After our major head office reorganization, there were some of us that were previously on ‘rotational’ schedule, that were now ‘localized’. By rotational, I mean that we work on a 20/8 schedule, or working for 20 days straight including weekends, and then having an 8 day break. Plane fare to and from work is shouldered by the company. And now that some of us have already been ‘localized’, we no longer have that schedule, and are now on a normal office working schedule of 5 workdays, and have the weekends off. Being localized also means that plane fare going home to our home bases would now be personally shouldered. I have been lucky to instead be sent out to the field, in preparation for taking our new positions as Wellsite Managers, or what is known in the Oil and Gas Industry as the ‘Company Man.’ I will now be on a 14/7 schedule, which means I get to go home more frequently than before!

My supervisor has decided to relocate his family near our head office and transfer his son to one of the nearby schools. Just last week, he has made a deposit for a 2-bedroom condominium unit and is now selecting the furnishings. He told me he had his eye out for rustic furniture, and was hoping to have those to adorn his new pad. I hope to be able to get some dog-safe frisbees after accompanying him furniture shopping. Yay!

Only 1 more week to go until my base off. I cannot wait!

“Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s off to work I go!”

On a more serious note, our motivation to work is as varied as they come. Ideally, it should be for the love of the work that you do. As they say, if you love your work, then you don’t have to work a day of your life. Sadly, such is not the case, as people do tend to get into a cycle of debt. It could come in the form of an investment, like a house and lot loan, or a car loan. People shouldn’t have to lose focus, and avoid falling into the pit, or the frame of mind that motivates you to wake up and show up for work just thinking of paying off the debt.

Having received my retirement pay earlier this year, we had gotten the chance to fully pay off our lot loans. But then, the Montero Sport got the better of us. LoL. It is not a decision I regret. Rather, it is an added reason to show up for work. It has not in any way diminished my zeal and excitement for my job.

Thank God for drilling engineering!

Around dinner time, most of those who did not receive a job offer, were all huddled in our recreation hall, playing billiards and table tennis, and were discussing possible what best small business to start, considering that they already had in their hands what they needed for start up capital. This poses quite the challenge, as I somehow remember reading about statistics, majority of businesses (say 99%) fail on their first year. Now that they do not have a steady monthly-paying job as of the moment, they better do a better job of managing their finances. My personal suggestion to them for starters,  drop their vices – gambling, drinking, and smoking. Actually, even for those who still have their jobs, I suggest they still do the same.

Even though I knew it was coming, I had been absolutely dreading the time when I would have to be flying solo, in a manner of speaking. I am referring to being on duty on the rig, as the company representative. The reason being that this position is a very demanding one, with decisions needing to be done on a daily basis, with potentially high cost consequences. However, I am one to welcome the challenge, and always look at these things as opportunities for more growth, and to better myself professionally.

It is no wonder therefore, that I feel a sense of achievement in the way I have slowly but surely eased into the driver’s seat. Indeed it has taken me out of my comfort zone, and had me making a lot of major adjustments, but somehow, I have done it. Like my immediate boss says, it is only a matter of gaining the confidence, which admittedly, I lack. Good thing is I am now doing something about it, and I feel very optimistic about what the future holds.

Now that I am on duty by myself, things I have taken for granted before, like getting in an hour or two of sleep while on duty, are now hard to come by. I have to be always on tiptoe, and always anticipate any potential problems that may (and probably) occur. With the lack of sleep, I think I need to get myself vitamins for acne, as I am sure that sleep deprivation would certainly show.

Mixed emotions I would say. Anticipation and excitement on the one hand, because the big reorganization, the big smile as we called it, was now finally going to materialize. On the other hand, nostalgic too, since we will be leaving behind the bigger EDC family, where I have spent the last 5 years of my career. Looking at the glass as half full, we will finally be getting a chance to be paid the drilling industry standard, something that those that came before me and held this same job that I now hold had been clamoring for. Over the years, a lot of those people had resigned and gone on to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

I vividly remember the first flag raising ceremony I attended at our Northern Negros facility way back in 2006. The hairs at the back of my neck stood on end, as I was awash with such powerful emotions. I remember thinking that time, and saying to myself, “I am part of something big, something worthwhile, something I am proud of!” I never thought anyone could feel that proud of his job, as I was that day. Here I was standing tall, standing proud, and knowing that my job mattered, knowing that I was making a difference in the world. That was such a powerful feeling! Whenever I feel down and frustrated with work-related concerns, all I have to do is just mentally go back to that day, and I am refreshed once more, raring to go another day, to do my part, to take my place in this worthwhile endeavor.

