Our company outing at Montemar Beach Resort in Bataan was able to pushed through last weekend. It was cancelled before due to typhoon Cosme and Domeng. This time, it was successfully carried on though there’s a new typhoon (named “Frank”) again that visited the country. Amidst the inconvenience brought by Frank (it is signal #3 in Bataan, Metro Manila, and nearby regions), the outing is a refreshing and enjoyable one. We left Manila at around 7:30am and reached our destination at around 11:30am. After lunch, while awaiting for check-in time, our group decided to let the child-in-us manifested for a while. We explore the place, walk over the hanging bridge, play “harang-taga”, and tease each other for whatever.  After check-in and a little rest, beach games began – collecting balls at swimming pool, hoola-hoop challenge, obstruction relay race, etc. Unfortunately, our group – Baby Pink Team, did not able to make it. We lose but... that did not spoil our day. The outing is not all about games, swimming at the beach or pool, and eating. Most importantly, it is about enjoying each other’s company, sharing jokes and laughter, and team building as well. See the pix to have a glimpse of pleasures of summer.

At looong last, series of training for our Data Warehouse project comes to an end today. This coming Monday is a new beginning for the team. First, a change in work area. We will be transferring from Application Development area at 2nd floor to the Data Warehouse Center at the 1st floor.  Second, a change of immediate superior. From PCV's guidance to Ambo's care. Third, a new designation. From Application Development Officer to Technical Architect. Lastly, a new project. From Driver's Licensing System to Data Warehouse Enterprise. What a big change in my job. Hope everything will be fine.

A friend of mine, Jhong, posted this in my friendster (thanks, Jhong!) The description is somewhat truncated and not complete, so, I tried to find it in the net but with no success. Nonetheless, I find this amusing and accurate. Read on...

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.

You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.

You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.

You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.

You have the classic "Type A" personality.

Even if your chosen path fails, never give up on your sacred purpose. – Novena to God’s Love

I was touched with the sharing of Bro. Obet Cabrillas one morning “Feast”. He was super-blessed because he was celebrating five years of wonderful marriage with her loving wife (and gifted by a lovely kid.) He said, he was forever grateful for being busted by so many girls whom he courted before his wife. If not, his wife might be one of those girls and not his wife today. And, maybe, his life will be different and not as wonderful as it is today (nice point-of-view.) Going back, he was very disappointed and very much discouraged when those girls keep on busted-ing him - one time after another.  He lose self-confidence and dignity in some way. And only this time, he come to realize the reason why girls keep on rejecting him. And, that is, to give him someone better.

How  many times did I experience the same? (haha! girls did not busted me... nor guys, too. But, hmmmnnn... that’s another story.) But, in my previous jobs, there always come a time where I want to stay and settle in particular company, if only they gave in to my demands (hehe. No. I did not speak-out loud those demands. I just keep it to myself and wait for it to happen. It is not an unreasonable demands, you know. It’s only fair enough, believe me.) But since, no one responded as I expected them to, I wander and hop in different companies where I accumulated skills, knowledge, experiences, trainings, connections, friends, etc. Every resignation I made, I felt a sort of rejection (though those were resignations and not terminations.) Only not long ago, I finally  realized why I did not get what I wanted before. Those companies helped me grow, ok, but not good enough to fulfil God’s purpose for me. The first company that I worked for, presented an opportunity for me to start a career and build my 3-yr experience with them. The second one offered an opportunity to learn modern technologies and solutions. The third one open an avenue for me to work abroad even for a year. The fourth one is a failure to start our business which taught me hard-earned lessons which, am sure, I can use in the future. The experiences in consulting is the new “thing” that the fifth company gave me. The sixth one is an experience in multinational environment which contributed in my experience in support, development, and maintenance of application to different countries. The seventh one is the current. It provides me a lot of trainings in new technologies, allows me to travel in local regions of the country, and develops my managerial skills. I am expecting “something” to happen, though. If not, I might consider working abroad (it depends on the circumstances.) Whew! What a long journey I got, huh? And it is not always a pleasant one. I experienced a lot of hardships, trials, and challenges. And, I cannot say that it is over (who can tell?) As long as I live, the journey continues.

