Garganera Avenue

END

2009-11-23T02:58:00.001+08:00

Currently busy with reality. Saudi Lifestyle isn't doing any good for me. What can I write about if all the interesting things are in this country. Work + Sleep + Remit money. Its a tireless cycle. ugh.

Corrupt to the extremes

2009-10-23T18:53:00.004+08:00

I still haven't gotten to writing a blog for the Typhoons that hit the Philippines for the past month. and now I'm already receiving reports that things are still corrupt even when disseminating relief goods. You decide.

I saw the blog here

Garganera Avenue's New Home

2009-10-21T17:47:00.006+08:00

1249pm Saudi Time

In my flat somewhere in Jeddah

in "The Kingdom"

I just got my first local credit card recently was very anxious to try and purchase something to get a feel of my new card. Then it struck me, why not personalize my blogger account and get myself my own domain, because I've been planning to get one anyway for the longest of times.

So , without further a due, I present to you "drumrolls please..." (drumrolls in the background) http://www.accessjcg.com/. Tada!

AccessJCG was named due to the fact that I can now be accessed readily without going through anything else except my domai. sigh. I've always wanted a domain before. Just didn't get any time to do it.

Now, I'll just need to put some sense into this blog and need to give it some purpose other than share to people my ramblings. Maybe you can give a good topic to discuss?

signing out

Its me.

2009-09-05T02:30:00.006+08:00

Its been more than 2 years since I graduated from college. And its coming close to two years since I failed the exam of my life. And now, I'm coming to the tenth month of my stay here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These past few years of my life have been a blur that sped through me like a good movie that you dont want to end. I just reached the age of 24 last April and it feels as if their is emptiness in my being. It must not have been the distance, and its probably not the work... Its something else. There's a looming fear in me that whatever challenges that comes my way, I may not be able to meet it head-on. The word is "inadequacy."

Its been so long since I last blogged, and all the rave today are tweets, when the world moves so fast that you can only share a "tweet" to the world. What is there to blog anyway, when nobody can take interest in whatever it is that you are writing about?

Ive been reading my old blog posts and it feels like I was reading the post of another person and not me. I feel detached from whatever it is that spurred me to compose those blogs. Its as if I had become a whole different person, unsure, if it will be for the better or otherwise.

Inadequacy.

I am no longer the guy in my friendster testimonials. I am nothing, but a shadow left by my otherwise ambitious physical self. I exist for the reason of existing.
But hope springs eternal, and I am hoping that I can reach out to anyone. For a simple talk. A conversation about life, and what else it can offer other than challenges. Ü

Jeddah
KSA
Ramadan 4

"The Corporate Slave"

2008-06-19T21:06:00.002+08:00

Ive never considered myself as a corporate slave, until now. I see myself walking through the filled-up streets of the metro with hundreds upon hundred of "slaves". Different faces past by with an array of expressions which an artist would enjoy. Some filled with excitement, maybe its because they're life has not yet been sucked out of them, while others only look like empty shells of themselves... they're life spent on the intricacies of their jobs. The others are but weary souls drifting among the masses, they're eyes dreary from too much work, low pay, and an ever elusive search for financial freedom. I have become one of them.

The corporate slave wakes up early to do battle with a never-ending foe, never a daunting tasks, but still leaves the greatest of employees strained in the end. The corporate slave glides from different modes of transportation to arrive in his den of terrors. The slave utilizes all sorts of possible transportations. His body is attuned to the bumps and crags on the road, he is hardened and has become numb to the hardships of his travels. He has become an expert on transport, turning long hours of travel into mere minutes in his or her own world. To the slave, they sit travel-travel-stand-move-sit-travel-again and again until they arrive to their destination.

Upon arriving to their designated place of work, they begin to do their task. The task they are good at. The task that they do year after year, day after day. The task that they have mastered and has become truly proficient.

The slaves work, toil, sacrifice health, relationships and quality time, to be able to earn more than what is basically given by the slave drivers.

That is corporate slavery, that is what I have joined, that is what i been born to do and taught. I can struggle against the tide, and i can be gushed away or hold my ground, but today, I am a slave. Today i will do my job to enrich others and not myself. Today I am a nobody. Today i have yet to start making riches to attain financial freedom. Today i walk the hallways of corporate slavery.

