If You’re From Planet EARTH, Then You Must Care!

Movie Layout

I recently joined a Community Service Project in San Pedro, Laguna which was spearheaded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Being one of the Youth leaders in our Church, it is our duty to assist the youth with their activities.  On that one Saturday, we were given a single stretch of road to clean and it just amazed me how such a few meters of concrete could hold so much garbage!  We were given 3 hours to sweep and tidy up yet I can’t say that those hours were sufficient for us to finish our assignment.  There was just too much garbage for scores of youth and youth leaders to handle!

I then remembered when, a few months back, I was able to watch Al Gore’s controversial documentary film entitled AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.  It is one heck of an eye-opener!  Eversince I saw this shocker (and not in a horror/suspense flick sort of way), I VOWED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

My family and I have always practiced throwing garbage only in trash bins even before we saw the film.  After seeing An Inconvenient Truth, we started to segregate our waste products.  We sell what we could salvage such as pet bottles; aluminum and tin cans; glass bottles; paper, etc.  We also give away our biodegradable food wastes to our neighbor who collects them to feed his pet ducks (for those of you who do not have a Duck-caretaker-neighbor, the City Waste Management Program should be able to collect your food wastes twice a week).  Also, I have made an agreement with our neighbor who owns a sari-sari store that I will collect plastic bags from my purchases and then give them to her.  Believe me, store owners appreciate this a lot!

All the small things that you do for Mother Earth counts!  This could include putting your candy wrappers inside your pocket or your bag; recycling used paper as scratch papers instead of immediately putting them into the shredder; buying from stores that use only biodegradable plastic bags (so far, I’ve noticed only the plastic bags of SM, 7-Eleven, and Mini-Stop); also, conserving water.

There may just be a handful of people that do care for the environment but few though they may be—they matter!  I am an environmentalist in my own small way, so is my family, and so will generations that would come from this one, small family.

You can begin to make a difference, too!  You don’t have to go out and rally with all other environmentalists.  Just make certain that from this day henceforth, you will care for Mother Earth.  Just to reiterate, you and your family can promise to do these from now on:

• Segregate waste (plastics, tin cans, food wastes, etc.)
• Throw garbage ONLY IN TRASH BINS!
• Recycle plastic bags, papers, etc.
• Go to palengkes with a basket or recycled plastic bag.
• Collect and donate used plastic bags to your favorite sari-sari store.
• Conserve water.
• TELL EVERYONE TO WATCH “AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH”!

I’m telling you, you should be very, very afraid–if not for your sake, then at least for your children’s sake.  Mother Earth is barely holding up and there are only a few crusaders out there–I DARE YOU TO BE ONE OF THEM!

Please check out this website:

http://www.climatecrisis.net/aboutthefilm/

What’s Keeping Me Busy

With Mary Kay National Sales Director Ms. Chris Boyd

True, writing remains to be my first love but my husband and I have been discussing a lot about my writing career and we have both come to the conclusion that it should be done because I’m passionate about it and not because we need to put bread on our table.

We have depended on my writing career as a second source of income for a handful of years yet we have reflected on what really came out of it.  I was at our home but I could hardly be spoken to; I was always cranky because I had to meet daily deadlines; and when I tried to balance this with the household chores, it was more like putting a ticking time bomb around my neck. 

Right now, I work as an Independent Consultant for Mary Kay Philippines and I’m loving every minute of it!  I normally hold corporate trainings for women who would want to be empowered by knowing how to care for her skin, how to choose proper cosmetics and color products , and how to carry herself with more confidence. 

My work now encompasses both marketing and leadership and I’m very happy about it.  And what about writing?  Well, I’m still working on my very first book and I would still do blogs, so yes, I’m still as much  a writer as when I was stuck all day with IVY (my computer).

I Will NEVER Forget My First Love (Which is Writing!)

I recently attended a very empowering business seminar and I am so enthusiastic about being beautiful and about life in general.  I never fall for just about any business opportunity that would come my way but today’s seminar was quite different–it caught my fancy.  I mean, how many companies would include the concept of believing in God, valuing your family and establishing a career all at the same time?  And as a woman, I felt strongly about this and I am all out to support such a company. 
So, without any qualms, I signed up.  I’m not into this business because of the money (of course it’s a great chunk of the bigger picture BUT); I joined hands down because I value what this company values. 

