Job Fair

Just this morning, Ekky and I went to the Ateneo job fair to help Accenture ‘inspire’ the graduating class to apply to our company. Mike and Czar were supposed to come with us but Czar was assigned onshore for emergency purposes (lucky girl!) and Mike had tons of work to do.

The day started out slow because Ekky and I arrived even before the HR people got in so we had nothing to do. The Cervini field, where the job fair was held, was a bit muddy so there were ‘walkways’ made of brown envelopes and card boards. Some of the early bird companies already had their booth setup with single banners of their company names. They had colorful bond papers in their tables where the employment requirements were printed. Some had gimmicks like fish bowls where they can get some candies and some had audio presentation of sorts. And then there is ours….. a naked booth. With only a few simple posters about our Accenture Technology Solutions and Business Process Outsourcing units, I thought that our booth was so pitiful. There we were – an industry giant with an ugly booth.

But I was proven wrong. A single HR girl came and said hello. I asked, ‘tayong tatlo lang ba?’ with the feeling of an inevitable embarrassment waiting to happen. But then she replied, ‘parating na yung iba, may kinuha lang na gamit.’ I thought, ‘what things?!’ Soon after, the weapons of war came. They started unrolling not one, not two but three banners! Two diagonal pieces on both ends of the booth and a vertical one on the center. From a box, they started pulling out all these leaflets segregated per target audience – ATS New Hire, ATS Experienced, BPO New Hire, BPO Experienced. Then came out these blue envelopes with Accenture logos in them containing some glossy materials. Talk about recruitment kit! And then it came – our last battle tank! I suddenly saw these two guys carrying this enormous flat screen TV coming our way. The HR girl then pulled out the DVD player and DVDs from her side. Wow! We were armed and prepared! They played these Accenture Ads that I think are only usually shown in the states along with some ads that they have in www.accenture.com (ehem ehem, plugging, hehe). They even showed presentations for BPO and ATS along with some snippets of past Accenture events like the ‘If I were a Beatle’ contest. If I were the job fair participant, I would definitely give our booth a second glance. Hehe. How could I think our recruiting guys would do a sloppy job? They were under pressure to sign-up all the best people. And to do that, they would need to attract all of them.

Anyway, I started to perform my forced voluntary work. I got to talk with some seniors and juniors, some of which I even guided in their ORSEM weekend. The bulk of the people came at around 10:30 AM and we became busy. We had a considerable number of people who signed up for the exam given that it was already the last day of the job fair and most people would have already visited the booth by then. I was surprised that we were treated lunch and at 12:30PM was picked up by the company driver to be brought back to GT. I felt like royalty for that. Hehe.

I came back to the office feeling good. It’s not the first time I visited my alma mater but it’s the first time I visited it on a school day after a long time. Usually, there’s not much people around because when I get a chance, I visit it on weekends. Seeing all those aspiring seniors reminded me of the days when I was on their shoes. Hay…. I suddenly missed my college days. Looking back now, I have come to realize one very important lesson: COLLEGE CHICKS RULE!

Short Shout Out

Happy Birthday Anthony!

Sorry bro, I am overly busy that I couldn’t come up with a coherent post. My Component Test Plan creation is delayed (work stuff; not my fault. hehe) so I am racing against time to get this done before the week ends. But still, I thought your celebration is worth mentioning. For the details, just click on Ryan’s post. ;p

The Paths That We Take

Last Sunday, I attended the Christening of my female cousin’s son. I was a Ninong so even if I had a scheduled dive that weekend, I had to cancel because this one is for a formerly close cousin. Besides, I didn’t want to get the endless interrogation from all my titas as to why I was absent on that big family event. How could I repeatedly state that I was out because I had to feed my fancy? If that happens, I am assured of their deadly scolding.

There was nothing superbly special about the event. That was my 6th time to be a godfather so I was used to how it goes. What prompted me to think are the circumstances surrounding the baptism. The baby was born out of wedlock and my cousin is just a year older than me. This reminded me of my 5th inaanak from my kabarkada. She was also born under the same circumstance.

