News from Dubai

I have two friends who are now working in Dubai. Ruby whom I first met in 1997 during her OJT (on the job training) days is an Industrical Engineering (IE) gradute from Mapua. I felt her potential and got her as my IE to do time and motion studies as well as methods and process improvements in our opertions. When she saw the opportunity to move up outside her current job she wasted no time in pursuing it. After that, it has been a smooth progression for her from then on. Now, she is handling merchandise planning in a big retail firm in Dubai.

The other one is Bessie, a licensed Civil Engineer who graduated from a university in Pangasinan. She also worked with me and Ruby and she was one of the topnotch Managers handling several production facilities in North Luzon.

These two ladies used to report to me but I consider them more as friends rather than subordinates. I have very high respect for them because of their intelligence, commendable work ethics and dedication to their job. After 3 years or so (1997 to 2001) of working with them however, I needed to transfer to another company due to a better offer and so did they. We lost touch for some time and there were brief e-mail exchanges mostly from Ruby only. Bessie chose to set-up a small business in her hometown in Pangasinan and it was just once when she called me thru her cel but that was it. We had no communications after that. Thus, when Ruby informed me thru YM last 2005 that she saw Bessie in Dubai it was such a pleasant surprise. Of all places Dubai pa sila nagkita while they never got to see each other in Manila! Anyway, now we all communicate thru chat or e-mail. Sometimes they send me photos and the pic of the famous Burj Al Arab you see in this post was sent to me by Ruby.

Gloom and doom is the prevailing atmosphere there -so they tell me. Most of the construction projects were put on hold or were cancelled and therefore a lot of people were laid off. In the retail business, they have also felt the crunch as some of Ruby's colleagues accepted a 40% pay cut just so they will not be terminated. Although the two are both hardworking, very good at their respective fields and their positions are critical in the operations they cannot help but be cautious also of their next steps especially on their investments and future plans. They have been there since 2005 and this is the first time that they have felt vulnerable.

What will happen there in the next months is pretty scary! Hope and pray that Dubai's sail will remain steadfast in these uncertain times.

The Obama Factor

I was not able to catch the inaugural speech of US President Barack Obama (last Jan 20) as there is a 14 hour difference between Manila and Washington. I am already in deep sleep when he delivered it so I just searched for the full transcript of his speech in the web.

It was goosebumps moment for me while reading it. He touched very salient points in said speech which were worded quite simply yet with so much depth and yes boldness! He talked about of course the financial crisis that the US is currently facing, the war that they are waging, the effect of such foolishness in their daily lives but my favorite was his short discussion on the way that they have been negligent in caring for their environment and natural resources.

What is so awesome however is the crowd that he draws in. I saw the pics in the papers of the people who went to his inauguration and they were a lot! And as I watch the footage a day after of the event, the wave of emotion that flows amongst the crowd is clearly shown. Is it because he is the first African American President that makes him such a novelty? Is it because he is young and has a relatively fresh face that you can warm up to so easily? Is it because he talks with so much clarity that you cannot help but listen? Even John McCain has noticed this and thus branded him as a "rock star" connoting that he is just a personality - which did more good than harm to Obama's campaign by the way. He has something in him than I cannot pinpoint. He is an enigma. Perhaps, a symbol of hope and change for many. I guess that was the factor that put him in the White House.

Enigma or not though, great expectations are in his shoulders and it is up to him to keep America's hopes high yet make the people realize that what and where they are now is their own undoing and yes -it will take a hell of a lot of time. Per Obama's words, "Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met."

Breaking routine

Instead of going to the mall after mass, Alia and I tried out a newly opened restaurant a few "walkable" meters away from church named Bellini's. To my surprise they serve authentic Italian meals and it was actually good (well based on my standards)! They had me at antipasto (in Italy it means before the meal or simply put, appetizer). Bruschetta al pomodoro is as it is already filling -the basil and fresh tomatoes are overflowing on top of the italian bread! Their pizza is paper thin (which is how I like it) and the size is just right. I also ordered penne arrabiata which is to my taste a little salty but in totality it's delicious. The place is nice with heavy wooden furniture and a wall covered with pictures of I presume the owner during his youth in Italy. The only improvement that they need to do is their facade. They should really do something about the paint on both the color and the work done there. Also, the outside seating with the umbrellas do not tie-up with what's going on in the inside. (He he. That was my business makeover take in a nutshell.)

After the nice meal, we walked across the resto and went to the public market's dry goods and handicrafts section to look for materials needed for Alia's project. Fortunately we got all what we needed and it was again a surprise as we have been lookin for it in the mall and they were not available. Sus! Andoon lang pala sa tabi-tabi.

After our palengke tour we proceeded to the supermarket for some groceries. We did not take a ride though, instead, we decided to walk some more which was a relatively long trek. Yet, we enjoyed it as the sun was kind and the sidewalks were clear - (ahhh Marikina is such as clean city.

It was a refreshing change from what we usually do during Sundays. I can't wait to try something new again next week.

