Di nangangailangan ng pera?

Nabasa ko sa isang article ang tungkol  kay Heidermarie Schwermer isang mamamayan ng Hamelin, Germany na namuhay sabi niya, na hindi nangailangan ng pera. Naengganyo akong basahin ang article tungkol sa kanya dahil sa titulo nga nito na Living Without Money at gusto ko malaman paano siya namuhay ng walang pera.

Isang refugee noong World War II, isa silang may kayang pamilya sa Prussia noong 1940s.Naalala niya na mayroon siyang yaya at isang full time gardener. Nawala ang lahat noong magkaroon ng digmaan. Napadpad sila sa Germany at doon nagsimula uli sa buhay hanggang maibalik ang dating antas ng kanilang kabuhayan. “We became rich again and we had to defend it. I’ve always had to justify myself, whether we were rich or poor.” Ang sabi niya.

Sa dokumentaryo tungkol sa buhay niya, makikita siya na kumukuha ng mga tirang produkto, at ipaglilinis ang isang tindahan kapalit ng pagkain. Nakakatanggap siya ng dami mula sa mga kaibigan at ang din a magkakasya sa hila hila niyang tampipi ay idinodonate niya.

Bahagi ng pilosopiya niya ay ang magkaroon ng pananalig sa di nakikita. Hindi siya nagpaplano ng kanyang buhay. Ipinapaubaya niya ito sa tadhana maliban sa small notebook she uses to keep track of her scheduled speaking engagements and housing arrangements.

“I see a lot of miracles in my daily life. For example, in the beginning I found food. I thought about things and then I found them in the street or people came to bring them to me,” she explains. “Now, more and more young people want to change something in their lives and often they don’t know what they can change,” she says. “I changed something in my life.” She turned down invitations to extend her stay sa mga pinakikipanuluyan niya, kasama na rin ang permanenteng paninirahan.  Mayroon siyang pamilya at tanggap ng mga ito ang kanyang pamumuhay.

Maganda ang kanyang ipinakitang halimbawa, pero katulad ito ng ideyalismo ni Karl Marx na di nagtagumpay sa komunismo. Namumuhay siya sa pera ng iba. Kung sa pagtitipid ang paguusapan, puwede pa itong pumasa sa akin. At kung paguusapan ay ang diwa ng pagdamay ng ibang tao, pasado pa rin. Pero, ang hindi pasado sa akin, ay ang iasa sa iba ang iyong buhay. Habang binabasa ko ang article tungkol sa kanya, unti unti na nawala ang aking paghanga, dahil taliwas ito sa ipinaguutos ni Lord, “sa iyong pawis manggagaling ang iyong kakainin, “ at sinabi ng Beatles..”that a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure”.. Ang tunay na diwa ng pagtulong ay naroon sa IKAW mismo ang dapat magpaunlad ng sarili mo, upang MAKATULONG sa kapuwa. Hindi iyong lahat tayo ay aasa sa iba. Sino pa ang magsisikap?

Dumarami ang kanyang tagahanga, at ako ay natatakot that they miss out the philosophy of what she is doing. Na baka gayahin sila at “irequire” ang mga kaibigan, kamaganak, kahit sino na sila ay pakainin at bigyan ng tirahan. Then, if that happens, who will work now? This world has become a charity institution.

Isa pang worry ko, maayos at tinatanggap siya sa ngayon, dahil malusog siya.. paano kung siya ay magkasakit? Paano siya magpapagamot? Sino ang gagamot sa kanya? The idea expressed in Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” is not that of indolence or aasa sa Diyos, kundi, faith in God. Pananalig na tayo ay may makakain, kahit na ano pa ang iyong work. Importante ang work. Ang ibon, hindi iyan kakain KUNG HINDI TUTUKA. Hindi sinabi sa verse na iyan na isusubo ng Diyos ang pagkain.

Mas maganda sanang tingnan kung si Madame Schwermer ay kasama ng kanyang pamilya, doing work for them, being happy with them and sharing all the blessings that come her way sa ibang tao.

Perhaps the true philosophy is not Living Without Money, but Living and Earning Money to be able to help others. Hindi ang magpayaman, magkamal ng salapi upang maging makapangyarihan.. that is what others think. That is their philosophy, to have more money to enjoy the luxuries of life. Luxuries of life is found in simple things. It is just a matter of appreciation. You can feel the luxury of life by just walking in the park, eating kwekkwek, pisbol, having picnic sa bundok, or praying inside a church. Luxury of life is being happy, not with material things and pinakamahalaga, nakakatulong ka at nagiging mabuting halimbawa sa iyong kapuwa. Dapat bawat isa sa atin ay iyan ang attitude.

Then, each one has the capacity to help. And this world will be a happy, loving and peaceful place to live in.

I’m willing to be criticized for what I said above. But I will never waiver on my belief that “each one of us were given life, skills and talent by God, use it to improve EACH OTHER’S lives.” That is the law of coexistence. That is the law or God.

