1st Runner Up

We ended as 1st Runner-Up. But hell yeah we played a good damn game! :)



----------Robb----------

And so the games have started...

The Jaime Zobel Ayala Volleyball Tournament.

This was the volleyball league that eTel is joining for a couple of years now. And this is the first year I was in the team. :)

The opening day has its ups and downs for me.
First, I arrived early at the office in Alabang for our shuttle service is set to leave at 5:30 AM. Don and I went to grab some morning snacks at 7-11, then found Leslie, Chynna (with 2 others), and Rhoda coming along with us.
Lucky arrived later than all the ALabang-coming peeps and we left at a couple of minutes before 6AM.
We did a turnaround of service to pick up Coach Agoy (with around 5 other peeps), Kitty, before going all the way to UP Human Kinetics Gym.

The opening ceremonies were kind-of-great.





----------Robb----------

The Game...is on tomorrow!

Our volleyball game is on tomorrow at UP Kinetics Gym! Hope our team wins! And I hope I will do good in the plays as well :)



----------Robb----------

From Voice to Chat to Volleyball...

And here I am, so tired from all the busy-ness of my job. Now being active in this athleticism.

(Ok, Kat, here's the rant you've been waiting for! :p)

First, last June was my last month taking in calls inbound for Dell SMB Voice.
There came a time when there's a major "rigodon" or reshuffling of team compositions all over the program.
I was a bit surprised because it was a bit dramatic. STL Alain gave me a special coaching just for that.
He said it's going to be different. I thought I was just going to be transferred to a new Team Leader.
The moment he opened his mouth and said, "It's going to be different." I knew it. He said, "Chat."
And then my jaw dropped.
"Woah?! CHAT?! Why Chat?!"
And he explained to me that one of the Shift Manager picked me to be transferred to Dell SMB Chat. It's another part of our technical support team that handles troubleshooting through what else, chat.

And the week after I got my 2-3 days training. Sunday after that I found myself in the 7PM-4AM shift with my new TL - Tony Magsino.
Well, at first I was just having a so-and-so time because I really didn't feel about being in Chat and all that.

First month, I told myself, I'm not going to perform good here. I'm going to make them realize I deserve to be in Voice. My ACHT (Average Chat Handling Time) blows up to around 38-50+ Minutes. My CE is not bad, however, that's something I am proud of.
The first three weeks (supposed to be two only) I am only receiving 1 chat session. Fourth week, that's when I realized the true essence of chat that is receiving two chat sessions at a time.
When it came to my first coaching with TL Tony, he said I'm having good stats, it's normal that my ACHT is high because it's definitely easier to express yourself in words speaking it, than typing them.
He also left me a scary-but-with-a-good-intention message, "Chat will never let you go".
Great, that's just what I needed, compliment with a bittersweet effect.

The week after, I was surprised because we all received an email from TL Tony that our team's going to be disbanded (another team transfer, again?!). Me, Yani and Bryan are going to be transferred to TL Dona Aquino's team.

By July 2nd week (I think) I'm collaborating with my new teammates, Rhea being the closest because I've known her by Yani and we all get to smoke some cigarettes together.
TL Dona was quite interesting, she's been an L2 before and "some-kinda-low-profile". I know her name has been spammed a couple of times all over the floor but I've never known her personally.
Our L2's kinda strict, I remember my first day on the team (or was it 2nd?) I am LATE (haha! attitude!), she immediately commented something about it. So my first impression was that - we're not gonna jive.
But time came and everyday seeing each other was fun. I get to meet all these different faces that I wouldn't have noticed roaming the floor even at random times.
There's the "martyr" Rhea, accepting all chat sessions as much as she can and stresses out herself with late logging (which I adopted these days :p);
Mommy Olive, very nice, always fixes the resolution of her screen to 800x600 (^_^);
Denise, I've known her thru Jeni, my former Team Alain teammate, sossy with brains;
Bryan, from TL Tony's team, the "sleeping Giant" as how I call him, a lot of brains inside the big "husky" bod;
JP, timid guy with a very white complexion :);
Mico, joker of sorts, but soloist at times, along with
Charm, team "maldita" who prefers to sit on workstations at the end;
Marilyn, the girl who always stutter and I think her middle name's Nervous;
Lenny, with an employee number that is close to TL Dona, one of the resident tenured agents on the team.
and of course, Edel, Team D's very interesting "good boy" that disappears as soon as our shift ends. :)

It's been almost 4 months now that I've been with the Team. 1 GA has passed (Hello Gilligan's Lunch) and now on the 17th we're expecting our 2nd (or my second with the team).

