Almost half-a-year has passed after I published my last blog entry. The story of the little boy finding a job reached a climax but no one knows what happened next. I found a gold and screamed for [...]]]>

Almost half-a-year has passed after I published my last blog entry. The story of the little boy finding a job reached a climax but no one knows what happened next. I found a gold and screamed for excitement–but the curtains fell down and the audience applauded. The applause died down and the conversations buffet is served. The show stopped, but it must go on–even after 6 months. Hello world, prepare the confetti, the body-sticking glitters and other forms masquerade debris because I am about to enthusiastically go to the stage and heat myself again in the limelight. Ladies and gentlemen, this ain’t a stand-up comedy. This is an exhibition of drama in a comical package. Even if you laugh hard enough, I assure you I won’t defy the standards of my signature scintillation. The black suit, the business apprentice mind and the gentleman stance will never be enough until I speak. Hi, I’m Alfred Miguel Aguado and I’m back.

So, enough of the exuberant writing art that would make you think I grow and take care of cliché mustache. We are having a reunion, so we won’t dwell into a lot of intellectual exercises. Let’s sit down, have our favorite Earl Grey and share real-life stories in an almost real-life channel. What’s happening? I’ll answer. With more than 140 characters, I promise. Here it is. I got my first job in a company I worked with before as an intern for their, well, internship program.

From Intern to Direct Hire

I blurred my recent ID photo because I don’t like it. Don’t worry, I don’t have anything explicit on my face or on my head (except if you consider this one). If you ask why I am called “Miguel” now, then there’s no point of asking because it’s my name anyway. Haha. Kidding aside, I used to use “Miguel” only for kalandian’s sake.

Hi, I’m Miguel. My name’s oozing with charm and appeal. I can’t wait for you to scream my name. *sexy poker face*

But one of my colleagues told me that “Alps” is so, college personifying high school.

You’re representing the company, you’ll be managing people. Believe me, you’ll be respected the way you are called.

Fine. Call me Miguel. Don’t blame me if I make landi everyday. Hehe. Anyway, Work is work. I admit that I had a hard time mastering the basics of the business and learning its complexities. Thanks to my brilliant mentors and helpful colleagues–they made sure that I’ll fit in a world where the best people in the industry think and act. Work is work so I didn’t have the luxury of time to blog and share my life with the peoples of the worlds. I also travel a lot. By air, by water, by land or by magical teleportation–I tried all of them, many times.

My Delsey and My Nike

I already memorized the spiel of fight attendants that I can be one if one of them jumped from the aircraft. Seriously, I was imagining that I’ll suddenly stand up, do their spiel, serve snacks and go back to my seat as if nothing happened. Anyway, I always have three bags if I travel. One luggage bag for clothes, one shoulder bag for my laptop and other business files and one little shoulder bag where all my I’m Pretending to be Rich Look At These things are securely kept.

Semi-furnished, Decent Condo Unit

I am assigned to manage major accounts of an area somewhere in the Visayas so it is pretty practical that I rent a condo-type apartment. This is my own Bachelor’s Pad with all the Bachelor Things happening inside. Hah. It was semi-furnished at start but was fully furnished when I got my first pay. Hehe. Because I stay here 70% of the time, life for me was like that of our Filipino friends overseas: unfamiliar place, no friends, unfamiliar language. For a first timer independent kid, life was really hard for me. Through time, I loved the place, gained many friends and learned the language. I found a second home.

Ford Ranger

I’m a highly mobile business person so it is just logical for the company to provide me a car. And it’s a Ford Ranger pick-up. I’m a good boy with a Good Boy image so a sedan would be more consistent with my personality. Hah. But bring it on, monster, I’ll drive like I’m a mountaineer buff wandering the the relatively tame city streets.

