EVERYTHING SUPERNATURAL
Sunday, December 09, 2007
I would like to note this wonderful article by Allyn Lara published at the PDI Youngblood section. Nicely written and absolutely good discoveries in the call center industry.
YOUNG BLOOD
Inside call centers
By Allyn C. Lara
Inquirer
Last updated 01:40am (Mla time) 12/04/2007
Perhaps many people have already written about the wonders and benefits of the call center industry: how it has been providing generous pay, perks and privileges to the twentysomethings, or how it has provided jobs to thousands of Filipinos all over the country.
These are the known facts. But what about the unknown bits and pieces that make up a call center?
Oftentimes, things “unknown” are interpreted to mean scary or ugly or even taboo. In the call center industry, however, it does not need to have always a negative connotation. So I am writing to share with everyone some unknown facts: anecdotes, procedures and other crazy stories that make an entire industry. These are basically experiences someone inside the industry encounters almost on a daily basis that may shock, disturb or simply amuse.
Here then is a chronicle of my not-so-ordinary, five-year, call center experience.
Fact No. 1: The call center is the new church of the gay religion. Work in a call center for just one day (or night, since most call centers are on graveyard shift anyway) and you will meet dozens of gorgeous, uh, men. They can be divided into three groups: (1) the homophobic straights (these are the guys who would pulverize over-aggressive gay men in public restrooms), (2) the curious straights (their primary preference are women but when enticed or seduced by gay men, they give in), and (3) the certified gays, who can be sub-categorized into two groups -- the peppermints, a.k.a. “Pa-MHIN-Ta,” (discreet, still-hiding-in-the-closet gay men, and the flambouyants who either cross-dress or are just too loud and proud of their homosexuality).
Fact No. 2: The call center industry is the breeding ground for “college bosses.” Gone are the days when a typical boss was an old, fat, balding guy who ordered everyone around and asked anyone to fix him a cup of coffee. In the call center industry, you get to meet very young bosses whose ages range from 22 to 25 years. They are definitely not the classic “The Devil Wears Prada” bosses, instead they are your carefree, fresh-from-college bosses who love to party and drink Starbucks coffee as if it’s water. Oftentimes, these bosses get to where they are not because of their superior skills and intelligence but because of their great “talent” to smother their own bosses with praises and compliments and their ability to kiss butts.
Fact No. 3: The call center industry is slowly turning into a haven for the “plastics.” The movie “Mean Girls” glorified the “plastics” as portrayed by Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. They are basically persons who do not show their true colors, and most of the time they engage in backbiting.
Working in a call center exposes you to the world of “plastics.” Beware of those who treat you extraordinarily nice, those who appear too friendly, because they are oftentimes the same persons who say the unkindest things about you behind your back. Once I took an elevator, with two colleagues whom I will just call Gorio and Tekla. We made small talk and I heard Tekla say, “Gosh, Gorio, you’re so funny talaga…” and ended with a sweet, melodious laugh. Gorio laughed with her and got off the elevator. As soon as the poor guy was out of earshot, Tekla looked at me, made a face and said, “Gosh, Allyn, I hate that guy! He is so 'pa-bibo'… taking out our boss for cocktails just to get promoted. He’s so undeserving! Duh!”
I wanted to ask Tekla, “Wasn’t it just seconds ago when you were cracking jokes with Gorio? And now you’re telling me you hate the guy?” Like, duh!
Fact No. 4: The call center industry is the modern-day Garden of Eden. Remember it was in that garden where Adam and Eve met and fell in love, and now the call center is a paradise for lovers. It is where single men and women meet, work together and fall in love. It is also where married men and married women meet, work together, fall in love and leave their wives or husbands. Morality and social obligations are often overlooked, if not, deliberately forgotten as lust triumphs completely.
Fact No. 5: The call center industry is a ticket for foreign travels. Most call center companies nowadays include training abroad as part of the job offer to entice the best applicants. True enough, there are call centers that send their employees to places like United States and United Kingdom on all-expense-paid trips. There are so many stories about young men and women who had the wonderful opportunity of traveling overseas, thanks to generous companies.
These are just some of the many things that very few people know about the call center industry. In writing about them, my intention is not to expose or mock people working in the industry or expose some ugly, hidden truths, policies or procedures. I am merely writing about the experiences I had while working in a call center. After working in the industry for five years, I think I can say I know its ins and outs. Indeed the industry is worth venturing into, as it promises an unbelievable and magical journey.
