Friday, June 29, 2007

Metropolitan Immersion

I used to think that a bus and a taxi ride or maybe the rail transit is all one has to take to get to Makati City; the country’s central business district. I was wrong. For more than a month, I had to weave through traffic of confusing instructions given by some people involved in the processing of official travels in our company and that experience gauged that my patience can go for miles although there were few times that I seem to come to a dead end and simply overheat with ire. I though all the papers involved in processing this trip would pile up as high as a skyscraper in Makati!

Jing and I are sent to Microsoft Office trainings. We are registered in 6 courses which we studied for two separate weeks; one course per day, 3 courses per week.

I had been in Makati for many times before but usually, it’s either a whole-day stay or just passing through it bound somewhere else thus this was my first time to get to stay there for days.


Week One (June 4-6)

We set off very early in the morning because the inn where we made a reservation has its cut-off time for payments by 4PM otherwise they shall forfeit our reservation. Since our training schedules are until 6:00, we just agreed to drop by early in the morning and pay the lodging before proceeding to the training center. This is just beneficial for us too because we may leave our stuffed bags there.

Along the way, we had a wonderful time chatting with our driver and as far as I recall, this was the first time that I didn’t sleep in a trip to Manila. I had the impression that we’ll be getting along well with our driver little did we know that the moment we enter Makati City, it’ll be one hell of a ride for us – literally!

“O, yan na yung Makati Cinema Square. Sa’n tayo?(Here’s Makati Cinema Square. Where are we to?)”, said he. I looked at the location map we got from the inn’s website. The map says we are to turn left to a street three blocks away but as I was explaining, he already turned right to a corner! I was stunned. My sense of direction was lost because a location map could not provide as much details of course since it’s customized to the inn’s vicinity. I took out the detailed map of Makati City and still tried to identify our now misdirected location. The problem with this driver is that he wouldn’t listen to directions. (Fact: Studies reveal than most men hate being told what to do if they’re holding the wheel) We’re beginning to doubt if he’s mastered which is left and which is right! To make our situation worse, only few people are familiar with the name of the street we’re looking for. When we asked for directions, they had to turn the map upside down according to where we were before they would know the place. For you not to get entangled with what we really went through let’s sum it this way: we had asked 9 people and the last of them was able to give us detailed directions. Whew!

We arrived in the building of our training center minutes past 8AM. The driver just dropped us off at the park entrance. We’re glad to learn that the training starts by 9:00; first hour is for breakfast.

The training approach is mentored-learning where we shall watch instruction videos at our own pace, do the exercises in the manuals with demo files stored in our computer. The proctor would just check our progress with the videos once in a while and answer our queries if we have any. With this arrangement, trainees of different tracks may be put in a single room yet consultations would still be one-on-one. Our proctor is very approachable and enjoys a fun chat so it didn’t take long before we became at ease with her.

On the second day, we had no hard time riding a taxi from the inn to Robinson’s Summit Center. The blooper was when we got in the wrong elevator just because it’s the first one we saw open. Once we’re inside and had closed the door, only then we realized that there’s no button ‘10’ in the panel and the least other than Ground Floor was floor 17. In our bewilderment we just pushed on button 32. Too good there’s nobody else in the lift to know about our blunder and that we’re wearing smart casual so it’s as if we’re working in the contact center in 32/F. HaHa! The price of ignorance…

With our instructor’s enticement and directions, we decided to show ourselves around the metropolis. We did well until we’ve crossed Ayala Avenue using the underpass but we got confused of the many exits of the HSBC Tower which she said is the shortcut to the famous Greenbelt so we retraced our way out from the building and decided to ride a jeepney. Jing discreetly inquired for directions from her seatmate and the kind lady said that it’s just walking distance. True enough, no more than 2 minutes after, she pointed our destination but since we’ve passed it already she said we could get off in Greenbelt 3 across The Landmark.

We just window-shopped in G3 and enjoyed the luxurious interior and exterior of the place. Although I know how to conceal my awe so as not to look deprived of civilization, it became more intense when we entered G4 where the big names of apparel are housed: Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Louis Vuitton among others which I could only afford to look on in magazines; I was dumbfound with such extravagance!

