oh well..i'm still workin on my next blog....:D

Friday - 28 Sept. 2007 the last day of filing of application for the year's 3rd batch of Civil Service Examination for both professional and sub-professional level. You will need Php 350 for exam fee plus if you do not have a 2x2 ID picture (which has a name taken at the same time) ready with you, might as well spend another 60.00 for that. Surprisingly, nagkita-kita ang mga taga Quedan @ Banawe branch and nagtyagang pumila at naghintay for their name to be called for assesment and payment of exam fee afterwards. Though improved na ang system nila on managing the applicants, medyo may mga blotches parin (uh...owhh... a govy myself too...), but it had gone out slickly up to the finish line . I remember the marshalls that were assigned to their respective posts, they managed to keep the flow controllable naman, worth the wait kase nakahabol sila up to the last day of submission of applications for the said exam.

A week after, some officers at work had arranged a team who volunteer to serve as tutors for the upcoming CSC exam which was set on 28 October 2007 (usually set on a Sunday one month after the last day of filing) to be able to help and give out tips for the examinees on taking the test with ease and confidence. They have been provided with handouts as their reviewer and even had a dry run 2 days before the exam date. It was strictly time pressured para to get used, to read fast with comprehension at the same time. On their review class, nakakatuwa, ang ingay, the exchange of papers pag checking time na, nakakahiyang malaman na mababa lang ang score mo. Some got a high score based on kung anu ang naalala nila during review, exciting..nakakatuwa talga.. As the much awaited date is approaching, sobrang kinakabahan na ang lahat... Tutors have reminded the examinees not to review anymore and being restrained on browsing their reviewers for the last time, instead, advised to have a whole day (a day before the exam - Saturday) of relaxation to avoid cramming on the BIG DAY.

Waking up at not your usual time is almost certainly out of the system, especially if one is "Insomniac". Pero for the purpose of security sa work, syempre Go Ka! (who knows...baka swertehin..). On the school venue, examinee should be in their respective room assignments before the bell rings at exactly 8:00am. One of the examiner ( 2 kase sila assigned each room) began to give instructions on filling out the answer sheet particularly on the personal info portion (the one that has tiny squares/blocks) then, about half an hour the exam proper began. Whirling of the ceiling fans, the crisp turning of pages of test booklets, purring of throat, were the only noise you'll hear inside the test room. Examinees were given at least 3 hours to finish the entire exam, that would be @ 11:30am to be exact (with added 30 mins. para sa mga siguristang magsisagot), so one could take a final check on his answers and may opt to change them. At last, they're done at labasan na from their room. There were all sorts of reactions among them, some utter..."okay lang...", others "grabe ...ang hirap..." ang iba naman tahmik lang at pa smile smile lang....for all we know kinakabahan din sila... :D.

It will take 2 months for the results to be announced and published through their official website. If they got a rating of below the required minimum average rate, that means they didn't make it and will be receiving their certificate of result through mail and will be sent to their given addresses, however, if you got a flat 80.00 or above...YOU PASSED!

Last week, 'twas wednesday afternoon (30 jan.) galing akong ladies room, papalapit palang ako sa desk ko they were teasing me na..sabe ni erick "Opps! magpa juice ka"!, si joyacs naman magpakain daw ako, I was dazed when they said nakapasa raw ako, somebody called up from our HR para ibalita na nakapasa ako. Hindi pa muna nag sink in sa akin ung news, kase parang imposible...hahah...ang hirap kaya ng exam...so i've checked it out sa inet, ang bagal pa naman ng PC namen, si JM pa ang naunang nakabasa ng name ko...RIVERA, ROBINA B. bearing examinee no. 260883. Ako nga! Ang Galing ni LORD! Yes, I did pray a lot at syempre todo review talaga with my kids na naiistorbo ko sa homework nila, bonding parin...Apart from being a certified public servant, eligibles may now have the audacity to yap in with the management in connection to the on-going rationalization among govy offices like ours...or if they opt to get out from their comfort zone, definitely the opportunity is at them to land another tough career in one of the many govy offices in the archipelago. Finally, from a long arduous month of restless nights to the final test...wheewwhhh...!...THEY MADE IT!

Congrats! mga sis and bro! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. ;D

I just want to share this article to everyone, it may be a big help to you guys, especially to those who work with different kinds of people out there---read on..

In every organization or company, there will always be this one person who thinks she has the goods on everyone. The office gossip is the company's walking tabloid. She seems to know who's just been hired, who's about to be fired, who's having an affair with whom, or who's having money problems. The office gossip loves to sit and chat with curious office mates eager to hear the latest stories about the people they work with. She enjoys working having that sense of power by claiming to have knowledge of a co-worker's 'bad behavior.' Take note, however, that the information the office gossip spreads may be twisted versions of the truth--even outright lies.Enjoying being the center of attention, the office gossip--in her quest to deliver the goods, will not hesitate to use clues and hints to bait co-workers for some interesting stories. She can also decide to spread malicious rumors about anyone in the office, even without provocation.