A Unilever Christmas

Because we deserve to have a little fun

Major Accounts Group, Unilever Philippines

Those six months gave me the biggest break and challenge of my life. I learned things that I thought are learn-able in at least 2 years. I met people that made me humble and told me that I can’t be a Superstar yet. I experienced challenges, defeats and successes that made my heart steel and my mind, so active, I thought it was unreal. I’m taught that everything’s possible. If all it takes to make something possible is through magic, then do some. Magic, after all, is a form of reality that has the ability to constantly rekindle our sense of awe (e.g. Love. It’s magical, right?)–you can drop your jaws watching magic or you can do some to make those who watch drop their jaws. Be the star magician or be a fanboy spectator. Choose one, just one.

And now, I’m back in Manila for the biggest turning point of my career. I can’t give details but I know everything’s good. There would be more magic in my life. A good wand, some practice and knowledge of tongue-twisting spells could be my tools of trade.  For now, it’s business as usual. I want to celebrate life and no one can stop me. Get your skinny jeans and boots with a fur. Wear it forever because the world is our club. Don’t just stop and stare, dance with me. This time, there will be no falling curtains, no turning off of my spotlight and no bored spectators. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the next standing ovation.

Most of my recent (an overstatement) entries here at my personal blog were mere links or teasers for my academic blog entries. This is reflective of the fact that I don’t have a personal life since most [...]]]>

Most of my recent (an overstatement) entries here at my personal blog were mere links or teasers for my academic blog entries. This is reflective of the fact that I don’t have a personal life since most of my hours were spent for the thing called academics. Now I feel the pressure to tell stories I weren’t able to tell during my leave of absence. To lessen my thinking time (because my crazy brain is tired), I will be posting pictures and I will be telling a short story behind each image.

Graduation Barkada Picture

We had our graduation pictures taken. Yes, after some time dealing with unknown wild creatures, I was able to tame them—and I am ready to reach the peak. The photo above was our barkada graduation picture (we were incomplete, sad). Actually, I could have posted my own graduation picture but I think it’s a failure. Oh well. Check my Facebook profile for some of the raw pictures and laugh like crazy. :/

UP Manila AdHere's Cirque

UP Manila’s AdHere (An Advertising Organization) won Event Incorporated (EI)’s Top Party School Competition (against CSB, DLSU-ADMU and UAP). EI awarded AdHere with an event/party hosting package in One Esplanade.  I am so proud of my batch mates and friends for winning such.

My Photo because I am selfish like this >:D

The night after AdHere’s event is OrCom Silverscreen—a homecoming and silver anniversary celebration of our degree program (BA Organizational Communication) held in CSB Hotel.

Alps and The Malt. And, oh, Nikki.

We had some booze after and died some hours later.

Alps, Nash and the unattentive Lou

This is the post-OrCom Silver Meeting. We were so happy (I ran out of appropriate adjectives) we robbed Kuya Jay’s (The Department’s admin person) laptop and started playing with its webcam.

Happy, lala

Ren, one of our beloved kabarkadas, celebrated her 20^th birthday at Dencio’s. Ren, so, gaano na lang kalaki ang age gap niyo ni Leon? Haha, just kidding. WLY!

Ren, Ace and I posing for the shaky camera

Speaking of Ren, Ace and I rode with her going to UP Diliman to, supposedly, iron out our theses. Oh, thesis. Well I finished my draft on time. I’ll see my grade tomorrow! *shivers*

Sweet and Sour Orange

I have a new theme! Well, I’m not a big fan of the color but I liked it’s minimalistic design. Do I need to say more? :D

Find me!

The interns of the Unilever Summer Internship Program of 2009 had their Culminating Night recently. Okay, why am I speaking in the third person point of view? Anyway, we (or they? Haha) enjoyed the night. I miss you guys! Christmas Party please! We have been nice kids this year, right?

