyo was chair of the Assumption College
Economics Department (1984-1987), assistant professor at the Ateneo
de Manila University and professor at the UP School of Economics
(1977-1987). She was also a professor at the Maryknoll College and
St. Scholastica's College.

She received the following citations: "Most Outstanding Senator" from
the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, "One of Asia's Most
Powerful Women" of the Asiaweek Magazine and "Woman of the Year" of
the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines.

She is the daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr.
Evangeline Macaraeg. She is married to Jose Miguel T. Arroyo. They
have three children, Juan Miguel, Evangelina Lourdes and Diosdado
Ignacio.



FERNANDO POE JR.
From reel to real

FERNANDO Poe Jr., the presidential candidate of the "Angara-faction">
of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, was born Ronald
Allan Kelly Poe in Manila on Aug.20, 1939 to Elizabeth Kelley and
actor producer Fernando Poe Sr. His brother Andy is also an actor. He
is married to actress Susan Roces (Jesusa Sonora). They have a
daughter, Mary Grace. He quit high school to work as a messenger in a
film exchange office.

Poe began his career in the movies as a stuntman for Everlasting
Pictures. He was actor Lilia Dizon's double in Sonaron (Unfamed) in
1955. In his first acting role in Anak ni Palaris (Son of Palaris) in
1950, Poe shared top billing with Rosita Noble and Mario Escudero.
Director Mario Barri gave him his screen name, after his father who
had earlier played the title role in Palaris in 1946. But Poe's
biggest break was in Lo Waist Gang in 1956. It marked the local
cinema's shift from the fantasy world of costume productions to the
trendy realism of action movies. His first solo movie was Tough Guy
(1956). He was then signed up by Premiere Productions as a contract
actor. Poe proved his boxe office appeal in Kamay ni Cain (Hand of
Cain, 1957) where he received a Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and
Science (Famas) nomination. When Hollywood Far East Productions
opened, Poe was offered to do Markado (Branded), 1959, and upon his
demand, he was paid a much higher talent fee than he used to get. He
invested his savings in his own company, the FPJ Productions and
D'tanor productions.

Other movies where Poe played lead roles were Apollo Robles, 1961;
Sandata at Pangako (Weapon and Promises), 1961; Ako ang Katarungan (I
am Justice) 1962; Santo-Domingo (Saint Domingo), 1972; Ang Alamat
(The Legend), 1972; Perlas ng Silangan (Pearl of the Orient) 1973;
Sanctuario (Sanctuary), 1974; Patayin si Mediavitto (Kill
Mediavitto), 1978; and Lihim ng Guadalupe (Secret of Guadalupe) 1979.

Under the name Ronwaldo Reyes, Poe has directed many of the FPJ films
that he himself has acted in like Alupihang Dagat (Sea Centipede),
1975 ; Kin,g 1978; Tatak ng Tondo (Mark of Tondo), 1978; Ang Padrino
(The Godfather). 1984; and Panday (Blacksmith) I, II, III and IV.
Awarded by the Famas were Panday II (1984) for best special visual
effects; Poe received nominations for best director from the Film
Academy of the Philippines for Panday III and Padreno. In most of
those movies, he played a hero who is peace loving; until he is
pushed against the wall by all sorts of kontrabida, and magnificently
rises in defense of the poor and the oppressed.


RAUL ROCO
Counting on the youth

Raul S. Roco was born Oct. 26, 1941 in Naga City, Camarines Sur to
farmer Sulpicio Azuela Roco and public schoolteacher Rosario Orlanda
Sagarbarria. He will run for president under Aksyon Demokratiko.

He finished elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Naga. He
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, magna cum laude, at San
Beda College in Manila. Roco received his Bachelor of Laws as Abbott
Awardee for Over-All Excellence at San Beda College. e took his
Master of Comparative Law as a University Fellow at the University of
Pennsylvania, USA.

Roco formed the Aksyon Demokratiko political party for his
presidential bid. He is married to Sonia Cubillo Malasarte, who was
named most outstanding student of the Philippines in 1964. They have
six children - Rabble Pierre, Raul Jr., Sophia, Sareena, Rex and
Synara-and four grandchildren.

