Umpisa na ang labanan

I've been busy in the last few weeks in preparation for our US trip. I was glad our HK trip didnt push thru because if it did, I'd still be grasping for breath amidst heavy loads of work, haay...I still haven't found my assistant (and eventually replacement) to turn over my tasks. I was particularly struck by the subject line of our ISO Consultant in one of the emails he sent that said "Umpisa na ang labanan" (start of the fight). Well it's not a fight between the Americans and Filipinos but rather, start of the fight in quest of the success of our endeavor. After the kick off meeting via teleconference call, I realized that it's really going to be a tough job for us convincing our counterparts in the US to be compliant to our standards. I just hope that they will all participate and the resistance to change will not surface.

Family Outing: La Mesa Ecopark

It's a special non-working holiday today and instead of joining the useless rallies (I admit I used to join the rallies before, but now I consider it futile and our country's case hopeless), our family opted to go to LA MESA ECOPARK in FARview in Quezon City. Our trip was not too long it's a good thing people didnt join the EDSA celebration. We arrived shortly after 9:00 A.M. and we find a good spot to lay our picnic mat and the rest of the day was spent checking out the nice spots worthy of photo opps. The place is well kept, the restrooms clean and with strong water, hehehe hello, LA MESA DAM kaya ito? What we love about the place are the FLORA and FAUNA - it's amazing how the trees and different species of plants were hiding in this corner of Metro Manila while the rest of the place is polluted. It was a relief that we were able to lie down and appreciate God's creation. The sight in front of our picnic area was a garden terrace where different colored plants and flowers are carefully manicured. We enjoyed our Picture Taking in all the corners of this place. Here are some:





Check out the rest of our pictures here:

Afterwards, we went to our relatives in Roxas District and to meet my sons' cousins and titos and titas. I can't believe that my nephew, Christopher Angelo Vito (a La Salle Junior Basketball star) is already six feet tall at a young age of 12 years old. We also visited lolo (my biological father) who is sick at St. Luke's.

Vantage Point Movie Date

We didn't have a Valentines date so this was our post-valentine event. I had a chance to see the trailer of this movie in AXN channel and I was glad we had the opportunity to watch it. The movie was great! I love how the movie was shown thru the different vantage points until you are able to determine who the real killer and his motives were. Galing! Although at times, you maybe wondering what happened next because after scene, it'll start all over again from the point of view of another character. Dennis Quaid seemed older in the movie, but his role is something like Harrison Ford, me substance. I liked his heroic acts in this movie. I especially liked the Spanish Guy Eduardo Noriega, yung police, ANG POGI!!! and also I like the character of Forest Whitaker. I also loved the location or the venue where the movie was shot -> How I wish I can also go to Spain (idagdag sa wishlist yan hehehe). The car pursuit scenes seemed impossible but it came realistic. Ang ganda rin pala nung Spanish girl na naglagay ng bomb (hahaha, na-tomboy na naman ako)

QMS in my life

Even before I was not an employee with work related to QMS, I've been practicing it. Documentation,record keeping, duties and responsibilities, setting targets etc. Now that this is already my career, I've lived and breathed it more in my life. I've identified key performance indicators as my basis for a quality life and like the QMS in a company, I have to identify the reasons why it is not met (Root Cause Analysis) and making sure that the problems are corrected or potential problems prevented (Corrective and Preventive Action). I realized that I've come overboard in setting the KPMs or targets and it hurts because I cannot meet it. Now as I am doing the 5Ms, I realized that I overlooked the Money part or the resources I will use to accomplish the target. I'm so disappointed that my partner is not keen on the idea in the first place that's why I'm silently hurting now. Haay, why did I ever assume that he will help me realize that dream trip?

Well, I guess the bottomline is to correct the problem by considering other sources of the one important M for that target to be accomplished. I'll probably start the paid blogging business so I can fulfill my KPMs or maybe set achievable targets that both my partner and I will be able to reach...

The Ark of Avilon adventure

We had a zoo trip last Saturday at Ark of Avilon in Fun Ranch, Tiendesitas. We were surprised that the P200 entrance fee didn't live up to our expectations. There were only a limited no. of animals there compared to the animals in Tagaytay. But we managed to enjoy the trip. We had several good photo opportunities there. I was amazed at how my kids deal with the animals. They had shots taken with the famous "albino" snake that had one of the spectators biten. It was controversial but my kids were that brave to handle the snake. I also love our "family portrait" with the orangutan, and the kids photos with the pony and the cockatoo. Hope you like our pictures:

My Shrek’s reading recital

I went to see Aloysius’ reading recital last Friday at SM Activity Center in SM Southmall and I’m so proud of my son. He may be shy and reserved compared to the other kids who are outspoken but unruly; His voice could not be heard from the microphone but I know he can read and speak well because we practiced before he went on stage. He was cute in his Shrek attire with matching headband and green oodles, hahaha. I love the “livin la vida loca” dance number they presented after the recital. I wish I can post the you-tube version here, kakatuwa. I realized ang laki na pala ng anak ko, parang kailan lang, napupuyat ako sa kaiiyak niya, at tinuturuan ko pa lang siya ng ABC now, he can read a whole picture book.

