Putting the Gloves On

Right after Jill whispered to me that I really have got do something regarding my weight.. That was the time that it really alarmed me. No-Rice diets will be ineffective if I wouldn't be coupling it with any physical activity.

I'm no gym addict nor do I think I will be. But times are kind of harsh and I think I have to accept that at least, I have to be in the gym for some exercise my body has been crying out for.

Thanks to a couple of my teammates (who were also dreaming of losing some weight), we were able to find a suitable activity for the three of us -- boxing. I know.. It's last thing that'll ever come into mind, from me and even from those people who know me. But from what I have heard, it's a cardio workout which I think will be very much beneficial for me.

Last Saturday, my teammates and I signed up for a class in Elorde Boxing Gym and spent our entire Saturday morning there. After our warm-up stretches and exercises, each of us was assigned a trainer. It was a one on one session and thankfully, my trainer was a little nice knowing how novice and exercise-deprived my body was. He took me lightly (which I'm sure will change in due time) and gave me a little leeway in the exercises. With all but less than a day in the gym, he was able to teach me a couple of moves, and made sure I was able to do them correctly.

I was taught how to jab, do a straight punch, an upper-cut move, etc. We practiced in slow motion with all but hand gloves on me. But a couple of breaks after, I was given the chance to the training gloves. No one told me that they were heavy!! Punching with the hand gloves on was fun. But with the added weight of the boxing gloves, wow.. now that's a work out. Not to mention, you would have to swing 'em in succession. That really strained my muscles and really tired me easily.

My muscles may hurt right now but something tells me that I'm going to enjoy this when the time comes. I can't wait to go back to the gym and do all everything all over again!

__________
** Photo by Digital Owl

Credit Me Not (Reprise)

I sought advice from close friends and some superiors around the office on how I could possibly file a complaint in a diplomatic manner. I came up with this email:

Hi,

First of all, I would like to express the fulfillment that you have given me by choosing a couple of my pictures for use in the project's client buy-off presentation that was created a number of weeks back. Even though I only saw the draft, I believe that a couple, if not some of my pictures making it to the presentation was more than enough fulfillment on my side as a contributor. That opportunity to help out was priceless. Again, thank you!

On another note, last week, I saw a colleague of mine holding a company branded "notebook". Correct me if my information is wrong, I believe this notebook was given away as freebie for potential applicants in a recruitment activity held over at Makati. It was such an honor to have a couple of my pictures make it to print and carry the company's branding.

Unfortunately, to my dismay, I think the marketing material given out didn't bear any information regarding the contributors. Being one of them, I believe the rights governing my intellectual property were violated through publication of the pictures without any credit.

I do believe that the company promotes and holds up to its core values in every endeavor that it puts and invests its interests on. But looking at this situation, I think it has failed to promote one -- Respect for the Individual. I am not seeking any big form of recognition, nor am I asking for any remuneration for this contribution. All I am after for is all but the due credit to my name for my contributions.

The marketing materials have already been printed out and given away. Damage has been done and there's not much that can be done about it. That being the case, I would like to express my big disappointment on how my efforts were treated and how these contributions came out to be.

 

And in a short while, I got a reply from the concerned party:

Hi Giff,

First of all, I would like to thank you for bringing this to our attention. I completely understand and agree with your sentiments. We should have requested for your permission to use your photos and we should have given you proper attribution in the notebook layout.

I could not express enough my sincerest apologies for this oversight by me team. I couldn't do anything more right now (as the notebooks have already been printed and distributed) but to give you my commitment that such instance will not happen again to you or for other internally sourced photos. We will see to it that proper attribution is made and that we seek sign-off from the photographer to utilize the photo/s.

Again, I'm very sorry about this and thank you for raising this issue. This is a wake up call for my team to careful with such details.

Best regards,
Country Marketing & Communications Lead

 

My rights were violated, so I filed a complaint with my superiors backing me.
I filed a complaint, and all I got is a written a apology.
I want to continue the fight, but my superiors ask me to be pacified by it.
Sh*t. Talo na.

Good to know though, lessons were learned by both parties --

(1) they (the marketing people), of all people in THE FIRM, should give due credit to their contributors (well, HELLO, they should know that right from the very start, DUH!);

(2) as for me, think twice before taking on another request (or maybe never get involved anymore) from the FIRM to contribute for any other activity similar to this (time until they do their job properly). Hindi lang sila ang may kaya magpublish ng pics. pfft! Badtrip!

Credit Me Not

A couple of weeks back, I received an invitation from one of the senior managers in THE FIRM (that I was closely working with) to help out and contribute in putting together a presentation that will be used for a client buy-off (the actual deal closing).

And my participation in this effort -- to take pictures about the life in and around THE FIRM to support the around the clock work and customer support THE FIRM can offer.

A few shots after, I was able to produce around 100+ photos for them to use. And the following day, I saw a draft of the video presentation that they have put together. To my surprise, I saw a lot of my pictures were used. I couldn't have been happier having a lot of my work chosen.

Just like any video presentation, the credits rolled at the end. Good thing though it didn't flew and roll as if people watching the video can read 100 words per minute (just like some silly videos I've seen in the past). The credits came and gone without a mention of all the contributors in the presentation including me. I thought it was ok, so I just shrugged off the recognition due to us.

Fast forward a couple of weeks after, a colleague of mine was raving on the fact that one of my teammate's pictures was on a "notebook" that THE FIRM was giving away as freebies to potential applicants.

Apparently she has a copy of that notebook. While we were all browsing and looking at the pictures in the notebook, I saw some of my pictures in it:

I didn't have one picture published..

Evidence #1

Original Picture #1

Nor did I have two..

Evidence #2

Original Picture #2

But I have three pictures in the notebook..

Evidence #3

Original Picture #3

PUBLISHED WITHOUT ANY CREDIT.

I'm a little confused on the fact that THE FIRM preaches and stands by one of it's principles of "Respect for the Individual". And yet, the haven't demonstrated it in anyway through this uncredited publication. I don't see any respect from this. I don't think my rights as a photographer/contributor were upheld by not crediting my contribution.

I don't claim my pictures are of really high quality. Though that is the case, I don't think nothing's wrong asking recognition for this. I am not asking for a big recognition nor am I asking for additional remuneration. All I wanted is a single line at back stating my contribution. I don't think it's hard to acknowledge people who have helped out (in a way) in this endeavor.

If I would get a bump on my monthly salary, then I think I would shut up. But since that is unlikely to happen, I DEMAND being credited for this.