Allyn C. Lara, 28, has a bachelor’s degree in European Languages from the University of the Philippines and now supervises a family business dealing with scents and fragrances.
YOUNG BLOOD
Inside call centers
By Allyn C. Lara
Inquirer
Last updated 01:40am (Mla time) 12/04/2007
Perhaps many people have already written about the wonders and benefits of the call center industry: how it has been providing generous pay, perks and privileges to the twentysomethings, or how it has provided jobs to thousands of Filipinos all over the country.
These are the known facts. But what about the unknown bits and pieces that make up a call center?
Oftentimes, things “unknown” are interpreted to mean scary or ugly or even taboo. In the call center industry, however, it does not need to have always a negative connotation. So I am writing to share with everyone some unknown facts: anecdotes, procedures and other crazy stories that make an entire industry. These are basically experiences someone inside the industry encounters almost on a daily basis that may shock, disturb or simply amuse.
Here then is a chronicle of my not-so-ordinary, five-year, call center experience.
Fact No. 1: The call center is the new church of the gay religion. Work in a call center for just one day (or night, since most call centers are on graveyard shift anyway) and you will meet dozens of gorgeous, uh, men. They can be divided into three groups: (1) the homophobic straights (these are the guys who would pulverize over-aggressive gay men in public restrooms), (2) the curious straights (their primary preference are women but when enticed or seduced by gay men, they give in), and (3) the certified gays, who can be sub-categorized into two groups -- the peppermints, a.k.a. “Pa-MHIN-Ta,” (discreet, still-hiding-in-the-closet gay men, and the flambouyants who either cross-dress or are just too loud and proud of their homosexuality).
Fact No. 2: The call center industry is the breeding ground for “college bosses.” Gone are the days when a typical boss was an old, fat, balding guy who ordered everyone around and asked anyone to fix him a cup of coffee. In the call center industry, you get to meet very young bosses whose ages range from 22 to 25 years. They are definitely not the classic “The Devil Wears Prada” bosses, instead they are your carefree, fresh-from-college bosses who love to party and drink Starbucks coffee as if it’s water. Oftentimes, these bosses get to where they are not because of their superior skills and intelligence but because of their great “talent” to smother their own bosses with praises and compliments and their ability to kiss butts.
Fact No. 3: The call center industry is slowly turning into a haven for the “plastics.” The movie “Mean Girls” glorified the “plastics” as portrayed by Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. They are basically persons who do not show their true colors, and most of the time they engage in backbiting.
Working in a call center exposes you to the world of “plastics.” Beware of those who treat you extraordinarily nice, those who appear too friendly, because they are oftentimes the same persons who say the unkindest things about you behind your back. Once I took an elevator, with two colleagues whom I will just call Gorio and Tekla. We made small talk and I heard Tekla say, “Gosh, Gorio, you’re so funny talaga…” and ended with a sweet, melodious laugh. Gorio laughed with her and got off the elevator. As soon as the poor guy was out of earshot, Tekla looked at me, made a face and said, “Gosh, Allyn, I hate that guy! He is so 'pa-bibo'… taking out our boss for cocktails just to get promoted. He’s so undeserving! Duh!”
I wanted to ask Tekla, “Wasn’t it just seconds ago when you were cracking jokes with Gorio? And now you’re telling me you hate the guy?” Like, duh!
Fact No. 4: The call center industry is the modern-day Garden of Eden. Remember it was in that garden where Adam and Eve met and fell in love, and now the call center is a paradise for lovers. It is where single men and women meet, work together and fall in love. It is also where married men and married women meet, work together, fall in love and leave their wives or husbands. Morality and social obligations are often overlooked, if not, deliberately forgotten as lust triumphs completely.
Fact No. 5: The call center industry is a ticket for foreign travels. Most call center companies nowadays include training abroad as part of the job offer to entice the best applicants. True enough, there are call centers that send their employees to places like United States and United Kingdom on all-expense-paid trips. There are so many stories about young men and women who had the wonderful opportunity of traveling overseas, thanks to generous companies.
