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Time to kill the Filipino time

Ion
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Time to kill the Filipino time

The “Filipino time” is a waste of time. Are we really just gonna live with it forever?

Too bad this attitude has been running in the blood for ages – probably for the lack of unified solution.  A tolerated bad action becomes an embarrassing habit. Unfortunately, people spend more efforts finding excuses than finding solutions.

For somebody like me who plans everything in a properly-timed manner, every second is valuable. I always want to be productive in anything I do – whether at work or in personal matters. An activity that starts late will definitely impact my succeeding activities.

Once, I suggested that late comers in a group pay a hefty AED100 fine. It seemed to work. They arrived on time in the first 2 meetings; ONLY on those first 2 meetings.

“Filipino time” is an abuse.

It is rude to keep others waiting. It’s not nice to make a person stretch his personal time to  accommodate your tardiness. If I have 5 appointments and you are the first and you are late, it’s a shame to adjust the 4 other meetings because of you.

Too bad we’ve settled to inviting people way ahead so we could give allowance for the “expected” Filipino time. We easily take people for granted. It has gone that bad.

The Only Solution

RESPECT.

Time is life. If we respect others, we value their lives.

Whether at meetings, work or personal events, a person who arrives late disrespects another’s effort to be on time.

RESPECT.

Your time consciousness reflects your efficiency. People who are consistently on time easily gains my trust.

RESPECT.

If you respect people, you will not fill your calendar with unrealistic schedule that will impact other’s time with you.

RESPECT.

If you respect people, you will know the traffic situation ahead of travel and you’ll plan accordingly.

RESPECT.

If you respect people, you’ll figure out solutions, not excuses. You’ll be considerate.

Status Update Saves The Day

Being time conscious, I always strive to make it ahead of agreed time. Yes I do get late and its disappointing if other people cause it; frustrating if I cause it. But before it happens, people would know ahead of time.

If I get caught up on some unexpected circumstances, I take a conscious effort to update the concerned people right away. It is annoying to be left guessing.

I am not entitled to keep people waiting for me.

Renew Your Mindset

It’s all in the mind. Kill the thought of ‘Filipino time.’ If no one will change his personal culture, the community culture will not be changed.


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Photo source

12 virtues I learn from my 5-year old

Ion
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My daughter is a gem. At a very young age, she encourages me in everything. She’s beyond inspiration. The words, actions and mere presence of the little one reminds me about a lot of values, virtues and even principles.

Here are 12 of them:

1. Keep a high regard for everyone

She never fails to say hello to the supermarket cashier, to the guard, the waitress, janitor… to anybody. And when she does, it makes their day.

“Hi ate!, Hi kuya! Hi amigo!”

2. Don’t just take advice, create opportunities 

She wants to be a chef. She don’t just take instructions or advice from us. She makes sure to learn it directly from the person she looks up to – her mom. So whenever the mom does something in the kitchen, she pulls a small chair and stand on it to see what mommy does. Most of the time, she really helps in the preparation.

4. Focus on what you love, not on what to gain.

Other than being a chef, she also wants to become a waitress. She loves the idea of bringing someone’s order to the table because it makes them happy. She’s a people person. Innocent of how much a waitress gets paid, she chooses what’s dear to her heart, and the one where she can make others happy.

5. Call people by name and brighten up their day

She always ask for people’s name. When we’re in a restaurant, she will read the name badge of the waiter and will call them by name. It’s a sure way to brighten up their day.

6.  True contentment

Whenever she needs something, she don’t ask for more than one. When she wants a cupcake, a toy or a candy, even if we’re giving her 2 pieces or more, she’d say, “No thank you, I only need one.”

One day, ate Adlene brought her to a store to buy some sweets. Ate Adlene was giving her 2 or 3 lollipops. She said, “Tita Adlene don’t buy all 3 ‘coz one is enough.”

