Who would have thought that tomorrow’s my last day at Petronas? 250 hours seems long at first, but everything turned around now. It felt like I finished those hours in a day alone. I actually have finished my 250 hours last Friday, May 25, 2012. However, I am going back to Petronas tomorrow to formally say goodbye. I guess.
I’ve learned so many things during the internship – personal, social, business, and many other aspects. Thanks to the wonderful people at purchasing section of Finance department of PEPI. Let me formally introduce the man behind every learning, memories, and laughters I had at Petronas, Sir Yman Togonon. I can attest the fact that the purchasing section is the happiest and most fun section in the entire PEPI.
He makes everything seem like play. When we had to cram for audit, I never felt the burden so much. It is due to the lively environment I am in. Noone complains. REALLY! When I felt like complaining, I look at them. They were haggardly spending the overtimes during the second week of May, but I have not heard them whine about a single thing of work. I admire just how they attack work. It’s one of the best learning I had – to smile through all the jobs to be done. I usually get nervous easily. Thanks to them, I realized that I can control the nerve-wracking moments. It’s just on how I behave during those times and how I perceive it to be.
During lunchtime, PEPI shuts off every fluorescent lights except for the two pantries. That’s like less than 50 in the first floor alone. Every lunchtime, this is a familiar scene. It is during lunchtime that we get to know more of the other employees as well. PEPI is a home to less than 50 employees. Everybody knows each other by heart. It’s one of the reasons why I am thankful to be in the said company. I get to know more of the employees wherein they share their personal thoughts about certain things such as college. During one of the lunchbreaks, we get to chitchat with Ma’am Jane who happens to be one of the accountants at PEPI. She shared on her struggles as an accountancy student back then. It was an eye-opener to the three of us, Elti, Zarah, and me.
Ate Lara is missing in the photo.
Above photo happens to be my superiors who are cramming for a deadline. Yet, look at their faces. It’s as if they were just watching a Youtube parody. You cannot really feel grudge nor pressure in our section. All of us mocks at each other when we did something wrong and laugh about it. However, we end up helping each other in the end.
Every small thing leads to greater achievements. During the cramming time back in second week of May, I had to do errands such as having to let the proponents sign each quotations for every purchase order. There were more than 1200 purchase orders, and each has 3 quotations. Those were a total of 3600 quotations for the past year alone. When we were done with it, I felt really happy. I was able to be of great help. I don’t have any grudges that I haven’t gotten to work as an accountant. I am rather happy that I was able to lighten up their burdens.
And yes, I spent 4 nights of overtime at PEPI not because I want my term to be done earlier but to help these people. It is one of the things I’ve done without expecting for a return. And I am glad I did. At this point, I am praying that the internal audit will have a good result on purchasing and the whole PEPI.
In PEPI, every intern is required to be at his best. One is required to dress accurately for the working environment. During my one and a half month stay there, I’ve learned to conveniently wear a corporate attire. As the HR assistant told us, “It is far better if you will look like a regular employee and not an intern.” Yes indeed. The three of us look more like the CEO than a regular employee. Hahah
Lastly, I have realized that the billboard of Petronas Malaysia placed in the staircase is not only for the purpose of beautification. It is the source of motivation. Petronas is one of those companies who prioritizes their interns whenever a position is vacant. And to be frank, several employees were in fact once a PEPI intern.
I sure will miss Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc. and the people in it.
