INFOR Open House Experience

On November 23, I went to the INFOR Open House/Job Fair. Normally, I don't like to go to open house or a job fair because I believe that there is no chance in hell that you are going to be hired out of a thousand applicants in there. I would rather wait for a job interview directly from the company that I would like to apply for. However, since it is INFOR and it is one of the biggest IT company out there, I decided to give it a go.

I was really lazy that day, so I decided to go there at 1PM instead of 9AM. When I arrived at their office at Bonifacio Global City, one of their HR representative told me to fill-up an application form and then directed me to a room. She never told me what's going on in that room, so when I went in, I was surprised that a presentation was ongoing and it was about the company's product. Because I was not there from the start of the presentation, I can't grasp what the presenter is talking about, so I just decided to fill-up the form. After the presentation, I passed my resume and the application form to the HR representatives and wait for my name to be called. As I was waiting in a desk, the presenter suddenly said "Hello" to me and said "So, what's your story?". "I was like, oh, you don't want to know, mister!".Haha! But anyway, I just told him that I was just an average guy and looking for a job like everyone else out there. I was really not in a mood to engage in a conversation with a stranger at that time, so I really want our little talk to stop. Thankfully, a very energetic guy came along and it so happens that he knows the presenter. After their little talk, the presenter wished everyone good luck.

Finally, my name got called. The technical recruiter that interviewed me is a male and from observing him, his eyes are so red that it looks he didn't sleep the night before. He also looks like he is so bored and he wants the day to be over already. I was really disappointed by this interviewer, because it seems very unprofessional when you look really bored while you are conducting an interview. At the other side of our very table, is a lively interview being conducted by a female HR interviewer, oh I wish she interviewed me! Even though the interview was so lethargic, I tried to make it as lively as possible, on my side at least. When the interview was over, he told me that I will be contacted 1-2 weeks afterwards. For me, I don't expect to get a call especially after an interview like that.

After going through that, I told myself that I was right all along that I should never go to open house or job fair because it is really a waste of your time, effort and money. 

The 15 Years Old Ultimate Guitarist

I am really amazed by the talent of my little brother Mustapha (We call him "Papa" at home, because that is how he pronounced his name when he was a toddler). At age 15, he can already play the guitar as good as  Angus Young the lead guitar player of AC/DC. Come to think of it, a few years ago it seems like he does not have the interest to learn how to play the guitar. He was more interested in picking up a basketball rather than a guitar and I guess he was just trying to emulate me. Because every little brother wants to be like their big brother, right? I admit that while our Dad is a very good guitar player (Who by the way is the mentor), I consider myself as a frustrated guitar player and instead I focused on playing sports especially basketball. I joined and played in sports tournaments rather than join battle of the bands. But right now, I still have that urge to learn more on playing the guitar and I am hoping "Papa" can teach his big bro. Below are two videos of my little bro, one is his version of the famed Canon Rock music and the other is a band performance in his school IPSJ (International Philippine School In Jeddah) which is also my alma mater. Enjoy viewing the Ultimate Guitarist!

Kaifa Halak? Wait, Is That An Arabic Word?

I have written a few "blogs" before but this is the first time that I am formally making a blog site via Blogger. I am planning sometime to store my previous blogs here, so that they will not go to waste. Anyway, in case you are wondering, the title of my blog says "Kaifal halak?". Well, it is an Arabic word and it means "How are you?" when translated to the English language. Formally, you respond that with "Ana bi khair, shukran" which means "I am fine, thanks". Maybe you are asking why did I title my blog with that phrase? I guess I am just trying to incorporate my Arabic background into my blog. Speaking of Arabic background, recently I become a fan of a page entitled "OH?! TALAGA? NAG-HIGHSCHOOL KA SA SAUDI? BA'T DI KA DUN NAG-COLLEGE?". That fan page really hit the jackpot because in my experience, I was asked that very question several times but I don't consider it silly. I mean there are questions that are asked to me out of curiosity and I respect that but there are just questions that are so silly and ignorant that sometimes you're going to say "Are you kidding me or what?". But as time goes by, I have learned to answer  and handle these questions well. So in regards to that fan page, I would like to list all the silly questions that has been asked to me because of my background. For now these are the only ones that I have compiled but you never know, someone could ask me something silly along the way.

The above word means "Arabic"

If you grew up in Saudi Arabia, then:
1] Did you ride a camel?
2] Where did you live in a tent?
3] How did you survive there? Isn't the place all deserts and full of sands all over?
4] Do the men really have to grow a beard? Because if not then they will get raped by the Arabs?
5] Do the men have to wear long pants all the time? Because if they wear shorts then they will get raped by the Arabs?
6] When you were there, did you always wear the Saudi national costume (the ghutra and thawb for men)? (Women are required to wear the abaya but are not required to cover their face especially for the non-Muslims) 
7] Isn't Saudi a war torn country? (Clearly, they are mistaking Saudi with Iraq, Palestine, or Israel  However, Saudi did have a war back in 1992 which was called the Gulf War.)

