My 2012 Accomplishments!

Wow! 2012 was really a tough year for me. Besides it being the "End Of the World" as predicted by the Mayans, it was a real roller-coaster year! 

First off, in January, I decided to make a big shift, career-wise (you might say it was a big mistake, but things happen, y'know?). I decided to pursue a career which was very different from what I wanted to be. I switched from I.T. to Pest Control. (ooops! yeah, that's right.) Like what I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to have an adventure, I wanted to take the risk of exploring into an unknown field. Ofcourse, as in everything you do, you will always experience some ups and downs. My salary was slashed in the first few months, but then it was raised after I earned my DOD Certification (I am earning higher now rather than when I was in I.T.), which was great! 

This was also the month when me and my wife decided to build our very own little home. And slowly but surely, we were able to move in to our new house after 8 long months! (whew! it was all worth it, though...)

In mid-July, I joined Planet Mobile Technologies. It's an investment firm which caters Telecommunication and Mobile Technologies as their main product, instead of medicinal and herbal products. I am still pretty unsure if I have made the right decision by joining this group, but I keep my head up. This firm is actually showing some positive results for those really "die-hard" aficionados who want to earn easy money. And the company is growing in terms of members and followers. And they have also successfully partnered with other giant companies, like Globe Telecoms, Kia Philippines, and Pepsi Products Philippines, further exemplifying their mark as one of the fastest, and largest investment firm in the country. Are you interested? Hehehe... :D 

And just as last year, our employment status with Dyncorp is still "so-so." Still blundered as to wether or not our contracts will be extended. But then again, we're still hoping for the best since we're pretty sure that the VFA won't be easily scrapped by the Philippine Government, with the tensions rising between the Philippines and China. Who else would the Philippines run to in-case a war ensues between our nations? You know, it's funny how the Philippines got rid of the American troops and bases way back in the late 90's. But still long for their assistance in times of war. Come to think about it, the Philippines never really gained their independence, since we are very dependent, especially to the United States of America. Where would we be if it weren't for them?

Anyway, moving on... 2013 is the year of the Water Snake, according to the Chinese calendar (I hope the Chinese won't be coming up with another "end of the world" theme anytime this year... hehehe...) And I'm very optimistic about this year! Me and my wife already have lots of plans for 2013. There is something very significant about the number 13 for me and my wife. Others would say that it's an unlucky number. But we go against the odds. We always did. And at some point, we always win. 


I believe that we could top anything that we were able to accomplish last year, and make it better and bigger this year. And if there were things that we weren't able to accomplish, we'll make sure to place a big exclamation point on it in 2013!

Have a great year ahead!




From,

Jonathan Paul C. Solis and family

A lot of new things...

It's been 2 months since I worked for Dyncorp Int'l., thru EMDI, and I must say that I have learned a lot here, and is still currently learning more stuff as days progress. I've traveled the 3 most critical areas in region 9 (Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi) setting up VSATS and network access. I am enjoying it so far. I love how I am able to set up these huge satellite dishes and provide internet access to the American soldiers who are isolated from society. It's the only way they could communicate with the outside world, especially with their family. The internet really does make the world a very small place to live in, bringing people closer no matter how distant they may be.

Well, there have been issues with connectivity, but most of the time the problem is due to our provider's side. It rarely comes from ours. But when there is indeed trouble on our side, we simply give the routers a quick reboot (power-cycle), and the problem subsides. Sometimes we have to block certain users who eat up a lot or hug the bandwidth by downloading stuff and streaming videos on the internet. We only unblock them when they call us, and we explain to them why they were blocked, hoping that they would not do it again. But being the American soldiers that they are, they just keep doing it again. Yeah, they are a bit hard-headed and a pain in the butt. But if they do get blocked for a 3rd time, we will not be restoring their connectivity for about a month.

Most of the tasks I do here are simple. Installing software, remove viruses, assist with printing problems, entertaining calls, cleaning up the Comms room, etc. etc. When there's really nothing to do, I update my Facebook and other social networking sites. I still try, as much as I could, to keep up with my friends and former colleagues, and my former students as well. Yes, there are some things that I miss about my former job, but life must move on! I believe I am in a much better place right now. And I don't regret ever leaving my former job behind. Growth is actually putting into action everything that you learned in school, and learn a thing or two, whenever something goes wrong. It is better to apply what you are preaching, and discover if the theories are true, rather than preach and not doing anything to prove it.

Yes, there are really some things you cannot avoid no matter which company you are in. There will always be problems here and there. All you have to do is go with the flow. 

Well, I just hope the VFA will stay for some more years so I could stay employed here and all. I am enjoying it so much, and I have been able to provide for my wife and son what I was finding hard to provide before.

Take care and keep on reading my blogs!