7. Thinking out of the box

She’s extremely creative. Once, I brought a popcorn home, she setup the living room with rows of chairs from the dining, turned off the lights and voila, a make-shift theater, “because there’s a popcorn.”

8. Being precise on contracts and agreements

We have a deal – and she initiated it. Every morning, before she wakes up, there must be a greeting card from daddy next to her pillow. She’s very specific – it must be handwritten, must contain more than 2 colors, should have a heart and 3 kisses – drawings are negotiable.

2. Step up the marketing

Her shameless plugging of her Youtube channel to anybody often catches me off-guard. The confidence in saying, “I have a Youtube channel and I have 5 subscribers!” is out of this world.

8. Making great things from small stuffs

Everything that happens to a child is big deal. The way she tells the story of a fallen bird in the balcony and how we could help the poor birdie (medics, care, looking for the bird’s family) is beyond my comprehension.

9. Sticking to budget, sticking to the list

We have a rule, if something is expensive and not really needed, don’t buy it. She happily sticks to the rule, even if she really wants something badly and we say it’s expensive, she’s okay with it.

In a grocery, before she put something on the shopping cart, she’ll ask, “Is that on the list daddy?”

10. Forget the looks, but not what empowers

She wants to have a cell phone ‘at the right age.’ And whenever she reminds us that she wants one, the highlight is, “and don’t forget the CHARGER daddy!”

11. Willingness to wait

Every time we’re in a store and she find something nice, she’ll just tell us. “Daddy can we buy this next time?”

12. Don’t be crazy to stress yourself at work

When she learns that I had a bad day at work, she would ask me not to go to office the next day to avoid stress and my “fighting” officemates.

She’s my superhero! What a lovely blessing to have a daughter!

Parents, this is something that we need to sustain. Always pray for more wisdom to be guided in this ever challenging world of parenting.

Filipino events to watch out for in the UAE til end of 2018

Ion
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Photo by Fluid Events

More than thirty three artists and personalities are set to come over to UAE from this month til end of the 2018 to give us world-class Filipino music concerts.


Here are 8 confirmed events to watch out for:

Pinoy Music Jam

NOV 15-16 | DUBAI WORLD TRADE CENTRE

Arguably the biggest Filipino music fest in Dubai in recent years, the 2-day festival will feature many of the biggest names in Philippine music then and today. Day 1 will have Parokya Ni Edgar, Sandwich, Autotelic and Ben&Ben

Day 2 will feature Hale, Silent Sanctuary, IV of Spades, Angeline Quinto, K Brosas and Kyla

For more updates, follow Fluid Events. For tickets click here to register for early bird.

Global Pinoy Idol

SEP 7 | CROWNE PLAZA DUBAI, SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD

Here’s a rundown of activities that will happen from 11am to 7PM:
• Consular services such as Pag-ibig and SSS membership and registration provided by Philippine Consulate General Dubai
• Exhibitions and entrepreneurial booths
• Financial literacy talk, relationship and marriage advice by Vic and Avelynn of DZMM TeleRadyo
• Career talk by HR Head and Career Advisor, Khristine Sumo
• Legal talk by Gulf Law Director, Atty Barney Filipino Lawyers / Atty. Barney Almazar
• World-class performances from Kapamilya stars— Matteo Guidicelli , Enchong Dee and Erich Gonzales
• Recognition/awarding of our selected Global Pinoy Idols

The event will be open to the public so there’s no admission fee but if you want more intimate experience with the artists (like phot-ops), special tickets for only 55 dirhams can be purchase through virginmegastore.ae.

Follow ABS-CBN Middle East for updates.

Sarah Geronimo This 15 Me

SEP 20 | DUBAI DUTY FREE STADIUM

Sarah’s special guests are Mark Bautista and Xiam Lim.

Follow the event page for updates.

Soundstorm with Up Dharma Down & Itchyworms

SEP 14 | DU FORUM, ABU DHABI

SOUNDSTORM brings a poetic mix of slow indie rock from UDD (UP DHARMA DOWN) and alternative Pinoy rock band Itchyworms to give our audience the best of both worlds.

