Call Center Philippines: The Bohol Tarsier

A few years ago, May 7, 2003 at exactly 3pm when we arrived in Bohol, Philippines. It was my first time on this tropical island, and it was a little vacation from my job as a telemarketing agent in a call center. The place was nice, the people were nice too, and the food was great. The main reason I was there was to witness the creature they called “Tarsier”. When I first heard about it, I never bothered to care or get excited to see one. But now here I was staring at the little creature, which changed my view.

I witnessed mixed reactions from both young and old. I can see them smiling, taking pictures of this so-called “Tarsier.” Then I saw the tarsier. So, it is true what other people say that this is a special creature that we, as Filipinos, need to care for. It reminded me of a kid—small, gentle, and innocent.

The whole experience was really great for me not just because I got to see one of the treasures of the Philippines but also because the people were nice, the food was great, and the island of Bohol was beautiful. I don’t know the exact word to describe it. But it’s all worth it. It made me realize that simple things can be so meaningful, and so many other people don’t realize it.

The Tarsier, for example, makes other people happy and smile,  which can be priceless. On that point, it made me realize that small things can still make a big impact on people's lives. This little creature brought out the best in people, and hopefully, they would go back to their customer service and call center jobs and be that much happier when spending time with one of the smallest primates in the world.