Chasters' Voice of Love Project

We live in a world where everything and everyone is interconnected. By love. What we do, or what we do not do, affects all things and all beings. And if we know that we can make a difference, however small that difference is, shouldn't we do it? Especially if making that difference only entails a small portion of our resources?


The Chasters believe in making a difference. And so this month, we have decided to pool in our resources in order to bring a smile to those who have come before us, to those whose only companions are their memories - some of them no longer even have the luxury of remembering - our elderly.


For most of us younger Chasters, we fear the thought of being old and lonely. Some of us do not even entertain the thought. But for the hundreds of people residing at Golden Acres Home for the Aged, being old and lonely is their reality. 


It is not uncommon for them to go for an entire month without speaking to family - or to anyone for that matter. On the other hand, we are able to interact with our loved ones on a daily basis that we sometimes take it for granted. We have been blessed to listen to the voice that unites us. The only voice they hear is their own. 

I have learned that there is no substitute for human warmth. Something as simple as listening to an older person's fond memories or just by sitting with them for a moment can have a lasting effect. We hope that this project will ensure that our elderly will no longer feel abandoned by society. 


We are appealing to all the Chasters out there to join us in our "Chasters' Voice of Love" project on 31 July 2011 at Golden Acres Home for the Aged. Your support is greatly appreciated. 


For details on how you can help, please contact:
ab.bonita - eybhiebonita@gmail.com
beda026 - beda026@gmail.com
kenji - kenji_jetrhow@yahoo.com


Please visit Chasters United's blog for full details of this project.

Satisfaction Rating

After three months of unemployment, I still haven't received my Final Pay. 


One of the reasons was that I just couldn't be bothered to chase after it. Translation: I still got some moolah so I'm not too bothered. 


Another reason, which got me in a snit, is my previous employer's payroll department. Attached with the Exit Clearance Form I completed was the note stating that my Final Pay will be released within thirty days of submitting the completed Exit Clearance Form. However, the lady who received the form gave me an inch-wide strip of paper with a name and phone number of a person. When asked what the purpose of the paper-strip was, she kindly advised me to contact that person after thirty days to follow up on when I can get my hard-earned money and clearance papers. 


Thirty days later, I called that land-line number like the good little girl that I don't pretend to be. Yes, it rang. And rang. And rang. I stayed on the line. For ten minutes. It still rang. I must point out that I'm using my mobile phone. And because I believe in not passing judgment on just one encounter, I gave it another shot. Refer to the first eight sentences of this paragraph (yes, I counted 'em). You get the picture.


So I went online and fired off an email to their department. Then called again. I was able to get through this time. The lady did not even provide me with her name and placed me on hold for three minutes. She then came back and told me that, since "the process" (she stressed these words as if they are very important and that only the elite are allowed to utter them) takes thirty days, she will have my request "expedited" (same stress as "the process"). Oh, and that I need to call back the next day to check when I can finally claim the money that is rightfully mine. I had to ask the lady what was taking up so long. She replied that it needs to be "computed". I have no idea what they were doing for the past thirty days if they are just getting on the computing stage. Or maybe it takes more than thirty days for them to compute. I don't know. I don't know.


The next day, I received an email response from them. I was advised that I have to wait for five working days for my request to be addressed. And that they have found that I have a social security loan balance so this will need to be deducted as well. I was also asked to furnish them with a contact number. So I did. 


And of course, since I was also asked by the lady who cannot be named to call her back on that day, I did. She told me not call back since my request is already being "processed" and that she will contact me instead. When I provided her with a mobile phone number and advised that I will be coming from Bulacan, she very kindly advised that calling a mobile phone number is costly so she prefers it if I can provide a land-line number instead. I'm sure I'm aware how costly it is - I've been calling them through my mobile phone, have I not? Oh, and before the call ended, that's when she finally deigned to get my name and phone number. The lady is clairvoyant.


This is one of the times when all the fond memories I have about the company I worked with, when all the friendships I've formed while there and when all other positive stuff about it gets overshadowed by an experience. 


I felt as if I was a customer contacting a call center expecting to have her questions answered but instead was lied to, interrupted, insulted, made to feel as if I was not worthy of the agent's time and handed off to another department. 


Now I understand why some customers no longer ask to speak to a manager. Because they no longer trust that their concerns will be addressed. Because they are no longer interested in doing business with that business. 

Status Update

Today, I finally updated my employer details on FB - by unticking the "I currently work here" box and inputting the month and year of my stay at Citi. 

