That Darn Villman

May…

Sometime this year, my sister and I talked about upgrading our computers since ours are already Jurassic-old and dilapidated. Mine is still tolerable anyway but hers has already crashed. Amidst the insufficiency of funds and starvation issues, we managed to check out the latest units that can be purchased for our upgrades. On May 20, we decided to plow down all the computer stores in Megamall (since we’re from Mandaluyong, it’s the nearest and most convenient place that we know) to scout for the computer peripherals that we need. On the 4th floor Cyberzone part of Megamall, we window-shopped and pretended we have lots of money to buy the whole place. We infiltrated this store, we crept on here and there, but nothing is convincing enough for us to lay down all our wealth for some piece of computer parts that we can enjoy at the end of the day.

Just before we lose our expensive patience that day, something suddenly caught our attention. Behold! It says… VillMan Computer Systems, Inc. Hundreds of mammals flock that store, it seems like there is a pandemonium of shoppers trying to grab all the goods they see in the showcase. It seems interesting. We set foot in that store and found a bald-headed guy who was so friendly, assertive and evidently equipped with such talent of everything an effective salesman should have. He approached us, perhaps we smell money, and in his pupils you will see Peso sign… we are potential buyers! He talked, he discussed their products, and he sounded so knowledgeable with all their merchandise that you wanted to heed his recommendations. Voila! He got what he wanted. He made us buy:

2 ASROCK 775I65G LGA775 I865GV 800MHz Motherboards
2 Intel Celeron 2.53GHz (D326) LGA775 Processors
1 Kingston 512Mb DDR PC400/3200 Memory

We were told that all their items have 1 year warranty. We were so convinced since the bald-headed guy seems so sure that they all run perfectly (I bought my Kingston memory from another store right next to theirs some days later since we don’t have enough cash to buy for one more at that time). I realized that no one wants to flaunt its newly-bought underwear and run down the streets without clothes on so I thought of dressing up properly and buy outerwear, as well. What's good in buying the internal parts without shaping up the external? So I also bought a new tower case specific for the size and format of my new motherboard. We hurriedly went home and I liquidated the old parts of my computer just like how Amon Goeth wiped out the Jews during the holocaust. After which, I then replaced them with the newly-purchased motherboard, processor and memory. The bald-headed guy didn’t go wrong, they all ran perfectly cool!

September…

It was a fine, ordinary weekend for me to sit down tête-à-tête with my computer and noticed that my 80Gb-MP3-infested-harddisk is playing slow that day. I decided to defrag my primary and secondary disks and just as it started, my computer suddenly turned off. I thought it only powercycled itself before it starts the defragmentation process but I waited the whole lifetime and it didn’t turn on anymore. Worse is, it can no longer be powered on anymore. Crap!

I hurriedly brought my PC down to where I purchased the tower case, suspecting that the problem is with the power supply. A lot of allegations were thrown down at that time. It might be this, it might be that. But after a careful, meticulous troubleshooting and testing, the technician finally concluded that there was no problem with the tower case’s power supply. The problem lies on the motherboard’s 12v socket itself. There is no electricity running on the said socket which is needed to power up the whole motherboard. I was advised to bring the motherboard to where I bought it. Where else? But that darn VillMan!

September 28, it was heavy traffic all over Ortigas Center because of the OctoberFest prelude party. Along with my daughter Gelii, we circumnavigated Megamall and finally landed on the Cyberzone area where hip-hoppers with their low-waist-pants-with-belt-on-it-so-what outfit plague at that time. VillMan, here I am again! I am so impressed that the bald-headed guy did not approach me this time. Neither that I don’t smell money anymore or perhaps because the word “angry” can be read in my forehead. In fairness with the employees, they were accommodating anyway. They tested the unit and finally, their verdict… defective board. Whew! I don’t want to hear the next lines he has to say but I don’t have a choice. “Sir, we need to replace this and it will take 2-3 weeks for us to order the replacement item,” is the last statement that I am expecting that time but that’s the first that I heard. I was told they need to call their supplier to send them a replacement for this since the unit is already irremediable. I don’t remember he mentioned he will be giving me a brand new one (Assumption #1: do companies replace defective peripherals with their refurbished units even when it is still under warranty?). I was totally shocked actually, to hear that I will not have a computer for 2-3 weeks so I begged for any temporary replacement of any board of its kind. It was denied. I was told they don’t issue second-hand units to customers (Assumption #2: since it is a protocol not to issue second hand units to customers, then I should be given a whole new motherboard). I respected that. It’s a company policy. I work in a call center and I know what that means. And I know no one should break the company policy, even customers are always right.

What else did I do? Wait endlessly. As the days go by, I felt like I was waiting for the crows to turn white… and wait for them to turn black again. Days… 1 week… 2 weeks had passed. I constantly called them to follow-up but to no avail. Wait still. Wait some more. But I’m tired. While there are still icebergs left in Antarctica, I should make a move now!

