little more expose’

So, he went to the airport holding the controversial promotional E-ticket.  The driver, after sending him to the airport, picked me up for work.  After 5 minutes, he called up the driver, asked where we were and commanded us to stop.  So, we did.  The driver suspected that the ticket failed and so, maybe, he had to go and pick him up.  We’re kinda excited to know this.  Hoping.  But no, not this case.  He had a little problem with the baggage.  He exceeded the baggage allowance by 4kg and he refused to pay.  He had to act so disappointed to be asked for an extra amount for what he thought was a considerable excess baggage despite his being a frequent flyer.

He won.

He certainly has a way with things.   But believe me, he’s so wealthy.  I’m thinking he’s not aware that all his wealth will do nothing to him when he departs.

While at home….

His wife informed us that her car’s tint got damaged.   The driver said, maybe it’s because she had it cleaned everyday.  So, she scold the maid for not cleaning it the right way.  And GOD knows what else did she do to the maid.  The driver, then, brought the car to a shop and had it done.  When she tried to drive and examine the work done, she felt that the tint was too dark.  So, the driver went again to have it done again.  But guess what?  The driver had to pay for the retouch.  Why?  Because the wife is never willing to pay for it.

Gosh!  Even the driver!  What a shame!

the promotional offer trick

Another expose’.

The Managing Director flies to his home country, very often (once a month).  He was booked for a promotional offer which requires a minimum stay of 7 days (I think) in his home country before he goes back to the UAE.  They(he and the Manager) booked for that flight.  But he originally intended to be back after 5 days.  Anyway, they booked the flight for the discount.   And then they played tricks.

They called the Emirates to change the return flight, to shorten it to 5 days, according to the original plan.  The employee (Emirates call center agent, I guess) did not notice this and so,  the promotional offer was still considered.  No extra amount asked.

Trick works.

Then, the Director, changed his mind and decided to shorten his stay further- to two nights.  So, the Manager called the Emirates and then made this request.  But the agent, this time, discovered that the price should now be increased to the usual.  He mentioned that the amount should have taken effect the first time they changed the flight schedule.   So, the Manager, after talking to the Director decided not to change the flight schedule anymore.  Leave it, as is.  But, still, they have to pay the extra amount because the existing schedule, was still not within the promotional conditions.

But no, they are not that type.  The mistake has been made not on his part but on the Emirates, therefore, the Emirates should handle it.  The change had been made prior to the latest request and it was fine.  No way shall the Director change his flight to make it to the promotional condition nor shall he pay the excess amount.

The agent, searched on the record and put the guy who made the mistake on the line.  He was made to answer our Manager and then, he admitted his mistake and pointed out that our company had to pay the extra amount.  Manager was shouting, calling everyone on the other line idiot and refusing to settle everything in our side.  The agent was very apologetic and said that the only thing that could be done was for our Manager to make a complaint against him for he admittedly made a mistake.

But the Director said, “No, why would I make a complaint against him?  He’s got no money.  He’s nothing to me!“

The issue went higher to the Supervisor and I think, to the Manager of the Emirates.  In the end, the Manager and the Director got what they want.

I’m wondering if the agent had to pay for the required amount.  I pity him.

When you make a mistake, be sure to suffer from it.  That scared me even more.  I’m not perfect.  I’d commit a mistake how careful I may be.

the lies behind the request

The Managing Director was flying to his home country.  He forgot to request for a wheelchair (nothing serious here, just a temporary medical advice) when he asked the Manager to book his flight.

Know what the Manager did?  He called the Emirates and acted so upset to someone he was talking to, for the E-Ticket did not mention anything about the wheelchair that he did request when he booked the flight.  Lying!  He didn’t request for it.  The Emirates employee (call center agent maybe) got all his anger and told him to just request for the wheelchair by downloading a form from the Emirates site and then faxing it to a number…etc…etc. But the flight was scheduled the very next day, early morning, and he called up around9pm already, meaning, they wouldn’t get the wheelchair they needed, almost impossible to get things done considering it’s already beyond office hours.  So, he got more upset and claimed that he did request for it and the Emirates should be doing their part to fix the problem since it’s their fault anyway.  He screamed.  He demanded for things.  He lied. A lot.  In the end, he got what he wanted.

And I asked him, 

You were lying, right?

He answered,

Ya, sometimes, I do that and you have to sound really really upset and so sure.. that you cause the person on the line to just do his best without anymore checking if you’re telling the truth. You drive them to doing what you want. Sometimes, it works.

guilty but acquitted, what a letdown!