And those were the moments. The first semester of my fourth year was actually surprising–all of us expected that our senior year is easier than our junior year. Tomorrow, I shall face my grades (CRS, please give them now; you are freakingly prolonging my agony). Tomorrow, I shall undergo the bloody, classic-UP-style late registration process. Tomorrow, well, is a new day–a brand new surprise is up for me. :)

A rainy Saturday. I’m here at the bus, blogging about my internship revalida at Unilever. Of course, I won’t be pouring so much technicalities about it since I might be sued for breach of contract. Anyway, there is an [...]]]>

A rainy Saturday. I’m here at the bus, blogging about my internship revalida at Unilever. Of course, I won’t be pouring so much technicalities about it since I might be sued for breach of contract. Anyway, there is an undying emotion about what I felt about the revalida–I felt I delivered a mediocre one, I felt I left too many loopholes. My panel consisted of relevant people: My bosses and supervisors, and of course, the guys from Human Resources, Learning and Expertise.

The feeling initiated when my Line Manager told me: “You did a good job even though it’s not aligned with your expertise. I just hope you can find what you really want after graduation”. I have this weird feeling that my panel stereotyped me as a “great writer”, “The Blogger”. I have this weird feeling that they equated my undergraduate degree to a program inclined to the arts. I have this weird feeling that they felt I’m not for the corporate world.

I have this weird feeling.

Unilever HR People plus me

After the revalida, I left the room so that the panel can deliberate. I went out, almost clueless, went to the Board Room freezer, got some frozen goodness my fellow interns and I used to munch as happy food last summer.

When I went downstairs for Sir Lucky, he asked me:

“Do you want to work in Unilever?”

“Okay lang po”

“Okay lang? Haha”

What I really wanted to answer was this:
“Yes sir. I already fell in love with Unilever”

But I answered “Okay lang” to be safe, to expect the worst and to prevent myself investing too much with this supposedly reachable dream.

Unilever, it was a summer fling. Now, I confess, I can fall in love with you.

Let’s see each other, please? After graduation perhaps?

In a nutshell:

1. The usual breakfast :)
2. Marketing Module Game
3. Marketing, Branding and Advertising 101
4. Healthy AM snacks!
5. Plant tour (While I am enrolling [...]]]>

In a nutshell:

1. The usual breakfast :)
2. Marketing Module Game
3. Marketing, Branding and Advertising 101
4. Healthy AM snacks!
5. Plant tour (While I am enrolling at UP Manila, sadness)
6. Lunch!
7. Trade Visit at SM MOA, Puregold Sta Mesa and Robinson’s Otis
8. High-school-field-trip style snacks in our bus!
9. Tired interns resting at the convening area
10. Interns’ night-out at TGIF! (Too bad, not everyone came; too bad, I had to leave early)

Lusot-Gusot!

Wena with her nose bleeding, haha

The Marketing Extraordinaire!

Fruits!

On their way to the Unilever Plant

Trade Visit–Field trip style!

Addison–doing his stand-up comedy

A Game Called “Exhaustion”

Now we’re enjoying this game

Some lecture about the Unilever-SM partnership

On our way to the SM Supermarket with a random manong

Ano ‘to? Puto!

Tired–but can still smile :)

More Pictures Here

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines (ULP). The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any [...]]]>

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines (ULP). The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of corporate information about the said company would never be written here.

Our company-wide project is not only making tangential interference to our department-centric jobs and stints but is also generating some sort of personal corporate dilemma. Sometimes, I just want to escape and make some Absence-Without-Official-Leave diva drama. Every time I have this kind of cognitive ranting, Cezar’s (HR, Learning & Expertise King) words automatically dives into my psychological pool: It’s hard work here at Unilever. I am at least happy that I am touching and learning the corners of the real world in its grandest form. After this internship program, I will let everyone feel my body that’s made of steel.

Our Department's Interns' Anime-ish Effigy

In a nutshell:

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines (ULP). The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of corporate [...]]]>

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines (ULP). The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of corporate information about the said company would never be written here.

