A place I call home

Heads Lead the Body

2011-11-23T02:39:00.001-08:00

Miranda Priestley, my idol

Corporate bosses are the ones who set the corporate culture. You get a jolly boss, the staff underneath either become jolly and lax. You get a terror boss, then people tend to be panic suicidal and stressed but are productive. You get a middle boss, and that's what I have.

There's really no saying which culture is better because we're all unique and the same applies to corporate people. As with anything else, an organism survives because it has adapted to environmental strains; otherwise it perishes. Corporations are pretty much like organisms in a macro perspective. If the existing culture hampers the growth of the cells in it, then chances are it won't perpetuate. Hope I made that point clear.

I am all for the strictest kind of boss, the Miranda Priestley type that fosters fear into the hearts of everyone and yet brings out the best in anybody. People are by nature lazy, well some may contest this coz some may be motivated enough but at least I speak for myself. If not pushed enough then the output won't be as productive.

So yes, Miranda Priestley, make my day!

Everything Online

2011-11-22T06:05:00.001-08:00

I've been trying so hard to keep track of all my dealings in the office to the point of making multiple entries for the same events or important things to do. Needless to say, that is such a waste of time and in a busy world where I am in right now, every second count (even this entry is eating much of could have been used for some other worthwhile tasks- sigh!).

However, previous work experiences thought me that while the traditional pen and paper could be redundant, online entries could be possible alternatives. The catch- you need to back up everything since the net is so unreliable in keeping your documents.

YAHOO is one of the most hated offender of losing things you have kept for years on the net. It seems like that while Yahoo has developed to meet the demands of the times, they just keep on forgetting that people save their files online for some reason and reliability tops those reasons.

I don't know if other online storages could be reliable enough but I am keeping my faith in GOOGLE and hopefully my files won't be flushed in the toilet of cyber highway.

Prioritization

2011-11-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

Prioritization. It is perhaps one of the most important concepts that a person should learn when inside a company. Correction- a demanding company.

Back in my university days, I know how vital prioritizing important things is. The sad part is that I was never good at prioritizing things that really matter. Yes I have my organizer for that. Only proves how much I need to be reminded at all the things that have to be done.

But once already in a corporate environment like where I am right now, there’s really not much choice but to develop this skill.

I also have to learn not to lose focus. I am starting to believe that my attention span is only good for five minutes and after that, puff!

I guess the only thing I can do now is to learn how to prioritize.

Leaving the Night Before (In Korea 2008)

2011-11-10T11:40:00.001-08:00

It’s Eid Holidays here in Saudi Arabia and I was stuck in my room for one week doing nothing except sleeping, eating, and watching movies. What a way to gain weight. Anyway, I was reminiscing the last days I had back in Korea 2008. I watched the video made by my Korean friend, Kino. The video was made 3 years ago but it seems so fresh in my mind. I still find myself laughing when I watch this video.

Amidst all these is the fact that most of the clips included in the video was taken the night before I left for the Philippines.

The Night Before Departure

I remember it vividly. After the farewell party, I was a bit tipsy because of “soju” but I had to force myself packing all my stuff. The new luggage I bought with Bob (U-Ju) was wide open on the floor. It was already filled though it was just my clothes.

What about the other stuff – the books, shoes, etc.? It was a difficult decision but I had to throw some of my things (this is where I learned not to bring much when leaving the Philippines because most likely I’ll be coming back with more stuff). I ended up forgetting my certificates I earned for the whole nine months in Korea.

I said goodbye to all my friends in that floor- Daniel, the guy who loves black coffee, gave me some snacks I can take to the Philippines. Some other people expressed how sorry they are that we couldn’t spend some time to go out.

Lesson learned: If you want to go out with somebody, don’t wait until they go back to their country.

So going back to my packing. There it was, still wide open on the floor. But just like any other story, I was able to close the bag. Only, it looked like it’s going to explode.

Time check, 3am. I was about to leave at 4am because my flight is at 8am. My phone started ringing and I checked. It was Isabel.

