Miss Philippines CROWNED Miss Earth 2008

It's official. Philippines bet Karla Henry is now Miss Earth 2008. Henry toppled over 84 more contestants for the spot. As usual, the defining moment that truly sets the Filipinos apart from other countries is the ability to see the point and deliver a powerful answer. Filipino beauty contestants are known for their wit and composure in answering tough questions. Except maybe for the famous--- okay, I don't even need to mention her name.

For the final question, the contestants were asked what they would tell president-elect Barack Obama about the global environment if ever they do get the chance to meet. And... seasoned to perfection Henry answered (surprise surprise) education. She promptly answered that she would want global awareness to be included in curriculums of schools worldwide.

Henry also won the Miss Earth Designers Award and Miss Photogenic special award.

Stressful Calls

Irate calls in call centers aren't the only stress-inducing factors that one has to go through to earn some cash. Often these call center agents are paid for the amount of time they take to finish a problem. The longer it takes the worse it looks on their record which can ultimately affect their salary. So it's every call center agent's task to finish the call as quickly as possible.

But then again there are those kinds of callers. They're not really irate. They're just not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Example:

WordPerfect Saga

There's always one. This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired This is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk
employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect
organization for 'Termination without Cause'.

Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!):

Operator: 'Computerperformance assistance; may I help you?' Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect.'

Operator: 'What sort of trouble??'

Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'

Operator: 'Went away?'
Caller: 'They disappeared.'

Operator: 'Hmm So what does your screen look like now?'
Caller: 'Nothing.'

Operator: 'Nothing??'
Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'

Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??'
Caller: 'How do I tell?'

Operator: 'Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??'
Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'

Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'
Caller: 'There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type.'

Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??'
Caller: 'What's a monitor?'

Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??'
Caller: 'I don't know.'

Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'
Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'

Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: 'Yes, it is.'

Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??'
Caller: 'No.'

Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.'
Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'

Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.'
Caller: 'I can't reach.'

Operator: 'Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??'
Caller: 'No.'

Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean over??'
Caller: 'Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark.'

Operator: 'Dark??'
Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window'.

Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'
Caller: 'I can't.'

Operator: 'No? Why not??'
Caller: 'Because there's a power cut.'

Operator: 'A power......... A power cut? Aha, Okay, We've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??'
Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the attic.' Funny Call Center Jokes

Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the shop you bought it from.'
Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'

Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'
Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??'

Operator: 'Tell them you're too ****** stupid to own a computer!

It is these kinds of calls that make an extremely stressed call center agent. Keeping your patience with irate callers is one thing. Keeping it together with clueless callers is another thing.

Call Center Representative from Hell

Okay so I came across this youtube video about a call center agent representative's way of handling a call. The video didn't say much about the exact video and whether or not the one talking is the agent or a customer but I found this extremely funny. Language barriers, it is forever a dilemma. That is why people have been acting so violently against offshore outsourcing customer service functions.



It is funny, yes but it's also the sad truth about call centers.

Tonight Show no longer with Jay Leno

Just in. Jay Leno will be leaving the Tonight Show in the (capable IMO) hands of Conan O'Brien. NBC wants to keep Leno but Leno has already decided to jump ship. At least that's how the short run-down of it goes. The questions start coming up, why now? what will happen to NBC? will Tonight still dominate after this?

Although it is true that Leno has been keeping things in the late-night talkshows gearing in NBC's favor, who are we to immediately judge that O'Brien would not stand a chance? According to this: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080721/ap_en_ot/tv_nbc_late_night

Despite its prime-time woes, NBC has managed to maintain its late-night ratings dominance, although O'Brien has been challenged lately by Craig Ferguson on CBS. Now NBC is attempting a tricky transition based on a promise made nearly four years ago that O'Brien would succeed Leno.

Personally? I like Conan O'Brien. I watch "Late Night" more than "Tonight" and find myself enjoying O'Brien's show more. I don't have any doubts that O'Brien would be able to pull this off. Leno would pose as a great threat to NBC especially if he sides with ABC... the whole Leno-O'Brien thing is controlled when they were both in NBC but if put face to face then that would shake things up a bit. For the better I'm sure.

I can only imagine all their shows, Leno's shows in particular, having a little spike against NBC. That would be cool.

Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2008 Winners

I've mentioned in the previous post how I've watched a couple of short films for Cinemalaya. The winners came out last Sunday.

Here is a quick run-down of the winners:
(from: http://mykiru.blogspot.com/2008/07/cinemalaya-2008-winners.html)

Best Actor: Baron Geisler, Jay
Best Actress: Mylene Dizon, 100
Best Supporting Actor: Yul Servo, Brutus
Best Supporting Actress: Eugene Domingo, 100
Best Full-Length Feature Film: Jay
Best Short Film: Andong
Best Director (Full Length): Chris Martinez, 100
Best Director (Short): Mark V. Reyes, God Only Knows
Best Screenplay (Full Length): Chris Martinez, 100
Best Screenplay (Short): Milo Tolentino, Andong
Best Original Music / Musical Score: Joey Ayala, Brutus
Best Sound: Allan Hilado, Ranchero
Best Cinematography: Jay Abella, Brutus / Dan Villegas, Huling Pasada (tie)
Best Production Design: Cristina Honrado, Baby Angelo
Best Editing: Kats Serraon, Jay
Special Jury Prize (Full Length): Brutus
Special Jury Prize (Short): My Pet
Special Jury Citation: Angan-Angan
Audience Choice Award (Full Length): 100
Audience Choice Award (Short): God Only Knows

... Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised to find that Andong won Best Short Film and Best Screenplay for Short Film. I believed in Andong, I really did. Now that the results came out I am pushed more than ever to watch 100 and Jay.

