How I lost my job again

Unfortunately, I am unemployed again after being employed for almost 6 months. I still remember the joy I felt when I found a job again after one year of searching. That time, I did not expect that I will be hired immediately. But I never thought it will also end at once and I still wonder why it happened.

Everybody in the office cannot believe the bad news. In fact, it happened so fast that I only realized that it is real when I got home.

With this, I would like to share to you how I lost my job again.

Last February 15, 2010, I was hired as a Manufacturing Supervisor together with a former co-supervisor. We worked in the same company for almost 7 years, so we were excited to work together again. Unexpectedly, both of us lost the job at the same time and the reason is unbelievable.

After more than 5 months of being hired, the Admin Manager together with the HRD Supervisor discussed to me about my probationary status. It was about 3pm and I was busy preparing the products to be shipped-out. I know they need to be completed no matter what happen.

Anyway, the Admin Manager started the conversation by saying sorry that I will lose my job and handed me the termination paper. The first sentence stated that I did not meet the standards required, while the second sentence stated that my probationary employment will be terminated effective August 2, 2010, the day I received the letter.

Although surprised, I try to keep my composure and began thinking how to react. Then I asked them what specific standards I did not meet that caused me to lose the job. According to them, the top management realized that I did not handle the production effectively and they cited a specific condition.

You see, our production line is not a conventional one which means we have no conveyor for the flow of process. But just like others, we have a strict rule of one-by-one process or no batching allowed. Being a Manufacturing Supervisor in my previous job, we have the same rule and I know how important it is to follow this one-by-one process.

However, we experienced unexpected problems such as machine breakdown and lack of manpower. As much as we wanted to, we cannot always follow the rule but we did our best to preserve the quality of the products. There are just things beyond my control and our Manufacturing manager can explain it better.

But what kind of effort I exerted to perform my other tasks? I do not usually count my effort, but I think this time it is necessary to mention them. This is not to cover-up my shortcomings, but to remind them that I know my responsibilities as a Manufacturing Supervisor.

First, my work schedule is 8am~6pm but I know I should come early to check the lines and make a summary report for my manager. I know I cannot make it if I arrive at 7am since he needs it before 8am, which is why I voluntarily come at 6am and sometimes even earlier. I even went on a straight (36 hrs) schedule twice just to make sure that all products will be shipped on time. By the way, we have no overtime pay and I agreed on it before I was hired.

Second, I understand that sometimes we need to extend an hour or more just to finish some reports so I need not to be reminded. I usually go home at 8pm. I even bring home some office work if the target date is very stiff. We also do not have to work on Saturdays and Sundays since we have a compressed schedule, but I usually come on weekends to make reports and monitor the lines.

Third, I conducted an investigation to solve a customer claim issue that lead to the termination of one worker after confirming that he is intentionally not performing his job, skip process that is. In addition, I caught two workers playing games during working hours which lead to their suspension of five days each.

Fourth, I understand that we lack manpower so I did not hesitate to act as a worker for more than a month when they required me to fill-in. This is from 6am to 2pm which means I only act fully as a supervisor 2pm onwards. My co-supervisor had the same experience though and he also understood the necessity of the work.

By the way, I am wondering why the Manufacturing Manager (my immediate superior) and new Plant Manager were not informed about it. Both of them were even surprised upon learning it from us. Therefore, I would like to clarify things. We were not fired. We just did not meet the standards of the top management, whatever that means.

Again, I mentioned them not to lift myself but to remind them that I am very much dedicated to my work. If they did not recognize my selfless effort, so be it. I am not sharing this to attract sympathy. I did not make this post to destroy any name or company.

I am just saying that I did my best but I guess my best was not good enough.

In the end, I know I have to face the painful truth. I lost my job and the more important thing for me now is to look for another employer, as soon as possible.

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Secret Millionaire Grace Groner Donated $7M to Alma Mater Lake Forest College

Grace Groner, a woman who lived in a one-bedroom house in Lake Forest but a secret millionaire, donated $7 million to her Alma mater Lake Forest College at Illinois when she died last January at the age of 100.

