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Showing posts from November, 2007

14 Call Center Interview Questions & Answers

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The call center industry is one of the fastest growing in the country these days. As recently as ten years ago, there were only a few call center agents and the word call center was hardly ever used in the country. Today, almost every family has at least one member working in the call center industry. The reason for this boom is partly economics. In the Philippines, low paying jobs are very notorious and while call centers set up shop here because of the low labor costs, Filipinos decide to work for the call center industry because it pays higher than average wages. Consider this: if you are an average worker with an entry level position, you probably are getting paid seven to ten thousand a month; meanwhile, an average employee in the call center industry with an entry level position will get around fifteen thousand pesos a month, plus free dental and health benefits (HMO). Call centers also will pay your SSS (Social Security), PAGIBIG (home building fund), and PhilHealth (health ins
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No te Vayas de Zamboanga Song Lyrics

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No te vayas, no te vayas de Zamboanga Que me puedes, que me puedes olvidar No te vayas, no te vayas, ni me dejes Que yo sin ti, no puedo estar No llores, paloma mia No llores que volvere No llores que en cuando llegue Paloma mia, te escribire Con un pluma de ave Y un pedazo de papel Con la sangre de mis venas Paloma mia, te escribire. No Te Vayas de Zamboanga  is a Zamboangueño Spanish folk song written by Juan Cuadrado, Sr., a Spaniard who decided to stay in Zamboanga after the Spanish soldiers left the country. I read somewhere that this song was used in a Zarzuela entitled De Cavite A Zamboanga . In this Zarzuela , a Caviteña sings this song to her boyfriend who is going to Zamboanga. This is probably why there are versions wherein this song is titled No Te Vayas A Zamboanga . In fact, the English version of this song is translated from No Te Vayas A Zamboanga (Don't you go to far Zamboanga). This title however doesn't sit well among Zamboang
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Zamboanga Hermosa song lyrics

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Zamboanga hermosa, preciosa perlita Orgullo de Mindanao Tus bellas dalagas son las que hermosean Tu deliciosa ciudad. Flores y amores que adornan tu jardin Eres la imagen del bello eden Zamboanga hermosa, preciosa perlita Orgullo de Mindanao. Here is a YouTube video of Zamboanga Hermosa by Major Chords (03:30 mark). Zamboanga Hermosa was written by Vicente Orendain during the early part of the 20th century. It's all about the Chabacano de Zamboanga. Bien Chabacano is the first and only blog designed for Chabacano language enthusiasts which discusses and analyzes Chabacano word origins,Chabacano grammar and vocabulary, and so much more! Click here to visit Bien Chabacano now.
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Week 2 in Manila: Water, Food, and Entertainment

I remember a Muslim friend of mine who told me that food seemed to be much more delicious whenever he is fasting. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims rend to go on fasting and eat only after sunset and before sunrise. I now know what he felt. Understand that in my life back in Zamboanga city, I took food for granted. Food for me was something really accessible that I tend to forget its importance. I don't even get to eat vegetables often. My meals were mostly of meat. In a year, I would eat vegetables only occasionally. My parents seldom cooked veggies. In Manila, I have only bought meat from the carinderia only once or twice in two weeks. Vegetables here are relatively cheap compared to meat. And whenever, I don't have anywhere to go or do, I would eat only once a day since I wake up late already. Now, whenever I eat, I do ravenously but patiently. I savor every bit of food. Water is to be appreciated as well since a gallon of drinkable water costs 30 PHP here. It is surpri
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Week 1 in Manila

Friday- I arrive at Manila at around 7 PM (a tad late from the 4 Pm originally promised by Super Ferry). I was fetched by my uncle (who owned a taxi) and my brother. We immediately went to the house wherein I was going to stay. I got to meet my uncle and cousin (who lived nearby). They were friendly and accommodating. When I arrived at my room, I found a double deck bed, sink, a comfort room, and a shelf. I was thankful that the place was livable. My cousin brought along a fan and a pillow with him (which made my first night at my new residence a bit comfortable). Saturday- When I woke up, I had a terrible backache because I didn't have a mattress yet. I thought about buying food but I was so scared to go outside. At around 11 Am, I gathered the courage to go outside and thankfully I was able to find a carinderia . Then at 2 PM, my uncle came over since he was going to show me around. We first went to SM North. I was about to buy some supplies but my uncle told me that it would b
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My Super Ferry Adventure