My point is: we often thought we failed when something did not  happen the way we expected it to be. We forgot that that is not our ultimate purpose or goal. It might only be a path which “failure” might be the best thing that should happen for us to grow. Or, that might only be a stepping stone to achieve something greater. Know the difference between paths and purpose. Paths were only there for us to take... not the fulfilment of our purpose. So, if you failed now, do not lose hope. Do not be discouraged. Do not surrender. Move on! Or, take another path. But, keep our eyes focus to our goal. There’s a long way ahead. Keep on going...

Today is supposed-to-be the second day of our training for “Universe Design of Business Objects”. But then, it was cancelled at the last minute because our trainor got a fever and was not able to conduct the training. I got the info. thru SMS early morning but I’m already in the bus approaching the South Express Way with my laptop left in the house. It is too late to go back and get it. I could proceed to work in our office and use one of the PC at Data Warehouse center. But then, for some reason, I cannot find my company ID in my bag. I cannot enter the company premises without my ID. My morning day is already ruin, right? Wrong! I know better than to complain. I know that God has a better plan for me today. I just need to be sensitive with the signs. Hmmmnnn... What are the things that I needed to do but was not able to do in these past few days or months or years? The first thing that comes to my mind is... my hair! It really needs some fixing, trimming, and taming (rebonding, in short.) So, instead of riding off the bus at Magallanes bus stop, I asked the conductor to adjust my fair. I’m going to... SM Mega Mall!

A BEAUTIFUL MORNING

It is still too early when I reached the mall. It is not yet open but the caffees and food stores at the ground level with separate entrances in front were already open to serve breakfast, coffee, and the likes. I choose to stay at Krispy Kreme and grab a doughnut-de-leche and capuccino while waiting for the mall to open. I even got a plenty of time to chat with an “old friend” via cellphone in between sips of coffee and bites of doughnut. All of these happened while gazing lazzily at the view of MRT and busy road of EDSA in early morning sunlight. Aaah! What a beautiful morning!

A MOMENT OF SILENCE

On the way going to my favorite salon at the fifth level, I passed-by “my secret resting place” and could not resist to go inside and spend some time there. As usual, it is so comforting, peaceful, and serene inside. I could not help but utter a prayer of thanksgiving for a wonderful day. I cough! And I remember... I needed to see a doctor to consult my one-month old colds and coughs (So, this is the real reason why I got an unplanned leave, huh?)

A FREE OFFERING

And so, after a moment of silence and prayer, I go out to look for a clinic. Alas! I found the De Los Santos – STI Mega Clinic at the same level of the mall. It is a huge clinic occupying the 2,300 square meters of the mall with 246 doctors and medical staff and 100 state of the art machines. They were accepting all types of PMOs and  health cards. Funny! I have my PMO card in my wallet but left my company ID in the house, huh? The pulmonary doctor will be IN by 12 noon and it’s only 11AM. I have one hour to wait. Wait? No way! I’m inside the mall, hence, I can walk around somewhere and just go back by 12. I remember that my credit card has a free lunch offering in cooperation with a fastfood chain - Chowking. Actually, it’s just a sweet-and-sour pork and half-dozen-ingredients halo-halo with ice cream on top. It is not bad for a free stuff, huh! I took advantage of it and enjoyed my newly-cooked crispy sweet-and-sour meal. Since it is still early for lunch, the place is not yet crowded with customers. I got a nice smile from cashier and warm service from crew. I cannot help but be infected with their good nature.

