Ramblings Intérieurs

Metropop Song Festival

Last night, I was looking at the Multiply site of Sandee http://sandeerecabar.multiply.com/ for some new music that I can download in my phone and listen to and she uploaded some OPM gems. She uploaded selected songs from Metropop Song Festival. This has to be in my 2008 "hit-list."

25. Metropop Song Festival

The Metro Manila Popular Song Festival or more popularly known as Metropop is is an annual music festival where composers get to showcase their songs and are sung by singers of their choice. It started in 1977 and ran until 1985. It was re-launched in 1997 and ran until 2003 on GMA 7.

I wish that GMA will "again" re-launch this songwriting competition because it has created a lot of very good songs and masterpieces that only a Filipino composer can do. A sample of these songs are the next two in my 2008 hit-list.

26. Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika (composed by "The Maestro," Ryan Cayabyab, and performed by Hadji Alejandro)

This song was the first grand prize winner of of Metropop. Although there's a little bit of controversy about it, which I will explain later, it is already a winner itself by the title alone. A lot of Filipinos really doesn't appreciate or does not really know how good Original Pilipino Music is. This song will give you an idea. It would show you how beautiful our music really is.

The song also went on to win 1st place at the 1978 Seoul Song Festival. It only shows that Filipino composers and songs are world-class.

27. Anak (written, composed, and performed by Freddie Aguilar)

A lot of people don't know this but "Anak" (Filipino translation for "child" or more accurately "my son" or "my daughter") was "only" 2nd place in the 1st Metropop Song Festival and lost to the song above, "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika."

"Anak" was the crowd favorite and when the song did not win, the crowd booed. I'm not trying to revive an old controversy. I'm just stating a fact.

But like in life, if a person loses something, he gains another and gains much, much more than what he lost. The song "Anak" did not win in Metropop but became a worldwide hit and was released in 56 countries and in more than 26 different foreign languages. It has also sold over 30 million copies.

Why did the song "Anak" became a hit? It had simple melody with simple lyrics and tells a story that any person can relate to. It is a remorse song of a child expressing apology to his parents. Whoever you are, wherever you came from, or whatever you do in life, once upon a time in your life you were a "child" and made mistakes.

I am not saying that "Anak" is a better song than "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" because they are two different songs and should not be compared with each other. If you are a parent, you don't compare your children (mga "anak") with each other. Because each child has his/her own stregths and weakness but you love them both. Just as I love the two songs above.

Praise and Worship

24. Praise and Worship

The first time that I attended a "Praise and Worship" service was about ten years ago in a Born-Again church that also doubles as an apartment where I have also lived for about two years.

When I first entered the "room" or the church, I was, at the back of my head and looking and laughing at the people and saying, "what the heck are they doing raising their hands with their eyes closed singing "worship" songs to the top of their heads and shouting "Halleluiah," "Praise the Lord," and stuff like that?" That is how I felt the first time, like an ordinary person who enters a Born-Again Sunday Praise and Worship service for the first time.

I am now ashamed that I felt that way. However, it was just on the first few Sundays because somehow I was continually attending every Sunday since then. As I was continuously hearing songs like "Give Thanks," "Majesty," "Come Holy Spirit," etc. every Sunday, somehow I overcame the "silliness" that I was seeing in other people in the Church and began singing the songs too. I felt the meaning of the song and I felt I was being closer to God and that God is in the same room with me and the people around me. It was the first time I felt that. I, for the first time in my life, had a "personal relationship" with the Lord since I started attending that Sunday "Praise and Worship" service.

However, as the years went by and as my personal relationship with the Lord became deeper. The Lord was asking me to do some things I was not able to do or I did not do. He wanted me to do some things. Some big, some small but somehow I was not able to do those things because of one thing or another. Like any normal relationship, the relationship faded.

Why did the relationship faded? It's because of the same thing that I haven't overcome until today: cowardice. Yes, I was a coward "until today" but right now, as of this moment that I am writing now, I am shouting to all people who are reading this, if not the world, that I am no longer a coward. I would prove that and would write proof about it in my next blog entries.

What is happening to me right now? Not much. I am just again starting to have this personal relationship with the Lord. How? I don't know how but since I started attending the "Praise and Worship" Sunday service, this time in Valle Verde Pasig called "The Feast" organized by "Light of Jesus Community" led by world-renowned preacher Bo Sanchez, the relationship with the Lord that faded has come back.

