Saturday, November 30, 2002
Time to Celebrate
With absolutely no idea where we're heading, we brought our equipment to SkyCable in Ortigas and hooked it up. At two o' clock in the morning, Liza, Gerry, Joko, Karen and I were all slumped at the Benpres steps trying to figure out how to make the damn thing work. We couldn't get through the TOC's firewall and there was no one who could assist us because it was November 30 and it is a national holiday.
Back then the channel was called TXT 2366. It was supposed tobe named something else but they chose this one so that we could highlight the access number. The funny thing was that number got approved only a few minutes before we went on air. Can you imagine the horror of launching TXT 2366 with a 2331 access number?
We had two S-VHS video casettes to handle the programming. The first one was two hours of music videos cooked up by the generosity of Andre and his team at Myx. The last one were footages used in the infamous (and now defunct) aquarium channel with the audio coming from another PC's MP3 player.
And before Liza even finished her countdown, I clicked the button and went on air. Twelve o' clock is twelve o' clock and we're supposed to go on air on that time.
So began our adventures with the wonderful world of broadcasting.
That was a year ago.
Now Liza's not with us anymore. Mr. Albino Man, William de Lange, was part of the people who got retrenched. Butch's Ringtones and Logos group got sacked and we absorbed Moby. Dan left the team and became a producer for wireless under the guidance of the office's perrenial crush ng bayan. Joko is now part of the mancom.
We'll all be meeting each other again and we'll be celebrating our first year anniversary. Each one has his battle scars. Each one a year wiser. Each person different from who he was a year ago. But we'll be raising our champagne glasses for this milestone. And we'll be celebrating the victory of this team.
Thanks everyone!
12:57 AM
Wednesday, November 27, 2002
It seems like everyone is getting married these days. Mark is scheduled on the 14th of December (I think) and now EJ is scheduled on January 11 next year in Tagaytay City.
With me turning 26 next month, that's only a few more years to go before my personal deadline. I know I shouldn't be too hard on myself but I just cannot help it. Thirty seems to be the target for everyone these days. Beyond that and the whole world suddenly treats you like a loser. Crazy.
Been sitting on the cement flower boxes at the Studio One foyer. The night air was getting cooler as the guys from the office were puffing their cigarettes away.
"Wouldn't it be nice to hear Pasko na Sinta ko?", one of them asked.
No, I don't think so. Not tonight, at least.
10:05 PM
Pwedeh!
That's me and Gerry in the awarding party of the Urban Jungle Adventure Race 2002 in Greenhills! The singer is Blondie from Retrospect. Pwedeh!
12:39 PM
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Hey! Joseph's back online! Finally, the exchange teacher in China has decent internet access... for now. I"m looking forward to more of his adventures in China in future his future entries.
4:43 PM
Monday, November 25, 2002
Quotable Quote
"Hindi pa naman ganon kagalit ang titi ko"
- Morny's response to the saying "Walang pangit sa titing galit"
5:21 PM
Thursday, November 21, 2002
Comfort Food of the Day
My Comfort Food of the Day award goes to The Big Chill's Mango Smoothie. If you're feeling a bit harassed and you crave for something to pamper yourself, order a large one at the nearest The Big Chill store near you. The price is a bit steep (P95.00), but I'm sure the medium size serving will not be enough for you.
What's your Comfort Food?
2:58 PM
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
Hell Month
Sorry for not blogging that much. I've been extremely busy these days. I'm preparing for the first anniversary of my channel. I can't believe it has been a year since we first launched it. Now we will celebrate it on November 30 at the Zillion Discotheque & Pick-Up Bar at Galleria and we will air it live. With virtually no experience in broadcast whatsoever, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope that Mary Magdalene is right. Remember Jesus Christ Superstar?
Try not to get worried, try not to turn on to
Problems that upset you, oh.
Don't you know
Everything's alright, yes, everything's fine,
And we want you to sleep well tonight.
Let the world turn without you tonight.
If we try, we'll get by, so forget all about us tonight.
Aside from that, people keep on bugging me for the T20 ringtone show and other projects. I've finished with some but somehow it doesn't seem that the load is getting lighter. This is turning into a Billy Joel Song. Good thing we've trained the moderators to handle TX2. At least I don't have to do a 2 to 5am shift.
I need a break. I'm looking forward to December, not for Christmas, but a time to rest.
Yes April, you have fans.