I survived the audit season

2008-04-20T01:04:00.003+08:00

13 copies of financial statements to be given to various government and private bodies; an average of 30 pages for every copy; 20 clients coming down your throat for their opinions; less than 3 months of lack of sleep; and then, hundreds upon hundreds of pages of paper that needs shredding to maintain confidentiality. And add to that the rising tension of office relationships, due to stress, lack of sleep, and the ever elusive time. But then, at the end of it all, when you just think that the last flicker of life was snuffed out of you, the adrenalin rushes to your head. The last minutes of the deadline slowly creeps upon you and you start to work like mad. And then you run off with a cab to the nearest Internal Revenue office to have your document stamped and ready for SEC filing. Then the day ends, and night covers the streets of the business district, and yet you feel that the hustle and bustle has yet to subside, but your task is done... you have survived the "audit season."

The past few weeks has seen me sleepy eyed and exhausted from much walking (to and fro clients) and looking at our very radioactive CRT monitors. And having a Pentium III PC does not help at all. I'm telling you, it gets kind of insecure when you see other auditors walking the street carrying their laptops, but hey, I guess I can't complain... I'm just the corporate slave who gets minimum wage. But I stray from my point, that is being able to have experienced the notorious "audit season" that I have heard so much about since my freshman days. And I tell you guys, when people say its a hell of a season, they're not lying. Well, I don't know about other firms, really, but in ours, handling multiple clients is a normal task, I for one have 6 clients. And then there's the experience of doing an all-weeker (i made that up... obviously, its kind of an all-nighter but we get to stay in the office for weeks on end).

Well, anyway, this experience really sharpened my accounting skill, that's for sure. My salary-aches aside, I enjoyed the whole audit season itself.

A messy workspace, used cups of coffee, sleeping on office floors, and the pursuit of that ever elusive 1cent. These experiences will make me a better accountant in the days to come.

The 3-in-1 blog post or Temporary Farewell / Professionalism Hurts (OUCH) / Filipino English

2008-02-06T21:47:00.000+08:00

To start off this post which has been long overdue, I would like to apologize to many (if any at all) readers to my blog. I seem to have been to lax to post and was not able to update the contents of this blog...which leads me to the conclusion that its bad timing for me to coninuously create posts for my blog. So I'm bidding everyone a (temporary) farewell here in the world of IT. I'll try to erase all my tracks as much as possible or leave a message for some sites which I cant afford to erase my presence (like friendster for I was a member since 2003 or 2004 and which makes me proud, and here at blogspot whre I have much effort to continuously update). I'll be sure to come back.. and return with a vengeance (or more intellect and confidence in my case).

My second concern would be my very unfortunate and painful experience with a company in which a job ad which can be found here. I was scheduled for an interview at 9am Philippine time at one of their provincial offices (Specifically Laguna), so with much thought I took the risk of being absent and going there. I left my humble abode at around 6-630am and I arrived there at 11pm and using 150++ pesos of cash along the way, as for fare only! Oh the mere bus fare scares me, but what the heck i thought, it could be new opportunity for me. Lo and behold they dont allow anyone to be interviewed if its past 10am, I was even negotiating my way through the guards, but was still not entertatined, much to my disappointment. Not wanting to lose face and still act with dignity, I said my apologies for being an hour late which I took fault for:
1) leaving my house at 6 in the morning when I should have left at 4 or 5 am;
2) not knowing the place of the business when, even though its just my first time to go there;
3) thinking that they are a bunch of nice people who can reconsider to at least hold me for audience just to here my side why I'm late,
4) not being able to perform a teleportation technique to immediately be at the place of interview at 9am (i hope your getting the drift of what Im saying - - - spell S-A-R-C-A-S-M)

To make a long story short, m day was full of bull.