The company is Mary Kay Philippines.  Yup.  Filipinas can now enjoy the quality cosmetic products that Americans love so much.  I will not set aside my writing career, though.  I will still continue to produce blogs and, very soon, my e-books.  So stay with me…the writer may be a budding businesswoman for now but my writing career still comes first.  It’s just that, I couldn’t ignore how women are highly regarded and empowered on this company (I try so hard to hide my being a feminist but it does tend to become obvious at times!). 

This part-time opportunity is so perfect for a stay-at-home mom like me because I can spend half of the day writing and the other half sharing to the world how wonderful it is to look beautiful and not be losyang anymore.

Woman, you are important.  Begin to feel good by looking good–and do it for yourself not just because you want to look pretty for your boyfriend or husband!

Scams Galore: Phising & Text Scams

I recently received this e-mail and I would like everyone to be forewarned and not to fall for these kinds of messages.  Never, ever reply to this kind of e-mail.  The e-mail reads:

Dear Friend,

I sincerely apologize for intruding into your privacy,
especially by contacting you through this means for a
business transaction of this magnitude, but due to its
seriousness and urgency it therefore became necessary for me
to seek for your assistance. I am Barrister Smith John
(Esq.), counsel to late Engr Han, a national of your country
and was a seasoned contractor with oil servicing companies
here in Lagos, Nigeria. He lost his life on the 12th of
March, 2003 in an air/plane-crash here in Nigeria.

Before his sudden and mysterious death, he deposited the sum
of Ten Million US  Dollars{US$10,000,000} with a Bank in a
fixed account here in Lagos, Nigeria which I was quite aware
of as all the legal proceedings was duly carried out by my
humble self. After his death, almost Five years ago, i made
several approaches to your embassy to locate any of his
relatives so as to come and stand as the next of kin to my
late client in order to have this huge sum transferred to
his or her possession but all my effort proved abortive.

After several unsuccessful attempts in locating any of his
relations and the latest ultimatum given to me by the Bank,
mandating me to provide my late client’s next of kin within
the next two weeks OR they confiscate the money, which i
wouldn’t live to see it happen, hence my decision to contact
you so that i can present you as the next of kin to my late
client. All I demand from you is your honest co-operation so
that this fund {$10 million US dollars} can be transferred
into any account of your choice within the shortest time
possible.

For your assistance and co-operation, I have decided to have
the money shared as follows; 40% for you, 60% for me. What I
introduced to you might be a smack of an unethical practice
but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that is capable
of making things better for us and moreover, if I fail to
present to the Bank my late client’s next of kin in the next
couple of weeks, the truth is that this money would not be
taken by the government but by some greedy officials of the
Bank and i would not fold my arms and watch this happen
hence my decision to contact you.

I also want to use to this medium to assure you that this
transaction is 100% risk free and my position as the counsel
to the late depositor of the fund, it has been legally
planned to avoid any hitch or breach of law both during and
after the transfer might have been effected to you. And
also, every information that will back you up as the next of
kin to my late client shall be given to you as soon as i
have your consent. The following information will be
required from you in your reply;

1.} your full name__________________________,
2.} Your residential/contact address__________________________,
3.} Your phone/fax number__________________________,
4.} Your Occupation and__________________________;
5.} Your Age__________________________.

For purpose of security and the confidentiality of this
transaction you can reply this mail to this my private
e-mail address; “barr_smithjohn002@hotmail.com“

I look forward to receive your positive response soonest.

Best Regards,
Barrister Smith John(Esq)

*****************************************************************************************************************

In addition to the above e-mail, I also received a text message from two cell phone numbers congratulating me for my winnings for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas “Handog Pangkabuhayan” and a certain CPB-PCNS.  The first number below comes from a certain Atty. Garry B. Aquino & the second text was from Tina Ramos (better beware of them and these numbers):

09077011462

 

09293969043

The Green Light is On for the Julie Vega Book

Just as Julie Vega’s photograph on the right is slowly fading, so will memories of her if no one would do anything to let the world know that she once existed. 

It’s already 23 years since Julie’s fateful death yet there are still some people who are trying to keep her memory alive.  Just like her very last song entitled–The Memory Will Remain–there are people who are working hard to achieve just that. 