For tickets call Gigi 0524834553 or Lloyd 0564603086 for service or ticket reservation, or visit http://www.ticketmaster.ae/

One Music X with KZ Tandingan, Inigo Pascual, Moira and AEGIS

NOV 9 | MUBADALA ARENA, ABU DHABI

ABS-CBN is bringing back their signature music concert experience , this time to Abu Dhabi. KZ Tandingan, Iñigo Pascual, Moira Dela Torre and Aegis will rock the capital on November.

Chocolate Factory

SEP 6,7,8 | KITA KITS KAFE & KLUBB

Party til you melt with the fast rising reggae group, CHOCOLATE FACTORY in Dubai.

Pinoy Hype

SEP 28 | AL NASR LEISURELAND

BoybandPH, TNT Boys and Janine Berdin will share the same stage to showcase their world-class winning performances.
For tickets please call +971528730015

Man of the Philippines Finals 

SEP 28 | CARLTON PALACE HOTEL

Finalists of Man of the Philippines-UAE will compete in a pre-pageant competition on September 14 at Tantra Club, before taking the stage for the September 28 finals at the 5-star Carlton Palace Hotel.

The winner will then be flown in an all-expense paid trip to Manila for the finale on December 1 where 60 candidates from around the Philippines will be competing for the international titles National Universe, Man International and Man of the Universe, as well as four national titles.

Cash prizes total P200,000, with Asia tours for two international title holders and a US tour for the grand title holder. The winning candidates’ charity of choice or advocacies will also be funded.

Man of the Philippines-Dubai is organised by Expat Media

—
How great it is to be united in celebrating the richness of Filipino music, culture and community with these kinds of events.

Follow this post as more events will be confirmed soon. 

Why are Filipinos always happy?

Ion
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There was once a guy who was scolded hard by his boss – for not doing the job right, yet he came out from the room smiling, and cheerfully thanking his boss.

A lady was in despair thinking how to survive with a minimum income and tantamount expenses, yet she can still laugh.

My Arab friend once asked me, “why Philippini, always happy.”

Many Filipinos, despite of daily challenges and struggles, live with a “feel good first” mentality. They can smile in the middle of chaos. They don’t wait to achieve something before they feel generally happy about themselves.

There are some people who only feel good once they reach some goals. The problem is, it might never happen. The more they dread the road without happiness, the more it becomes challenging to achieve the goal.

Steve Chandler said, “By linking happiness to something you don’t have yet, you’re denying the power to create it for yourself in a moment.”

For many Filipinos, happiness does not only happen when they achieve something. They claim it and use it to make the journey fun all the way, not just fun at the end.

It is also a feeling of joy.

One of my favorite messages in the bible says, to “consider it pure joy whenever we face trials of many kinds, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance.” Then it adds, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.“

Through our faith, we endure all these trials because we believe that it will bear fruit as long as we remain in Him.

It’s the joy in the journey, not the destination… and not the Filipino genes. Joy is for everybody.

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Photo source

Having a “chat break” at work does more wonders to your relationships

Ion
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Having a “chat break” at work does more wonders to your relationships

A strong and happy relationship has an equally strong communication foundation – that’s a fact. These days, communication gets impacted when we have too much load at work.

But I did something about it. Here’s what you can do too:

If our colleagues can afford a cigarette break every hour no matter how busy they are – because it is in their system already, why not also take a one-minute break to send an ‘update’ to your wife or husband? What’s one minute every hour for a quick chat?

Most of us ‘reserve’ our stories to share later in the day – nothing wrong with that. But sometimes, if stress is too much, we lose the energy to make a good conversation at home. We would prefer to just relax and unwind. Then it gets forgotten the next day.

Sooner or later, the communication runs dry.

Now imagine – if you share things as they happen – little achievements, challenges at work, successful meetings, the food you had, etc. – you bring in your spouse to your moments. The excitement or the emotion as they happen is fresh.