Cinemalaya 2008: Andong Spotlight

I've managed to watch one set of short films in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2008. For the Shorts A set: they showed Ibang Pamilya, Diamante sa Langit, Angan-Angan, God Only Knows and Andong. The first four short films convey a solemn, if not serious mood. So when the time for airing Andong comes, people welcomed it with open arms and was deemed as an escape from the heavy air that the previous films had.

3-minutes into the film and people were already applauding.

Everyone can relate to the story because it gives a sharp tug to our innate desires and our stubborn nature. If we really, really, REALLY want something, as kids we used to bug our parents to buy it for us. As we grow older we seemed to forget about that already since we have the means to provide for ourselves. Andong reminds us of our persistence and our determination to acquire what it is that we really, really, REALLY want.

I enjoyed Andong and the message it gives to the audience. I really hope it wins... even if it doesn't, "'Nay pengeng bente pesos, bente pesos lang 'nay" will forever resonate in my head.

Alodia is Art!

Probably all hardcore anime fans in the Philippines have blogged about this epic cosplayer at one point in their lives. I first heard about Alodia through one of the anime conventions I go to. At that time she wasn't famous yet.

When I first saw her I was like "Daaaaaamn!!! A cosplayer who looks EXACTLY like the character!" It's one of those rare moments in local anime entertainment that I cherished. Then Alodia got famous (with a face and body like that it was only a matter of time anyway) that's when all the lovers and haters came in.

But I'm not going to revel at how beautiful Alodia is and how much of an EPIC WIN her cosplay ventures are. What I want to point out is her amazing talent (other than the ability to pose in front of the camera and be absolutely stunning) in drawing. Any anime fan would want to draw something like the ones they see on TV. Actually any anime fan would pretty much just want to contribute something to the industry. Whether through stories (fanfiction), wallpapers, subbed anime, dubbed anime, scanlations... we all want to contribute something.

Alodia apparently does not only look good, she's good at drawing too. Forgive me for using such a mundane word, let me rephrase: she's awesome!!! Alodia is one of the blessed few who's just good at the arts in general. I can't repost her artwork here so instead I'll just give you a link to her deviantart page so you can see for yourself: http://blackmage9.deviantart.com/

Enjoy!

Call Center Entertainment

The Philippines has been taken over by the whole Call Center industry by storm. Graduates from top universities flock to BPO companies for high-paying, low qualification jobs. Oh come on, this isn't the first time you've heard this right? No use being onion-skinned now. Admit it, being a call center agent is everyone's Plan B. But while everyone's misconception on the job description of call center agents is being nothing more than answering calls and making calls, we have to remember the kind of circumstance that they are placed in.


Would you really enjoy your job if you get to hear this type of thing everyday?

(taken from: Call Center Jokes)

Customer: Do I need a computer to use your software?

Customer: My computer's telling me I performed an illegal abortion.

Customer: I use Internet Exploder.

Customer: How do I print my voicemail?

Wait... it gets better...

Tech Support: What type of computer do you have?
Customer: A white one.


If you have to go through these every single day, I bet you're going to eventually lose your mind. I know I would. Well it might be good for a few laughs but not when you're having a bad day. Maybe that's why call center agents are paid so much? People wonder why call center agents are given so much for taking calls but what they don't know is how idiotic and stupid (and a lot of times stressful) those calls are. It's like constantly being reprimanded for something you didn't do.

But wait, let's not put all the blame towards the customers. If there are stupid moments with customers like these then it is needless to say that there are also stupid moments with agents. What, you think you can hide under there? Oh we know what goes on in those cubicles. You can't hide from us.


Tech Support: Alright, we're going to perform a checkdisk... that is for us to see if your hard drive has errors in it. Please type in C-H-K-D-S-K...

Customer: What is that again?

Tech Support: C-H-K-D-S-K... that is... C as in Charlie... H as in Harley... K as in Karly... D as in Darley... S as in Sarley... and K as in Karly...



Ohhhh yeah. It does happen ladies and gentlemen. Believe it. There are stories far worse than this one and although they are hilarious, let us remember that call center agents are the front line players of the company. They are the immediate answer-giving body that the company has and how the customers are treated reflects so much about how the company cares for its customers. So these agents go through a lot of quality testing. They get kicked out faster than you can say "Hello?" if they aren't able to deliver their jobs properly. After all, it is the company's image at stake. Some customers swear off products because of a bad customer service call.

Anyway, that doesn't mean we can't have fun with these call center agent entertainment!