Nyx' Online Scrapbook

My Days with Smartmatic

2010-07-13T19:56:00.000+08:00

I was one of the 10 Specialty Trainers of Smartmatic-TIM (Oct 2009 to May 2010).

(1. Ryan Dela Paz)

(2. Ella Abunda)

(3. Laurence Pineda)

(4. Santiago Deveza)

(5. Ceasar Aguilar)

(6. Judith Padua)

(7. Krisnika Illescas)

(8. Martheson Lumandas)

(9. Edmund Concepcion)

(10. Angelene Shyr Alvaro)

We were under the lead of Kimo Machado- Operations Manager. Working with him are Jasmin Pulido-Operations Assistant, Jessie Ocampo-Training Coordinator, Dante Caranto-Documentation Lead, Nelson Avestruz-Documentation Assistant and Ceasar Lopez-Manpower Coordinator. All are under the StrongForce of the Operation's Department.

During the entire preparation duration of the Philippine 2010 "First Automated" Election, we got stuck doing lots of surveys, testings, documentations, trainings, simulations and support. Ehemm... Plus parties! Tiring yet full of bonding and fun.

@ Smartmatic-TIM Office

(First Team Bonding Event @ Music 21)

(Voter's Education @ The Fort)

(Christmas Party @ Absinth Greenbelt 3)

(Warehouse Trip in Laguna)

(Inside the Configuration Area)

(Takas Lunch @ Kanin Club, Paseo De Sta. Rosa)

(Training Preparation and Proper @ Times Plaza)

(National Support Center @ Antel Global, Ortigas)

(National Support Center @ Times Plaza, Manila)

Random Pics....

My First TVC-As a Supporting Cast

2009-11-08T21:50:00.004+08:00

It was an exciting Saturday morning, Nov 7. Judy, my co- Specialty Trainer of Smartmatic, and I met at Times Plaza Bldg. in Manila minutes before our call time, 7am. After Judy finished her sumptuous breakfast a Jollibee, we went to the Kalaw St. side entrance of the building to check our service van. This is where we met up with the other Smartmatic people. After long minutes of waiting, we finally head to our shoot site which is Tomas Morato Elem. School. Wandering where is this? It is along T. Gener Street, just between Kamuning and E. Rodriguez Streets in Quezon City.

While in the van, due to boredom, I started watching and recalling the movie-Twilight. This is simply because the Part2 of this movie is about to be shown in the movie houses. Anyway, this movie watching continued until around 1 hour after we've arrived in our destination school.

By the way, I for got to mention that out call time at the school is 8am and we started to head down the road around 8:15am. Silly, right?

Enough of the road...

Upon arriving at the school, we saw Angel, Santi and Edmund at the basketball court corner sitting and chatting. Judy and I joined the Operations team. Few minutes after, Paz, our adopted team mate, came. She completed our TVC Team Operation! Haha! Mart, as texted the previous night, didn't show up due to prior engagements. Dante, hmmm.. Who is he again? Oh.. Dante, the great Indyanero! He never came nor texted us. Haay! Lagot yun tom!

Continuing...

Sa tagal ng shooting ni Lola Angie, while she were cleaning the garden and watering the plants, we were able to eat breakfast there.. Ay! Sina Judy and Angel lang pla. The rest of us just grabbed a juice to drink then went to the van, together with the Regions team, for a short nap. Haay! It was a super boring and time wasting day! Admit it, guys.. Even Heider got bored that's why he left the place! Hahaha..

Since Angel got stuck in her Transformer movie and Judy, Paz and I got so bored.. We went our of the school to explore, and find something to drink or eat... Haha.. Kain ulit! Judy bought coke, and went back to the van, while me and Paz head to the nearest grocery to buy an ice cream cone. We both bought a scoop of Double Dutch ice cream and hurriedly went back to the school to be envied by many! hehe..

Hmmm... Is it time to mention the shooting? Wait lang! Wala pa kasi..

Anyway, after showing off our ice cream, we went up to the building to take a peek on what's happening in the shooting area. The above pictures are shooting scenarios..

During and After Shooting Photos...

To view the video: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=177730839839

Nice Cake Shop

2009-07-22T18:11:00.001+08:00

Grow Island

2009-07-22T16:51:00.001+08:00

I got the correct sequence! Hahaha!