I am not trying to judge them or anything because I don’t think I am in a position to do so. I don’t think anybody is in a position to judge anybody else. It’s the difference relating to me that made me think a bit. The parents of my last two godchildren are basically the same age as I was. And yet the state of our lives is very different. Here I am blogging, writing about my daily experiences, worrying about what next hobby to take, trying to move up the corporate ladder while still balancing my time for family, friends, ‘close friends’, God and myself. And there they are trying to raise a child and become a good parent, working very hard for a future that depends on them, and trying to sort out the complexities of their relationship with the father or mother of their babies. None is more trivial than the other. Both are equally dignified and acceptable for me.

It’s just that life has a funny way of revealing itself. We have so many options. Especially after we graduate college – no more predefined path to safe success and happiness. We are presented with so many decisions and so many choices and we just have to trust that our life experiences will enable us to take the better path. Even the definition of a better path is relative. I guess in the end, the paths that we take are an expression of who we are. It is a reflection of our world at a particular point in time.

First Households

Last Monday was my first household (HH) for this year with my members. My SFC bro, Allan, asked to join in since he needed some assistance. I thought of having it on a Monday since historically that day always fits into our schedules… except for mine. You see, Monday is my badminton day (aside from Tuesday, which I also haven’t had a chance to participate in the longest time.) Every Monday, the company that I work for sponsors three courts in The Zone. My badminton addict officemates and I usually eat dinner before sweating our minds out trying to get that perfect smash. That is why I was initially hesistant to have it on a Monday. I needed to be sure that it was worth the sacrifice so I texted my members if they were available. Surprisingly, even those that very seldom reply to me confirmed. That was the sign for me. Service over Sports (at least most of the time. hehe.) I also asked the help of my SFC bro, Jonas, since I know that I would need help in facilitating my members. You see, my members are what they call ‘pasaway’ so I know I would need some more ammunition. Everything somehow fell into place this time.

My lower HH was actually inspiring. They were very happy to be there and finally having a HH again after the long holiday break. They were wishing that our group would continue on throughout the year. They were very participative and open with our topic. It was indeed a great start for us. The only catch is that Monday fits perfect for all of them…. Oh well…. Service over Sports (at least most of the time. hehe.)

Also, last night (Wednesday) we had out first unit HH of the year. This HH comprise of houshold heads and our respective unit heads. This as they call them is my upper household. It was, as always, very enriching. The thing with our heads is that they are not afraid to speak their hearts. They’re not anxious to get personal. We had long conversations on the topic at hand and we even had an extra topic while eating. I had lots of insights and realizations at the meeting that prompted me to take some actions for my betterment.

Two great nights in a row and the week isn’t even finished yet.

Bowling

Last Saturday was a fun way to start the year for our chapter. We had a fun fellowship. You see, fellowship is to SFC the same way that team building is to my company and gimmick is to the usual yuppie. We opted to go bowling since this is an activity that everybody can participate. I don’t usually go bowling but this one was superbly enjoyable. It’s not so much the game but the company that I enjoyed. At first, I was a bit worried that no one would be available to come. I soon realized that there is no point worrying about these things. Whatever will be, will be. I just have to trust the other heads to do their part in disseminating the information. It was a success! Many of us came and there was so much excitement. Thanks to the dedicated heads and to our zealous new members. It was perfect! I hope this sets the trend for the year in our chapter.

The Source

All of us, at some point in our lives, have been inspired by somebody else’s life or work. I’d like to share my inspiration. Thanks also to my High School teacher who introduced me to him and to the world of literature and poetry. After that, I was never the same.

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The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost (1874–1963)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The Daily Motivator

One former lead in our team used to forward the contents of this great site to all of us in the project. It’s actually quite helpful, especially when one is bored with his work. I’d like to share the entry for today:

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Ever higher

Don’t let yourself get too comfortable. For comfort can drain you of the ambition to follow your most treasured dreams.It is great to be pleased with where you are and with how far you’ve come. Yet even the most satisfying achievements begin to lose their value to you as soon as they are completed.

