Of Fine Wines and Champagnes...

And so, we were at it again.... more champagnes and wine instead of beers... another big one bites the dust...

The super large champagne bottle on the table...

...and before.... the MOETs we popped....

Penfolds in line.....

Fine champagnes and wines, fine dining... recession? What recession?.... by the way, think this time, my days are numbered in the Philippines. I just received a call from my former boss requesting me to firefight in Cambodia... and I have just rejected his offer.

We'll wait and see what prevails later...

Domestication

I find myself in a rather peculiar situation this year… a word I find amusing yet, serving as a wake up call, or rather… NOT. The word is… ‘Domesticated – accustomed to home life’ OR ‘Domestication – a process of accommodation to domestic life’ which originates from the word ‘Domestic’.

Two years ago, as far as I can recall, everyone was within the reach of phone calls, anytime, anywhere… this year, I cannot say the same anymore. Wild card entrees are not accepted anymore. J Meeting everyone now was like to have a reservation made at The Ivy in London…. 6 months advance, and yet, seats are not guaranteed. J …. And what does this tells you? You go figure…

Anyway, the year started off fairly good but in quick succession that I didnt even realize its passing. CNY's preparation came and went by, and before we knew it, we were tossing 'yee sang' on the 3rd day of CNY.

Since it was the year of the Ox, we had to honor him.

Not to mention the sumptuous meal prepared by my Mom. Yum yum... all my favorites + imported beers!

Before and During 'Yee Sang'

Anyway, I am not all good as well because I think without me realizing it, I am slowly becoming ‘The Ivy’ myself even though I am not ‘Domesticated’ yet…. Going out is so ‘a-thing-of-the-past’ already. I’d rather sit quietly tucked in the corner of a coffee shop and watch time pass by. Just the other day, a bunch of my friends from KL and neighboring cities, drove to Ipoh for a small get together. I was excited yet thrilled, and I had prepared a list of ‘to-do-things’ and ‘places-of-interest’ for our binge one day session including dim sum the very next morning. And so, we were off to Riverbank Sincero at Sunway City Ipoh to start off the evening at 5.30pm and without wasting time, a bottle of Gordon Blu was on the table.

Early Drink to start off the binge session. This was 5 minutes into the action... 1/4 gone.

However, after the solo bottle on the table, our plan had to be abandoned because it was a white wash, most of us were already tired. Probably because age was catching up. We went home thereafter.

Not withstanding which, the tone of drinks these days seems to be maturing. Last year, I remembered I was still on beer, but end of last year and this year, fine tuning of the palate seemed to have changed from that to fine wines and champagnes.

Both of them are my counterparts in Philippines.... and I am not talking about standard champagne bottles... big ones... sometimes two at one go.

I think the community should thank us for spurring the economy further since no one was spending. Anyway, Let's just hope the year augurs well for all... and sorry for the update. I thought I could have posted this earlier but to my surprise, I couldnt. Will work on that...


Now back in the Philippines and I am already in the thick of action. Phase 8 has started, the only difference is, I have 2 more assistants and I can start working on other aspects of the project which I should have last year, Cost Management and Risk & Value Management. :-)

Happy CNY to all!

Time Flies...

What about a blast from the past.....? How many of us wished we could end up being in school again? Never mind the stupidity that comes with it...

I am back in Ipoh again after a month's hiatus and I cant begin to wonder what the new year will bring for me. I feel that its' gonna be a good one... even before the new year started, flipping through all those geomancy and feng shui prediction somehow got me more excited even though the odds were stacked against me.... I wonder why.

It could be a bad one for all I know but one thing's for sure, I cant wait to absorb those challenges. It has been a rather monotonous year for me in 2008 and I cant help to feel I was trying to balance things up and be on the safe side after hearing all those ill-predictions about my stature. This year, I aim to spice things up... :-)

Today is CNY eve... exactly a year back, I had my fair share of adventures, both good and bad. Last year, I was immobilized on the hospital bed on the 3rd Day of CNY... whatta way to start that year... I still remember those days and now, within a blink of an eye, its already 2009. That, my friend, is pretty scary. Last year was an evolution, from beers, to wine and finally champagne (been drowning pretty much towards end of last year and this year)... I have been spending lavishly (trying to boost the economy). This year will be no different.

