The Unforgettable (Work) Experience...

I believe I am a very hardworking person. I take my work seriously and professionally. But you will never hear me talking about my work when i'm outside the office nor see me doing/taking work at home. I make sure that everything that needs to be done should be done in the office during working hours. Afterall, that's what I get paid for . Though I won't mind extending my time if there's really a need to.

I can fairly say that i am an employable person (praying that i will stay as is while writing this, no one's indispensable during this time of economic crisis). I've been working in Dubai for 4 years now. I got 4 employers & 3 residence visas on my account. Last Nov 2009, i almost joined another company that will make my record to be 1 year: 1 visa ratio but it's not just bound to happen yet. My friends would joked me if only employers were boyfriends, i could have had 4 bf's in Dubai to date. haha.


1st employer -Dec 1, 2005 to Dec 24, 2005- short period only; still under visit visa
2nd employer-Jan 1, 2006 to April 13, 2007-1st company with residence visa issued
3rd employer-Apr 14, 2007 to May 31, 2008-2nd company with residence visa issued
4th employer-June 1, 2008 to present - 3rd company with residence visa issued


I have a lot of memories to all these companies. But the most memorable and unforgettable experience to me was that of the 3rd employer (see, i even highlighted it in red color..hehe)

There are lots of good things/changes that happened to me during this time- moved from Sharjah to Dubai, started going out, had made lots of friends, 1st time had a crush on a colleague which happens to be our manager; homesickness' gone; felt free in this very conservative country and many more.

But the most memorable out of these memorable experiences is when my credibility as a worker was questioned and put into test by none other than our manager, who also happenned to be my super crush, who i gave a code name 'gie' meaning guwapo. :-)

How could I forget that day? It was such a fine day. Just got finished my deadlines ahead of time. Everyone in the office seemed so happy. As usual, I and my Filipino colleagues/friends were the most happiest. We don't just have dull moments in the office. Our most anticipated time was during lunch break, it's our time for chikahan/kulitan/bonding etc. That's not enough for us, we also emailed each other while in the office which mostly if not all are initiated by me.

Since it's not a busy time in the office and i got nothing left to do at that time, i sent my usual email to all my Filipino colleagues/friends (7 nos) to keep our circle alive and fun (also prevent the feeling of boredom in the office). The beginning was like this- 'let's play a game then i listed some of my most favorites, most memorable etc asking them to do the same....imagine me receiving and answering back their replies at the same time, i had fun really. Since, they too were not busy, the emails kept on coming. We moved from one topic to another.

Then suddenly, the assistant of my manager went to my area and told me that gie wanted to see me in his office. Naturally, i was glad upon hearing that. I was more than happy to see him. I gathered myself and went to his office. I told myself this is my time to prove myself (meaning magpa-cute at makita niya how i worked- i'm technically doing all the work in our dept; my in-charge was aware of this; i'd want to reiterate what i'd felt for gie is just a pure crush/paghanga)

OUR CONVERSATION (inside gie's office)

gie: how are you? how's work?

me: i'm doing fine. we're updated sir. (while smiling at him)

then suddenly gie changed his tone of voice- now higher but still composed

gie: so that's the reason why you've done all these ?!?(pointing to the printed emails in his table with thickness about one rim of bond paper !)

me: (speechless and felt like crying; still shocked, i never thought emailing was such a big deal; guilty as charged)

gie: i can't believe you'd do this. Of all people, you are the least person i'd expected to have done this. you disappointed me. you even printed your emails! ( i saw my name printed in the header indicating that they were printed thru my computer)

me: sir, i admit it's my mistake. i know very well it's against our company's rules. I break a rule, it's just right to subject me to a disciplinary action. i'd be willing to accept whatever it is. i also want you to know that i maybe guilty emailing personal but i will never print personal emails/documents using company's printer. i was not the one who printed those emails. (who would waste one rim of bondpaper for an evidence?)

Intermission: March 3, 2010 10:30pm Dubai time

Just got home, galing na naman kami ni PC sa aming Bagong Tambayan. :-). Bago ako magpatuloy sa kwento ko, i would like to thank LordCM & The Pope sa pag-iwan ng kanilang komento kahit pa nga nde pa tapos ito. You're really making me happy. Salamat ulit!