It is great to spend your time in pleasant, comfortable surroundings. Yet there is so much more to life than pleasure and comfort.

You are at your best when you are moving toward a meaningful, positive and ambitious goal. As each goal is reached, use the position you’ve attained to reach even higher.

No matter how delicious, satisfying, and filling your most recent meal may have been, before long you will need to eat again. Learn to see achievement in the same way.

For just as food sustains your body, achievement helps to sustain your spirit. As you work toward a worthy goal, you more fully become the best you can be.

You’ve already made much progress. Reach ever higher, and keep that golden momentum going.

– Ralph Marston
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For more of these, just visit http://www.greatday.com/motivate/. I’m sure there is an entry suited for each of us.

BEING FAT

…..is the inevitable consequence of over eating during the holidays. Take me as an example – all my hard work and sweat in the gym and from playing badminton was put to waste during the holidays. I was already Christmas partying since December 2! The last Christmas party I attended was December 30. Whew! I am not really a binge eater but I like trying everything on the menu. My only consolation was that I was able to drink enough glasses of red wine to hopefully equalize all the cholesterol that came into my system (I just heard that red wine is good for the heart; so I’m basing this on that assumption. Hehe).

This topic brings to memory a time when I used to be chubby back in high school. Just to clarify: I was not fat then. I was strictly chubby (And I am not in denial as well! Haha!) I would have posted pictures but I have a self-imposed no-picture policy in my blog. Just take my word. Besides, it’s not about being thin. It’s about being consciously healthy. A lot of my relatives on my father’s side die of stroke. I do not intend to follow this trend. Hehe.

Lastly, I’m not worried about being fat because I have a secret weapon – super fast metabolism. I easily burn what I eat so I don’t think I am at risk of being overweight…. even on Holiday Seasons. Yep, the world is not fair….. And we have a just God! Haha!

(Just thought I’d drop this topic in to all those concerned individuals ;p )

New Year Resolution

What’s a New Year resolution? Is it just some fancy to-do list intended to provide a glimmer of hope to the person making them but in actuality is almost always disregarded even on just the second month of that year? Well, that’s what I thought of it at first. I did not believe in resolutions because I found it to be quite superficial and bound to fail. That is until I created my own resolution last year. The thing about me is that I do not find pleasure in failing, especially in my own predefined goals. Last year, my resolution goes to the effect of: I will stop holding off on things. It’s quite simple but the achievement is deep. I did all the things that I’ve been wanting/planning to do for years but always hold off for different reasons – time, resources, energy, effort etc. I intended to live my best life while I still can; while I am still a young professional. The things that I did were neither necessarily grand nor complicated, but to me they were important. Looking back, I think I did well. I was satisfied with what I have accomplished. This resolution thing seems to be working for me. So I continue.

This year, I am elevating the goal a few more notches. The goal will require more from and of me. Face your fears – that is the resolve! And by this, I do not mean fear of spiders or high places or the dark etc. The fears I am referring to are the little things that requires us to extend outside our comfort zone. I have 2 aspects in particular. I am not divulging yet but rest assured that I will let everybody know by the end of year. It seems simple enough, but in a world where almost everything is handed down to us, very few people are willing and able to move out of the things that make them comfortable. Discomfort becomes a no-no especially to those who are in love with their own little worlds. A respected philosopher in my university once wrote, ‘lundagin mo beybe!’ That is exactly what I am going to do….

So I guess this is one entry that has no ending yet. I am doing this to better myself. I’ll touch base in a year. Chow!

Nicer Ones

I’m not really a fan of using quotable quotes, but here are some thoughts that made me smile and sort of think. I got these from one of the emails in my yahoogroups.

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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, in one pretty & well preserved piece… but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting — “Holy Shit, What A Ride!”

- Author Unknown

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover…

- Mark Twain

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“A good friend will bail you out of jail. A best friend will be sitting right next to saying, ‘Damn, that was fun!’”

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“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter”.

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“It’s not what you do during your job that counts in life. It’s what you do AFTER.”