What I thought would be a small ship turned out to be a ship that looked like a huge building. The Super Ferry 19 docked at the Zamboanga port around 9 30 in the evening. My mom and I arrived at the Zamboanga port at around 7 PM as told by the Super Ferry employee (although my travel time would still be at 9 45 PM). The chaos at the port was a bit unbearable and turned on the adrenaline rush in my body. When my mom insisted that I take a porter, I quickly refused because I was a bit wary of porters. However, my mom forced me, and I gave in. I am thankful though that I did because the chaos inside the port was more overwhelming and I don't know how I could've gone through all that chaos without a porter. The porter also helped me in the pasikot sikot inside the port. So I guess the almost 200 PHP I paid was well worth it. I paid 50 PHP for the official porter fee and 120 PHP as a tip. Before I could get on the Super Ferry 19, I had to board a shuttle bus and my bags were che
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Manila Ocean Park

A few months ago, my cousins and I decided to go to the Manila Ocean Park. Ocean Park Manila is said to be the biggest ocean park in Asia. As most of you know already, there are also other ocean parks in Asia like the one in Hong Kong and Singapore. Aside from being an ocean park, it also has restaurants, a hotel, a mall, a fish spa, and different exhibits. Manila Ocean Park Location The location of the Manila Ocean Park is at the back of the Quirino Grandstand near the Rizal Park in Manila. Since we were seven in the party, we decided to commute to get to the Manila Ocean Park. Since it was late in the afternoon on a Saturday, commuting, though not a breeze, was bearable. We first made our way to the LRT Central Station. It was the nearest (as far as we're concerned) LRT station to Rizal Park. We then took a tricycle which were ubiquitous when you get off the train station and were taken to the Manila Ocean Park. We still had to walk a few meters though from where the tricyc
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How to get Adsense earnings through Western Union

In my experience, getting your AdSense earnings through Western Union is much more cheaper and safer than the standard delivery and courier option. If you wish to get your AdSense earnings via Western Union, remember to select Setup Western Union Quick Cash * under the Payment Details (which is located under the My Account tab) before the 15 th of the month. At the end of the month (if your earnings have already reached 100 USD, check your payment history and see if payment has been issued. See the payment details for your Money Transfer Control Number ( MTCN ). Now remember that not all branches of Western Union offer Quick Cash. Usually, Western Union branches that offer Quick Cash are the big and main ones. Don't forget to bring two valid IDs. Valid IDs are the following: Passport Driver’s License PRC ID NBI Clearance Postal ID Voter’s ID GSIS e-Card SSS Card Senior Citizen’s Card OWWA ID OFW ID Alien Certificate of Registration Seaman’s Book AFP Firearms
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Asian Idol 2007

Six countries from Asia battled it out last December 15 for the all important Asian Idol title. Mau Marcelo, the first ever Philippine Idol competed against Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The voting procedure was same as the regular Idol show. What's interesting however is that people had to vote for two contestants instead of one. This was done to eliminate national biases. So as far as voting procedure is concerned, it's a fair game to everyone. Hady Mirza, Singapore Idol (season 2), emerged as the victor of the Asian Idol.
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Heaven Sent and Island Vistas

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Port of Zamboanga My fist meal at the Super Ferry 19 Port of Cebu Me in the ship my humble abode M last meal at the Super Ferry 19 My first meal when I arrived in Manila me in my new house I now have a matress, basin, and iron board. I was able to buy them through the help of a friend from my website ( Pinoy Penster Community  *now defunct).
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Sexuality

Recently, I discovered that some people define a bisexual as somebody who likes the same sex but does not cross dress. This concept is a reflection of how ignorant we are when it comes to sexuality. Just some terms I wish to clarify: Straight/heterosexual- is somebody who likes the opposite sex. Gay/homosexual- is somebody who likes the same sex. It can refer to male homosexuals as well as female homosexuals. In the USA, lesbians are often called gay. Transsexual- are men who want to be females and vice versa. Usually, transsexuals cross dress and undergo a sex change. Being a transsexual does not mean being a homosexual. Transsexuals merely want to be the opposite sex. Cross Dressers- are men who dress up as females and vice versa. Cross-dressers are usually gay but gay people do not necessarily cross dress. Bisexual- are people who like both sexes. They may or may not cross dress. They may or may not be transsexuals. Most male homosexuals (especially those who do not cr
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Philippine Idol all over again...

