In a couple of hours, 2013 will expire. And I thought my blog hiatus (or at least the laziness to update it) has been overcome some years back until I checked my latest posts this year--- this is just my FIRST post for the month of December and most likely will also be the last. But yes, I consider this as one of the toughest blog posts annually since this is a year-ender post. Let's see how my 2013 went...
Career: Leaping To New Heights... well, almost. I got my promotion from being a Corporate Communications Officer to Corporate Communications Assistant Manager last April. I owe it all to my boss. She's been very supportive and unselfish. She didn't only give me the chance to do new things in our department but actually left the whole department under my "management" when she (untimingly) gave birth by last week of October. I was psyching up myself for a turn-over by December but her baby has other plans. She wants to see the world earlier than scheduled. Lucky me, the team is very cooperative. I had to lead and give directions to some major activities of the department such as media engagements and crisis management. I've focused on the latter since boss really handles them by herself and so I have no choice but to engage with them while she's gone. Interesting to note, though, that they seem to come very often before this year ends and while boss is on maternity leave. honestly, it is an overwhelming experience. I take it as an opportunity to prove myself and see if I am ready for another step up the corporate ladder. Seriously, it is the first time I actually earned a "managerial" job description. While I remain a senior to my previous jobs in terms of work experience and even coaching other colleagues with their work, it is only now that I am given the "managerial" title. And yes, it comes with an increase in basic pay. But this leap to new heights seems to lack something, somewhere. Then I realized that I don't get much compensation as compared to the work hours I give. Well, basic requirement calls for a 6-day workweek, 9 hours a day (inclusive of 1 hour lunch break) with 2 15-minute breaks. But thing is, the company has been overlooking the welfare of the employees in some aspects. For instance, clocking supervisors/officers and up aren't entitled for an overtime pay but are deducted (pay) if they come in pass the grace period of fifteen minutes. Isn't there an offset? Yes. BUT... you may only avail your offset IF you have accumulated 5 straight hours of overtime. Otherwise, it's thank you. Fair? Not at all. I've once inquired if these clocking supervisors/officers (and up) can at least be offered a flexible work time to complete the required 8-hour duty a day but I got no response from the human resources people. Then you only get 5 official leaves (VL & SL combined) for the whole year! When I left my job as a news writer, I was looking for the job that will keep me until retirement age and I thought I've found it. I'm giving the company another year to see if there will be improvements on the employees benefits (but announcing to everyone, even before the work days of December are through, that the 15-minute grace period is being removed starting first day of work in 2014 isn't a good sign at all). Good thing I still love my job. I still love what I am doing. And I still love the people I work with. These are the things that still keep me a slave to the 830 to 530, 6-days-a-week job.
Family: 2013 - A Year for Homecoming? This year must be the favorite year for the homecoming of the balikbayans.
My sister's whole family visited Manila for three weeks and mom also
arrived a week after they flew back to Toronto. I was just too glad to
see my nephews and niece after our wedding in 2008. It's just
frustrating to realize that you just have very limited time to be with
them due to the many obligations at work. And to think, their
homecoming doesn't happen very often. Well, I just have to be thankful
for the 1-day trip to Enchanted Kingdom with them together with my two
girls. It was a priceless day enjoying the rides with your long-missed
nephews and niece and seeing them playing and enjoying with my little
girl makes everything more precious. Too bad they have to leave so
soon... As for my mom, it will be a long stay for her with us until
February. I just can't imagine what she'll be doing or how bored she
can get with that long vacation schedule.
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| The Josons posing with my two girls before leaving for Toronto |
This year, we have inquired a school for our little girl. Wifey & I went to this kids school owned by Camille Pratts. We inquired about the tuition fee (of course), the K to 12 program of the Department of Education, looked into the school facilities and surroundings, and inquired about the number of students per class. It's a good enough, we both think. So we're now focusing on her debut to school this coming summer and formally enroll her for school year 2014-2015. Geez.. I'm gonna miss my little girl. She'll begin to be more attached with school friends and will not care much about my arrival from work every end of the day. uhmm..ok. I'm being paranoid. Well, I just hope she'll remain as sweet and as open to her parents even though she begins to get exposed to the influences of the 'outside world.' Aaarrghhh!
Nature: Misbehaving More Often. We've had enough for this year--- habagat, earthquakes, and super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) :( Not to mention the man-made disaster (crisis) in Mindanao which also misplaced many of our countrymen in the area of conflict.
There's no argument that my job took the limelight this year. For the upcoming year, I wish to have a more balanced time in terms of priorities. Here's to a more positive outlook on the coming year... Thank you, 2013. :)