My last concern was reagrding a newspaper ad that covered almost half a page.The advertiser you might ask? It John Robert Powers, I dont know its line of business or what it specilizes in, but it says in the caption that it teaches personal development... hmmm. sounds nice? Maybe, maybe not. The add shows a guy saying "did you went here last week?" and the girl is thinking in her mind (via a comic bubble) "yikes". My English professors taught me a lot of things why Filipinos are experiencing degradation in English, one of which is being judgmental (i hope my term is correct) on how other people speak English. I personally think that what the guy said was ok, but it should be pointed out to him that its grammatically wrong. Its a good thing that the girl only thought of the word instead of saying it loudly, but still if its in a broadsheet advertisement that covers half a page it looks a lot like shouting. I say, let everyone speak English and not judge them, practice doesn't really make anything perfect, but at least it [skill] gets developed over time, and then you can make it your own.

again...
temporary farewell to everyone

What My Name Means - - I find it interestingly true

2008-02-06T21:40:00.000+08:00

You entered: Jeremias Cristinor Garganera

There are 26 letters in your name.
Those 26 letters total to 133
There are 11 vowels and 15 consonants in your name.
What your first name means:Spanish Male Jehovah exalts.
Hebrew Male Exalted of the Lord.

Your number is: 7

The characteristics of #7 are: Analysis, understanding, knowledge, awareness, studious, meditating.

The expression or destiny for #7:
Thought, analysis, introspection, and seclusiveness are all characteristics of the expression number 7. The hallmark of the number 7 is a good mind, and especially good at searching out and finding the truth. You are so very capable of analyzing, judging and discriminating, that very little ever escapes your observation and deep understanding. You are the type of person that can really get involved in a search for wisdom or hidden truths, often becoming an authority on whatever it is your are focusing on. This can easily be of a technical or scientific nature, or it may be religious or occult, it matters very little, you pursue knowledge with the same sort of vigor. You can make a very fine teacher, or because of a natural inclination toward the spiritual, you may become deeply emerged in religious affairs or even psychic explorations. You tend to operate on a rather different wavelength, and many of your friends may not really know you very well. The positive aspects of the 7 expression are that you can be a true perfectionist in a very positive sense of the word. You are very logical, and usually employ a quite rational approach to most things you do. You can be so rational at times that you almost seem to lack emotion, and when you are faced with an emotional situation, you may have a bit of a problem coping with it. You have excellent capabilities to study and learn really deep and difficult subjects, and to search for hidden fundamentals. At full maturity you are likely to be a very peaceful and poised individual.

If there is an over supply of the number 7 in your makeup, the negative aspects of the number may be apparent. The chief negative of 7 relates to the limited degree of trust that you may have in people. A tendency to be highly introverted can make you a bit on the self-centered side, certainly very much self-contained . Because of this, you are not very adaptable, and you may tend to be overly critical and intolerant. You really like to work alone, at your own pace and in your own way. You neither show or understand emotions very well.

Your Soul Urge number is: 7

A Soul Urge number of 7 means:
With a number 7 Soul Urge you are very fond of reading, and retreating to periods of being alone and away from the disruptions of the outer world. You like to dream and develop you idealistic understandings, to study and analyze, to gain knowledge and wisdom. You may be too laid back and withdrawn to really succeed in the business world, and you will be much more comfortable in circumstances that are tolerant of your reserve, your analytical approach, and your desire to use your mind rather than your physical being.

You are very timid around people that you don't know very well, so much so at times that casual conversation and social situations can be strained. You tend to repress your emotions to the extend that some people have a good bit of difficult understanding you. You tend to be very selective with friends and you don't easily adapt to new environments or to new people very quickly.

The negative traits of the 7 include becoming too much the introvert and isolated from others.

Your Inner Dream number is: 9

An Inner Dream number of 9 means:
You dream of being creative, intellectual, and universal; the selfless humanitarian. You understand the needy and what to help them. You would love to be a person people count on for support and advice.

Lost Days

2008-01-10T20:54:00.001+08:00

Im sorry for not being able to blog for the past couple of days... Ive been busy visiting clients all day and resting all night. This might continue for the rest of the audit season. For those who are avidly following my blog please subscribe on my feedburner so that you'll know if I have something juicy to talk about.

