2008: A Memory

2008 is now a part of the history books.

Looking back I never thought that there would be a lot of changes in my life.  Join me as I look back and revisit a few highlights of my life during the last 12 months.

2008 was the year I discovered Wikipedia.org!  I had joined the online wiki earlier, but it was in 2008 that I really discovered it’s potential.  I created a user page;  And the  first article that I wrote and was featured in the “Do You Know” section was about “The New Bilibid Prison“.  I was soon followed by articles that featured: “The Bureau of  Corrections“, “Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm” and a couple more.  I would like to write more but since the “Writing” feature of Wikipedia can’t be accessed on company computers.  Maybe someday I’ll get to finish what I’ve started.

Survivor Philippines has arrived and auditions were being held in Manila!  It was May 21,2008 when I woke up early and waited in line for 8 hours just to get an application form and another 2 hours to be interviewed.  I didn’t make it.  But I tried and failed again the following day.  I was contemplating in giving it another go the following day, but I just got tired of falling in line again.  My first audition for a National Spot came to an abrupt halt.  I will try my luck again this year, if they will have another season.

Just Thinking out Loud was born in June ‘08.  I tried blogging in other blog sites before, but my interest slowly wane down until I discovered wordpress.com.  Suddenly there was a whole new world out there!  Ideas started to come in.  My first official blog was published.  Although not as popular as the others it was still being read.  And I enjoyed it’s very modest success!

June may have been the most challenging month for me.  I was informed by my Operations Manager together with the Senior Ops Manager and the General Manager of West Contact Services Inc.,  that the company has decided to let me go and I my time with the company will only be until the  20Th of this month.  I will never forget the General Manager when she asked me how long have I been with the company.  When I told her I was with the company since 2004 she exclaimed “Wow!  A pioneer!” After that “Wow” they dropped the bomb on me.  Pat me on the back then threw me to the streets at the same time.  What a bunch of hypocrites!  Except of course Ms. Rica Mangahas my Operations Manager at the time.  My respect for that woman is way up there!  I heard she’s not connected with West anymore.  Good for her.  And to the company whom she’s working for now.  Congratulations!  You have a winner there.

July was the month where things started to happen.  My Son Ezekiel Joaquin (We call him Joaqx for short) was given a break and shot his first Infomercial for Philippine National Bank.  It was featured in “Tribe” a Net 25 program.  I have the copy of the Infomercial with me.  I just can’t find the was to post it here so that you guys can see it.  It’s  in DVD format.  Any suggestions will greatly be appreciated.  This was also my last month with West and I was immediately hired by 24/7 Customer Philippines. Inc..  Joining 24/7 was probably one of the greatest decisions I ever made. I was so confused after my stint with West.  Where to apply? What documents should I prepare?  It’s a good thing I followed the advice from my friends and applied at 24/7.  The best company ever!

I officially started with 24/7 in August.  and things suddenly took a turn for the better.  I was amazed on how the company was determined to take care of it’s employees.  Things turn out great after all

September is by far the best month for me ever since.  This is mine and my wife’s birth month!  (our birthdays are only a week apart.  Can you believe it?)  This also the month when my son’s Infomercial was aired.  Things are really looking up.

There wasn’t much during October, but this was the month that I experience heavy call volumes.  I was with West for 4 years and my last year although the saddest, but also the easiest.  I would log in at 6 am and go home at 3 pm.  I was lucky to get 5 calls during that time.  I experience heavy call volume for the first time in years.  Boy! it was so tiring.

November was the month of my lowest blog production ever!  only 1.  I was so busy that I almost forgot about my blog site.  But it was also the most historic month of all!  I always follow U.S. Presidential Elections.  And this election takes the cake.  The American people voted for the first time an African American as their president!  Very historic indeed.

December, this is the month of Christ’s birth and for the first time ever I was working during the holidays.  My schedule for December was indeed new to me.  I work from 3 pm to 12 Mn.  I was at work during the festivities and when I arrived at home 2 hours later, everybody was snoring already.

I was really a challenging year for me.  But I’m very thankful to all of you who have been with me since I started “Just Thinking Out Loud”!  I plan to write more, and hopefully I’ll do it at least once a week.  May the good Lord Bless and Keep YOU!  Happy New Year!