When we share our stories at night, we do it in a “recap” way – the emotions are less.

I encourage you to connect every hour or two. Make your smartphone work for you when you’re apart. Try to do it slowly until it becomes a habit.

Photo from unsplash

MADE in Dubai: How Morissette is MADE?

Ion
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A temporary loss does not make one a permanent failure. 

Morissette exactly typifies this statement.

She joined a lot of singing competitions in her childhood and lost. She tried her luck in TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy and didn’t make it.

After yet another runner-up finish on TV5’s Star Factor at age 14, she did not stop pursuing her dreams. Two years after, she made her professional stage debut in the Repertory Philippines production of Disney’s Camp Rock. The following year, she joined the pilot season of The Voice of the Philippines in ABS-CBN. Only Sarah Geronimo turned a chair on her. She didn’t make it to the finals.

Despite of the short runs in those singing competitions, the Cebuana continued to do what she love doing. She released her self-titled album and became part of Sunday variety show ASAP. Recognition and awards came one after another.

Her live performance videos on Wish 107.5 Youtube channel easily gained million views. Her videos amassed around 200 million views to date and counting. One of the most popular is her soulful rendition of Little Mix’s Secret Love Song:

Today, the Asia’s Phoenix, Morissette is MADE.

Phoenix is a unique bird that lived for five or six centuries in the Arabian desert, after this time burning itself and rising from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle. [Google]
 Her voice, her story, her passion, without a doubt, Morissette embodies a passion that keeps rising up like a phoenix.

The hit concert “Morisette is MADE” will be making fireworks in Dubai on August 17, 2018 at Zabeel Hall 2, Dubai World Trade Centre. The same concept, her first major concert, was first staged in Manila.

In that concert, Morissette showcased her musical prowess that amazed thousands in the crowd including Asia’s Song Bird Regine Velasquez, (one of the guest’ artists) expressing in awe her recognition of Morissette’s incredible talent “I am so happy for you, you deserve everything.

Sam Concepcion, another world-class talent, who also has a similar story, is joining her on stage.

This Dubai leg is brought to you by Wish 107.5 in partnership with La Verdad Events Management, Wish 107.5’s International Partner in Event Management.

You can buy your tickets (kung meron pa) online at Platinum List.

When I reach home late

Ion
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When I reach home late

 

 

Every time I reach home late and the little one’s already asleep, I kinda feel bad. My wife can tell. Missing a night of conversation with Aya is big. I know how she fought hard to combat that sleepyhead just to try to keep up and wait for me. Because every night she writes a card for me – “welcome home daddy,” or simply “I love you Daddy.” This is one of the reasons why I don’t stay longer beyond the scheduled time on some events. I know her excitement. I’m as excited to hear her stories. She calls me 5 times a day and there’s always a sweet, “see you soon daddy!” or “Daddy can you come home now?” or “Daddy can we do this or that when you reach home?”

Yes, we do talk every night – talk, read stories, play, pray, and sometimes deal with extreme tantrums too.

Nothing beats spending time with your daughter. You have no idea how much they treasure it. You’ll be surprise at how they’ll become when you give them ALL the time they need.

So.. what happens in the next morning is, I would receive a mouthful from her like, “Daddy, why were you so late last night I didn’t see you at all?” Worse, she’d say, “Daddy, my heart is broken because I didn’t see you last night – I need a hug.”

For the record, I’m only late about 3 times a month. Last night was one of them. I reached home past 10 from an event. And saw this note on top of my table:

 
“Masaj every night Daddy.”

 

She’s so smart to have a Plan B in mind (in case I missed daddy). Now I’m waiting for the mouthful…

Convenience store staff helped me pay my petrol bill

Ion
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0

8:30 on a Wednesday morning – I was held up at a petrol station in 311 Road southbound near Umm Suqeim exit for about 45 minutes. I refilled my tank and when I was about to pay, none of my debit cards were on my wallet. I only have 70 cash, 25 dirhams short of my total bill.