The night the earth froze

Oh meyn! Evenings here in Marikina is freaking cold and so during the past few days I go to sleep wearing a sweater. In Laguna it is colder though. It has been 3 days that we don't open our aircons in the office and still it is chilly. We are all wearing jackets even during noon as the gusts of the cold breeze really bite. How about that? Last year same month was not this cold as what we are experiencing and I have heard in the radio just this morning that the prevailing temperature in Minnesota is -30 degrees C. FRRRGGGIDDD. Bep told me thru YM yesterday also that in Melbourne it was 39 degrees C and now it is 23 degrees C. Such wide swings!

Is this part of a bigger occurrence called "climate change"? Are we going to have hotter summers after this? Did we do this? Are these the effects of our nonchalant use, overuse and abuse of our earth? I hope not.

I don't mind aliens looking like Keanu Reeves paying a visit but the idea of ETs wiping out humankind to save our world is something that we really should think about.

Sunday mass

Photo by Igan

I love attending Sunday mass. I find it a good cap to end the week and at the same time a nice way to start another one. And whenever there is a lingering question in my mind, the answer is given to me there in some way or some form.

Commuter - Extreme

Since March I have become an "Extreme Commuter". It is a term coined by the Census Bureau according to Mark J. Penn in his book Microtrends. Per the author, extreme commuters are people who travel at least 90 minutes each way to get to work.

Actually if I will be technical about it since year 2005, I can already be regarded as one. I live in Marikina and I report for work in Makati. However, the 90 minutes or more is due to horrendous traffic and not actually the distance. Therefore I consider it only as a circumstance and not a choice.

This time it is a totally different take as I am very much aware that Marikina is 75kms or so from where I work but still I took the job. (The masochist and the overachiever in me won.) I leave the house at 6 to 6:15 in the morning so that I will arrive at our Manufacturing plant at Laguna a little before 8:00 am. The first few days was tiring and I had to really study the flow. SLEX is undergoing a major repair and so the distance is not only the challenge but also the terrain! Asphalt, dirt, potholes, gravel, cement, roadblocks, plastic cones, cement blocks, ropes, merge, diverge, stalled vehicles, inconsiderate drivers, road hogs, smoke belchers - you name it the road has it.

Going home is tougher as it adds another hour or so. When it rains - it sucks! Am not complaining though. No no no. Am just venting. The drive actually gives me time to think, I get to be updated on what's new in the music industry thanks to the radio. However, sometimes I get turned off by all the talk jocks do but then hey! that is their job. And yes, there are instances that I get to know the news also. (Oo nga pala). And most importantly driving early in the morning satisfies the F1 driver in me. The need for speed is just too strong to ignore. I will not be branded by Alia as a suicidal driver for nothing. He he.

Daily grind

Haaay...getting out from vacation mode and going back to your daily grind is such an effort! Thus, in order to psyche myself and all the people around me at work I informed my direct reports last Dec 23 that we will have a meeting come Jan 5, Monday at 9am. He he.

I think it worked! Well at least that is what I perceive it to be. It gave us some sense of purpose to review what has happened the past months, where are we against our targets and what do we need to do to get there.

O di ba?

Dad

Today is dad's death anniversary. It has been 9 years.

I remember the burden and confusion that I felt when I found out from his doctor that he has 3 to 4 days to live. How the heck am I going to tell my mom about it??? I cannot remember though how I was able to go through that ordeal. It was numbing. His hospital bills and medicine ate up whatever savings that I had. I was so engrossed in thinking on how will I get the funds to support all the costs involved. When he died, I felt more the relief than the pain of losing someone. No tears fell from my eyes and the guilt that went with it lingered.

It was tough to carry on that way until I confessed to a priest during a teambuilding session in Tagaytay. He said that I was but human and the feeling of relief was normal. "You did everything you can during the time that he needed it and that is more than enough" the priest said. And it was only then that I cried.

I asked for forgiveness from my dad and from God. I told myself that for my mom, I will not worry about the money leaving my pocket. Help will come as I have experienced so many times in dire situations - God does provide.

Year 2008 Review 2nd Half

July

-gave Alia a new PC on her birthday. She chose a desktop over a laptop because she wanted her cousin (who is a budding web page designer) to be able to use it also. Good good girl.

-mom's fifth chemo session. One more to go! She is progressing beautifully.

-crude oil price per barrel is already at a ridiculous US$ 140.00. Prices of raw materials are also in a steep incline. Had to change buying strategies fast.

August

-mom's 6th and final chemo. She has graduated at last! We have moved back her bed upstairs.

-Alia is doing great in her studies and seems to be enjoying her popularity. Most probably she has found the group of kids that shares her interests.

-crazy month at work at it is our schedule for resource planning and strategic planning for the next fiscal year.

September

-mom's hair has grown back. She looks like a rocker. Cool!

