Our Globelines phone and internet connection in Mandaluyong is STILL DEAD.  For almost month!!!  It began February 11, 2008… and until today March 6, 2008 - the phone is still dead.  My multiple requests for a temporary alternative line seem to have fallen of deaf robot ears.  No one calls to inform us of situation or of the request I made.  There is no restitution being provided by Globelines, not even a word from this vaunted telecom company only impotent consolation.   I have to keep calling them, and they never call back, knowing very well how difficult it is to call them in the fist place.

If I were God, I’d send them all into exile.  But I’m not, so I’m going to exile myself instead from them.

On my recent call to Globe telecom, I again requested for a temporary line.  I added too that they should note down that my dad is in the hospital for a broken femur after stumbling in the bath.    But hey… I don’t think the technical support people care all that much that we can’t use the phone to facilitate his speedy recovery.

I also don’t think they care that I can hardly work anymore - because of the precious time I have to spend at an internet cafe instead of at my home office.

Globe telecom and Innove are just begging for me to give an ultimatum and I will give it tomorrow.

Wow still no internet connection.  We’ve called every single day since February 11 to the Globelines call center only to get… the apology.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, sir.”

“I know how difficult it is without telephone service, sir.”

“I’m sorry for the wait, sir.”

“I do apologize for that, sir.”

Frankly if I hear any more apologies from Globelines… I’ll SCREAM.  It’s like praying to mechanized sympathizers.  They can’t really DO anything, and everything they SAY is the same.  And when you get really angry at the whole situation on the phone… they keep silent, expecting you to say something that will just repeat the whole insane conversation once more.

So now I have to spend time idly waiting at the cafe to upload and download my work files (80mb to 100mb). All around me are children and their noisy DOTA & Counterstrike.  The only consolation I have is that the married lady who manages the shop is easy on the eyes. But then that’s just a temptation now, isn’t it??  Lord God, lead me not into temptation , give me my internet connection baaaaack….

I’ve been working with leading vfx artist Alp Altiner on Team 14, a comic book project he conceptualized.  You can find an article describing Team 14 here on Digital Webbing.  It’s a real honor to work with Alp.  I first heard of him from the ImagineFX magazine.  I was flipping through the February issue (one I bought specifically for the matte painting article), read Alp’s workshop article on matte painting, and thought to myself … this is something I’d like to try out.

Then around 2 days later, I’m asked to show him samples of my color work by email.  And now here I am waiting like a zombie to upload Team 14 covers.  God can be so funny.

Oh and Elbert Or just sent me more Bakemono High pages to color.  Yes Elbert, I love you too.  My birthday is coming up.  Give me internet for my birthday, okay?

In the meantime, I’ve already begun asking around for trips to Singapore.   I’ve been meaning to take a vacation and I thought the Singapore Toy & Comic Convention would be a great event to catch… (along with the great Singapore sale.)  Ironically, it’s possible that I may find more work over there.

The entire week, no telephone, no Internet. Stupid Globelines.  How can it take them from February 11 to February 16 (and I expect this to drag until Monday.)  to fix my phone and internet connection???  It just takes them 3 to 5 days to hook up a new one!

The lack of an internet connection at home is seriously hampering my work and any rebates I would get doesn’t cover all the lost opportunity.