Here's the continuation:

gie: you disappointed me really. how can you do this? see you started them all (now looking at the emails)

me: i am really very sorry sir. (feeling really very sorry then long silence)

Then gie, went out of his room and called his assistant. While i'm alone in his office, i got a chance to browse the printed emails. To my surprise, i saw our emails which were days ago. It seems to me that they've been monitoring my activities, someone's watching me. They probably printed my emails via remote access thru our IT Dept. :-(

My colleagues/friends have no idea during this time that i was summoned to gie's office. After few minutes, gie came back at the office.

gie: i know how you worked, your in-charge always praise you. but what you've done is not acceptable.

Then someone knocked on the door. It's DG, one of my email buddies & the most active respondent to emails (hehe). He had no idea what's happening inside. Apparently, he was also summoned.

gie: please come in DG. personal emailing is not allowed in our company. so please stop doing this.

DG: sorry sir, sorry sir, it won't happen again.

gie: ok, thank you.

Just like that...DG went outside the room while me was still sitting inside waiting for the final verdict. During this time, i was trying to be tough as much as i can. I do not want to shed tears in front of gie.

Gie kept on repeating what i have done. He kept on making 'sermons' to me (sobrang pagkasabon ko talaga). I was not used to it. Masakit sa dibdib for i know i'm giving my 100% to my work. And just because i was having fun while in the office, masisira na ito. After maybe an hour of gie's sermons, wala pa ding nangyayari. He's still exasperated. So I again brought up the idea of me being subjected to a disciplinary action (para matapos na ito).

me: i am really very sorry sir. i am willing to accept any disciplinary action that you will impose on me. i will understand if you will suspend me.

gie: (shocked with my statement) do you think i 'd want that? you will not be here in my office if i'd want that to happen. i can easily raise this issue to HR if i like.

me: (now very silent....what will i say?)

gie: (on normal tone of voice) ok, make sure it won't happen again. and please let your friends know that personal emailing is not allowed here.

me: thank you sir.

Then i returned to my workstation. My friends still don't have an idea of what had happened, they're still sending emails. I had unread messages of maybe more than 5o from them. I immediately composed a new email addressed to all them:

Subject: please stop emailing

i will explain this to you later.

After i sent the above, my phone rang. It's was my In-charge (he just arrived from shop audit). He asked me to come to his office. (Oh no, another 'sermon' is coming?!?)

The Last Part: March 4, 2010 11pm

I went to my in-charge office. He told me they already informed him what just happened. He gave his share of sermons. This time, i let my tears fall (first time i cried in the office). I can't take it anymore (mabigat sa dibdib ang sinesermunan ako ng paulit-ulit, tapos hindi ko maipagtanggol ang sarili ko dahil alam kong ako ang nagkamali). He asked me what is our manager's action. I answered him i don't know. I told him i am open to a possibility of suspension. No, he said. He won't let that happen.

He admitted that he, too, is emailing in the office but he make sure he will not be caught in the act. Again, he's wondering why of all people, i was the one caught by gie's himself? (would i be flattered? i was the chosen one).My in-charge is trying to lighten up the atmosphere. But i was not that keen on talking when i really feel bad. My mind's telling me right at that moment that i have to find another job asap.

The phone rang. gie's on the other line, he's talking to my in-charge in Arabic. But i know they're talking about me for i heard them mentioned my name.

After my in-charge wrapped up all the 'sermons' and advices, he specifically told me that he needs me in the office the next day. He probably read what's on my mind for i was really thinking & determined to call in sick.

Our office timing is until 6:30pm only but we finished past 7pm. All my friends/colleagues were all waiting for me downstairs. Their presence is more than enough to keep me sane (para kasing lumilipad isip ko nun). I was really touched for the moral support they'd given me.

The Day After The Unforgettable Day

I was present in the office as committed to my in-charge. I did my usual work. But i intentionally did not open my outlook. My in-charge would always ring me to say that he has an email for me. Also on this day, would you believe i got a job interview already which really boost my morale! (out of spite, i submitted my resume to a prospect employer the night of the unforgettable day). Since we're only half day during Thursday, i immediately agree to the interview in the afternoon. My two friends/colleagues (given such a short notice) drove me all the way to the place of interview and patiently waited for me. Although, that attempt was unsuccessful (that happened in Nov 2007; i left our company in June 2008), it had helped me a lot to move on and to be back right on track.