October

Fifteenth day marked the third week of waiting. It was already October 11 and I got the chance to drop by at Megamall. What else do I have to say but, VillMan here I am again! I prepared myself for the worst news to hear, and I was right. It’s still not there. In short… I can’t fix my computer yet! Keeping my composure not to unleash a Stephen Chow-inspired fury, I uncomplainingly listened to the alibi. You can see the attempt to convince me that they’re on my side (Oh God, forget about building rapport and empathizing with me coz I already know that bunch of craps!), and what was promised to me is that they will purchase the motherboard from other sources instead and to make me feel guilty, I was told that they will finance it in the meantime since the delivery hasn’t arrived yet, just to make me have my motherboard already (Assumption #3: since they will purchase it from other sources, do companies purchase second-hand units for replacement of their defective ones?). Okay, I agreed. It will be just 4 more days to wait, as promised. I was able to wait for three weeks, why not 4 days more?

Uhm, 4 days is over. This is it. Today’s the day! Hallelujah! I’m gonna have my all-new computer parts again after three weeks of waiting. I hurried down to Megamall though it’s raining hard. I had to dodge from the multitude of raindrops just to reach Cyberzone and here we go… VillMan, here I am again! It is at least a relief at first when I was told that they will just test “it” to make sure it is running perfectly good before they hand it over to me. And when they’re done, they called me to see it for myself. Perhaps they are expecting me to jump for joy just like what Fidel Ramos did when Ferdinand Marcos finally fled to wherever, but the reaction that I can give is contrary to that. Sure the motherboard is running okay, but wait… there’s more!!! Look at the back panel, it looks rusty. Check the slots, there are stains on the sides. Stick your eye on the board itself, there are particles of dust. In short, the board they are giving me is a second-hard, used, old and looks worn-out! What did they think of me, it was my first time to see the inside part of a computer? If they only knew, my computer is a product of constant upgrading. I started from 4x86 to 5x86 to Pentium 100 to Pentium MMX to Pentium II to Pentium III to Pentium IV. I know how a motherboard looks like when it is fresh from the box or it has already been gang-raped by some hip-hoppers with their low-waist-pants-with-belt-on-it-so-what outfit. Please, I’m just handsome but I’m not dumb.

I didn’t take the motherboard he was giving me. I demanded for explanation, that’s the least thing I can do at that time. I was told they didn’t order anymore since last Saturday, October 13, their delivery finally arrived. What had arrived? That old, dusty motherboard? No way that I am taking that. I drew a long breath and gave the employee a fatal glare. I was expecting for at least an apology but I didn’t get any. He seemed to just want to pacify me before I explode like Mount Aetna, he promised me again that he really will purchase a new one from other sources this time and be back again tomorrow to pick it up. Once and for all! I looked around to find their manager but everyone I see is wearing a blue VillMan uniform apt for an ordinary employee. It seems like the store is not armed with a manager, as their ammunition somehow, when customers would like to annihilate all the employees he sees around. I am not leaving without his name… and he is Aaron.

I resorted to calling their main office instead, in a payphone near their store, and a certain Flor Repuezo answered the phone. In 3 years of working in a call center, this is the line that I hated to hear most, and this is the line that I love to say now “I want to speak to your supervisor!” Surprisingly, I was lambasted with a de-escalation process, I was told she doesn’t have her bosses at that time (Jun Castro and Eric Guillermo, as she mentioned). Today is Monday, it is 12:10pm, and there is no Manager in the store, there are no bosses in the main office? Well, no wonder this is the quality of customer service that we get. I still vented out my complaints, anyway. Flor Repuezo patiently listened to me, in fairness. I demanded that this will reach her superiors and she assured me, at least (if I was her QA Analyst for this call, she will pass anyway) that she will report this in no time. I hurriedly went home with dismay and regret, and I realized I wasn’t contented with what I just did. I went online and gathered all the possible email addresses of VillMan where I can send out my grievances. And here’s how it goes:


To Whom It May Concern:


I hereby air my complaints about the incident that happened earlier at 12:10 pm in your Villman Megamall Branch. This is with regard to the Asrock Motherboard 775I65G that I purchased on May 20, 2007 which should be replaced due to defective unit.


Sometime in September, my computer suddenly turned-off while I was working and was unable to turn on again. I had it checked with the computer center where I purchased my tower casing, suspecting that the defect is with the power supply, but upon meticulous troubleshooting, they found out that the defect lies on the 12v socket of the motherboard. On the 28th of September, I brought the motherboard at your Megamall branch where I purchased it to have it checked, as well. The board was tested and diagnosed that it blacked-out and no longer usable. I was given a Service Receipt and was promised to have it replaced instead (i.e. the unit is still under warranty) upon arrival of the delivery, and since this will be ordered on the following week, I was told that it will take 2-3 weeks before the replacement board will be handed to me.