—-00000—-

“Workin’ for a livin’, livin’ and workin’. I’m taking what they giving ’cause I’m working for a livin’.” – Huey Lewis and the News

Business Development 101

Masarap na mahirap ang aking trabaho na nakalinya sa Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Masarap dahil very challenging, future focused ka at maraming bagay at pangyayari sa merkado ang iyong iaanalyze para sa development ng kompanya, lalo na at isa kaming industrial product oriented na organization. Idagdag pa ang diversity ng aming product at service line. Lagi kang bukas ang isip, ang tenga at ang mata sa mga pangyayari di lang sa isang maliit na lokalidad, kundi sa buong bansa at sa buong region ng GCC.

Mahirap naman, in the sense na ang paggalaw sa nais mong direction ay nakasalalay sa maraming mga personalidad, maraming groups at positions. Ang daming variables at demographics internally. I am just talking about “internal” which is ang pinakamahirap na kontrolin.

Nariyan ang iba’t ibang lahi, na ang kultura ay different from the gogogo, walang di puwede at madiskarte na attitude ng mga Pinoy. You will find it hard to convince them to adopt a new system, new product, new technology, lalo na at ito ang diktado ng merkado. Next ay ang position. Ay naku, dito ako talaga natutuyuan at tinutubuan ng varicose veins sa leeg at ulo. Ang dami kasi incompetents, ang walang alam at puro utos lang ng utos, maging ang kanilang iniuutos ay di nila alam. Nagkakandaihi sa galak matawag na manager, specialist, consultant, pero wala namang alam. At sila ang napakahirap na pagalawin, more so sa isang bagong product, service, strategy o technology. Katuwiran ng mga iyan, I am the Boss, my people will do things for me. I don’t care what you are saying, kahit na iyan ay future ng ating business. As long as I receive my salary on time, receive my cup of tea every 30 minutes, I don’t give a damn.

Next ay ang competency. Mga Most Valuable Players (MVPs) ang mga incompetents when it comes to “Claim and Blame Game”. Pag credit, kanila, isushoot nila, free throw na 10 footer pa. Pag blame na, ipapasa na nila, di na iyon ididribble man lang. “Everybody is to blame, except me, I always do my best and I am always the best” ang kanilang golden rule. Sila iyong ang mga isinasubmit na mga credentials ay mahihiya ang pinagpatong patong na 4 volumes ng encyclopedia sa kapal (which is logarithmically proportional sa kapal ng kanilang mukha).

In late 2008, sa aking pagsasaliksik sa merkado, nakita ko na dapat kaming magreorient ng focus ng aming capability para sa paghandaan ang malaking pagbabago ng demand. Technology, mode of service at packaging ay magbabago sa susunod na dalawang taon. May produkto kami na magiging obsolete na, parang Betamax na papalitan na ng ilang salin ng teknolohiya until DVD BluRay. Sa serbisyo naman ay mula sa Construction patungo na sa Operations and Maintenance. I submitted several research and position papers, defended it to management and was given the signal to proceed discussing with the execution groups. Nobody paid attention. Kasi siguro

1. Di na aabutin ng kanilang kakayahan, ayaw mag-aral,

2. Katamaran. Kung maaari lang ay walang trabaho para masarap ang buhay, sumasahod pero walang projects o benta,

3. Ready excuse. Kung noon nga ay di nila mameet ang target at nahihirapang magdahilan, pagpasok ng bagong technology may rason sila kung bakit bagsak.

4. And the favorite at gasgas na gasgas na, “we don’t have the manpower”… (dadagdagan pa ng we are still grooming our people, hehehe 5 years na grooming pa rin, kaya di na nawala ang amoy ng mga lekat e)

To cut the story short, kahit na anong pukpok ko, away away, taasan ng boses (pero ako ay umaarte lang, dating artista e, pang Best Actor na galit galit kuno, ano ako magpapahighblood, let them mahighblood at maatake sa puso), walang nangyari. Hahaha. Daming pinagdaanan ano?

Napagtulungan pa ako. Nagkaroon ng reorganization at ako ay parang itinapon sa isang tabi. Nagkampi silang mga buktot ang hangarin. But, I delivered noong ako ay nagsolo. Kasi kako, I have to do something dahil babagsak ang grupo na hawak ng mga buktot. Me mga long term contracts akong nakuha, to somehow tide us over the critical years pag pumutok na ang kalokohan ng mga bloody buggers, ika nga ng mga British.

Thank God, may 4 pinoy at 1 isang Indian (1 out of 1,000,000) ang naniniwala sa aking mga pananaw. They were with me, morally, emotionally and “culinarily” (pagkain).

It happened na nga. We are experiencing drought na. Then, this week, I was told to plan a recovery roadmap para sa mga nawalang opportunities.

Salamat ke Bien. Salamat ke Rey. Salamat ke Rodel. Salamat ke Marino. At ke Sathish.

—-00000—-

“I’m convinced that what’s needed here. Is not more sympathy but a little more discipline
Your egos wrappin’ itself round my long thin neck. I am surrounded by incompetence. Why can’t all these people understand.” – Foetus

KISS SABAY HUG

A business executive became depressed. Things were not going well at work, and he was bringing his problems home with him every night. Every evening he would eat his dinner in silence, shutting out his wife and five-year-old daughter. Then he would go into the den and read the paper using the newspaper to wall his family out of his life.