Didn't realise that it would look like this on my wall:

I wish it didn't look so impersonal. Because for five years, that was my life. I was defined by my position, by the company I worked with - how I deal with people outside work, how I expect the best from everyone, especially myself, even how I talk and write (notice the s and z).

It WAS personal to me. 

I guess I just want to say that it wasn't that easy to leave.


If this is how it feels to break away from my job, I don't want to dwell on the emotions I will be subjected to should I ever dare to enter a romantic relationship and ultimately break it off.

Sleeping Patterns

I was supposed to wake my sister up at 7:20pm so she can take her meds but I fell asleep, too! My greedy tummy was growling at me and woke me up at 2:20am. 

Darkness, all alone in the moonligggght. 

I felt like a burglar rummaging for food and all I got (that can easily be wolfed down) were grape-flavored gelatine and 1.5 L of Coke. 

Still don't know if Eme was able to take her meds. She's still sleeping. 

I'm the bestest big sister in the world!

What I Took For Granted

I chanced upon Burma's International Travel Information today. So online access is very expensive and limited there.

Computers, Internet, and Email: The military regime carefully controls and monitors all Internet use in Burma and restricts Internet access through software-based censorship that limits the materials individuals can access online. The government has allowed cyber cafes to open, but access to the Internet is very expensive, and access to most “free” international e-mail services such as Hotmail and Yahoo is prohibited. Currently, Gmail (Google mail) accounts can be accessed in Burma, and many locals and resident expatriates use it. It is illegal to own an unregistered modem in Burma. You may bring one laptop computer into Burma but must declare it upon arrival. Limited email service is available at some large hotels. All emails are subject to monitoring by Burmese security services. It is very expensive to send photographs via email. One foreign visitor was presented a bill for $2,000 after transmitting one photograph via a major hotel's e-mail system. During September and October 2007, the military government disconnected all internet access across the country for extended periods of time. 

The good thing about it is if I am going to visit the country, I won't be tempted to check my email and will be purely taking in the country's sights, sounds and culture. I hope I'll be allowed to take pictures though so I can share my experiences back home.

Then I dream of the day when the entire world is a free wifi zone.

First Day Off

So before I went to sleep last night, I turned my weekday alarm off because even though the next day is Friday, I no longer have to wake up at 4:00am. Well, I do wake up at that time but promptly go back to sleep for a half an hour more before getting ready for work. =) 

I have to remind myself that I have resigned/retired from my job!

And yesterday was awesome! As what I blogged about yesterday, I sent my out-of-office message as my farewell. And received a lot of "good lucks" and "thank yous." And even if I had already turned over my functions, I just could not resist handling a disputes case and following up on last month's complaints. Then when I was about to hand over my team's documents to my manager, Kristy invited me to join their team huddle. So I went with them and found that the rest of the department was there. They started clapping and singing the Happy Birthday song. Haha. And there was food! Chocolate cake that says, "Break a leg Erlyn!" 
Took pictures of my team. A few of them made speeches. Everyone was smiling. Someone started teasing Ryan and I knew he's starting to get offended. So I stood up and made my impromptu speech. I cried. I wish I had time to prepare.


So I woke up at 8:20am today. And my dreams were about Gucci, who was one of my Quality Officers. I guess, subconsciously, I'm still worrying about my team.

Checked my sister if her fever has gone down/returned, did my morning toilet ritual, then went downstairs for breakfast. 

Let's see how my day goes.

Out Of Office Message

Today, I left the one place I spent most of the last five years (not counting my home): my work.

And like a good little team manager, I made sure I have turned over all of my functions before leaving and sent an Out Of Office Plan. 

Hi Everyone,

Today is my last reporting day at Citi.


After more than five years of Citi life, the thought of leaving is indeed a sin - I may be perfect (I am Quality, after all) but I am also human.
Coming back though is a temptation. Again, I am human. Let's see how long I can resist. =)
After all, one must leave before one can come back. And I hope that when if that happens, it will feel like I never left.

Thank you very much for the opportunity of having worked with a great team, and for the knowledge I have acquired from all of you.
Please extend the same cooperation and support to the people who are temporarily taking over my functions, and to the person who will permanently replace me as the Quality Team Leader.

In closing, I say what I (and my closest friends) have always said (out of my CEO's earshot, of course):


Citi stole my youth.


And gave me wisdom. And friends. And helped me pay the bills. Not necessarily in that order.
Not a bad bargain, I'd say. Not bad at all.

I'm sad. And scared. But touched. A little lost. And excited.