Within 2 weeks of constantly waiting, I made follow-up calls almost everyday just to check if the replacement board has already arrived, but to no avail. Last Thursday, October 11, I personally dropped-by at your Megamall branch to chance if I can already pick up the motherboard, but to my dismay, I was told that it is still unavailable. However, Aaron, the employee who always accommodates me when I call, promised that he will make a call that day to purchase and informed me that “they” will pay for it for the meantime just to secure a replacement for my board. I was again promised to come back today, October 15, to get the newly-ordered motherboard.


I went back there earlier today to finally get my board and I was relieved at first when I heard that Aaron said the order is “already there” and he will just test it so he can show it to me that it is working. He worked on a certain motherboard, tested it, and showed it to me that it is working fine. Unfortunately, when I thoroughly checked on the back panel of the motherboard he is showing me, it shows that the unit is second-hand, has already been used and looks very old and worn-out. I refused to take the board he is giving me and demanded an explanation. He justified it, however, that he didn’t purchase anymore since their delivery already arrived last Saturday, October 13, and decided to give me that board instead. I never thought that your company replaces a defective unit with a refurbished one which looks older than the item a customer purchased which lasted only for four (4) months. I left your Megamall branch with another promise that I can pick-up the unit the next day, October 16.


I do not demand for anything more than my right as a customer. I just don’t want to be treated less than what I deserve as your customer. Thank you very much and I hope to have a fair result with this.




Respectfully,




Norberto Reyes, III
0916-4566739


What I am expecting for this to happen? I don’t know. I just don’t want to be cheated. I live and breathe quality customer service for a living but I am not getting what I give. Most of the time, Filipinos complain of not progressing, of not succeeding. But what we don’t know is that we are the reason why we don’t get such progress and success in our lives. We are rotting in this third-world with all the corruptions rampant in the society. Filipinos are very talented, so intelligent and brave. But we use those qualities in the wrong way.

I do not demand for anything more than my right as a customer. I just don’t want to be treated less than what I deserve as a consumer.

GOODBYE CALL CENTER!

Resign! Quit! Leave!

That’s what my heart is crying out. I have contemplated for this decision in a month and I ended up with a final, irrevocable verdict: I AM NOW RESIGNING! It is a tough judgment to make but this is the only just and rational conclusion that I can think of. It is a heart-breaking event in someone’s life to leave the workplace where you have stayed for couple of years and turn your back to people whom you cordially worked with, laughed with and dreamt for success in life. But every beginning has an end… now matter how painful it is.

The primary reason why I am leaving is because I am flying to the US in the next few months. I have planned, dreamt and worked on this for years now. The time is running out, I have to leave my family behind to give them a better life offshore. What’s the price? Work hard ‘til you drop. Every sweat and blood that drops to the ground is convertible to dollars. All the happiness that will be given up is an earning for my children’s future. And that’s what makes me move mountains right now.

But… that’s what my conscious mind dictates. At the back of my mind, something else is covering up the reasons that I made to quit my job. As I am spending and enjoying my week-long vacation leave, a nightmare is bothering me… I am leaving the company because of a dreadful feeling of resentment that had dwelt inside of me for a long time. And now it has exploded and crippled my mind to work effectively and efficiently on my last few days at work. Why do I feel this way?

I finally construed that I have lost my utmost enthusiasm to work hard. I am demotivated. I was forgotten. It’s been a year and I am still where everyone else left me. Unscathed. Pathetic. I remember I did everything to step up but no one noticed. I followed the rules by the book and nobody saw it. And I realized that what I did is wrong. Working hard and performing as a good employee is not enough. This will do you no good. Forget about promotions because you will never get it. Exert some more effort. Do the unimaginable. I looked back on the things that I have seen, evident and discreet, that made people go places. I ran down a list and I am titling it as:

THE BETTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE GUIDE TO SUCCESS:

1. Turn your “epal” mode ON at all times. Don’t master your craft. Leave a room for disputes and complaints so you can make noise. In that way, you are being noticed. Instead, work on the tasks delegated to other employees. This will show that you are also concerned about other duties on top of your own responsibility. Tip: If a program is working fine, find a way to destroy it. Flaunt to higher departments that you can fix it. And you become the company’s hero. They start to love your name.

2. Stay in the office for more than 8 hours a day. Read: I said “stay” in the office, not “work.” Do your duties for only 6 hours, and the rest, spend it puffing a pack of Marlboro lights with employees with higher positions; play billiards with them; share your impressive insights about Prison Break, CSI, Heroes, et. al., then transition to topics about your interest to promotions; stir them with your collection of favourite records and flicks; puff some more sticks. The next day, rub along with your co-workers and complain about being overworked and yet underpaid.