So how does one deal with the office gossip?

1. When she comes to your cubicle to chat, you can just politely nod your head as though listening to her (take note of the pronoun being used here..) tales. However, never ever give our two cent's worth on the gossip she's just shared. She could twist or exaggerate your comments to sow even more dissent in the office.

2. Keep your nose clean by not participating in gossip yourself. Set a reputation as someone who shuns these unproductive activities. Also, don't share anything about yourself and always do your work properly. Never give the gossip the opportunity to diss you or make up nasty claims about you.

3. Lastly, you can always try the direct approach. The office gossip tends to be vague when telling stories in order to draw you out, so insist that she explain or clarify more fully. Realizing that you're not one to accept her narrative at full value. She will most likely stop from saying more, since she would have to embellish her story, which is more often than not already a fabrication.

Oh well, as long as you keep your values intact, u'll know u can't be misslead by one.

God Is Good All The Time! ;D

Of all the communication skills, listening is the most demanding and the least mastered. An ancient philosopher once quoted as saying "We have been given 2 ears and but a single mouth in order that we may listen more and talk less."

First of all, we must want to listen. When one hears a mother's say, "clean up your room," he is suddenly deaf. He does not want to hear that. But when she just whispers, "Here's a quarter, go and get yourself an ice cream cone," he picks the softest signal loud and clear.

To listen we must pay attention. In listening we pay out our most personal and intimate treasure, our awareness, our interest, and our effort in order to receive something in return; a meaning, information, understanding or perhaps comfort or entertainment.

Listening is hard work, which is only we do not give our attention indiscriminately. And above all, listening is a gift. It has been described as one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. Listening requires the use of learned skills. Listening is the communication skill learned first and used most often. Yet, of all the communication skills, it is the least taught and least mastered.

So, practice your listening skills, it may be a key towards a peaceful universe.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! ;D

1. FEEL THE LOVE - Receive the love from the people around you, no matter how small or imperfect. Celebrate every little gesture of love you receive. Make it a big thing! And you'll discover that you'll receive more and more love.

2. BE GRATEFUL - Give thanks for every blessing you receive. Before going to SLEEP, COUNT AT LEAST 5 BLESSINGS YOU RECEIVED ON THAT DAY. Be grateful even for the bad things, knowing there's a blessing inside. Gratitude attracts more blessings to come your way.

3. TRUST - Yes, do all you possibly can! But at the end of the day, stop worrying. Surrender and trust God instead. Believe that the best is yet to come.

4. HAVE A VISION - When you have a detailed, graphic, exciting vision burning in your heart, you can't help but be positive. And here's my true-to-life experience: THAT POWERFUL VISION IN YOUR IMAGINATION WILL ATTRACT ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU NEED TO FULFILL THAT VISION. YOU'LL BE SURPRISED. THE BLESSINGS, WILL JUST COME, ROLLING DOWN AT YOUR YOUR FEET, BEGGING THAT YOU RECEIVE THEM.

5. LOVE YOURSELF - Be deliberate in loving yourself. Respect yourself. DON'T BELITTLE YOURSELF, DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF, AND DON'T CALL YOURSELF DEROGATORY NAMES. Meet your needs. Agressively care for yourself. When you do, others will respect you, love you and meet your needs as well.

6. LOVE OTHERS - Whatever love you give, you receive it back multiplied. So wake up each morning because you want to love. Make love the purpose of your life. When you make love the reason for everything that you do, even if there are dark storm clouds around you, the sun will always shine in your heart.


GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME! ;D

Aahh...Summer is finally here! so as Lent too. Come March/April, what comes into my mind? hot humid weather. HolyWeek---the Lord's time. I am writing this not just because of the Lent, of course anytime can be God's time, except for me the significance of lent is more of the deep essence of being a Catholic Christian. In this time, we get to cease from our regular routine and allow ourselves to be quiet and listen to the voice within our innermost, because God is within Us.

I remember the time when I was still a wanderer in my own spiritual being, I look at Lent as a displeasure occurence every March or April, why? you need to fast (tough for me 'cause I am fond of eating) depending on your capacity, it presses you on to attend to a certain devout activities such as: recollection, retreat, visita iglesia, 'pabasa/pasyon', station of the cross, need to repent...aww...you need to go to confession--I guess this is the stiffest one to do, you need to have a lot of courage to consolidate all your past sins and the recent ones as well...such goings-on needless to say, are a few of the many of being a Catholic Christian that we continue to experience during Lent.

That's how I see Lent not until I have been renewed and joined in a community of pious people, don't get me wrong, it isn't 'bout the community rather, it's the renewal of my personal relationship with the God I have come to recognized living within me.