The City of The Pine's Adventure

2009-07-22T15:45:00.000+08:00

Day 1:
Meeting time: 5:30-6:00am; Meeting place: Victory Liner Cubao Station
Departure of Bus: 6:15am
Stopover: Tarlac and Pangasinan
Arrival of Bus: 1:10pm (Victory Liner Baguio City Terminal)

Check-in at Inn Rocio: 1:30pm
Lunch at Dencion's SM City Baguio: 2:00pm
Movie Time (Ice Age 3): 4:00pm
Mass at Baguio Cathedral: 6:00pm
Dinner at Sizzling Plate along Session Road: 7:15pm
Panic Buying of Liquors and Chips at 7-eleven: 9:00pm
Matu Time with Card Games at Inn Rocio: 9:30pm onwards

Day 2:
Wake up Time: 7:00-9:00am
Breakfast Time at Inn Rocio: 8:00-10:00am
Good Shepherds: 10:15am
Mines View Park: 11:00am
Lunch at Burnham Park Eatery: 12:30pm
Burnham Park: 1:15pm
Orchidarium: 1:45pm
Picture Taking wearing the Baguio Shirts at Inn Rocio:2:15pm
Bell Church: 3:30pm
Baguio Market: 5:00pm
Rest and Strawberry Eating Time at Inn Rocio: 5:30pm
Dinner at Chicken Savory SM Baguio City: 7:00pm
Billiards and Matu at Nevada Square: 7:45pm
Sleeping Time: 10:00pm

Day 3:
Breakfast Time at Inn Rocio: 7:00am
Strawberry Fields: 9:00am
Eastern Weaving: 10:00am
Tam-awan Village: 10:45am
Packing Time: 12:00n
Lunch at Cafe by the Ruins: 1:00pm
Victory Liner Baguio City Bus Station: 1:50pm
Bye Bye Baguio City: 2:00pm

Welcome to Manila: 9:30pm
Haba ng Byahe!!!!!!!!!

Negros Showroom

2009-07-05T21:03:00.000+08:00

Plus don't forget to drop by at the Negros Showroom!

This is where you can buy all the souvenir items you can find in the area..

For the food- the best Piyaya is the home baked one, especially made by the sister of our friend, Mrs. Tess Antiporda of Silay City.

Virgie's delicacies of Silay City are the best, too. They have this butterscotch dessert that melts in your mouth. And this sort of white meringue-topped bisquit that my little niece really loved.. :)

For Php 2000, I was able to buy 2 boxes of different goodies for everyone in Manila. Pasalubong for my mom, dad, lola, brothers, their sweethearts, nieces, other ate and kuya plus officemates! And they loved it all!

How I really miss my Negros trip! :(

Reminiscing my Mambukal Trip in Negros Occidental

2009-07-05T20:30:00.000+08:00

As I browse through this website.. "www.goiloilo.com", and saw the pictures posted in in it... I suddenly remembered my 2008 summer vacation in Negros Occidental, same town-Murcia, same resort-Mambukal Mountain Resort.

It was one of the most unforgettable and memorable adventure I had. Too bad, I lost all my photos.. I even had one taken in the sulfur hot spring... and in the bat sanctuary.. Plus, the food! I remember, I even took a shot of the food that we ate! Hmmp! I tell yah.. It's a big sumptuous meal! Very delicious and fresh.. And at a reasonable price, too! "Sayang Talaga!"

But as you can see from the photos above, the place is really awesome.. It's from the site. just browse it. I'm just proud we have such great scenery and wonders here.

Anyway, just enjoy the views.. Hope I can visit the place again.. Soon! :)

Note: Photos are courtesy of www.happysteps.net by kyle @1008 and www.goiloilo.com

Trip to Makati Medical Center

2009-07-01T23:38:00.000+08:00

Today is my first visit as a patient/client at Makati Medical Center.

MMC is a prestigious hospital in the Philippines located in the heart of its Business Center, the Makati City, where almost all the rich and famous Filipino personalities preferred to be treated.

