Piyek 2: Isuna Met! (November 7, 2010)

Na-irwamakon nga agbibyahe. Manipud idi nakapuutak, pasaray mapan kami agpasyar idi idjay Villa Garcia. Sabali nga ili ti nakaiyanakak ken dimmakelak. Napalalo ti rag-ragsak ko nu adda kam ijay ta adu ti makaay-ayam ko, saan nga kasla idjay ili mi, manmano ti padak nga ubbing. Apagsangpet mi pay laeng mangrugin ti kin-namatan. Saan kami mabannog nga agtataray ngem no dumanon tay oras ti pang-ngaldaw umay da kamin tun sapulen daydi inang mi nga baket. Paturugen dakam tun malpas kam nga mangan, “Tapno alisto nga dumakkel!” kunana. Bantayan da kami ah daydi inang mi, “Agingga nga saan a makaturog, saan nga mabalin ti rumwar!” Intun malem nga makariing kamin, rugyan min tu manen ti agay-ayam uray no saan kampay nga nakamur-muray.

Agpapukis pay gayam ti maysa nga ranta mi nu mapan kam ijay Villa Garcia, dijay maysa nga ankel mi ti para pukis mi. Kayat ko idi ti pukis na ni ankel ta karusen na nga pirmi ti buok mi, mangibati la bassit idjay tuktok, highcut! Isu na laeng ta medyo nasani-it idjay banda na nga makarusan aglalu nu nangudel tay labahas na.

Idjay ili mi, as-asideg ti riknak kadagidjay duwa nga apong ko nga babaket. “Mama” ti tawag ko kadakuwada. Manipud kina-ubing ko isu dan ti kaka-iddak iti rabii. Nai-ruwamakon idjay angot da saanak nga makaturog no saan ko nga kaidda ti maysa kaniada. Isu nga nagbati ak idjay ili da mamang ko uray kayat dak nga ikuyog idi immakar da idiay Sta. Cruz. Idjay dan nga nag-naed.

Nu domingo idi kanayon dak nga itugot idiay ili. Kalpasan ti misa agdiretso kam idjay tiendaan, maipagatang ko manen tay kayat ko nga makan wenno abal-balay ken makaluganak manen ti karitela! (ta manmano pay ti traysikel idi). Agtarayak tun nga mapan lumugan ijay sango abay ti kutsero, uray no agunget da ipapilit ko latta, kayatko idjay tapno makitak amin nga malabasan mi.

Idjayak kanu Pattuko nga agiskwelan. Sakbay ti panagse-serrek, immay nak sinundo ni tatang ko. marigatanak idi damdamo, awan am-ammuk ngem di bumaybayag gagay-yem ko amin idan. Idiay ko nga nakita datay first crush nga kunada. Manmanu nga makitak isuna idiay nga agay-ayam. Makitak laeng isuna no lumabasak iti asideg ti balay da ken maranaak latta idiay ruwar nga agbum-bumba idjay gripo da. Manipud idin ket tunggal lumabasak idiay batug da tumalyawak latta idiay ayan ti gripo ta bareng nu adda isu na idjay.

Dili. Byahe manen ta idjayak kanu nga agbasa ti hayskul. Di damdamu makapanerbyos aglalu nu mapan ka idiay sango “to introduce yourself”. Kaadwan na nga ka-eskwelak dagidiay met la kaklasek idjay Caparia-an. Nu malpas ti eskwela ti malem, awanen ti ay-ayam ken tinnarayan.

Maysa nga malem agtudtudo, idi magmagnaak nga agawid nakitak isuna idjay siruk ti balay didjay kaaruba da nga agkam-kamat ti piyek. Tilewen na kuma ngata ngem haan na matiliw. Nagtakderak idjay ken buy-buyaek isuna agingga nga nadlawnak. Dinamagko, “mano ti piyek na?” Duwa kano. Ken tinulungak isuna nga nangtiliw. Idi naiyawat ko jay maikadwa nga piyek, pimmanawakun. Mabainak sa idi.

Napanak idjay Manila malpas ti hayskul. Trabaho ti bigat, eskwela ti rabii. Nakitak manun isuna idjay Recto Ave. “Uy! Sika gayam!” nakunak laeng idi. Isun ti naudi nga panagkita mi.

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Dubai Burj Khalifa

Dubai Burj Khalifa

It’s just a hundred Dirhams, pay it and you’ll see Dubai at the top.