Day three is just another day in the training center. Tough times struck again when we got out of the building and had a hard time getting a taxi back to the inn where our driver was waiting. Another discovery: Makati’s business hours are from 9AM to 6PM hence rush hour is around 8:30 and 6:00. For 20 minutes we failed to get a taxi hence we had the dilemma of braving the streets or waiting ‘til 911 rescues us. Since we recall from Day 1 that from that street (which we later learned to be Salcedo), the taxi just went straight ahead and turned to Rufino; we just have to get to the other side of the avenue and so we searched for an underpass. We’re still reluctant with the idea of walking hence we would stop occasionally and try flagging down a taxi. Then we would continue walking while relying to our map even if it still has the former names of the streets. Just imagine our joy when we caught sight of the gasoline station which served as our landmark. Hallelujah!

Unfortunately, our misguided driver seemed to have failed to take his supplements again and from the back of the van, we heard him asking people for directions frequently. I was just too tired to navigate for him again especially that it’s already dark thus I just slept. How long were we lost? Imagine: average travel time from Subic to Manila is 3 hours but we arrived home at 12 midnight.


Week 2 (June 21-23)

We’re more at ease traveling the second time; at least no more getting lost or even if we did, it wouldn’t take that long to find the right track. We crossed our fingers hoping to get another driver and thankfully our prayer was answered. We were assigned a different driver although he was misinformed by their dispatcher of the departure time thus he came an hour late.

Fortunately, this guy is really good in his job. He knows the interlacing streets of Manila hence we took shortcuts and was able to avoid traffic. We arrived just right on time. We stayed in a different inn, more spacious but cheaper, but it is in the same street.

We came to New Horizons (the training center), logged in and said “hi” to the receptionists who became close pals too. We’re assigned a different room and a different proctor but the training was just as worthwhile as the previous three. We got a little used to the routine by now. In fact, we would joke that the man in the tutorial video, Chris Paynes, is our best friend because he was the mentor in 5 of the 6 courses which we took. (We love this guy HeHe)

Just like in our first week there, Day 2 is “Exploration Day” for us. This time, we’re more confident of the way and had successfully reached Greenbelt. We just passed through it and agreed to shop for some stuff in The Landmark and meet after an hour for dinner. As expected, traffic’s heavy again and we have to walk around the mall to get to Glorietta where it still took us long to get a taxi.

No much trouble for us the last day because it’s a Saturday and Makati is not in its usual bustling state. We’re able to get out of the center earlier than usual and return to the inn where our trusty driver is waiting for us. Our trip home took us a little over 2 hours only.

Aside from the technical learning I derived from the training, the whole experience taught me significant lessons as well including lessons of patience, alertness, budgeting and others. Although I maybe called a primitive on the modern facilities in Makati, I’m proud to have survived the challenges of staying in the place although in the back of my mind, I wish I had also learned how to go around riding jeeps or buses alone and not taxis. Both our adventures and misadventures are just fun to recall. Sometimes, getting lost has its benefits too!


First night in St. Illian's Inn

Thanks Mae-An for keeping us fed

With Ms. Jen (instructor) and Ms. Erlyn (receptionist) at the front desk

Doing the exercises...

Convincingly focused :-P

With Ms. Jonie (receptionist) and Ms. Mhars (Account Executive)


Makati at night. (Took this from Greenbelt 3 and across is The Landmark


Our room in Amax


Robinson's Summit Center (Took this shot personally)

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Colorful Makeover

Alright, the title is exaggerating. It’s not really colorful as the suffix implies but I had random streaks of color. For the first time in my life I finally had the guts to try highlights. Until 2 years ago, I had so much fuss with my hair – traditional barber cut which gets wavy as it grows long, and drying to shampoo and styling gel – hence I refused getting highlights when my first stylist in the same salon recommended it. I can’t recall the strongest among all my personal reasons for having it done but one of these is that I got very stressed with things about work that I seem to get tired of how I look.

Straight from the office last June 14, I went to the salon to have the mission carried out finally since the last time I was there with my sister I had the cost estimated already. Fortunately, the service is on promo; 50% off the dye rate if you’re also having your hair cut and that charged me roughly 300 Pesos (US$ 7) to have both services done.

I told Ma’am Lannie, my trusty stylist, that I cannot have a color which is too bold since I am working and that wouldn’t look very good with me wearing a formal uniform. But being a professional she already know that of course. While I am being shampooed by another staff, she asked me whether I like the color she’s pointing in the chart. Golden brown is a bit brighter than the color I picked when I had the estimate which is rather a discreet shade of brown. I find it fine since it belongs to the same color genre in the chart.

