Election Blues

With the first ever automated national election drawing close a lot of issues have been coming up.

One is the fact that there was a problem with the machines that's suppose to count the votes. With this issue, one has to wonder if the up coming election is legitimate in terms of results.

I was wondering why the Comelec never had any back up plan. The teachers themselves confirmed that they are not ready for a manual counting. Since this is the first ever automation for our election proceedings, it might be wise that we did it side-by-side with the manual counting. That way, the bugs and problems with automation maybe discovered and corrected.

It might take longer, but at least it is credible.

Unruly Electric Bill Charges

What the hell is happening?

So Meralco has suddenly raised the rate for the generation charge. This in turn added additional burdens to the urban poor. Hey, I myself am complaining since our electric bill right now is about 5,000 Php.

I know that they need the generation charge, and to top it off I know that there is also a transmission charge on the bill. So many charges. I really am not sure if I am paying the correct amount any more.

Well, its one thing that the price for electricity went up during the summer, but another problem is the fact that there are still rotating black-outs happening all throughout the metro. I don't mind paying the electric bill and all those charges as long as I enjoy un-interrupted power supply.

A string of earthquakes?

What with a string of earthquakes this year?

Seems that the fault lines are a little bit active lately. Does this have a connection with the Mayan prediction that the end of the world is going to happen by 2012?

It is quite hard to believe. Currently, I am trying to put together the puzzle myself, and of course being a researcher and not a scientist I have limited resources. Which is why this might take some time...

Just bear with it a little... Will be updating once I get some good leads.

Explosion heard in Bankmer Bldg., Makati.

Alright, my wife who works for one of the office in Bankmer bldg said that at around 3PM they heard an explosion. This was March 25 (thursday). Apparently, I have not come up with anything on the net about the incident. Seems that it might just be an ordinary explosion.

The weird part, it seems that 2 days ago they were sent home early because of a bomb threat within the bldg. This however, turned out to be just a hoax, but why exactly target Bankmer? Is it because its the election year, and that some terrorist are trying to make the election a failure? Or is it because there is a government office in Bankmer? (I just don't know what dept?)

Either way, I hope nothing more happens.

Another rant for today...

Alright, so everything did not work out as planned... I mean, I haven't got my son baptized last Sunday. Still no source of income. And me and my wife are getting low on funds...

My PTC farm still haven't shown any promise, but I will still be focusing my time on it. Can't get enough visitors to visit my blog and generate clicks on the ads.

The last thing that looks a little bit promising would be my venture on the real estate industry as one of the sales agents for a well-known developer in the Philippines. If all goes well, then this will be my main source of income. Hopefully, my venture with Avida turns out to be fruitful, and that I get a client soon enough. Still keeping my fingers crossed. I will be posting some of the properties that's for sale, and at a pre-selling status so that if anyone is interested in it, you can just contact me via the comments area.

Again, there are a lot to be done so that I can establish a profitable income generating blog, PTC and even postings. Will be working on them until the second quarter, and hoping for the best that before the year ends I get favorable results.

Another Day Stuck In A Traffic Jam.

Alright, this will just be anothe rant from earlier today when I was fetching my step-daughter from school.

Apparently, traffic was light along Dr. A. Santos Ave, with a few cars turning left at Lopez intersection going to BF homes. This was at around 10 AM. Now, without any warning the two traffic enforcers had seized control of the traffic flow, and have overridden the traffic light. For some unknown reason, they had the lane going to Sucat to continously flow, disregarding the vehicles that turning left to Lopez Village, and those that came from the village to also remain at full stop.

This went one for about 5-7 minutes max (wasn't really timing them since I have my eyes on road and thinking as to what might be causing it). Then a convoy of vehicles with government plates passed by, I think there was about 5 or 6. It seems that, some of out government officials doesn't want to be stuck in a traffic jam or in heavy traffic.

This just gets to my nerve. They should just wait it out like most of the motorist, and to not use their authority in causing a heavier traffic on the opposite lane, and this for the sole reason that they might not want to be stuck in traffic or that they are just late with their appointments. Whatever the reason, I find it really uncharacteristic for them to be this way. Of course, its different when you talk about the president of the country going through, but this is a different issue.

Just my two cents, and hopefully, the rest of the day will remain uneventful.

Thoughts about Working from home...

I have always thought about this set up. Never leaving the house, but still earning money. Either via freelancing, MLM (Multi-level marketing) and even PTCs (Paid to click) websites.

Of course, when you place a search in Google using the key phrase (work at home, work from home, PTC) you'll definitely get a lot of results. The problem now is to segregate and identify which of these are legitimate.

Based from my experience, most will look like scam. About 60% will say that they are the best site, but will charge you for a certain fee before that site will provide you the opportunity to work from home. This always alerts me that this is a possible scam.

Either way, some legitimate site do have fees. That is why it is hard to pin-point which are the scams from the golden egg.

Right now, I am trying out some PTCs that I have found and will be posting updates if they are scams or not. Also, I will be trying out some of the freelancing sites out there to see if working from home will generate the income needed to sustain my family.

Unfortunately, I am steering out of MLM for now. But might venture with it in the near future.

Another boring day.

So, its another day with me stuck at home.

The only perk is that I am able to take care of my 1 year old son. But of course, without any way achieve or get income. That is why I am thinking about doing some work from home jobs. There are several freelancing website out there that offer work at home opportunities.

The problem would is, which one is the best and which ones are just plain scam. In my own opinion, it is rather easy to differentiate them and very simple. The legitimate ones are those that do not ask any fee for registering, and that they just deduct a certain percentage from you total earnings for one project. That is to say, its a free to join site.