It upsets me- to know that US Lance Corporal Daniel Smith got acquitted of rape that he committed against ‘Nicole’ (code name).   On December 4, 2006, he was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt and was sentenced to serve up to 40 years in prison. Despite that, he was detained not with those convicts but inside the US Embassy!  How very special! (See Rape Case Chronology here). And now, the worst comes, the Court of Appeals, acquitted him considering the crime as an unplanned romantic episode. Ha?  Come again?!?!

The acquittal is a result of a lot of factors, including greatly, the RP-US Visiting Force Agreement.  Who would know this Agreement would cost us (Filipinos) too high and make our sovereignty so negotiable?

It’s just so easy for foreigners  to commit crimes in the Philippines and then claim innocence of their foolish acts, while it is almost impossible for us Filipinos to be considered innocent when we’re involved in a crime in a foreign country, however innocent we may be.

It’s just so unfortunate that we get our asses kicked everytime – whether or not we are truly guilty.

We’re easy.  We’re damn so easy.

Update:

Smith left the Philippines skipping the release process (story here) . Wow!  I don’t understand.   Foreigners are really special.

“[The US government] did not even waste a day … It’s really saddening that justice even here in our country favors foreigners. We are oppressed abroad and we’re still losers here in our own country.”  – Sen. Escudero

i fought back

So, he made a strike again.

This afternoon, he received an email that goes something like this:

I am resending this email….

And down below that mail is the email which he supposedly had received on April 16, but did not (it said, it’s sent on April 16 at 2:43pm). So, he wondered where such unreceived email went. Being the email forwarder of the company, I got the blame. What he did was, he kicked me aside and searched for the said email in the Inbox. It wasn’t there. He searched for it in the Deleted Items. It wasn’t there. So he explained to me that he’s looking for a mail that we supposedly had received but did not and what he did to search for that mail. That means, it’s not that I did not forward the email to him, it’s that, we did not receive the mail. We’re talking about Outlook Express here. To find out further if we really did not receive the mentioned mail, he opened the account from Etisalat website (our ISP). Fortunately or unfortunately, the email was there.  (It’s like we have two mailboxes, they contain the same thing.  Ideally.  Because one is just the copy of the other).

So, what happened? I got the blame.

He said,

The email is not in the Outlook Express Inbox. However, it is in the Etisalat Inbox, that means, you deleted it.

Why are you accusing me?

I’m not accusing you. I’m asking you. What happened? It’s not in the Outlook Express Inbox but it’s in the Etisalat’s. Tell me what happened.

Of course, I don’t know where the mail went. But I know for sure, I did not delete a mail as important as that, plus, remember you told me not to delete any mail? I do not have the right to do that in the first place. And you’ve checked the Deleted Items, it’s not there (I’m not considering permanent delete here). How can you accuse me?

I’m not accusing you, I’m asking you.

You said, it’s not in this place nor in that place, that means, you deleted it. Is this how you ask a question?

I’m not accusing you, I want you to explain.

What do you expect to hear from me? How do you want me to explain? How would I know what happened?

The Managing Director overheard our heated argument, went out, listened to each of us and ceased the fight, no one got blamed. But he said I might have deleted it, accidentally. (I don’t seem to like the sound of this!) We were made to shake hands.

They had a meeting. The Managing Director, the Manager (I was fighting with), the Assistant Manager. They were talking about me while I got myself busy with trying to prove my innocence. The Manager went back to brag about the email’s worth – more than USD 11,000 (hotel reservation). So? Do I care? Even if it costs nothing or even if it costs more than my life, as long as I know I am not guilty, I shouldn’t care. I just raised my eyebrows, the amount, huge it may be, doesn’t give him the license to accuse me, especially in such a rude way.

So I kept myself busy.

The Director called me to his office, told me that it’s acceptable that the Manager got upset with me, that I should respect him because he is my boss, I am just new. Huh?!?! (Even your newest-born child needs your respect sir! I have always been respectful but I never get even a little of it. I figured, we all just don’t deserve it.)

I kept myself busy again.

I looked at the Inbox on the particular date it was received according to Etisalat. Not there. I used Outlook Advanced Search function. Suprise…..Drum roll… The result showed the presence of that particular mail, unread, received on April 16 at 4:43pm (local time). I went to the Inbox again to see if there was an unread mail dated April 16. Nothing. I double-clicked the search result, thus, making the controversial message appear in the Inbox. So, there. There’s the mail, hidden somewhere.

I tried to view all unread messages, and found out that there were a lot more unread messages which were important but were originally not visible when you view the Mailbox the normal way. They were hidden.