I had a lot of good experiences, equivalently some bad ones on my stay on the team. I was awarded two months in a row with "Top Agent" of Team D for July and August. Hopefully this Septembr I'm still THAT. So that I can prove to everybody that I deserved to be awarded as SMB's Chat Agent of Q2 (which I forgot to mention I was awarded last August) and ultimately, Chat's Top Agent of Q3 as well. Vying for promotion (and it's about time!), I really think I deserve that. :)

I'm thinking of not coming to Bacolod anymore for that. Jello started a trip for me, Marvs, Let, and a friend of hers this October 14-18. But 3 events are expected to happen within that time period. Damn. And the trip included.

The other two were our Team GA and my volleyball elimination round for the eTel Team (my next topic, :p)

I was ecstatic when I saw an email one day in September about some tryouts for volleyball. Weird thing is, it's going to be held on Ateneo Sports Complex. Well, basing it from my current location in Alabang, I turned it down that week.

The week after, another email was sent for second callout for tryouts, this time in eTel Shaw.

And that's it. It's decided. I'm going.

Hesitant about how to get there, I gathered all possible directions from both my Mom and from some people on the floor. And Sunday came, I just found myself showing how I spike a ball in the center spot.

Luckily, I got picked. These past 3 weeks, I'm training along with other peeps from different eTel sites. And by 17 and 24 Oct, our game's going to be held at UP Kinetics Gym. Hopefully our team wins.

So there, my mind's boggled right now with my 3 days off. Cannot think of anything else to say.

Ah, eTel's integration to Stream, but that's another post. :)




----------Robb----------

Ok so let's start the promise. 

First stop. December-January Holiday weeks (or should be Holiday weeks). December 24 -January 2. were supposed to be Holidays but I'm off to work at those times. What motivated me on those times was the fact that it's double pay and we get 30% night differentials and holiday leaves (talk about money!) at that time. Even if it's the first time that I'm not spending the Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at home, it's still fun having it spent on the office. I made sure that on both 12AM's of the eves, I went down to look at the midnight sky and pray. Woo yeah, new experience indeed.



----------Robb----------

My Bad

I know.. I started this blog with the full intention of telling about the whatevers and the what-nots of my everyday life. But the thing is, with my PC breaking down before 2008 ended, it affected my whole online life. But this time, I really do promise and hope at the same time to make a very detailed blog post (or posts) about everything that happened since late December to this month of April.

I miss my blog, the blogs of others and the wonderful ideas everyone has on their posts. Huhu...

Hopefully I can still catch up.

MOTIVATION! Ideas, come here!



----------Robb----------

MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS!

Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas GUYS!

Too bad I have to go to work.. (^_^)



----------Robb----------

MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS!

Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas GUYS!

Too bad I have to go to work.. (^_^)



----------Robb----------

Three newbies

The last week of November was one of the most memorable week for me. I remember it was the first week when I had the most sales for that week ending. I was able to close 6 sales in a matter of two days! By the end of the week, I got 9 sales just for that week ending! (^_^)



It was also the week when we got three new members for the team. Ma. Anna Fillado, James Centeno and Joseph Castillo.



----------Robb----------

Sad Week for Team Villains

Week ending: Nov.16 - Nov.21

The ambiance was not that inviting. Everybody can feel the pressure that 5 of our members will be transferred to another team. Jomel, Jewel, Samir, Loki and my Mini-team OIC Mira will be transferred to a new team with a new Team Leader. We tried to make every moment the best as possible for that week.

I remember that was also the time that a new member from Wave 8 entered the team - Norman Tabanao. He's a bit physically fit, though not that tall. My first impression - "Promdi". But now, I stand corrected. He's approachable and a joker at some point. Mira was always "bullying" him with her ususal "harsh" words just to let go of the ill-feelings she has for what's going to happen the following week.

Later by Friday (Nov.21), STL invited everyone to attend an emergency GA at his house (which I heard was his first absence ever) so everyone can celebrate a farewell party for our soon-to-be-former teammates. Almost everyone was able to attend. I think Jomel, Ping, Lyka ('coz she just bore a child), Pam (sick), Leops and Tom weren't there.