Groner, who never got married and never had children finished liberal arts school at Lake Forest College in 1931. She made her fortune after purchasing three $60 stocks of Abbot Laboratories in 1935 where she worked as a secretary for 43 years.

Her donation will help 1,300 students of Lake Forest College take internships and study abroad, experiences that many of them would never have had without her help.

Below is the video report about the story of Grace Groner from ABC's Good Morning America.


Her story truly inspires me and I hope that it also inspires you. This only proves that making money is not the wealthiest way of living but it is how you spend it.

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I finally found a new job after one year of searching

Yes, my friends and dear readers. I finally found a new job after one year of searching. For all you know, I accepted the offer of my former employer to avail the Early Retirement Program last September 2008, to pursue a small business and to be a professional blogger. This is because the automotive industry is declining, as well as the electronic industry. I thought it would be better if I establish myself as a businessman.

But fate has not been kind, as my wife and daughter suffered from Dengue fever last January 2009. That tragedy prompted me to start looking for a new job the next month, while selling different kinds of stuff just to make ends meet. Unfortunately, things got worst than ever and I am just glad that friends supported me all the way.

Below is just among them who helped me find my new job.

Last December 2009, a former co-supervisor saw me selling toys on the streets of Lipa City, Batangas. He readily asked for my resume and told me that he will pass it to their company once they will have an opening, especially for the position of production supervisor which was my last job. Actually, even my former subordinates see me and unselfishly help me one way or another.

Come January or last month, he sent me a text message asking me if I was called by their office for an interview. I told him I haven’t received any, not until the last week of the said month. It was 5:30 pm, and the technical exam will be on the next day, which was Wednesday at 8:30 am. The message said that I need a scientific calculator since the exam will be more about Algebra and Trigonometry.

However, I was wondering if I will pass the exam since it has been 16 years that I solved one which was the ECE board exams last 1993. But indeed, I am more worried where the heck I can borrow a scientific calculator considering that I don’t know anyone who has one. I asked all of my friends but none of them have one. Eventually, the same former co-supervisor who got my resume ended up borrowing a scientific calculator so I can use it during the exams.

Fortunately, I passed the technical exam and I cannot say that it was hard or an easy one. I just solved the problems as much as I could. Afterward, I was asked if I am willing to be interviewed by the HRD manager on the same afternoon as well as the Production Manager who will be my immediate supervisor if I will be hired. Of course, I agreed although I am just wearing casual clothes since I thought it will only be an examination day.

The next day, I received a text message from the same office telling me to prepare for the final interview on the next day which was Friday at 3 pm. This time, it will be a panel interview composing of three top Japanese personnel including the company president and two other local managers. This time, I wear formal attire but I almost came late because my son has an unexpected half day in school and wife is not around to watch over him at home. Although it broke my heart to leave my 8-year old son alone in the house for hours, I had to do it.

We were three applicants for the same position which is Production Supervisor and I learned that only two are needed. Incidentally, one of the applicants is also my co-supervisor on my last employer and I can say that he has been a good one. While I hope that both of us will be hired, I think the chance for each of us is fifty-fifty. But just minutes after we left the company, I received a congratulatory text message informing me that I am hired. I was asked to report early the next week for the salary negotiation and the list of required documents, and I learned that the other two were also hired.

In short, I found a new job with a span of less than a week. I passed the medical exams last week, and submitted all the required documents for employment last Monday. I have 2 sets of company uniform, in which I will start to report for work on Monday, February 15. I decide not to reveal online the name of the company, but it is located at FPIP, Sto. Tomas, Batangas. It is only around 30-minute commute travel from our place, minus the traffic, lol!

For the meantime, I hope that all the job seekers out there can find a job since I know how hard it is to be jobless. Don’t stop searching online and elsewhere; and be ready when it comes.