Gary Valenciano once made a song for her–Why’d You Close Your Eyes so Soon (it was later turned into the hit Tagalog song Sana Maulit Muli).  A part of the lyrics were these words…a star that will never die. 

A gargantuan task lies ahead but her brother already gave us the go signal; Niño has provided all the necessary articles and photos, as well as videos; and I’m aching to write, so there’s no reason that this project will not push through. 

There are 2 enormous article compilations that I have to read (3 more will be given to me soon!).  I also need to gather, not only information, but also my thoughts; while my friend Niño will take care of the photographs that will be used. 

Give it a month or so and we will already be announcing the release of the much-awaited book/e-book.   I’m sure the silent fans out there would be thrilled…

*****************************************************************************************************************

Niño and I met for the first time last September 16, 2008.  Our appointment was at 2PM and we parted ways when it was already 9:30 in the evening.  We talked a lot about how to present the book (its layout, what photographs are going to be used, the cover design, trivia, etc).  It’s amazing how fast time flew when we were talking about our plans.  Before we knew it, it was already late and we had to go home. 

What we need to do now is to balance our time well ’coz we both have works to attend to (Niño’s now an official columnist–congratulations!)

For members of the Julie Vega Yahoo group, just keep accessing your e-mails for further notice.  While those who are just waiting by the sidelines, just keep praying that all would go well and keep reading this blog for updates!

An Overwhelming Response to the Jasmin Montano of GMA Bank Article

AGAIN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL THIS ARTICLE TO ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, COLLEAGUES, etc.

 

I would like to thank all the people who showed their support and who, if only they were given the chance, were willing to pull Jasmin Montano’s hair themselves!

I’ll also be posting here some of the comments that were sent to me through my Yahoo Groups.  Here are some of them:

Rowena from the U.S. commented:

hi shella… 

i read the article you wrote through the website you gave (below)… dito na ako magko-comment sa YG natin…

 

nakakapanginig ng laman ang ugali ng mga taong na-encounter ng husband mo… maraming ganyan, hindi lang sa pinas, dito rin sa america… ang pagkakaiba nga lang, dito we can retaliate infront of their faces kapag nababastos ka na… just a few days ago, i had a nasty encounter with a customer service via telephone… she told me by moving my cable, i have to pay extra fee of $50… i asked her to explain why… hindi ko maintindihan ang explanation niya, so i insisted to ask… halatang pikang-pika siya sa kakulitan ko, at the end of her explanation, she said “geeez..!”.. . umakyat ang dugo sa ulo ko… sabi ko, “how dare you say that to your customer! i heard you! do you understand your job description, huuuh???!!! sinigawan ko siya sa phone, sabi ko, BASTOS! wala kang galang sa kapwa mo! (anyways, mahirap makipag-talakan ng english, in fairnes, pero na-carry koh!)… maya-maya, umiyak siya… as in humagulgol.. . saan ka nakakita ng customer service umiiyak sa phone…  sorry nang sorry sa akin… tagal umiiyak… pinatawad ko naman…

 

mabait ang asawa mo, shella… kung ako ang andiyan, makakatikim sa akin ‘yang babae na ‘yan… may kalalagyan ang mga taong bastos…

 

wish ko lang, sana nabasa niya (that Jasmin) ang posting mo… hehehe!!! gRRRRRR…!! !

Peewee of Jakarta, Indonesia wrote: 

Grabe ang nangyari sa hubby mo, sister! Good thing walang GMA bank sa Iloilo!
Actually I don’t have an acct with any banks in the Phil. My family and most of Pinoys here in Jakarta used an Int’l Bank coz they offer better services…

I hope di na makapagbiktima ang babaeng iyan! Jasmin whatever or whoever she is! 

 

Armando, also from the U.S. wrote:

Thanks to inform us, Sheila about the incident in the bank in Philippines.

 

Well, if you are in USA, she cannot do that because most of the banks in USA like Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, USA Bank, Washington Mutual, and so on have videos attached anywhere in the bank especially at teller booths even the ATM machines have hidden videos too. If she will do that, she will face a case here like discrimination, harrasment, and so on by the Federal Law or by the State Law not only she will loose her job.

 

Folks, be careful anytime wherever we go. Pray first before you go out from home.

