Cast and Carry

And so I thought it was a fraud, which I reported to BDO (my bank) right away via email. I was not asking for them to block my account, I was just wondering if it's something that I really bought from somewhere. But I didn't get the best customer service from BDO when they contacted me. Their initial response was if I wouldn't agree to block my card, then BDO won't be held liable to any further unknown charges moving forward. He kept repeating their policy, which I understand. Yet, my only question was, what was the charge for? And so I did my own investigation. I searched online for the code which appears on my BDO mobile app: POS W/D SV Audible US 888-283-505 ATP US ... Then I came across this helpful blog  from RAJ . Thanks, man! I just followed him on facebook by the way. So I did as he instructed, I went to Amazon website and initiated a live chat with one of their best customer service agents, her name is Lizel (Lizel D.) I gave her a 5-star rating. ...

(My call center journey series…) June 25, 2019 … I quit! After 12 years of working in a call center, finally... Yes, I am resigning. I just have to render for 30 days, then it's over. Oh no, don't get me wrong. I love my job here. But I have my reasons... Let me tell you how it all started… God gave this to me. Yes. I remember more than 12 years ago, I was walking along Ortigas, trying to find companies where I could submit my resumes to. I printed more than ten resumes so I must be very careful in choosing to which company should I submit them because I spent 5php per page for colored printing. We didn’t have printer back then, no computer, we had typewriter though. Anyway, so I was wearing a black blazer under the heat of the sun, which was very uncomfy, yet, Nanay said that I should wear that to get a job. Nanay … Yeah, Nanay . I did not trust "me". I didn’t think I could do it. Nanay believed in me. So I prayed for God to give me that job....

Jesus has been pursuing me and it was the year 2013 when I started to see things differently by His grace… and this is how I want to start my journey with Tatay … Tatay is not perfect. He lies – he lied so I wouldn’t see how bad life is. He steals – he stole in his will to give me a better life. He murders – he murdered so he could be with me in every opportunity he gets – he died to himself and did a lot of things that displeased him so he could please me. My father was selfless. He had lied so many times about how poor we were, he tried so hard to make me feel that he was strong and with him, all things could be possible. He was a murderer in a way that he didn’t care about what would bring him pain or suffering for as long as he could spend time with me at least once a month when he was still alive. My father was selfless, and I wish I could be like him. But I… I was selfish. When I wanted to see him, I would message him and would force him to meet me all the way from Laguna ...

The Father of the fatherless is He, according to Psalm 68:5. It was around October 2013 when I first heard the correct gospel. I have been so passionate about serving Jesus. I used to not understand the meaning of being changed from the inside out until it happened to me. The chain smoker, heavy drinker, adulterer “Arby” was gone. I was made new. As I’ve come to know more about Jesus, I always knew there’s more to Christianity, though. I know there would be sufferings, there would be trials, I will be tested. Sometimes I would plead God to be gentle with me. Sometimes I would tell God to take me deeper, to give me a chance to choose Him over anything in the world. Sometimes my faith is strong, most of the time, my faith is weak. Year over year, God has been gracious to me. He allowed my sister and my mother to have a deep relationship with Jesus, too. He also touches the heart of my brother and his partner to go with us every now and then at Sunday service together with their kid...

As I was writing this, I was staring at a bear can – full of love letters. It’s been a while, I still can remember me collecting stationery and choosing the best design for a very special person in my life. I remember the days when cellular phones were not yet so in , and all we had was a landline. I remember spending hours daily with her. I remember those times when Uber and Grabcar haven’t existed yet, and all we had was jeepney. I remember those days … when life was simple yet hard. Yes, love letters. My heart was pounding whenever I receive a love letter from her. I can’t remember the day and time, but I clearly remember the very moment when I proposed to her – if she could be my best friend forever… I wrote her a letter… It took a day before I received her answer, a common friend of ours handed over a sheet of paper – that was not the first letter that I got from her, but that was the first time that I couldn’t open it without praying first. Oh God, what if she said ‘no’? I was...

I'm gonna tell you a story of me and a girl whom I proposed to when we were in high school... I grew up in a poor family. Sometimes we ate only twice a day. I remember our breakfast was just one order of palabok we bought from Aling Charing's karinderya worth 10php, then Nanay would divide it to four of us - me, my two brothers, and her; hers was the smallest portion. Sometimes Tatay would buy us kiddo , a biscuit worth 1php each. We'll get 2 kiddos for breakfast. For lunch we'll buy Menudo from Aling Charing , it was so malasa so one order worth 12php was enough for the family. There were times we ate only fried rice, no viand. In elementary, we went to school having 5php as our baon . We had the option to eat flying saucer (egg sandwich) or buy soft drinks - both cost 5php. I didn't want to bring my water jug in school because it isn't spill-proof and it always caused a mess under my table which I was very ashamed of. I used to b...

Day 13: Tuesday, April 3 I'd say I was completely fine. It was like common tonsillitis. As Dr. Kirt guaranteed, this will be my last tonsillitis. I went to the Borough clinic for my follow up check-up. Dr. Kirt said all were good. Oh yeah, if you only knew Kirt for the past week haha! I was delighted to see him. I felt safe in his hands. God unquestionably picked this specialist for me. He asked me to come back in a month. As a submissive patient, I will. Guys, don't be scared. My experience may be different from yours. I have heard a lot of stories that didn't have to go through so much pain. Just follow the medication as prescribed by your pharmacist. I did not. I chose not to take a pain reliever during my first few days. I was wrong. I should have known that my doctor knows better. So if after 1st, 2nd or 3rd opinion you were told that tonsillectomy is a must, then it's a must. Don't be too dubious. Nevertheless, pray to God. He will grant you with...