One of the blessings I received recently is I have gone to confession, yes I did! though at first hesitant not to. It was during the Lenten Recollection held last friday at the office with Rev. Father Peter "Popo" Solis from a Seminary in Binangonan, Rizal. He furnished us with the teachings on the Three Laws: on Reflection, Respect and Remembrance. I would say its one of the blessings, why? read on---

The Law of Reflection

God made us in His own image, but we tend to make God in our own, thus resulting to disappointment, refusing to believe that God has a better plan for us. We keep on redirecting His instruction not that we turned down His thoughts, its because we try to put Him in a box carefully crafted with selfish motives. Of the many causes of disappointments there is the love of money. Remember that, money is a very good servant but a terrible master...I affirmed to that. Perhaps we just have to prompt it in moderation and not to get ruled by it. We should be wiser now as we get older day by day, we should be:

- more delicate of being spiritually matured
- more formed and informed
- more likely to be childlike in spirit;
simple, with less demands of earthly things
- more sensible, to have a sense of propriety

Learn the art of Reflection and be able to be a more reflective human being.

The Law of Respect

What's in the NAME? Dignity, Stateliness, Pride, Distinction. Nowadays, it's tough to get one, specially if one lives in an uprooted civilization submerged in a world of politicking, money making, fame buttressing among other, are merely all-form non-substance.

Being a Christian doesn't have to be a perfect and holy at all times, but being honest and sincere enough to all his thoughts makes one justified. He could also be angry at times, in order to achieve truth and justice. Just "Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say".

The Law of Remembrance

Have you set a regular time to remember God? When I was still a dead Christian, I rarely find time for Him, only on occasions like attending mass (only if I want to), birthdays, baptismal and wedding rites, sad...we keep on investing a lot of availability on things that matters most to us but finds it hard to slot Him in, to our precious time. The key is to have a personal relationship with God and be able to establish it right now, at this very moment. Father Popo instigate to us some of the teachings on the law of remembrance, read and keep them with you at all times.

- attending mass on every sunday is not just fulfilling the duty
as christian, it is renewing the bond with our Creator
- sabbath day is not just for sunday mass, not just a day of rest,
it's a time with God, a time to reflect, a time for our soul to speak to God,
a time to listen and a time to be quiet and just feel the love of God
- again, be able to go to confession as often as you can, why?
to cleanse the soul, to refresh the temple of the spirit,
to keep the channel of blessing flowing without any dispute

Nobody says that life is as easy as counting 1,2,3, neither reciting the alphabet as a,b,c. What we need is a total change of heart, a 180 degree turn from our bad inclinations, a Conversion to sum it up. Start on reformatting your self and rediscover Life with God. There, you will have a good judgment of "Pananagutan", once you begin to entertain "Pagbabago".

Have a meaningful Holy Week!

God Is Good All The Time! ;D

It was an ordinary end of the day's work. I was about to retire in bed and duin' my sheets with my headset on, that unexpectedly it stopped to one of my music station. Djs - one chic and a guy were discussing on 'dealing with one's past', they were actually into it too, speaking out their own experiences on how to deal each one's 'times of yore'. Then quickly it made my way to think of what went before in my being..., I would want to acquaint it with the dealings of love & relationship. As we are always reminded of the gift our Creator had bestowed upon us...that is "free will", in that we are given choices, thus we are free to choose from all the options that are being rolled over to our feet. In such decisions I made during tough times...ofcourse there have been some resolutions had gone out --- 'A-okay'...'some sooo bad'....some were lessons to keep'...well in any way we do have our regrets once in a while and i could say it's what made us more inclined to endure the pain that are yet to come and eventually come out in the open and share it to our associates....friends, colleagues, officemates, connections and families as well.

While they were exchanging points of views on air, it struck me with how the djs label the two kinds of person on dealing with the past, here it goes:

a closet pessimistic (the guy dj type)

• one who keeps on looking back to his unruly history
• one who lets his life ruined by his negative thoughts brought about by their recent or even long-gone break-ups
• one who keepsafe all the memoirs of the past...ei: pictures, greeting cards, letters, fave candy wrapper, tickets from a bus ride (hahah..) and even fave cologne that he used to wear and so much more
• one who keeps on thinking that he was never hurt but when leaved alone.."damn! it's killing me.."

a closet optimistic (the chic dj type)

• one who keeps on thinking that no matter how many long years would it take, soon it will be over
• one who deemed to think that it will take her to where she should be when the time of healing sets in
• one who considers the one who brought her distress, inspite of all the pain, still has something to learn whether it had been a haven of love or a hell of experience
• and last but not the least, when she looks back after all of the hurting, she could pat herself and say...'hey it's gotten alright..'

I could actually hear myself that I am more of a closet optimistic, though at times a pessimistic one...whatever...

Either way, it is in hurting that we are able to increase our faith to live up and move on with our lives.

Be happy at least that you feel pain, because when you begin to feel pain, you are actually starting to heal.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME...;D