I just attended that Sunday service a few hours ago and for the second time in my life, I again felt the praise and worship songs and the meaning of it. I was raising my hands and singing to the top of my lungs, "You turn my mourning into dancing, You turn my sorrow into joy" and "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." This time it is more pronounced and I was not holding back (before I was still holding back a little).

Then, in the last part of Bo Sanchez's preaching and after a long, long time, tears was falling down in my eyes. I don't know when was the last time I cried but it was years ago with Fr. Sonny Ramirez's sermon and Fr. Ramirez is no longer serving Mass. What made me cry in Bo's talk? The topic that he was preaching is about "How To Be A Miracle Worker." Bo was telling everyone that each and everyone of us is a miracle and that there's a lot of little things that you really don't notice but is already a miracle by itself. He asked us, "How many of you woke up today this morning?" then asked a follow-up question, "How many of you are sure that you will wake up again tomorrow morning?" He continued "No one is sure and did you also know that 200,000 plus (I forgot the exact number) people did not wake up today. 200,000 plus people around the world was alive yesterday but died the next day! Waking up this morning is already a miracle. Your family members, your mother, your father, your brothers and sisters waking up this morning with you is already a miracle." He then said that his father passed away last year and that he sorely missed his father. I really don't why I cried. Maybe because I am afraid of losing any of my immediate family members and I am really happy that they are still with me. Having them with me around is already a big miracle for me.

Today, a lot of people still laughs and make fun of the people doing "praise and worship." I don't want to judge them but there's more to the "raising hands in the air," singing "This is the day that the Lord has made.." than meets the eye. And that is something that they won't be able to see, hear, and feel unless they become part of it.

Praise the Lord and have a blessed Sunday!

 

BP4

23. BP4

It's called Bulletproof 4, BPQuatro, BPKwatro, BP, but whatever code name this team has; nothing beats this team that I have been very proud to be part of. Just how good this team is? It was called the "crème of the rop" and "the best of the best" in the local account of ACS (I can't say the company because ACS still handles the account but if your nosy enough, you would know what account I am referring to).

If you want to know what the members of this team says about the team, I'll give you an idea:

Allen says:

"BP4 rules...
Astig maging isang BPquatro... and i'm
proud to be one. No one is here or has
been here just because of luck or any
random act of fate... It takes guts, good
looks, sense of humor, comradeship,
patience, a lot of gray matter, and an
insatiable search for fun and goodtime."

Donna says:

"~~~THE BEST AMONG THE REST~~~"

Fatima says:

"CREME DELA CREME?Certainly! This
project taught me a lot of things in life
that I never thought I would know of. All
the stress, the buzz (we're bees inside
the BP4 room, and i'm the queen of BP4
bees....buzzzzzzzzzzzzz) the sky-
rocketing expectations of sups and
clients...all of these we were able to get
through because we literally "help each
other out". oh yeah, and we're very
clannish too, we're very close as in too
close for comfort(hehe). People would
expect us to break down and cry after on-
the-verge-failures, but we keep on going
on...we're INVINCIBLE! So many things
has happened but we have proven our
worth... THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR IS
WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF BP4
ROOM,BABY....OOOH YEAH!"

Rhussel says:

"THE MOST PRESTIGE GROUP IN
ACS...... IM SO PROUD 2 BE A PART
OF THIS FAMILY,IVE LEARNED A LOT
OF THINGS THAT I KNW WILL MAKE
ME A BETTER PERSON"

Mikko says:

"This is the only acct ive been where the
SUN does'nt SHINE,Where peace and
tranquility is hell on earth,where the
diversity of each individual is well
compensated by the way we mend.
Here,all must consider that every call
is always the first and last.
Here i found a home away from home.
Here i found peace.
There are never a dull moment when
the guys are around.
Bp4 is a sanctuary.
HERE, CHAOS IS EXPERIENCED IN
A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE."

That's just for starters and I edited some of it. If you want to see more and find out who the member of this team, just visit its Friendster site and check the testimonials http://profiles.friendster.com/16313698.

I can't say that I am one of the best and that I am one of the crème of the crop but what I know is I have been part of this small group of friends in the workplace where different kinds of individuals with different kinds of personalities abound but always there for each other and united with one common goal. The unity is probably what makes me one of the best.

Lastly, and the most important thing why BP4 is in my 2008 list: I have found one thing that a person in his lifetime would have a hard time finding. Real friends.

BP4 Rules!