“Where you now? Gwajangnim is already waiting.” Said she.

Gwajangnim is one of the kindest director in the campus and he offered to bring us to the bus terminal. Me and a Hong Kong friend, Dily.

At 3:30, haven’t really taken a shower yet, I went out. Dong-O carried my luggage but unfortunately, to my dismay the luggage broke on his way down the stairs. So I arrived in Korea with a broken luggage, and came back to the Philippines with yet a broken one as well.

I went down the stairs and found the people who mattered to me the most, waiting. They didn’t sleep anymore (now as I think about it, I feel my eyes moist because all that time I made it clear to myself that I will not attach to anybody or anything just to make leaving easier). True enough, during those times, I felt nothing but my desire to get to the airport on time and board the plane without much hassle.

They were there standing, I can remember their faces. Theirs were images of genuine sadness for a leaving friend. Isabel was crying like mad and I consoled her saying that it’s okay, we’re gonna meet again. But I guess she was crying not because I’m leaving, but maybe because she’s gonna be left behind. And no one wants to be left behind.

Unfortunately, Hoyang, one of my best friends in the dormitory was not there. I was trying to reach him the whole night but his phone was dead. I don’t know if it was on purpose but I was sad I couldn’t say goodbye to him.

Now these people who remained precious memories in my mind couldn’t escape me anymore. I know that my stay in Korea became one of the best experiences because of them.

Alex, gave me a baseball cap – after insisting that he give me his cap as a memorabilia from him. Up to this day, I still use this cap.

At the Bus Station

Kino, Dong-O, Dily, Gwajangnim and I were all the bus station waiting for the first bus to arrive. The wind was still chilly. I was wearing the blue and red long shirt I bought in MyeongDong in Seoul.

Dong-O and Kino were trying to fix the luggage but when it didn’t mend, I just threw the piece in the trash.

The bus came and it was finally time to say the last goodbye. Only then that I felt really sad. Only then it sank on me that I’m leaving Chuncheon for good and God knows when I’ll be able to come back again.

I look at the bus window and saw the friends I’m leaving. As they wave their hands, I waved my hands in return and closed my eyes. Another chapter in my life has finally ended. It’s time to open a new one.

Remarkable Beauties

2011-11-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

2011 is about to end. We are down to the last two months and sadly, I have not been that active updating my blog entries. Honestly, there are already so many things that have happened in my life for the last seven months but I just can't find enough inspiration to put all them in a logical written form.

Anyhow, for this entry let me talk about well, beauty pageants. Yes, I'm still not over this topic. This year 2011 has seen a remarkable result for the Philippine delegates in the three major beauty competitions, from Ms. Universe-

Shamcey Supsup, 3rd runner up in Ms. Universe 2011

Philippine delegate to Ms. Universe would have easily brought the crown back home if only judges have been fair to her. For the record, she had the most concise and precise answer among all finalists. She's got the beauty to be adjudged Miss Universe. But it really puzzles most people why she didn't win.

After Miss Universe came the most unexpected of all- the Miss World. Just so readers of this blog would have an idea, Miss World is not popular to most Filipinos. For many years, a Filipina has not been named Ms. World yet. The closest the Philippines reached was 3rd runner up. So it came as a surprise that Philippines delegate, Gwendoline Ruais, was selected as 1st runner up (almost there).

Gwendoline Ruais, 1st runner up in Miss World 2011

Most Filipinos raised an eyebrow when Ruais was chosen as representative to Ms World because she undeniably looks like a man in a girl's clothe. But she had long legs they say so she stood a chance, and her feat was historical breaking all records.

Finally, the last remarkable feat for the Philippines is the inclusion of Diane Necio, Philippines' delegate for the Miss International. In this competition, the Philippines has been the most successful Asian country to participate with 4 titles given.

Diane Necio, finalist in the Top 15 of Miss International 2011

Necio was a strong contender for Miss International with striking Filipina features that are difficult to ignore. Personally, I'd say that she deserves to be crowned Miss International but then again, the judges had a different taste. Anyhow, being included in the Top 15 is already a big leap for the Philippines.

