Times Square

I usually jaunt in Times Square once I've went out from Subway. I usually ride an E - train from Elmhurst avenue where I came from. Times Square was my favorite spot because that is where I can sit down and relax and watch people pass by. I love to stare at those Broadway show billboards while observing some of these agents sell tickets for a Broadway Show for as low as $20. I maximize my time using my laptop sufing the net, checking both my emails and facebook account to make sure I get updated with my network status.

I was so attracted with the lights as soon as the night comes, and thousands of people came across to see these great lights in the city every day. I never felt tired walking back and forth because what inspires me to walk is to make sure I get the opportunity to enjoy what Uncle Sam has given me.

Times Square has become a landmark of my meeting place and that is why I keep coming back there whenever I am in that big city.

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Poor Customer Service

I just thought I would never have to blog about coffee shops but it seemed through this experience of mine, I would have to say I have my final conclusion that somehow, there was no such thing as customer service in the Philippines. The term “customer service” is not in our Filipino dictionary even up to this day because the business practice that we have is so primitive and no wonder we never got out as third world country. Too bad, Business Process Outsourcing or BPO is the only industry who saves our face in the hands of foreign customers through its call centers. They are dead serious about their campaigns to deliver the best customer service to their clients. Most of our industries could not even be at par with those of BPO sector and one of the reasons why may be due to lack of training of personnel.

I had a meeting with my colleague and we decided to have a meet up at The Coffee Bean, Gateway in Araneta Center. Just before heading up to the said coffee shop, I was already at Starbucks Café which was only few steps away to its counterpart, The Coffee Bean. I had a coffee, at the same time surfing the net using my laptop while waiting for my colleague to arrive at The Coffee Bean. I decided to shift place bringing my coffee out since our meeting was held at The Coffee Bean. Outside its premise, seats are available purposely for their customers. I sat down waiting for few more minutes and in my hand was the remaining part of my Starbucks coffee. It was my intention to go inside and get another order but this time I had to wait for my colleague before placing my order so we’ll have more time to talk about while having our coffee. In that moment, a security personnel of The Coffee Bean came and approached me catching my attention that I couldn’t sit down because bringing a competitor’s coffee to their place is prohibited. Of course I would still consider myself as their customer though I still have my own coffee. So I demanded that I won’t vacate the place because I will have to order a coffee but first I need to wait for my peer so we can order once. And that was so clear that I was a customer. But arrogantly he replied, “Di mag-order ka na!” What a nerve, is this how they treat their customer or potential customer so often? So the story did not end there. As soon as my peer arrived, we went inside to get our order. I asked the cashier for a supervisor to complain and that, as soon as their supervisor is available, we want to talk to her immediately if she can approach us outside. Thirty minutes later, there wasn’t even a shadow of her face that show up to grace us with her presence and empower herself for my complaint.

And because of this incident, I promised myself not to go to this place anymore because of poor customer service. First of all, catching a customer’s attention due to bringing competitor’s coffee has become SUBJECTIVE instead of treating me as their customer.

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Staying in Queens, New York

Queens is Little Manila in New York and is home to 85,000 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. My first week in New York, I stayed in Brooklyn and later on had decided to transfer in Queens. I bumped with a "kababayan" and thanks to Tita Julie, for she had led me to finding a place where I could stay safely. The apartment was owned by a Filipino couple at Elmhurst, and the room was nice and clean. You can find a coffee shop just a few steps outside, and a 5 minute walk to subway if you want to go in Manhattan. More Asian cuisines are available for as low as $4.50 a meal and supermarkets too. A lot of Asians are dominated by Chinese, Indians and Filipinos. If I like to go to a Filipino restaurant, it's only 20 minute walk from Broadway to Roosevelt avenue. From 64th to 69th street along Roosevelt avenue, you can find some restaurants like Jolibee, Red Ribbon Bakeshop, etc. At long last, I know exactly where to go the next time around and got some network of friends.

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How to Live in New York

Broadway

It’s been so good that I was back in New York again with a big smile on my face and glance what life is like to be in the Big Apple for the third time. And to someone who belongs to a middle-middle class like me, it is a pre-order in the universe and a continuation of my journey to explore possibility of staying for good in New York soon. Now the plan has become more tangible as I started to live like a real New Yorker; I walk fast surviving the gritty, mean streets of New York, I speak a New Yorker’s twang, I live in a small apartment, I bitch someone in the neighborhood and I have to live with it as everything was filtered through that prism.

I was embraced with the city's countless yellow cabs, glittering lights, skyscrapers and people who are always in a hurry. I don't really feel that I am alone as there are so many things that can be done during day time. You may not be needing a car as all means of transportation are in the city - subway, taxis and buses. A city that doesn't sleep where you can walk around along the avenues. And talk about shopping, H&M, Best Buys, Victoria Secrets, Macy's, Armani Exchange, Gucci,etc; and talk about fine dining, coffee shops and bars, too - a lot. If you like the city life, New York City could be one of the place you are looking for.