Inday Jokes

22. Inday Jokes (1/24/2008)

Inday really makes my day. It's been a while since I received an Inday SMS jokes and after signing in tonight at work, I received an email saying that Inday already has a blog and gave the link. I haven't finshed reading the whole blog but boy,oh boy, I haven't stopped laughing and I am still smiling as of this moment that I had to include Inday in my list. Inday is one hell of a creation. Whoever or whatever organization started this Inday jokes, my hat's off to the creator. If you don't know what I'm talking about just visit http://www.blogniinday.com/.

All About Idol

Since Idol fever is starting to build up this first month of 2008, I might as well list three "Idols" in my list.

19. American Idol

Is there a person in the world who has TV and haven't watched an episode of American Idol? I bet there's few if not no one. American Idol is a phenomenal TV show that it's success won't be repeated in the next 10 or 20 years. It is one of the highest-rating TV programs in the U.S. national television and only eclipsed by Super Bowl and the Oscars (Academy Awards). It is also broadcasted in more than 100 nations all over the world and many countries with versions of their own. I don't know with you but American Idol is one of the reasons for TV addicts like me why I am lucky and happy to be living in this lifetime.

20. Philippine Idol

A lot of people weren't able to catch and apreciate how beutiful our own version of Idol went (I am talking about the first season and not "Pinoy Idol"). The host, Ryan Agoncillo, alone equalled his American counterpart, Ryan Seacrest. What more with judge Ryan Cayabyab? I still feel strongly that Mr. C as  Mr. Ryan Cayabyab is fondly called is a better judge than the famous but acerbic AI judge Simon Cowell. Francis Magalona was a mistake (no offense to the Master Rapper) but Mamita (Pilita Corrales) was more entertaining than Paula Abdul as a judge.

Of course, Philippine Idol had it's own share of problems, specially technical glitches and poor ratings. I have blogged about Philippine Idol a lot of times here (my blog was was even used by ABC 5 for it's TV AD for PI) and most of it were about the negative things that happened in  but still I enjoyed it and I was really happy with the result.

I am not comparing the Philippine Idol TV show with the American Idol TV show because obviously American Idol is way, way more successful and American Idol is the original and it's TV ratings was unprecedented. I'm just trying to point out one thing: It could have been better if it was given one more chance. Philippine Idol was fun while it lasted. It's just sad that only a select few where able to enjoy and appreciate Philippine Idol. But just like American Idol, Philippine Idol will also be one of the reason why I am lucky and happy to be living in this lifetime (and one of the few who was able to see the beauty of it).

21. Mau Marcelo

Of course, the first "Philippine Idol" should be in my list. I am adding her to my list not because she won the title but because I believe that among the 12 finalists of PI, she deserves the tiltle "Philippine Idol."

Oh, and the more important reason why I added her to my list of 2008 list is because Mau Marcelo winning proved that Filipinos are intelligent voters. We have learned. I hope. =)

About the Past, Present, and the Future

I was planning to write about the good things I experienced while I was working in Magnavision but I decided to do that in the future and write first about the present.

16. The Present: Commendation Call for 1/15/2008)

I got a commendation call from a customer the other night (1/15/2008) and I was really happy with that because it's the first commendation call that I got that my supervisor (TM Jay) took. The reason this is special is that TM Jay haven't got a commendation call from me on my long stint with him. I have been with 3 supervisors here in my present work and the longest time I have been was with "Boss Jay" (as he is called at the office) and this is my first commedation call under him. To think that I have been with Boss Jay for the longest time (around 6-8 months if I'm not mistaken). The other supervisors has about 2 or 3 commendation calls from me under their supervision. Oh and for your information, Boss Jay is also the one who put me on QoS PDP. So here's one for you Boss! The QoS PDP will follow. =)

16. The Future: I will pass my QoS PDP

This one's for the future. Since there's a lot being said that the future is what you think of, I am doing it now and will do it in my life from now on. You see, the reason why I am not passing my QoS PDP for 6 months now (and running) is that because I have a defeatist attitude. I always say to myself that it's hard to pass and I won't pass my QoS PDP. So starting last Monday, I always say to myself before going to work that "I will pass my QoS PDP" and so far it's bearing good results. I got a commendation call and most of my calls were good. I also have created a pledge for myself in line with that. I promised myself I will shave my head bald if I pass my QoS PDP and I told my officemate about that in a "gimmick" for accountability. So you will be seeing me again in my "bald look" soon.