Hopefully next year the Philippines will be able to bag one of these crowns.

Beauty Pageants

2011-11-06T15:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, so here's the fuss- I've never been an avid follower of beauty competitions but this year 2011 proved to be one lucky year for the Philippines as all representatives were selected from top 15 (Miss International) to top 5 (Miss Universe) to top 3 (Miss World). What does it say for a developing country such as the Philippines? It's not like it's going to improve the country's economy or solve social injustice. But on the positive side, this good news brings hope to mos Filipinos knowing that even in the middle of poverty of and turmoil, the Filipinas (term for female Filipinos) are still considered one of the most beautiful women in the planet.

I don't want to look at BEAUTY as mere physical quality but more of the wholeness of the concept. Filipinas are beautiful because they are reflection of the country's resilience against life's challenges; that even in the most hurdling circumstances, the Filipino people will always survive. Truly, Filipinas are one of the testaments of the Philippines priceless treasures. Mabuhay tayo!

Just Trying Out…

2011-10-30T12:30:00.001-07:00

So I just found this feature on my new laptop which enables me to create posts for my blog through my laptop straight to my blog account (without going to the actual site). I wonder how this would turn out?

The Caffeinated Lots!

2011-10-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

For this VLOG, I tried using Vimeo instead of youtube since the former is taking ages to upload. And with the kind of Internet speed we have here in Riyadh, I don't think I have enough patience to wait for so very long. However, I don't quite seem to like the interface of Vimeo since it's quite small. Anyhow, I'll learn more about that.

Drinking coffee is definitely one of my favorite past time activity. However, when I arrived here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia I thought I wouldn't be able to zip and smell that aroma again for a long time. Good thing there are some places here in my work location where I can just sit and enjoy my cup of coffee.

Coffee Break at Hummer Cafe from Allan Yasser Abdula on Vimeo.

Visa Exemption for Filipinos

2011-10-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

Visa Exemption for Filipinos Very useful page on visa exemption list.

A Glimpse of Riyadh

2011-09-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Officially 5 months here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and I have so few entries in my blog which is kind of lousy considering that there have been so many things happening in my life here. I just don't have the energy to write everything but I have to change that. Anyhow, here's a video I made on one of our trips around Riyadh. I plan to make more videos with the remaining time that I have here in Saudi so wish me luck.

Late nights at Office

2011-09-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm still at the office working on the piles of documents either to be submitted to the Head Office or released to the consultants.

I'm not complaining or anything. I just find this routinary work quite unfit for my expertise and though I try to incorporate what I have studied in what my office life demands... well there isn't always enough opportunity to do that.

Clock says 7:17 pm but I am yet to start the long documents ahead. Sometimes I just close my eyes and think about the future when I don't have to stay late in the office and labor on things which could be done by somebody else... not me.

Corporate Observation : Timing and Human Emotions

2011-09-05T04:39:00.000-07:00

TIMING

Corporate life has taught me that to get ahead of the game, one has to become a STRATEGIST which differs greatly from being book smart and overly pedantic with rules.

Corporate life taught me that it's always best to weigh the situation and TIME everything to gain optimal results (considering of course the risks attached to all decisions).

In connection, people are naturally fleeting. Human emotions are dependent on current situation and that's what we need to assess before making important decisions.

Wooden House

2011-08-28T01:04:00.001-07:00

I saw a room... a wooden type of room and stayed in it.
(Hours before sleeping, I saw the wooden rooms of the resort my old friends stayed in)

Start of My Lucid Dreams

2011-08-23T23:42:00.000-07:00

Last night, my attempt to astral project/lucid dream failed. As I recall, I kept hearing voices from the people I know and events that slowly flashed in my mind were that of the events hours before I went to bed. I recall hearing two particular voices- Melchor and Cocoy whose voices were certainly distinguishable among others. I recall the dinner at Shawaya (a local chicken house) and the events in the van- the shouting and laughter. But I failed to maintain my consciousness as I gave in to the flow of convoluted events.

