A Silver Lining

It has been my habit to listen to music after having said my evening prayers. I do it to further relax myself and lull me to sleep eventually. Last night, as I lay in bed, after being emotionally and physically stressed for two days, I felt the Lord had spoken to me through a particular song that was randomly played on my MP3 player:

Can't Take That Away
by Mariah Carey

They can say anything they want to say
Try to bring me down
But I will not allow
Anyone to succeed
Hanging clouds over me
And they can try hard to make me feel
That I don't matter at all
But I refuse to fall
Doing what I believe
Or lose faith in my dreams

'Cause there's a light in me that shines brightly
They can try but they can't take that away from me

They, they can't do anything they want to you
If you let them inBut they won't ever win
If you cling to your pride
And just push them aside
See I, i have learned there's an inner peace I own
Something in my soul
That they cannot possess
So I won't be afraid
And the darkness will fade

They can't take this
Precious loveI'll always have inside me
Certainly the Lord will guide me
Where I need to go

They can't say anything they want to say
Try to bring me down
But I won't face the ground
I will rise steadily
Sailing out of their reach
Oh Lord, they do try hard to make me feel
That I don't matter at all
But I refuse to fall
Doing what I believe
Or lose faith in my dreams

'Cause there's a light in me that shines brightly
They can try but they can't take that away from me.


Oftentimes, God uses even the most unusual things of this world to teach us something: that we are not alone and that every cloud has a silver lining.

And I won't cry anymore. :)

Lessons from The Sound of Music

When I’m emotionally down, I make it a point to do something uplifting (or crazy!) just to beat the blues away. On the second day of torture, I thought of watching the Sound of Music, my all-time favorite musical movie. Little did I know that I was bound to learn a few valuable lessons…



“When God closes a door, someway He opens a window.”




“You cry a little and you wait for the sun to come out…it always does.”

Just as the Lord closes that one big door, I believe that good things are bound to happen, hopefully soon. I just need to prepare myself and wait for that one particular window to open up. When that moment finally comes, I wouldn't mind passing through that window because I know that it was worth the wait. With the sun shining brightly outside, I shall look back and gaze at the closed door, thankful and full of hope as I embrace whatever the future holds.

In the meantime, I'll simply remember my favorite things so I won't feel so bad...

Doomsday

Well, at least, I didn't get to hear the verdict on the exact date of my first year of employment.

My position was declared redundant. That's what the papers say. Client demands have gone down. A lot of resources were in bench. I was one of them. They need to keep the career pyramid in its proper balance. Business needs, as they reiterated.

There were a few documents presented before me. The HR representative gave me time to fully understand everything that was written. I just stared at it blankly. I was, in fact, reading the words written on the documents but none of them registered on my mind. My mind was processing double-time. Trying to get some answers to questions and planning for the future all at the same time. Still at the end of it, I had no other choice but to sign the release papers. The decision was final.

Soon after, I was returning my badge and company ID. The only thing left was the Avanade ID lace. A bitter-sweet remembrance. Later on, my access was disabled. I became an incognito as the day went to an end.

To grasp everything that transpired was really hard. It was torture. I cried. Big time. I never thought this would happen. It is just so unfortunate that I won't be able to materialize whatever dreams I have of making it big in this company.

I wish to retract what I have written in my blog yesterday. There would be no need for me to look forward to another year. All of them would now be considered as "what-might-have-beens" and "what-could-have-beens".

On the other side, my year in the company has taught me a lot of things: it inspired me to push myself further, i have done things which I never thought I would, I made a couple of good friends, and had the fondest of memories.

I will carry all these things with me along with the hope that I will be better in time.

The Year That Was

Today marks my first year at Accenture. A lot of things, most of them really good ones, happened in the span of one year. Allow me to share a few of these good moments with you as I take you down memory lane. Enjoy the cheese! :)



I was able to meet a few wonderful people (yeah, we had tons of bonding moments all-year round!)



I went to a company outing…first time!


I became a Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Professional for Microsoft Dynamics CRM and a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in Microsoft SQL Server 2005.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/dynamics/default.mspx


I was rolled-in to Cigna-Makalu, my first project
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigna



I performed as a keyboardist for the Denali-Makalu Front Act band during the Cigna FY09 Kick-Off Party (another first!)



I was able to make use of my creative juices in order to help GP2W with Avanade Idol Season 2 (Avanade Duets)


Wow! Time flies really fast and as I look forward to another year ahead, I wish to thank all the wonderful people who have made my first year in Accenture truly exciting and worth remembering. I look forward to sharing more Accenture years with all of you. :)

Lastly, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to a few special people (you know who you are, guys!) who have inspired me to finally “get hold of my cheese”. Err…thanks for not letting my head get caught in a mouse trap! =p

Rumor Has It

I practically grew up hearing all sorts of news – whether rumors or facts. And believe it or not, I often hear these stories in a very unlikely place: the church. I’ve been an active music minister in our parish for the past 17 years. Actually, my ears have grown accustomed to the various stories that have circulated within the parish: from scandals involving priests, down to the intrigues within the various communities, even the personal issues involving certain individuals.

