To start with, I’ve been with a Korean-owned web development company for 3 years. I resigned last February because I can’t see any career growth for me, and the management is on their trial and error phase ever since I joined them until now.

Anyway, I was lucky to have an offer with this US-based web development company. I thought this is a better one, but to my dismay, it was far less than my old company. I was like just a freelancer. No deductions, no benefits, or whatsoever. But they do give very competitive salary. I even don’t have any contract signed with them. But yes, I do go to their office, 5 times a week, 8 hours a day.

Some would think that this is an advantage for me since I am getting all the money. Yes, it’s good. I can get all the money and be richer in no time. But how about my future? How about my ITR, SSS, Philheath, Home funding, and medical benefits? Sometimes, money is not all that counts.

So, I then decided to look for another job while working on this company. I got an offer from one of the top credit card companies here in the Philippines, still web development. I already signed a contract with them last two weeks ago.

Tuesday last week, before going to our office, I told my boss through Yahoo Messenger that I will be resigning from their office effective May 15, 2008 and will be giving him my resignation letter later. He asked why, so I told him the truth. He went berserk, and he forwarded my concern to our CEO, an American lady who is paying a visit to the company’s Philippine site. She was so unprofessional that she wanted me to leave right away, no need to serve the notice period. And guess what, she wanted me to return the light toys (headlamps, used for mining) that she gave to every employee last week. Gosh, so childish, so unprofessional. These bosses were like toddlers having their so-called tantrums. The more reason I need to leave this company.

If not with these unprofessional bosses, I believe that this company has a future in the web development industry. Their product is good, a very good Content Management System,. But if they continue this being so unprofessional, I can certainly conclude that their company will be forever a startup one and no future at all.

So what now? I’m still waiting for my last payout. And unfortunately, my first payout with the new company will still be on June 15, 2008. Gosh. I wasn’t prepared for this. I won’t be having any extra to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Sigh.

Two months ago, a headhunter invited me for an interview with an Australian insurance company. They were in need of Javascript programmers. Since I know how to do Javascripting, I sent my resume through e-mail and she scheduled me for an interview.

This insurance company is only a few minutes walk from my current office. So, I secretly went out and headed to my interview… a typical piracy scenario, Hehe. Anyway, the interview proper went well and didn’t take too long. Only a span of 30 minutes, I was already back in our office.

Their offer is 60% more than my current salary. Hmmm, tempting, isn’t it? Yet, the work that I will be dealing with is not web development anymore. As far as I know, they need Javascript programmers for their in-house reporting desktop tools. No more websites, and I love web design/development so much.

The next day, I received a message from the headhunter confirming that I passed the interview, and she was asking me to go back to her client for contract signing. I was happy upon reading the message, but not quite. Anyway, I made my resignation letter right away and gave it to the IT Manager. He was convincing me not to resign, and he will try to do something with my current low rate. A few days after, he confirmed that the top management already agreed with my salary increase and promotion.

From being an HTML Programmer for two years, I am now the Project Supervisor handling two newly hired HTML programmers. I assumed the position since February 1, 2007.

So, if you want salary increase or promotion, you might want to consider this. But be sure your current employer will do counter-offer. Everything is a risk.

Last December 21, 2006, I attended Cathy’s wedding reception at Diamond Hotel with my fellow officemates. I thought we will be missing her special day since we had a problem with our ride. But surprisingly, we arrived like 10 minutes before the event proper. Thank God!

Anyway, the wedding reception was outstanding. Scrumptious food, smashing music from the Groom’s band, and perfect ambiance. Of course, the wedding reception won’t be complete without the first dance, the pigeons, the bouquet, the garter, and the cake. After all those mushy scenes and phrases, it made me wonder… Will I be having a day like this? Though we all know that gay marriage is not legal and recognized in most countries, I’m still wishing that someday will also be my special day with the guy I want to be with forever. Sigh.

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Station 168 Internet unveiled its landmark in SM Baguio last July 7, 2006. As part of its sister company Sabiclub.com Corporation, we were given different tasks for the opening day. We all went to Baguio last July 6-9, 2006. Woohoo! Vacation galore! Too bad it was raining all day so we can’t do outdoors much. But we surely did enjoy staying in Baguio! Brrr, it’s cold in here!

Our sister company Station 168 Internet celebrated its 5th year last Friday in Azzurro Restaurant, 2/L Sommerset Millennium Building, 104 Aguirre St., Legaspi Vill., Makati City. It was organized by our very own Jane Chua and hosted by Ayan Deato. Cheers to our big boss Dong Hun Lee!

