Things are getting better with our new CEO driving clearer direction and a strong mandate to get back to growth. The organization is settling down and getting back to stability and business momentum. There's a lot of product innovation lined up - and they are all very exciting and cool stuff! I've not felt as much an excited kid as I am now.
ETC., ETC...
A mix and match of whatever captures the extraordinarily ordinary everyday. Anything under the sun? Life after all is etc.,etc..
Saturday, June 23, 2018
My Personal Top 5 Hits in 2017
Things are getting better with our new CEO driving clearer direction and a strong mandate to get back to growth. The organization is settling down and getting back to stability and business momentum. There's a lot of product innovation lined up - and they are all very exciting and cool stuff! I've not felt as much an excited kid as I am now.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Family fun at Mui Ne, Vietnam
We woke up very early at 5am for us to be picked up by a hired jeep to take us to the popular attractions in Mui Ne. First stop, after traveling almost an hour with the cold windy breeze on an open top jeep, we arrived at this desert area with white dunes. We hired a big motor bike to explore the sandy dunes and whah, the driver is crazy mad whopping us up and down the sandy hill. There's no safety precautions and we were definitely not given a head's up but it was exhilarating and pure fun! It was rewarding to see the sunrise above us, worth the effort to wake up very early to get here. I was amazed by how the sand dunes evolve in shape as it is blown away by the wind. The drama unfolds as light touches the sand from dusk to dawn. If we had the time, we could have stayed here and watch the contrast from sunrise to sunset.
By this time our feet and legs are already feeling the fatigue, it is no joke walking on sand, much more tiring than your usual walk (and very slow walk at that). We went next to a place called the Fairy Stream. I saw the photos posted on Google about this place and got me excited for us to see this ourselves. We alighted to what seemed to be like a mum and pop store and were ushered to go in a narrow road that will lead us to the stream. There's no entrance fee but if you have no slippers with you, you can rent a pair for a nominal fee. The place is like the convergence of the red and white sand dunes only, they are not powdery in form yet. They look enchanting in lime stones and iron rich rock formations. The stream in between makes this place enchanting - it looks so surreal to be here.
A Day in Ho Chi Minh
To sum it up, when in Ho Chi Minh, you must:
1. Try Beef Pho noodles - this is very common to find in the streets of HCM. Pho Thanh Canh is one of the best places to go according to the locals. Other Vietnamese food is equally delightful. You will find yourself in a gastronomic adventure here so just be open to try local food.
2. Savor the coffee experience and drinking culture at Pham Ngu Lao -- Vietnames drip coffee is strong and sweet (because they add condensed milk). It is best taken chilled since HCM is also a very humid city (like Singapore). I prefer my coffee hot, I added a little bit more of hot water to make it bearable to taste. At night, don't miss to check out Pham Ngu Lao, i find it really awkward to be sitting in rows and rows of people staring at the person across the street but, it is again one of those unique experience you can only find in HCM.
3. Be prepared for miles and miles of walking -- wear comfortable shoes and dry fit shirt. You need to also bring with you a bottle of water and don't bring too much stuff to carry along.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
About Liu Wei
Before I came to know of his name, i have no clue that an armless feet pianist is abuzz of fame in China. Liu Wei, is the 2010 winner of the talent show, China's Got Talent, adopted from the famous Britain's Got Talent. At the age of 10, Liu Wei had an accident and lost his arms. He first dreamed of becoming an athlete but from one barrier to another, he found a new dream in music.
I had a chance to be up close with Liu Wei during our Asia PS Summit in Guangzhou where he was invited to speak to a crowd of 400+ Product Supply managers of Procter &Gamble. BTW, P&G sponsored China's Got Talent, which is a runaway success and increased market share of some of our brands. When he was introduced, I initially felt it was an odd choice to have him as the guest speaker -- I was expecting someone from the Supply Chain industry since the crowd is a bunch of Proctoids eager to hear from external perspective how we could manage and achieve the "next Peak".
He was speaking in Mandarin and a P&G colleague graciously translated his message to the audience. He is not one of those usual speaker profile, he is soft spoken, sometimes shy, but what impressed me most is his big maturity about Life. And then suddenly, i found myself glued to every word he is saying, as if my inner antenna has been fine tuned in order for me to understand what this young 23-year old have to advise. And then I'm beginning to feel star strucked with his determination in Life after overcoming many challenges, for having such wisdom that I have not heard from any other youth I've encountered so far, the strength he projects in pursuing a dream and never giving up.
Here are some of the scribbles in my notes as I listen to his life story intently:
* Be clear what you want in Life. Have a dream and pursue it!
* Maximize and leverage your strengths.
* Don't fall short of your determination to succeed no matter what obstacles come your way
* Find a mentor. You cannot be successful without someone enabling you along the way.
* Everything can be learned, you only need the right attitude!
* Demonstrate small successes one step at a time until you make it big!
* Have the gratitude to give back especially to those who have helped you
* There are only two choices in Life: to die or to live a splendid Life!
One of the questions asked of him from the audience goes something like, " How do you feel after winning China's Got Talent, what has changed in your life?". He answered back saying, nothing much has changed about him but he is now much more recognizable and he is using this to influence great causes. In fact, Liu Wei is planning (or has already done so) to set-up a foundation of his own.
To me, Liu Wei has provided a different lens of Life and he has touched my inner thoughts in a way that I appreciate more what I have. I have shared this to my 6-year old son and i can tell from my son's eyes his admiration for Liu Wei's story.
If a 23-year-old armless feet pianist can achieve his dreams and become inspirational, what more can i do and give back to others?
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Happy 43rd Bday Singapore!
