OJT Chronicles: Day 3 and so forth...

I think it was during this day that I learned how to use the vacuum cleaner. YEah, it was easy but it works also a lot of muscles and veins in my arms and hands.My butt hurt too but it doesn't matter because I really felt working my butt out! lol! I was actually too excited to pack my things for my trip to Manila the next dy yet I still managed to bond with some old OJT's at one of their places together with my mom. It was fun because I also get to know some room attendants in our department. Good thing, we went home early due to some of them still have to report to work also the next day. Of course, I was excited to travel the next morning to Manila for a Gawad Kalinga activity as well as missing OJT. Hopefully I could insert a picture of the bonding time in my next blog. :-)

OJT Chronicles: Day 2

October 7, 2010: I was dead tired to wake up for work but I told myself I  shouldn't give up and I can do this! I woke up earlier because it was a Wednesday and we won't have time anymore to attend mass after office hours.

Tasks I did for the day was doing the laundry, segregate the linens and the rest of the day, helped the 4th floor room attendant clean the guest rooms. Indeed, cleaning the guest rooms was the most tiring. There were still a lot of tasks to be learned that we forgot during theory sessions. A lot has been covered in theory but more often than not, we tend to forget theories when we are already faced with actual applications. Anyway, I get to try making the bed and the technique we used was actually time consuming compared to what the room attendant taught me. It was actually easy when two people helped together just as the saying goes " two heads are better than one". After a hard day's work, my mother and I proceeded to a party where she was invited by a previous co-worker from Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa. Food and videoke made my day although I was not in the mood to sing much because I am starting to feel sleepy. Good thing, we went home early and I immediately doze off ready for another day. :-)

OJT Chronicles: Day 1

October 6, 2010: Excited to start my first day in Alpa City Suites Hotel ( the hotel where I signed an On the Job Training). My day started assisting for another batch of Housekeeping NC II Assessment with an assessor that lasted for almost 5 hours. After that, I went to the hotel so that I could log-in early. I was issued two new shirts  as uniforms with the hotel logo and we have to secure for ourselves the black slacks and black shoes. Lo and behold, my mom forgot to bring my requirements which I was supposed to submit to the Human Resource Head! Anyway, she explained that it was her fault and was allowed to start officially.

My first task was to help segregate the linens. I was introduced on how to measure by hand single, double and king sized bed sheets and duvet covers: Two meters for singles, two and a half for doubles and Three meters for king-sized linens. I also helped segregating the towels as per who's going to pick up what. For me, the most fun part was counting! No, I'm not good in Math, I just love it. As the daughter of an Executive housekeeper, I couldn't afford my mom to be put to shame because of me so, I make it a point that I don't slack at work. Good thing is, she also makes sure that I have something to do. When we were done counting and segregating the linens,  a few minutes (2-3 minutes) would do to stretch out your body (I am starting to feel some muscle pain already). The next task was to accompany a room attendant for rooms check. For a VC (Vacant Clean/Arrival) room, we have to check if the air conditioner  was set on standard thermostat, if the vault is on its default pin, towels on the right places (e.g.  folded bath mat should be placed on top of toilet bowl cover) , draperies opened (both shower and window curtains except for the sheer window curtain),complete amenities such as complimentary bottled water, mini bar (depending on the instructions), bathroom supplies, standard channel and volume (CNN and volume 20),etc. As for the Turn Down Service Rooms (these are rooms that were cleaned by 5:30pm and beyond),curtains should be closed and the duvet will be folded in triangular form, bath mat is spread facing the shower curtain, etc. We almost lost track of the time 'coz we did not notice that it's almost time for supper. After eating dinner, a guest requested for hot water  and was asked to bring to the guest's room. The guest immediately handed me a twenty (20) peso bill after I gave the thermos of hot water. Well, not really bad for a first day. I was then assigned at the lobby to partner with another OJT assigned there. We were based near the employee's entrance but the area we are covering is the public area. So much learned for the first day and was actually looking forward for Day 2! :-)

OJT Chronicles: Genesis

I just started this year in the hotel industry. It all began when I was invited to take up the Housekeeping NC II at the MGB Skills Development and Assessment Center, Incorporated in Lahug, Cebu City. This is a TESDA Accredited Training Center. So, It was already in the middle of the class where I started my training nevertheless, I was able to catch up. Prior to our assessment, my mom, who was my big influence for getting me started asked if I want to pursue an On the job training in the hotel that she worked for. I said, " Sure" and asked her to print the resume that was saved in her USB. However, I was not able to start right away due to lack of requirements. I really believe in blessings in disguise because these times that I was supposed to start, my cousin, who was an Executive Chef in one of the international cruise ships visited Cebu after his contract for this term ended. During the last two days of his stay, together with his girlfriend, they encouraged us (I'm referring to my two other cousins)to pass our resume because there was one that need not require an experience. Anyway, with what happened, new plans are forming in my mind. Here it is: 'I will work in a cruise ship after my Mama and I will be going to Australia for my brother's wedding. Then, after I finish my contract in a span of 6-8 months, I will visit again my brother in Sydney for a month or two and go back to the Philippines to spend a vacation or it could be the other way around too. But, I also want to start up a semi-passive and eventually a passive income so that even if I will not be working after my contract, I still have an income during my vacation. Hopefully, I could get more internet traffic and also invest on it to add up my monetary blueprint.' Well, so far, that's all I could think of my new career dream plan. It is actually my motivation as well to work hard as a Housekeeping OJT. I immediately rushed when they left to settle and complete my requirements so I can immediately start. I still have some sideline businesses and opportunities but my priority is also housekeeping training. I pray that I could endure and that these plans will be blessed. Stay tuned for my OJT Chronicles: Day 1

Happy 7th Birthday Gawad Kalinga: My Miracle Travel

I just came from Manila yesterday after taking part in the celebration of Gawad Kalinga's 7th year launching of GK777. It's an initiative by Couples for Christ to help the poorest of the poor communities restore their dignity through building descent houses for them as well as honing their attitudes toward having a better life through giving values formation from the kids up to the parents ( homeowners). But, I won't be talking much about Gawad Kalinga in this blog..(sorry). I will be sharing to you how I miraculously got there despite my joblessness. I was already beginning to worry on how I can get there because I only have 70 pesos in my wallet. You see, although I was already booked a flight by my friend's credit card, it really was not a guarantee that I could pursue my travel because it seems impossible to produce even the 200 pesos terminal fee! What I did was pray hard for a miracle to happen. By the way, prior to that, I just started my OJT (on the job training) in one of Cebu's hotels. I was looking forward to get tips from guests ( believe me, I was that desperate!). Luckily, I got a 20 peso tip! I thanked God and did not lose hope and expected more the next day. Well, it did not turn out the way I expected it. No more tips until the last day that I was to take off! For desperate measures like these, I swallowed my pride and told my mom that I don't have any allowance except for the Php70. I was then expecting her to be nagging me before I could get the money. Guess what, she didn't! Although it was not that enough but still I was thankful for it! So, I prayed again that I can stretch my budget. Indeed, it was just not quite enough yet thanks to the generous hearts of my friends/hosts because they made my stay worthwhile and even lent me enough money to get to the airport (praise God for people like them)! One more thing, did I mention that I could only count the times I paid for my meals (only 4 times)and my registration for the summit was free? Seems unbelievable,huh? Miracles could really happen as long as we believe and claim for it! :-)