12:46 AM
Saturday, November 16, 2002
My trip to Batangas was moved for tomorrow because the BMB jerseys for 2003 aren't ready yet. Sayang! I was ready na to go to Batangas. I had all my stuff at the back seat and my bike on my roof rack. I was excited to be the first one to wear it for tomorrow's group ride. Oh well.
Now I'm in the office. I was supposed to meet up with my officemates for a Saturday night gimmick. I'm still waiting.
9:25 PM
Wednesday, November 13, 2002
I am not Superman, but that doesn't mean that I should stop trying. I'm not asking for the world. What I ask is for them to be fair and give something back. That's all.
I've talked with HR and appealed for something a bit more significant than the P2,900 monthly rate they offered. Sweldong katulong was what I told HR. Our channel celebrities are getting the same rates we give to our househelp. I pointed out to them that these aren't just people who screen messages. If we wanted a language filter, we would have probably developed an automated system. They failed to see that these are actually our community builders and company representatives. They are the ones who bring in the people. And when they face the people, they bring the company's name.
I also asked for a better work area for them. I cannot allow those fucking EIS encoders be placed in the main working area with the regular company employees while my TXTjocks are cramped in one small space with poor aircon ventilation. Those EIS people don't bring in money to the company; they just encode. My TXTjocks do.
I thank God for not making me a manager. At least with my current status it still allows me to see that humans are not easily replaceable. No, I am not one of them. And I will never be.
7:27 PM
Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Barya lang po sa umaga
I managed to get SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig, but sadly I was unsuccessful in lobbying for a significant increase in TXTjock salary rate. He said that we should focus on the costs. We can always get another one when one resigns was his justification. They could always work longer hours if they wanted higher pay. So from a small take-home pay of P2300, they jacked it up to a whopping 26% increase to P2900. Putang ina.
Well, of all the teams, we're one of the few getting positive traffic growth, and I credit this to my TXTjocks. There wouldn't be community if there was no one to build it. So I feel it's only fair to give them something in return. A happy worker is a good worker.
As for the costs, we wouldn't have it if it weren't for his big-buck productions. The return of investment of a top 20 ringtone countdown is small. I even doubt if it would break even without advertising. When would these people ever learn to conduct a project study first before launching anything? I thought they learned their lesson from BroadVision.
What's the point I'm driving at here? Well, when he asks us to conceptualize game ideas overnight, we deliver. When everybody's traffic is going down, we're one of the few going up. We deliver. Now I ask him to increase the TXTjock rates and he can't even give me this. Who should be the director now?
12:32 PM
Friday, November 08, 2002
With only P12.50 in prepaid credits left, I've no choice but to cut ties, temporarily. I have only a thousand bucks left to last me the whole of next week. I predict that by Tuesday or Wednesday next week I will be bringing in the old baonan to the office. The reason why I am in this situation is I have to pay for my credit card dues. That Citibank is truly an establishment of evil and oppression.
9:02 PM
It is two o' clock in the morning and I'm waiting for the channel to go on air. Still haven't fully digested what just happened to me last night. Actually, to be perfectly honest, I am doubting myself for this action. Did I really stop it because I am honestly saying that I cannot get into a relationship with a girl who's already spoken for, or was it just for show in the hopes that she would realize she likes me too and would eventually end up with me? This Tao of Steve is getting to me. (And I curse Alanis for her ironic.)
I have to find time to take out the her Neoprint she stuck in my monitor and consume the can of coke she gave me. I guess these would be additional collection to my box of personal stuff.
Now I have a commenting system. What now?
2:05 AM
Thursday, November 07, 2002
Paglundag sa Dilim
Para sa G. Calasanz
(Isang sa aking tula noong ako'y nasa kolehiyo. Nailathala sa Exclamation Point!)
Lumundag ako sa dilim
Walang naroroon
Naaalaala ko noong may manukan pa kami sa Malvar. Ngayon ko lamang naintindihan kung bakit nagagawa pang kumaripas ng takbo ang isang manok kahit pugot nang ulo nito.
Sa puntong ito, mukhang hindi pa yata nagrerehistro sa aking isip ang bigat ng aking ginawa. Hindi pa nito siguro lubos nakukuha na hindi maaaring tanggapin ng isipan ang umasa sa likod ng kawalang pag-asa.
Nagbabanta na ang sakit. Nakatakda na ang pagdating nito. Hinihintay na lamang. Wala ang pagsubok ngayon. Bukas ito darating. At sa mga susunod pang araw.