Watch me GO!!!....

Gong Xi Fatt Chai

January Morning After

It has been almost 1 month since I last wrote. January has been tough going but it was a bittersweet ride. Soon, I will be home again for CNY and the latter will be the start of Phase 8. A lot of changes have taken place but first, CONGRATULATIONS to Khun Chat for having a newborn into this world. The first cub for the animal kingdom!

Christmas came and went by but I must say, it has been the same wonderful period every year. This year's Christmas party was even grander than the previous. This time around, it was held in Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati.

From Left: Khun Chat Chai, Johnny (Project Director), Me, and Chee Boon Siang (Deputy PD)

The Gang (from L-R): Chat Chai, Me, Johnny, Chee, Arric

Recession looms in, and I have heard of many lay offs and VSS's being issued... but Thank God, we are surviving in the world of Telecoms and we are spared indirectly. The logic to it is that everyone makes calls, and we are here to connect everyone. In this modern 21st, telecommunications is more of a necessity rather than a luxury. However, I am still keeping my fingers crossed so as to hope that it doesnt drag us down further in this rather precarious situation.

Obama was inaugurated today. Good news? We'll see....

Happy New Year 2009

As usual, the year came and left in whiff… I am not too sure about others but for me, the year went by extremely fast this time. It was like in a blink of an eye. People say time passes by more quickly when you are enjoying it… I guess it’s true.

Last year, I enjoyed myself in the Philippines… apart from work, I think I am benefited from the perks that came along with my job. Even though ridden with stress and hellish hours, I thought my task here was pretty secured and one which was sustainable. This year, would be a wee bit different. Although not much of a change will take place, my position as an expat will be more precarious than last year. I will have to employ a more sustainable approach and strategy to tackle the boardroom antics and politics. In fact, I hate playing these games but when it comes to survival, its game on.

Had a family BBQ yesterday at the garden, it was all close knitted friends etc. I even had invitations and free tickets to parties around town, with which, would have been a dream during my younger days in college. However, I turned all of them down to stay at home. Sign of aging? NO~!!! It’s a sign of maturity!! Hahahaha… it just felt as though getting to town itself was a bane, never mind the crowded bars and foam spraying kids trying to riddle you with their fashion and antics! Hence, I became a good boy yesterday.

Tomorrow, I will be leaving back to Phils for another couple of weeks before flying back to Ipoh for the CNY celebrations. This time around, it will be quieter than usual because of the economic crisis. Hence, I will have more time to close my current project before the new phase starts. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that the towers I ordered before Christmas are already here in the Phils when I return.

I had a look back at what I asked for 5 years ago in January 2004, and now, 5 years on, I am glad I have already obtained 50% of my answer.

Anyway, it’s the New Year and honestly, I cant wait for it to surprise me! Happy New Year!!

To Be OR Not To Be....?

It’s strange this year… stranger than ever. I managed a few surprises myself and a lot of things were unexpected… first of all, I made it back home on the dot for Christmas which was amazing because for the past 10 years, I have not been able to do so… yet, upon arriving, it felt normal. It was an eerie camaraderie because I have always anticipated what Christmas would be like at home. I was neither excited nor sad.

Anyway… I came back for Alan and Bin’s wedding… CONGRATULATIONS to you both… looking at you guys tie the knot and how happy you were looking into each other’s eyes, its easy to forget how both of you struggled through rough patches. I had intended to give it a miss due to work but after thinking about it, it was worth the while coming back. I can never be more happier for you. However, due to work, I had to rough it out through the night… sorry for not being the ‘gunman’ (drinker) that night.