But why such an ordinary gal ended up here? Simply because my Neurologist, Dra. Reyes, told me they have the best facilities and she wanted an expert to read the result of my EEG, Dr. Tanya Perez (I hope that I remember the name right because my doctor's EEG request has been attached with my EEG result and left in the hospital) . So the day after my consultation with Dra. Reyes of Alabang Medical Center, I called MMC for an EEG appointment and after i think less than 6minutes. I already have my schedule. 10am, July 1. It was so easy and fast! And I was so thankful. The person that I talked to for the appointment was very helpful and accommodating, too. Too bad, I forgot to ask for her name. I could have been nicer to put nice commendations about her.

Going back to my MMC trip today... The lobby is huge yet as I enter the building, I can easily notice that the hospital is still under renovation. At least they are improving their facilities and buildings. Too bad, they don't have the luxury of space to expand more. Anyway, aesthetically speaking, Asian Hospital is still my bet. Though, I haven't been to Medical City and the soon to be opened Tagaytay Hospital.

Moving on, the personnel in the information area gave the correct directions going to the EEG area. No arrow signs or markings are noticeable enough to find your way at a shorter time. But it was in the 4th floor, in the " Neurophysiology and Sleep Disorders Laboratory", and besides the Delivery Room.

It was exactly 10am, their clock-time, when I arrived in the Lab. I filled-up the information form, handed over my EEG request, and paid my bill at the Delivery Room area as soon as I arrived. I finished everything at around 10:15am, their clock-time. They called me for the procedure at 10:30am. 15minute-waiting time. not long enough. It's okay and bearable. I even had the time to go to the restroom before the procedure since I expect an hour of EEG just like what I had at CMC.

I was accompanied by Ms. Villamor, the technician, to the EEG room. And my surprise started all there.

It was my second EEG. So who can blame me if I will compare it with the treatment I had with CMC. They both billed of almost equal amount so I expected at least an almost similar ambiance, if not better since MMC is the "best" as most claim. But it was a Big "NO"!

First of all, the MMC EEG room looks like a regular ER or ward of an ordinary hospital and is approximately 3meters wide and 4-5meters in length. It has a very tiny comfort room inside. Anyway, the 3 meter-wide room is divided by foldable divider, with two single hard beds, 1 super hard pillow for each bed (that's on my opinion since I got a very hard pillow that I had a neck pain afterwards), 2 EEG machines, and you are right, it serves two patients at the same time! Comparing with CMC, room is very relaxing. They have a double or queen size bed, comfortable pillow, comforters. They even have a nice rest room inside the EEG room. It was a great hotel type accommodation just for the EEG procedure! Beside the bed is the computer and EEG machine. Plus they have an extension room with a big viewing glass for all their other equipment and accessories and for other observers. LOL.

Second point, the electrodes stuck on my head keeps on showing the "Artifact-that's what I hear from Ms. Villamor" thing on the screen.. She has annoyingly said it and fixed the different electrodes on my head many times.. I guess more than 10 times.. And it made me feel sad and anxious and run thoughts in my mind.. "Will this reading give an accurate one? How sure am I she's putting the electrodes correctly? Thought MMC has the best facilities? " But the technician said she is already working there for 3 years, so, I gues that would be enough experience for putting on the electrodes. Well, I still asked her after the procedure why is she having problems with the electrodes? I even gave my opinion that maybe its time to an EEG machine replacement-meant as a joke.. LOL. And guess what?! She answered me... "No! Sometimes, it malfunction because of the patient! The patient won't relax so it doesn't get recognized properly!" Ouch! I didn't know that it is my fault! She should have told me earlier so I should have requested for another technician and she should not have almost yelled at me and pulled my hair during the procedure! Sigh...

Lastly, my head still aches. And I want it gone! That is why I'm not going to work just to get my treatment and have the relaxation that my brain needs! But how can you relax! As soon as I entered the EEG room, what you can hear frequently is the word "GIRL!" Sort of the technicians' expressions to call each others' attention. "Uy, Girl... you know.. the vacation.. something.. something..." Ms. Villamor tells me to relax! But, they talk too much! She talks too much! How can a patient relax! Aren't they are supposed to just be quiet and instruct us to open and close our eyes if it is already the time to do so! In CMC, only the technician and the patient are allowed to be in the EEG room. They talk quietly. They wanted the patient to relax. They told me that it is important for me to relax, with no extra movement so what they can purely record is my brain waves. They have the same procedure with opening-closing of the eyes, breathing, and light. But CMC allowed me to sleep for a few minutes, too. I don't know why. In MMC, I think they are so in a hurry. As soon as the procedure is done, she said "Okay na. I'll just remove some of the paste on your hair then you can wash it with water at home since it's water-soluble".