Roco was the president of the National Union of Students of the
Philippines in 1961 and was one of the Ten Outstanding Students of
the Philippines in 1964. He was a delegate to the Constitutional
Convention of 1971 and was president of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines from 1983 to 1985. As a member of the legal staff of the
late Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, he drafted the Study Now, Pay Later>
Law.

Taking time off from his legal work, he was executive producer of the
late great film director Lino Brocka's movie Tinimbang Ka Ngunit
Kulang, which won six Famas Awards including best film in 1974.

The Ford Foundation and the University of the Philippines Institute
of Strategic and Development Studies adjudged him first in overall
performance among legislators of the Eighth Congress from 1987 to
1992. He was also consistently cited top senator during his term in
the Senate from 1992 to 2000.

As a senator, Roco authored the law that reformed the central banking
system. The achievement earned him the title "Father of the Bangko
Sentral." Roco helped fund the teachers' cooperatives as well as
initiated the increment mandated by the Magna Carta for Public School
Teachers for retiring public school teachers. As a senator, Roco also
authored the Women in Nation Building Law, the Nursing Act, the Anti-
Sexual Harassment Law, the Anti-Rape Law and the Child and Family
Courts Act. He led efforts that resulted in the abolition of double
taxation for overseas workers.

Roco's vision for education is "Bawat graduate bayani at marangal"
or "Each graduate is a hero and a person of dignity." As Secretary of
Education, Roco implemented, for the first time in Philippine
educational history, free public primary and high school education.
He also implemented an education curriculum reform, which focused on
reading, writing, arithmetic, science and Makabayan subjects.

When Roco took over as education secretary in January 2001, the Asia
Foundation-Social Weather Stations Survey of Enterprises on Public
Sector Corruption ranked his department the fourth most corrupt
government agency. Roco quickly imposed a department-wide
transparency policy, including the purchase of textbooks, one of the
biggest sources of corruption in the DepEd. As a result, in only
eight months, the same survey group ranked the Department of
Education the most trusted agency of the government. It was given a
73 percent approval rating by the public.


SEN. PANFILO LACSON
Law and order count

SEN. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson hopes to put his crime-fighting crusade
to greater heights by aspiring for the presidency. Born on June 1,
1948 in Imus, Cavite, Lacson joined the Philippine Military Academy
in 1967 and graduated in 1971. His decision to run for president was
contested by the "Angara faction" of the opposition Laban ng
Demokratikong Pilipino, which chose actor Fernando Poe Jr. as its
official candidate.

Lacson had his primary education at the Bayang Loma Elementary
School. He finished high school at the Imus Institute. He earned a
Masters degree in Government Management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod
ng Maynila.

Before he became a senator, Lacson was the country's police chief
under the administration of deposed president Joseph Estrada. He was
also the chief of the defunct Presidential Anti-organized Crime Task
Force June until January 2001. Lacson was a member of the Metrocom
Intelligence and Security Group from 1971 to 1986. As the country's
top police officer, Lacson said he was responsible for renewing the
high level of trust and confidence for the man in uniform.

He listed the following as some of his achievements as police chief:

·Ordered the "15-85" distribution of PNP resources, meaning 15
percent left for headquarters and 85 percent down the line to the men
in the field;

·Imposed the "No Take" policy among police officers and waged a
determined war against "kotong" or mulcting policemen.

·Initiated closer coordination with other law enforcement agencies,
in the Philippines and abroad, in the fight against criminality
thereby winning the confidence of businessmen and foreign investors;

·Innovated the two-pronged approach in the fight against narcotics>
trafficking through supply constriction and demand reduction;

·Ordered the return of recovered stolen vehicles to their rightful
owners;

·Reduced the incidence of petty crimes through the establishment of
more police centers and the deployment of patrols from the Philippine
Marines.

Lacson lives in BF Homes, Parañaque City with wife Alice de Perio
Lacson and children, Ronald Jay P. Lacson, Panlilio P. Lacson Jr. and
Jeric F. Lacson.


Bro. EDDIE VILLANUEVA
Moral rebirth the country's hope

Brother Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva, founder of Jesus is Lord
Movement, was born in Bocaue, Bulacan, on Oct. 6, 1946. He intends to
run for president as an independent candidate.