Corporate Executive Search, Inc. offers a full range of HR services, which includes recruitment and assessment, managed contingent staffing, and training needs. In other words, they are called “headhunters”.

Anyway, I made their site design and layout with the help of Joomla!CMS and Adobe Photoshop. You may visit corpexecsearch.com to check on it. So what can you say about my masterpiece? Hehe.

Our company moved to a smaller office space at the same building and floor last Friday. I was really lucky to have my desk just right before the glass window. It is emphatically good to start each day glancing at the splendid panoramic view of Metro Manila.

Part I - Apartelle Getaway (December 17, 2005)

Two of our friends Henry and Arnold organized a Christmas Party held at Robinson’s Apartelle near Boni Ave. Edsa MRT Station. The attendees were all PLU’s (People Like Us… uhm, Bisexuals or some sort) namely Henry & Louie, Arnold & Steve, Topher & Alex, Jim & Brad, Gelo & Gregg, RT & Jerwin, Matt, Rodney & I. It was a potluck event, so we bought Pancit Malabon and Barbeque as our share. We had games, presentations, and some conversations. It was a remarkable experience with our old and new friends.

Part II - Sabiclub.com’s Christmas Party (December 22, 2005)

Our Christmas Party was held at World Music Room in Greenhills, San Juan. We also had games prepared by Jen and Mejie, and a presentation prepared by Kat and I. But unfortunately, our presentation was executed incorrectly due to lack of practice and enthusiasm. It was a short interview-like skit, each portraying a Pinoy Big Brother housemate: Ace as Say, Vench as Franzen, Marnel as Chx, Jen as Nene, Van as Jenny, Kat as Mariel, Jane as Toni, and Me as Uma.

Next was the exchange gift segment. I gave my baby (Kyle) a Reebok bag while my mommy (Mejie) gave me a Starbucks thermo mug.

As the party ended, Kuya Jonard treated us to Starbucks. As always, I had Rhumba Creme. Yumyum!

Part III - Christmas Eve

I don’t have the energy that night. I really don’t know why. It was already 11:00PM and still lying on my bed. But anyway, I took a shower, groom myself, and waited for the clock to strike 12:00AM. Our dinner table was filled with Spaghetti, Fried Chicken, Hotdog, Ham, and Fruit Salad. At 1:00AM, I went to bed.

Part IV - Christmas at Mausoleum

I woke up at around 8:00AM. We went to our Mausoleum where my grandfather and grandmother (mother’s side) were buried. We prayed for their souls and feasted the left-overs from our Noche Buena.

Part V - Pinoy Big Father

After spending few hours at Mausoleum, my two brothers and I left the place and went to Alabang Town Center to meet our father. We agreed to meet at 2:00PM but he arrived an hour late. Delay, Sigh. He was with his brother Tito Archie and family loaded in the van. Thought of him going out of the van, he asked us to get in instead. So where are we heading? I don’t know. Actually, I was planning to treat them to a movie and eat out afterwards. But, they need to buy a ponsettia plant for their sister Tita Malou. Fine. Another delay, Sigh. Now that they had the ponsettia plant, I was expecting that Tito Archie will drop us back at ATC. But no, we went to their sister’s place at Ayala Alabang Village. Thinking that they need to deliver the ponsettia plant right away, it’s fine with me.

So, at my aunt’s place, they pigged out some tuna wrap and pancit. Delay. Fine. To my dismay, my Father together with my Uncle went to the billiards table and played their thing! And he let my brothers watch a pirated copy of King Kong! Tsk Tsk! A very good plan of spending Christmas with our father did not materialize. I hate it. We visited our father not to watch VCD, but to be with him. Being irritated and bored at the same time, it came to my senses that I need to move and do something. So I started encouraging my brothers to go home. It made my Christmas not so perfect.

Part VI - Christmas with Love

Before leaving my aunt’s place, Rodney and I were brewing some plan to go out. We ended up watching the movie Kutob, starred by Marvin Agustin, Rica Peralejo, Alessandra De Rossi, Ryan Agoncillo, and James Blanco. After the movie, we had a small talk with our friends who watched Shake, Rattle and Roll 2K5. Our friends decided to go home at around 10:00PM and since it’s too early for Rodney to go to work, we went to Starbucks People Support Center Building and have my Rhumba Creme and his Creme Brulee.

November 3, Thursday, the last working day for the week since PGMA declared the next day as non-working holiday. After more than an hour of deliberating where to go after work, me and my officemates finally decided to go to Padis Point Antipolo. Yes, you got it right, a long road trip to Antipolo. Hehe!