Love The Language

It would’ve sounded better in grade school.  Class advisers prep your class for “sabayang pagbigkas” and there you were - all up to impress audience and judges with modulated voice and rising intonation that nearly made people jump out of their seats. 

Well at least we were part of the celebration.  It’s “Linggo Ng Wika”, you forgetful ones.  Somehow, it’s not that striking anymore as we go past primary school, especially now that “amspeak” zones are mushrooming all over the country. 

Nothing wrong about that except that we sometimes forget how cool is it to speak Pinoy.  Not to mention romantic.  Oh c’mon.  Try saying “mahal kita” to the next person beside you (to the one you love, if you insist) and see how it goes to shake her down the spine!  Better yet, compose an all Tagalog letter (or whichever dialect homegrown) and see how you run out of words.  Send me a hate mail if you didn’t say “Ano nga ba sa Tagalog yung…”

Whatever talent we Pinoys have with learning foreign language, there’s just no replacing our own.  Same as wherever our feet (or the plane) may take us, we’ve just left a fraction of us here. 

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 Easy Phone Home

Check the latest on DLP Rechargeable Phone Cards

Talk HOT this year with DLP Rechargeable Phone Cards.  We’re giving out all the spice to make your days, including your holidays a blast!  Want it warm or keep it burning – choose both!

Get ready for a WARM Comeback this Christmas.  Forget Frosty the Snowman and welcome yummy puto bungbong and bibingka when you sign up, recharge or refer.  As DLP gives you “Home for Christmas” promo click here for details, 1 winner gets to win roundtrip ticket from LA to Manila plus a Boracay Package for 2 and $200 cash pocket money.

  That’s not all.  We will also give away warm up surprises like Hong Kong Trips, Boracay vacations and free recharges.

And while waiting for your dream holiday to happen, BURN the line when you sign up or refer new members.  Imagine 30 more minutes upon purchase of a $30 card.  That goes the same when you refer a friend who signed up click here for details.

More minutes, more bonding time, more chances of winning!  That’s DLP’s way to make your days sizzle.  So talk on using your DLP Phone Cards and take advantage of these HOT deals!

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 DLPerks, DLPicks

Grab the best from DLP Teleshopping

Rainy season is at its peak in the Philippines this month.  Don’t let the frogs do all the singing!   You can make your friends and family back home relax and enjoy with these new items from DLP Teleshopping – The Papuri Video Mic, Papuri Duet Mic and Tagalog Song Chip 7.

Fun and worship comes alive with the Papuri Videoke Mic, an exceptional microphone that contains 1065 Christian songs and Hymns and the New International Version Bible.    Yes, you can read the scriptures in small or large font, turn pages in adjustable speed and opt to put picture and music background. Click here for more details

If you want to share the limelight, get the Papuri Duet Mic.  It has an extension microphone to use with the Magic Sing microphone.  Enhanced with keypad control and professional sound quality for that outstanding performance. 
Click here for more details

You can also add more songs to your current line up using Tagalog Song Chip 7 - a collection of 500 mixed OPM and English songs. Click here for more details

Send now and let your loved ones sing in the rain!

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 This Agent Kicks

Meet the faces behind your DLP 1-800
Grace Under Pressure

Simplicity and strategy – two things one could learn from top agent Mary Grace Villareal.

Just over a year from her first day in selling DLP Phone Cards, she is now one of the consistent top sellers.  She reflects self confidence that gains the trust of her clients, even the most irate ones.  Quality Management Team already recognized this when they awarded Grace for being able to sign up a client who turned down a lot of agents before her. “I always try to look for a common interest before my sales pitch starts.” 

Grace rarely sleeps late, enabling her to perform better at work. Her usual day begins with Craig David music and would not end without playing games on her PC. When things get a bit frustrating, she relaxes by watching movies. She confesses being on a home-work-home routine.

True enough, this first rate agent is not only skilled but also equipped with the right attitude for the job. “First, you have to believe in yourself.  Be confident when closing deals.  Feel good and look good before working,” Grace shares her winning tips.