STL prepared some rather tasty food and we ordered pizza as well fit for everyone to eat. Overflowing drinks were, of course, present. Picture-taking is not forgotten, here are some:

Ian, Bhuds, Marvs, Mira, Jane, Me and Norman

Bhuds, Me and Marvs


Villains


Norman making me bluff

Jane, Me and Samir


Before we went home - Louie, Jeni, Samir, Me, Jewel, Marvs, Elai, Jane, Loki and Weng

----------Robb----------

Tagaytay trippings

After that awesome meal, we talked into having some more fun (like bar-hopping or such) after Dampa. Everyone was still busy taking pictures. Somebody suggested Tagaytay instead of going to the bar. When we were inviting our other teammates to join us, not all of them can come. Jeni has to go some place else. Lyka ad TL Mel, of course needs to rest. Jomel has a class by tomorrow. Turns out, Elai, Marvin, Loki, STL Alain, Jewel, Tom, Louie, Honeylet and Me were the only ones ready to go.

I rode STL Alain's van going to Tagaytay. We waited for Jewel and Tom who parked Jewel's car in front of STL's house. Then the two of them joined us on the ride on STL's van. We had a very nice ride towards Tagaytay. We were even talking spooky stories along the way. We arrived there a couple of minutes after midnight.

The entrance to Tagaytay (yeah, I know it's blurry)

Elai and Me (shot when we stopped over a 7-11 store)

Marvin and Loki looked for a nice mini-hotel where we rented their cottage for the whole evening. We drank the night away, took pictures, had some naughty conversations. Simply enjoyed the night.

Drinkers galore

Honeylet and Me


Honeylet, Me and Tom


Louie, Honeylet, Me and Tom


Us again


STL Alain

At about 3am, STL Alain has to go home already. Jewel was obliged too because her car is parked on front of STL's house. Louie decided to go with them as well.

The ones who were left finished up all of the drinks up to about past 4:30am. Loki suggested that we should spend the night there and just rent a room.

And here we are before we went to sleep.

When we woke up, Loki said we'll be having breakfast in the nearby "bulalohan" restaurant. Of course, we took some pictures before we left the mini-hotel.

Honeylet, Me, Elai and Tom

Loki, Tom, Me, Marvin and Elai

We drove all the way to the location of the restaurant which happened to be on the borders of Tagaytay!

one of the cottages

waiting for our orders...

While waiting for our orders, I noticed giant ants roaming the ledge overlooking the view. I tried to take a snapshot of them zooming only to about 50%!

Then came the FOOD!!!

the meal.. yeah!


Me (drinking some fresh coconut juice)

Me, Honeylet and Elai

Elai, Honeylet and Me


Marvs, Elai, Honeylet and Me


Elai and Me


Marvs, Elai, Honeylet and Me

We were serenaded by a local band with a female singer. (yep, and we had her sing "Umbrella", and she knows it!)

It was cozy, and nice because the resto itself is overlooking the Taal Volcano, one of the famous volcanoes of the Philippines.

The Taal Volcano


the view

We were so full that we decided to take home the leftovers. (^_^)

----------Robb----------

Last week on Lean Shift

The schedule that was assigned to us for a 4-week time has come to its last week. I remember I was just very excited (as always) because it was fun starting the shift with the calls not that much queuing but it ends up queuing. But what's good about it is that I get to see most molino's on the floor before we get out. (^_^)

That week, I got engaged on a LOT of drinking sessions along with my teammates Weng, Loki, Elai, Honeylet, Bhuds, Marvs, Jane and Tom. It was almost every after shift. Weng usually initiates the invite, and most of us follows. What can I do, it's fun hanging out and having some drinks after a tedious day at work.

By the end of that week, PAY DAY!

STL Alain prepared a get-together party for the whole team on Friday at the Dampa Seafood Restaurants near the Mall of Asia. Specifically, the restaurant's name is Trinity Seafood House, I think. Since we all came from our shifts in the morning, I went to sleep and rested up to the afternoon. I went to the F Salon to get my hair colored again (brown with lighter higlights than last time). I spent about 2 hours plus and went straight home to refresh and get dressed for the event.

At the salon

Yeah... hairdo!


My hair (re-colored!)

I arrived at the front of the office building and met my other teammates as well as STL Alain. I rode along Jeni's car and we drove all the way to the restaurant. It was a hell of a ride, we were talking about everything under the sun and got to the Dampa later than everybody.

When we got there, I found Lyka, our teammate who just bore her first child earlier that week, grace the event. She came along with TL Mel, her partner. The food was awesome, the ambiance was so superb. Everyone definitely enjoyed the event. I think we were about 20 there. We even have leftovers because of the overflowing amount of seafood ordered! (^_^)

Along with some of my teammates

Me and Jeni

The table

Eat up, guys!


Lyka


Lyka, Me and Jewel


Drinker


Smoker?!


Marvs, Me, Elai and Jeni

The feast didn't end that evening. It was continued at Tagaytay, which I will be posting on the next post.

----------Robb----------