Looking back and moving on ...

During our recent seminar for project managers, which focused on people management, waves of emotions and countless memories engulfed me as I listen to the speakers and the reactors. It didn't matter if the words they used were eloquent or not because for me, the message was loud and clear - people management is all about:



1. understanding (of one self and of others)

2. respect for each other (be it opinion, skill, position, etc.)

3. camaraderie

4. establishing team focus and goals


All of these are easier said than being accomplished. Respect, for one, is earned. And it is applies to everyone. Some of which would take time - like camaraderie. But this taking of time would certainly make the path smooth, and the goal clearer, if only each person in a team is honestly open to it.


I mentioned "team focus and goals" - not just an individual's. For if it is the latter, it may fall under "vested interest". Sadly, vested interest is almost always resides in one's heart. The higher the level of personal interest defines your being "makasarili". But this is another post.


The ability to establish team focus and goal comes easy if the first 3 items exists. Anybody disagree? :)


As we listen to the speakers (and give reactions amongst ourselves), I cannot help but to be sentimental. Memories come flashing like a movie. I was even teary-eyed several times, if only for a colleague's funny remarks. Little did I know that the rest of us feels the same. Nostalgic. Sad but true, that this is all we can be right now - nostalgic, remembering how we used to be. Like lovers who had other factors (third party, parents, conflict of interest) ruined what good there is, our beloved company seems to be going thru the same.

Does everything else fails? Would there be a time when we can all be happy again? Really happy despite the odds? It's everyone's question and right now, your answer is as good as mine.


I am not one to deny positivism. Maybe this is all a dream from which we will wake up soon and see different. Maybe. There's no harm to hope. But no matter how you see yourself, where you see yourself, please do not forget how we were before - a family. A family that understands each other (though there were bickering), that respects each other, with an overflowing love and camaraderie and that is for a common and united goal. And whatever the future holds for us, keep the experience in our pockets and bring to wherever we may be. Share them and add more.

Inception

I have been hearing and reading lots of excellent review of Leonardo DiCaprio's new flick Inception. It's a Christopher Nolan creation. The teaser kind of gave me a Batman/Dark Knight after taste, not just because of Nolan but also due to the presence of Michael Caine (Alfred) and Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow).

The movie though promises a very rich CGen effects and intricate plot. Loking forward to seeing Joseph Gordon-Levitt showing his more mature attack on roles ... interesting :) (I can still him as the cute and ackward Cameron James in 10 Things I Hate About You). Besides, it's a DiCaprio's movie. Who says no to him? :)

Is that the movie house calling, or what?

Gossip Girl

I am. Today. Gossip Girl.

Sure, office scandals are not uncommon, Through the years, your company (past and present) had its own fair share of stories that are too interesting and juicy, it would give the headlines of Perez' Hilton's blog a run for its money.

Just.like.ours.

Employees have two options when there is a gossip going around - shrug it off or dig deeper into it. I used to just go along with the flow of talk, just enjoying the exchange of theories and stories that either affirm or deny the chism. But for this particular chism that includes an upper and a lady (who acts and feel like a boss), I am ready to get my hands a bit dirty *evil grin*.

Believe you me, I could have just let them be. But because of the drastic changes in the company and how it affected our population, our existence, or importance, our human rights ... no Sir, I am gonna give them a doze of their own medicine.
So, lemme start off with this.

There's the concious effort to hide whatever's going on between them. But a woman is the last not to brag of anything that she gets from his lover, subtly or not. Remember the Smart commercial where 2 girls try to outdo each other with what their men are giving them ("Paulo got me gold.")? In a slip of the tongue, or maybe in an attempt to act friendly, or simply be mayabang about the gift, the girl mentioned it to a colleague. This colleague, at some point thereafter mentioned the incident to her other friends. These friends, who have been doubtful of the lady's connection with the upper, found a blog entry that connects the dot, so to speak. But as they say, nothing is concrete"till the fat lady sings.


To think that the upper has been bragging of his "walang kaibigan, walang kamag-anak" statement. Tama nga naman sya .. lover lang ang pwede?

There we go Upper AXA-ders ... looks like there's more about the lady than not having breaks in the morning ... Will bling and wallet with greenies be enough to keep the flame alive, and make the office life of us here a living hell? I have the blog entries to share, safe and sound in at least two other locations. When it's time, and it's needed, it'll be a bomb.

Bangkok on my mind ...

As I visited Chico Garcia's blog entry, it suddenly dawned on me that I am missing Bangkok.

Homesickness does not kick me as much whenever I get to be assigned there. It's probably because the people do not quite look different from the Filipinos. The weather could be one factor as well, as it's basically the same as what we have here in the Philippines. There are quite a number of Filipinos everywhere too. When the locals speak, that's when my bubble gets burst.

I am missing the humidity
I am missing the locals' smiles

I am missing working at Exchange Tower (here's us inside ET, with our team and Sir Tino)

 

I am missing Bangkok night lights

I am missing doing this crazy "photo shoots" ehehehe

 

I am missing the not too crowded moviehouse in Emporium and MBK, even on an opening night. Oopps! Sorry for the miplaced hand :)

 

I am missing the BTS (sobrang saya sumakay dito .. stress free)

I am missing attending mass at Holy Redeemer Church

 

I am missing our room in Chatra Court (no matter how often I say "Are there no other place to stay?") .. That's my reflection in the mirror as I took this photo

I am missing the taste and smell of Pad Thai
I am missing my almost daily walk along Sukhumvit road even at the wee hours of the night, without being scared that I might get robbed.

I am missing the regular sized coke that's as big as a super large drink in Wendy's
I am missing the 5-baht california maki being sold in front of Panthip
I am missing the late night drinking and videoke in Suan Lum Night market
I am missing the 85-baht eat all-you-can spots


haaaaayyy ... take me back please :)