Lessons learned from the Miss Universe incident

Being a Filipino and a fan of beauty pageants, I was so excited to watch the Miss Universe 2015. I even participated in the voting system. Of course, I used my critical judgement in selecting the rightful candidates to be in the finals. Miss Philippines without a doubt stood out both in the swimsuit and evening gown competition. The Q&A in the semi finals was not a casual talk but put Miss Philippines bet Pia Wurtzbach in the hot spot who came out with a safe answer and nailed it for the judges.

It was exciting and suspenseful as the pageant progressed especially when they announced the top 3 and Miss Philippines emerged as one of them. We were shrieking and clapping when Pia gave the best answer. Now you can just imagine how we and the rest of the Filipinos all over the world were patiently waiting for this moment because it has been 42 years since Philippines had her Miss Universe title.  When Miss USA was called to become the 2nd runner up, I told myself that this is it, Philippines is going to win because Miss Colombia's answer to that Q&A cannot beat that of Pia's.  But then the incident happened, Steve Harvey mistakenly announced that Miss Universe is Miss Colombia instead of Miss Philippines. That incident hurt not only Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines but also the Filipinos and Colombians who were expecting their candidates to win.  It stole Miss Philippines' crowning and victory walk moment. It stole the limelight from Pia who remained humble and poised under pressure.

Confidently Beautiful with a Heart

When Pia was finally crowned and was ready to do her walk, she tried to approach and comfort Miss Colombia who was unbecoming of a true sport and a Lady by crying like a child. But the ladies surrounding Ariadna shoved Miss Philippines and told her to step back.  Pia did her walk while the other ladies were shouting Colombia Colombia! The atmosphere which was supposedly jovial turned out to be like a boxing arena or a gladiatorial fight. But our newly crowned queen has remained calm and poised. She kept smiling even though deep inside she's hurting. She had her proper crowning moment backstage and there she poured her tears out, away from the cameras and audience view. She was humble and didn't complain but rather commented that the traditional crowning ceremony is so 2015 with a smile. What an attitude!

So, What's in it for me anyway?

It's been 24 hours and I still cannot get over it, well I think most of the Filipinos are.  Before hitting the sack last night and after waking up this morning I kept on reading updates about the Miss Universe 2015.  Like most of the Filipinos and Colombians and other fans, I'm following everything from that event, down to the last replies, what could have beens and even nasty comments and bashings. I would not call it patriotic but I would side with Pia not only because she is a Filipina but more so because Miss Philippines deserved to win that crown. It is the pride and honor that this victory meant and we Filipinos have been longing for this in the past 42 years.

Lessons learned from this incident

I've read so many comments about this incident but there is one that I am reposting here because it is timely and relevant to all of us regardless of our circumstances. Thanks to Dhee Jhey for these lessons:

Everything happens for a reason. God is in control of everything. Now ask why would He allow such thing like this to happen?

1. The whole world is watching, God wants to show us that earning everything in this world means nothing to Him but what matters is what's inside our hearts and how we treat other people.

2. Unexpected incidents reveal what is really within us. We can't rehearse for it, we don't know when it is coming and this event shows a lot of revelation from all the candidates, especially their true colors.

3. Beauty will fade but the goodness of a person's heart lasts eternity. Most of the time we put value into things that are seen while things that are unseen are the most important.

4. Those who humble themselves will be lifted up, those who boast will be put in shame.

5. It is not what people around you says that matters but how God looks at your heart. And He will entrust you with what He thinks you can manage.

I hope we realize these points so we can understand why the Miss Universe 2015 incident happened and what we can learn from it.  I want to quote Miss Colombia saying "Everything happens for a reason."

Aloysius got a D in his report card HMMP!

I just received Aloysius' report card for this term and I was not too happy. Well, he's got a D in PE. The rest of his grades are okay, more on Bs, some Cs. I believe he can still do better than that. Lito says it's okay because he is still adjusting and Aloysius is in Grade 3 now where he is supposed to be attending Grade 2 class. Maybe, I'm just expecting too much or maybe it's also my grade in teaching him so I'm thinking I didn't do well, haay. That D is what I can't accept. It says in the report card that he still needs encouragement in participating in games and sports and in the other subjects, he needs to be active in class participation. My little boy is shy and now it reflects in his grades. I hope he overcomes his shyness and develop self-esteem. I also hope I will just accept the things I cannot change and help him change the things we can.

The other side of the coin

I remember one testimony of a churchmate that like everyone else who are abroad, we wanted to show our "nice" status. We would smile and pose in nice backgrounds, attractions and landmarks so that our 'kababayans' would say how 'lucky' we are to be in that place. But in the real world, as she said "di nila alam nagkukudkod ako ng banyo" (they are not aware that I'm cleaning the bathroom for a living - she's an all-around BTW). Funny isn't it? but it's true. Really true. I realized I miss my housemaids in the Philippines. Today is labor day for me, I did laundry, clean the house (sweep and mop the floors, clean the toilet, wipe all tops) and ironed the clothes (including those unpacked from the luggages). After ironing the clothes, my CTS recurred. haay, kapagod! Here, you have to do it all. I have no choice but this is my life now. I have no regrets or not even ranting about it. I just want to say that there is always the other side of the coin. Pag me ginhawa, me hirap (no pain, no gain). It's not always sugar and spice, and everything nice.