17. The Past

To make this complete I would now write something about the past.

No, it's not about the song but this is about the reason why I am working in a call center. About 3 or 4 years ago, it came to me that I need and want a job that would enhance and improve my communication skills that I would be using in the future as I had promised to Him (another entry would be reserved for this one). You can read my entry "Goodbye, ACS" (http://yllor.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/2006/05/goodbye_acs.html. It occurred to me that this is probably the reason why I always get a "bad" verbatim (customer comment) which almost always say "I did not understand the problem" or "representative was hard to understand" and always get a "1" for "spoke clearly" and "undertood" aspect of the call for the longest time. 

The Lord is telling me right now that "Son, you still need to work harder to improve your communication skills."

As of the last 4 surveys I received I am now getting good verbatims that make those comments like "representative was hard to understand" a thing of the past. Yipee!

18. About Past, Present, and Future

This just in right after Googling "about past, present, and future" to find something to end this blog entry.

"There's no time like the present . . . to learn about time. We'll make a present of the past and give something to the future."

2008 Reasons To Be Happy and Thankful That I Am Living In This Lifetime

My plan was too ambitious. How can I possibly write down 2008 positive things before the year 2008 ends? As of today. I have only written down 11 things and it's already the twelfth day of January. It's like I'm just having 1 good thing to write a day. With that rate, I would have listed down only 365 positive things by the end of the year.

So I am rephrasing what I would list down. I would list all the positive things that I could think of. In this lifetime. I would be listing down everything - people, places, things, event, circumstances, whether past, present, or future, that would make me thankful that I am living in this lifetime. Actually this is what I really wanted to write and list down right from the start. It's just the year 2008 started good that I have to start blogging and telling the world about the good things that happened and is happening in my life. So I'll just continue and write away.

12. The Feast (1/13/2008)

"The Feast" is a weekly Catholic Prayer Meeting being held in Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig. It starts with a Holy Mass followed by praise and worship and ends with a little talk from renowned-speaker Bo Sanchez. The first time I attended it was last Dec. 23, 2007 after a few (or is it a dozen?) invitation from my friend Melissa. The gathering went like the same Born-Again Christian fellowship that I used to attend about 10 years ago but with a Catholic touch. There was the a Holy Mass before the praise and worship, the sign-of-the-cross, the Hail Mary, and the Apostle's Creed recitation. I must admit that somehow after the gathering, I felt better. I can't say if this would be a weekly thing because it's so far from my home but I need those kind of Christian gathering from time to time. 

13. Bo Sanchez (1/13/2008)

Speaking of "The Feast", what is making the people go there is it's main preacher Bo Sanchez. I already heard of him and his weekly magazine Kerygma but when I heard him preach, he is really good. Not as good as the priest that I usually hear preach but good enough to make you feel good after  the gathering. Bo and I have the same weakness (which I won't be mentioning here yet for the meantime) and I know deep inside he will be my inspiration and the one I would need to emulate for me to grow as a Christian.

14. Melissa (1/13/2008)

Since I am writing about Bo and "The Feast," I might as well add to this list my good friend Melissa because she's the one who persistently invited me to this weekly praise and worship gathering. She didn't and had no intention of giving up until I attend. I don't know but somehow all the people who does things to make me closer to God has to work harder. I always decline their invitation but after I give in, only then that I realized that I should have given in earlier. Thank you Melissa.

15. Bro. Orland (Orlando Leal)

Which reminds me of the person that responsible for finding God - Bro. Orland. Right now I don't have any contact with him but for all of you to know, he is the person who really introduced me to Jesus (of course my mother is the one who first introduced me to Jesus but I really didn't know who Jesus was prior to this). In my first work in Magnavision, when there was no work or little work load, Bro. Orland always had stories to tell about himself and how he found Jesus and  changed his life with a little Bible-reading at the side. At first I just brushed him off and if he persists, I'll just pretend that I would listen. But he went on and somehow I learned how to listen. And learn. And found God in my life. Of course, as of this moment, I am again finding God. I know I am lost right now. But I have to thank Bro. Orland for introducing God and Jesus into my life. We will meet again, Brother (as I fondly called him), and I know once we meet again, we will have a feast. 