She cut my hair first; a textured cut which I think is both trendy and functional because the fresh-out-of-the-bed look makes it easier to style at the same time my hair won’t look “heavy” on the sides when it grows long because the strands vary in length. That simply suits my busy life.

Next, she put a rubber cap on my head then punctured holes on it pulling random strands out. Pardon my ignorance but I asked her why she rubbed talcum powder in the cap before she placed it on. I’ll not tell you her answer. :-) She had asked another staff to prepare the substance while she’s working my hair.

I later found out that the first chemical she combed in my mane bleaches the natural color first. It smells like pee! She wrapped it in plastic then had it steamed for some time. When done and had cooled, she had me rinsed again before finally applying the dye which of course we let stand for some more minutes to hold fast but didn’t need steaming again. There was the smell of ammonia once more. Finally, the rubber cap was taken off and I was shampooed once more then she showed me how to style it while doing it herself. The whole treatment and service consumed two hours but it’s good enough to know that the salon is meticulous to have it done properly.

I am just happy with the makeover even when my conservative parents aren’t appreciative of it. Well, I’m receiving more compliments than criticism but despite all these, the fact that I felt good with it is what matters.

I enjoy sporting the look. I’m having great hair – not days, but weeks!


Styling by Going Straight. Photos by Nomer

Model Student

This happened more than a month ago already but I decided to hold blogging about it until I have something to show as evidence although up to now, only two are all I got. (Actually, just both sides of a single sheet)

I just got back in the office few minutes after lunch break when I received a text message from Mr. Bert (an instructor and friend) asking me to call the school immediately. He was out when I did so I just left my return number. It turned out that he needs me to be among the models for a photo shoot for the school brochure scheduled in a couple of hours. I was surprised and anxious because of the short notice. After going over the concept quickly (I am to portray a corporate executive) and asking assurance that they provide my wardrobe, I agreed to go. However, I said that I’ll just follow to the studio so I may go home first, have a quick rest, shower and prepare.

I arrived for the shoot wearing my personal black dress pants, black leather lace-up and a wash-and-wear shirt. I was glad to find out that the other models were my co-candidates in the school pageant last year except for the other guy who joined the contest the year before nonetheless all of them are my friends. I was given time to change to a blue shirt and suit and knot my necktie that I brought along. Three solo shots of me holding a laptop then the others were called again for some group takes.

After the pictorial, we learned that one of the ladies shall record a radio ad. We went to the station which is just a block away from the studio still wearing our costumes from the shoot but thankfully we didn’t have to walk.

We waited while Bert and Don Jones (a resident jock) discussed the concept of the ad and they had agreed to revise the script. Originally, it should have been about two mothers talking about where to enroll the child of one and it was changed to peers making recommendations to one of their friends who just moved in the city and is scouting for a college to transfer to. Don Jones suggested that it will do the commercial good if all of us shall do the recording because the current ads of other schools were taped with the radio jocks’ voices. With us doing the ad, the public will hear fresh voices on air.

We were both excited and reluctant at first. We were asked to go over the script aloud for three times for the warm up then in between the 4-7PM “Power Play” program, we squeezed in recording in the booth. Some of the ladies had to repeat some parts as the jocks coached them on the appropriate intonations. Modesty aside, I completed my part in single take! *wink*

I wish I could obtain a sound file of the whole ad and upload it for you to hear but anyway here’s an excerpt instead.

Transferee Friend: What could Lyceum offer to a student like me?

Male Friend: …its approach to learning is holistic. The focus is not only to sharpen our academic acumen but also to develop our interpersonal relationships.

Me: With state-of-the-art facilities like fully air-conditioned classrooms, 1:1 computer-student ratio, high tech speech laboratory, nursing and caregiving laboratories, HRM laboratory, and the latest wireless Internet laboratory that can be accessed within 300m even by a non-Lycean! All of these for a very affordable tuition fee.

The recording turned out great and fun! Afterwards, we all enjoyed hearty snacks together financed by school funds.

Since May, the radio ad was aired until mid of this month I think and I had heard it in 3 air times daily although there are few other slots at K-Lite FM (local affiliate of Voice of America)

Check out the brochure below although pardon the typos and redundancies; we have nothing to do with the content. *tsk tsk* What do you think am I doing with the laptop why am I smiling big? Hmmm…