Home Alone

          Bored. I'm a little sleepy, but i can't go to bed yet. May brother's not yet home and i need to stay up just so someone could open the gate for him. Been browsing through common social media sites for the past 4 hours. Gaaah! I want sleep. I need sleep. I'll do anything for sleep. My work sched's manageable, but still i find it hard to get some rest. Now I know how it feels. Tama nga sila... Mas masarap ngang mag-aral kaysa mag trabaho.

          Last day of training store duty tomorrow. I can't believe it. Time flies.



P.S.

I WANT SLEEEEEP! -___-

Go Crazy Wondering What If

          At first, I never thought I'd ever read The Selection Series (Trilogy) by Kiera Cass. I have always come across them whenever I went to bookstores to look for potential books to read. You see, I don't have the luxury to buy books all the time (even if want them so bad). What I do is stall along the vast shelves and list the titles and authors that I think are interesting. Once I have them, i look over the internet and download them in e-book forms, if they're available, and so, I get to read them for free. I know this somehow disrespects the author, but I do make sure that I leave something in their site or other social links that lets them know that I appreciate and adore their work.

          Anyway, looking at the book cover, where a lady wears a very long and elegant gown, somehow didn't made any impact for me. I don't know, but maybe the impression of Princes and Princesses doesn't interest me that much. Only then a very close friend of mine suggested I read them for fun and promises that I'll like it.

          With a span of three days, i finished reading the trilogy. And guess what? I LOVED IT! :) Haha. :)) Maybe because it wasn't what i thought the story would be. You know, the usual love stories where royalties would find someone to marry so that there would be a never-ending hierarchy by blood. But the story was not at all about love and its other usual ways. Instead, there was something about values, responsibilities, bravery and fighting back. The twists would make you think about things, but still end up being surprised by the outcome. However, we can never deny the happily-ever-after fact. It's inevitable.

          Nevertheless, Kiera Cass had made such a great novel. It's something people would get hooked to, especially to those who somehow believe in fairy tales And so, like what i always do, I've written down the lines that i liked. I hope this would interest others to check out and read the series. :)

THE SELECTION

Meant to be heard and not seen.

Go crazy wondering what if.

True love is usually the most inconvenient kind.

THE ELITE

I wish things were easier sometimes, normal.

Time. I was asking a lot of it these days. I hoped that if I had enough, everything would somehow fall into place.

You know that you've found something amazing, and you want to hold on to it forever; and every second after you have it, you fear the moment you might lose it.

Love is beautiful fear.

Sometimes I feel like we're a knot, too tangled to be taken apart.

THE ONE

There are bigger things than love.

It doesn't really matter how you feel about your character; it just matters what you do with it.

Mistakes mean it's real

Bravery hides in amazing places.

Sometimes it's about what you want to do, not what you have to.

Keep from letting fear make you settle for second best.

You are sunlight falling through trees. You are laughter that breaks through sadness. You are the breeze on a too-warm day. You are clarity in the midst of confusion.

Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.

          For these two, well I haven't read them yet, but I know these covers the sides of the two main male characters in the story: Prince Maxon, and Aspen the Guard. These would probably show more of their thoughts and feelings as to what America, the main female character, have thought throughout the trilogy.

Stash

Graduation Pictures - Raw/Unedited

(c) Young Photography Studio

UNIFORM

In my blue department uniform.. I'll definitely miss wearing them everyday, even if i have complained about them a million times. =))

FILIPINIANA

I don't actually know why do we need to have this kind of shot. Perhaps, tradition? But it looks elegant. :) Oh yeah, i'm wearing jeans underneath. ;)

TOGA

The main purpose of this photoshoot was to have a picture wearing a toga. :) But where's the tassel???

CREATIVE

Honestly, i have no idea what or who to portray. Instead, i sat at the grooming chair and told the make up artist, "Gawin niyo po akong Diyosa." And i guess, i somehow turned out to be like one. :)

BARKADA

Unfortunately, we're not complete. Some of my friends were already working so they weren't able to come during the shoot.

The Lancaster Way

          It is such an overwhelming experience to have been able to experience what the hospitality industry is all about within a 3-month time frame. From applying to numerous hotels, to hopes of being called for interview, to processing requirements, to actual training, to learning experiences, and finally, to having your freshly printed out certificate of completion.

Hotel's Facade

          I was first assigned at the Housekeeping Department. At first, I was kind of hesitant about everything. I wasn’t sure if I can handle all the work knowing that housekeeping is a very tiring job. You have to be fast and focused when it comes to cleaning rooms. For trainees, we are assigned either as a runner or as a partner to a Room Attendant – we call this “tandem”. As a runner, you are tasked to follow everything what the Team Leaders, Coordinators, Linen Attendants and Room Attendants asks you to do. Runners run guest and Room Attendant requests. They fold linens whenever the laundry arrives. They prepare daily operation materials such as linens, towels and amenities, and does inventory every month. Being a runner is not very tiring, however, much of your time is taken by the slowness of the service elevator whenever going to different floors. On the other hand, whenever in tandem with a Room Attendant, trainees also act as a Room Attendant. They get to do and experience all the work that RAs do. They remove trash, strip linens, clean bathrooms, wash dishes, set up beds, sweep and mop floors, do dusting in all the furniture in the room, and set up clean towels and amenities for arriving guests. Every day, each RA must obtain a minimum of 16 points – where 1 bedroom is equivalent to 1 point – regardless if it’s a Vacant Dirty (VD) or a Make Up Room (MUR). There was a time when the hotel’s occupancy rate is high and each RA was given more than 20 points to accomplish. Most of them had to work for unpaid overtime. And so, they would always tell us that they’re thankful that they have us trainees to help.

Bed Making

          As for my second department, I was transferred to the Food and Beverage Department, mainly in Banquet Service. Trainees are tasked with a lot of things including setting up function rooms, ironing table napkins, cloths, toppers and runners, arranging center pieces, skirting tables, setting up buffet tables, monitoring the coffee and water station, serving food and beverages to guests, and clearing (bust out), washing and drying plates, glassware and utensils. All of these procedures are done for every event or function. There were times that our duty lasts for a minimum of 10 hours, depending on the length of the event. We got to experience going home late and tired because of all the work. However, being at banquet service had been very challenging for me. It enhanced my skills and abilities regarding creativity, time management and communication. I became more sociable by dealing with numerous guests in one event.

Banquet Service

          I would just like to suggest that the hotel should have a more established and organized management. They should conduct orientation of the proper procedures in the different departments before deploying trainees in the actual operation. And also, for the betterment of the hotel, they should invest in equipment, materials and industry standard machines to improve facilities and service. My 500 hours of training at Lancaster Hotel Manila had been one of the best experiences I ever had. I have met new people and gained knowledge at the same time. There were certain problems that I have encountered, but eventually, everything was resolved through proper handling and communication. For my training as a whole, I have experienced it “The Lancaster Way”. :)