So, I showed it to all of them. The Manager was apologetic. The Managing Director was happy with what I just discovered.

I am thinking this is an Outlook 2007 problem. Or our server’s problem. Or the huge amount of mails they refused to delete. Whatever. It’s just weird that we can not see all the messages delivered to our Inbox unless only all unread messages are displayed.

And so, I got a box of Ferrero Rocher from our Manager as a peace offering. Hmmnnnn… There are things that money can’t buy.

ferrero rocher

(Imagine if I didn’t find out the reason behind, they would go on thinking I made the mistake. Imagine if someone who doesn’t know how to experiment with the Mailbox got the blame, I’m sure that person would just swallow the blame and would think, that maybe, he did it.)

i met lisa tonight

I met Lisa tonight. They (boss’ wife, daughter and Lisa) were going to church to attend a service in preparation for the Orthodox’s Easter Sunday. It’s the Orthodox’s Holy Week this week and tonight is their Easter Eve.

I was already aware that the bosses (our Director & his wife) do not like the sight of me (or any other Filipino) and Lisa talking. And so, even though we were sitting very next to each other inside the car, we did not have the usual Filipino chat. It’s even weird coz we were talking not in our dialect (we have same Filipino dialect) but in English to avoid misunderstanding / accusation by her boss.

So, we did not get the chance to really talk. She just kept pressing my hand to signal that I shouldn’t be talking to her as much as I should or else, she’ll suffer (and perhaps, I will too).

We had a very shallow conversation with a few Tagalog words and more English just so the wife won’t accuse her of something. But then, the sound of a few Tagalog words, somehow threatened the wife and made her mad, which resulted to her pointing her fingers to Lisa (much like holding a gun against her) and saying bang-bang-bang. And although she smiled at me, to show that she was just joking, I was scared and so was Lisa. So, we shut up. Lisa conveyed in action that she’d give me a call one of these days (I asked the driver to give her my mobile number days ago).

So there, they are going to church – the wife, the daughter, and Lisa. They are there to join a celebration in preparation for Easter. Sorry, I am judging here. I wanted to say something. I am insinuating something. I’m sorry. I just feel it’s so much of an act going to church, pretending to be something when you can’t even be nice to your housemaid. It’s all a show. I may not be able to tell what’s inside of them but as far as my heart can feel, they do not know what’s the supposed meaning of going to church.

I’m sorry. But let me judge. I just feel for Lisa. I haven’t heard from her (real story) yet. I’m just saddened at the little knowledge and a slight experience of what she is into.

Shouldn’t the belief of us being redeemed make us feel grateful and humbled and thus, would cause us to pass along a sense of gratefulness by at least being nice to others especially those who are serving us with their hearts?

type mismatch

After a series of insults and unnecessary shouts I have received from my boss/es, I chose to be cold when dealing with them.  I chose to be unfriendly. Indifferent.  I don’t react enough as I used to.  The Manager noticed this and made a comment,

You’ve been quiet lately.  What’s wrong?  You used to be so cheerful and smiling and we used to discuss a lot of things.  Is there anything wrong?  Do you have a problem?

Nothing.

Ya?  If there’s anything wrong, tell me.  Ok?  I am a friend.

I’d like to give him an insulting look or make a striking remark. Like, “I am not” or “You are my problem!” or “Are you?” or “That’s so funny.”  But you know, I still can hold it.  So I said,

OK.

He continued,

You know I miss you sitting beside me.

I said,  Hmmnnnn….

I said I miss you beside me.

I just said,

Ya?  You do?  That’s because the one who took my place is absent today.  You don’t have someone to talk with (SCOLD). 

No, it’s not that.  I really miss you sitting beside me.

Toinks!  You know, when rude people say something sweet, they sound so yucky!  (Walay angay ba. Luod)  They had better not say anything at all.  It’s like pairing your pink blouse with an orange sandal or eating icecream while drinking coffee.  It’s like wearing a spaghetti top on winter or wearing red at a funeral.  It’s like being on high heels while playing basketball or taking sleeping pills when you desire to be awake.  Type mismatch! It just doesn’t go with it.  Perhaps, never will.  Don’t you think so?

One day, I’d tell him- “Call your wife or children or housemaid or the driver or the business partner on the other line, stupid.  But never me.  I’m not your wife nor your child.  You don’t own me.  I’m not your possession.  Never use that word on me.  That’s so foul.  Never shout at me when it’s unnecessary, no one has ever done that to me!”

She’s in Misery, Everyday

“You know, our housemaid is also Filipina, just like you.”