After several nights of this, one evening his son took his hand and pushed the newspaper down. He then jumped into his father’s lap, wrapped his arms around his neck and hugged him strongly. The father said abruptly, “Son, you are hugging me to death!” “No, Daddy,” the little son said, “I’m hugging you to life!”

Marami sa atin ang masyadong nalululong sa mga aktibidades na nauukol sa mga fundamental needs ng ating sarili. Natutuon ang isip at panahon sa trabaho, pagaaral, pakikisama sa barkada o pulitika. Kaya siguro sa Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs ay nasa pangatlo at pangapat lamang ang Love/Belonging and Esteem needs.

Nakakaligtaan nating harapin at pagtuunan ng pansin an gating mga mahal sa buhay. Nakakaligtaan natin na bigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating sarili na pakinggan ang mga kasayahan, hinaing, kabiguan at mga bagay na kinatatakutan ng ating mga mahal sa buhay. May mga pagkakataon pa na maging ang mga importanteng event sa ating buhay with our family, with our loved ones ay ating nalilimutan.

When was the last time you personally hug your mother, your father, your son or your daughter? When was the last time you said “I love you” sa pinakamamahal mo sa buhay? When was the last time you said “Thank you” sa iyong Nanay, sa iyong Tatay for bringing you up dito sa mundo, for caring for you, for educating you (tapos ikaw pa ang nagloloko), for supporting you (tapos napakapasaway mo, for being there with you kahit na ikaw ay puro sakit ng ulo ang ibinigay sa kanila at di mo inayos ang buhay mo.

This was made worse with the advent of modern technology. Akala ba natin ay nakakapagcommuncate tayo sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng texts, emails, tweets, private messages o pagpoposts sa FB wall nila. Ang personal na touch ay nawawala. Ang makita at madama mo ng personal ang feelings nila ay di mo mararamdaman.

Technology is lifeless. It is like a robot. Hindi mararamdaman ng mga mahal mo sa buhay ang init ng iyong yakap, ng iyong mga IHIP SA PUNONG TENGA, ng haplos sa buhok, ng isinisiwalat ng iyong mata, ng iyong tuwa.. ng sincerity ng nais mong ipadama.

Hug them now. Kiss them now. Tell them how thankful you are to them now. Tell them you love them……. now.

Personally.

Warmly.

 —-00000—-

 “When U give ’em your all, and still it’s only second best.U can come and lay your head upon your baby’s chest. Every one of your worries, all your miseries. You can put them in the little book and ship them off to sea. Cause…. I got a 1,000 hugs and kisses for you when you come back home..” – Prince

Tokneneng talaga..

Tayong mga pinoy loves anything fried. Aside from the perpetual favorite na fried chicken, naryan ang crispy pata, lechong kawali, talitis ng baboy o manok, fishball, kikiam, kwekkwek, tokneneng, atbpa.

Naisipan kong magluto ng tokneneng isang hapong walang pasok para feeling nasa pinas with matching gulaman drink.Tokneneng originated from the pinoy komiks series Batute, patterned after the oldie Bondying. Mas wise lang ang dating ni Batute. Trending  ika nga kung sa panahon ngayon. Pero pareho silang retarded. Batute was illustrated by Vic Geronimo and created by Rene Villaroman. It first appeared in the pages of Pogi Komiks done in a semi cartoon by Geronimo himself and authored by Techie Sejera.T okneneng means  ‘egg’ or itlog in Batute’s language. Sa kanya rin galling iyong “sugigi” for sigarilyo and “apekoy” for ice cream. Batute was so popular in the ‘80s.

Share ko ang recipe ko sa tokneneng, let us prepare for 6 pcs eggs.

Ingredients:

• 6 pieces chicken eggs, hard boiled
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup annatto seeds (atsuete)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 cups Canola cooking oil

 Instructions:

1. Tanggalin ang balat ng nilagang eklog. Dahan dahan.
2. Haluing mabuti sa isang container ang cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper
3. Dilute the annatto seeds in water until the reddish color comes out. Ibuhos sa pinaghalong cornstarch, etc.
4. Ihalo ang nilagang itlog (reminder: nabalatan na ha!) sa mixing bowl and coat with the mixture
5. Heat the pan and pour the cooking oil.
6. When the oil is hot enough, deep-fry the eggs until the coating is crispy. Use a serving spoon to scoop the eggs from the mixing bowl.
7. Remove the fried eggs from the pan and place in a draining sieve or pan
8. Serve with vinegar (siguro naman kaya na ninyo iprepare ito) or sweet chili sauce.

O di ba ang sarap.

Bonus na recipe para di na kayo bumili ng sweet chili sauce.

Mga sangkap: 1 kutsarang cornstarch, ½ cup ng atsuete, isang maliit na kurot ng asin, ½ cup ng ginayat (ng maliliit) na sili, 1 cup na tubig, 3 kutsarang asukal, 1 kutsaritang suka, 1 kurot ng pamintang durog.

Paraan: Paghaluhaluin ang lahat ng ingredients sa isang cooking pan. Isalang sa medium heat while continuously stirring. You will notice na from maputiputing kulay ay magiging red ito tulad ng commercial na sweet chili sauce. Patayin ang apoy pag tama na sa lapot. Ilagay sa isang sauce bowl.