Around 2 months back, during the opening ceremonies of our annual company badminton tournament, we again sang the corporate song. A touching realization came upon me – that I was going to miss singing it during the flag-raising ceremonies! This was especially so since during my assignment at our head office, we usually did not attend the flag raising ceremonies regularly. Once again, I was feeling such strong emotions, and while I looked around, I was wondering if anybody among the crowd even had a hint why I was smiling as I was singing our corporate song. Yes I was smiling, but my chest was weighed down by very strong emotions.

I’d just like to share the lyrics of this song I feel so strongly about, and of which I will look back on, and remember the pride with which I sang it, once upon a time….

A breed of new heroes

One vision, one goal

Dig deep and discover

Energy at the core

Hidden strength and power

That lies deep within

The heart of a nation

Where progress begins

The best our land has to offer

The world shall now see

The force that drives a nation

And sets it free

One spark, one light, one life

One vision through the test of time

One in voice and one in stride

Empowering people, empowering life

Full steam ahead

Source of power, source of pride

Moving forward, aiming high

Empowering people, empowering life

The reason I mentioned this though, is due to its relevance, with my recent field duty to familiarize myself with a recent time-saving thrust that we have put forth in our drilling operations, namely our pre-welded CHF operation. With this improvement, we are able to cut down around 2.5 days on our flat spots, translating to huge savings, as well as pride whenever we get to complete our assigned drilling well ahead of our programmed 60 drilling days duration.

From the article title, you probably already have a hint as to how things went down. And as we were knee deep in drilling mud at the cellar, as I was contemplating if indeed I was cut out for field work, it hit me. The main reason why I went to the field was not to witness the casing cementing job, which I have been on duty for many times already. Rather, it was so that I could familiarize myself with the possible problems that could happen (and did!), so that when the time came for me to be the one on duty, I would already at least have a fairly good idea what to expect. Simply put, I was there looking for problems, to equip myself for the future.

They say life is just a matter of perspective. I just had to look at the glass as half full.

I find this thought relevant at present, because the chick has presented itself once more. The egg is yet to be seen. I am at the crossroads once more.

On a good note, however, me and my colleagues have already been transferred to our new lodging place, and I couldn’t quite believe just what I saw when I arrived at the place, since it was close to being a hotel-like, or in fact, it is that way. I guess I just got used to how things were at our old lodging place, which is the reason why I couldn’t actually believe that this would be our new ‘barracks’. I had grown accustomed to the 1 toilet and bath in our old lodging place, and to think there were 8 of us there at one time. Now, there are only 2 occupants in each room, with the room having its own T&B. Well, you could say it is a huge improvement, and not to mention that there is a huge 40″ LCD TV (our dream TV) in the living room, and 2 smaller 20″ LCD TVs in the individual rooms.

I guess I would no longer be missing CSI episodes from now on. =)

Between the Philippines and Dubai, there is a 4-hour differential between the time zones, with the Philippines being ahead by 4 hours. His missed calls usually are at 2AM, and I am thinking that this is usually the time he gets home from work. Whenever I’d still be awake, I make sure to text his roaming Smart number. I guess it is his way of coping with loneliness out there in the desert. I hope he can get a laptop soon, so that we can talk more on Skype.

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Speaking of the economic crunch, I came across a badminton buddy of ours while I was travelling home to Dumaguete last Saturday and from him I learned that the economic crisis was very much being felt in Cebu with thousands of people losing their jobs and many companies closing shop.

I admit I was quite oblivious to the whole situation thinking that what I heard on the news was more of the goings on in the international market, and that it was not that felt here. Boy was I wrong. Thinking of this, it made me think and be thankful that I still have a job. Thank you Lord.