Being in that wedding reminded me of how love was once so important. Its been a topic I choose not to talk about because it scares the shit out of me. Honestly. It doesn’t exactly freak me out but I am unable to feel that I am able to love again. In fact, being attached is pre-dominantly a nonchalant subject to me now. People ask me, you should, must, when, will and yada yada yada… I have absolutely no idea and how it will be. This is what scares me. 5 years ago, I had a target, I achieved it way below the period, and now, I am setting myself another 5 years for my next target. It doesn’t seem to me I care much about being in love again. There have been offers, but I am unable to. I would love to commit but that’s the bitter part, I still can’t find my way back into love. It will take time.

Life in the Philippines have offered me unprecedented freedom but there’s a con to it… it gets a wee bit lonely. I can’t say I have everything but its enough to keep me smiling. Work has become part of my life and I must admit, the role I partake in has eaten up part of my life although I am not complaining. I still find people asking me the same ol’ question… “aren’t you tired of traveling…..?” …. I smile at that question and would have love to return the question,…..“would you rather be in my shoes?”

Time has moved on by so quickly that I have yet to realize its’ passing… the other day I had some quality time with me ol’ friends… 2 Snr Engineers, 1 Programmer, 1 Sports Trainer, 1 Doctor and 1 Businessman. We were catching up with old times and it wasn’t long before I realize, 3 of them are already married with kids, 3 of them by next year and that leaves me, the odd one out, still professing that single life is good.

Am I on the right path?.....

Christmas Almost Here...

Yeah... Christmas is almost here... no doubt about it.... yeah, I too know that its only early November as we speak but decorations are up, people start to sing Christmas songs, and they are filling the air of Christmas shoppers at every departmental stores nationwide... who says the world is plunging to an economic crisis... depression? nah... get outta here... everyone's shopping and in the mood...

WEeeeEeee... my parents are visiting me in the Philippines... how nice... I would be able to shock them of the belief they have that Manila is not like Ipoh... hahahahaha.... that would be fun to watch....

Until then....

Part Hiatus Life...

Since the beginning of the new Phase 8 and having to juggle with Phase 7, it hasnt been easy... but what is easy? The only thing I have to sacrifice is my blogging time.

Christmas this year is definitely foreign to me again... but I am ok with it. I think the most important aspect of Christmas to me is the love and the warmth of the season which must be shared with the other half/ family who believes in the same thing. To me, Christmas is special, a sacred moment that belongs to me and the believers only.... I believe there are loads out there. :-)

Anyway, not too sure about New Year yet... but most likely I will be in Malaysia by then....

You know what... I am trying to change my lifestyle now. Trying to be influenced by my colleagues here to get up at 6am and start jogging before going to work. I know it is a good thing but I am just finding it really hard to do so. On the other hand, if I dont do it, I get tired easily these days due to my packed schedule... hmmmphh... should I OR should I not? We'll see....

Long Hiatus...

Its been one hell of a long hiatus to the point I dont know where to begin... since my last entree till now, it has been just work, work and work. I have been transferred back to Manila and now working on two phases of a project at the same time. That's the reason why.

I seek solace from....

This is a sequential picture. If you enlarge the first one, you can see the bee flying to the first lotus and the second one is the close mode.

A few decisions have been made here and there and in between... and I cannot look back. I hope I dont have to... Also, I guess, I will in for another foreign Christmas this year... which makes it the 12th year in a row I am celebrating Christmas in a foreign land (1 year in US, 7 years in UK, 1 year in Indonesia, 1 year in Pakistan, 2 years in Philippines).

The mood is already on going now in the Philippines. Christmas trees for sale, the lights are up, Christmas songs on the airwaves... it feels good. :-)

It does.... I have always loved Christmas.

A Glance Through: A Flashback

It has been 7 months since I came to this region and there was nothing... it was just an empty shell...

Now that I look back, the transformation is just too much to take in especially now that it feels as though this will be my final glance at the office I set up... due to the new proposition.