And then after a few minutes or so, everything faded. But I know that I dreamed of something but just can't remember anything. The next thing I heard was my phone alarming, then me finding my phone under my chest and pressing the stop button, then went back to sleep.

Corporate Observation 3: Fashion and Looks

2011-08-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

Corporate Observation 3: Employee's appearance determines the amount of respect and confidence in an office setting. Fashion dictates impression, as impression is the most lasting.

Corporate Observation 2: Boss Attitude

2011-08-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

Corporate Observation 2 : The boss's attitude and everything about him influences the general atmosphere of the office.

Hypothesis 1 : The attitude of the boss influences positively / negatively the attitude of the employees.

Hypothesis 2 : The attitude of the boss directly affects the productivity and motivation of the employees.

Corporate Observation 1 : Ranking and Psyche

2011-08-08T05:38:00.000-07:00

I'd like to start a series of observations in my company.

First observation : If a boss is kind or terrifying, the subordinates do not take it against the boss. If an employee is kind, he will be abused. If an employee is terrifying, he will be hated.

Hypothesis 1 : The corporate ranking significantly affects/triggers the emotional and psychological being of the employees and bosses.

Hypothesis 2 : Self-characteristics do not determine effective performance in an office setting.

Goofy Morning at the Office

2011-06-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

From Left to Right: Me, Nino, Ira (on the chair) and Samir the Egyptian

Just having a goofy break

Mornings like this in the office make work more bearable.

I've never really had a formal experience in an office (although I've been to a couple of companies which were only for a couple of months). Coming from a fresh graduate perspective, I must say that things are not exactly the way I thought they would be, although I try to keep a mental note of 'The Devil Wears Prada' and if everything else goes shit then I just play that song 'Suddenly I See' and things become a little better.

Life in Riyadh

2011-05-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

Great!
So blogspot's working.
Finally an avenue to release stress.
Whew!

Actually, life in Riyadh is not that bad. Except of course for the intense scorching weather that makes your nose bleed whenever you feel like walking during lunch breaks (and I don't really get to have a choice whether to stay indoors or go home because I really have to eat).

Anyway, this is my first entry- after arriving here in Saudi Arabia. I just want to tell everyone- my family, friends and everyone back there in the Philippines that I am okay. God is with me so I'm always safe. But then again, please pray for me as I always pray for you.

BICOL SUMMER GETAWAY 2011

2011-04-18T08:46:00.001-07:00

CAGSAWA CHURCH RUINS AND MOUNT MAYON

2011-04-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

Bohol

2011-04-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

The Internet connection right now is just plain crazy and since I am pressed for time, I would have to post just some of the interesting photos I took in Bohol. I'll edit later.

BOHOL PROVINCE. I stayed at Panglao, the South-West part of the province.

En route to Panglao (from Tagbilaran) by jeepney ala bus style. The trip takes an hour and a half.

BPI at Panglao. I was surprised because at this far and remote area was this bank.

BOHOL DIVERS RESORT

In search for the cheapest and most practical place to stay, I found myself here at Bohol Divers. It's the last resort on this side of Alona Beach which is strategically located in a peaceful environment. I only paid 500/night for a single room-fan. Well, I didn't really have to stay in an aircon. I am out most of the time.

Bohol Divers at night. The resort is spacious enough for other recreational activities like swimming, table tennis, bar, etc.

At day. You can see the wooden tables and chairs adjacent to the bar.

Cafe early in the morning. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Wooden furniture. They're nice when dry but awful on rainy days.

The Dawn in front of Bohol Divers.

Bohol Divers hotel rooms with aircons

Nipa hut rooms with aircons

Luxurious rooms for the well to do visitors

Swimming pool opens/closes at 9am - 9pm

Beautiful coconut trees lining the pool

Maintained and cleaned regularly

NEARBY HOTELS

From BOHOL DIVERS one can easily reach nearby hotels which offer competitive rates. However, what I liked most about these hotels is that they are open for everyone to try their cafes and restaurants and boy, you won't ever run out of options. It's a little pricey though. But of course you can always opt to go outside the hotel and find something cheaper.

