SSA Alumni Awards

Congratulations to the 2003 Alumni Awardees (awarded on 25 October 2003):

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE - Pacita Maaliw ( SSA Batch 2001) and Andrea Esperanza (SSA Batch 2002)

EXCELLENCE IN ACHIEVEMENT - April Lou Castillo (SSA Batch 1999) and Cris Canaria II (SSA Batch 1995)

ALUMNA OF THE YEAR - Sherelle Robes-Ignacio (SSA Batch 1992) and Luna Crisostomo-Gaspi (SSA Batch 1992)

Hey yo... if anyone here is in friendster... add me please...

look for:

aji castillo

Thankies!!!!!

WHew.. it's been so long since I took the time out to write...

Been busy as a bee...been keeping a close tabs on my business and my career.

****


What's Your Style? Find out @ She's Crafty


Oh yes.. I think I am. :P

For all my friends who have felt I've left them out...I'm sorry. Things have been happening so fast that I cannot find time to update this blog nor check my email nor talk to my dear friends. Anyway, As I previously stated in my entry I will be resigning from the bank and I'll be moving on to a new company. Sadly, I'm beginning to bond with my officemates-- going out, having a few drinks, watching badminton games, joking, etc. Clients are also coming in quite fast. 3 clients are already lined up to open accounts, several callbacks from prospective merchants, and ok deposit balances from my current clients. Another thing that saddens/ bothers me is that my branch manager suddenly asked me if I was happy, if I needed support or something, or if there's anything wrong. I guess he suddenly has this feeling that I'll be leaving soon. I think joko was right that when you resign or will resign you kinda feel guilty. I do feel guilty becasuse the people are really nice. The clients are generous and appreciate you.

If everything is ok then why should I leave for a job that will send me to far flung areas of the country where I have to leave my family and friends behind when I can stay with them here if I'm with the bank? It's simple, really. Everytime I wake up I dread going to the office. For reasons God only knows... I am not happy. I dunno why, it's just that I am not happy. I drag my feet to the office, I can't seem to find myself being enthusiastic about my job (which is in truth very easy). I dunno what's wrong with me.

I have issues that I need to tackle as well.. especially with my job location assignment. If my job requires me to move to nearby provinces then that wouldn't be a problem because I can go back to Manila every weekend to do my share in the Module Business. But then what if i'll be sent to Visayas or Mindanao that requires me to ride a plane or a boat.. that would mean I can't go home every weekend because that would be expensive. Sheeesh...

I do not want to leave my business behind... maybe it will be nice once in a while to go away but if that would mean to stay put in one place for years and leave my business partners behind then that would be a problem. A real problem.

*sigh*

Finally! I just heard a good news today... In a couple of days I will be officially signing my new contract at United Laboratories. I got in! I got in!!!!! I'm so happy! I can't express how much joy I have in my heart right now. As if a thorn has been removed in my chest! No offense to my current employer but that is what I really feel...relieved that I'll be leaving. I am not happy at work, I am not motivated to work, and I cannot work if I am not motivated.

Now all I have to do is wait for my contract to be signed before I make me resignation letter... *sigh* How to pass the days by.. heck I dunno!

I had a blast driving today! Today was my first official day driving and I was in cloud nine! Imagine me driving in elliptical road where i'm like stalling and making traffic. hehehe. I soo sucked at it that there were a couple of guys who gave me the "finger". Yuck fou to you as well. Anyway, more to tell you later. I have to return my overdue videos to the mall. whoops.

I suddenly had this urge to back out of going through with my Unilab application. Why? Hell I dunno maybe it was the song last Ibank anniversary or was it the pep talk given by our center head last friday at the sales clinic?

Maybe it was the fact that I felt I was a loser and I had no right to be with the successful Sales people of Ibank that made me try to think twice and stay at the bank to show people that I was merely being the lazy genius that I am and I can beat them anytime I want as long as I am in the right mood. I am in the right mood now. I'll show them. They look at me as though I am a useless freak. Hah! They thought otherwise. I maybe a slow starter in their company but they do not know what I am capable of doing. I'm a natural. A lot of people say so. I'm just not in the mood, especially when I see HIM... That *sigh* boss of mine. Everytime I see him doing practically nothing (except play crossword puzzle, go out to eat lunch with his buddies/ clients) and then lecture me about telemarketng all the time... my eyebrows just keep going up. Pucha! alam ko pinaghirapan niya yung posisyon niya kayua pa relax relax na lng sya pero ginagawa ko ang trabaho ko no. Ano kala nyo sa akin? HIndi ako tamad.

