Meet (the) Boxer!

We have a new dog and it's a rottweiler. I was hesitant at first to have a dog which is known for its aggressiveness.   I heard rottweilers are commonly used for dog fights.  Some say that they are more aggressive than pitbull and doberman dogs.  But when i first saw this cute little puppy, i instantly had a changed of heart and mind.  He would just follow you and never leaves you whenever you put him out of his cage.  He is so shy and naive and even more tamed than Spock and Teacup - our 2 mixed-breed chihuahuas/mini-pinscher. I named him Boxer.  

Anyway, i still did some research about rottweilers and according to Wikipedia:

The Rottweiler is a breed of domestic dog known for its medium to large size and its strength. They originate from Rottweil, Germany and were known as "Rottweil Butcher's Dogs" (German: Rottweil Metzgerhund) because they were used to herd livestock as well as pull cartsladen with butchered meat and other products to market.^[1] Some records indicate that earlier Rottweilers may have also been used for hunting although the modern Rottweiler has a relatively low hunting instinct. It is a hearty and very intelligent breed.

The Rottweiler was employed in these traditional roles until the mid-19th century when railroads replaced droving for getting livestock to market. While still used in herding, Rottweilers are now also used in search and rescue, as guide dogs for the blind, as guard or police dogs, and in other roles.^[2]

Eleksyon 2010: Who Am I Voting For?

This election, i will definitely exercise my right to vote.  I have been doing so for the last three  or four elections.  I believe that it is not just our right but it  is also our obligation to our country.  I am tired of broken promises and the usual political antics but i never lose hope that someday our country will get back to it's feet and reclaimed the same level of glory and prestige our nation used to enjoy during our Lolo's and Lola's time.

For the last month or so, i have been exchanging opinions and views with friends and acquaintances about  our individual choices among presidential candidates.

I have a friend who is for Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro.  I asked him, "You were one of the victims of typhoon Ondoy. You're apartment in Q.C. was submerged under water for three days, Gibo was the head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) during that time, are you satisfied with what he have accomplished to help the victims? 'Di ba, you never saw a shadow of help from the government?"

My friend said that tragedy of that magnitude will overwhelm anyone.  I said "yes".  But if you are marketing yourself with the slogan "Galing at Talino" and you have all the resources of DND, i would be expecting a lot more.  Survivors in areas like Pasig (Pasig na lang ha) have to stay on top of their roof for several days without food, medicine and blankets because the rescue efforts are so slow and disorganized.  'Di ba sa ganitong sitwasyon natin dapat nasubukan ang "galing at talino"? Gibo should walk the talk.

I don't even have go to the issue of the Ampatuans to expound on his incompetence.  This power-tripping clan have amassed ammunitions and high-powered guns with "Property of the AFP" engraved on most of it and have openly organized and controlled a sizable group of private armies.  This happened during Gibo's term as the secretary of the Department of National Defense.

 We all know what happened next - the infamous Maguindanao Massacre.

Another friend of mine was for Manny Villar.  The guy who brands himself "Mr. Sipag at Tyaga".   Villar came out with loads of 60-seconder commercials (some are even longer, i think) of poor kids singing Villar's plight to poverty.   We all know that Manny Villar is the richest among candidates. Him being a Billionaire.  He owns Manuela Malls, Star Malls, Camella Homes, Vista Land, etc. etc.

Villar's campaign capitalized on his being poor. One of his commercial said his brother died because they're poor.  Later, it was found out that his being poor is not so true.  Her mother is a wholesaler in the 'consignacion' and market vendors buy their shrimp supplies from her.

So, hindi sila yung tipo na naglalako ng hipon sa palengke na walang pwesto.

And why would you swim in a sea of garbage as advertised on radio and tv? To catch shrimp? I don't think so.

Manny Villar's father works for the Bureau of Fisheries (BFAR) that time and that is how they got the connection. His father's position at BFAR secures Villar's mom would always get the freshest shrimps at cheaper price.

Villar's wealth surged questionably. Reports of land grabbing in Bulacan and other areas where his companies have developments surfaced recently.  He would always dismissed these issues as 'politically motivated' and 'black propagandas' fabricated by his detractors against him.

Until now, he has not directly answered the accusations hurled against him about the C-5 Road Project controversy where at least six of his subdivisions 'coincidentally' benefitted from the 're-alignment' of the original plan.  Certainly, i don't like my next president to stay mum on issues of graft and corruption.

