Secret Garden and Josh Groban
    

Josh Groban, they say is the newest artist who gave a new definition to pop music. With his crisp baritone voice, he has captured the hearts of a wide range of audiences - from teens and to the adult population. His latest album "Closer" topped the billboard charts and his latest single "You Raised Me Up" is a favorite of the Christian population with its rich musicality and a very inspiring message. I even cried, when I first heard it.
Do you know who were the original people behind that song? The song was composed by a Norway-based New Age group called the Secret Garden. "You Raised Me Up" was composed by the band's front man, Rolf Lovland, the composer, producer and played on keyboards

  

and Fionnuala Sherry, who played on Violin. Together with the whole music crew, they produce a very rich music blending different kinds of traditional and comtemporary orchestral instruments that will surely melt your heart and relax your stressed body and mind. The lyrics of their songs were mostly composed of a few words ranging from 7 or 24 but these words were the most touching ones enough to deliver an inspiring message. Secret Garden will be releasing a new album called the "Dreamcatcher", a compilation of the group's greatest hits including "Dawn of the New Century" and "Songs from a Secret Garden"

Just a follow up: My friend Bryan C. asked me to buy a Secret Garden CD at WoodBerry in Megamall. Lucky for him, the CD was a double CD and it included "You Raised Me Up".

I have been browsing books at Powerbooks in SM Megamall and I've come across with a self-help know how to speak Italian. I have fun reading and was quite amazed with the pronunciations, the spelling and how peculiar the words are very similar to English. But at the end I can only remember the word Mi parlare or Il cuore mio. The book only costs a cheap P35, maybe I'll be buying it some other time after I've read all my books in the house. This book is also good if you are a Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli or Sarah Brightman fan. Knowing Italian would enable you to understand their songs.

I have installed a new tag-board courtesy of hxero's info and a guestbook. I'm not feeling well today, guess I have to stay at home.

ROHM Apollo 2

Just like were told last week, the applicants who will be taking the exam will be coming today at 1 o' clock. As I get there, many people were gathered outside the gate, some dressed to kill for the very final interview and others like myself for exam. We waited for two hours until the guard let us in at 3 o' clock. We were ushered at the company's clinic and waited for Mr. Salon, the HR Manager for his instructions.
He arrived minutes later with a rather busy look which was confirmed later on that he will he be having a hard time choosing 8 out 30 applicants for the interview. These people were suppose to have their final interview last week, however his interviewing staff cannot decide which one to hire since they were all qualified and so they left the matter of decision hiring to Mr. Salon. Later on he asked other people not scheduled for interview like me. He said that we will be scheduled for the next hiring batch but we could stay for the orientation. He started the selection process by starting with a striking statement that an engineer must not only be purely technical but a whole-oriented person. He must have social awareness, artistic, creative mind. Later on, he discussed company issues which will mostly affect jobs like religious practices, family problems, etc. He stressed out very important personal attitudes about work and how to have a positive outlook in the workplace and in life. 15 applicants were hired after his thorough questioning (while the other 3 were pending until midnight) which ended at 7 o' clock. He then proceeded to us orienting us about decision making and telling his life story as an example. The whole orientation was finished at 9 o' clock but I left the place with very important life lessons learned.

It's my birthday today. Happy birthday to me. I will be celebrating my first birthday away from home. Maybe this will be a mark of independence? Baka nga. I'm 23. Tigulang na no? no but I feel young as ever. I watched Milan at Glorietta 1 today and it was a glimpse of how Filipinos live in Milan, Italy. The movie starred Claudine Baretto and Piolo Pascual - both my favorite local artists. It was like weird watching Claudine - kakaiba ang beauty niya. Maganda. Anyway, I'm spending dinner with few friends here. See you next time.

ROHM Apollo I

I received a call yesterday that I have an interview in ROHM Apollo in Carmona, Cavite. I was told to come before 9 o' clock. I arrived at the place just early about 45 min before time. But there were many people gathered at the place ... some dressed to kill and other just plain casual. I talked with some of the applicants and there was one I have talked to that he is scheduled to be interviewed today. I was also told that last Monday, they have an exam and company orientation. I was like questioning why I was invited for interview even though I haven't had my exam yet. Maybe there was a mistake and I frantically thought if I should be really here or not. I know that was a silly thought but you know I really get distracted and out of focus when something different and unexpected would come up.

Anyway, we were told to wait at the canteen for HRs instruction. Later, a very pretty HR staff called those who were scheduled for interview. I stood up and asked for clarfications regarding my conflict. She told me that I would just wait with my fellow examiners. As time goes by, about an hour or so, nobody came to give us instructions and we got bored. Each one start to talk introducing ourselves and knowing our respective courses and what school we come from or where do we live. All those stuff. Later on, things get a little bit funnier when the conversation shifts to discuss the pretty HR staff and other things so nasty that guys would discuss.

