THE SOURCE OF JOY AND LAUGHTER

Most of my waking hours are spent working in an office full of different personalities.(not to mention our clients.)These people keep me sane and even grounded sometimes. For the past 5 years, I have also tried searching for other pasture-greener than what I have now. One thing that keeps me or should I say pulling me back is the people in our division. I can say they keep my emotions in its normal state. We cry, we laugh, we gossip and we rant. We are one. We are all different but we are united as one. I can't really explain what bonds us together or what is the common between us. The important thing is that we have fun, enjoy each other and maintain the relationship.

ANOTHER SO CALLED-PERFORMANCE BONUS

DBM issues guidelines for granting of performance bonus to state workers
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2008 | LABOR AND WELFARE

Manila -- Budget Secretary Rolando G. Andaya Jr., has issued on December 11, 2008 Budget Circular No. 2008-5 to implement Administrative Order No. 250 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on December 10, 2008.

Pursuant to AO No. 250, all personnel of the Government are entitled to receive a one-time reward of a maximum of Ten Thousand Pesos each as performance bonus, in recognition of their commendable effort in attaining efficiency in government operations, despite the economic difficulties which may arise as a result of the global financial crisis.

Secretary Andaya said that all permanent, temporary, casual or contractual personnel of national government agencies including government owned and controlled corporations and government financial institutions whose salaries are charged against their Personal Services allocation and who are still in service as of November 30, 2008, are entitled to receive the performance bonus.

The Performance Bonus will not be granted to personnel of NGAs, GOCCs and GFIs who have already received extra cash gift or additional benefit in Fiscal Year 2008 over and above the year-end benefit authorized under RA 6686, as amended by RA 8441 as implemented by Budget Circular No. 2005-6 dated October 28, 2005.

The DBM shall release, the amount of P7,000 per employee of NGAs not belonging to the Constitutional Offices/Fiscal Autonomy Group, chargeable against the unreleased appropriations under the Fiscal Year 2008 budget which was pooled by DBM for the purpose.

The remaining Performance Bonus requirements of P3,000 per employee of NGAS shall be charged against their respective savings in allotment. In the event that the agency savings is insufficient to coven in full the remaining P3,000 per employee, DBM said, that payment thereof shall be subject to the amount available as savings provided that a uniform amount shall be given to all employees.

The total requirements of P10,000 per employee of NGAs belonging to the CFAG like congress, CSC, Judiciary, COA, Comelec, CHR and Ombudsman, shall be charged against the available savings in allotment. In the event that the CFAG does not have sufficient savings to cover in full the P10,000 per employee, payment thereof shall be subject to the amount available as savings provided that a uniform amount shall be given to all employees.

For GOCCs and GFI, the amount needed shall be charged against their respective corporate funds.

Those who are not entitled to receive the Performance Bonus are government personnel who are absent without leave; those who have been hired not as part of the organic manpower of agencies but as consultant or experts; student laborers; apprentices; laborers of contracted projects; those whose remuneration are not taken from the budgetary allocation for Personal Services; those who are formally charged with administrative cases as well as criminal cases which relate to acts or omissions in connection with their official duties and functions and found guilty, except when the penalty is a mere reprimand.

The performance bonus of government personnel detailed with another government agency or special projects, shall be drawn from their respective mother agency. In the case of those paid from project funds, the Performance Bonus shall be drawn from the same source where they draw their salaries.

The performance bonus of government personnel employed on a part-time basis shall be pro-rated corresponding to the services rendered.

For personnel who transferred from one agency to another, their performance bonus shall be granted by their new office.

Government personnel who have received any unauthorized extra cash gift or additional benefit or allowance prior to the issuance of the Circular shall refund any excess of the amount herein authorized or shall be entitled to the difference if they receive less than P10,000. (PIA 8)

Source: gov.ph/news/?i=23060

We are not going to be entitled by performance bonus announced last Friday by the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

If I remember it right, a performance bonus was also released last 2007 stating the same guidelines and all contractual employees of the Fund (known as the agency-hired contractual employees) are happy of the good news and only to find out that we are not part of the said "performance bonus". It turned out that the term contractual in the guidelines refers to the casual employees of an agency. We must have misinterpreted it but the term "performance bonus" says otherwise.

They should have called it "government employee bonus" because non entitlement of the "performance bonus" is just like saying you are not performing under the agency you are in. There are almost 30 personnel in our office who are agency-hired and we are hoping to be absorbed by the company we are in but due to the slow movement of the organizational structure, it became unattainable for us. I am merely stating the facts what is happening in the regional offices and it would also be guide to the management ( if they have or have no idea that agency-hired employees exist).

As much as we want to be treated equally like the regular employees in the benefits aspect, in the end it will just be a dream. We just want to be recognized as part of the Fund that we are working in. We want to grow and be motivated. I am writing this to let other people know that working in a government is not a bed of roses ( as my neighbors think) but it means WORK!!

JOLLI-BEE HAPPY!!