A REALIZATION

After lunch, it is time to go back and see my doctor. Dr. Sales is a very nice guy. He scolded me for consulting a doctor only now and for taking an antibiotic which he thinks is not necessary. It just make my system amoxicillin-resistant. He asks me to undergo x-ray examination to rule out the case of tuberculosis. He read the result and I am amazingly good. According to him, I have a long way to live. Aside from a little inflamation in the tube in my lung (?), there is nothing to worry about. He prescribed a medicine to heal the inflamation and I will be ok. Thank God! After my medical check-up and doing some errands, I got my hair rebonded at my favorite salon. It took five hours to make it done but it is ok, I got the result the way I want it. Well... everything’s done. All is well – unplanned but surprisingly and amazingly done. I just realize that there is someone out there who planned these things. He knows that I cannot find time for a planned medical examination, hence, He makes a way. If He cares with a simple thing like this, how much more with bigger things that I care about? I relaxed. I know that I’m in good hands.

Everybody in the office were excited yesterday. Some had filed a leave. Others went home early. Why? We’re supposed-to-be in Montemar Beach (in Bataan) today for our company outing. “Supposed-to-be” because it was cancelled in a last-minute notice at around 6pm (Not sure if everybody got the info. I will not be surprised if someone still  appear in the office as early as 6am.) Unfortunately, two typhoons – Cosme and Domeng visited the Philippines. Yesterday, it was signal #1 in Bataan, Pampanga, and nearby regions. The signal was raised to #2 today.

Almost everybody was disappointed except... me (funny but am happy and even clapped my hands upon learning that the outing was cancelled.) Not sure why I have a gut feeling that the outing will not push through (at least, for me.) In fact, I have not pack any clothes yet. Still considering to back-out from joining. Why? Still got colds. No, it’s not that. Is it because I belong to other groups where my friends-at-office are not? Maybe. Is it because some of my closed friends were not joining? Yeah, right! Honestly.. I do not really know.

Do you have a difficult person in your life? This is the question posted by Bo in his blog. Is there anyone who has none? I bet we all have one... many... or a lot during our lifetime. Yup! I encountered these type of persons at different occasions at different times. I did not realize that I was able to handle the situation with them around. Proof? I'm still alive! Haha!

This question is very timing in my current situation at work. I am transferring to a new project. Glad that I will finally get-over with this stubborn, indifferent, and uncooperative team member whom I tag as a difficult person. She's really a pain in the neck. Alas! There is another difficult person in our new project. He's a consultant who does not accept suggestions and thinks that he knows it all. Ok. For now, I will let him prove himself. Let's just wait and see...

Most of the time, difficult persons have an attitude problem. Of course, there are reasons why they were behaving that way. They might have a big problem at home. Past experiences might also taught them to be tough not knowing that they exceeded the boundaries. Toughness can be equated with being difficult, scary, and burden to others. When I encountered these type of persons, I was affected at first. But later on, they taught me to become humble and to reach with the unloving persons. They serve as a sand paper to purify my inequities, re-assess my actions and motives, and become a better person.

Maybe, for some other persons, I am the difficult person in their life. Glad that I can serve as the sand paper for them to become a better person (ganti-ganti lang yan! Haha! Joke.)  

We had a workshop last May 1 (yeah! You read it right. Workshop on Labor Day, huh.) It was held at Astoria Hotel in Pasig City. It was a one-day event where we, in our division - the Technical and IT Operation Division, discussed and evaluated each department's mandates, processes, goals, and  areas of responsibility. It was a looong and tiring day. If not with the good camaraderie of our group and the ice-breaker activity that HR prepared for us, that day will be a torture.

Speaking of the ice-breaker activity that we had, it was fun to do it. So, I would like to share it with you (you might want to do this someday with your own group of people who know almost everyone.) Here's the detail...

Material:

Cartolina - cut into bond-pape-size pieces with string attached at both ends at the top.

Mechanics:

• Each member shall be given the material with his/her name written at the top.
• Members shall hang the string around his/her neck so that the cartolina can be displayed at his/her own back. 
• One shall mingle the crowd and everyone is free to write the person's good traits in cartolina.
• After some time (e.g. after 5/10 minutes), you may ask a volunteer or call someone to read what he got. You may also ask few questions like what struck him most or what surprise him with what other's think about him.

That's all! And, here's what I got. Nice, huh?

This activity is somewhat similar with Johari Window (for full data, please click here) that I had done before (except that the traits here were freely written.) It is a self-assessment activity (you may click the links to try this out.)