I was amazed with the process the canteen is utilized when the time for break comes, the bell or rather a ringing tone similar to Ateneo's bell will sound and many employees will line up buying food and brought it to the table where they eat it. After 15 min. the bell rang again and all the employees suddenly stood up, some haven't finished eating and carry their dishes to the lavatory. As I looked at the door, another batch of employees came hurrying to buy food. This goes on for three batches. What discipline ...

Anyway, after lunch while filling in our application forms, we were told by the HR staff we tagged as "Katya" as in Katya Santos that we were to come back on Tuesday afteroon at 1 o' clock. She apologized for the inconvenience..

To be continued ...

The Cellphone Trade-in Finalé



That night I discussed the matter with my friend Butch, who had the most skeptical thoughts of modus operandi- something of that sort? Questions were raised like why would they have to require me to go at 2 o' clock? Why not 11 o' clock or at 10 when the mall starts to open. So many doubts were raging in my mind and I was imagining that I would lose the bargain and my cellphone not replaced.
So tomorrow, instead of waking up late, I got up early so that I would arrive at the place quite early or making it at exactly ten. In my mind, I was determined to surrender my unit and for them to return my 3000 and my 3310 unit or if the 3310 was sold, they have to return the whole 4500. When I got there, several cellphone stalls were already opening and as I went to the stall where I bought the cellphone - it was not yet open. Maybe Butch was right, they might not show up this day. As I ponder over things, a thought came into my mind. Why don't I just sell this unit for 4500 at some of these stalls and buy another unit at the Megamall. I would be saving my time and my saliva in possibly arguing with them. Hmm... it's a pretty good idea. So I practiced some sales talk in my mind and approached one stall. After the negotiations, the lady insisted to buy the phone for 3500. Leave it... and I looked for other stalls. I was walking for a few seconds holding my 2100 box and a man called from behind and asked me if I would be trading my phone. I said no and I told him I'm selling my unit, so he called over the lady behind the stall near him and start to negotiate ... it was quite a miracle and the negotiations came in smoothly, I sold the phone for 4500. I was crossing my fingers that they would not find out that during the tests, my phone will not be charging if the battery is empty. I guess they must have found it by this time. By the way, after I checked the money (a whole buck of 500s), I left then place immediately. I proceeded directly to Megamall and bought a new 2100 unit worth 5400. I'm glad I have a real "brand new" unit at last...

THE END...

The Cellphone Trade-in 3



I woke up quite late, around about a quarter to nine and so I decided to take a break from the two-day hassle by just staying at home - listening to songs by Josh Groban or reading Joshua Harris' book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" or take yet another sleep. It's quite a boring day actually and when it reached lunch time, I got up from the bed and hiked to Paseo de Sta. Rosa to have my lunch at Jolibee oh wait a minute ... How could I forget my beloved cellphone? So I brought it with me. Along the way, the cellphone was drained and so I have to charge it when I get home.
When I arrived at the house, I tried to charge the phone again... and (Eenk, enk, enk, enk) ... it ... was ... NOT ... CHARGING!. Much to my disgust, or rather my calm-mindedness, I unplugged the charger, get dressed and decided to go back to Greenhills to replace the unit for now.
Along the way, I was wondering on how to approach that lady with a Visayan accent... Should I go furious and shout at her demanding that my unit be replaced in c guida... Or should I appear like a doctor telling his cancer patient like this "Ma'am you have a cancer and you have *** months to live" in quite unagitated manner. As I pored over these thoughts, I never realized that I have arrived at Greenhills and so I keep my mind focused and get my explanations organized and approached the stall. There was this 1st lady and a new lady beside her. I calmly told her the details and surprisingly she just nod and didn't argue - bet I guess she's guilty! She can't look at me in the eye! So I got my unit and do a couple of tests until it was proven that the unit was indeed defective and not the batteries. She searched for a new 2100 unit and later on she blurted off, "Sir, wala na ho kaming maayos na unit ... " wait a minute, does it mean that they really trade defective units? Hmm, these guys should be reported to DTI ... "... kung pwede ho, balik na lang kayo alas dos bukas ... " What? After all the hassles she gave me, she had the decency enough to demand from me that I would return tomorrow? And I said, "Miss, tatlong araw na ang nasayang ko sa sirang unit na 'to. May hinihintay ako mga importanteng tawag ..." and she replied "Sige na ho, sir bukas pa kasi ang suplay ng mga bagong unit ... mga alas dos". And I answered back, "Miss, ganun na lang ... kukunin ko yong unit ko at balik mo sa akin yung 3000", and she blurted out, "..eh, sir nabenta na ho yung unit niyo...", "kung ganun, 4500 mo na lang ang ibalik mo lahat", "eh, sir wala pa ho akong benta..." these guys have so much alibis but I concluded our quite heated conversation, "Okay, sige bukas na lang kung defective pa rin yung unit, isasauli ko na talaga." She just nodded and she replaced my unit with a full bar battery, "sir wag nyo lang ipa-low batt ha". I left.

