[Project FeeTrail May 2013]:At work where the Magic is

It was my first time to be at Enchanted Kingdom...for work specifically.

It was my first time to see where the administration building is, meet the Enchanted Kingdom President and be at his office for a quick shoot.

I remember, when I was working at a BPO, there's this call center agent who said he worked as a clown at Enchanted Kingdom even when his parents are stockholders of the amusement park. I heard he treated his entire team to a fun filled day at the park before he resigned.

I forgot what his name was, but I will recognize if someone would mention it to me. Turned out, he was THE SON of the current President of Enchanted Kingdom. When I met his father, the President, it was confirmed! He even looked like his son!

We got free entrance to the park to take a few snapshots but had to go back to the office because we are using an official vehicle. I was looking for a spot for my Project FeeTrail. I told my colleague about this little project that I have and he suggested that I take my trail shot at the entrance floor tile where it says Enchanted Kingdom!

So here it is!

Since I couldn't fit Enchanted Kingdom, I guess E.K. would do.

Archie Comics: So is it finally Betty or Veronica?

I almost squealed when I saw this... then my smile faded after seeing the price Php 399.00.

Back then, I was reading this all-pinoy class Funny Komiks. It looked like this:

My late dad doesn't like me reading comic books so he threw it away. I moved on, read and collected Sweet Valley Twins and Friends by Francine Pascal, which , 20 years later, I still have.

But these comics, he approves ( I think). I grew up reading Archie and his pals from Riverdale High, while I confuse myself if I am a Betty or Veronica. I so wanted to get this, but I think Php 399.00, is just a little to much for me to give in to my childhood musings.

Years later, I still ask: Did Archie chose Betty? or Veronica?

Then last Friday, I saw this:

It almost broke my heart when I saw that it sells for Php 799.00 each. Rumors has it that Archie chose Veronica  in the series, but then Team Betty went nuts that's why they came up with Book two. Today, it's only now that I see that they have Book Three? Did Archie finally went gay and just married his best bud Jughead?

Anyway, I am hoping to see them at a way more affordable price at Book Sales, then maybe I'll consider getting one.

Review: Cliven Curl Enhancing Mousse

I saw this while walking in Rustan's few months ago when I visited my best friend.

When I had the chance to come back to the city, I went ahead and bought it.

Meg Jay tells you why 30 is not the new 20

What were you like when you were 21?

"I was still in college, young and carefree." said, Mommy Jeng, a colleague and she's years my senior. " You should not be out here (BPO), you should be out having fun and having the time of your life.

When I turned twenty one, I was excited to throw an intimate and ultimate girls night out. My highschool friends and I were out in Makati, had dinner then hit the then-happenin' bar in Greenbelt with VIP seats courtesy of my DJ friend. We had a blast, details not to be blogged about (wink) and ended the night by having a sleepover at my friends condo.

What were you like when you were 23?

My college roommate, at 23, decided to settle down and get married.

When I was twenty three, I had my first promotion. It was hard earned. I realized then on that I did not have proper charms to kiss some ass, but I do have a genuine talent and personality to hold my pants up and explore greener pastures. So I did and thank God, I had it.

Angelina Jolie's Medical Choice

I'd like to thank Ate Mia for sharing this.

Last year, on an entirely different level, I have learned that other than loyalty, one of the greatest efforts to show your love is to stay alive and be healthy for the ones you love and those who loves you.

I learned it after my father died. Not that it was his choice or anything. God has a way of preparing the family, but when we asked him to fight for us. He put up a damn good fight, and that, I will be forever grateful.

That's why, I am incredibly moved by Angelina Jolie's choice of getting a double mastectomy. And I quote the article:

MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.
We often speak of “Mommy’s mommy,” and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer andovarian cancer.
My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.
Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 percent risk of getting it, on average.
Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.

A double mastectomy looked like this:

Of course, she had hers a little bit fancier. But can you imagine being proactive about it?

Read her full article here.

Two thumbs up: PhilHealth and Dept.of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

Back in my former career job, I worked for a technical support and customer service using email support. I've been a Quality Assurance specialist who monitors the incoming emails and replies and I've handled the operations of an email team for a year and a half so I pretty much knows how it goes.

The thing with email customer service in the Philippines is...well it's not at par with the ones in US. Some sites publish email addresses for the public to contact them but we don't really get a really good reply.

That's why I am so impressed with the online customer service of these two:

1. PhilHealth

I stopped my contributions for two years that I forgot my Philheath number. I found online that I can actually get my Philhealth number by texting this number: 63.918.963.5396

You need to provide your full name and birthday and other possible useful information for identification. 

I did and I got a reply via text with my PhilHealth number. 

When I got a new job, I was asked for a proof of my contributions in the past years or maybe an official Member Dara Record (MDR). Since I didn't have the time to physically go to the nearest office, I asked  via email if they can send me just the list of my contributions and they did. 

I love that they were able to address ALL MY QUESTIONS. Trust me, I really did ask specifically and I got the answers that I needed. 

And because of the good customer service that I got, it wouldn't hurt if I take the time to commend them for a job well done:

I think if people can take the time to bash something online for a bad experience, I think people should also exert the same effort in taking the time to commend a job well done.

PhilHealth Contact information:

CORPORATE ACTION CENTER

Website: www.philhealth.gov.ph

Twitter: @teamphilhealth

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/PhilHealth

Call Center: 441-7442

2. Department of Foreign Affairs 

I googled DFA's email address because I need to ask something passport related. My old passport is missing and I'm thinking if I still need to present the old one at the airport.

I sent an email and three days later, I got a reply:

Department of Foreign Affairs email address: passportconcerns@dfa.gov.ph

If only all customer service of government agencies can have fast inquiry service done via email. 

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 18 - One important thing I learned about writing

I never really had problems when it comes to writing and I think I can actually blog all day. I just choose what to write in my blog, but it's different when writing my MS Thesis.

I want it to be over and done with but it needs time to "cook itself".

And I'm not just making alibis. It's already hard to write, but it's even more tough to write academically.

And it's even harder to make it an easy read.

One important thing I learned about writing your MS Thesis is... you can't force it.