Hindi ko lang talaga ako masaya sa pinasukang kong company. Ibank is hell of a good company. BUt a hell of a good company may not necessarily make a person happy. Hindi nila alam mataas ang mortality rate/ turn over nila sa empleyado. Kung hindi lang talaga malaki ang utang na loob ko kay Sir Gerry at sa mga mababait na tao na nag-hire a sakin at nag train sa akin baka hindi ako tumagal ng ganito. OK yung mga tellers namin pati mga messenger at janitor pati guards (although one particular guard is freaking me out with his weird looks and stares... creepy). Ok so pati si Sales Officer ok na rin sa akin pero tinatantsa ko pa rin yung ugali pero hindi ko talga alam kung bait hindi ko gusto yung branch maanger namin. Mabait naman sya.. pero he's just one of those people whom you met /saw for the first time and you have this vibe that you don't like him. Yun na yun. He's that case to me. I just can't find a way to like him or act natural in front of him. Fake akosa kanya. Hindi ko talaga alm kung bakit. pucha... hindi talga ako masaya sa kanya. Wsana kay Ian na lang ako kasi click na kami nung BM na yon. In fairness to my BM talgang ok siya. Pero hindi ko lang talaga mailapit ang loob ko sa kanya. yun na yun. masama ba ako? tell me?

LEt's sing!

"iBank It!"

Call us friends

Coz we'll be with you till the end

Your trust is our concern

Our word is true

For you....

Chorus:

I Bank It!

We'll give all

Our best for you

I Bank It!

Show you a heart

That's true

I Bank It!

Making a lifetime

Of friendships

I Bank It!

ooh yeah

I Bank It!

With us

You're at home

Faithfully

Care for you every

step of the way

We're ready to listen

to you

Our word is true

For you....

Chorus:

I Bank It!

We'll give all

Our best for you

I Bank It!

Show you a heart

That's true

I Bank It!

Making a lifetime

Of friendships

I Bank It!

ooh yeah

I Bank It!

Your trust Is our joy...

Chorus:

I Bank It!

We'll give all

Our best for you

I Bank It!

Show you a heart

That's true

I Bank It!

Making a lifetime

Of friendships

I Bank It!

ooh yeah

I Bank It!

With us

You're at home

Coda:

IBank It

IBank It

With us you're at home

IBank It

hmmmm

Ok so I just received a call from URC saying that they wanted to interview me for an executive assistant position for the General Manager of the snack foods division. Good timing! Wow! (sarcasm, sarcasm) I was like waiting for their call around the last week of May. It took them several months before they called me up. And now that I have a job and a contract at Ibank they want me to show up on monday at 9am for an interview. hmmm... I was given already a short (sermon) discussion by my BM about leaves. To go or not to go.

Damn straight@! I wanna go! But then, I have a job already and I can't afford to have absences again lest I want my uber low, minimum to the hilt, pretending to be high, a poor excuse for a salary to be deducted. Sheeesh. Their timing is sooo bad and they have the panache to say that they'd be giving me a way better job than here at the bank. Maybe they would give me a better job. Would I like it? I dunno. Hell, my choices lately have been bad. I took a job that I thought (note: thought) that I would love but which now hinders my growth. I feel like a total loser, useless, and undermined. I can't motivate myself to do my job. Why? I have no idea. The people here are nice, it's just that I can't find that connection (like in a bf/gf relationship) and that vibe that would make me click together with them. The job is OK but my heart is not in it. I basically do a Garfield where I say I HATE MONDAYS coz I have to drag my feet to work again. I just don't know what is wrong with me. I mean, I've done this kind of work during college and I was a damn good marketer! But now, I'm far from mediocre. I'm a loser. My enthusiasm, my love for selling, my love for talking suddenly was gone.

Anyway, I have to think of something so that I can go to this interview thingie on monday. Btw, I also have another interview on Wednesday with Green Cross for product assistant. But then, they're based in Ayala Alabang. I have no means of going there. I'll cancel it then apologize for not being able to attend. I'll make up an excuse. I'm (sadly) good at making excuses naman. Sh*t!

On a happier note, I HAVE A LICENSE TO DRIVE NA! whoopee! Happy happy joy joy! After waiting in line for such a long time at LTO yesterday, FINALLY they gave me my license. hurrah! And oh yeah we will be having this pool party either this weekend or next weekend and we will be wasting ourselves. I miss my buddies, I miss the Patay Gluttons, I miss everyone who is not employed right now.
***

On another note, I never knew I was crushable. Someone admires me in a clean, nice way. Whoever you are mister who admires me... THANK YOU! :) It's quite flattering. :)

***
Memo to self: Think positive. Think like the rich to create ideas that will make you rich. Try working harder at loving your work. PRAY. PRAY that Unilab will offer you a huge salary and great benefits so that you can resign. lol.

1:29 P.M.

*sigh*
I'm sitting here at the office, moping. I can't believe what I just discovered. I accidentally opened a file that showed the monthly production of each individual here in the branch. Obviously, I looked at my production report and what miffed me was that my biggest account to date was not included! Hello!!!!! My performance is based on my accounts. My biggest account not being shown would make me look like I'm not doing my job! God! I mean, everytime I look into the system (SYMBOLS) the account says it's tagged under my name. Grrr... so how's that for a motivating tool eh? Im sooo motivated to work now.