To be concluded ...

The Cellphone Trade-in 2



As I have mentioned the last time, the cellphone was not charging and so I thought that the battery must be defective. Hmm, I really doubted the first lady when she immediately shoved a used battery somewhat scolding her sidekick by her warning looks by inserting a brand new battery. I have figured it out.
So the next day I was cruising my way down back to Greenhills constantly complaining about the traffic and having to spend the whole tiring day in Manila and having to worry about potential employers who might be calling that day. As I arrived at the area in around 11 o' clock, the sidekick was the only one in the stall. She told me to wait for the 1st lady. Later on, she asked me if I would be going somewhere and if I don't mind I just have to come back on two o' o'clock. What? I don't get the point! She told me a while ago to wait for a minutes and now she was telling me to come back at two o' clock. Fortunately, the 1st lady came just as we finished our conversation and I immeiately told her about the cellphone problem. She checked the phone by using her charger and it was not charging. She changed the battery with a new one and tried to charge it again. It was charging. I was right! So we both agreed to have the battery changed with a new one. I was quite happy to see my phone working again and so I left in good spirits.
In about a minute after leaving Greenhills, the cellphone warned "Low Battery" and sooner registered "Battery Empty". So I immediately proceeded to SM Megamall to have my lunch, afterwhich, I proceeded directly to Cubao to ride in a van going home. None was exciting along the way until I get home ... I tried to charge the phone again and to my horror (Psycho soundtrack ... eenk, enk, enk, enk) ... ! It was NOT charging! Much energy has been spent for two days over this cellphone and it's still not working.
But I have to remain calm... more disastrous things will happen if I do not remain calm. I would have thrown the cellphone at the wall again and again until it will break into smithereens, right? So I decided to go to Balibago: Sta Rosa's bustling commercial center to buy a BRAND new battery. When I got at one of the cellphone stalls, I asked the lady to charge the phone and see to it if it is charging. Who knows? Maybe it was the charger that was broken all along. Still the phone was not charging and so it was the battery again. And I was cursing in my mind about those ladies in Greenhills. Happy that phone is working again, I was in good spirits and I spent the whole afternoon in Balibago, having my dinner there before going home.

The Cellphone Trade-In 1"



Finally, I have reasons enough to change my old dear 3310 cellphone. Why? Because it has low power to receive signals and not enough power to send even a short text. Secondly, I've been waiting calls from potential employers for interviews and they could not possibly contact me through my faulty cellphone and so I did decided to buy after gulping thought inmy mind to withdraw 3000 from my ATM account.
Early in the morning, I woke up very early to go down to Greenhills Virra Mall in Manila to have my cellphone traded-in with a Nokia 2100 model. The place was known for cheap bargaining of shopping materials and 2nd class CDs, cellphones, jewelry, PC, and other "butingtings" you can think of. I was bargaining with certain stalls when I get there until I arrived at a certain stall who only charges 3000 pesos for a "brand new" 2100 unit. I was excited of course. There was this girl who speaks Tagalog in a very strong Visayan accent and her stallmate and a cellphone technician who doesn't mind us. The first girl and I made a bargain and after that she meticulously inspected my unit for defects. When the cell passed the test, she agreed to hand me my new 2100 unit and I was very lax enough to inspect my unit due to excitement. After that I went to SM Megamall to eat and watch "The Last Samurai". When I get home, I have to charge the battery since it was drained the whole day. But to my huge dismay and (I have to emphasize this) disappointment, it was not charging ...

To be continued...

I've been planning to put up a new blog of inspiring situational stories that will touch our lives. Just check out for further details.

Yesterday, I went to Manila Hotel to meet my dad, as I made my walk thru Luneta Park, I have noticed the sudden stillness of the place - the green scenery, people happily minding their own businesses. Who could imagine such a place amidst the busy and polluted Metro Manila? That was a place worth spending to unwind and rejuvenate yourself. Afterwhich you could cross Roxas Boulevard to Rizal Park as you watch the sun set at Manila Bay in the late afternoon. These things were priceless ... and we have to thank God who made them all.