3. Walk around the office with a loud voice. You have the edge if you are tall. Employees don’t need to stand from their cubicles to see you. When everyone else hears you, they tend to ask “Who is that guy?” Now, you are noticed. In one way or another, you will be included in a conversation during 15-minute breaks. Don’t mind about being talked about in a cynical way. At least they talk about you. When the hearsay reaches higher departments, you are now known. No sweat.

4. Rub elbows with everyone. Befriend not only those who have their own offices. Throw a party for those who are underdogs. These people can be bribed. They can make testimonials about how good you are (not particularly at work). When this reaches the big bosses, you name is as sweet-scented as Hugo Boss. Getting a higher position is now a lot more effortless.

5. Be proactive. Yes, you have to be proactive… always. Take the initiative to establish rapport with everyone you see. You already have entrée to your superiors, you have the backup from your co-workers, and you have the testimonials from your underdogs. That’s your new definition of proactive. Keep in mind, you have to be known by everyone. No one advances to higher positions if you don’t have a name.

6. Don’t skip any meetings, conferences and gatherings. You don’t need to concentrate on the agenda. Think about what to comment and make a grandstanding noise to draw their attention on you. Keep your feet on the ground, I mean literally, because you need to stand up so everyone can see you. They heard about your name before, now you are flesh and blood.

7. Never follow proper channelling. If there are issues that concern your duties, why the hell should you report it to your supervisor or manager? You already have the access to the big bosses. Bypass them; it will only do them good. Remember, you were the only who will raise an issue. If this gets done, your name should be rewarded with commendation, not them.

8. Finally, talk like them. Be bossy. Use their lingo. Condescend with your inferiors to establish your position. One of my superiors once said: “If you want to become a manager, act like one.” This is your perfect time.

Trust me, these things worked. I’ve seen so many people who were promoted not doing what I do but practising these rituals. Am I bitter? YES. At least I’m not a sucker. People who get promoted are like janitor fish, they don’t need to swim to get to the surface… they just have to suck the glass walls.

THAT'S THE WAY OF FRIENDS

THAT'S THE WAY OF FRIENDS
PAUL PARRISH

You and me, we were getting to be such very good friends
With you and me, it was so hard to see how the story could end
With moons and Junes, half-remembered tunes, and a love that would not bend
Don’t people say that’s the way of friends.

Me and you, we were seeing it thru just two of a kind
With me and you so tried and so true, we were rhythm and rhymed
All the starry nights, early city lights love was just one step behind
Don’t people say that’s the way of friends.

Chorus:
On a trains and planes
Crowded freeway lanes
Can’t explain the way of friends.
And a silent telephone
Locked unhappy homes
Were just things that have never known
`Bout friends…
Friends

You and me, we were getting to be such very good friends
With you and me, that was so hard to see how the story could end
With these broken lines half-remembered rhymes and a love that would not bend
Don’t people say that’s the way of friends.

Don’t people say that’s the way of friends
Friends…
Friends.


It's very unusual for me to post songs here in my blog but just some stranger friend (that... is unusual hahaha) requested me to post the lyrics of this song since she is having a hard-time searching this one in the net. I wonder why this couldn't be found anywhere. Anyways, here's the lyrics of "That's The Way Of Friends" since you requested it.

Going back to the history of this, "That's The Way Of Friends" is actually the first song that I have memorized in my entire life. If I could remember it perfectly, I was 3 or 4 years old when I started singing this. My sister Onnie was the one who influenced me with this (and I remember hearing this from my sister Maricar, as well) and became the first radio song that I have ever sung when I was kid (that marks how old I am now hahaha).

I wonder... I have never really been thru nursery rhymes when I was a kid. I never really thought I was a kid when I was a kid. Hmmm.... retrogression in process.

Misery of my desolation

Here I am again... just updated my blog three months ago after a year of hibernating but just really can't get it going. Sometimes I am thinking, am I just too busy? Or I already lost my full-blown enthusiasm in blogging?

What has been happening in my so-called life the past few glimpses after the last time I threw out words in this page? There was my birthday, Thanksgiving Day (as if we care), Christmas Day and New Year's Day and nothing extraordinary that I could think needs to be posted here. I know my life is happy. What is the real definition of "happy" anyway? Sometimes when I recollect things, I see void. I picture myself adrift in a limbo. I only see a limp body of me in a state of oblivion. Hmmm... that is, what I believe an eternal bliss.

Or, am I just in a state of denial? Where can I see myself in between manic and depressive moods? Sometimes I deem that I am far outside this universe and just inside the minute divisible particle of something that exists only in mind. Where am I now?

I might have dropped something in my growing up years that I need to go back and pick it up. I hope it's still not a long way to go....