—-00000—-

“My life goes on in endless flow. Of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I eat them all with gusto, though
They will not make me thinner. For eating brings me so much joy, And joy in life is fleeting, So while there’s food still on my plate,
How can I keep from eating?” – Traditional Briton Song

Parking please..!!

Noong ako ay nagwowork pa sa isang Multinational Company sa pinas as VP ng Sales, Marketing and Business Development, madalas ay nakakasama ko ang Manager ng aming Technical Support sa mga meetings sa customers. He is such a nice person, magaling at matalas. Mabilis siyang umaksyon at madalas pag me problema o trouble sa mga installations naming sa customer, nauuna pa siya sa mga tauhan niya.

Kakalipat lang namin noon sa Philippine Stock Exchange (Tektite) West Tower sa Pasig, at siyempre, nakakapanibago ang environment kesa dati naming office sa West Avenue. It was considered as the second Makati that time, at talagang ang area ay nagkalat sa mga modern facilities.

 One of the bago sa paningin ay ang Parking Area ng building, which is in the 3^rd Floor. Me automatic gate railguard na pipindutin mo ang button ng parking ticket dispenser bago umangat ang railguard pagkalabas ng ticket. Ang ticket na iyon naman ay iyong isusurrender sa cashier, isuswipe sa machine para makita kung ilang oras ka nagpark at correspondingly iyong bayad mo for your length of stay sa parking.

One day, tinawagan ko sa planta si Manager ng Technical Support para patingnan ang problema na isa naming customer sa may Cainta. That time ay beeper or pager pa ang IN na gadget. Me cellphone na rin iyong Motorola Microtac. Tumawag siya sa akin noong nasa parteng Mandaluyong na siya (wala pa ang C5 noon) at sabi sa akin ay samahan ko raw siya. Sabi ko bababa na lang ako, huwag na siya magpark, maghintay ako sa harap ng lobby.

Nakarating kami sa customer, naayos ang problema at pabalik na kami sa Tektite when he told me, kailangan niya pumunta sa HR dahil me isubmit siyang mga papers. Pagdating naming sa me Tektite sabi ko sa kanya e sa 3^rd Floor na magpark, para makita naman  niya ang bagong style ng parking.

Pagakyat namin ng Driveway to 3^rd Floor, huminto siya sa tapat ng ticket dispenser at sinipat sipat ito. Then, he exclaimed: “Ah, okay nakita ko na.” Sabay turo sa butas butas na parang speaker. Tapos, nakita ko inilabas niya ang ulo niya sa bintana ng sasakyan, itinapat ang bibig niya sa butas butas at narinig ko siyang pasigaw na nagsalita.

“THIRD FLOOR PLEASE!!”

—-00000—-

“I wouldn’t change a thing about it. This is the best feeling. This innocence is brilliant, I hope that it will stay.” – Avril Lavigne

Isyu ng Saudisasyon

Naalala ko in late 2010, my kababayans here are so worried when the Nitaqat rule was known to be strictly implemented. Marami ang nagwoworry na baka mawalan sila ng work at mapauwi ng Pilipinas. Nasabayan pa ito ng paghihigpit ng Saudi Council of Engineers. Hiningan ng mga proof ng pagiging Engineer ang lahat ng nagdeclare na Engineer sila. Ewan ko lang kung paano nakalusot ang ibang lahi dito na noted na sa pagkiclaim ng kung anu anong titulo.

Ginamit pa ng mga pulitiko ang issue na ito sa Pilipinas, asking the government kung ano ang gagawin ng iba. Me isang pulitiko pa na nagsabi na kailangang maghanda para sa repatriation ng mga pinoy na maapektuhan. Marami ring mga NGOs kuno ang sumakay sa isyung ito.

When I was asked by an organization of Filipino workers kung ang saudization ba ay magiging kawalan ng mga pinoy at makakaapekto sa pamumuhay lalo na ng mga umaasa sa pagtatrabaho sa Saudi Arabia ay ito ang aking ipinaliwanag.

First, the facts:

1. Ang 2010 level ng workforce sa saudi ay about 6.89M of which 6.21M ay expats.. majority ay nasa private sector.. sa public sector ay 58% ang saudis.. while sa private ay only about 11%..
2. Ang unemployed saudis ay about 500,000 (Labor Minister Adel Kafeih – Oct 16, 2010 issue of Arab News) about 100,000 ay babae
3. Saudi labor growth rate is 2.8% per year that by 2014 ang workforce requirement ay about 9M and in 2019 it will be 11M

Now, let’s analyze it…

As of now, natatakot tayong mga pinoy dahil ang ating alam with the Nitaqat ay mawawala ang mga expats.. WRONG… iaalign lang particularly ang private sector sa paghahire ng saudi nationals. Just look at the above figures…in 2010 ang employed saudis ay 6.89 – 6.21 = 0.68M.. then, tignan natin ang requirement by 2014 of 9M.. that means ang available saudi workforce (assuming na 100% WILLING na magtrabaho ang mga swey swey na iyan):

     2010 level ng saudi workforce = 680,000 + 500,000 = 1,180,000

     1,180,000 x 1.028 annual growth x 5 years = 1,354,000 saudis willing to work

By 2014, ang kailangang tao ay 9,000,000 subtract the 1,354,000 saudis, will leave 7,646,000 available to expats.. at 2010 expats level of 6,890,000 o di ba magdadagdag pa?

