DISCLAIMER: This piece was written almost two years ago when I was jobless and had the time of my life reading news and minding people’s comments. I am posting this again because we’ve been hearing nasty things about call center workers again from people who give speeches on graduation day, from people who pretend to be all good and better than a call center worker.
I often remind myself to choose my battle and not to mind gratuitous issues. I always tell myself that saying NO to trouble is an act of maturity. I could have let this one pass but through the days, the urge of writing about this sensitive topic was getting stronger. I have had sleepless nights, literally, sleepless thinking about it. I’m annoyed, I’ mad and I was hoping that through this piece, I could somehow appease my anger.
It’s been in papers; it’s not a surprise at all that HIV is one of the major problems DOH has to address today. It is rampant, let’s face it, it is rampant especially with the youth of this generation who need more awareness about safe sex. Saying that it has been widespread with today’s youth does not mean adults do not get it, yes they do, and irresponsible adults do.
My writing is not all about HIV, it has something to do with the comment I heard from people who pretend to be morally decent.
I was once in a public transportation when I heard two ladies discussing something they have heard from the news about HIV and how they associate it with call center people. I was at first impressed that they are aware of what‘s happening to the society but I became more engaged with my eavesdropping when one lady, (who by the way looked like working in a well-known grocery store based on her uniform) commented about call-center workers being immoral. Her exact word “kaya ayaw ko mag apply sa call center kasi ang daming ka imoralan”. (That’s why I don’t want to apply in call center because workers are immoral. )
Believe me; I almost smacked that girl if only I was not worried about the scandal I may cause because of that. But as I was about to alight the jeep, I bluntly told the girl “ kung ayaw mo magtrabaho sa call center, mas madaming trabaho ang pwede maliban sa pagiging sales girl sa SM, para lang yan sa di marunong mag English, maliban nlng kung di ka talaga marunong” ( if u don’t wanna work in a call center, being a sales lady is not the only option, leave that to those who can’t speak good English, unless you really can’t) which left those ill-mannered ladies dumbfounded.
The days have passed; I was trying to justify what I have done to that poor girl. I felt the guilt, I thought I went overboard and ridiculed her capacity or her educational attainment, however, I realized that maybe I was just giving her the dose of her own medicine . After all, they are not being good at all; they generalized everybody who works in a Call – center Industry without even thinking that they are in a public place. So, I just simply shrugged it off and got it over with.
Every time I get to hear repulsive comments about call center workers, it makes me furious. I may not be in this industry now but this industry molded me and fed me for five years! I feel for those people who work not for anything else but to earn big in order to send their children to school, to those people who work simply because they want to provide for their family.
I wanna say, not everybody who works in a call center industry is immoral just as not everybody who works in a religious institution is morally upright! My point is, do not judge people based on what you hear or read.
To the one I completely know who keeps on saying negatives, stop judging people! Stop saying nasty comments about the people who work in this industry. Look at yourself first, go get a mirror and polish your own flaws first! Didn’t you live with your boyfriend first before you got married? Was not that immoral too? ( I really don’t care about your personal life just as long as you stop pretending to be a saint). You have once in your life worked in this industry, were you in an immoral activity for you to have said those things? ( oh well, mine is just a simple question 🙂 )
Yes, call center workers work at night, that’s why they get night differentials sweetie! But that does not mean they do bad things in the dark. Yes, call center worker loves to drink and party, that’s because this is the least that they could do after a long, tiring week .
Yes, call center workers love gadgets, love clothes, love to dress up, love starbucks coffee and anything else out of your usual scale…and do you know why? BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD, BECAUSE THEY EARN MORE!
– Allow some translations for the benefit of my friends who can’t understand Tagalog! -S
Like this:
Like Loading...