Español como Mi Cuarta Lengua (Spanish as My Fourth Language)

My purchase of a Spanish "diccionario" last June 13, 2006 signaled the start of a serious self-study of a foreign language. All my languages are native or "innate", in terms of my personal history, and these include Filipino, English, and Kapampangan. The first two are official languages of the Philippines, my home country, and the last one is a local language -- the provincial mother tongue of the inhabitants of Pampanga.

This whole new language could be so perplexing at times, but it is damn worth a try.

The fact that Español became an official "lengua" of the Philippines for more than three centuries, just captivates and gives me that nostalgic feeling -- a sense of connectivity to my ancestors. Although the Spaniards haven't been that nice (at all) to majority of Filipinos, I could never deny the rich Spanish heritage present in Philippine culture. Many books, pieces of literature, historical records, accounts, and documents were written in this language -- works of art by great Filipinos from the colorful past.

It also competes with the English language as the 2nd most widely-used lengua in the world (after Chinese). Choosing Español as my first foreign language is a smart move, I guess, not to mention the number of Spanish-speaking nations around -- possible locations for future travel.

Ensámbleme como exploro los portals extensos de la lengua Española romántica. (Join me as I explore the vast portals of the romantic Spanish language.)

*Here is the correct transalation, according to papiluy (http://papiluy.blogspot.com/) = ACOMPÁÑENME MIENTRAS EXPLORO EL VASTO CAMINO DE LA LENGUA ROMANTICA, EL ESPAÑOL.
Thanks, dude!

Suddenly, The Oven Toaster is Not a Safe Place for Food Anymore

My mom bought Rellenong Bangus (stuffed milkfish) worth 80php (Philippine Pesos) in the market, and because we were used to putting ready-to-heat-and-eat food in the oven, little did we know that something bad was gonna happen to it.

Something invisible. Yeah, it vanished. Not into thin air. But into the hands (or paws) of the cunning housecats.

Angrily, my mother reached for the nearest hitting object, the broom, and started swatting away the poor, insensitive (or should I say cruel) pets. I know, I know. That's animal cruelty. But why should they (the cats) fish for our fish, which was supposed to be dinner? I dunno. I don't think the cats are solely to be blamed. But still they have wronged, right? Arggh.

Why do animals have brains, yet they don't think at all?

The Jobhunter's Aching Head

Yes. You read right. After my initial interview yesterday (or 2 days ago? June 19), 11am at SPi Technologies, Inc., they asked me to be back by 2pm for a hands-on examination, specifically a medical transcription test. The interview was a breeze. The interviewer (Ms. Ritchie) nodded her head everytime I managed to blurt out my answers. But then a transcription crash test was a different matter. I braced myself for whatever could happen...

Alas!

A headache... after 1 and a half hours of trying to figure out what the American physician was mumbling about and trying my best to type exactly what I was hearing from the headset. And I just couldn't believe it! I was imagining how the diagnosis would look like after I transcribed at my very best. I did not even review my medical vocabs!!! And because of that, I am now not sure anymore of my status in SPi as an MT trainee.

Application: PENDING.
% Hiring: 49.44

El Dios, me ayuda por favor.

Moving On: The Adventures of a Jobhunter Continue

Yesterday, I "walked in" at SPi Technologies,Inc. (located in Parañaque City) for the position of Medical Transcriptionist Trainee. Luckily, I was scheduled with a written exam at 1pm. The same sked was given to Romelyn Joyce (a friend from college who asked me to accompany her), so lucky it is.

Time-pressured. Brain-racking. Bladder-provoking (Oh, yes, was I so wanting to go to the restroom!). After 3 hours, our visions of finally getting our first professional job dawned to us. Although the horrifying truth of its very slow hiring process (according to a friend who currently works there!) has sinked in at us, chances are, we stand a big possibility to be hired, simply because we FEEL it.

I once applied for an MT post but due tomy lack of training, I failed. But now, I'm just as STRONGER as ever. A strong warrior with a stubborn helmet for acrid shortcomings.

Independence

June 12, 2006 -- Two months after my graduation from college, and I am still jobless.

June 12, 2006 -- It is also the freedom day of the Philippines, my home country. But how independent are we?

Every year, hundreds of college graduates face the same fate. They are involuntarily thrust into the dark world of unemployment. And for some, the dim regions of underemployment are enough to satisfy their basic human needs. Call centers are, by far, the biggest employers of our nation. Most of these contact centers are foreign or multinational in nature.

