press the mute button…

i started working permanently (so to speak) in makati starting july… within two weeks, i learned to swear and get a bit impatient with stupid and persistent clients/callers/customers… thus, i thank the inventor of mute buttons because it keeps me sane. funny but true… instances like:

caller1: (spelling out his name) J for Juliet, O for Oscar, R for Romeo, G for Golf and E for X-ray…

… (pressing the mute button) ano daw? E for X-ray?! at kelan pa nag-start sa E ang X-ray?! stupid!…

 ~***~

caller2: (stating the booking reference) letter B for boy, number 2, letter X for saxophone, letter A, number 72

moi: i’m sorry ma’am, that’s B for Bravo, number 2, S for saxophone, A for Alpha, number 72?

caller2: no, B for boy, number 2, X for Saxophone, A for apple, number 72!

moi: (getting a bit confused) ma’am, as in letter B, number 2, letter S, letter A, number 72? 

caller2: hindi, X as in SAXOPHONE!

 … (pressing the mute button) e gaga ka pala! kelan naman nag-start sa X ang saxophone? stupid! baka naman xylophone! at may gana ka pang magalit! bumili ka kaya ng dictionary nang malaman ang correct spelling!…

moi: letter X po ma’am? as in X-ray?

caller2: oo nga, X nga as in saxophone! 

… (pressing the mute button again) sige, ipilit pa po natin na sa X nga nag-uumpisa ang saxophone!… 

~***~ 

caller3: hello! hiphop abs? inquire lang ako dun sa info-mercial…

moi: i’m sorry sir, this is mabuhay miles, a frequent flyer program of Philippine Airlines.

caller3: ay ganun? hindi ba ito yung sa hiphop abs?

… (pressing the mute button) were you even listening?! may sinabi ba akong hiphop abs?! mabuhay miles nga eh! mabuhay miles! goodness! napaka-slow nyo naman sir!… 

~***~

caller4: pa-check naman ako nung booking ko

moi: okay sir, can i get the booking reference?

caller4: ano na nga ba yung booking reference ko iha?

… (pressing the mute button) aba malay ko sir! ako ba yung nagpa-book ng flight nyo?!… 

these are just some of the instances i have undergone… in a short amount of time, i have spoken to really stupid people who have no clue of what they’re talking about. it could really make you crazy but then again, mute buttons are our bestfriend. 

one instance, it was down time and everyone was free… meaning no calls… i was the only one talking to a caller. i pressed the mute button and commented on something out of mere irritation. my workmate heard it and broadcasted it all over the office.

“guys! marunong na si princess mag-mute button! MRA ka na talaga! haha! nagtataray ka na rin! at tumataas na ang boses mo! bravo! welcome to the MRA world! haha!”

there… i am now a certified MRA… just a thought… patience is something not innate in me… it is something that i have acquired over the years in my career life… so i am thankful to mute buttons!