Yes, there were even times when I had my share of the so-called “limelight”, owe it to the fact that I hold a big responsibility which puts me in a position where I can be easily seen by the prying eyes of the other “servants”. I couldn’t count the number times when my name got involved in nasty issues. Now as I look back to these times, it’s just so pathetic to find out that they were just petty ones. What a waste of time!

Well, I haven’t been seriously involved with the church now. I decided to "roll-off" from my extremely toxic task of being the Music Ministry Coordinator, now that the parish has its new parish priest and newly-appointed leaders. I still have my regular 6PM Sunday Mass service, anyway.

Little did I know that I was in for a surprise. ;p

A few weeks back, the person who’s now in-charge of the Music Ministry came up to me and asked me if its true that I was leaving for abroad. I asked him about the source of the information but he simply said that it was the latest news that’s been circulating in the parish. I denied the rumors, of course, and I made mention that probably the reason why this issue has surfaced was because I had my name fixed at NSO and that I was bound to apply for a passport, a primary requirement in my current workplace.

During the wake of a dear friend’s mom, I heard the issue again. This time, the rumor had more weight. According to some “news scribes”, I was bound to leave for Australia. Imagine that, now we have an exact location!

Apparently, the story didn’t end there. Last Sunday, I came across a good friend while doing some window shopping at Powerplant Mall. He asked me if its true that I was leaving for abroad (he didn’t say Australia, though). He said that he was surprised when he heard about the “news” because we’ve met about a week ago and I didn’t mention that I was leaving. What really surprised me was his next line: “Kaya ka daw aalis papuntang abroad kasi hindi ka naman daw naa-appreciate sa parish natin.”

I was flabbergasted! Of course, I denied the rumor and the allegation. Yes, I knew that news have wings but I didn’t know that the wings could be that humongous! Its very obvious that the people behind this issue have been putting words into my mouth. I really couldn’t help but laugh. Should they made it to Eat Bulaga’s “Sa Pula, Sa Puti” contest, they will never win the jackpot prize. Tsk, tsk, tsk!

Well, come to think of it, the rumor was not so bad at all. In fact, I just realized something:

I am still a newsmaker. ;-)

What I've Learned

This morning, came across this email i received couple of years back. It's just so amazing that almost all of the items mentioned here were exactly the same lessons that I have learned from way back and even just recently...

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you have to do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It maybe the last time you see them.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had been something else to take its place.

I've learned that my bestfriend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want then to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy if would be if they believed it.

I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.

I've learned that no matter how good a friendis, they are going to hust you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other and just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

Until Then

Today is my last day at RCBC...though technically, the effectivity of my resignation is on the 16th...the reason being: my official start day is on the 14th...how's that? :p

After the sumptuous despedida lunch given by my LRSD family at Italianis and being exhausted from crying the whole day, i found myself counting my last minutes in RCBC...

And as I finally logged-out from the RCBC Logger System, these thoughts came rushing across my mind...


What I'll miss most about RCBC:

1. September 5, 2001
2. 73202
3. jstorregrosa@rcbc.com
4. Chip, my PC
5. IP address: 10.32.15.147
6. internet access: no1totrust
8. hris id: jst73202, password: yishav
9. local 2315
10. GE phone
11. work area
12. clerical chair
13. Lending & Remittance Systems Department
14. Information Technology Group
15. Central Check Department
16. Signature Verification System
17. Branch Delivery System – SVS Interface (SVSDLL)
18. Replication (BC -> MBC -> OC)
19. SVS – LDMS Version
20. SVS – StockTransfer Version
21. Cash Now Facility and its 6 system interfaces
22. Current Accounts Disposition System
23. SVS Whitebook
24. SVSMBC (a.k.a. SISA), SVS Central Server, 10.0.0.61
25. SVSDMBC, SVS Development Server, 10.32.0.61
26. SVS OC Servers (SVSMMOC, SVSMCOC, SVSDBOC, SVSPBOC, SVSNBOC, SVSCDOC)
27. LDMS Informix Server (Melchora and Emilio II)
28. travel order
29. cash advance
30. Chinabank Checking Account (payroll)
31. 8777222 (MyRCBC Phone Banking)
32. CA Maker
33. Legal Documentation Monitoring System (LDMS)
34. Impairment Testing Template
35. BSP Loans Data Entry System
36. 16/F Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1200
37. RCBC Payroll Account
38. RCBC Plaza Banking Area
39. RCBC Podium
40. long lines in all 6 ATMs within RCBC Plaza
41. RCBC branch codes
42. 8/F & 16/F Data Center
43. lunch out
44. production support
45. CSH (0), SPB (1), PB/NA (2) SVS Access
46. January 16, 2008
47. Junior Assistant Manager
48. Analyst/Programmer
49. “Good morning/afternoon. RCBC-ITG. How may I help you?”
50. “Good morning! Welcome to My RCBC Phone Banking. To transact with your account, please press 1…”

To the wonderful people of RCBC whom I have worked with, thank you for all the memories. met. As the cliche goes, the world is so small that it is impossible that we cannot bump to each other again...until then!