After the procedure, Ms. Villamor approached me nicely, swabbing my hair with wet cotton and giving me the intructions on how to claim the result and asking me to fill up the survey sheet. I'm nice with the survey form.

Stop the crap! This is my diary! I can be myself here!

What I feel about my MMC visit.. It was very Disappointing!

Btw... Here are the websites for the Hospitals mentioned above:
Alabang Medical Center-www.alabangmedicalcenter.ph
Asian Hospital and Medical Center-www.asianhospital.com
Capitol Medical Center-www.capitolmedical.org
Makati Medical Center-www.makatimed.net.ph
The Medical City-www.themedicalcity.com

One more Nice Thing!

2009-07-01T00:59:00.000+08:00

<<== MOVIE

CHINESE FOOD ==>>

To watch the much awaited.. "Transformers 2: The Revenge of the Fallen" on its opening date- June 24, 2009 at SM Muntinlupa (take note: first screening at 10:30am!)

Followed by a lunch at Chowking- Pork Chao Fan, Lauriat Meal with Vegetable Soups.

Then go back to bed since I'm still having a flu.

(Sorry, no pictures of me since I'm on an unofficial travel. And that the photos are courtesy of www.crazythemes.com and www.chowking.com)

Something "Nice" about June

2009-06-30T23:51:00.003+08:00

One weekend night out, after hearing the Sunday Mass, we had our dinner at Tia Maria's Restaurant inside Festival Supermall in Muntinlupa City.

Nice place. Good ambiance. Fast service.

It's our first time to try their Mexican Menu... "Plato Gordo paired with mexican rice and a bucket of beer" as suggested by our table server.

It has grilled shrimps, chicken, beef strips, spareribs, onions and lots of spices. It includes also tortillas and three kinds of dips. Among the three, I liked the cream cheese dip because it neutralizes the spicy taste of the mexican rice and the grilled dish. Harhar!

Ow.. I forgot about the beer! I drunk a bit! Nah.. The beer is just for picture taking.. :) Anyway, If you want to know more about the place, you may go to their website, www.tiamarias.ph

Basta... Dine in! It's worth your money! Your taste buds and stomach will surely love the food. :)

(Plato Gordo photo is courtesy of the Tia Maria's Website)

2009-06-30T13:51:00.000+08:00

June 30, 2008-Philippine Time

This month has been so rough for me and my loved ones. I've been visiting the doctor almost trice a week and my expenses for medicines and treatments are unbearable. But is not that.. My undetermined medical state is what troubling the family. Though I can hear no complaints, I know, deep inside their hearts, they are so worried about me.

It started last May 28. It was a hot and tiring day.. I have no car that time. It was broken and had to be brought in the car shop. Anyway, for my schedule, I have a lunch meeting with a Mindanao-Project Consultant in QC, so I have to take a 1-hr long bus-ride from Muntinlupa City and ride the train after reaching EDSA. But, during the trip, I had this terrible headache. Then neck and chest f pains followed. I had few black outs while on the road, too. I really thought I'm experiencing stroke!

But, hey! I'm only 26! I thought.. It's probably the heat.. So it must be heat stroke! So dumb of me.. But who knows?! I have never experienced that! To my luck.. and relief that the end station of the train is a mall., "Trinoma". I feel so saved! They have a clinic there, too. So, I grabbed something cold to drink and went to "The Medical City Clinic" Slowly... Walking very slowly.. 'coz by this time, I'm already feeling very dizzy that I thought that I would just loose consciousness just before reaching the clinic..

At last! The Trinoma Clinic! I was asked to fill up the form. They got my blood pressure.. Then told me to wait. They have a long list of patients that time.. Haay.. Too bad for me! While waiting, and I could not bear any longer, I called up my mom and told her my situation. Syempre... She worriedly yelled at me telling me to go to the ER!

Then, I took a cab and told the driver to bring me to the nearest hospital, which is the "Capitol Medical Center". And there the tiring doctor-treatment quest begun. ( I'll post the results next time)

But "Tomorrow" is a another day.. another month.. a new adventure! Hopefully its a HAPPY one.. So I'm driving my way into it! :)