****************************************************************************************************************

We have just e-mailed sme.com.ph (GMA Bank does not have its own web site) this morning.  We gave them a link to the previous article that I made.  We’re crossing our fingers that they would at least apologize.  If they do, rest assured that I will also be fair enough to post their apologies on this same site.

The Two Faces of Customer Service (An Encounter with Jasmin Montano and Gerard Pangilinan)

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL THIS ARTICLE TO YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, COLLEAGUES, etc.

 

On August 29, 2008 my husband met the two faces of customer service.  The unpleasant one showed itself first–fortunately.  I’m saying he’s still fortunate because, at least, the day ended well with the pleasant experience.  This is what I actually mean:

Jasmin Montano (wearing orange) of GMA Bank is a Disgrace to the Female Population

My husband woke up that Friday morning, all excited, to go to GMA Bank in Biñan, Laguna.  He was then about to open a PhP 5,000 checking account.  This checking account will be used as a payment method for his Pag-Ibig Housing Loan.  And so with high spirits, he went to GMA Bank (take note again that this is just their branch in Biñan, Laguna) together with the real estate agent that we’re dealing with.

 When he got there, he was told by one of the bank tellers that he would not be able to open a checking account because he still has an outstanding balance on his past credit card.  Now, my husband was well aware of that, in fact, he’s in the process of getting his certification of full payment for the meager PhP 5,000 credit card balance.  All he wanted was to speak with someone or anyone from the bank who he could explain to about the Pag-Ibig transaction and how everything now depends on the checking account that he’s about to open.

 Do you think he was even given the chance to speak about his concern first?  Nope.  This cashier named Jasmin Montano, the moment she saw my husband, was already wearing a smirk on her unpleasant face.  And when my husband (who happens to be the customer) started to ask about the situation, this girl stopped him mid-sentence and told him to listen to her instead.  Let’s just reiterate on that–this cashier of GMA Bank held up her hand, stopped her customer from talking, and said that the customer should listen to her.

 Wow.  Talking of superb customer service.  This definitely brought down all respects that I have for GMA Bank.  My late aunt used to bank with them (fortunately on a different branch) and I always had the notion that the people who are employed on this bank are respectful and customer-service oriented.  Or shall I just say then that Jasmin Montano is one unfortunate exception.

 After she rudely told my husband to shut up, my husband still professionally tried to tell her to listen to him. The next thing that she did was unforgiveable–she said these words “Pa-english english ka pa diyan. Magbayad ka muna ng utang mo saka ka bumalik dito.”

 We swear that we have never, in our entire existence, experienced such a reaction from an employee of a reputable institution.  When my husband asked to speak to someone who has a higher authority than this Jasmin Montano, she said once again (this time mockingly)–walang manager ngayon, hintayin mo na lang.  She also made faces and other snide remarks that are unbefitting of a woman! 

 After pointing out that the manager was not available, she went back to her desk while loudly muttering spiteful remarks (clearlly to embarrass my husband in front of all the people inside the bank).  She also blatantly refused to give the name and number of the Biñan branch manager.  In fact, my husband had so much difficulty getting her name from all the other employees in the bank.  He was only able to do so when the lady from the New Accounts Section (name withheld) gave out the name.  This same lady timidly went back to Jasmin Montano as if she’s a lamb who’s about to be slaughtered.  When Jasmin Montano learned that my husband was asking for her name, she even said “Sige, ibigay mo ang pangalan ko, full name pa. Picture? Sige, picture-an tayo. Eh di sikat di ba.  Sisikat sa Internet ang pangalan ko...” (Okay, give him my full name. Picture?  Sure, let’s take photos of each other.  I’ll be famous on the Internet!) 

 And now, Jasmin Montano, surely you are famous–I’m making sure of that!  I have worked with banks (based in North America) in the past and we were never taught to deal rudely with customers even if they are neck-deep in debt!  This woman, though just a single employee, would greatly affect how I, my relatives, friends, associates, and readers of this blog would think of GMA Bank.  She, single-handedly, in a matter of minutes, irreparably damaged the bank’s good name.

 And as if all her insults weren’t enough, she even tore the application form in front of my husband while saying “…magbayad ka muna, pa-english english ka pa. Napaka-TH mo!”  How barbaric can this Jasmin Montano get?  I have no recollection of such an uncivilized act coming from tinderas  or even  from salesladies from department stores.  Mas magalang pa nga sila!