The other presidential candidate running second/third place in the surveys is former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada.  I will never go into details.  But this is the same president the people removed from office through a peaceful People Power II because of his involvement in Jueteng operations and payolas, his kerida's lavish lifestyles (remember Boracay mansion), stock manipulations, unexplained bank accounts (Jose Velarde accounts), midnight cabinet, etc. The list goes on and it only illuminates how corrupt his government is. He thought his allies in the senate is enough to protect him from impeachment. But no.

I was in EDSA II.  I was one of those who walked from Makati to EDSA because  i too am tired of the rampant abuses of Erap's government to the people.  And the rest is history.  He stepped down from power and was eventually convicted of plunder.  He said EDSA II is a mistake.  I don't think so.  EDSA II symbolizes the power of the people to fight those who are blinded by greed and power.

Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino Jr. is the leading candidate in the surveys. This morning, Iglesia ni Cristo announced that they are supporting the candidacy of Noynoy and vice presidential candidate, Mar Roxas.  Noynoy was a three-term senator prior to this election.  He is a bachelor and he came from a family of heroes being the son of Cory and Ninoy.  They said Noynoy hasn't done much as a legislator.  Fabricated issues about him being mentally unfit have been surfacing.  He used to be known as the brother of Kris Aquino -  and even that is being used against him.  I know Kris Aquino is sometimes obnoxious but that is Kris Aquino not Noynoy.

Noynoy may not be the best president this country will ever have (just in case he wins the election) but he pledged one thing -"Hindi ako magnanakaw!" And i believed him.  Corruption is the biggest problem of this country.  They said 200 Billion pesos are pocketed by corrupt government officials and their cronies every year.  This is tax payers money. Yours and mine's hard-earned money.

Noynoy, despite being the son of a former president and himself,  a government official did not enrich himself.  In fact, he is one of the most modest presidential candidate based on their  statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

This election, i definitely hope for a better president.  I hope that we will be able to unite as a nation and have a leader who will wake us from our slumber.   A president who will put the country first before his own personal interests and businesses.   A president who will not only be matalino but with a heart and compassion for our fellowmen. A president who will not steal and stand against the vultures in the government.  That is why in this coming election, i have never been this passionate to cast my vote.  Because i know that my president will not only bring hope but deliver results in this time where we needed it most. Si Noynoy - ang aking Presidente!

Meeting "Loony" and the Harassment Issue

Yesterday, my female staff who is the girlfriend of the guy whom i called "loony" in my  previous blog entry  went to visit me in our office.  She earlier quit from her work and i told her to facilitate her clearance from our HR so she can get her last pay.

Surprise! Surprise! She brought with her "Loony".   Well, he stayed at the reception and i have no intention of talking to him. But i am still upset after all those SMS threats and harassments he subjected my team leader to. And i don't understand why my female staff has to bring with her this guy?

Anyway, i spoke to female staff and after explaining to her that she needs to go back to the shop and make the team leader sign her clearance before we give her her last pay, thirteenth month, etc. She said her goodbye.

But she said something to our HR staff which gave a complete turnaround of the "harassment" issue i've been dealing with.  She said it is her who is being harassed by our team leader.  I immediately called her back and asked the HR staff and another officer to have a private meeting with female staff.

There i asked her what truly happened.  She gave details about the sexual advances made by team leader  towards her, the panliligaws and all.  I told her that that is a serious accusation and unless she have evidence, we will only take it as simple, baseless accusations. It will be a case of her word against that of team leader.

I can sense that female staff is worried and a bit afraid.  I told her also that if it is indeed true, she should have told these things to me before.  She said that she doesn't know what to do and instead told "Loony" about it.  I told her she should not be afraid because it is her right to protect herself and we can never help her if she will not tell.

I asked her if there are other staff who knows about what's going on and she said nobody else knows.  When i asked her if she have received and save any malicious text message from team leader, she immediately took out her phone and started scanning her inbox.

And then she handed me her phone. I read the message, checked the number with my phone book.  It was indeed true.   The message confirms her accusations.  I felt sad and disappointed with my team leader.  How can he be so stupid!  He has a live-in partner and two kids.  And he is willing to throw everything for this? Female staff was emotional. She said "Natatakot po ako sir kaya hindi ako makapag sumbong.  Malapit lang po ang bahay nya sa amin. Baka po sugurin nya ako."

I told her we need to confront the situation or else walang mangyayari sa takot nya.  She said that if she could get her last pay, she will just go back to the province.  She also mentioned that "Loony" - her boyfriend, never harassed my team leader or any of our staff because he doesn't own a phone.  I asked her if we could talk to her boyfriend without her and she said yes.