I just want to share a biblical truth about doing some labor. Genesis 1:17-19 excerpts:

"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.

By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return."

As God commanded, each of us need to sweat to eat. I still feel blessed and I'm thankful. At my age, I'm still strong to do labor which is nothing compared to others' labor.

Anyway, I was able to rest and relax now. I started to read Confessions of a Shopaholic and I'm amused. It's the cycle, work-play-relax-enjoy, then work again...the next time you see my picture or any OFW smiling, remember there's always the other side of the coin. :)

Moving out of shit

Haay, I've been busy with work lately and almost forgot to update my blog. I just wished I had devoted my time in paidblogging na lang instead of letting myself be a victim of office politics (you know, not participating in the "you scratch my back, i scratch yours", or "eating somebody else shit and stepping on somebody to eat this shit to be on top"). What's annoying is that that somebody just squeeze in the creative juices from me and uses that for himself. The nerve to be asking me to reply to the messages with his signature GRRR. Is the corporate world really like that? I should have known. I thought the clause 6.2.2 applies to this company, yeah right but the true competent people are there already covered with shit. Anyway, I just wish I can get out of this shit soon and move on.

Dream on

The kids are wildly cheering after they saw their Daddy at the airport. We then rode the new SUV that Lito drove to fetch us. I saw the beauty of Spring in the streets on our way to our new home in our land of new beginnings. As we approach our new house and heard the door opens, it was not the door of the house but the door of our room here in Pinas, I was dreaming again...

I can't say how frustrated I am now but I am patiently waiting for our visa. It's been 6 months since I last heard from the embassy and the website says, the processing time takes about 6 months. My life here is on hold until I get hold of my passport with the approved Canadian visa (Permanent Resident).

I just wish I can still dream while waiting.

Our (or my kids) Snow World Experience and ranting about Star City

It’s been a week and I haven’t given birth yet. My family decided to go to Snow World this afternoon to experience the Winter Christmas in the Philippines. Aloysius didn’t join the Field Trip in their school yesterday because they will just go to a farm where Aloy already experience while we were in Bohol last year. So instead, I just told him we will go to Snow World in Star City. We arrived in Star City around 5 pm and there’s already a long queue at the ticket booth. Since it’s a Saturday, we expected many people but I didn’t expect that the parking is already filled up with Field Trip buses. I was frustrated at how we lost time in getting to the Snow World area because it is located in the farthest end and we had to pass thru a maze (Star City is poorly organized, the rides are scattered every where unlike Enchanted Kingdom where there is a theme in every area and the signs are visible enough not to let you get lost). Star City management should have a separate entrance to save time and energy for those who decided to purchase the Snow World ticket.

Anyway, when we got near, the line is too long. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to go inside because I’m pregnant so Wendy, Candy and I waited for Daddylo, Mama, Carter, Ces, Aloysius and Achilles while they enjoy the so-called Snow World. This account is according to my 6 year-old son and my siblings. By the way, we came in prepared, we brought winter clothes with us, with matching gloves, bonnet and scarves to protect us. The kids had 3 layers of jackets including the one provided by the Star City, they were able to last for over 30 minutes unlike the others who didn’t and just passed by (sayang ang P160 pesos). Aloy said he was so excited he tried to get the snow and form a snow ball but the ice is too hard (parang galing sa freezer). Then he was jumping up and down the ice which was hard daw. He had to pee good thing they brought an empty bottle, I asked if he felt his batotoy getting off hehehe. They went to ride the slide and checked out the different sculptures. This year’s theme was Christmas so last year’s sculptures were better and that’s according to my son when I showed him the photos taken by Anton of Our Awesome Planet. He was looking for the world’s famous landmarks like Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty but didn’t find in this year’s Snow World. In fairness, my sons enjoyed the different kind of experience they had at the ICE world, that’s what it’s more appropriately called per Aloysius, he just can’t believe that he didn’t see any snow flakes falling. Hahaha.

Here are the 2 pictures we bought from Star City, they won’t allow you to bring any kind of camera because of the moist so we paid for P 100 each to have a souvenir.





My kids looked good in cold weather, rosy cheeks and red lips. And my family too, they had a blast if it weren’t for my dad’s aching feet–frost bite they could have lasted longer than 30 minutes -average of only 10 minutes for those without proper clothing gear so be prepared if you plan to go there. BTW, the temperature inside is zero degrees Celsius.

More comments on Star City:

While Wendy and I were waiting, I was thinking that the ride-all-you-can fee of P375 is too much for a maze of rides without an aircondition on enclosed areas. I didn’t even see a sign for Fire Exit if there’s one. I was looking for them in case there’s a stampede. Looks like it’s going to be another Ozone disco case if this is not addressed because I only remember the way going out using the way I entered in. With the influx of visitors like this afternoon, (I was thankful nothing happened) it could really happen again. I just hope the Elizaldes and Manila City Government should consider taking preventive measures soon.