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Missing to write on my personal blog

It's been few months since the last time I have touched my personal site. Last March 28, I went back to Bicol for an in important matter; I didn't stay in Pasacao, instead I went for an overnight stay in Naga City. I didn't want to sleep there because last January I had an experience seeing an "entity" who appeared before me while asleep...Scary but yes, it's true. I was with a psychic healer/clairvoyant friend when we first visited the place three months ago and he, too had the same experience..

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No Coins No Ride...

Arriving in Manila, I get to see few changes in the district. “The Exact Fare Only” sign at the MRT station has improved. Oh well, the banner was sponsored by an advertiser. But one thing that’s quite peculiar is to see another sign written on a piece of paper which reads “DUE TO COIN SHORTAGE, PLEASE PREPARE ONE OR TWO PESO COIN. THANKS.” Isn’t that ridiculous? Are they running out of coins as it reaches to hundreds thousands of people paying the ticket for a train ride? Or they just don’t want to do the math for the paper bills? Whatever their reason is, the post is annoying. Are some of these arrogant ticket sellers won’t issue a pass to the paying mass without preparing one or two peso coin, just the same thing that they did in the past if people did not prepare an exact fare? I am just only asking.

Just a few years back, I wrote a blog in a networking site about “Exact Fare Only” that stated the banner should be well presented instead of writing the notice in a piece of bond paper so that it won’t look cheap. Again, it has now improved. As it takes some time to get an advertiser, perhaps they should keep another sponsor for this new notice.

Oh boy, it can’t be denied that there are so many good inventors in our country; just to make everything easier.

So what’s their next post that we will expect to see at the MRT ticket booth? “No Coins, No Ride.”

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Missing to Write the First Day of the Year

I have missed the cut by writing on my personalized blog the first day of this year because I have been so busy with my new found niche, the search engine optimization just to get the business website into the top. Writing articles are mentally and physically draining that even the heat of the computer immersing towards my skin keeps me so enervated. In fact, I was been even off-guard with myself that I no longer hold any good and sound sleep because I really wanted to have new leads and new customers for my business. I am straight with my goal, that is why I am doing everything I could to get the fruit of my labor.

My friend told me that SEO is not an easy job, because she herself is a writer and we are on the same boat. It needs sacrifices, patience because SEO writing is really time consuming.

In due course, everything will pay off because rewards can be found at the edge.

Anyway, it's still a New Year!!!

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About the Maguindanao Massacre

Just few days before the Maguindanao massacre happened, I was half asleep when I saw a vision that something was going to happen. I saw lots of people got killed in the massacre somewhere in the south. I was so vocal about it, then I was able to impart this to some of my friends just before it actually came and happened.

But not to scare everyone, I had another vision, just a few hours ago. In my mind's eye, I am seeing an MRT train going North. My vision was a bit vague at this time, not sure what is going to happen. Just saw lots of people riding the train as if seems like it was over-crowded. I think it stopped, but not really sure about it since my vision was partial and it seems like a puzzle, unsure of the next move. And that may mean destiny could still change...

