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Showing posts from August, 2020

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...

Cheap RC Cola!

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Look what I found!  Guess how much they cost? Only 99 pesos! I bought them from a  truck selling RC Cola products to sari-sari stores (a store that sells sundries) so I think I got a bulk purchase price. Yay!

Is Rice with Black Insects Safe to Eat?

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If you received rice from the government during the period that they implemented a strict quarantine, your rice may have little black insects in them or weevils.  Although there have been reports of people receiving rice from the government already containing bukbok , I certainly did not receive them that way but noticed the infestation only after a few weeks. According to  this article , they appear when rice isn't stored properly. Apparently, you have to store rice in an airtight container (something which I failed to do). Maybe, it's because I buy rice only a kilogram at a time that I never had any problems with proper rice storage before. I do however, remember buying a lot of brown rice in the past and seeing weevils in them after a few months. So how do we get rid of them? According to the same article cited above, you may freeze your rice to kill the weevils or put some bay leaves in your rice to prevent infestation. Is rice with bukbok  safe to eat? The governmen...

Ready For The Second Wave!

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Since the second wave of the virus is at hand and I wanted to be prepared, I decided to buy two very interesting-looking bottles of disinfectants at the convenience store today. In March, some liquor companies that produce beverages like rum and brandy said that they will start to produce disinfectants to help address insufficient supply (at that time). Looking closely, you can make out the name distilleria Limtuaco  engraved in the bottle. I'm pretty sure it used to be a state-owned enterprise during the Spanish colonial era and perhaps later bought by a Chinese since the name Limtuaco sounds like Chinese. During the latter years of the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines, the Chinese intermarried with the natives (to elevate their status in the islands) and later overthrew the Spanish regime.  

Eli's Fresh Bakes

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I was browsing through a Facebook group which I frequently visit when I saw an ad for cakes. I decided to give it a try when I saw the positive comments from other people (herd mentality). 😏 Eli's Fresh Bakes' menu consists of the regular items like banana loaves as well as more decadent ones such as the pineapple upside down loaf. They also have sugar-free cakes. Eli's Fresh Bakes promises cakes that are freshly baked always and they didn't disappoint. The cakes were delivered to my house piping hot from the oven. Normally when  expensive bakeries in the malls  advertise "freshly baked", it simply means it isn't a day old yet and not truly freshly baked. I ordered the Moist Banana Loaf and the Chiffon loaf. The Chiffon cake is something I have been missing from my childhood days in Zamboanga city where most bakeries made them when I was growing up. I paired a slice of each with black brewed coffee and had myself a blast. Both the banana loaf and chiffon...

Is Getting a Pneumonia and Flu Vaccine a Good Idea?

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Now that we are back in a stricter quarantine (due to the overwhelmed hospitals) and there is talk of a second wave that is just around the corner, perhaps you might be thinking of a way to better protect yourself against the virus. Aside from the usual advice of wearing a mask and physical distancing, the Department of Health also encourages people to get a pneumonia and flu vaccine. According to this article , the DOH states that getting those vaccines may lessen the gravity of symptoms if you ever contract COVID 19. Not that I believe everything they say, but I thought that it wouldn't hurt to get vaccinated. Since public transportation is scarce, it's best to look for a clinic or a hospital that is located within walking distance from where you live. Try to contact them and ask for their rates. Yes, I do believe that it is a good idea to shop around for the best rates. Based on my experience, most health centers provide FREE pneumonia and flu vaccines to senior citize...