5th Day (or The Bike We Loved and Lost)

2008-01-08T10:04:00.000+08:00

It was like 430 in the morning when I heard loud voices near me. Not necessarily shouting but also not discreet talk that you hear when its still so early. What was the raucus all about anyway? So I get up since I was not able to sleep anymore, and then I just learned what happened. Our mountain bike got stolen. Mind you, its no ordinary bike, its full of memories and my father's care for that bike is overflowing. There is no day, that its not washed and cleaned, and kept safe near our house. Why is it stolen? Let me tell you a long story of sorts.

That bike was with us for ten (10) odd years, that's the bike from where I learned to ride (laugh all you want but I didn't ride a single bike before that). It gave me my first bike bruise, it gave me my first taste of wind running accross my face, it was a Shimano bike and I loved riding it. My dad, grew fond of it. He is a driver (chauffer, really) you see, and he uses that bike to get to the clients place easily. He uses it when he buys newspapers, he uses it for exercise across our smog infested city. It was old, it had a little rust on the underside (which bike hasn't), but it was serving its purpose of providing ease and enjoyment for my father. Now, all because of one stupid neighbor it got stolen.

We live in a compound (a bunch of houses sharing a single gate). And my father was about to lock the gate to deter any undesirables from entering at night, when a neighbor approached [him] and said she'll be waiting for some late night guests and [she] will be the one to lock the gate. SO my father agreed, after reminding her twice to lock the gate. We'll I guess you could surmise what happened next.

In truth, my father is saddened by this incident. It's not so much as a lost bike, but like losing an extension of yourself, or having to change lifestyles. I think my mother furious with the incident will push through to the authorities the incompetence of our neighbors. I don't know if their negligence will stack up in front of a council, but now I just want to find a way to replace that bike. What's lost is lost, and a way to solve this problem must be found.

On a lighter note, I forgot that I was going to be on an inventory count for one of our clients (I think a Japanese firm, named KAwARA), so instead of wearing a rugged outfit for the event I still wore my formal office clothing (what luck). I just hope its not horribly hot in their warehouses. Well, that's my day and what is to come. I'll get back to this later for some updates.

===UpDAtE===

Well, here's the fast story to end the day, MY first inventory count did not end the way I pictured it, the venue, the location all of it... but hey, I enjoyed it nonetheless. Story no.2 is about the bike, my mother did not go to the landlord to report the negligence of a neighbor, due to the fact that they paid damages to us amounting to 2,500Php (which btw i think cant buy a new bike).
Anyway, all is done for the day and everyone is "contented"with what the day brought. Now will be sleeping time. Nytnyt.

4th Day

2008-01-07T16:54:00.000+08:00

I have been continuing my assigned task today, and have just recently finished this afternoon. My eyes are already straining from the small numeric characters before me, notwithstanding the fact that its rows and rows of organized numbers. We [staff] have had just a meeting with the partner with regards to the aim of the firm for the new year, the firms vision, mission and primary thrust. I surmised that we are to undergo training for the following five (5) to six (6) months and that we are to learn the general ways of how audit, accounting, and the office works. Frankly, I grew excited, especially with the fact that a busy schedule will be coming our way and sleepless nights and many cups of coffee are to be had. This was the sort of scenario I was imagining when I was still in my undergraduate studies. Will I like it? I dont know. The two things I mostly want to do at this point in time (NOW) is to teach and do audit, but sadly I cant do the other one, as only licensed CPA's are allowed to teach accoutancy subjects. Well, maybe just as well, it seems I'm about to give all my energy into doing audit for this firm.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I'm assigned to do an inventory audit for one of my firms clients. If only you guys could feel the excitement flowing out from me (yuck, im starting to get all mushy about my work). Anyway, deadlines and schedules, and also, assignments and overtimes, these are busy times ahead. I say, busy times, truly. :-)

A Weekend Story 1/6/08

2008-01-06T10:22:00.000+08:00

I wasn't able to blog yesterday, the reason, none at all. Maybe I was just too lazy to think about anything else rather just just to sleep. Oh, right, I got a freelance gig again from one of them outsourcing companies, it has something to do with quickbooks and having to go to a remote PC and do it there. The only problem is my internet connection at home can't handle the process (read: dial-up). Sometimes I even think I'm the only guy around the neighborhood who's not on dsl yet. Which now leads my story to having me get out of the house and to rent at a nearby internet cafe, which at that time was still close, which again forced me to go to a much farther cafe. Unluckily, they don't provide headphones making my life a little less easy since the gal who'll be giving me instructions want to talk to me first over YM. So I got up and left after about half an hour of renting. Lucnh time that it is, I immediately headed to the nearest "carinderia" (a kind of home cooked meals akin to fast foods less the facilities) around, since I can't afford to go to a McDonalds because I was budgeting my internet cafe money. To make a longer story short, I ate, I surfed the net, I didn't get any job done (o_0), and I was now 120 pesos short of money from all those expenses.