Today marks the 43rd National day of Singapore. I have been living here for the last 7 years and today, I could not help from thinking what do I love about Singapore? First of all, I have great respect to the government of Singapore for their good governance and vision for growth. From my experience living here, Singapore is a source of envy versus my country in terms of its strong, transparent, and holistic government policies. Second, Singapore is a very peaceful country despite the many cultural differences among the people living here. You walk in any street and you will see the Chinese, Indian, Malay, Filipinos, Australians, Americans, Europeans all coming together and blending homogeneously like they are all coming from the same race. Singapore is truly embracing globalization which keeps the country attractive despite being a small sovereignty. Third, Singapore is a very vibrant and pleasant country! I really love the different tastes of food here, you don't need to travel many countries because you can find them here (and they are not as expensive too if you know where to find). The shopping scene here is superb, all year round there's always a good sale! The arts scene here is also blooming which makes your social calendar much more interesting. I also love the fact that despite being a modern metropolis, Singapore did not forget about balancing modernity with clean environment. I think the urban and city planners of Singapore are really doing a great job. Despite being small a country, there's always space for good parks and great spaces for amusement, truly a great place to start a young family.
I guess overall, I do love it here and I have no reason yet to move out. I just hope that I can bring some of the good experience here back home and learn from the Singapore transformation.
Happy Birthday again Singapore!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
I just had a business trip to New Delhi to visit one of our manufacturing plants in India. I am enchanted by this boutique hotel where I stayed. It is nestled away from the city (almost in the middle of nowhere really) and you feel like living in some royalty kingdom.
This is the facade entrance to my hotel room...
Here enjoying the colorful company of the Rajasthani entertainers...
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Bloody Encounter with My Dentist
Long minutes has passed, the X-ray machine is not yet up and running, the nurse already called the technician to quickly come over and fix the problem but, no technician has arrived yet. The anesthesia is slowly fading and again, i'm in tremendous pain. I feel so much pressure from my lower jaw , it almost feels like my mouth is breaking into pieces, i am having a massive headache! Where is the technician?, i am strongly complaining now to my husband. Of course, not to embarass us from the long que of patients waiting outside, my husband just re-assured me we will go home soon, be patient, and forget the pain. How can I disregard this pain???
After 30 minutes, i could not bear any longer, and the dentist asked me to come back again to the "deadly" chair . I thought he will just check if something went wrong but again, another needle pierced into my aching gums , not only once but twice, thrice, and i stopped counting at four...I am crying like a child, cannot compose myself,trying to grasp air, all I want is just to go home,please... NOW! At last, the X-ray man arrived and I was given a scan.
If you think pain is over after the dentist's clinic , the thing is, i have to be high on drugs just to survive. Round the clock i have to take 500mg of pain killer and antibiotics. Not to mention, on the 2nd day, my mouth is swollen and my lower gum is still bleeding. What is happening to me? i'm not very sure at all if this was the right decision to make. My son (now,17months old), never knowing that I am in pain is also wanting to be carried always and would want me to play around with him. He is becoming naughty these days as well, he will never take "NO" for an answer.
As I write this, I'm already on day 5, i have finished all the meds and for the first time when i look at the mirror, I do appreciate what my dentist has done. Gone are the "half-moon" days, hopefully, the wound from the surgery will heal very soon, my lower teeth will align and tuck inside, and I can make a great big smile again! But still, it was a bloody hell of an experience (for keeps!) :-)
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Remembering Bang
Bang has been confined for some time in the Lung Center in Manila last year because of his pneumonia/bronchitis/asthma/whatever not-so-clearly-diagnosed condition. We jokingly talked about it, and I teased him that he could be going out too much partying and he could have caught the "bird flu". Of course, conversations with Bang were never serious and comedian that he is, he will never talk to you seriously despite being in pain. I was always wondering, what Life could he have had if he didn't leave Singapore? It feels like that time was not so long ago, it was a point in time when most of my friends are already fed up of Singapore. In fact, that was the first disease he got -- the contagious "boredom". He was always talking about wanting change but i was never convinced that quitting work and packing your things abruptly is the solution. But, the wind of destiny is blowing him back to the Philippines and so, he went back and finally landed a new job, a new place, and new set of friends. I was content for him, the "change" that he was looking for has quickly materialised. But, I never thought it would come this far, not to the extent of not seeing him again.
Again, I have always wondered, could his Life be better if he did not leave Singapore? Even if he will be sick just the same, i somehow think that medical care in Singapore is better. Maybe he could have better treatment or maybe better, he could have stayed his same healthy self. I don't know what lies ahead, and I also don't own the future but sometimes, given the right conditions, maybe circumstances could have been different.
It is hard to ignore the loss of a friend specially if most of the pictures you have together are happy memories. I thought 10 or 15 years down the road I could compare notes with Bang and account for the individual lives we have journeyed. I guess that will not happen. I guess, for the mortal years Bang has enjoyed, that is the only history I could look back. But I guess, despite the short years, Bang will remain to bear a smiling face, he will always be remembered as the entertainer, the don't worry-be-happy guy, the urban chic, the adventurer, the aspiring tennis rookie (of thomson 800), the best in gossip, the most up-to-date when it comes to any 50-70% sale, the most neat and organised, the most talkative, the most ..the most.. the most... i can continue for a day but, i have to let go because he is only a memory now.
Bang, I have always thanked God for the gift of your friendship. For the life you have lost, I will all the more cherish the life I live. Life is short indeed, you remind me to slow down from my everyday "busyness", not forgetting what's essential to happy living that is, good health, loving relationships, and communion with the Lord.
So long my friend, you will always be remembered.