“Ya? Do you like her?”

“Yes.  But sometimes, she’s a little stupid.  And when she acts stupid, my mom would slap her, like this (action).”

The above is my conversation with the company (I’m working for) owner’s 5-year old daughter.  I feel for the maid.  She is in the hands of cruel bosses (husband and wife).  And she can’t just resign and look for another boss.  In UAE, it is not so possible.  The boss has the power to ban you from working in the UAE.  So, it’s either she stays or leaves.  She chose to stay, for her family’s sake,  I bet.

She is not allowed to get a mobile phone.  She doesn’t have a day off.  I’m not even sure if she gets to eat well. 

She used to go to our office (2x a month) to clean it, but that was before I came.  Now, it’s the company driver who’s cleaning the office.  Why?  because I am there, a Filipina.  She might tell me things he’d (my boss) rather keep within themselves.

She’s in misery, everyday, for more than 2 years to date.  Her name?  Lisa.  (I saw a copy of her visa somewhere.)

Manager’s Cruelty Today

The Director (owner) called me to his office and asked me to turn an old PC on and start excel or word for his 5-year old daughter who wanted to play. The Manager was right there, when I was asked to. I went to do as the owner requested. Since the plug wasn’t inserted to the outlet, I crawled down under the table to find the appropriate wires and switched the outlet on. The PC’s power light(LED) did not light up, so, I tried switching the outlet back (toggle). Unfortunately, the server was connected to the same outlet and it went off. The Manager then, who followed me immediately after the Director’s request, got mad -

Manager: Did you turn the server off?

Me: I don’t know.

Manager: Did you turn the server off?

Me: Maybe, I don’t know.

Manager: Did you turn the server off?

Me: (pissed off, i uttered what he wanted to hear) Yes!

He was shouting like crazy, to catch everyone’s attention (the Director especially) to scold me like I did commit a crime. He turned the server on and made sounds like he was so disappointed, like it was so hard to push the PC’s power on button, like it would cost him his life. He said, he’d be calling the IT Specialist to make the server work again and it would cost the company, blah blah blah. The Director, who doesn’t have enough technical knowledge got a little upset. I wanted to tell him, I know how to push the PC’s power button and I believe, I can make the server work without them calling the IT Specialist. And I think, it isn’t difficult, although of course, I will not find out until I give it a try. But he was mad like crazy, overacting.

After power on and logging in, things went well. There was no problem at all.

He did not want to appear he was overreacting so he said,

“You see, you wasted 15 minutes of my time just to fix the mess you made! Too little knowledge can be dangerous, Rose!”

Wow!  Where is that coming from?  Did I ever boast about how knowledgeable I am at turning the PC on? I was just asked. I just did what I think is right.

I wanted so much to answer him. But I wanted to find striking words, so I won’t hear him say words again.

And then, I learned from the company driver that the PC that the Director asked me to turn on isn’t working. And the Manager knew it. He did not tell me. He was just right there, waiting for me to commit a mistake and make a big deal out of it to make me appear stupid, esp in front of the owner.

That’s how much of a —- he is! And he thinks he’s perfect, he doesn’t even know how to compute percent increase/decrease. He doesn’t even want me to insert formula on the excel rows (of his file) because it will destroy his data. So, he picked the calculator up and input all the numbersssssss… plus, minus, divide, according to the formula that I needed to tell him so he’d stop guessing how much is the percentage of increase or decrease! How brilliant!

(Sorry, this is the theme of my blog these days. Everyday, I’m dealing with a Manager like him and a Director, like him. Sometimes, the other is less evil than the other. There was never a day, since I came that they forget to remind me of how little I am, and how big they are. There was never a day that they forget to push me to resent the fact that I decided to join them. But I’m fine. I can handle. I hope one day, I’d have the chance to make a positive change in them.)

i cried today

in front of my boss. i wanted to hold it, as least while he was there in front of me, watching. but i couldn’t, my tears live right next to where they’re supposed to drop. very near. just right there, very ready to run once they get the signal.

he’s one of those who couldn’t see anything good. he’s a faultfinder, even when there’s no fault, even when you’ve done something good, even when your motives are clearly right and in place and for him. yes, it’s crazy. and i couldn’t just smile and pretend that i was okay coz i wasn’t. so i cried.

and this is what they call UAE experience, such as the one you’d see in a job advertisement when you’re hunting for a job here (where you have edge over others when you have it), just as Japan experience means overtime.

it’s ironic though because he said he’s fasting (actually abstaining, Holy Week sense).  it doesn’t make sense.  it just doesn’t!