The Office
I am currently working for a local lobbying and political management firm. It's a challenging and exciting job especially with the coming May 14, 07 elections.
But like everything there are upsides and downsides; Let me start with upsides:
+++Up UP
- the job is exciting
- I love my work
- I love people around me
- the boss can be really good sometimes
- I learn insider info about politics
- I get to meet congressionables, generals, lawyers, and other personalities, and we know each other by first name basis.(though one thought my name was Joel)
- Special and covert operations
- Tasks are varied
- I learned a lot about campaigns
- Added a lot to my network of people, I know poster makers, producers, arrangers, project officers, etc.. which i could tap when I finish law school and perhaps run for Congress.
---Down, Down we go
- the boss can be a fat bitch sometimes
- the company is undermanned
- super multitasking skills is a must(sometimes you'll be analyzing something while doing calls, or while faxing something)
- I sometimes work in the weekend or past regular hours,(I worked in easter for a proclamation rally for my candidate, fun but tiring)
- All that secrecy is killing me.
- overworked yet underpaid
- My officemate changes always because of a problematic account.(3 people since I started handled the account, 2 already resigned)
- My two bosses always bicker with each other
Ciudad:Avenida-Rizal
The sound of the train echoes from above, here in this once glamorous street under the LRT, I was soaked by the rain. The street was crying out in pain.
Avenida-Rizal, the place to be, with all its glitz and glamour, the broadway of Manila—but that was years ago, it’s now reduced to this place of cheap thrills, ranging from pirated items to live shows. This place was nowhere near cheap before, the street was dotted with fine dining, cinemas, theatres all the amusement for those who frequented the place.
Things eventually change and this place did change—for the worse. Gone are the theatres, gone are the luxurious shops and restaurants, replaced by shady cinemas, unscrupulous “live shows” where the only thing they showcase is meat (and not animal meat), and the shops are now cluttered with pirates, and bargain bins.
Being a resident of Metro Manila, I’ve always frequented this place but I never did catch up to its glory days. I first set foot in Avenida-Rizal when I was learned that the local Mayor, Atienza was having this place rebuilt and all vehicular traffic was forbidden to enter, it turned into a pedestrian wonderland. Still people came flocking, not because of its history but because of the things that you could buy here. I came here looking for history but ended up with bags of stuff. What happened to history? I forgot once I saw the low price tags.
It’s a pirate’s den, all manner of pirated goods are sold here. There’s a lot to love for voracious movie goers, bag lovers, designer shirt whores who couldn’t afford the high price at Makati. DVDs here are cheap and it’s going to get cheaper with the steep competition. I was witness to numerous battle for customers and prizes soon went down and down because of all the haggling that going on. It’s good to remember some tips when you’re buying there though;
- Tip 1, if you want it cheaper tell the person that you are buying from that it’s cheaper at another store(even if it ain’t true). My friend did this and we got the DVD for a lower price.
- Tip 2: Almost all the shops have the same assortment of DVDs, because they have only one supplier so if one shop doesn’t have 300, its likely every one of them don’t have it.
- Tip 3: Never ever get yourself caught up in a raid, its an exciting and tense situation. I got caught in one and I was left not knowing what to do.
- Tip 4: Some stores offer updates on new items through text; piracy made easy.
Then there’s the cheap stuff, from earrings, bracelets, bags and clothes. If you’re in a bind and don’t have that much money to spend on someone on their birthdays or Christmas, then come on over. You could get a gift as low as 5-25 pesos, that’s roughly half a dollar. I went Christmas shopping here and it didn’t make that much of a dent on my wallet, being cheap kicks ass.
But in the end, in all that frivolous search for the quick bang on the buck, people easily forget the history of the place. The buildings are being torn down, replaced by carparks or some shopping place. It’s a sad thing to think about, the city is being slowly ripped of its identity.
Despite the makeover done by the local mayor, the street still cries in pain. As I linger here, looking at the passing of time, I could hear the silent whimper of the street who’s memories of grandeur are being slowly driven away into the dark pages of our history.
religion and violence
I hate violent religions. They divide humanity. All for an idea that doesn't even help this world. Why can't they live now? Despite the criticism of the west I think its the most open minded region of the world as opposed to the other regions who only want to be understood and don't want to understand others. Begone with this violent religion. religion of peace but where's the peace now? i jsut can't see it. I jsut can't see tolerance or and acceptance of diveristy.
I hate it when these people gang up on anyone who says a criticism about Islam. The current Pope has really been open to Muslims. He condemend the cartoons, he openly accepted building a Mosque in Rome despite how these Saudis don't even allow churches inside their country let alone allow them to celebrate their faith. Muslims are biased. They only want and clamour what they want and not what others need. The taliban destroyed a number of buddhist statues and temples yet they have the right to condemn another religion for saying a criticism about violence in religions.Where's the justice in that? And for the past few years all we see in the muslim world is protest of violence which I could say really reflects their culture.
One small criticism and they attack everyone. I think fundamentalist and hard line muslims are too riled up with hate and violence and the word Death. I'm not generalizing but that is the tone of their religion right now. its realyl a violent religion and other religions have already transcended this kind of mode. So Death to everything that isn't Muslim.
I think this is no time for appeasement. Lets not commit the same mistake during world war 2. The free world should become more determined with its stance.
Armenian Holocaust:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_holocaust#Americans
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/155683.php a good read
I wish buddhist take over this world, perhaps it would be better. begone with the books.
Graduation
It's near.
Sigh
I'll miss college
For all its worth, I think this last term was one of my better terms.
And
That's all...
Will go to Don's place later for a couple of drinks.
We'll I'll be fixing this blog soon. Not much energy to blog yet.
But the good news is I got 3.5 on all my subjects wahooo. 24 units, 9 subjects, all o them 3.5!