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 We’ve Got Mail

Powered by the Customer Service Team

“(I’m) Satisfied.  I just want to know the available minutes while checking the balance.”
- Pilar Cenpeno, Carson CA

"Our recording tells you the amount left and not the minutes since we have different rates in calling different destination numbers- landline, provincial and celfone numbers...but we'll try to work it out for you..." - CS

“I’m very much satisfied with DLP phonecard because it’s very accessible.  I don’t have to go out and buy a prepaid phonecard.”
- Pamela Tagat, Santa Clara CA

“It’s ok. I don’t have any problem using DLP Phonecard.”
- Mark Nuneza, Houston TX

Customer Service Team is on stand by 24/7 to help you with your concerns.  Our friendly and reliable representatives make sure that your comments and suggestions reach the attention of those in charge. 


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 Pinoy Squeeze

We want to tell you how we deal with life right now, why we tune in to teleserye and fantaserye and why we frequent Starbucks…And yes, we’d like to hear your reply.

Life in the Sunshine World

I caught presumably the last portion of PGMA’s Sona while on the bus homebound.  There I saw “Lyn”, a twenty-something Call Center Agent being greeted by the President, thanking her for saying she doesn’t have to work abroad to support her family. PGMA is beaming. Her “sunshine” industry is doing well, or so she said.

In less than a decade, over 200,000 Pinoys are employed in call centers or business processing outsource companies. For sure you’ve heard of call center agents. Yup, your niece or sister or cousin or grandson who virtually shares your time zone. Still no idea?  He sold you the rechargeable phone card. 

Somehow, we’ve changed Pinoy mindset on work. The night is no longer reserved for the underground. You could even here moms comment, “Night shift si Christy, Call Center e.” But that’s moving forward. I’d like to talk about us first.

We live in a mug, either company provided or bought from Starbucks. Coffee runs in our veins. Pizza rules. There are perks in rising from the grave though---the graveyard shift, I mean. Nice pay on the average, free coffee, carpeted office etc. Just that we’ve forgotten the last Eat Bulaga jokes since we normally catch zzzs during noon. Breakfast in the late afternoon, lunch at midnight, dinner in the morning. Happy time is usually 9am. Work = nightlife. 

Sweaters are staple in the get up. Freezing cold in our workstations, I wonder if management’s trying to make us feel we’re in the US.  They’d better put styrosnows as well. I almost forgot, we all have shades to look cool and sort of cover our eyes from the sun when we log out in the morning. Would that pass why this industry is called “sunshine”?  You bet.

That pretty sums it up. The lifestyle, that is but our share of limelight continues. We’ve just made taxi drivers happy, extended food chain store hours, invested stocks in coffee shops (I wish) and added lines to PGMA’s speech. That’s all in our mugs and more stories kept in our lockers.

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 Laugh Out Loud

Webre who?

A newbie CSR is convincing a client to recharge his phone card.  She checked on her PC to see his last transaction.  Ready for her spiel, she uttered, “Sir di ba dati nagpa-recharge kayo kay Webre?” Upon hearing this, her teammates chorused in laughter.  After all, Webre is not a person, just a shortcut for web recharge.

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 Views, Reviews, Previews

Indie Ka Pa Ba Nakakapanood Nito?

With the international success of “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros”, it’s hard to miss Pinoy independent films again.  “Maxi” is a film you’ll rave about if you’ve seen it and you’re definitely missing if you haven’t.  A story of a pre-teen gay from a family of petty criminals who fell in love with a handsome policeman, this single-line plot is enough to stir your interest. 

In fact, it’s not only “Maxi” you should start digging.  There are so many indie films here more worthy than “Superman Returns” but less publicized and mostly not exhibited in commercial theaters. I wouldn’t put the blame on anyone because that’s the way it goes for independent productions.  Somehow it adds spunk to the film. Low budget, unadulterated story (which turns better than spoiled-by-many-cooks flicks), meager publicity (mostly courtesy of friends) and special screenings.

If and if you’ve gone tired of rehashed plots in a glossy reel, try watching Pinoy Indie.  They’ve gone farther than Philippine shores.  Aside from local triumphs, “Maxi” was nominated in Sundance, won in Las Palmas and in Berlin International Film Festivals.

“Sukob”

Superstition is once again at the core of a scary film.  After “Feng Shui” comes “Sukob”, a Star Cinema Production starring Kris Aquino and Claudine Barretto, with Chito Rono at the helm.  Expect competent cinematography and a more competent publicity team.   Aside from those, don’t raise the bar too much or you won’t enjoy screaming.