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Yes, it was like Philippine Idol all over again in the K! The one million videooke challenge! In the episode tonight, Mau Marcelo and Jan Nieto battled it out with Mocha, Pinoy Pop Superstars, and others. Mau and Jan Nieto were the clear finalists even in the earlier rounds. They got only a few mistakes and sang flawlessly. Reminiscent of the Philippine Idol days, Mau and Jan stood out to battle in the last round. It was surprising that Jan Nieto didn't sing even once and took a pass all the time (in the last round). And as in Philippine Idol, Mau Marcelo won (over Jan Nieto ) and proceeded to the Jackpot round. Mau Marcelo's K! hilingan went to the GMA Kapuso Foundation (Mr. Manuel de la Fuente ). Her home partner was Domingo Mapola from Pasay . Songs that were sang during the show were Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako , This is the Moment, White Christmas, and My All. Here are some photos from the K! videooke show with Mau and Jan in it.
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Marco Torres

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Marco Torres, a Filipino, will be one of the eight torch bearers in the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Filipinos are all excited for Marco Torres since this will be the only second time that a Filipino will be bearing the torch in an Olympics event. Before Marco Torres won the online competition (of who gets to be torch bearers in the Beijing Olympics), several online personalities campaigned for him. As a result, Marco he received the second highest number of votes. Marco Torres was born last October 24, 1969 in Manila. He is a Marketing Manager for M Moser Associates and a Reporter for Metrozine Magazine. Marco Torres currently living in Beijing (since June 2006). In his profile page at the China Daily website, Marco appeals to the public to make him one of the torch bearers in the Sydney Olympics because he thinks that this might be the only other chance that his country gets to carry the Olympic torch again. Marco Torres believes that a Filipino torch bearer in the Beijing Olympi
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Two Violent Movies in a row

It was last week I believe that I watched 300. It was such a violent movie. It was filled with so much blood and sweat. Now I know why the Iranians got mad over the movie. They depicted the Iranians in a very different manner. No, different is an understatement. They made the Persians look like monsters! Not only did they make the Persians monsters. In 300, they were stupid people with an illusion of a great god leader named Xerxes. I remembered dreaming about cutting off a child's head the night I watched that movie. I remember feeling very guilty in the dream. It was weird. Well just a few minutes ago, I watched V for Vendetta. Remember, remember, the fifth of November! Ohhh , I can never remove that voice off of my head. Remembah , remembah , the fifth of Novembah . Oh glorious Vendetta! I never knew that movie to be so much deeper than I thought it was. It's interesting because the Trumpet magazine talks about a similar future for Europe. Amid all these very violen
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Readers Digest: Then and Now

It's been a few years since my parents stopped subscribing to Reader's Digest. The reason we halted our subscription was the price. It was getting to be very very expensive. Anyway, a few weeks ago I borrowed an issue of Reader's Digest from my aunt. What I found out made me sad and at the same time relieved. The Reader's Digest of today is so freakin' full of ads! Not only that, I found some articles to be so...blog post like. What I'm implying is that I can find several other posts in blogs which are similar (some superior) in quality. Anyway, it's those ads that really annoy me! Probably more than half of the magazine is just ads! Ads, ads, ads! And they aren't even discreet! They are full page ads! I tried reading a Reader's Digest which is my grandma's and quality-wise it's incomparable. Meaning, the Reader's Digest of yesterday is of a very different league.
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How Feminism Destroys our Society

Today, when a woman opts to become a housewife, she is looked down upon. When a woman is asked what her profession is and she turns out to be a housewife, you'll hear her saying that she is a housewife lang (just a housewife). This is proof that radical feminism has poisoned our women's minds. This is especially true in the USA and Canada. In those two countries, women would feel guilty if they are 'just housewives'. In that society, a woman has to have a career for her to be happy. Feminism began when women began demanding the right to vote. However, today feminism is used by selfish people to further their own agenda. Real Feminism should be about women having choices. It shouldn't be about women having to work just to be happy. A woman's role is in the house. She is to take care of her man and her kids. Sure, she can have a career. However, this might impair her ability to be an effective homemaker. Motherhood is beautiful. It is the most rewarding
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Zillr

