and The Oscars go to....

My morning was disheveled.

Grabbed of my most valued sleep, I quit blaming myself for not having slept with my regular 10 hour-slumber when the Actor for Best Performance, Sean Peann said, "For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think it's a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that support," Penn said. "We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

The Oscars I watched today was moving me.

After enjoying Hugh Jackman's opening production number, there were two quotes that moved me this morning. First was that of the handsome Sean.

Another best quote that I heard this morning while I was struggling not to be late in the office because I was glued on the boob tube is from "Milk" writer Dustin Lance Black, who offered an impassioned tribute to Milk.

"If Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by the churches, by the government, by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours," Black said.

What would be better than the best quotes?

Now, let me go to sleep, please. baby, I am so sleepy now. Shall we sleep together, right now? Now na.

Wa budget

Cutting down budget costs

I thought only my company is doing this but in an informal chat with some business executives in Riyadh, the biggest oil company is also on the same track.

Whoever is that President of my country who earlier this month told her countrymen at the embassy in Riyadh that OFWs in Saudi Arabia are not affected by the global economic crunch is totally wrong.

Although laying-off employees is not yet the name of the game, big companies in the Kingdom are implementing budget cuts in stead.

According to one executive, the biggest oil manufacturer is paring down project budget costs.

“Sub-contractual companies that have won millions of dollar worth of jobs were called and asked to return their signed contracts and given substitute with pared down budgets,” the Lebanese executive said.

“It’s a take it or leave it decision that they are implementing,” he added.

The impact would surely affect manpower targets of these projects including OFW deployment and job security.

In the company that I am working particularly my division, we are told to cut around $3 million to contribute to the company’s target profitability otherwise no promotions and bonuses will be given by the end of the fiscal year. The bitter part is that heads will start rolling by then.

In a neighboring country where the mother company is based, a whole floor of the firm is totally cleared of employees and jobs.

Before politicians talk of word of make believe, the people should carefully read the signs of the times.

Along the street where my company is situated, Filipino workers are already being terminated. It may be very few but it is starting.


Haiz!

sponsors and devils

My boss went ballistic again over my non completion of sponsorship transfer. He uttered words like I don’t care, be jailed, will fire you, and more.

I kept my cool. I didn’t get affected. Whatever he says, I just listen to it and put a shield that I will be okay.

I remained focus and finished all the works I line up for the day. I processed two new recruits that arrived today from two countries. Only one more recruit from India is forthcoming for this year as the company had imposed a global freeze on hiring vis-a-vis global economic meltdown, credit crunch, depression, etc. The remaining recruit, I heard is a cousin of my boss’s wife and a co-religious believer of another God of the company.

Earlier, the remaining guy had similar problem on his sponsorship transfer but the company got him a new work visa. He was sent home with a new visa and absorbed directly under the company sponsorship with his salary package almost doubled. While processing his visa back in India, he also got paid in advance for the two months that he was given to complete the visa processing.

I also finished the payroll for all sub-contracted employees including the drivers, teaboys, electricians and janitors.

Before going home, I called my current sponsor who promised me to transfer with “no problems.”

I have to meet my sponsor later this week. I pray to God that this issue hanging on top of my head will soon be over.

I also called my friends and some clients. It was a day. Whew.

rape

nag adhan na. habang nagtatawag na magdasal na, di pa rin maalis sa isp ko kung paano kung sa akin ginawa ang panggagahasa.

kanina sa Filipino market, pagkatapos kong makipagkita sa mga kasama sa kapatiran sa gitnang silangan (kgs), pumunta ako sa manila plaza upang magpaload sa aking bagong talk and plug.

habang nagbabayad ako ay may isang babaeng nakatayo sa harap ng cashier. akala ko ay bata na naghihintay sa kanyang nanay.

"si kabayan o, kawawa, ni rape ng amo tapos pati yung driver ng taxi na naghatid sa kanya, hinalay rin sya," ang sabi ng cashier sa akin.

bilang dating manunulat sa dyaryo, dali dali kong tinanong ang babae.

taga davao pa man din, sa boulivard nakatira.

"ngayon lang ako nakasakay ng taxi. di ko alam saan patungo. dinala ako sa isang lugar at pagpasapasahan akong halayin ng tatlong bombay," ang sabi ni haide sa akin.

siniguro ko na makuha sya ng taga philippine embassy upang madala sa bahay kalinga pero hanggang ngayon ay nasa isip ko pa rin ang nakakaawang mukha ng hinagpis ni haide na nanginginig ang mga kamay at katawan.

noong ilang linggo lang, habang pinangangalandakan ni gloria arroyo sa philippine embassy na walng problema ang mga ofw sa saudi arabia. ewan ko kung may naniniwala sa kanya kasi lang minuto lang bago sya nagyabang ay may inidorso rin ang kgs na kaanib ng migrante international na isang pinay na pagkatapos gahasain bugbugin ng ilang mga lalaking arabo sa riyadh.

kung ako kaya ang naghasa, ano kaya ang gagawin ko? di ko alam. manginginig din kaya ako? sa takot o sa sabik?

haiz.

Fire in the office

Friends are calling and emailing me of job vacancies in Riyadh and other Mid-East countries. Most of these friends know how my work is overloaded and how I am treated in this office.

Well, some of my co-workers may have pitied me but probably also eager to kick me out of my post. While others are exchanging reactions and opinions on job vacancies, others call me on where to have their lunch as I scramble for which work do I have to finish first. Earlier, another employee was calling to inform me that he will be going to a fine-dining restaurant at 4PM. Probably he has no better way to spend his performance bonus. Hmmm.

While bleeding due to the side effects of a doctor-prescribed warfarin, my boss called me to ask where my colleague was and screamed at me when told that my colleague sent me SMS saying he is sick and he is not coming to the office.

Probably threatened of his clout, he asked me to the tenor if I am being disrespectful of not having informed him first.

The question should have been, why did the fuc_ing employee send me the SMS and not the boss. Should the present employee be at fault than the absent employee? Duh.

Meanwhile, the employee that is now tasked to prepare the payroll for contractual workers is very happy that I have done his job as instructed by the boss. The payroll newbie, however, asked me a favor.

He said he lost the “remarks” that I prepared earlier.

His “remarks” are scripted letters to employees to ask them to submit their daily time record. The poor guy could not compose a letter. What an employee.

Another employee this morning asked me when should I be transferred directly to the company.

“The Gods don’t like me,” I quipped as I recalled the last time I asked to be transferred directly the sponsorship of the company my boss replied to me saying, “No. There is no question on that.”

This sucks. I better laugh it off.

But before I could laugh, the security guard called saying a name that is familiar with me.

A terminated employee wished to come up in the office but the colleague he wants to meet has gone to the bank. Am sure they were just eating breakfast there.

I could not entertain this stinking employee. He literally smells very badly.

As the day goes by, I heard from not one employee that my boss was scolded by the CEO for a colleague in the department made a big mistake not once but thrice about acquiring a visit visa.

“If this mistake happen once more, be prepared to terminate somebody, including you,” the rumor-monger quoted the CEP telling my boss.

This really sucks. This now could make me throw up.