The film has a compelling plot, one that’s very Pinoy and still practiced.  Wait until it ends and you begin to look for something deeper than a scream ride.  For one, a lot of inconsistencies were blatant from the start to the end.  The curse already began for Claudine’s character even before Kris’ character got married.  The myth, just like most of the characters, was not explored to the peak.  Wonder why the ghostly flower girl was chosen as Sukob’s poster girl?  She will remind you of “The Others” and “The Ring”.  I think I missed a lot of Japanese horror stunts in this film.  I couldn’t miss fine acting though.  Claudine is brilliant as ever, Chris Daluz is excellent even in bit roles and newcomer Maja Salvador as the young seer is an actress to watch out for. 

While the story slept on research and characterization, the film is still worthy of your screams.  Too bad, it would’ve been a lot, lot better.

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 Tip Box

Helpful pops on finance, beauty, health or just about anything!

The Money Language

To all money whizzes, I’ll share one genius tip that could define your lifetime financial miss or bliss---Choose your spouse.  That’s right.  If this would come before or after the butterfly (in your tummy) effect, I leave it to you.  But please, before you say “I do”, take off that little blindfold and take a peek on each other’s finances and spending habits.

For some cosmic reasons, spenders marry spendthrifts just like in formula flicks where poor marries rich.  Except that this is not romantic.  You will argue about it even if you keep separate accounts.
 
I’m not telling you to marry a Trump (though it wouldn’t hurt).  Go ahead, marry for love but keep this checklist along with an open mind:

Indeed, money talk is not sweet but just as pertinent as love in keeping your relationship intact.
 
And hey, if tying the knot doesn’t interest you, just save this article because all who said that got married anyway.  Already married?  At least next time you know the rule.  Wink.

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 X-Plore

Destinations with a twist

I’ll tell you about Baguio.  Not that way.  Pinoys everywhere know the ins and outs, what’s there and what’s hot in this cool hideout, been here or not - whew! This is what X-Plore is all about - your travel story.  Like brushing off a cliché from an old genie lamp, say again---it’s the trip, not the destination.

Strawberry Fields Forever

I couldn’t resist the urge to laugh when I told him we’re off to Baguio in a few minutes.  After all, it was just last week when we decided to go out though I’ve known him since grade school.  His brows tilted up for a moment but in a coupl’a seconds, he was snagging my hand for the ride.  Some things are just faster than the Philippine Rabbit.

I was thinking of a Julie Delpy-Ethan Hawke story.  Some kind of a 24 hour romance in a far off town.  Forgive the melodrama but it’s lovely catching mornings with someone you like.  And if it’s as chilling as this town’s temperature, snuggling is irresistible.  We left after dinner and, just as expected, stepped off the bus—uhm—“before sunrise”.

After breakfast at the terminal (check out Victory Liner if you’ll take the bus – clean comfort rooms and some food choices), we had a “tourist” itinerary.  Mines View shopping, checking on silver pieces, strolling and forever strolling at Burnham and yes, even weeding the public market.  There’s just too much about this place, it’s hard to compress your trip in a day.  But that’s part of the thrill.  We knew right then that there’ll be a longer next time.

Eating is something to look forward to in Baguio City.  From heavenly slices of Don Henrico’s pizza to the sumptuous grilled chops where persistent waitresses are, this place is filled with specialties.  Bring extra cash.  For sure you don’t wanna go home without chocolate crinkles and other pasalubong items. 

We spent most of the time walking, catching up on the fourteen years we didn’t see each other.  Couldn’t imagine a better place to do that than Baguio City’s roads.  Paved with breathtaking views, catchy shops and lovely weather, the long walks seemed effortless.

Our last stop was SM Baguio where we agreed to take different routes to buy each other souvenirs.  Not only the coolest mall in terms of temperature but also in structure and location.  I used to ditch the idea of a mall in Baguio but seems Uncle Henry (of the SM fame and didn’t happen to be my relative-sigh) rightfully built his structure here.

We caught a late afternoon bus to get back to the city before midnight.  I nearly forgot I still have work to attend to in the morning.  It was tiring, literally starting and ending the day in a long distance trip.   

When I went home, my smile seemed more visible than my exhaustion.  Asked where I went, I just told people at home “Sa SM…”  “SM Baguio”, I whispered then locked the door.

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