Fast forward to evening, I went to my daily church service at around 6pm, and due to insistent public demand to another chapel at around 8pm. For everyone out there I'm a Catholic guy who likes to go and serve at mass.

By the time I got home, I was so tired that I felt the need to sleep immediately, but before I did, I needed to do something first. Aha, I had to re-format my PC since it was running kind of funny. After 3 hours of re-formatting and re-installing each and every applications that I need That's the only time I slept. Good Morning!!!

So what about today? Nothings happened yet, may be I'll get the job done today... who knows?

Anyway, can anyone out there give me a domain? someting like www.garganera.net/com/name. Ü just for my sake.

3rd day

2008-01-04T20:15:00.000+08:00

It's my third day at work and Ive been given a task to do, which is to reconcile amounts of one of the clients and its affiliates. One could wonder how events from the past greatly affect the present. The reconciling items Ive been doing is dated from way back 2005, and I've been assigned to do the whole year. As of publication time, I've still got to do three months from that year, namely October, November and December. While doing this task, it just so happened that colleagues of mine are in the clients place and doing some audit stuff. For all I know, they can b just basking in the sun (because that's what I would do if i was assigned to do an audit there). For clarity to my readers, my colleagues went to Boracay (a first class beach in the Philippines, for those who are uninformed) to do their audit, and the client is no less but a resort. So I guess its an all in one package: job, relaxation, and enjoyment all wrapped in a neat assignment. Ok ok, enough of that chit chat. Peace out.

Garganera, Jeremias C.
Cabañero, Katigbak, Clemente & Co., CPA's
Asia Tower Paseo de Roxas
cor. Benavidez St.
Makati City

Day 2

2008-01-03T21:23:00.000+08:00

My second day at work and still not much to do but to help sort things out with the numerous clients that the firm has. I'm hoping to get some action the field in the coming days, like an inventory audit or something of that nature. I have it clear to all of you readers out there that I am not a CPA, and I am having a little inferiority complex in this firm due to that very reason. Sometimes I even wonder why I push myself into working in these kinds of firms and not just seek another line of work that would not need a license in accountancy.

Maybe I should take this as a challenge that sometime in the future I too can be an accountant not only by spirit but also by title.

The Return to Blogging and the Lookback at 2007

2008-01-03T21:15:00.000+08:00

It's the second day of the year and I've just started with my new job. The indefinite length of time that I took a hiatus from blogging has given me a new perspective about life. Gone were the days of asking for school allowance, sleeping all day, and socializing with friends all night; the time for work has begun. Work? Yes, work. People don't get any younger by the minute. As time progresses, maturity and responsibility should take over as our primary attitude. I've grown a bit envious of the younger generation already, and looks at them with a pang of regret of the things that i have not been able to do when I was still young.

Since Nov. 14, 2007, I've been with an organization known here in the Philippines as Metrobank Card Corporation (MCC, a joint venture of Metrobank and ANZ). Truth be told, I enjoyed my short stay there. I learned a lot, especially about credit cards, which is the primary/sole product of the company. Generally I've gained a lot of experience there, both professionally and personally. I like to cite the people who made my stay at MCC particularly special:
Mam Aileen,
Mam Jane,
Mam Lui,
Mam Grace,
Mam Boots,
Mam Doris,
Mam Geline,
Bro. Jun,
Sir Erwin,

and their leaders:

Mam Anita Gulla and
Mam Shellah Valencia.
I really hope the best for them and all their endeavors.