In 1969, he graduated with a degree in Commerce, majoring in
Economics, from the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC), which has
since been renamed as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
He took up law at the University of the Philippines but "was
sidelined by activism and never had time to take the bar
(examination)."

He worked as a full-time faculty member in the Economics and Finance
Department of PCC until 1972. He then worked as the export manager of
the Maran Export Industries in 1973 and from 1976 to 1977, he was the
general manager of the Agape Trading Co. He returned to PUP in 1978
as a part-time professor.

In 1978, he founded the Jesus is Lord fellowship, which started with
just eight members. Bro. Eddie claims that JIL now has some seven
million members.

Bro. Eddie received the Gintong Ama (Golden Father) award for Socio-
Civic/ Religious Sector from the Golden Mother and Father Foundation
in June 1996. He was also voted as the Pastor of the Year in a 1998
worldwide search conducted by Dr. George Otis' High Adventure
Ministries. Ministries broadcasts the Voice of Hope Program in 72
countries.

Villanueva has also been ordained Minister of the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ in 1979 by the California-based Victory in Christ Church
and International Ministries. He has also been conferred the Office
of Episcopacy by the Sectarian Body of Christ in the Philippines in
April 1996.

In February 2001, Bro.Eddie received the EDSA People Power Freedom
Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power II
movement. He founded, owns ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. and operates
Channel 11. Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, Diyos at Bayan, PJM
(Philippine for Jesus Movement) Forum and Jesus The Healer.

Again, another 15 minutes wasted

ISFJ - "Conservator". Desires to be of service and to minister to individual needs - very loyal. 13.8% of total population.

Take Free Myers-Briggs Personality Test

A Look at the 2004 Candidates Volume 2

For your consideration... Raul Roco


Why you should not vote for Raul Roco

A Look at the 2004 Candidates Volume 1

For your consideration.... Fernando Poe Jr.

Ginoong Patnugot:

Napansin namin na inilathala ninyo kamakailan ang isang sulat na naghihikayat sa ating mga kababayan na sulatan si Fernando Poe Jr. upang huwag nang tumakbo bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas.

Hindi namin alam kung saan ninyo nakuha ang impresyon na di magiging mabuting pangulo si Fernando Poe Jr. Kami po, ang kanyang mga kaibigan ay lubos na nasaktan sapagkat hindi man lang binigyan ng pahayagang ito ng sapat na pagkakataon na ipagtanggol ni FPJ ang kanyang sarili. Hindi po ito mabuting halimbawa ng mabuting pamamahayag.

Salungat sa mga balita na inyong kinakalat na walang alam si Fernando Poe Jr. sa pagpapatakbo ng bansa, si FPJ ay mayroong napakalawak na karanasan tungkol sa mga isyu na kasalukuyang pinagdaraanan ng ating bansa.

Ang sumusunod ay ilan lamang sa mga patunay sa pagiging malapit ni FPJ sa mga isyung pambansa.

Hustisya. Kapag Puno na ang Salop
Nakikipaglaban si FPJ sa mga suhulang Huwes. Pag naging pangulo si FPJ, maraming mamamatay na huwes.

Kahirapan. Ang Anino ni Asedillo
Katulad ng kanyang matalik na kaibagan na si Presidente Erap, malapit si Fernando Poe Jr. sa mahihirap. Sa pelikulang ito, si FPJ ay isang modern-day Robin Hood. Kumukuha siya sa mayayaman tapos binibigay sa mahirap. Yan ang aming idol. Ngayon pa lang ay mag-ingat na si Danding at ang mga Ayala!

Kidnapping at Drugs. Batas ng Lansangan
Sa Batas ng Lansangan, sinalo ni FPJ ang pananagutan para labanan ang kidnapping at drugs. Kapag pangulo na si Fernando Poe Jr., lilinisin nya sa ating mga lansangan ang mga kidnapper at drug-pusher. Ano ba ang laban ng mga masasamang loob sa mga ma-armalite na mga suntok ni Haring FPJ?

