Memorable Firsts of our VMAs
No matter how much time has gone by, some of our first times will always remain in our memories. But why do we remember our firsts? Is it because of the feeling of happiness that comes from the experience? Or is it because of the thrill — a pattern breaking, signifying a start of something new. Whatever the reason may be, it is always nice to pause and take a look back at those times and see how far you’ve come.
We took a ride to nostalgia by asking our VMAs what their memorable firsts were when they started working with Xilium.
VMA Dionie
Memorable Firsts in Xilium
“First ko nga pag sulod sa Xilium tanan nga tawo ga-smile. Amo gid na ya ang pinaka namian ko. From guard upto sa sulod na nga tanan na tawo, miskin di ka kilala…grabe ang pag-welcome.”
Translation
The first time I entered Xilium, everybody was smiling. From the guards upto all the people inside, even though you’re just a stranger, they would greet you with a smile.. an overwhelming welcome, and that was what I really like about Xilium.
The first time you felt you belonged at Xilium
“Sang nagteam building kamo sa Guimaras… At first daan pasaway guid ako sa Xilium ya. One time, gin reprimand ako sang akon TL. Gin heart-to heart talk ako sang akon TL. Hambal niya, gusto mo iprove sa ila nga amo ka guid man na?… So didto nga time daw nagchange ang outlook ko tanan sa ubra. Ginhambal ko i-prove ko guid ya nga alam ko ya… nga deserve ko and [position] ko sa Xilium. So pag team building namon, nakibot ang tanan nga na awardan ko sang Mission Impossible… nahambal ko nga ay nabelong man guid ko di kay na prove ko mn ang self ko tapos nakita ko guid bala nga ang support system… instead nga i-tublok ka nila panaug, ginahambalan ka nila nga Pre/Chay, kay-uha bala.”
Translation
During our team building in Guimaras… Before, I was a stubborn employee. One time, my TL reprimanded me. He/She gave me a heart-to-heart talk. He/She said, do you want to prove to them that you’re really like that?… At that point in time, my outlook on work changed. I told myself that I have to prove that I’m smart… that I deserve this [position] at Xilium. So during our team building, everyone was shocked because I was given the Mission Impossible award. That’s when I can say, I really belong because I proved it to myself and how the support system is present. Instead of bringing you down, they tell you with words like, Pre/Chay, kay-uha bala.
VMA Aubrey
Memorable Firsts in Xilium
“There’s no intimidation na gina interview ka.. Psychologically, as a person nga looking for a job, there’s always stress whenever nga interbyuhon ka diba?.. Damo ka na questions sa mind mo, dapat iprepare mo imo self and all that, then you get to see those recruitment people nga.. ‘Miss are you comfortable?’ at least in some way, gakadula bala ang pressure sa self mo, daw ka this is very homey.”
Translation
t/n: I got in an interview where I didn’t sense any pressure or intimidation. Psychologically, as a person looking for a job, there’s always stress whenever you are being interviewed right? A lot of questions occupy your mind, especially the thought that you just really need to be ready. But then, seeing and being with those recruitment people, the way they treated me and asked “Miss, are you comfortable?” At least in some way, giving-off the homey vibes, eases the pressure.
The first time you felt you belonged at Xilium
“Nag stay-in kami sa office for like 2 months,… I think the time na I feel I belonged was when Sir Joven told me.. and I will never forget nga naghambal siya sa akon nga, “Dzae, kasan-o ka gani nagstart ah?”. Hambal ko, “Sir March 16 lang”. Hambal niya, “Ha?! March 16 lang? Abi ko bala dugay ka na!”… So it doesn’t really matter when you started… because the way they treat you is very different. Sir Joven was very welcoming. Who would have thought na General Manager mo na?… Gamingle sila sa amon… they sit with you, they talk to you… So were the times nga nafeel ko guid nga diri na gid ko sa Xilium… This is family. This is home for me.”
Translation
t/n: We stayed in the office for like 2 months,..and I think the time when I felt like I really belonged was when Sir Joven asked me “when did you started working?”, I told him, I just got in on March 16 and he was shocked. He then said, “For real? just this March 16?, I really thought you’ve been working here for a long time now”.. So it doesn’t really matter when you started because the way they treat you is very different. Sir Joven was very welcoming – who would have thought that he’s your General Manager…They mingle with us, they sit with you, they talk to you…so those were the times when I felt I truly belonged at Xilium..This is family. This is home for me.
VMA Melchie
Memorable Firsts in Xilium
“Sang naga interview ako with my clients… may mga mentors ako nga gindalaganan…. Kay indi ako confident with my grammar and my english… I had two clients nga gin-reject ako, so I felt bad and I felt useless at that time, nga hambal ko ‘Am I good enough?’, ‘Am I worth it sa VMA nga position?’.. but then my mentor told me nga.. ‘Huo.. ngaa ari ka diri subong sa Xilium, it’s because may nakita kami tanan sa imo, something nga maka help improve samon company’.. So, truth be told, sang gin accept ko sang client, amo na siya ang nag sulod dayon sa isip ko.. You just have to prove to them you are worth it.”
“Kung bal-an nila (Xilium family) nga ara ka sa time nga indi good, gina help ka nila – they can be your support system.”
Translation
t/n: When I had interviews with my clients, I actually had to ask for help from my mentors because I was not confident with my grammar and my English. I had two clients that rejected me, and during those times, I felt awful and useless. I then started to question myself, ‘am I good enough?’ or ‘am I worthy of the position of a VMA?’ But then, my mentor told me that ‘yes, you’re worth it’. He told me that the mere fact that I am here working at Xilium explains how I’m worthy and how I’m relevant to the improvement of the company. Truth be told, when I got accepted by my client, those words flashed in my mind, reminding me that, you just have to prove to them you’re worth it.
“When they (Xilium family) know that you’re in a tough situation, they don’t hesitate to offer help – they can truly be your support system.”
The first time you felt you belonged at Xilium
““Sang ginkuha nako sang client ko. Kay syempre hambal bala nila kung nakuha ka sang client, they see something from you nga makahelp grow sa ila nga company. So amo na ang naga pursue sa imo nga himuon mo ang sakto nga task mo…And aside from that ang akon literal nga nosebleed before my interview…. Kay grabe gid akon construct sa akon english”
Translation
t/n: When my client accepted me. As they say, a client has accepted you because they see something in you that will help their company grow. This causes you to also pursue the right things in your tasks. Aside from that, another thing would be when I got a literal nosebleed before my interview with a client… It was because of how I was stressing about my grammar.