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Detecting Small Signals

DETECTING SMALL SIGNALS
By: John Madrigal

IN ANY ORGANIZATION, MOST OF THE COMMON ERROR PEOPLE COMMIT IS THE INABILITY TO NOTICE SMALL SIGNALS. THIS FORETELLS PERIL THAT CAN STILL BE MANAGEABLE, OR OPPORTUNITY BENEFICIAL TO ORGANIZATION. IT IS EASY TO LEARN THE SIGN AS SOON AS THE PEOPLE MAKE THE HABIT OF KEEPING AN EYE TO THE SITUATION. IF THE PEOPLE ARE BLIND TO THE SIGNS AROUND THEM, THEY WOULD MISS THE DANGER UNTIL IT DESCENDS RIGHT TO THE HEAD, OR PEOPLE MAY LET OPPORTUNITIES OVERLOOK AND GO TO WASTE. THE ABILITY TO DETECT A SMALL SIGNAL DISCOVERS PLAN THUS PROVOKING SOMEONE TO LEARN THE PATTERN OF HIS OR HER MOVEMENT. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVERT A PROBLEM FROM BECOMING TOO LARGE BECAUSE THAT PHASE COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE ONCE THE EVENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. IF A PREDICAMENT IS DETECTED WHILE IN THE EARLY STAGE OF THE EVENT, IT COULD STILL BE WORKABLE AND EASY TO DEAL WITH. BY DISCOVERING ONE’S DISPOSITION, THE PLAN SHOULD BE MODIFIED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THAT PREVENTS THE ORGANIZATION TO COLLAPSE.
SMALL SIGNALS ARE A TREND AND SIMILAR TO PROPHECY OR FORTUNE TELLING. IT CONVEYS IMPORTANT MESSAGES TO NOTIFY THAT CERTAIN EVENT IS LIKELY TO TRANSPIRE. TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ THE SITUATION CAN AVOID DANGERS AND DISTINGUISH OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANTAGES. ACCORDING TO LAO TZU, THE GREAT CHINESE SAGE, PERCEIVING THE SMALL IS CALLED DISCERNMENT WHILE TO HOLD ON TO THE PLIANT IS CALLED STRENGTH.
THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE SMALL SIGNALS BEFORE A GROWING PROBLEM HAPPENS. LEADERS IN THE ORGANIZATION PLAN AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT A STRATEGY TO THE SITUATIONS BY SCANNING MEN ‘S MOTIVE AND THE INFORMATION COLLECTED BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE. TO UTILIZE ACCUMULATED INFORMATIONS AND TRIMMED THEM DOWN TO MORE SPECIFIC RELEVANT AREAS PREVENT CHANGES FROM INCREASING AND COMPLICATED SITUATION. THUS, KNOWING SOMEONE AND YOURSERLF HAS A VITAL IMPORTANCE IN THE ORGANIZATION. AND THE BEST WAY TO IDENTIFIY A SMALL SIGNAL IS TO STUDY THE CHANGES IN HUMAN BEHAVIOUR SUCH AS THE MOOD AND MOVEMENT OF THE PEOPLE TO CONTROL ANY VARIATIONS BEFORE A CHAOS OCCUR.
TRAINING YOURSELF TO NOTICE PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION IS ESSENTIAL AND REQUIRES TO HONE A SKILL TO READ THEIR MIND AND THIER BODY LANGUAGE, AND BOTH IMPLIES THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT CAUSING FROM INTERNAL STATUS QUO. TRAINING TO SEE SMALL THINGS WITHOUT PROCRASTINATION CONTROLS THE AGENDA AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS THAT ONE CAN COMMIT. IF LEARNING TO IDENTIFY THE SMALLEST SIGNAL BECOMES A HABIT, THIS SOLVES IMPORTANT ISSUES BEFORE IT BECOMES LARGE BECAUSE IT STOPS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SITUATION IN THE FUTURE.
A SMALL SIGNAL IS EITHER BENEFICIAL OR DAMAGING AND IS DETECTED THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIONS, AND THAT IS WHY TO THOSE PEOPLE IN THE ORGANIZATION WHO DEVIATE THE RULE BY THE GRAVITY OF THEIR ERROR MAY LIKEWISE BE CONSIDERED AS OPPONENT.

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A Mind over Matter

I took part in the event called Historic Filipino Town Fiesta held last August 1, 2009 at Temple St. in Los Angeles, California. Aside from the show, one of the main attraction of the said event was several booths set up in both sides of the street where vendors primarily sell food and drinks, promote products and services by giving out some promotional giveaways to visitors. Some of these vendors have a roulette wheel so that contestants can spin it and hitting the spot could win a prize.

Feeling bored and enervated by the hot climate condition while watching the show, I stood up and went to see what I can indulge something different outside. So I made a decision to join people piled up for a roulette wheel game. Just before my slot heads up to me, I visualized the prize that I was obsessed to get and the first prize was a promotional giveaway bag. As I turned the wheel, my mind was set to get the bag and when the wheel stopped, it hit the spot of the first prize! So I got the bag; I went to another booth and this time the prize was to "select what you would like to get" concentrating with my mantra to win the game. As soon as the wheel stopped, it hit the spot where you have to select the prize that you would like to receive. So I picked a bottle of mouth wash; Not contented by the games I played previously, I went to the third booth and this time, the first prize was a t-shirt. But then again, I played the wheel for the third time. So I focused on getting my shirt; My turn came to spin a wheel, and I won and got the garment of my obsession!

So it got validated my scientific and paranormal belief, as my predetermined thought was so strong and I have fully realized that I may have the ability to control things that I would like to recur, as long as it doesn't cost me a money. It was a proven fact that once I focused on something like my some of my goals, it usually happens.

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Filipino Event in Temple St., Los Angeles

August 1, 2009.

I went to Historic Filipinotown celebration in Temple St., Los Angeles and took part on the event. At the side of the street are booths and the stage was set up for performers and contestants. Afficionados and participants gathered as early as 7 a.m. to engage in the fun run. Joining the said event was the superstar Nora Aunor. The Historic Filipinotown is a newly created district of the City of Los Angeles, that makes up the southern portion of Echo Park, Los Angeles, California. It was declared Historic Filipinotown because it was one of the few areas where Filipinos first settled during the early part of the 20th century.

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