Manggagawa. Isusumbong kita sa Tatay ko
Isang masipag na manggagawa si Fernando Poe Jr. Naranasan na nya ang maging isang mekaniko habang nagpapalaki ng kanyang anak na si Judy Anne. Ang kanyang hirap at pagtatiyaga ay kapansin pansin sa malimit na pagpapawis ng kanyang kili-kili sa pelikulang ito. Ipinahihiwatig lamang nito na pagpapawisan nya ng lubos ang kanyang pagtatrabaho sa ating mga Pilipino.

Illegal Gambling. Dito sa Pitong Gatang
Bilang barangay chairman tinugsa ni Fernando Poe Jr. ang illegal gambling sa kanilang barangay. Sinong nagsabi na walang political experience si FPJ? Marahil, kapag naging pangulo si Fernando Poe Jr., malamang na gagawing kapitolyo ng Pilipinas ang Pitong Gatang.

Pulisya at Krimen. Eseng ng Tondo
Naging isang magaling na Pulis rin si FPJ bago sya naging NBI director. Dito natin nakita kung paano nakipaglaban si FPJ sa masasama at mga suhulang elemento ng lipunan. Ang kanyang pakikipaglaban at patuloy na magpapatupad ng reporma sa pulisya ay ipagpapatuloy ng kanyang kapatid na si Conrad Poe bilang bagong hepe ng PNP.

Sports. Pakners
Kasama di Efren "Bata" Reyes bilang bagong kalihim ng POC, lahat ng national athletes ay kanyang patuturuang magbilyar.

Ginoong Patnugot, siguro'y di na kami nagkulang ng patunay kung bakit dapat maging pangulo si Fernando Poe Jr. Sana po ay di na maulit ang mga irresponsableng "Open Letter" na walang pakundangan ninyong inilathala dito sa inyong pahayagan.

Salamat po.


Ang inyong mga linkod,

Alyansa ng Pitong Gatang (APoG)