Yaya Diaries - again

Had to go to my mom's again because my yaya has not returned from her rest day. Looks like she will be gone for good. I was not able to report for work today to take care of my kids, it was so tiring, I had to take a nap and while I was sleeping both the kids were so kulit, Nanay and Tatay could not control them. SO i decided to pack up and go. Good thing, public transpo (FX) is already available from SM. I just wished I could control myself when I see my yaya - GRRR! Now I'm on my quest for a replacement, wish me luck!

Gentle Breeze amidst a storm

I promised myself not to feel any negative emotions as this may affect my baby but I can’t help but pour some musings to this blog. I just don’t understand why some people do not consider your condition and just go on with their carelessness to disturb you. I don’t know if this is done intentionally to annoy me or they are just basically wicked. I thank God that I’m pregnant now because if I was not, I’m sure I’d return the favor. I think I’ve come to a certain point in my life where I’ve come to accept the situation and let it flow without doing something about it. Is this what they called “Maturity”? Haay, being 40 is not that easy, have to do a lot of thinking and analyzing why things happen before I can accept the outcome. Talk about root cause analysis in NCAPAC, it’s not that easy applying in real life (well, in my life)…Good thing, I still have sanity to continue through the day and my friends who keep me sane as well. Be cool Irmee…your baby is smiling…

Stressfull Day!

Today, my yaya decided to say goodbye without a replacement. She and nanay had a fight over something too insignificant. I was too upset but didn’t say a word or expressed my feelings. The kids and I just decided to go to my mom’s place that very moment while they were still in the middle of the fight. I was disappointed because yaya is a very reliable help and I know she loved my children. Anyway, when I went to the OB later, I found out that my glucose is now ok but my blood pressure is high. I’m thankful that I already let go of the visa anxieties, I only have a handful to make me stressed. Haay!

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...

Ruth VS. Naomi

Ruth vs. Naomi

Finally, he had the guts to tell her not to comment anymore because that starts the problem. I dunno what’s come over her or maybe she’s too sensitive to accept that he is telling her this or maybe she cannot bear her grudge to me anymore that’s why she broke loose and let it all out (well, most of it). Her anger started when we inquired where the Teflon frying pan is, then she blurted out “dapat kc pinagluto muna yung yaya bago pinag day-off”. Then he said something like “Wag na ksi kayo mag-comment kaya nagkakagulo, tanung lang naman kung nasaan yung Teflon, ksi si Irmee na nga magluluto” It’s ok with me to cook this time but my mistake was to put the porkchop in my own marinade when she already said na me timpla na. That sparked the flame more and she was not angry at him anymore for the”she starts the problem issue” but to me for the many old and kept issues. “Naipon na ata” “Kaya pala she was ignoring me all this time especially when I talk to her and address the conversation to her.” Anyway, I just let her talk and it doesn’t really matter to me anymore what she says. “Kung sino asar, talo.” She always has a comment on anything and she can’t tell the person involved directly. She only complains to the person who will listen to her which I am against because it’s like barking at the wrong tree. Being raised independently, I was trained to do the things on my own and I had my own ways of doing things. With that, we disagree on most things but I can only keep it to myself because I need to “makisama” and at this time I cannot do anything but to be where he is and sacrifice a little until our Canadian or US L1 visa is approved. I just wished she knew the real reasons why I’m not a good Ruth - I don’t want to stay there anymore, I don’t want to compete with her or be expected to please her – It’s just not me. I just want to have my own house and be the queen. There’s a saying that there’s only one queen in a kingdom and I definitely want to be the queen because I’ve always been one. I just hope that we move to our own castle soon. How I pray to be like Ruth to this hard to please Naomi. May God bless me.

And the credit goes to...

I was glad I was not there at Appenzeler for the celebration of our company’s Information Security Management System or ISO 27001certification. If not, I would have walked out on them. I don’t know if it was intentional but the opening remarks is enough to make any member of our group belittled. True, it was a concerted effort and everybody deserves to be congratulated but singling out BTS is too much. There were many policies made for BTS and most system requirements came from them but if it were not for the efforts of our guys to guide and required from them (I bet they’re clueless on ISMS), the BTS group was like a lost sheep without a shepherd. Hello! Whatever our department (and even the Project Manager) did to make the certification possible is now forgotten.

I don’t want to rant again about my work, but I can’t help but express unfair treatment that I and perhaps my co-workers received (but they’re just insensitive about it).

And why am I blogging about this? Maybe I expect too much or I’m reading too much management books particularly Customer-Focused Quality by Hinton/Schaeffer which says about how to champion quality –

“We want to accomplish meaningful things in our life that make a difference, we want to be recognized for our accomplishments and we want to be complimented for a job well done. This is likely to be true as long as people have feelings and are driven by a sense of accomplishment.”