I had fun sharing talks with the other mommies there, parang makakaclassmate din sila, at first, I felt left out ksi ako lang ata ang working mom dun but later I blended with them. Bonding nga ng Yellowbell Advance Casa class mommies – the best in Bethany Montessori Pre-school arena..hehehe. Here’s Miggy and mommy picture together after the program:

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Got my visa ahoy!

I am so happy, my US B1/B2 visa got approved today after nerve-wracking experience! I have not prepared for this because I was not too keen on the idea (mas focused ako dun sa Canadian migration namin) Anyway, only a day before when our American CEO wanted to talk to us before appearing at the US Embassy I started to browse on our brochures and ask around for the recently asked questions. Anyway, since today is Chinese New Year, I was supposed to wear red for goodluck, I was born under the sign of Monkey and they say that it's my lucky year this 2008 but our managers said that we wear our uniforms for a more businesslike image. I wore my uniform again after yesterday ksi nga no time to laundry it, Yikes but it's not really mabaho or anything. Our schedule is 12:30pm but Remcel and I arrived around 10:30am. Most of the time we just waited in lines and in the Pavillion. We were tensed because the waiting time and the pressure from our bosses are killing us. We have not eaten pa. I was most nervous while at the Fingerscanning area because the American is shouting while giving instructions on where to put the fingers and how to do it...The lady pa in front of me has half-dead body or just recently had stroke and could not stretched out her fingers, haay, it took me almost 20 minutes at the line. buti na lang when its my turn, the lady at the other side of the booth is already smiling and did not yell at me. My smile worked!! Soon it's waiting time again at the interview area, I tried to scan again the folder where I kept all the supporting documents that might be required to show. I have heard some of the interviews and added to my apprehension. Remcel was called first and she was assigned in Booth no. 10 then I was called next in Booth no 9 where a lovely young lady was waiting for me. I was so nervous that the first words I have spoken were "Hi, Good Morning" when it was already 1:30 pm. hahaha, When she smiled at my remark, that's where I become at ease and the interview went on smoothly..I was there for only a few minutes and I didn't have to run through my folder and get supporting papers. Here are her questions which I guess I aced in answering that's why I was given the visa :)

1. Have you had experience in international audit? (Tough question na agad noh)
2. How long have you been in the company?
3. Why are they sending you, Can't they find someone in the US to do the audits? (Siyempre, time for me to be assertive here...no sweat :)
4. Do you have kids? (I was going to show her our family picture but I decided not to para di na magtagal)
5. Who is going to take care of them?
6. What does your husband do? (syempre, pasikat ulit, I let her know that my husband is also working in an American company)
7. How much do you earn monthly?
8. How long does your brother stayed in the US? (I asked her to repeat this question because I didn't understand)
9. How many of you are being sent by the company? Are you going there in a group? or alone? (Buti na lang I remember Anthony my co worker was also assigned in this same booth and maybe she's just confirming so I just said, The other guy is going there ahead of me...)

After that, she just smiled and gave me the yellow slip, I didn't understand what else she said, I can only remember Delbros so that meant I passed the interview. WHEW! That was fast!

I was praying for Remcel while waiting at Delbros booth because her interview took longer than mine maybe because she's single and very young, but I was thankful when she showed up after a few minutes.

We were so happy that after going out of the embassy, we went to a Chinese Restaurant (HOP CHAN) for a late lunch (sobrang gutom na kaya kami) then watched the Dragon dance there.

Thank God for this blessing!

Warning and Tips against Cellphone Robbers

Lito's phone got stolen last night in a jeepney on his way home. It was a mistake for him to check on the phone on the jeepney while he is only 2 blocks from where he is supposed to alight.

These "Mighty Ducks" (I just can't put here F in place of D hehehe)has different strategies just to get your attention so that they can get the cellphone without you noticing it. Here are the things you should watch out for:

1. Be aware of the person sitting next to you and in front of you especially when they are conversing in their language.

2. If the person sitting next to you is squeezing you like hell, his hand is already at the target. Remove whatever is covering the bag or pants (Lito has his back pack on his lap when the crime happened). In my officemate's case, her bag was covered with the Ducks jacket. Then transfer to another seat or better yet, alight immediately.

3. The ducks sometimes do stupid things like spitting on the jeep or spit outside when he is at the end of the jeep. They do this so that you will look away, this will become an opportunity for them to do their thing.

4. If somebody from the jeep noticed or give a remark on what the duck is doing, they will get angry and even put out a balisong, this is their next strategy, manghoholdap na lang sila. As soon as you hear them denying or getting angry, alight agad.

There are regular Ducks in particular areas specially along Alabang-Zapote Road and I'm sure they have been caught already but since law here also sucks, they are still wandering around victimizing people like my husband.

So be alert and keep your cellphones in the secret pockets of your bags so that by the time the duck finds it, you are already aware and ready to attack him first. Spray your cologne in his eyes. WAAAHHH. Brutal ba? Grrrr. Kagigil ksi.

P.S. When my sister in law tried to call the Duck holding the cellphone, and told them, "Bakit nasa iyo yung cellphone nung kapatid ko?" he replied, e nasa kin na eh...THE NERVE!!

Mighty Ducks, Salot ng Lipunan.