The LTO Story

I finally mustered enough courage to go to the LTO last Friday. I took a leave from work thinking that my situation is probably not as bad as Luthien's. My Impy was on his way to LB but I persuaded him to accompany me in the morning. I went to the LTO website and it simply said that an affidavit of loss and the application form. I have prepared these papers way in advance so it was just a matter of printing it out and having it processed.
I first had to have my affidavit of loss notarized so we scoured Cubao early in the morning looking for a notary public. We found one in one of the old buildings near Farmer's. Something struck me about that particular building and I'll probably write about it some other time. Since the renewal office at the Farmer's Plaza was still closed, I decided to go straight to the Cubao LTO office. When we got there, the place was kind of deserted. It was unlike any government licensing office that I have gone to before. When I got to the window and showed my affidavit of loss, I was asked if I have a photocopy of my lost license. I know that I have one somewhere but I really couldn't recall where. The guy at the window advised me to go to Window 14 at the LTO main on East Ave. What choice did I have? So off we went to East Avenue.
When we got to Window 14, I was told that I should go to Window 10. All this time, there was a woman who kept on telling us that she'll help us with the drug test because they were accredited, etc. I told her that we still have stuff to finish before going through all that and I was already irritated because nobody can tell me what the whole process is. That woman followed us until the queue at Window 10 and My Impy got irritated himself and told the woman off! I wanted to laugh out loud because that was pretty unusual behavior from him. At least it got that pesky woman off our backs.
I was given a number after I gave my accomplished forms and affidavit. The slip has the note that the waiting time was around 58 minutes. I thanked my lucky stars because around 10 minutes after, they started calling out numbers one after another. I thought that my luck has shifted and that I would be able to go through the day with stuff accomplished. When my papers got released, nobody told me what to do next. Thinking that I can go through the renewal there, I approached Window 14 once again asking what I should do next (that was the only window with no one around). I was asked where I got my license and I answered that it was at the Pasay office. I was told to go back there to have my application processed! Hello! It was already lunchtime and that place seemed like light years away! I went back to Window 10 and elbowed my way through the crowd. When I got to the front, I asked what the next step again. And again, I was told to go to Pasay. I asked the woman what if I wanted to have it processed somewhere else. I was told that I have to get a certification and that it would be released on Monday at 2 pm. Duh! Having no choice, I decided to just ask for the certification. I was thinking that I can just take an extended lunch break on Monday and drop by LTO.
Feeling dejected with nothing accomplished, I told Impy that I wanted to eat at the Batchoy place at the SM Cubao and that I wanted to do a bit of shopping since I needed a new pair of jeans. When we finally get back to Cubao, the Batchoy place is closed and I was so hungry. I didn't want to eat at our usual food places so I said I wanted the Tropical Hut clubhouse sandwich. (I was that hungry.) Since I didn't eat breakfast, my tummy rumbled after I drank the soda and filled it with a lot of food. I couldn't take it so I ended up going home. My whole day went to waste!
I told my dad about it and he told me that he really can't do anything about it. He said it all boils down to why I lost my license in the first place. How was I to know that my desk at the office is NOT a safe place to put my bag on. To think that building is a "secured" one because of all the embassies and other offices.
The next Monday, I was supposed to take the afternoon off so that I can finally process my license application. However when I got to the office that morning, my boss told me that there was a week-long training for the new system to be installed. Being the one who will be in charge of its deployment down the line, I had no choice but to attend. I told my boss that I need to get to LTO by 2pm but I'll be back to finish the day. She agreed so I did not go back to the training room in the afternoon and by 1pm I was in a cab rushing to the LTO.
I got to East Avenue with a few minutes to spare so I decided to eat at Jollibee first. I gave my claim slip to Window 10 and I was told that my name will be called when it is released. I prepared for a long wait while praying it will not be that long since I had to go back to the training session.
Two batches of names were called and I was still waiting for mine. When the third batch of names were called, my name was the last one and I immediately went to Window 11. When it was my turn to talk to the guy, I gave him my name and he told me that my name is NOT on the list. I told him that I would not be standing in front of him if I did not hear my name called. He riffled through the papers in his hand without really looking at it and then declared that it was not there. He was asking me whether the first name was Mauricio and I looked at him in puzzlement. I wanted to ask him if I looked like a Mauricio. Again, I insisted that my name is there and that I'm in a rush. He went through tha papers again and in the middle of the pile, he found my name. Instead of giving it to me, he held it up, pretending to examine it closely. I was already giving him the eye and if I could just get my hands past the barrier I could have just grabbed it. He probably did that to save face because he argued with me that it's not there when in fact it was. He then handed it over and told me, Punta ka na sa agency. I took what he said to heart with the rush that I was in. I grabbed my papers as soon as it was thrust through the glass and made my way out of there. I was already in the cab when I noticed that the document says that I paid 30 bucks for it. I haven't paid anything and was surprised that nobody mentioned anything about it. Usually, that is the first thing that they mention, the payment. And since the guy told me to go the licensing agency already, I thought I need not do anything. I'm gonna go to the Farmer's Express renewal center (they are open on Saturdays) since I can't afford to miss any work anymore.
I'm not in a rush to finish it all up since I'm already gonna be penalized regardless of when I do it. I don't really drive regularly (more like at all) so there is no urgent need for the license. Bottomline, I still don't have my license and I'm not altogether sure if I can have it renewed any time soon.

Finding Friends

I couldn't access my other blog site so I decided to do this here. I think this will be much more accessible to me whenever a new thought pops into my head.

I caught another bandwagon and now I'm addicted to friendster.com. I started out just to hook up with a college friend. I would have forgotten all about it if a high school friend hadn't asked to be added to my friend's list. Now, I check it everyday. I have added friends from high school and college plus my former officemates as well. I have a grand time checking out who has a profile and found some of my childhood crushes (I couldn't believe I liked them before!). It's very, very tempting to check out how popular one is by comparing how many friends you have against someone who you really don't like. What I like most about it is that I can get to reconnect with both old and new friends. If I want to announce something, I can simply post it on my bulletin board. I log in and I can send messages to my friends (since they are logged in almost everyday anyway) without having to check out my address books for their email addresses or cellphone numbers. During lunchtime, the whole department went crazy checking on their friendster lists. They found people who signed in as Mike Arroyo, Heart Evangelista, Luis Manzano, etc. One of the OJTs decided to send a message to the one who is claiming to be Mike Arroyo (his picture also showed GMA!). We'll see what happens next when he responds.