Namimislead kasi tayo dahil me mga kompanya na kailangang sumunod sa nitaqat, so they have to replace their expats with saudis, pero, ang mawawala sa kanilang expats ay makakalipat pa to another company. kulang nga ang tao.. take alone our company, despite the nitaqat, we are still hiring about 600 expats..

The figure above indicates ONLY those that are directly for the construction and operations of upcoming projects like: Petrochem, Refineries, Railroads, Infrastructures, Mining, Financial Cities, etc.. how about the cascading employment that these workers will directly generate. Remember, I am talking here of the employment that these projects will generate.. these workers will require lots of attendant services na nangangailangan ng workers. (Among the projects I am referring to here are Sadara Chemicals, Yasref, Petro Rabigh II, Jizan Refinery, PP10 to 14 ng SEC, SWCC, Marafiq, at marami pang iba.)

 1. Where will these workers be treated? Ilang ospital/clinics ang kailangan to serve the additional 3M workers..

2. Saan sila magmemeryenda? Ilang bofiah o cafeteria

3. Saan sila kakain? Ilang Pinoy Restaurant ang kailangan dito.

4. Saan sila mamimili ng pangangailangan

5. Saan sila magpapadala ng pera

All of the above requires tao.. on top of this, ang basura, etc na kailangang hakutin.. e alam naman natin na ang mga saudis ay hindi maghahakot ng basura, hindi maghuhugas ng pinggan, hindi magluluto sa restaurant.. hindi maglilinis ng sahig.. so ang daming work opportunities niyan…

Aside from this, ang mga saudis are now having a good life.. gaganda ang income, assuming na magwowork sila lahat.. then ang vanity ay papasok na.. magiging vain na ang mga iyan, ang mga babae na namamasukan.. dadami ang beauty parlors, skin clinics, etc etc.. pansinin natin ngayon, sa mga barber shops, dati gupit ahit lang ang mga saudis.. ngayon, me facial facial na sila.. another requirement for workers iyan…massage parlors.. etc..

What all of us filipinos must do is to focus in continuously improving our work, our attitude, our skills, our knowledge..

Ang ating mga educators and leaders din, dapat ay pinaghahandaan ang mga darating na opportunities.. after a few years, hindi na kailangan ang mga design engineers dito, ang mga construction engineers, workers, dahil tapos na ang mga projects, papunta na tayo sa operations and maintenance ng mga projects.. papunta na tayo sa services, dapat magstart na ng mga curriculums para dito ang Pilipinas.

Being a Marketing and Business Development top officer ng aming company, I am now preparing our company from this eventuality. The shift from construction, to Operations and Maintenance. Looking for products and services that will focus to O&M after 3 – 4 years. 

Iangat ang karangalan ng pinoy.. ang kakayahan.. na magpifit sa mga darating na pangangailangan na manggagawa. Iyan ang dapat.

Look at how we churn out Nurses, Caregivers, etc. Sangkatutak na every year. But where are they going for employment? Kulang sa workforce market forecast ang ating mga educators. Purely educators lang talaga.

What I wrote above, is what I explained in September 2010. Look at the pinoys now in Saudi Arabia. Nabawasan ba? Pinulitika lang tayo ng mga taragis na pulitikong iyan. Tinakot lang tayo.

By the way, from 582 Filipinos in 2010, ang mga pinoy sa aming kompanya as of today ay 793 na… and still increasing.

—-00000—-

“I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore. And I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore. And when do you think it will all become clear?’ Cause I’m being taken over by the Fear” – Lilly Allen

Travelling Boy

Touchdown ang flight ko from Dammam to Jeddah ng 6:35PM and we were inside the boarding are at 6:55PM frantically looking for the gate where we will go to board the 7:15PM flight to Yanbu. Together with about 12 other passengers, we went to Gate 1, but was told that it was not the boarding gate for us. We tried the next gate, but then again we were told it was not gate for Yanbu flight. We were at the last gate when we were told by some airport officer there to wait for the announcement. I looked at the schedule on the screen, and it read Yanbu – 7:15 PM – On Time but no mention of Gate number.

Again, I went from gate 1 to 6, but the same response.. swey swey and wait for announcement. So, naupo na lang ako and the other passengers also just waited for the announcement. 8PM na wala pang announcement, so I decided to go to the control desk downstairs to ask. Sabi sa akin ay nakalipad na, even mentioning that how come I did not notice and I did not look for the gate when I knew that 7:15PM ang flight ko. Di na ako nakipagtalo. Nagtanong na lang ako ng next flight. Sagot ay 7:30 AM pa raw, that means mga 9:30AM ako makarating sa venue ng seminar namin. So out of my options na ang next flight.