It was my fault to not carry my cards, nor have extra cash – no excuses. But when you’re already in the situation, the focus shifts to exploring all feasible solutions. And I was expecting a good customer service on support.

I talked to the manager and offered to leave my Emirates ID with him as assurance that I will return to pay the 25 dirhams balance. He did not accept the offer. 
He insisted on their ‘strict company policy’ that such is not allowed. 
The only way, according to him, is to send somebody to bring cash. No one is available to drive by. It’s 45 kilometers from where I live. My wife is unwell. I posted the situation on Facebook thinking somebody could pass by – and I got a lot of sincere responses willing to drive out of their way to lend money. A good friend, ate Adlene, who’s in Deira offered to drive to me right away.
I plead again, that maybe just “out of goodwill” he can lend me 25 dirhams with a promise to return it within the day. He firmly rejects me. I even asked for his bank account or company account so I can do an online transfer right there, and he just keeps rejecting every solution I suggest. 
I asked for a company number to call that could possible enlighten me on ‘such’ policy, and if I could push my suggestions. No one’s answering the phone.
The manager probably never about thinking out of the box; or about taking extra steps to ensure a good customer experience is in place. He even have the guts to raise his voice to me, rubbing it in that it was my fault.
I remain composed while lobbying my case as he keeps a snub face towards me.

I approached the service crews in the nearby bakery. Without hesitation they offered to pay the 25 using their staff allowance card because they don’t have cash on hand. We went to the manager and he questioned the staff’s gesture, iterating that “it is not allowed in the company policy.” I was appalled by his so-called policy.

The staff told me not to worry, there is another solution – collect cash from her colleagues and the other service crews. She managed to collect 25 dirhams from 4 people. They did not even ask me for any assurance that I will pay them back. NO, not a single word to pay them back actually.

I told them I’ll be back the next day to give them back what I borrowed. They told me not to worry. Wow! Thank you Diana from the coffee shop, Diana and Jeannine from the bakery and Jeremy from tyre store for contributing your available cash, and for the willingness and heart to help. God bless you.

God really provides when you are dependent on Him. I am in awe that lower income employees would come to the aid of a random stranger like me without hesitation.
When “company policies” prevail over good will, good hearts won’t be defeated.

So I handed the payment to the gasoline boy as the manager looks from afar with an eye of verification.

I left calmly.

—

Gulf News picked up the story, and contacted the petrol station, but the manager refused to talk, insisting another “policy” that he’s not authorized to speak to media.

How to fit in an office crowd in Dubai

Ion
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How to fit in an office crowd in Dubai

In this first episode of WALK-IN, we asked Danabelle Gutierrez, ‘How can one fit in an office crowd wherein people have different interests than hers?”


Here’s what she has to say…

ddada

Wisdom-filled conversation with Don Moen: God will make a way

Ion
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Wisdom-filled conversation with Don Moen: God will make a way

Growing up closely with various church ministries and youth choirs allowed me to hear and experience a lot of praise and worship songs. One of the artists that has been very eminent in my playlist is Don Moen. Don is the world’s top Christian worship singer, songwriter, and producer. His songs speak so much of praise, thanksgiving, hope, and love – which have found a natural way into my life.

Never in my entire life did I ever imagine to be sitting beside a Don Moen – much more talking to him. When I found the glimmer, I dreamed. I hoped and I prayed. And when that moment came, I found myself beyond nervous and stiff. I lost my words and became a learner right then and there.

Thanks to David of DJMC for making this meeting possible. God indeed made a way for this to happen.

What was planned as a 10-minute on-cam interview became a 22-minute conversation (plus the off-cam talk). Thanks to Don’s generosity in sharing his thoughts and elaborating his stories.

Here’s what he had to say about his kind of music, the message of his songs and what makes Dubai special:

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