Left most part of this stretch of the beach.

Right most part of the beach, just beside BOHOL DIVERS.

Didn't really get the name of this hotel, but they have nice interior

WHITE BEACH. One of the posh hotels in this area.

Normal looking hotel with an upside down sign. It's a drinking pub at night.

Chairs such as these in the picture abound at the beach, but not really ideal for sun bathing

Nipa chairs and huts. These are Filipino inspired exteriors.

ISIS THAI. I passed by here at night, but not many people visit here.

OASIS CAFE. Last night for a cup of coffee in Panglao.

AROUND PANGLAO

If you are in Panglao, it is highly recommended that you rent a motorcycle and go around the city. If you have a driver's license (which I don't), you can even go beyond Panglao and visit Tagbilaran and tour the place in your time. This is something which I did and I would say worth every cent.

Other part of the beach. I visited the other side of Alona Beach.

Some sort of park leading to the small ships' docking area.

Fisherfolks.

Old interior design using stone slabs at the church. I had lunch here.

Souvenirs for sale.

Mr. Hermit Crab wants to pinch my fingers but I just let him go.

Old belfry.

Mangroves. Places like this one abound in Tagbilaran and Panglao that's why they have lots of fishes.

Children taking a dip, wetting feet.

Souvenir shops. Prices are pretty reasonable.

This cave has a deep pool inside.

People swimming at the pool inside the cave. Folks there say it's about 10 ft.

To be continued...

LONE SOJOURNER

2011-04-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

Traveling alone can be a good opportunity for anybody to reflect and enjoy some new place minus the hassle of minding a companion's welfare and time limitation. When traveling alone, you can practically do anything you like. And that's exactly what I did in my BOHOL trip last March 2011.

This is my first time to really travel on my own. In the Philippines, backpacking alone is something people don't usually do for two main reasons- one is security, another is money. Honestly, it's not safe to travel in the Philippines. There's the risk of getting killed. But of course that bloody scenario can always be avoided with enough precaution and common sense.

The second factor why Filipinos don't like traveling per se is because of money. I have always thought that to Filipinos, there are more important things to spend money on than traveling. Actually, this activity is usually on the last of their list if it ever comes to the list at all. Well, that's especially true in my case and from where I've come from.

I am from a lower middle class family and I know that traveling has never been a priority. It was never an option for recreation in my family.

But truth be told, there are so many benefits that people can get out of traveling alone. Let me list some of the things which come to mind.

1. INDEPENDENCE. In a society that has put premium on "total dependence" to family and close relatives, it is unthinkable for somebody to do things on their own without actually expecting help from family members, which brings me to my second point-

2. HELP ALWAYS COME WHEN NEEDED. Most of the time, when traveling alone problems inevitably occur. But you'll be surprised because there's always help when you need it. You just need to know how and who to ask.

3. MEETING NEW PEOPLE. Traveling alone also gives you the opportunity to meet people along the way. When you travel with companions, it's so difficult to mingle with the locals of a new place which actually minimizes the potential to learn more about their way of living. But when alone, you just dive in and expand your network.

4. LEARNING. When I say learning, it's more than the things you'll know from travel books or movies you've seen. This kind of learning goes beyond those that has been written or shown. This learning makes you wiser in all sense of the word. You do not only learn about the way of the world, but you learn more and discover yourself, your capabilities.

5. REFLECTION. In connection with no. 4, traveling alone allows you to look deeper inside you and meet the real you; free from the hustle and bustle of your busy life. You can hear your heart talking and understand yourself and your place in this world.

There are still myriads of things you get from lone traveling and I am all for it. When people say that it is dangerous to travel alone in far places, I always ask in return "Isn't it dangerous everywhere?" When people say I just waste money when I travel, I answer them "You can always earn money, but your time and youth would never be recovered. When you get old, you won't have the same energy to travel as when you're young."

NAIA 1, 2, and 3

2011-04-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

It was interesting to know that there's actually a shuttle that transports passengers from NAIA 3 to EDSA MRT.