I went out to rent a car. Out din ang paghire ng taxi. Una, doble ang gastos. Ikalawa, baka mamaya habang daan e makatulog ako at magising na nasa disyerto na ako at hinuhubuan na ng taragis na driver. I got a 2012 Hyundai Elantra Automatic and paid the deposit. After going out of the airport, I was thinking how incompetent people of other nationalities dito sa bansang ito when it comes to service. Talamak ang katamaran at walang pakialam kung ang kanilang mga pasahero o customer ay nahihirapan o naiinconvenient. I drove to a gas station, nagkataong salah, so mga 15 minutes pa ang aking ipaghihintay.

Sa paghihintay ko, naisip ko na sa pagmamadali ko na makakuha ng sasakyan at makaalis agad papuntang Yanbu, I forgot to pray na dati kong ginagawa bago umalis. So, while sitting inside the car, I prayed and somehow humupa ang medyo pagkainis ko. After makargahan ng gasolina, doon nagsimula kong maappreciate ang mga nangyayari, kahit na sabihin mong negative ito. Nagulat ako dahil full tank sabi ko,  pero 5 riyals (P 55.00) lang ang binayaran ko. Iyon pala halos puno pa ang tangke ng sasakyan. E normally, ang mga rent a car ay almost empty pag naturn over sa iyo.Then, I drove to the nearby Boofia (Cafeteria), ordered Falafel sandwich, this is balled mongo or chick pea, deep fried at nakapalaman sa tinapay at umorder din ako ng chaii (milk tea). And this falafel sandwich is different from the other falafels i have taken. Ang dami niyang sahog.. green vege, pickles, olives, mashed talong, tomato, french fries, halwa, hummos, carrots and okra. The best so far.

After the check point, it is now dark highway. Kinapa ko sa bag ko ang aking USB Flash Drive. I have 3 for songs, for 70s-80s, classic FRC and instrumental. Since madilim, basta kumuha ako ng isa, isinaksak ko sa car stereo at whoaahhh! pampagising ang bumanat… Highway Star ng Deep Purple. Now, enjoy ko na ang driving at 10PM at I started naming the places na dinadaanan ko. Last na nagdrive ako from Jeddah was in Februay, 2008.. ang laki na nag pinagbago, kahit na madilim ang daan.

After Petro Rabigh, I changed the USB, and with the song “Tangled up in Blue” by Bob Dylan, I continued driving while humming the songs at it shuffled on the car stereo.

I arrived in Yanbu singing with David Gates.. my lifetime favorite.. “If”…

God is really good. He guided me. I felt so safe.

My seminar the following day started on time.

—-00000—-

“I won’t say that I’ll be back again. ‘Cause time alone will tell. So no good-byes for one just passing through. But one who’ll always think of you.” – Art Garfunkel

Sa Saudi man ay may munting anghel

Iritadong iritado na ang mga kasabay kong pasahero sa biyaheng Riyadh – Dammam at panay ang reklamo sa desk officer ng Gate 33 sa King Fahd International Airport. Ang boarding schedule kasi ay 9:30PM pero, 10PM na ay wala pang announcement kung ano ang nangyayari sa flight namin.

Finally, ay tinawag na ang flight namin at kami ay dali daling nagsipila sa Gate 33 but to be told that the line shall be for Jeddah flight. We were asked to wait further. Then, somebody from the staff shouted that we should proceed to Gate 37. Again, punta kami, and this time ay pinapasok na kami sa boarding gate at pinasakay sa bus. Pero ang bus naman ay ang lapit lang pinagbabaan sa amin. The same building pa rin. Pagakyat namin ay sa Gate 18 kami pumasok which is nakalaan para sa International Flights.

Sa wakas ay nagtake off din ang eroplano, after being delayed for 55 minutes. Naisip ko, buti na lang wala akong bagahe, hand carried lang kaya derederetso ako makakalabas ng airport. I was seated in the last row, next to a family of four. So bale, me isang bakanteng upuan  sa pagitan namin nung tatay na arabo. Naidlip ako para kako kahit papaano ay makatulog dahil 3 nights na akong halos 2am na nakakatulog because of my byahe byahe. The trip to Dammam will take 55 minutes.

I was awakened by the giggles of the young girl who transferred to the vacant seat next to me. She is the daughter noong magasawang saudi, mga 4 years old at kinakausap ako in Arabic. Hindi naman ako makasagot, dahil di naman ako masyadong mahusay mag arabic. Her father explained to me what the girl said. The girl was curious about me, where I am going, if I also have children, where do I live, etc. Her father acted as our translater. The little girl transferred back to her mother and started playing with her sister. Nakakaaliw ang laughter ng magkapatid. Pumunta ako ng comfort room to wash up. Pumila ako, at nung turn ko na nga e bigla nagtry sumingit ang isang Indian, buti na lang napansin ng stewardess at sinabihang “please wait for your turn.” Kasi ba naman e mga 4 pa ang kasunod ko, bigla sumugod sa pinto paglabas nung huling gumamit. Talagang itong mga Indians na ito. Walang kadisidisiplina.

When I went back to my seat, the little girl was already there. She was crying, but stopped when she saw me. Then she smiled at me and talked to her father in Arabic.