It is however sad that I need to seek a job that coincides with my preference, hence with a little regret, I left a well established company for another. Come 2008, I was hired by an audit firm, Cabañero, Katigbak, Clemente & Co., CPA's (CKC), as an audit staff. The pay is minimum and the workplace is in itself a tight family. I was even welcomed during a quasi-"new years general assembly" by everyone in the firm. Everyone's great, I hope the experience, and this new year is great too.

Garganera, Jeremias C.
Cabañero, Katigbak, Clemente & Co., CPA's
Asia Tower Paseo de Roxas
cor. Benavidez St.
Makati City
01/02/08

UE bows to Rival

2007-10-04T17:48:00.000+08:00

Tonight is a sad night for UE warriors. After going for four grueling quarters they have lost to the DLSU Green Archers, whom of which they have beaten twice and had leads that would lay shame to the Archers. Woe today, for they have lost. They are supposed to be my inspiration for the up and coming CPA Board exams, now, they HAVE to win the next game, or else, it will be DLSU again as Champions.

Congratulations To the De La Salle Green Archers, and Kudos to the UE Red Warriors who fought till the last seconds of the game.

The Final score was 64-63.

Freelancer Announcement

2007-10-04T12:21:00.000+08:00

For those of you out there i have been fortunate enough to offer you a content writing job. if any of you are interested kindly email me at garganera_boy@yahoo.com...

The project will be doing research and writing for a company which needs quality information for their website. For all of you guys out there who are interested just send me an email and write at the subject line "content writing". please take note that no fees will be charged for you and that this is no scam.

Thanks!

update:

I was trying to log on to my former employer which is sneakindesign.com and was surprised to find that my slot as writer was terminated. Well, honestly i was not that "surprised" since i kind of tried to lure their writers to better pastures. Well, i did not break any code really, i just posted on the forum topics that if anybody still wanted to earn extra income, they should come see me. Maybe sneakindesign is afraid that all their writers will leave them, after all, they're just paying the content writers around a dollar for every 300 to 400 words. Anyways, this update on my post are for those individuals who are treating content writers like ignorant children who does not know the current rate for writing. You make me sick (i'm not saying that statement to anybody in particular, so save your money for lawsuits, you won't win).

Jeremias Garganera

The Hardship of a Freelancer

2007-10-03T18:19:00.000+08:00

It has taken me forever to find a freelance job, I'm starting to think that I don't have the knack for surfing the web (which of course isn't true) First off i tried this freelance stint at oDesk and I cant seem to land any contracts (even though my rates are uber-low). For the information of all of you out there, i have experience in writnig content and doing research reports for students, unfortunately my clients identity will remain a confidential matter. Also, i am a graduate of a bachelor's degree in accountancy, and can hold my own against any other accountants. The fact is I am not finding a freelance job because i cant find a job, i'm trying to find a freelance job to see if I'm good not not to be a lackey for any corporate giant as they slowly drain my skills, and leave me to rot in a cubicle where promotions are uncommon, and raises are rare.

Another issue that attracts me to doing a freelance job is the flexibility of, or at the least the apperance of flexibility. I know I know, I'm a guy in his 20's, and that I should begoing out more and pbeing pro active in a company, but hey, who wants to get tied down to an 8-5 schedule, when I can work myself out in front of the computer instead (maybe that's why im gaining weight). :0

Oh well I guess its back for me to the drawing board in trying to find ways to out-earn every single corporate accountant and show them that life isn't all about Financial Statements and Consultancy.

By the Way, if anybody out there needs an accountant, you know where to look.

Please leave feedback. thanks!

P.S. for those who are still wonderin gon what broadband service to use (Philippines) here's a nice link for you all http://thevoipresources.com/2007/09/30/my-review-of-globelines-broadband-budget-bundles-smart-bro-and-pldt-mydsl/

Presidential Integrity - Hello Garci

2007-10-01T14:39:00.000+08:00

I just watched a documentary about the resignation of Nixon due to his entanglement with the Watergate scandal. For those who are uninformed, during the 1970's there was a political scandal regarding bugging devices in the opposing parties camp. I wont get into the specifics but Nixon's camp, particularly some special group, was caught in the act of "burglary" in the Watergate building. It was later known to be a bugging mission so that Nixon's camp can hear the plans of the opposing party. Well it took the whole episode long to be finished,but sure enough Nixon resigned because "he cannot serve the American people" with all these issues.