For those who are not familiar with commuting to the airports- there are three airports in Manila: NAIA 1, 2 and 3.

NAIA 1 : The old dilapidated archaic ancient airport of the Philippines that houses all foreign air carriers.

I've blogged about it before how the government would let foreign visitors use this airport. What is the government thinking? Lemme guess, maybe they want visitors to get a genuine feel of Philippine poverty at once so they would not have to expect anything?

NAIA 2 : The so-called CENTENNIAL airport that only has PHILIPPINE AIRLINES (PAL) at its ground.

I've tried PAL before and I don't want to board that plane again. First of all, it's very expensive compared to others. Second, the seats are very cramped makes you feel uncomfortable to travel long hours. So, even if I am a Filipino, I wouldn't recommend PAL.

NAIA 3 : The newest airport which has been operating under 50% completion.

This airport has been the subject of a long debate in the senate/congress whether it will be allowed to operate or not. Due to some corruption issues, the operation of this airport has been stalled for the longest time and even up to this writing time, still half of it is not operational.

Airport Lessons

2011-04-14T08:31:00.000-07:00

Bored waiting for my VISA for Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; I decided to buy a plane ticket going to Bohol.

I've heard a lot of good things about this province but I never really had a chance to visit and experience the place. Well I had plenty of time so it was a go, go, go for me.

Cebu Pacific. One of the cheapest carriers in the Philippines.

I can vouch that this was my very first attempt to travel the Philippines on my own. Kinda risky but the experience was just thrilling and I learned so many life lessons along the way. I hope that my observations help people (like me) to get the most out of traveling.

AIRPORT LESSON 1: ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT 3 HOURS EARLIER
(And this is not an exaggeration)

Traffic jam in the Philippines is horrible and that's one fact of life that we Filipinos have to contend with. Sometimes it really puzzles me why up to now, the problem with roads have not yet been given proper attention and action.

Case in point, the government could or should I say SHOULD connect the airports to the main city through the subway just like what I saw from Korea and China. That way, tourists and travelers won't have to suffer the terrible traffic and rude taxi drivers once they enter Philippine grounds. So simple and yet the government can't do it!

So even if you leave your house 3 hours before the flight and you get yourself lucky to get caught up in a bottleneck then I'm sure you'll arrive at your destination LATE! So better five (5) hours before the departure.

But here's the bomb- I arrived at the airport one hour before my boarding and boy, were there so many passengers! What I don't understand is why the counter people are so slow checking in the luggage of the passengers. It's either they are just too slow or the system in the computer was designed to make people want to bring stool or even bed.

AIRPORT LESSON 2. When buying tickets at Cebu Pacific, make sure that you get the "with baggage" if you have something which you can deposit rather than hand carry them.

Certain liquid products can be confiscated at the security check. My VASELINE LOTION (SPF 30) was taken from my hand carry when I could have placed that in my deposit luggage. So if you don't want to spend extra on brand new lotions or perfumes, it's better to DEPOSIT.

AIRPORT LESSON 3. NO to EXCESS baggage.

If you're really keen on saving and budget traveling, then make sure that you abide by the air carrier's luggage weight rules. Otherwise, it's gonna be so painful in your wallet.

The Philippine air terminals have this crazy excess baggage fees that would surely blow your head up if you find yourself going above the weight limit.

AIRPORT LESSON 4. NEVER accept or try to help anybody asking for assistance in an airport (ESPECIALLY in the Philippines).

Fifteen (15) minutes before my departure and I was still in line. A staff started yelling "LAST CALL FOR TAGBILARAN" and I started to panic. I immediately followed the staff and prioritized us bound for Tagbilaran. A lady in front of me talked me into checking in together our luggage so she won't have to pay extra.

Good thing the counter girl didn't allow the baggage to come together. In the end, it was only my 7 kilo baggage that was checked in.

In the Philippines, drug mules are abundant and they'll do anything to get their illegal things go across the country. So never ever trust anybody from the airport.