Her father then told me what she was saying and what happened.

Noon daw ako ay pumunta ng comfort room, bumalik ang bata sa tabi niya at nagtaka kung bakit ako ay nawala. Sinabi raw nung tatay na umalis na ako, doon daw dumaan sa likuran. Humikbi raw iyong bata at sinabing hindi raw ako puwedeng umalis kasi ang eroplano raw ay lumilipad na. Di raw ako puwede lumabas kasi baka raw ako mahulog at mamatay. She told her father that he could have stopped me from leaving.

Ang tawa ng tatay na arabo, and the little girl stood up and gave me a pinch in the nose at tawa ng tawa.

Nawala ang pagod ko at pagkabagot sa biyahe.

And I really appreciated the life that God gives me, kasi naisip ko, itong batang ito na di ako kilala ay nagcare sa akin, how much more ang mga taong nakakilala at nagmamahal sa akin.

Thank you little girl. Thank you Saudi family.

 —-00000—-

“Like a rainbow to the stars. Keep the faith right in your heart. If you let your dreams come true
Then happiness will follow you.” – (Dune)

Instant Bed for Instant Tulugin

I visited our Yanbu office at si Mar, ang aming Marketing and Business Development Engineer ay inaya akong sa kanila na tumuloy para makapagkwentuhan ng husto. Dahil pissed off na nga ako sa Movenpick, I accepted Mar’s invitation. 

We discussed a lot about our business in the Western & Southern Region of Saudi Arabia (Yanbu-Rabigh-Jeddah-Abha-Jizan) and I taught him some directional strategies, kasama na rin ang kuwentuhan sa mga pagkaasar sa mga Boss na walang alam. Then, I prepared for him the usual na hinihiling niya, longganisa, atsara ampalaya, chicken balls, lumpia shanghai, na kahit na tinuruan ko na siya ay di pa rin daw niya makuha ang preparation ko. Nagkuwentuhan tungkol sa pamilya, sa mga friends ko rito na lumipat na ng ibang lugar, pagattend sa church at mga plano sa buhay.

Nung gabi ay pinaglatag niya ako ng isang Insta-Bed, and I was so amazed at this bed. Napaka practical at useful siya. Puwede dalhin kahit saan, kasi, when folded ay para lang isang makapal na bag ng laptop ang dala mo. It comes with a built in pump. You can inflate it any time. Just switch on the pump and in less than 5 minutes, the bed is ready. Mura lang pagkabili ni Mar, about SR 200 lang at ng suriin ko rin ang material niya, ang tibay neto.

I will get one of this. Very cool and comfortable.

Or as my colleague Mar said: “Very cool and portable.” I corrected him, “cool and comfortable”.

“No,” he replied. “Portable, kasi puwede mo dalhin kahit saan.”

—-00000—-

“I never really try to be positive. I’m too damn busy being negative. So focused on what I get. And never understand what it means to live. You know we all love to just complain. But maybe we should try to rearrange. There’s always someone. Who’s got it worse than you. My life is so cool. My life is so cool.” – (Sweetbox)

Customer Relationship Mismanagement 101

Isang sa mga  valuable na advise na lagi nating naririnig sa mga “True Blooded Sales and Marketing Guy” ay ang “it takes months before you can find a customer, but it takes seconds to lose them.”

And that what happened to me yesterday. However, in this case, I am the customer.

Gusto ko sana bigyan ng Customer Relationship 101 ang Banquet Manager ng Movenpick Hotel & Resort sa RC Yanbu, Saudi Arabia (hindi ko na uulitin pa uli ang name ng hotel na ito sa kabuuan ng komentaryo kong ito at baka sumikat pa ang 5 star kuno at pagkamahal mahal na hotel na ito), but sabi ko sa sarili ko, he’s not worth wasting my time. In this part of the world, and sa kanilang lahi (di ko nilalahat, meron namang magagaling talaga, pero majority ay ganoon), parang hirap na hirap sila na magserve sa customer. Mas gusto pa nila na walang customer para wala silang trabaho. It makes me wonder, paano naiemploy ang mga ganitong klaseng empleyado dito. And it made me feel so pride and full of pinoy dignity na daang kilometro ang layo ng pinoy when it comes to quality ng trabaho at pakikitungo sa tao.

We were 2 hours, 12 minutes in our 4 hours seminar sa Function Room 2 ng kanilang hotel when this Banquet and Events Manager kuno kuno barged in the room. He talked to my colleague Mar, and then signalled me to come over him. Fortunately for me, tapos na ako ng lecture ko and our partner Preston was the one delivering his presentation. Entrada ng mokong ay “what time will you have your lunch?” At sinundan niya ng “i have given instructions to the waiter to refill and refresh the coffee, juices, breads and pastries here for your coffee break at 10:30am”. Oh, thank you sabi ko. Tapos bigla ba naman akong siningil “can you pay the full amount now?”

SABI KO: “What? You want us to pay now, in the middle of our seminar?”

SABI NIYA: “Yes, it is our standard. Your bill is SR 8,050.”

SABI KO: “Can you wait until we finish our seminar – presentation, and that will be within two hours?”