Entrance is at the splendid Dubai mall. There is a long queue even if you get a reservation early. Wait in line also in the lifts (lots of tourist in Dubai these days!).

There are only 2 elevators but they open every 5minutes so no big deal waiting besides you’ll get entertained by the interior decorations all over the building corridors and passages. The inside of the elevator looks like a disco house, so if you have not gone for disco for some time be happy to ride up while the tiny dancing lights ran across the walls up and down like in casinos. Inside the lifts, you’ll feel the pressure in your ears while the platform slowly rises or should I say “shoot-up” till the viewing floor of the building. The hotel staffs and the awesome view both welcome you at the time the elevator doors open. Don’t worry coz your feet will automatically carry you towards the windows while your eyes are glued to the shimmering view below. Better to go in the evening. 

The buildings and roads looks like golds splattered in the ground. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Near the open walls, the wind is so strong it tries to drive your hair forming a new hairstyle. If you prefer the quiet, you can choose to remain inside the closed glass walls and enjoy the view all the same.  You just stand there among all the tourist people and share your ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ together.  Dubai is full of lights in the evening, the city is not sleeping like most of us are assuming, it is pulsing with life, you can observe that from the top of burj khalifa!

The exit corridors have sophisticated designs. They also have a showcase that tells the history of how they built the tower together with pictures of people that took part in the construction stage (more like ambassadors, hehehe!)

There are videos and pictures and scale models of the tower. The interior design is black and white and silver and granites and glasses and more silver claddings. Everything smells so expensive, really.

It’s a dream come true for Sheikh Maktoum, the pattern is there…you dream it…. then you plan it…. you act on it…. then you have it!

Mabruk, Burj Khalifa!!!

How to shoot the BULLS EYE!

You wanna know how to shoot the bulls eye of the firing ring? Very simple, man just imagine you’re firing at someone you extremely disliked ;) Of course the officer instructed that the correct gun position is to maintain the tree dots (above the hole) leveled and centered at the black circle of the target so you can shoot the bulls-eye. Sounds easy enough yes? But mind you –it’s little bit hard to do especially for first timers.

Also, one thing very important, remember to wear a closed neck t-shirt too, saves you from the flying HOT cartridges from diving inside your shirt. Didn’t know that so I’ve got burned skin souvenir from the incident…

The Abu Dhabi Officer’s club proudly housed the Caracal Shooting Club- the first commercial shooting club in Abu Dhabi. This place is also open on weekends although it looked very silent. It offers a great sport and adventure in one. This is a copy of their short introduction…

“…the creation of the shooting club has considerable significance as it is intended to revive the art of shooting and marksmanship; sports that have always been traditionally linked to the Islamic Culture….the club also provides complimentary safety awareness to first time shooters…”

True. After registration, they orient you hands-on of the safety procedures and correct way of handling a gun. Only one person is assigned to each officer for instructions. My officer is a tall Arab who is very supportive and patient – thank goodness. He’s a tall guy with well-built physique wearing the club’s cool uniform, black sweat shirt and pants with caracal’s logo although he is more nervous than me while he is teaching the basics.

So, to get ready for action, you have to put on the earplugs, and eye goggles-that’s protection from the noise and gun powders.

If you don’t know yet how to load a gun, he’ll load it for you. He then orders to shoot at the target- BANG 5x5!!!

Woah just like that!?! 30minutes and 25 bullets quickly over?!

Safety tip: when you finish shooting, you need to gently release the gun and lay it down on the table coz your hands will still be shaking (believe me!). Gosh! the feel of the 0.22 in your fingers is awesome and the slight sudden retraction as the bullet is fired, and the sound of each shot! Shooting is exciting, man! Firing a gun is like releasing your stress too! Very effective, friendsss!

Au revoir!

Hadeed Life (rewind)

From the Site Office to the Head Office

5:30 am. We are in the bus driving from Mussafah back to the city. I love the dusty earthen smell around us and the soft beating sound of the rain outside, I can feel the cool raindrops against my face and arms. They used to say it never rains in Abu Dhabi, FALSE. It’s now raining 3 days in a row. Yesterday our office caravan was flooded. The GI roof is leaking, there is still a stream flowing from the middle of the ceiling, and there is a small river flowing under my desk.

All my 10 colleagues in the bus are fast asleep, enjoying the steady rocking of the bus-ride courtesy of our superb driver-Akbar.