Here's a brief look at the changes:

1. Reception Area

TO

2. Sectional Office Area

TO

3. Conference Room

TO

4. Cross Diagonal View

TO

With the new challenge, it will bring me further away from the office that I have got so accustomed to since the beginning of this year... Let's hope its for the better.

Much Ado About Nothing... Part II

Sat in the office today… surfed the net… typed the letter… surfed the net… ate lunch… looked at boat/ yatch prices… watched a movie, downloaded songs from p2p, synching my iphone to the itunes… adding songs… that was pretty much it today…. Why?

1. Twenty two of my original master planned sites in SORSOGON area has been reduced to 6 sites because of the rebel demands. After much political bickering with customers and management, those sites will be reduced.
2. TIGAON was supposed to have tower erection today, however, opposition operator demanded for a work stoppage because of fear that frequencies might crash… what a whole lot of bollocks… but what can we do? It’s all on paper.
3. CALABANGA lot owners weren’t satisfied with the E91, E71s and IPhone we gave them. Some even claimed that the IPhones we gave them were fake. Total of 20 cell phones given out for free just to pacify them and they came back wanting for more. Now they filed a petition against us.
4. OCAMPOCMRS towers are still sailing… with 14 more days to the month end, my towers are still somewhere along the ocean enroute to Philippines. Nice…
   

Now you know why I am free?... somewhere along the fine thin line, its not hard to see that corruption is rampant here. Red tapes are just hollow blocks to corruption. On the other front…

1. A long lost friend has arrived in the Philippines under Ericsson
2. Another friend coming to Philippines at the end of the month… its been almost 6 months since I last saw him
3. I have started my handover to my Asst Manager but he seems to be quite defiant on the idea and put it straight to me that, if I am transferred, the whole team will go with me. He kept on telling me about the ‘All for one, one for all’ thingy that I preached since the beginning of the project to the team. I will continue to explain to him that heroics won’t work here.
4. Heard news from a friend that he met with an accident with the Sultan’s car… hahahahaha… that is one in a million!
5. I have been given the task last week to be YET, another bestman to one of my best friends. This will be the third time… hmmpphh…

Well... so much for the day... more to come this week....

Time Has Come...

Its funny how it has always felt, but not materialized since the Pakistan days. People say, if you cant beat em', join the bandwagon. I believed in it for a while...., but, its true, the system can neither be changed nor altered because of one man. Hence, I have tentatively penned my corporate orbituary with HW on a specific date.

To me, it wasnt difficult to pen down the letter. It was simple. I needed a light to guide me back into the forefront of Project Management instead of fire-fighting. I wanted to be in a corporate understanding of my mission statement and how it was projected to me in this company, wasnt part of the career advancement I had in mind. Stepping stone... definitely!

The ship will soon sail again after a long docking period and probably, the time has come...

Discovery Channel: Everest

Everest: Beyond The Limit

Recently, there has been a new season of Everest adventures on Discovery Channel and it has blown me away for some reason. I have been hooked on it ever since. Probably because it reminded me of Mt KK… I know its not the same but the feeling of reaching the top and all the terrains that you have to go through… it was surreal.

If anyone out there has time, go watch it. It shows the trials and turbulences of both amateur and pro climbers trying to conquer Everest and the suspense here is that, not all make it back alive.

It really reminded me of how it felt like climbing the peaks and what it felt like when you are there. Of course, Everest is twice the height of Mt KK and a hell lot tougher but I could really relate to their perserverance and the mental block they had to go through trying to convince themselves its just another step away from the top OR how halfway through the climb, you'll drift off to the best things in life and wonder to yourself, what the hell are you doing there?

Its really crazy how the conditions can succumb you to the most humbling experience ever...

Honestly, watch it, this is really good. And the best part is, each climber has to pay USD42k to be on the team which, then again, isnt guaranteed. They need to pass the time trial to be able to make the summit team and if they dont, its just bye bye... to their dreams and money. Hence, you get climbers going all the way to prove that they are mentally strong enough to take it.