8] You also do not take a bath right? Or practice personal hygiene? Because Arabs do not take a bath or practice personal hygiene. (I don't exactly know if all Arabs take a bath, what do you want me to do, check them one by one? What I do know is that Muslim Arabs are required to perform ablution or cleansing 5 times a day in order to perform prayers or salah.)

My Thoughts on the Results of the Philippine Bar Exam 2009

The results for the 2009 Philippine Bar Exam was released last March 26, 2010. At that night, I was really excited and anxious to see the results even though I did not take part of it. I do not know why? Maybe because I want my law school (FEU-Institute of Law) to be among the top notchers or maybe I want to see a fellow Muslim as a top notcher in the case of Mylene Amerol-Macumbal back in 2008. The Supreme Court website was really busy that it would take a lifetime to access it. At about 9PM, the Supreme Court provided the link for the bar passers but not for the bar top notchers. A few minutes later, news websites started posting the the top 10 bar top notchers and what I noticed first is not that the top notcher is from San Beda, it is that 7 out of the 11 top notchers are all from Ateneo de Manila Law School. Wow! Talk about total domination!

Yes, I have to admit that I am disappointed by the results of the bar top notchers (not the bar passers, congrats to all of you!) because there is not even a single small or underdog law school that is included. Last year the bar top notcher Judy Lardizabal comes from San Sebastian College. I just hope that in the upcoming bar examinations, underdog law schools may able to top the bar exams and it should not revolve only around Ateneo, San Beda or UP because if that  trend goes on we may see some sort of a monopoly happening regarding law schools. The CHED are now closing down non-performing law schools so that is why I predict that happening. 

Another as I have mentioned above is that there is no fellow Muslim included among the top notchers unlike last year or back in 2006 when Al-shwaid L. Ismael was ranked top 8th. This is a big deal for me because as Mylene Amerol-Macumbal summed it up "There is still discrimination in this country against Muslims and Muslim women due largely to misconceptions, I hope to help erase those misconceptions”. In a country where we are a minority, I felt the need for me and my fellow Muslims to step up and do something to erase those misconceptions. In addition to that, look at our politics, sports, business industry, show biz industry or any other aspects, and let me ask you if there are any well known Filipino Muslim figure in those? Maybe you can mention to me one or two and that is it. This is one of the primary reason why I took up law school and I hope to follow in the footsteps of Ms. Amerol-Macumbal and Mr. Ismael.

Here's the list of the top 10 bar top notchers of the  2009 Philippine Bar Exams:

1] YEBRA, REINIER, 84.800, San Beda
2] TAPIC, CHARLENE MAY, 84.600, San Beda
3] LIM, JOHN PAUL , 84.500, Ateneo Law
4] LAGOS, CAROLINE, 84.400, UP Law
5] TAN, ERIC DAVID, 84.050, Ateneo Law
6] GONZALEZ, YVI RANDOLF, 83.900, Ateneo Law
7] TO, JOAN MAE, 83.650, Ateneo Law
8] BAGRO, HERMINIO III, 83.400, UP LAw
9] LUMAUIG, TIMOTHY JOSEPH, 83.200, Ateneo Law
10] BAINTO, NAELLA ROSE, 83.100, Ateneo Law
10] GO, SHIELA ABIGAIL, 83.100, Ateneo Law

Shed the Weight

It's summer time again, and I looked at myself in the full body mirror and I realized that I gained an excessive amount of weight. "Oh no!" I said to myself , "Here we go again, my body weight is fluctuating from being overweight to average". I admit that I have never exercised since the school semester started last November because I  could not just find time.  I did not even play basketball since 2008. Wow! In addition, in law school, you need to EAT really well in order for your brain to function properly. You can not come into the classroom experiencing some sort of headache or hunger because when it's your turn to recite, the professor will bombard  you with questions that requires logic and analyzation which means you need to your BRAIN to function well. (Although, I do credit energy drinks sometimes in keeping me alert. Hhhmmmm.. How many did I consumed last semester?) I think those contributed to my weight gain and it is time to Shed the Weight. Perhaps go to the gym, should I say.

The last time I stepped into a gym was about a couple of years ago. The gym is called the ECLIPSE and what I like about it is that it is open 24 hours a day. I remember one time when I finished my work in the office at about 11 o'clock in the evening and I went straight to the gym! I finished at about quarter to 1 o'clock in the morning and would you believe that I have to go to work at 9 A.M. later? Talk about being passionate. This summer, I am planning to go back to the gym, perhaps I will go back to ECLIPSE or others like FITNESS FIRST, GOLD's GYM, etc. I just need to Shed the Weight before the school year starts again. Who knows that if I do not start taking care of my body and health, then after another 3 years of law school, I may end up becoming a sumo wrestler. Nah! The picture below with my former office mate was taken during my gym days.

   Marvin and Madz