15. Magnavision

Speaking of Bro. Orland, the next thing that comes to my mind that makes me feel lucky and thankful for my life is the first company that I worked in. A lot of good things happened in my life in my 5-year stay in Magnavision. I wouldn't have lasted that long if I wasn't happy working there. For starter, this is the company where I really found God. I am not just referring to Bro. Orland but all the people back there. The pay was not high, the work was not that light and the stress is almost the same as in a call center. But the people there knew who God is and knew how to pray and this where I learned how to really pray and have a personal relationship with God. I could write more and go on and on and on  but I'll stop for a while and break down everything on my next blog entry. I could  list down around maybe 20 or more good and positive things that happened to me (I need around 3-4 hours to write down everything) while working in Magna. That is what I'll be writing about next. 'Til my next blog entry. Ciao!

1997 More To Go!

5. I got 50% on my January Week 1 QoS Survey (1/10/2008)

Again, I was able to get a 50% (this time on the first week of January 2008) in my QoS survey. Two 8's and two 7's. It would have been better if the 7's were 8 or 9 but it's okay. At least the verbatim (customer's comments) were good and the only reason I got a Middle Box (4-7) was that they were unhappy with the product and not with the support that I gave.

Unfortunately, it's not enough for me to pass my QoS PDP because I'm only 2/5. Two Top Box (8 or 9) and three Middle Boxes (4-7) and in order for me to pass my QoS PDP, I have to pass two Survey Block. To further explain that, one Survey Block is 5 surveys ad I should be able to get three Top Boxes (an 8 or 9) on 5 surveys. It's two succeeding Survey Blocks that I need to pass. Did that make sense? I think no. Let's just say, even though I didn't pass my 4th Survey Block, the surveys were still good and again much better than having a Bottom Box (1-3).

But I still need to work harder to pass my QoS PDP.

6. I got stuck in a traffic. (1/10/2008)

I can't remember when was the last time I got stuck inside a vehicle in heavy traffic but I remember it was a really harrowing experience.

Yesterday, it happened again. I was stuck inside a Tamaraw FX on the way home and I wanted to go home early because I had work later in the evening. The FX was barely moving, the air-con was not working, and the driver was cussing every minute. What else can you ask for? Now how did this become a positive thing? By turning the bad experience into positive. How? By learning from it.

The driver keeps on cussing and keeps on blaming other drivers when the problem was him. He had a radio which he can use to know the traffic status and use the alternate routes as necessary but he did not use it. Instead, he used it to talk trash to his fellow drivers. He said “what's the use of going to the alternate routes when there would still be traffic upon exiting the alternate route”. I have been riding FX since it the first day it became a staple for public transportation and there are a lot of drivers that are "madiskarte". They know what alternate route to take once they got information of the traffic status. He also keeps blaming the other drivers for the traffic when he's also the one causing it by doing a counterflow.

I learned that sometimes I am like the driver. I blame others when the truth is I'm the one to blame. We are the masters of our own life. If a problem arises, you’re the one who made it happen. If it's the circumstances that created it, find ways to resolve it by yourself with all the resources you have and do not pass the blame to others.

And remember: if something bad happens; turn that bad experience into something positive. How? Learn from it.

7. My first payday of the year (1/11/2008)

I got my first pay of the year and it's bigger than the usual. That's because of the holidays that I worked. I worked on four (4) holidays the last two weeks (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Year)! I was expecting a 10k pay but I remembered I had an SSS loan. A big pay on the first pay day of the year. This is a good way to start the new year, with lots of money! Whahaha!

8. New words (1/12/2008)

I enjoyed reading an article about the new words of 2007. I smiled at the word "Ninja," which stands for No Income No Job No Assets, and refers to a loan made to a high-risk borrower. What about "Facebook?" I don't have a Facebook account but this social networking website is really popular in the US and in the world but not here in the Philippines. We are still Friendster-friendly people. Speaking of Facebook, if you have an account, have you "poked" someone lately? I don't know what the hell "poke" means but it turns out, it doesn't really have it's own meaning. The Facebook people said that it's just a way to interact with friends yet "without any specific purpose." But based on the article that I read, "poke" has  been interpreted by the multitude of Facebook users as a sexual advance. But it seems that the year 2007 is all about business, the winner of Word of the Year for 2007 is "Subprime," which means "a risky or less than ideal loan, mortgage or investment" and no, it doesn't have anything to do with Optimus Prime. =)

9. Sleeping in the rain (1/12/2008)

When was the last time it rained? Two months ago? Before I went online to blog, it was raining. It was a rain that my mom said was an "ulan-mayaman," which means it's a continuous pouring of rain and would last the whole day. So I decided to sleep, which is a good form of rest for a call-center worker like me.