- KRAs KRAs KRAs. We have to set our goals and targets per Key Result Area so that we will have a sense of direction on where are we going, why and how. The big boss has very high expectations. Hope I can live up to it.

October

- per my mom's oncologist during her most recent check-up, radiation sessions are now needed to ensure that my mom's ailment will not recur. Huwaatt!?! Mom refused and said that she will die faster from the radiation sessions than the cancer. Kulit. Aries (my brother) agreed with her decision but as for me, I would rather that she try alternative medicine.

- spent half a day in Cebu for a meeting and two warehouse visits. Flew to Boracay after to attend our 3-day Sales Conference. It was humid and there were a lot of people. Fides and I chose not to swim nor dip. (hindi kasi ako marunong lumangoy, hihi).

November

-visited dad's grave at Heaven's Gate in Cogeo. I wondered if he was up in the heavens looking down at us.

-hated the clutter that people leave in the cemetery after undas. Ayaw ni BF ng ganoon.

-mom dreamt that she saw my dad and asked him to take her in a place where there was bright light and which seemed nice. My dad said daw na "hindi, dyan ka lang" and then left. We interpret it as his way of saying to my mom that she will have to be with us longer.

December

- we celebrated our office Christmas Party with 50 underprivileged kids from Don Bosco of Sta Rosa Laguna. We toured them in our plant and warehouse, gave them gifts, let them play and had lunch with them. We hope that they had a grand time as much as we did.

- shopped for gifts, met up with friends, attended Vince's wedding, went to Igan's place, visited relatives, discarded old things, gave away stuff and cleaned the house.

-hoped and prayed for good health for those who are near and dear to me.

-thanked God for everything.

Looking back it was a hell of a roller coaster ride. I can't wait for a Happy New Year! :-)

Year 2008 Review 1st Half

Summary of 2008, the year that was:

January

- celebrated my birthday. Same old, same old. My age? secret!

- removed most of my stuff in my office to prepare for my exit by end Feb.

February

-said goodbye to my friends and colleagues in the supply chain food industry.

- my mom was diagnosed with Cancer. Her uterus and fallopian tubes had to be removed.

March

- joined another company to save my sanity and of course for a greener pasture.

- mom underwent hysterectomy on her 65th birthday. We were advised that she has to have 6 chemo sessions, each session an interval of 3 weeks. We had to relocate her bed to make the bathroom accessible to her.

- Alia graduated from her Elementary education whew!! High school naman!

April

- celebrated April Fools! He he.

- fascinated with work as it is a completely different field.

- Alia's summer vacation. No need to wake up at 4:30am haaay salamat.

- mom's first chemo session. I am as nervous as she is.

May

- still learning the ropes at work.

- mom's second chemo session. She feels weak every after session for 3 straight days but thank God she is holding up. There are days as if she is not sick at all.

June

- excitedly progressing with my new job and found new friends in the person of Fides and Gigs.

- Mom's third and fourth chemo session. She has lost most of her hair but still does most of the things that she normally do. Such a strong-willed woman.

- Alia on her first month in her first year in a science high school! I pray she maintains her good grades.

AriesTocat

Aries the youngest among the siblings with his lovely wife Analyn had to spend a few days in Pampanga to visit his in-laws. So we were tasked to look after Tocat (short for Ariestocat), their uber-cute tomcat during their absence. It was such a welcome change for us considering that the last pet we had was a "psychocat" (see post entitled Pussit) while this one is oh so malambing, house trained and behaved. I commented that with the way he responds it seems that he went to an obedience school -which Alia quickly added must have been a "Harvard Obedience School" at that.

whodat cat?

Tocat knows how to fetch, does not mind if he is on a leash when Alia walks him during mornings, does his thing only in his litter box, and knows how to open cabinets and doors. And more importantly he understands the word NO.

He is not a pedigreed feline. Yup! he is a trueblue "pusakal". Aries found him still a kitten at the parking lot of UST. He saw the little cat's tabby-like markings noticed his intelligent eyes, liked him instantly and therefore took him home. Since then, Tocat has been the couple's house companion in their Manila Condo.

He also makes a very good subject for my brother's SLR camera as shown in his pics below:

catatonic

it's a feline thing

an eye for an eye

it wasn't me

rowrrr!
whaat?!

His regular food is tuna (solid in water) and whiskas. He does not eat anything else and moreover does not like it mixed. Therefore we have to serve it to him in his dish neatly divided or else he will not consume it all (maarte rin). He likes sniffing my mom's plants and one time ate some of our palmera's leaves. It made him vomit it out after a while which I think it is his way of detoxifying. He likes taking a nap at the stairs so that he will have a good view of what's going on in the house. Daily he will rub himself between my legs, my mom's, my nephew's, Alia's - everybody, anybody.

Alas! His stay at our house had to end. Mom asked Aries several times if we can just keep him but bro had grown fond of Tocat as he had raised him since he was a little kitty so his answer was no. Awww too bad! He said though that he will try to look for a new pusakal for us to raise. sha sha sha.

let's paws... for now