 We wanted to give GMA Bank some business and my husband wanted to discuss the present dilemma to know how he can work around the said problem and yet this is what we get–an encounter with the worst face of customer service!

Jasmin Montano of GMA Bank, shown here, sarcastically posing for a photo after the unpleasant encounter.

I wonder what Mr. Ban Lee C. Choa’s (Chief Executive Officer of GMA Bank) reaction would be when he learns that they hired an employee such as Jasmin Montano who treats customers like dirt.  Frankly, I’ve had better customer service experiences from palengkes! 

That same night, my husband and I went to Club Astoria to attend a simple dinner.  It’s Club Astoria’s way of marketing their services in a relaxed manner.  The food was great, to begin with.  And the night turned much better when we met Gerard Pangilinan, a marketing executive of some sort.  Gerard was funny, charming and very accommodating.  Also, I’m so glad to write this line–he was customer-service oriented.  We decided not to purchase any of their packages that night yet he was the same as he was the very first minute we met him–he’s the pleasant face of customer service.
[I promise to have a separate article of our Club Astoria experience soon]
**Why did I even bother to attach the term customer service to Jasmin Montano’s name, anyway?  After all, customer service should always be positive.  I hope GMA Bank does something about this employee who’s the exact opposite of a woman showing finesse and grace under pressure.   In fact, she’s the epitome of rudeness and lack of education.

Bedtime Stories and Your Children

How many parents still tell bedtime stories to their children, honestly?  I mean let’s face it, bedtime stories take up minutes of your precious time as a busy parent. Sometimes, the extra minutes that you should have spent on a nice warm bath still goes to that mommy-and-baby-bonding-time called storytelling. 

The Golden Book of Fairy Tales (by Golden Books)

I just recently started this practice of telling stories, not because I originally wanted to do it but because my children prodded me to do it.  Bedtime stories are now a must in our home and these are the stories I have shared so far:

• The Boy who Cried Wolf
• The Three Little Pigs
• Some stories from a Barbie book
• Hansel and Gretel
• The Girl with the Red Dancing Shoes
• and some Stories that are Solely Mine (a.k.a. I invented them!)

On weekends, it’s their Dad’s turn to tell his own stories and I, just like my kids, become a listener.  Those extra minutes are worth it each night.  Nothing could compensate for that look of adulation on my little ones’ faces as they listen intently to each word I say. 

Make it a family tradition…you’ll never regret it.

Help! My Baby is Teething…

Isabel turned five last December 2007 yet, for me, she’ll forever be my baby.  This is my daily notion and I was quite surprised to find out that she’s teething so soon!  Her two, central, lower milk teeth (well according to this chart they’re her incisors) are giving way to two, little permanent teeth. 

I’m thinking, ain’t she a bit early on this?  I mean, she’s just in pre-school and I had my earliest recollection of a tooth extraction when I was already in grade school.  To mothers out there, I have a bit of a dilemma here.  I often give pieces of advice yet I’m thrown aback right now.  I don’t know what to do ‘coz the two milk teeth seem to be NOT giving way to the permament teeth.  The upcoming teeth look like they’re askew.  Drat–I’m not such an expert mom after all! 

I don’t think my major concern is regarding her teeth, though.  I think it has something to do with her quick developments and how we stayed up late one night just to talk about her recent crush.  Her crush-and she’s freakin’ 5 years old!  Her Daddy’s more jealous, though–I’m more like the mom who just wants to hear it all while she spills the beans. 

Well, we’ll be visiting the dentist very soon.

Kudos to the Breastfeeding Celebrities

Nope.  I am not breastfeeding any baby–just yet.  I was just enticed to write something about this topic-again-because I read that Nicole Kidman (we all know who she is) has decided to breastfeed her baby.  And so do/did other equally famous celebrities.  Let’s see who to give kudos to:

• Angelina Jolie
• Brooke Shields
• Catherine Zeta-Jones
• Celine Dion
• Cindy Crawford
• Demi Moore
• Gwen Stefani
• Carrie Anne Moss
• Elizabeth Hurley
• Christina Aguilera
• Courtney Cox-Arquette
• Goldie Hawn, and many more.