10. NU 107

And since there was nothing to do, I listened first to the radio, before I went to sleep. I haven't been listening to the radio lately because I just listen to my favorite mp3 tracks on my phone. It's a good thing to have your own mp3 tracks with you to listen to but nothing beats the good old-fashioned way which is listening to the rad-i-o (this is one of the reason why I'm not a a fan of the iPod)! Of course what station would I listen to on a Saturday? The "Home of New Rock," NU 107! Yes, they're still playing your requests on weekends. Even at middle-age, I still need some of dose of rock music!   

11. I'm still alive. (1/12/2008)

Isn't this a good reason enough? With all the things going on and with a lot of problems, trials, insecurities, and a lot of very negative things, I'm still alive and kicking. And rocking! =)

Happy 2008!

I haven't been posting any blog lately and if I did, it's all about nonsense (just read my past two blogs). So for my first blog of 2008, I will be writing down all the good and positive things that will happen this year.

I have an ambitious plan: I will be listing down all the good and positive things that will happen this year and post it here in my Friendster blog until it reaches 2008. Yes, my target is to have at least 2008 positive and good things to happen in my life, or at least anything that has something to do with my life, before the year ends. So, let me start. 

1. The Holy Mass in SM North EDSA (or The First Mass That I Attended This 2008)

I was torn between attending the regular Mass that I attend in SM North Edsa or attend "The Feast" (a weekly Christian gathering that has Bo Sanchez as the speaker at the end of the Mass) with my good friend Melissa. But since I had budget constraints, I decided to attend the Holy Mass at SM. Also because I know that Fr. Joey Faller will be the presiding priest. I'm glad I did attend the Mass at SM. As what Fr. Joey Faller said in his sermon, a lot of not-so-good things happened last year especially in our country (Manila Pen stand-off, ugly politics, showbiz scandals, etc.) but he believes that the year 2008 would be a better one. Why? Because our country has been down, that there's no way to go but up. The best is yet to come for our country.

I can also say the same thing to my life. The year 2007 has been a struggle. Not just with me but also with my family. We are in a lot of debts, we struggled paying our house mortgage, with paying for my youngest brother's tuition, my brother Dennis went abroad (My brother Dennis and I are not close but somehow it's not the same without him at home), I strugled with my performance at work, and a whole lot more.

But I know we will stand up and it would be a better 2008 and what a better way to start than having this hopeful and positive start to the year 2008!

Oh, just a trivia: I have been attending the Holy Mass in SM North EDSA since 1994. The only time I don't attend Mass there is if my work schedule doesn't permit it.

2. A message and a song from Chadwick Salls.

You might be wondering who the hell is Chadwick Salls. Well, you probably won't know him because he's not really a big star but he's just the bassist of the now-defunct band Seed. He sent me a message in my YouTube account after I posted a comment asking for a copy of their hit song "Rapture."

His first message said that he had all the song Seed did and  he gave proof that he was the "real" Chad by giving his email address and his new band and personal page in MySpace.

By the time I read his message I already had a copy of the song "Rapture" but he sent me a copy of an unreleased song by Seed called "See You In The Sunlight."

You can hear the song in YouTube. If you Google for "See You In The Sunlight" the first search result would be the video of the song in YouTube. It's a good song with the same trademark fretless bass line of Chadwick Salls with some piano works.

3. The first two surveys I received.

The fist two surveys I received for the year 2008 (although this would count for December 2007 Week 5) were a "7" and a "9". You might be wondering what the hell am I posting about again. This is work-related. I am currently on a QoS PDP (Quality of Service, Performance Development Program) which means that I am not doing well. I have to pass the PDP program and to do that I should get a survey that's either an 8 or 9 which means that the customer is happy with the over-all experience with the product I am supporting. Aargghh, I'll stop explaining now because it's hard to explain. Haha. Let's just say the two surveys were good (even though the other one is a 7) and definitely a better way to start 2008 and hopefully be the first step in passing my PDP.

4. My brother Dennis (is coming back).

Although this is yet to happen, he is definitely coming back (his friends would definitely love to hear this). We will be again a complete family. I plan to have a family picture portrait when he comes because we don't have one. Yup, we don't have a family picture where we are complete. I know we should have one before it's too late.

Great! 4 done and 2004 more to go!

Happy 2008!