Kudos to Discovery to be able to provide these live feeds. They tell a pretty good story...

Weekend Frustration: Much Ado About Nothing II

You know, its been quite a long while that I haven’t really enjoyed my Saturday’s and Sundays fully and given that fact I have earned that right, I still miss work. For the past 2 weekends, I have told my guys to stay off work and just rest. Last week was a disaster… not long before the clock even crossed the afternoon mark, my guys were calling me up, ‘Sir, can I go to the site? I need to see the conditions there….’…. I reiterated ‘No’ from every phone call I answered and added.. ‘hey, you guys are supposed to be glad you are on vacation on the weekends (because for the past 6 months… weekends were work)…’

All my engineers felt so restless that they were raring to go on Monday. And so, I had a meeting with them on Monday and they told me:

‘Sir, please don’t let us stay in the hotel during weekends…’ I said bro… I have to because I am not going to pay you during weekends now because there are no more sites to work on and I cannot justify my cost of letting you go to the site and claim your OT….

They pleaded again to me… ‘Sir, I wont claim for OT… I just want to work for free… I just want to get out of this boredom…’ ….. I replied… ‘boredom or not, you guys are staying put… no one’s going to the site… I am letting you rest’.


You see… the thing is, they will use the car when they go to the site and gasoline these days aren’t cheap by the way…. Its not just about paying their OT… its about the gas as well. I too need to control my cost because I cannot justify the escalating costs vs progress anymore. It’s my duty as a PM.

But it’s a relief to know that my guys have been trained well. partially also because, there’s absolutely nothing to do here in the BICOL… no cinemas (there is in fact, but substandard conditions), no bowling alleys, no form of entertainment known to 20th century mankind, nothing, zit… wala… mei you… end of story.


Hence, over the weekend, I managed myself quite decently in front of my television watching reruns of CNN, Discovery Channel, Star Movies and HBO (Gladiator, Hot Fuzz, Ocean’s Thirteen, Fly Boys, etc).

BICOL: Naga City

Time and again, people use to pop this question at my face… hey, you seem to be enjoying your life at BICOL... I’ve heard ppl come back and say BICOL is a really cool place… I say, hell yeah… it is a nice place alright… there’s no traffic, the people are nice and that’s about it. YET, they don’t believe you and they go like… bullshit… there’s more to that (…thinking that its similar to any big city like Manila and Makati…)… well, here’s to prove all of you wrong:

1. The place is filled with padjaks, tricycle, jeepneys and there’s virtually no posh cars there… a VIOS is considered a posh car, like the one I am using.
2. The city itself is dead at 930pm, 10pm tops… streets will be empty, there’s no bar, no clubs,…etc
3. The city is at least 20 years behind Ipoh… yeah, Ipoh!!

Here’s some pictures to prove it!

One of the many Departmental stores in BICOL. You figure out the rest.

One of the main streets (high street) in Naga City where I live. See the traffic at rush hour?

Can you picture this city now? No? Main transportation mode are Jeepneys, Padjaks, Tricycle. No buses visible and cars are a rare sight.

Robertson mall. One of the biggest already.

E-Mall: The most modern facilitated departmental store in BICOL, at 4 storeys high, just right opposite my hotel, there isnt much to shout about.

One of the main venues at the centre of the city with a Welcome board by a local pharmacist.

Sichara Cinema... there's only two in BICOL. This one is the best. No TGV or Goldenscreens, or even Cineplex... only 3 times a day for each show, this is one of the classic cinemas likened to the golden era of the past whereby the movie ads are still painted. Nope, I have not been in it.

Naga City market

... and this is about it. The radius that covers the city centre is about 5-10km end to end. After the borders, its all greenfields with paddy or mountainous areas. Mabuhay BICOL.. or rather in Visayans... Dos Mabalos Bicol.

Anyone who still wishes to come, I will be more than happy to give you a tour of Naga City absolutely free of charge, and a half day tour will give you a complete and comprehensive information about BICOL... more or less.