Although venturing into a business is a smart decision, it is still better if you have a regular source of income before you get into it. We never know what will happen next, and we should always be prepared for the worst that may come.

However of course, I will not stop blogging since it is already a part of my system. In fact, I think I will have more ideas to share especially in terms of job searching and being employed.

Wish me the best of both worlds!

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Merry Christmas: Losing my Religion but Keeping the Faith

Merry Christmas! It is Christmas time once more, and most Christians will be celebrating the holidays with their families and friends. Well, I also join the tradition somehow but I do not consider myself a Catholic or a member of any Christian religion.

Yes, my readers and friends. I am losing my religion but keeping the faith. It is my personal choice, and I am happy with it. I am neither trying to convince anyone to join me nor I am condemning the Catholic church. But I hope you do not mind if I share my thoughts here.

In my resume, I write Christian Baptist since my wife and children belong there. I have high respect for the pastor and his family, and I consider them as a family friend. Although we see each other frequently, I last went to their church more than a year ago and that was when we were new in the community.

To me, religion is different from faith. In every Christian religion, we can always find loopholes depending on our interpretation of the Bible. For example, we cannot find the term Christmas in the Bible although Catholics celebrate it as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

If we will check the real history of Christmas, it did not begin with Christ. Northern Europeans called it “Jul” (a term remembered in the English word Yule, which now means Christmas); in ancient Rome it was the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or "the birthday of the unconquered Sun”. Through sacrifices and feasting, pagans celebrated the beginning of the Sun's revival.

Well, I guess this issue is still being debated by historians. Nobody knows when it will end and who will win.

Nevertheless, I also cannot understand why Christmas is being brought up to children as a gift giving day, which is why Santa Claus is getting more popular than Jesus Christ to them. Sad to say, the tradition is being highly commercialized while the poor children feels miserable if they do not receive a new toy for Christmas.

It is also hard for me to accept that I need to pay for the wedding, baptismal, and even prayers for the dead! I always thought that the gift from God is free.

Meanwhile, giving tithes will lead us to endless debate so I will not discuss it here.

But as for me, miracles do not need physical images. I strongly believe that miracles happens everyday and it starts when we still wake up every morning. I should know, there were a lot of miracles that happened to me in which I shared one of them in an Inspirational book.

In the end, there might be no perfect religion but I am pretty sure there is a perfect God whoever He is. I only believe in the things with logical explanation, and it does need to be scientific or biblical.

I have a high respect for any religion, as long as they do not force me that they are right and I am wrong in terms of faith. Faith to me is a freedom to choose what we want to believe in regardless if it is logical or not. If we want to change our mind, we are also free to do so. After all, God gave us this gift of free willing.

Yes, I may be losing my religion but I will be keeping the faith forever.

But if Christmas is all about unconditional love, sacrifice, and forgiving; then I suppose we need to treat each day as Christmas day whatever religion we belong to.

Merry Christmas!

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My Christmas Work Experience in Japan

Six years ago, I had my first and only Christmas work experience in Japan. I was fortunate to be chosen by my former employer to undergo production training along with other 9 fellow Filipino co-workers.

Actually, I was a Manufacturing Supervisor in my job but my work in Japan is to be a production operator. It did not matter to me at all, anyway. Although I have to leave my family for six months, it was fine with me since I will receive a salary way up higher than my basic pay.

Anyway, we left Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at around 4am on December 8, 2003 and arrived at the Narita Airport, Japan at around 7pm the same day. Their time zone difference I suppose is only one hour.

It was winter so the weather was very cold although snow has not been really falling yet. The next day, we had an orientation about our job and started to work. Before we went home, we learned that the temperature is 5 degree Celsius and we were freezing to death.

It did not take a week when the snow started to fall. I used to wake up earlier than everybody so I was the first one to witnessed the falling snow. It was really amazing for a first timer like me, so I went down and played with it.

A few days later, it was raining snow which started to file up in the streets. All of us played outside and did not care if our Japanese neighbors are laughing at us. In fact, we made a Snowman. Well, it was really a Snow woman as you can see in the photo. By the way, I am the guy in the middle wearing a pair of sunglasses.