SABI NIYA: “No! You pay now!” Whoah! Ang lolo mo, demanding pa. Gusto ko na bigyan ng CRM 101 lesson nang oras na iyon.

SABI KO: “Can you be courteous to your customer? I am your customer. We are your customer. Our company is your customer, and all of our visitors here are GMs, Managers, Supervisors and decision makers in their respective companies and you barged in the middle of our seminar (by that time, pinagtitinginan na kami), cutting me from interacting with these Respectable Gentlemen, embarrasing me in front of them, just to ask me for payment?

Sabi niya: “I demand payment now!” Whoah-part 2. Baligtad yata. Service ang binibigay nila supposedly, pero nagdidemand pa. At ang dinidemand ay payment before a service is fully consummated.

SABI KO: “And what will you do if I don’t pay now? Will you send us out of your hotel? Will you not serve us food, or stop us from taking lunch? Will you cut off the electricity in this room? Well, do it! I am very much happy if you do it! Remember that my guests here come from SABIC, Yanpet, SWCC, SEC, Saudi Aramco, GAS, Royal Commission, Marafiq. You have a lot of explaining to do to your GM once these guys start boycotting your hotel and spread the news about your arrogance.”

Umalis siya sa harap ko at inaya si Mar sa labas. Mar came back and told me, talagang kailangan na raw magbayad. Sabi ko ke Mar, with what our guests have seen, hayaan mo kung ano ang gagawin niya. Malaking damage sa reputation nila pag me ginawa siyang di maganda.

Dalawang linggo bago pa ang araw ng aming seminar-presentation, Mar has already arranged the room and had it reserved for us. And ang Manager na ito even told us that they can extend Credit Line sa amin dahil nga malaki raw kaming kompanya (siya na ang nagsabi noon, malaki raw kami, although ang nakikita ko lang na malaki ay ang ulo ng mga managers at pangulo namin na empleyado rin lang kompanya). He sent our finance group and Application Form for Credit Line, and in turn, ang isa sa dalawang pinaka efficient at talagang nagtatrabahong finance staff namin ay ipinadala lahat ng requirements. He even made follow ups araw-araw.

Then, 2 days before the seminar, we received an email na disapproved daw ang aming application and we have to pay in full so they can reserve the venue for us. Whoah-part 3! Ano? Kung kailan gipit na kami sa oras, naiannounce na namin sa lahat ang venue and about 40 have confirmed (VP, GM, Manager, Dept Head). Whoah-part 4! This hotel is driving us in the corner. Ang galing ng strategy. Tinuruan ako ng Marketing Mismanagement 101 lesson dito a. I thought of our other option. Ililipat ko sa Raddisons or Holiday Inn which are totoong 5 stars pagdating sa serbisyo dito sa Yanbu (kailangan magbayad sa akin ng advertising fee ang dalawang ito, hehehe), then send every guest a letter informing the new venue, then kako, sa road going to this bad hotel ay maglagay ako ng sign (iyong di nila puwedeng ipagbawal) reading: “Our seminar – presentation is moved to a BETTER VENUE.. please proceed to _____ Hotel.” Pero, late na talaga. Hirap na maglipat ng venue.

I called Mar the day before the seminar and asked him to go to the hotel, confirm the reservation and I will pay soon as I come to Yanbu. Grabeeee! Sabi ni BMF (Bad Manager Forever), “I am giving you 1PM deadline today”. Alas 11 ng umaga nung sabihin niya. I am outside the office having a meeting with Kellog Brown and Root, will be back sa office ng 1PM, take the check to the bank for encashment at 2PM, then go to my bank and deposit the cash at the earliest ay 2:45PM, then transfer the amount to the bad hotel (BH) account at maybe 3PM, pipila pa ako e. And my flight to Jeddah is at 4PM.. the airport is 45 mins drive from Khobar town. To cut the story short, hayblad na hayblad si Mar, naayos din naman, nagbayad siya ng reservation of SR 2,000 instead of the full billing.

Then, nasa Jeddah ako at 7PM, naiwan pa nga ako ng flight ko (that’s another story), tumawag si Mar at tinawagan siya ni BMF at sinisingil na naman. Tinatanong kung dumating na ako.

Back to the seminar, mga 30 mins bago matapos ang seminar, I gave Mar the full amount and asked him to pay BMF. I was goint to the Men’s Room when Mar gave me the receipt of payment, I opened the envelope and found that it is only an Invoice. So, we went back to the Front Desk to ask for the Official Receipt. BFM immediately went away and did not meet us. I demanded from the poor Front Desk Man for the Official Receipt. He told that it will be given to us once we are finished with the venue. I told him, tell BMF that he demands the payment now, I demand the OR also now.

They cannot find BMF.

Talk about customer service. Talk about claim of being “5-Star”. Talk about boast of being “The Best”. Talk about “Passionately Swiss”.

Talk about Jeffrey Gitomer… “Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer loyalty is priceless.”..

—-00000—-

“It’s the same old story everywhere I go. I get slandered, libeled, I hear words I never heard in the Bible.  And I’m one step ahead of the shoe shine. Two steps away from the county line
Just trying to keep my customers satisfied. Satisfied.” – (Simon and Garfunkel)