Loony walked in.  He greeted us.  He doesn't look like a basagulero and he seems shy.  But i was not to judge him on first impression.  I asked him all the accusations made by our team leader against him and he only admitted one.

He said he indeed went in our shop once and that he had a beer before going but he said he is not drunk  and that he didn't go there para manggulo but to ask team leader to stop harassing her girlfriend.  He said "Ok lang naman po sa akin na ligawan nya, pero 'wag po nyang babastusin."

He added, "Hindi ko po magagawa na sumugod don at manggulo kasi takot ko lang po kay madam (my boss)".  When i confronted him about the threats and all, he said "Wala po akong cellphone sir. Kung kailangan po, nakiki text lang ako pero hindi ko po sya o yung pamilya nya tinatakot sa text."  I showed him the number of the "harasser" forwarded to me by team leader and he denied knowing that number as his or anybody he knows.  Lastly, he said "Sinamahan ko lang po sya (female staff) kasi gusto ko po na sabihin nya sa inyo lahat ng gingagawa ni (team leader) sa kanya.  Natatakot po kasi sya."

Well, Loony sounds sane to me.  But i told him that what he did (going to the shop smelling beer) is wrong.  And he acknowledged that mistake.

Now i have to investigate further.  I cannot ignore this matter because if it is indeed true, how can i trust team leader anymore?  But, the text messages sent by team leader to female staff is a very strong evidence.

Afterwards, i consulted our lawyer and my boss.  They both said that it is a serious offense and if it is indeed true, i have to terminate team leader.   Lawyer talked to female staff and they prepared the "Sinumpaang Salaysay" of female staff.  Now, i am holding Lawyer's Notice of investigation addressed to team leader.  Upon female staff's request, i decided to delay for a few days serving the notice to team leader.  Female staff wants to get to the province first.  But she agreed to stay in contact just in case this matter turns ugly.  Haaayyy!!!!

Note:  Because of the situation, I told female staff not to get her clearance na from team leader and i'll just sign it and t pay her whatever we owe her. She got her cheque and hopefully she'll be at the province tomorrow morning.





 

Labor Day Weekend and a Loony

It's Labor Day weekend.  GMA declared Monday (May 3) a holiday, so that's 3 straight days of pure bliss. Hehehe!  But naaah.  I have to work today.  My boss asked me to do some research on alternative power sources like wind turbines and solar energy.  I have very little knowledge about these things so i will definitely rely on my ever dependable source of information - the internet.  Our plant's (a small boutique facility - as described by my boss) monthly electric bill zoomed and were now paying P130K!  It used be 80-90K monthly.

On a different note, I slept late texting and calling people.  For a week now, my team leader has been receiving threats from a loony who got jealous of him.  He thought my team leader and his gf (who is my staff also) are having an affair.  The girl denied that the  loony is his bf but i discovered otherwise.

Sa lahat, ayoko guluhin ang isip ko about some things that does not concern my job. But my team leader is worried.  Because this loony has started to threaten his family as well.  Told him not to be worried because people who threatens are usually the ones who do nothing.

Then i found out that the loony is our contractors nephew! I immediately called my contractor and asked him to take care of the situation.  I also called loony (got his number from my team leader) several times but he dropped the calls. I sent him a text message though and i said:

"You stupid moron, i know who you are and if you will continue harassing my staff, i have some friends who can literally shove your ass to the gutter!" tapang 'noh. hehehe!

No. i didn't text him that.  Instead i said:

"This is from the office of Sr. Insp.  Alex Roberto of *blah-blah* police station. We received a complaint that you are harassing and threatening Mr. *blah-blah* and his family.  Please be advised that your continuous threats are being monitored and that offense of this nature are punishable by law - Republic Act 9262.  If you will continue this threats against Mr. *blah-blah* and his family, we will take necessary actions to prevent you from committing the crime against Mr. *blah-blah*. Consider this message our final warning.

Hahaha!  I don't know any Sr. Insp. Alex Roberto but so far, my staff have not received any threat from this loony. I just hope this will work.  If not, i need to find a Sr. Insp. Alex Roberto.  Hahaha!  And the Republic Act 9262? i read or heard it somewhere. I'm sure this loony is so stupid that he will not research.  I hope. Hahaha!

Anyway, now i really need to research about about alternative power sources.  Or else, Meralco will just drain us out.  Happy Labor Day!