Then, Christmas day came and it was an ordinary working day for us according to their culture. When we got home, we had a small party along with some Japanese co-workers. We called our families in the Philippines, and the Japanese were amazed how important it is to communicate with our family.

As the days went by, we learned so much about their culture and vice versa. More importantly, we realized how serious they were at work. This is one of the great lessons I learned in life, to give your best in what you are doing.

Unfortunately, our contract was cut to less than 5 months since we will be replaced by Chinese workers who will receive a lower salary.

But in general, we enjoyed our stay and I hope I can have the opportunity to work in Japan again. However, I still want to live here in the Philippines together with my family.

As they say, there is no place like home.

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Attention: The only Free Investment that you should pay a lot

If you are going to start a business, it is common knowledge that you have an investment to start with. But according to business experts, a smaller investment is better if you are a first timer.

In life, people also need investment that they can use in their future endeavors. Unfortunately, some people do not grab the opportunity and they thought that it will not be useful for them later on.

Apparently, there are a lot of free investments if we will only open our eyes. But then, there is only one free investment that you should pay a lot and this is called attention.

When we were kids, our parents usually remind us to be careful so that we do not hurt ourselves. But since we are not yet matured, we did not follow them. Therefore, it is the obligation of our parents to teach us how to pay a lot of attention.

During our school days, our teachers usually scold us if we are not listening to their lecture. Actually, they did not mean that we should only listen but also to pay a lot of attention. If you did not, you may still be successful someday but there are still times that you will need to use what you learned from school.

When we are attending mass or to any religious gathering, we do not go there just to listen but also to learn how to be a good citizen. And we can only do this if we pay a lot of attention. This is also a good way to analyze whether we are really in the right faith.

If there are politicians running for election, do not be blinded with their popularity and campaign strategy. Instead, listen to their platform of government and pay a lot of attention. This is one of the best ways to know if you should vote for them or not.

If a credit card agent approached you with her sweetest smile and colorful words, do not ask how much you can loan because she will not include how much you should pay. Instead, pay a lot of attention on the terms and conditions. Then think hard if you really need one.

If you are now wearing sliver gray hair and cannot work that hard anymore, fear not because it is never late to invest. Have time to hear the voices of the younger generation and pay a lot of attention. Don’t think that you will not be using them in the future. Well, maybe not you but your grandchildren.

Learning is not just about listening and reading. Investing is not just about money or property. If we want to get the fruit of our hard labor someday, we should start first by paying a lot of attention.

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Making a lot of money but do not get rich

I am not rich, and I am not even making a lot of money. But then, I know some people who are making a lot of money but still do not get rich. Apparently, I met a few rich people who do not look like that they are making a lot of money.

If you are getting confused, then you should know the difference between the rich people and those who are making a lot of money but do not get rich.

First of all, some people who are making a lot of money used to live a simple life. But after they tasted the sweetness of money, their lifestyle changes. They started to enjoy life as if everyday is the last day of their lives.

They eat on a fine restaurant even on ordinary days. They buy the latest electronic gadgets to show off to their friends. They wear signature clothes as if they are the models of that brand. They do not buy properties because they do not know what to do with them. In short, they spend money on the things they do not really need and will depreciate sooner or later.

But how about the rich people? Yes, they spend a lot of money too and maybe even more. They play golf while dealing with fellow investors. They bring their clients to a first class restaurant to close a deal. They spend big money for advertisements and other marketing mediums, or to expand their businesses. If we try to analyze this, every penny that they spend is a form of investment.

Now, have you noticed the difference? The rich people spend money to make more money, while the ones who are only making a lot of money are simply spending. The worst thing is that the latter are spending money more than they are earning, and time may come that they will not be able to make a lot of money anymore.

Therefore, I can conclude that the ones who are not making a lot of money can also be rich someday. That is if they (we, rather) only know how to be a smart spender.

What do you think?

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