This week’s highlights!
Sunday, April 15th, 2007For the past days, a series of surprising and unforgettable events have touched my sensibilities and solitude. I believe these are all God-given blessings and I am just so thankful for it. A testament to the saying; when it rains, it pours. Well, see for yourself. Monday: I was busy preparing for my teaching demo scheduled the following day. For everyone’s information, the school that I’m referring to where I’ll have my teaching demo is the Asian Center for Foreign Languages in Ortigas. As a part-time job, I will be teaching the Filipino Language to Foreigners if I pass the demo. So to assure I will pass the said test, I reviewed and mastered my lessons in Filipino grammar and simple sentence construction. Also, that night, using a manila paper and some bright-colored papers, I prepared some visual aids to avoid the hassle of using an index or cue cards in discussing. With everything finished, I slept at three in the morning.
A sunny Tuesday woke me up to remind me of my big day. In the morning, again and again, I reviewed my notes and even practiced speaking in front of the mirror thus adding up confidence and composure. Then after eating a full lunch meal, I left the house at 2 pm to catch my 4 pm teaching demo schedule. With the advantages getting MRT’s services, I arrived just in time. So there, I projected animatedly as much as I talked. Then I realized, I was in my natural self delivering my demo. And after an hour of a nerve wracking presentation, I got the result telling that…I pass! Honestly, my initial reaction, I felt everything was very surreal. I did not expect I will pass the demo because it’s been so long since I had my lessons in Filipino. But proving that nothing beats perseverance, together with God’s guidance, once again I championed another challenge in my life. Truly, everything was according to God’s plan. And so be it.
Wednesday. I meet Elmi at Mister Kebab to return her book, at the same time, have our dose of chikahan over a sumptuous lunch. Well, it was my first time to eat in that grill restaurant and I must say, the food in Mister Kebab is really tremendously and insanely appetizing. However, I suggest that the restaurant should address their services in giving orders because it can depreciate customer’s interest. So after eating, I went to UP and purchased some books at the Balay Kalinaw where all publications of UP Press can be bought. I bought a book titled Bed Time Stories, a collection of play for theater, radio and television by Rene Villanueva, a multi-awarded Palanca winner and my former professor in play writing. Right now, I’m reading the first set of plays and unquestionably, it’s really compelling and a page turner! I just can’t wait to read more of Mr. Rene Villanueva’s works.
Thursday. I accompanied my brother in processing his license at LTO (Land Transportation Office). As expected, we waited for almost five hours before we got his much-awaited non-professional license. As a reward of assisting my brother at the same time, a treat to myself, I had a chowking halo-halo, just perfect to beat the summer heat. Though I’m in a strict no sweet diet, I temporarily gave in to that sweet sensation. I believe, once in a while, indulging oneself to guilty pleasures can help fight stress and rejuvenate physical and mental energy. For most diet freaks and health buffs, a “pig out” session is really an “in” thing nowadays and invigorating because at least, as I’ve said, once in a while, you eat anything you want without worrying of getting fat.
Friday. I had three job interviews: an account manager post in Trapik.com, a PR writer position in Stratworks, and a “raket” at CITEM (Center for International Trade Exposition and Mission). Well, up to now, I’m on the verge of decision making which of these positions I will pursue. Of course, I already said “yes” to CITEM because its job offer, a raket, is easy to do and pays very well. CITEM’s event, known as Manila FAME, is running from April 18 to 21 and I will handle the booth of Spain to present its Fashion products to potential Filipino or foreign buyers. Furthermore, at least, it’s a great opportunity to show my marketing with matching “boka” skills.
With regards to my application at Stratworks, a communications strategy company, I was supposed to write an article, aside from my existing portfolios for evaluation. Unfortunately, prior to Stratworks invitation, I already had set a 3 pm meeting at CITEM and so I just asked them for a reschedule. Luckily they allowed me, so, monday will be the day of my actual writing test at Stratworks.
Trapik.com is a company that has a pool of traffic reporters who provide news and updates on different radio stations. As much as I wanted to apply as reporter, a sales/ accounts post was being given to me. The job sounds interesting. But here’s the catch. If ever I’ll pursue my application and I pass, I’ll have flexible working hours and I’ll work with different clients by persuading them buy spots on radio through trapik.com’s existing radio spots. Isn’t that great? Of course yes and I’m looking forward to broadening my connections and testing my public relations skills. However, by studying the company’s track record, the biggest challenge of the job, aside from maintaining relationship to existing clients, is to seek new clients and persuade them to buy radio spots. Unless, they’ll offer me a good compensation package and benefits, I will seriously pursue this job. And I’m also thinking, will this be the perfect time to shift career from creative writing to marketing or sales? I hope God will enlighten me in this one because trapik.com is waiting for my reply if I’ll go on with my application. Let’s see.
So those are the highlights of this week. What does it say? What I have to say? I suppose, these happenings are all part of God’s plan. On a positive note, it only shows, God has never forgotten me amidst all the day-to-day challenges I’m dealing with. To sum it all, everything is a humbling experience. For the past months, I’ve been very patient in searching and applying for a job. Up to now, aside from the left-and-right rakets I have which i condiser a job, I’m still hunting for a real job- meaning a job which will oblige me to go office and will provide me salary. But again, for now, the biggest consideration for me in accepting a job is its stability, growth in career or trainings and upon recognizing efforts, a promotion, best possible opportunities, a competitive compensation package, and most of all, a job that will give me time to have my masters degree this coming June (hopefully in media studies at UP). These are the reasons why up to now I prefer freelance writing and producing jobs instead of being employed in a company. Though freelance job is really unpredictable, the advantage of it is you get a lot of connections which provide maximum profit in the business. Of course, since I already passed my demo teaching at the Asian Center for Foreign Languages, I believe a trailblazing part-time teaching job is waiting for me. Though I’m not a hundred percent confident in doing the job because I totally a neophyte, but with the trust of UP education and my persistence in adapting to change, soon I’ll get its system and master the job. So help me God.
God has never left me empty handed. Though for the past months, I declined my applications to different companies all over the metro, god has never turned his back and up to now, he continues to shower me with strength and blessings. Maybe he has a purpose for me that only time will tell. But the bottom line is, no matter how hard and painful life trials can be, as long as we give our hundred one percent trust to God, just like what I always do, we will always be blessed.