Kung kayang tumakbo ng matuli't malayo ng isang manok na walang ulo, ikinitatakot ko ang aking gagawin habang bumaba sa hukay na aking ginawa.
2:11 AM
Wednesday, November 06, 2002
I don't know if it's a good move, but I revealed to her my blogger. I was hesitant at first, but I figured that I might as well reveal the truth. Paglundag sa dilim na nga. Pinagpala na nga siguro kung kakausapin pa ako pagkatapos.
At kung kailan kinamumuhian ko ang ideya ng Pasko, saka naman nila nilabas ang Christmas Tree sa bahay.
11:17 PM
Finally, after a long time, my blog archives are working. Brace yourself and prepare to be jologs as you walk with me down memory lane. I must warn you, though. The main archive page is still to bland.
It's 3:45 a.m. and I'm still in the office. It's the second day for TX2 and I'm already feeling tired. I can't balance staying up late for this and working to improve the traffic in my channel. Something will give soon, and it cannot be me. I should propose for a production assistant for this, or better, a producer for the channel itself. I hope we can iron this out by next week. I have to plan for the anniversary celebration and Chat Fever 3.
For the nth time, niluto kami sa sarili naming mantika. My boss ordered us to do a concept for a gaming channel and so we did. Now, he liked it so much that he wants me to make service grids for it. Now hold on there, partner! It's not as easy at it seems. It's a little bit funny how they push us into these things without thinking about manpower. Shouldn't we have a feasibility study first? If I remember correctly, it was him who said that now that we're doing OK, we should avoid being padalos-dalos and be the critique of our upcoming projects. Well, I guess pasok sa isang tenga at labas sa kabila.
With all the effort the people exerted to this company this year, I would really be disappointed if we didn't get a big bonus. We already earned our first 100 million and it is only fair enough to share it with the people who made it happen.
4:07 AM
I'm crossing my fingers. I'm hoping the size of the Christmas Tree in the office is inversely proportional to the raises and bonuses they'll receive at the end of the year.
2:12 AM
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
Never Drink With Strangers
Two men were drinking in a bar at the top of the Empire State Building. One turns to the other and says, "You know, last week I discovered that if you jump from the top of this building, by the time you fall to the 10th floor, the winds around the building are so intense that they carry you around the building and back into the window." The bartender overhears this and just shakes his head in disapproval while wiping down the bar. The second man says, "What, are you a nut? There is no way in hell that could happen!" The first man says, "No, it's true. Let me prove it to you." He gets up from the bar, jumps over the balcony, and careens toward the street below. When he passes the 10th floor, the high wind whips him around the building and back into the 10th floor window where he takes the elevator back up to the bar!
The second man says, "You know, I saw that with my own eyes, but that must have been a one-time fluke." The first man says, "No, it isn't. I'll prove it again!" And again he jumps and hurtles toward the street where the 10th floor wind gently carries him around the building and into the window. Once upstairs he urges his fellow drinker to try it.
The second man says, "Well, what the hell, it works, I'll try it." He jumps over the balcony, plunges downward, and passes the 11th...10th...9th....8th... 7th... 6th....5th... 4th...3rd... 2nd....1st.... And hits the sidewalk with a loud splat!!
Back upstairs, the bartender turns to the other drinker and says," You know, Superman...you're a real asshole when you're drunk."
3:02 PM
Monday, November 04, 2002
There are days when I wish she'd look at me straight in the eyes and tell me to stop. I'd appreciate that more rather than the eternal wait of wishing for something more.
7:51 PM
My Manic Monday mp3 says it all. We played it loud in the office and everyone who heard it has this little grin on their face. It seems they all agree what hell week this is going to be.
We'll be launching TX2 tomorrow at 1:30 in the morning. It's 6:12 p.m., the page is not yet up and the scrolling text isn't working. God help us all.
I didn't go Batangas this long weekend. Despite loving long drives going to the province, I wasn't brave enough to go head on with the long weekend rush. I didn't even light a candle. All I did was say a little prayer at home for my departed relatives and friends.
I'd like to commend April on cutting ties with her querida. What she did wasn't easy. I should know. I wish have the strength to do it, too.
Lord, help me to remember that there is nothing in this world that can happen to me that you and I together cannot handle.
Days with the Lord
Batch 81
6:17 PM
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You
know how it is when you get bitten by the Pilosopo bug?
Well, I get those sometimes. And the random thought is...