I feel nostalgic when using an old keyboard. While typing on this 90-ish QWERTY, I feel typing my grade school papers. Fortunately, my outputs using this computer is at par with with what is ideal and what is expected. I want my cubicle (and computer) back! In other news, the interns are getting a taste of corporate paranoia. We have our individual daily tasks, stints and projects (some of which are needed for our internship revalida). Moreover, we are also occupied with our company-wide project. It’s work, werk, wurk–different vowels, just the same hardcore meaning. Where’s work and play? I found it when all of the 25 interns of ULP decided to have a Thursday Bonding Night (A night before an Out-of-the-cube Session). We had our first shot of this bonding experience at Katips Bar situated somewhere in Tomas Morato. Work then play. Work then drink. Work then dance. :)

Spongebob trying to ruin my work

I found an easier (and safer) way to blog our OTC sessions: Photos with caption! Yey!

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines. The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of [...]]]>

“U & I” chronicles my life as an intern of Unilever Philippines. The blog entries under this series would only include my personal affairs with my fellow interns, with the company and its employees. Any kind of corporate information about the said company would never be written here.

Okay, I don’t have any decent picture for week three–which is actually quite consistent with what Week Three is all about: BUSYNESS (This is not so nice a word, I know; but it’s actually the noun form of the verb busy). I already met my main mentor. I have a new sub-mentor. I have three mentors overall. Virtually, I am doing three separate jobs. Oh well, this is “work”. And I love it.

My Unilever Email Signature

All Fridays of the Unilever Internship Program are dedicated to a whole-day program filled with fun activities and unnecessary generous servings of food (haha). I skipped the Friday’s breakfast because I arrived at Unilever Manila during the start of [...]]]>

All Fridays of the Unilever Internship Program are dedicated to a whole-day program filled with fun activities and unnecessary generous servings of food (haha). I skipped the Friday’s breakfast because I arrived at Unilever Manila during the start of the first activity—finding your perfect roommate. Too bad, I didn’t find mine. HAHA. Oh well, the activity tells me to be alone during the night. Anyway, it was fun, not just the activity itself but meeting my fellow interns for the very first time (I missed the first OTC session). I finally met my long lost brother, Carlos Aguado. But hey, his genetic features are almost the opposite of mine. Extraneous forces may have entered the Aguado Genetic Pool that variance assumed a higher value (Why am I talking technical here).

The second talk and activity was administered by and about the Human Resources Department. Their department function is really dynamic and deviates from the stereotype HR department of most organizations. I can’t disclose details and specificities but I can say that this area in Unilever’s organizational chart is goal-oriented and knowledge-driven.

Before we took the DiSC exam (a type of personality exam), we had our morning merienda. I can say that we, the interns, are Unilever’s patabaing baboy. After which, a person from an agency that administers the DiSC exam had a short talk and gave us the test. The results were astounding.

Dominance and Influence

Almost all of us fell under the Dominating or Influencing category or a combination of both. We are a noisy batch and the exam’s result is a proof; We are a very competitive batch and the result tells so. Lunch was Japanese. Ramen, Tempura, Sushi of all types and Samurai Dessert were just few of the several servings for the noon pig-out session.

"Samurai": A Japanese Dessert

The first talk after lunch was about Unilever’s Employee Engagement Program—how the company gives a sense of ownership to their greatest asset. Mr Malcolm, the speaker, ended with a challenge for us. The challenge is actually a project, a competition among defined groups of interns. The company would give us a whopping ***** budget to plan and implement it. Go Selecta Team!

Personal Visioning

The rest of the day is spent on personality activities (TIM U & Personal Visioning). We also made and set-up our own Energy Mailbox. I am hoping to read at least one letter for me, haha.

Energy Mailboxes

I am happy that Unilever actually spends money for the interns, not only for our competitive allowance (which is actually at par with a usual company salary) but also for our personality growth and skills development. At this point in time, I can say that we are Unilever’s investment. I am excited for the 3rd OTC!

More Pictures Here

I was such a loser. I forgot to charge my camera and forgot to bring my memory card. Ergo, I had a little number of pictures takes and had little pictures–literally (since I used my camera’s internal memory).