This might be my last working day in the site, tomorrow I will be shifted back to the Head office.  a very sad day. I will miss many things.

rommel, genalyn. karen and yours truly

• …will miss most of all, our project, watching it finish and go up like a big Lego puzzle, its pieces slowly falling in place.
• …going to miss the dusty wind that sticks in my hair making it resemble binding wires jumbled together.
• …will miss the sound of the excavators, shovels, and dumpers steadily running around the caravans, the trembling of the ground when a bulldozer passes by.
• …will miss the shouts and yells of our foremen and engineers out of exhaustion and our loud laughter sometimes mixed with madness due to daily troubles at site.
• …will miss lunchtimes with our colleagues coupled with stories of all sorts while sharing each other’s packed lunch.
• …will miss the morning and evening one-hour drive in our bus to and from work like a tour trip of Abu Dhabi.
• …will miss the freedom of expression available only at site, when upset, I can just shout my head out to release the tension and nobody will mind.
• …will miss especially Samsam (Rommel’s adapted orphan dog), as he eagerly runs and jumps to greet you (hoping to receive a piece of food).

Samsam (his name taken from our favorite manager's name hehe)

But actually there are also advantages of working at the headoffice:-

• You can sleep late and wake up late till 8am, no wake up alarms
• You can reach your room clean and free from sandy hair and dusty clothes and shoes.
• There will be no deduction of transportation allowance.
• The AC and electricity don’t have breakdowns.
• The head office is very silent- no shouts from foremen and site engineers early in the morning.
• All food types are available for selection at lunch time outside in the city

Conclusion:

Despite all the above, I will still absolutely and definitely choose the site office than the head office.

Au Revoir!

Aww Fever!

I woke up with a fever. So painful.Today is a Holiday, from gulfnews.com: “the government announced a holiday to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammad.”So, I boiled a cup of water and drink 8pcs of ascorbic acid.I know some people if they have fever they just rest or sleep to get well. I tried to close my eyes but everything hurts! So painful! :( Headache, backache, muscle ache, even hands and feet, there is no comfortable position. :( I thought of death, so I bring out to review my ‘private personal black bag’.What is inside?

• Insurance docs
• Land title
• Bank books
• School records
• Company contract
• I may have to make my last will and testament? :)

Aww, its hurting even my eyes, huhuhu! So hot, everything is so hot. I cried. Huhuhuh! Even the tears are hot. Maybe I need to go out of the room.I remember during my younger years if I have fever, my Nanang (grandmother) will take care of me, she will buy me biscuit and orange softdrinks. I will eat and drink because that is the only time I can afford to drink softdrinks. And then she will boil 37pcs of bayabas (guava) leaves for my bath! I miss my Nanang :((((

What's Next?

courtesy of Gulf News 2008

Today, I woke up, looked at my cellphone time, its 5:30 and felt confused if its PM or AM. National Holiday ngayon ng UAE, in short alang pasok (no work). So –NO rush in the bathroom,  NO akbar driver or company bus, NO 1hour long drive going to Mussafah, NO J143 urgent-urgent materials-urgent meeting-urgent crane-urgent invoice-urgent -lunch! Al Hamdulilla!

Just finish reading a book about NLP, very interesting!

Also finished the laundry, taken my big breakfast (yakisoba+boogles+rice meal), disposed the trash, organized my bedroom-este-bedspace, read the gulfnews, broken my lamp, broken my slippers, used my new slippers, charged my CP, updated my 2009 to-do-list, daydream,  listened to my fav songs. Now, sitting here thinking what to do next, where to go and when to move :>

I missed my work and my colleagues…

I learned priceless lessons from people I work with;

Example-

1. I learned from my first boss to look straight in the eyes when talking to big (important) men and never-ever feel inferior, all men are just men (no superman exists!).
2. My second boss taught me that “there’s no ‘friends’ in business”, treat everyone alike, in the end we need profit not sympathy.
3. My third boss thought me that we need to note the good things from people, so that when we remember them, we’ll recall what’s good about them (no matter how cruel they are).

 I also learned:

Monita-Monito

• from ate Christy- to be caring
• from Karen- to be simple and sweet
• from kuya Arman- to take things lightly and be happy
• from kuya Alfred- how to speak maturedly
• from Ahmad- to appreciate again the beauty of art
• from Ricky- to act young and free
• from Gen and Analuz- to be efficient at work
• from Joseph- to be silent when everyone’s noisy
• from ate Aysha- how to laugh even when angry
• from kuya Raymond- how to ignore someone even he’s shouting
• from Gerwin to look cool even under the hot-hot sun
• from Ronnie to give your best effort at work
• Etc, etc, etc.