Now if only the president has the same level of integrity. Despite the fact that Nixon could have just stayed in power, and yet he still chose the harder path, the path to make it all right. The "hello garci" tape has been a long issue, spanning years. It has remained stagnant, ignored, then revived, and may as well go under again due to all the red tape in the government. I for one think that the president should really consider resigning. But of course a greater problem arises of who will then be president. Its just my opinion, but id prefer a dean in any university in the Philippines who still has the ideals alive within him.

Enough with the corruption, those who are corrupt are only living the life in the short term, as their way of life will implode upon themselves. There will come a time that the economic gap between the rich and the poor will be to wide for any of them to cross over, not even education will a "great equalizer." When that time comes, hell as we know it might break loose.

Adsense is senseless to me, and a whole lot of other things actually

2007-09-30T11:29:00.000+08:00

six (6) months into adsense and i've only earned $1.75. Its as pitiful as it can be. It is just me or are my adsense advertisements just not that attractive. I just wish this tide would turn around soon. and i really hope someone out there with a really good heart should help me optimize my adsense (because obviously it sucks). I'll be forever greatful to him or her. Or better yet, you can send me a free book about optimizing adsense since i cant afford one (wink wink). It would really be appreciated. anyways its not like i want to make a living out of adsense, i just want it to be a little successful so that i wouldnt look pathetic to the tech public.

by the way i need everyone out there to pray for on Octobers 13, 14, 20, and 21. I have a board exam and would really want divine intervention to come down from the heavens. Ask ye shall receive... right? I really hope that come October 22, i can hang a sign outside my door that reads "The CPA is in,' just for fun. :-) thanks!!!!!

garganeraboy signing off

A commentary on the song Tatsulok by Buklod (subsequently reprised by Bamboo)

2007-09-29T22:54:00.001+08:00

The song refers to the shape of the triangle as being the state of the Philippine society. The triangle, in my opinion can refer to all societies in the world. There is no society in the world in which the ruling class is the many and then we'll have an inverted triangle. People should understand that tringles are drawnin such a way that it supports it weight through its base, and if inverted, it would crumble.

It would be a very good analogy to any society, even to the communists and socialists ones, who say they are "for the people." The sheer economic subtleties that define society cannot be simply ignored. Inverting the triangle could have very catasthropic results. I think it was not the song writers intention to say to the world "hey you, 80% of the world, lets rally and topple the 20% who is on top." Understanding first the essence of the presence of the 20% should be imperative. Can any you imagine a world where 80% of the people are rich and 20% are still in the working class? It would be chaos. No one would work and would just pay the lesser 20% working class to do their job. I tell you, not everyone was meant to be at the top 20%. It may take guts, money, power, corruption, anything, to get there. But being at the top 20% means they wouldn't have responsibilities anymore.

Being at the tip of the triangle means you may have just proven your worth that is why they are there. I think reaching for that top is not the true goal. Everyone cannot reach that point, even the Bible states that there must be poor people on the world. I think the true goal in the world to maintain balance is that for those on top should realize that they have the power to influence their environment, and they should influence their environment in a way that those under them will not feel worn down by those who are on top of them.

Think about it. Does the tip of the triangle looks like its bringing its weight upon the base? Certainly not. Again, the triangle was not made to be inverted, otherwise it would topple.

Accountancy Review 2nd to the last issue

2007-09-28T18:32:00.000+08:00

After having the final pre board exams, i have mixed emotions about its results. To get straight to the point, i passed, with a very low grade of 76.05 (which is a point lower than what i got last time). I dont know whether I'd be happy or not. My mind says i should be happy, since not so many passed, which means that the exam was difficult by certain standards. But my mind tells me otherwise. I have now an ominous feeling about the coming board exams. The ACTUAL thing. My heart is always beating fast, and i can't seem to day dream anymore. Add to this the fact that my Alma Mater University of the East, also known as the Red Warriors is waiting in line for a championship title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball match. If only i had their confidence. The athletes won all 14 games straight. Thats a crazy 14-0 streak. I always think that our athletes had done a good job of keeping up with the UE reputation, i dont know if i can make my Alma Mater as proud. I need to pass this. I WANT to pass this. This will be a test of my character. For my avid readers, you'll be seeing more of me in the futu whether i pass or not. All i can say is, No Retreat No Surrender, and I will fight for that license like a true red blooded WARRIOR.