Just a couple of hours ago, I saw a Google AdSense Ad about Zillr . It read: Zillr - now in the Philippines! Zillr is a social networking website which is not yet very established. It is more famous in other countries. Recently, Zillr has been controversial due to the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) ban to its website. Several people petitioned that the UAE government unban Zillr . Zillr is also popular in India primarily due to its affiliate program. According to this post , you earn 10 USD (?) per referral. Today, Zillr is expanding its operations. It seeks to copy the success of Friendster in the Philippines and nearby east Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. I however doubt that this could happen. Friendster is already a household name in the Philippines. Also, I don't think Zillr offers anything that Friendster does not already offer. But we'll see. Zillr URL: http://www.zillr.com
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Hand Signals in Operating Room

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A couple of months ago, I had my first exposure in the operating room. I was mostly concerned about the hand signals in the operating room. My friends told me that these hand signals in the operating room are often confusing and it might result to the doctor or clinical instructor scolding you. When I searched for 'hand signals in the operating room' in Google, I found no illustrations of these hand signals. I also didn't have any books. And so today I have decided to make a post about the common hand signals in the operating room. Please take note that these pictures were taken by me. So please confirm with your friends if these are correct. Scalpel Curved scissors or Metzenbaun Straight scissors *hand sign is done with snipping action (?) Curved forceps Straight forceps Needle holder (with needle) and suture *hand sign is done in sawing manner Army Navy retractor *hand sign is done in a retracting manner Tissue or Thumb force
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How to get a TIN (Tax Identification Number) ID

First find the nearest BIR. Then be sure to go before 8 AM. You would be needing your: Barangay clearance Sedula Birth certificate (?) Photocopy those documents because the BIR officer will be getting that. After giving them the requirements, you would be asked to fill up a form. Submit the form and wait for your name to be called. When your name is called, approach the officer and your TIN Card will be given to you. Easy as that! :-) Just a disclaimer: I am not connected to any government office so I won't be able to answer any questions that you might have regarding procedures and processes on how to procure documents such as an NBI clearance, an NSO authenticated birth certificate, and etc. All the information that I have is already presented above. The information presented in this post was gathered when I transacted with the Zamboanga city (region 9) branch/office.
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4 Easy Steps In Getting a Police Clearance (from the Philippines)

A police clearance is needed for some jobs (especially those that deal with finance). Here now, is a step by step guide in how you can get a Police Clearance. 1. Look for the nearest police station that issues police clearances First, locate the main police station in your area. Try calling them up and asking them where to get a police clearance or go to the one nearest to you. Usually, it is only on the main branch that one can get a police clearance. 2. Find out what are the requirements for a police clearance from your police station When I got to the Zamboanga city police main office, I saw a long and daunting list of requirements posted on the window but it was a good thing that I decided to ask them about the requirements because it turns out (in my case) all I needed was a cedula  from the city hall and my SSS ID. Note that it would be best for you to go to the police station which issues police clearances in your area to ask for the requirements because, in my experienc
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NBI Clearance Renewal Requirements and Procedures

An NBI Clearance is a requirement for most employers. This blog post will teach you how to get your NBI clearance step by step. The first thing to do is locate the nearest NBI branch to you. You can do that by looking for 'National Bureau of Investigation' (under 'Philippines') in your phone directories. Alternatively, you can look at the online directory of NBI field offices . NBI Clearance Requirements After having located the NBI office nearest to you, prepare two valid IDs (these are the only NBI clearance requirements) and 140 pesos. As a requirement for the NBI Clearance, you may choose to bring any of the following IDs: Valid passport Voter’s ID Driver’s License PRC License SSS ID GSIS UMID Postal ID School ID TIN ID Philhealth ID Authenticated Birth Certificate Alien Cert of Registration Senior Citizen Of course, aside from the valid IDs, please bring your expired NBI clearance. While it is not an NBI Clearance requirement, it may be a
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How to get Authenticated Birth Certificate from NSO (National Statistics office)

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If you are going to take the board exams or apply for an SSS number, you would surely need to get a copy of your authenticated birth certificate from NSO. Nowadays, there are several services that offer to deliver your NSO authenticated birth certificate right at your doorstep. The fee for such services ranges from P315.00 to P350.00. but for those of you who wish to save some money, you can definitely walk in to your local NSO. If you prefer to do it the old-fashioned way, here are tips and a step by step process on how to get your authenticated birth certificates (walk in) from the NSO (National Statistics Office). 1. First, try to locate the nearest NSO Serbilis center  to you. Normally, these are near the city hall or municipal hall in your area. 2. Now get some some sleep and be at the NSO Serbilis center very early. Be sure to arrive at the NSO Serbilis center early or you'll be stuck in a very very long line. Here are the requirements if you are requesting an NSO au
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