Not that I am stuffed with nationalistic pride and confidence. I, too, am a call center applicant -- even the threat of underemployment doesn't scare me anymore. Nowadays, the call of a generous job opportunity is more enticing than an underpaid professional post. And even these professional vacancies are not enough for hundreds of Filipino college graduates. Some even migrate in the hopes of a greener pasture at hands' reach.

This is just a call for the government to provide more jobs. Ones who can justify what the Filipino has earned in his Diploma. Careers which can be proudly donned on our sleeves. Opportunities which mean INDEPENDENCE, in every sense of the word.

A Grueling Day

I had my 15-minute interview at Primepoint, and they told me they'd be calling until Friday. Is that it? I told myself. I exited the Philippine Axa Life Center (located in Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. corner Tindalo St., Makati City), and I saw, just a block away, the conspicuous PeopleSupport Sign. Ho-hum.



I decided to walk-in. With only my resume and confidence in my pocket.

Surprise! Surprise!

* I passed the initial interview.

* I passed the battery of examinations (including English Comprehension Test, Listening Skills Test, & Typing Speed and Accuracy Test).

Will I pass the scheduled final interview on Friday? (An activity kept them from sticking to their "one/two-day recruitment processing".) Only God knows.

So, please God, do tell me!

By the way, thanks for intervening at the right times!

~*~
Notes:
I entered the building at 11am. Filled up an application form. Then, they told me to be back for the exams by 1.30pm. We had lunch at the Yellow Cab (with Glen, Gay, Margaret, and Myra - newfound friends?). Exams ended 3.30pm. A software glitch occured when two of the applicants thoughtlessly inputed the wrong application numbers in their computer exam. A matter of almost two hours, and finally, Ms. Red announced the passers. Quite a cute process, eh?

It's A Miracle!

Just when I thought my plans of being employed were ruined... just when I've decided to become underemployed for the sake of having my job... miraculously, God intervened.

I was planning to go to Convergys University Belt tomorrow, to try my luck at the said call center. I already told the Lord about it, told him I was willing to grab the chance of having a job which was not in line with my medical course. Then, just a while ago,a text message from Primepoint Management Services (courtesy of Jobstreet, alright!) appeared in my mobile phone.

So what's my point?

Of all dates, why tomorrow? It has been a week since I applied (or passed my resume online) for a medical representative position, and I almost thought I won't get anymore invites for interviews.

It's as if God was creating a way for me to have a professional job... my very first full-time occupation! How I wish this vacancy is tailored for me! Oh, please, Lord Jesus, let it be mine!

I've lost track of time.

It's been two months (well, almost!) since I graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Biology, and I can now say that my life had been useless -- for the time being. Hmm... well, useless in the sense that I have been a mechanical person instead of a living entity; I've become someone who's not at all in touch with his nature, his senses, and God's gift of life. For the past 7 weeks, I have been working here at my father's internet cafe... "superfull-time" which means more than 8 hours of attending to the needs of the webbers. Not that I lack understanding, not that I despise helping out with the family business. It's just that I need to grow in some outside world...use my skills and knowledge to their full potential... be myself, and live independently.

And I began to realize that many events have unfolded right before my eyes:

- Billie, our household dog has passed away.

- We had an overnight swimming engagement together with my friends at church.

- I realized I am dying to play badminton... I have only played twice this year! *sigh*

- I have bought a lot of novels (not all at once, though), and have not read anything yet because I am so pumped up in this work (it's a payless one, mind you).

- Still, no other company has called or even texted an invite for an interview (Is Jobstreet still up and running?)... CDO Foodsphere, Inc, is the first, and the last.

- My sister is now staying in Sta. Cruz, Manila for her review classes for her board exam.

- And I am stuck with my younger spoiled brat of a sister. Doesn't know the meaning of "relieve" or "cooperate". It's the start of her high school classes, so basically, I am stuck to this job the whole day.

So, now, this is final, and I am putting it on print, here in blogger... I AM NOW CHOOSING TO BE UNDEREMPLOYED THAN TO BE UNEMPLOYED. Which means I'll stop waiting for calls from commercial companies offering various medical or research job positions. I am now deciding to do it the fast way: by applying to a CALL CENTER. I hope this stops my agony at home.