Well I’ll just go for shopping I think, ADCB just texted I got my November salary. J

Au revoir!

What I did in China

Its late in the evening here in the Airport. I am flying to Beijing. My boss sends me there alone. He don't realize what he is doing.

In the final waiting area in front of gate 2, I felt alone in the ocean of Chinese faces even if I look like chinese. The flight is delayed so I have another hour listening to the crowd (“shuna”-“shingwa”-“shichang!”) and shivering in this 15⁰C lobby. 

2:30 PM, Oct.19, 2008. I’m in Foshan Hotel in Guangzhou. It is my first time to sleep in a 5 stars hotel. 

"The Canton Fair 2008 Guangzhou"

For almost 3 days straight all we did is walk-walk-walk in the canton fair. I still did not cover the whole area of the fair... sore feet. 

(from left: rona, jusef, ray, 3friends of ray)

But I like the warmth and politeness of the Chinese (well 90% of them at least are very polite). One of their unique characteristics is the way they hand you their name card. They use both hands and slightly bow their head at you, very polite yes?

Rona with Ray Sun

Ray Sun, a chinese bussiness woman and my boss partner have been very kind and hospitable. She is still young but already very successful with her own company. She is always travelling around the world selling her products. She is a very confident but humble person.

Ray have a friend and business partner, Jusef, from Peru. Jusef is very energetic and he is happy to be with all the time.

Jusef 'dal-dal' hehehe

I like Jusef. He is so honest and humble. He built his own firefighting company in 4 years, now a millionaire (in dollars). 

Friends- Ray and Jusef

Both Ray and Jusef are workaholics. From morning till night they continuously discuss business, new orders, old orders, future orders, probable business opportunities…blah blah blah, ooops! The day’s over.

Oct.20

We visited our kitchen supplier factory, middle size, it is one out of the hundreds in the area.

We also visited the showrooms for workstations. It’s HUGE, period.  Amazed at the many shinny glasses and stainless steel tables and chairs.

Butler Factory

Oct.21

We visited the factory of Butler in Tianjin, 2-3hours away from Beijing (by car). Butler’s a competitor of Zamil Steel. Head office based in Australia and currently have 3 factories in China alone. They have very wide arrays of Flat roof and wall aluminum panels. Butler has an impressive broad technical design also. End of day- rode in a 335Km/Hr train going back to Beijing the bullet train is so fast!

with Coco after the train ride from Tianjin

Oct.22

I sat in Ray’s office and discussed with Coco our hard wares bulk order.

This is Ray's office

We visited the “feet” market. Lots of cheap things there! Unforgettable shopping experience. Ray bought a necklace and earrings for me as gift. tsk tsk tsk...I have to wear it, aaagh.

We had a “xiabu-xiabu” dinner, so this is the 'real' one.

this is the 'real' xiabu-xiabu

Oct.23.

We climbed the great wall.

Just one brick please? take out one brick...get as souvenir

The wall total length is around 5000Km running from east to west of China near Mongolia. It is said from one legend that in every brick laid in the great wall, there is a human bone buried from the remains of the laborers who build it 3000years ago...very scary.

Coco Im tired!

I’m back in Beijing Airport waiting area.

I learned a lot during my stay in China:

• I learned that the Chinese are one of the most polite and hospitable people in the world, even the most serious Chinese would smile back at you if you smile at them.
• I learned from Jusef-my new friend that Perunians (people from Peru:)) love to dance. They have a custom to dance salsa and similar dances among their families at least every week for fun. What a good way to spend time with family and relatives.
• I learned from Coco my new young Chinese friend to always be simple and innocent. People usually lose these traits once they step in the UAE. We become rough and adamant around people. Sometimes we should also relax around family and trusted friends as well.
• I learned from Michael how to show unlimited love to our loved ones with selflessness and humility, while maintaining respect for each other.
• I learned from Ray that doing business is possible in between friends and relatives too.
• And I learned that we must grab all opportunities to enjoy life and be happy in spite of our problems at the workplace. 
• We have just do what we want and experience what we like and say what we feel as long as this makes us happy and as long as it is not harmful to other people. Ray also taught me that in the world of business ruled by men, girls like us who needs to enter it must be physically attractive first and then the intellect follows after.

Life continues to teach us...

The Great Wall: It is breath taking

Au revoir!