CPA Review v1.04

2007-08-14T16:18:00.000+08:00

Pre-Board Results have just been released and as such, many felt the jitters of the actual board exam which is a mere 60 days as of today.

Also the names of the top 100 reviewees who performed best at the pre-board examination has been posted to be reveled at by their peers, and who then can feel the confidence level in them rise. Sadly, although expectedly, my name wasnt included in the list. Also, if you refer to the image below, you might otice im even not include in the top 200. Please take note that we have a population of 2760, and the rankings are based on grades, it therefore possible for 2 or more individuals get the same grade. To simplify the image below, out of 3000 reviewees, there are 497 grades that share the same reviewee. Hope you guys understand. Please leave a comment if you have any queries.

Lastly, here's how the board exam goes, per Philippine Republic Act 9298, board passers need to have a general average of 75, WITH NO GRADE LOWER THAN 65, if in any time the examinee has an average of 75 and above and 4 or more subjects above 75, then the examinee may retake the subject whose grade is below 75 instead of re-taking the whole exam itself. Well, as far as this pre-board goes.... I'm not a CPA yet but ive only got one last thing to think about.

And at te look of things, ive calculated that i belong to the upper 46% of the batch, which is not so good, since the review director said that the safe spot would be part of the upper 30%, well... i guess i need to start pumping those brain cells now.

JCG signing out.

CPA Review v1.03

2007-08-11T16:29:00.000+08:00

Or as i would also title this post --> "The First Pre-Bpard Exam Aftermath"

I can say that this exam i took was not taken fairly. Mainly because i did not study or prepare for it. Hold up, I have my reasons before you readers start saying that its my fault the results didn.t come out favorably. I gave this exam away. Meaning, i only took it to gauge the stock knowledge i have about the seven sebjusts in the board exam. And by all things that are, i think unholy, i did not pass (as expected). The seven board exam subjects are

1. Business Law & Tax
2. Practical Accounting 1
3. Practical Accounting 2
4. Theory of Accounts
5. Auditing Problems
6. Auditing Theories
and
7. Managament Advisory Services

It seems i did not pass any of those mentioned above. The factors? Mainly because im a careless guys who just answers away with disregard for minor details. But i guess i shouldnt lose heart. This after all is not the real thing, its merely something to give as an idea on what to expect. As the case may be, my confidence level is on an all time low. But being disheartened is not the path to go for on times like these.

As of this moment, the official results are not out yet, but my gut feeling tells me i shouldn't get my hopes up. This, dear readers is the aftermath of the First Pre-Board. And by using the powers of deduction, you can safely safe another pre-board will follow soon enough. Its aptly called the Final Pre-Board. But that topic is for another time.

This has been a sad week for my existence.
--signing out

Minor Things I think About When I Commute

2007-07-28T12:34:00.000+08:00

I've always wondered what a kind job the Waterworks company here in Manila have been doing. Particularly here in Malabon, where the water level is higher than the roads. Just recently, major waterworks systems are being reffited with newer pipes, and i guess everyone would be just happy with that. Well not me. I see water wastage everyday. Torrents of water gushing out of the streets and turning the roads all wet. Not only that, it can go to the extreme of even causing a minor flood puddle of sorts, exaggeration aside. It just breaks my heart. Clean (treated) water that was meant for the consummation of the public, is instead running into the streets joing flood water... How terrible is that.

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Another issue that crossed my mind is the way Philippine cinema has changed is movie industry trend. Ive grown up seeing trailers of Movie scenes in the past, where the usual good vs. bad is dueling it out using handguns. Their usual routine would be, fire, take cover, fire fire, run to next cover, then fire fire fire again till the villain gets killed. But now, it has taken a rather abrupt shift to love stories. Logging out, Im gonna upadate this file next time, a friend just dropped by.