These are just some of the many things that very few people know about the call center industry. In writing about them, my intention is not to expose or mock people working in the industry or expose some ugly, hidden truths, policies or procedures. I am merely writing about the experiences I had while working in a call center. After working in the industry for five years, I think I can say I know its ins and outs. Indeed the industry is worth venturing into, as it promises an unbelievable and magical journey.
Allyn C. Lara, 28, has a bachelor’s degree in European Languages from the University of the Philippines and now supervises a family business dealing with scents and fragrances.
Monday, December 03, 2007
The Holiday
I hate that I missed this when it was still running in movie houses. It took me just yesterday to watch the movie. It was a very good and feel good movie. Love the cast specially Jude Law cause he’s so hot, and I would like to note that Jack Black was insanely funny.
What I love the most was it’s unusual and unique premise. Two women find that changing address for the holidays can change their lives. Amanda, a movie trailer editor from L.A., just broke up with her boyfriend. By this means, it goes to say that she wanted to stay away during the holidays. On the other hand, Iris who’s from England is a writer in a newspaper who so expert about unrequited love. Her ex-boyfriend and co-writer is getting married and seemed to realize that he never really love her.
Here are two women, desperate to go somewhere else to forget. Amanda managed to find Iris’ cottage and sent an instant message to her. They both agreed that by tomorrow, they would switch homes. And yes indeed, Iris went to LA and Amanda to England. Iris was absolutely flattered by how big Amanda’s home is. While Amanda, was like in a state of culture shock and had a hard time finding the cottage.
Iris met Miles, a movie music composer who works with Amanda’s ex. Then she met Arthur, one of the greatest living writers of Hollywood. She enjoyed staying in LA with the company of old men and Miles and who now seemed to forget about Jasper.
Amanda was having her own party alone when someone knocked. It was Iris’ older brother Graham, a book editor in Random House and a widower with 2 cute young girls. Then they had sex on first meeting and soon, sparks came flying around.
Iris learned to let go of Jasper and found solace in Miles who also got himself broke when Maggie cheated on him. Amanda, who always seems to push every guy found what she’s looking for in Graham.
I like what they did here to combine British and American culture. And what a great casting. Every character had their own unique personalities. And it was a surprise that they didn’t just focus on one protagonist but four. And amazing performances, simple yet very warm to make you feel good in the holidays. It was also very funny, thanks to Jack Black. Great movie during the holidays!
The Prince & Me
The Prince and Me,I really loved this. Luke Mably is such a handsome prince! They have great chemistry with Julia Stiles. I love this movie because they didn't make it seem like the usual and boring fairytale happy ending kind of movie. I like the way how the two leads met. Prince Edvard played by Luke Mably is the Crown Prince of Denmark. To escape his overbearing princely duties and from the eyes of the Danish paparazzis, he went to Wisconsin as an exchange student. There he meets Paige, a local farm girl studying at the University of Wisconsin. Eddie or Prince Edvard have mistaken Paige as one of the girls he saw on tv who's taking their clothes off. Despite the not so good first meeting, circumstances tend to bring them together. When Eddie first came to his Chemistry class, he sat beside Paige and unintentionally they're going to be lab partners.
But as things take its turn, Eddie finds himself helping Paige in her Literature class and Paige was helping him to be just like anybody else despite not knowing that he is a prince. During Thanksgiving, Paige invited Eddie to spend the week. Surprisingly, her parents and brothers welcome Eddie as a family. He gets along with his brother specially when he won the lawn mower race cause he fixed their lawn mower and made it faster. Paige, in a state of denial doesn't want to be bothered by his obvious chemistry with Eddie. Before going back they made out
( just kiss).
As they went back to school, their feelilngs toward each other started getting deeper. But until she found out that he was a real prince when the Danish paparazzis came snapping pictures of them at the library while the're kissing. Edvard suddenly needs to get back to Denmark for his ailing father. Paige soon follows him there and they are set to marry. But before she could be crowned Queen, she broke off the engagement and went back to Wisconsin.
On her graduation, she was surprised to see Edvard there. He asked her to marry him and was willing to wait for her.
What made this movie so romantic was the obvious chemistry between the two. They also both played their roles very well. I have to say that they did great with the casting. And tha location was great, even though they didn't actually shot in Denmark but in Prague. But most of all, I am so in love with the story. It's still a fairytale with a better new twist.One of the great finds in romantic movies.
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