OK so I'm really lazy right now to type so I'm just pasting my so called essay on what happened to me last Thursday during a field test for United Laboratories. I'm actually wishing I had gone to that F2 concert last night with Joko so I would have something exciting to tell while Jen is leaving for Washinton DC for almost a month. My life is really so uneventful.

******
It is 10 minutes to eight and I was just getting off at Boni Ave. Station. I am going to be late. I texted Ms. Kristine Mancenido that I am already near the office. After a short tricycle ride, I arrived at Unilab raring to go to my whole day field test. I was to be a legal stalker of one of the Business Development Associates (BDA) for a day. Excitement and anxiety circulated through my veins. I haven't got the slightest idea what they will do to me the whole day. As I was introduced to my companion for the day, Miko Paulino, I was relieved that I would not be alone in the day's quest. We were then introduced to Alphonsus De Jesus, more affectionately known as Dondie, the BDA we were supposed to tag along. I was relieved again that he was friendly and exuded a positive aura that calmed my anxious nerves.

After being briefed of our itinerary, we headed off to Paco, Manila to meet with Sir Ronald, one of Sir Dondie's distribution associates. We got down to business the moment we arrived at the distribution office. Sir Dondie explained that the BDA's have a monthly meeting held every first Saturday of the month were they discuss the targets for the month based on historical values then the BDAs trickle it down to their respective distribution associates where they set up plans and objectives for the month. Sir Dondie drew a diagram of what will be happening for the day. First, there was planning based on the objectives set. There was the Basic Call Procedures where the actual call is being observed, and of course the closing and setting up of objectives for the next day.

During the planning stage, Sir Dondie and Sir Ronald took some time out to check whether they have the paraphernalia needed for the day like the merchandise kits, the business plan copies, and of course ball pens, tape, calculators, and a sample of Ph Care Summer Blossom. They reviewed the days plan with objectives of pushing the RiteMed Label of products, the business plan, and the introduction of the Ph Care Summer Blossom, which is a new variant of the Ph Care line while Miko and I looked on.

Off we went to Tondo where we met up with the owner of 2RM Drugstore. After we were introduced, the plans and objectives that were laid upon earlier were put into place. I discovered that there are many customers in the area who buy what they actually see on television and if they are given something that varies, even if it is just the box color, they would react either in disappointment or in a fit of irritation. In addition, as the day went on, I also discovered that the owners prefer that before a product is shown on TV (in the case of Ph Care) they should already be introduced to it and have stocks ready to be sold to the market. The moment a customer sees something on TV they ask their "suking tindahan" or neighborhood drugstore and grocery if they have the product already. And if they don't have it, they just lost a customer.

We then set up the merchandise kits to promote Ph Care. We tacked some posters and tied Ph Care mobile-like cartons. After going through another drugstore, we went to Festival Drug and through other drugstores and even a wholesaler where we basically did what we have done the whole day and more.

Some of the things I have observed aside from customers buying what they see on TV are as follows: before a call is started, we would pause for a while and review the plans and objectives for each client and then after the call we would then evaluate what has transpired. And after the calls were finished, we would then review what again has transpired to see if we were productive during the calls and what were the strengths and weaknesses that led us to such results and how do we improve ourselves. After evaluating the results and ourselves, we then proceeded in planning for the next day’s objectives and steps to take for another set of clients. I asked Sir Dondie if they do this daily and he said they do. It helps them to be on top of things and to be focused on what they do. I again asked if they still do it even though they are all alone and he said more so because it sorts of disciplines them and makes their job easier and efficient, though it may sound corny. I thought otherwise. It was not really corny.

In retrospect, my day as a job shadow was great and it was a privilege to have gotten the experience. I was able to have the "feel" of an actual BDA work in the Distribution Team, of which I was glad that there was a good system in place. I was able to get to places in Manila I have never been to my whole life (aside from Quiapo and Divisoria, which I frequent for my shopping needs) like Navotas and Tondo and now know that Ped Xing really is a shortcut of Pedestrian Crossing and not a Chinese named street. I was able to experience going through a flood (courtesy of the high tide) even though it was blazingly hot outside. I was able to discover that even though Unilab was THE Unilab it still has to face some tough competition. Competition like the small time generics manufacturers who sell their medicines at a surprisingly low price of Php 0.25 per piece and other companies like Zuellig, whose BDA-like sales force we were able to chance upon when we went to Festival Drug.

Few 21-year olds can say they have seen an actual BDA in action, was part of the action for Unilab, and liked it. Fewer can boast of meeting and being with some of the most remarkable people like Sir Dondie, Sir Ronald, who are very dedicated with their work and are quite inspiring to see, and Miko, whom I had intimate wash conversations. Even few can say they have been part of promoting a new product that is not yet out in the market and be introduced as Sharon to Unilab clients while I'm holding a Sharon and KC poster and promotion kits. Moreover, I hope that I will be one of the even fewer who can boast that I was being convinced by no less than males to switch from my old brand to Ph Care.