If a freelancing site or any other website that offers work at home opportunity is asking perspective workers to pay a certain fee in order for them to have a list of available projects, then it clearly says SCAM...

So beware and stay clear from this kind of web sites.

I will be posting more about what I discover with these sites once I get to try them out.

Just my thought on Super Lotto 6/49

This is just a thought. As of the moment, the current jackpot for the nationwide Super Lotto 6/49 lottery in the Philippines is pegged at around 174 million pesos. Now, this got me thinking - how nice it would be to be a winner of this kind of lottery, what with the jackpot and all. If you were ever lucky to be a winner (solo winner) it might mean that you can live your life without any worries. That is, if you are careful with your money and that you know how to make that money grow.

The question that keeps on lingering on my mind, will there be truly a winner? Or is this just a way that the government can get funds out of the masses for their own pocket, or for the election? Hey, you can't blame me... Its just about 3 months before the national election and they could use the money.

I know that there are winners, and that we can't blame them that they wouldn't go public for fear of being targeted by terrorists and kidnappers. But of course, there is still a possibility that the government is just making the jackpot grow and then announce the there is a winner, but in truth, no one won.

Again, this is all based on assumption and my personal thought on the subject. There are no clear evidence that it is happening.

Then again, I will still try my luck and place my bet. Who knows, I might be lucky and win. If God is willing, then it is possible. :-)

A boring day at home.

As usual, left at home with nothing to do.

I get bored pretty fast now-a-days, even my usual routine of surfing the net and playing my favorite games seems like a bore. I haven't found anything that will get my blood rushing.

It might be because of the fact that I don't have any work, no clients and nothing to keep me busy. What's worst, no source of income. Its all so boring that I can completely think of a good story and write it, that is, if I am any good at writing short stories. Composing a poem might be one of my strengths, but writing short stories, please spare me...

In any case, this really turned out to be such a rant that I can't think of anything to post for the labels...

Also, haven't got anything to tell you guys about. Nothing exciting has happened and nothing will ever happen as long as I am at home. Well, there might still be a chance but that's about 1 out of a million chances. Come to think of it, that a better ratio than winning the lottery where your chances are about 1 out of a billion.

Still, if I am to win the lottery then that will be the day that I say to the world that - This life is pretty much boring!!!

Till next time... Will be seeing you around.

What you need to know before applying as a call center agent.

I have recently resigned from a call center company. And after being an agent for about 3 years, I'd say that I would like to try other opportunities. Never had the eye for being an Account Manager or the likes, as I really hate responsibilities. (Go on, tell me that without it I won't ever grow up.)

Now, being a call center agent is really hard. Despite the negative opinion that the call center industry had when it first started in the country, it is right now the largest industry that provided many Filipinos with jobs than other industry combined.

When the Call Center Industry first started out in the country, many were skeptic about it. You hear a lot saying that you will just be treated like a phone operator, answering the phone and all. And that there is no room for growth and it is a dead end job. Some even said that you won't be able to use your brain, since the job doesn't require you to think because there is already a script that you must follow. But hey, they were all wrong!!! It takes a lot of nerve and brain-power to work as a call center agent. Based from some of the people that bad mouth the industry, I have observed that these people were rejected by a call center company, saying that they are not fit for the position. It seems that they have ill-feelings toward the industry, that's why it led them to say those things.

I tell you, not everybody is ready to be a call center agent. You need to be courageous, and quick. Call center agents normally makes decisions on the fly, while over the phone and no chance to think it over. This is specially applicable to technical support, where each agent has to decide what is wrong with the customers product and what is needed to fix the problem.

Another thing to consider is your fluency with the English language. I know I am not that fluent with the language and that with this blog post, I have a lot of errors with grammar and spelling that you wouldn't believe me that I worked as a call center agent. Now, since call centers cater to customers from the US mainland, it is mandatory that you have a neutral accent when speaking in English. Also, fluency with the language should be above average if not excellent. This certain requirement is the one lacking in most applicants for the call center agent position.

With that said, if ever anyone is planning into applying for any position in a call center, it is best that before you do be prepared. Make sure that you know the responsibilities of the position you are applying for, and also make sure that you have practiced your English.

Good Luck!!!

My first post.

This is my first time putting up a blog, so please be understanding.

To start things - This will just serve as a channel where I can release all these pent up emotions and to share my opinions and experiences where ever and what ever comes to mind. Also, from time to time I might be setting up another blog where in I will be posting my poems that I wrote myself.

My first topic - Daily traffic condition in the Philippines.

Now, ever since got my driver's license and have since been driving my father's car to work, I never experienced any heavy traffic since I work at night in a call center. This to me is very pleasant since the trip is uneventful, and no sudden stop and go. However, I dreaded having to drive during the day (specially during rush hour - 7AM to 8AM and 4PM to 6PM). During these times, traffic just gets really heavy. And for me whose living in Sucat, P'que it turns into a nightmare when your usual route takes you to Sucat Interchange.

In any case, traffic in my area still isn't as bad when compared to traffic in Las Piñas. Since the road in Las Piñas is just about 4 lanes for both direction, it gets really crowded with vehicles that the traffic is very heavy at any given time. Add to the fact that it has no division in the middle of the road to separate traffic. I have nothing against the city per se, but its just getting on my nerve whenever I my route takes me to the area since it can really mess up your time table because of the heavy volume of traffic.

Its good to know the the MMDA has some sort of scheme to lessen the volume of vehicles on the road. That scheme would be the color coding scheme, however, from my stand point I can't even feel that it is really effective. Even with it in effect, there are just too many vehicles on the road now-a-days. It might seem that our roads are not adequate and big enough for the large volume of vehicles everyday.