Its Jolibee once again..Jollibee has been part of our office since Family Day 2008 at the People's Park opening. I was about to laugh when I heard the news the it is going to be in People's Park. but I didn't expect that I will be awed by the place.(Note:You should have seen People's Park before, it's way far from what it is now) The kids had fun and we had the chance to take pictures with Jollibee and in the People's Park grounds. We were joking that the picture is for Friendster purposes (actually, it is true..this picture is in my Friendster account.hehehe).

This coming December 18, 2008, our office will have Salo-Salo at the Office to have a uniform celebration for the entire office around the Philippines. Funny is that for the first time, we will start the Salo-Salo simultaneously with other branches. So I am expecting TV screens and live feed of the Salo-Salo.Hmmmm..very high tech na ang Pag-IBIG Fund.

Due to the global economic crisis, the management decided that instead of spending the budget to have a glamorous and expensive party, we will just have a Salo-Salo at the office and feast on Jollibee. All the Hawaiian ideas disappeared and I am saying adios to Pearl Farm Marina.huhuhu.

Anyway, I believe that Christmas is not measured by the gifts you receive, the foods at your table or how expensive is the venue of your party. I think it is the togetherness and love of the people around you. We should set aside whatever misunderstandings we have in the past and move on. Share your love to others and be a friend to them. I just wish we always celebrate everyday as if it was Christmas and I hope that I'll never get tired of Jollibee.

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT THE OFFICE

Kids of my officemates wearing cute Halloween costumes

Kristine P.'s niece wearing a cool devil ensemble

Little Julie D.-fairy busy eating lollipop

I want to be a kid again so that I can have the excuse to wear Halloween costumes and get loot bags with goodies.hehehe.

Last October 30, 2008, our office partied with kids for the Halloween "Trick or Treat" party. There were lots of treats and tricks(I mean, magic tricks) for kids.

The kids were adorable and they had fun while receiving treats. They also feast on party foods like ice cream, chocolate fondue, hotdogs and popcorn.YUM..YUM.. Too bad the adults will have to purchase party foods if they are hungry.huhuhu.

It is one heck of a party because kids are all over the office after their party. Good thing, few clients only visited the office that aftternoon.

Here we are, clowning around the decorations after the party. It is nice to be kid again even for a day. (FYI: The devil horns I am wearing was purchased in Gensan. A steal for only Php29 and it lights up!hehehe)

HALLOWEEN MASK

The Halloween decorations are already placed in our counter and we wasted no time and took pictures in front of our horrific mask. Bwahahaha. Do you recognize the man behind the mask? Hmmm, I bet you won't. He is our very energetic manager, Manolito Olegario. He posed with the mask and we didn't bugged him to do it. hehehe. He was probably amused hen he passed by our counter and saw us taking pictures.

I was partly happy and shocked when he posed with us. He is a very serious manager and don't always mingle with others. You rarely see him laugh and jokes around when he is in good mood. It changed my perception of him and I hope he continues to mingle with us.

ATTY. ROMERO FEDERICO S. QUIMBO

I had the privilege to pose with our dashing and hardworking CEO, Mr. Romero F.S. Quimbo. He visited our office and I didn't hesitate when our manager, Mr. Olegario said that we can take pictures with him.

As described in the Pag-IBIG Fund website, His work day starts as early 7 a.m. and ends as late as 9 p.m. Almost always, he's the last one to leave the Pag-IBIG offices in Atrium building in Makati City. Sometimes on weekends, he finds himself alone at work in the office.

Why the long and extra work hours? It's pressure of the job, he says, adding that "if I were to enumerate the problems that we have, we'll probably come up with piece of writing as long as the Book of Genesis.

ALL ABOUT OUR CEO:

A native son of Catbalogan, Samar, Atty. Quimbo finished his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, where he also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He was a consistent scholar throughout his academic life, a champion debater and team captain of the U.P. Law Debate Team, and a distinguished student leader.

Atty. Quimbo was the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of HDMF before he took over the top post at the age of 33. Prior to joining Pag-IBIG, he was among the pioneers of Philippine e-commerce as President and Managing Director of Pinoymail.com. He has also worked at the House of Representatives, Mondex Philippines, Inc. and Technotrix Philippines, Inc., and was an associate at the Poblador, Bautista and Reyes Law Offices.

Atty. Quimbo is married and has one child.

ONE WACKY DAY

Our wacky pose in our office. Thank you for the webcam of Ms. Jen for capturing our candid moments in the office. I am really happy that all of us in the unit get along well with each other. There is never a dull moment and we find time to laugh and share jokes and stories. It eases up the boring tasks and stressful times in the office. We also bond by eating our favorite foods like crema de fruta and baked spaghetti. One of this days, I will pose the candid pictures of my officemates eating and very happy.

I guess having wonderful people around you makes you feel light and soo motivated. I really thank them for the joy, laughter and sometimes petty misunderstanding for making our group strong and bonded.