Category Archives: Work

Business, competence, Confidence, Health, Menopause, Women, Work

Boosting Women’s Health, Powering Women’s Hearts and Minds

July 7, 2015 administrator 1 Comment

They say people die of a broken heart. I must be walking dead then since it’s happened twice in the last three years. Two deaths in a row is more than one heart can handle.

Seriously though, I was intrigued when the topic of the Women’s Business Council’s WomenBizPH Talks last week bannered “Boosting Women’s Health, Powering Women’s Hearts and Minds.” WBC was honored to have two women leaders as guest speakers.

First was prominent cardiologist Dr. Maria Adelaida “Leni” Iboleon-Dy, chair of the Philippine Heart Association Council on Women’s Cardiovascular Health. As Mylene Abiva, president of Felta Multi-Media Inc., introduced Leni’s many accomplishments including being Assistant Medical Director for Medical Education at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Associate Dean for Clinical Sciences, amongst a long list of positions held and honors received, what struck me most was here was a tall, gracious and beautiful woman who has made it to the top in a field dominated by men. What an outstanding testament to womanhood! And instead of just resting on her laurels, she has been leading the campaign to help other women take charge of their health.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. That’s what they call the broken-heart syndrome, Leni shared. Most often seen in post-menopausal women, Takotsubo is brought about by recent severe emotional or physical stress. Emotional stress can be triggered by the death of a loved one, relationship break-ups, arguments with a spouse, or constant anxiety due to financial problems. Physical stress examples include acute asthma, surgery, chemotherapy and stroke.

First studied in Japan, this stress-induced cardiomyopathy, according to Wiki, is characterized by the bulging of the left ventricular apex with a preserved base, making the heart look like a “tako tsubo” or octopus pot. The symptoms are similar to a heart attack, and can be lethal. Leni said this could clear up in four months if treated right.

In her talk entitled “Why hearts need to mend: Yes, broken hearts can kill!,” Leni urged the guests to take care of their health, as heart disease is the #1 leading cause of death in women regardless of race or ethnicity. In fact, she said one of three women die of heart disease, compared to one of 30 who die of cancer. Now those are alarming figures.

Leni is on a passionate quest to wake up women to the reality that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major public health issue for women, and to get them to take the necessary steps to lead healthy lifestyles as a preventive measure. Because women have a higher tolerance for pain (due to childbirth), women are more difficult to diagnose, and are more likely not to get appropriate treatment following a first heart attack. As Leni said, we tend to “tough it out” more than men. Women also have different symptoms from men, ranging from a “doomed” feeling, or being “suddenly very tired,” vomiting or having indigestion. Now, who of us haven’t felt these before? By this time, I was already beginning to feel hypochondriac.

Leni categorized the risk factors for CVD into what can be changed and what cannot. The bad news is that we can’t do anything about heredity, about being women, or about getting older, especially when we hit menopause. The good news is we can adopt healthier lifestyles by quitting smoking (and staying away from second hand smoke), eating healthier, exercising, controlling our weight gain, and taking the necessary medication for conditions like high blood cholestrol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Another wake-up call was the definition of hypertension in adult women. Normal blood pressure should be less than 120 systolic (higher number) and less than 80 diastolic (lower number). So if you have a blood pressure of 120 over 80, you are already pre-hypertensive.

Leni recommended that women do vigorous activity like brisk walking, running or swmming or even dancing for at least 30 minutes, six days a week to get their hearts and lungs in top condition. I guess I should start doing Zumba soon. Either that or start running.

As for nutrition, Leni cautioned the group to stay away from vein-clogging cholesterol-rich food and fad diets that promise quick results. This prompted a lot of fond ribbing of fellow WBC member Evelyn Singson, Chairman and President of Philippine Hotelier’s Inc. for serving kare-kare with bagoong for our lunch at Dusit Thani. A healthy, balanced diet will give the best results, Leni said. And a glass of red wine a day will keep heart attacks away (my line, not hers).

Unfortunately, we cannot stop the clock, and menopause will eventually catch up on all of us. This greatly increases the risk of CVD. So, we need to manage our stress levels if we want to be around to enjoy our children and grandchildren.

Another casualty of ageing is our minds. “My yesterdays are disappearing, my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for? I live for each day. I live in the moment.” Quoting neuroscientist and author of Still Alice, our second speaker Gina Lumauig, Director of Communications of Neeuro Pte. Ltd., Singapore, highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention to close the treatment gap for dementia.

Dementia, a syndrome caused by different brain illnesses, affects memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday functions. There are an estimated 44.4 million people worldwide suffering from dementia. Meanwhile, according to the Dementia Society of the Philippines, an estimated 200,000 Filipinos suffer from dementia, with many more having to live with the problems the illness brings, not just as patients but as caregivers. This I know from experience as my late maiden aunt suffered from dementia in her senior years. Little by little, dementia wormed itself into her brilliant mind destroying her ability to function normally. It was difficult for all of us seeing her deteriorate.

There are things that we can do to keep our brains fit, such as being fit physically (Gina suggested yoga), getting enough sleep (hard note to self: Monette, you need eight hours of sleep!), eating healthy, laughing, and volunteering.

Writing is one of the best ways to sharpen our mind. Gina urged us to write a letter, write a postcard, write a gratitude journal, write to our children and our parents, and to write by hand.

Gina pointed out that her 82-year old parents who have been married 60 years and have so many children, granchildren and great grandchildren, have keen minds because of their healthy and active lifestyle. I was seated beside Gina’s mom during the talk, and she was certainly keen of mind and humor, keeping me entertained so much so that Gina would stop once in awhile and ask her mom to tone down her talking.

Founded by a team of experienced technopreneurs and neuro-scientists, Neeuro Pte. Ltd. where Gina works is about to launch a headworn gadget supported by computer games that challenge memory, attention and more to keep the brain healthy and fit. I asked her to alert me when this happens so I can get a set for myself and start doing mental Zumba.

We all had so much fun while learning how important it is to keep our bodies, hearts and minds healthy. But more than the fun and the learning, it was great bonding with other women at the Women’s Business Council .

Ably led by its chairperson, Ma. Aurora “Boots” Geotina- Garcia, WBC provides a platform for discussing women’s issues in business and finding solutions to challenges women face in the conduct of their business. WBC is working with the Department of Trade and Industry to organize the Public Private Dialogue on Women and the Economy (PPDWE) for APEC Women and the Economy in September 2015. And it looks like we’ll be very busy mounting this.

So, is it possible to die of a broken heart? According to Leni, yes. Can it be cured? Yes. Can we delay the onset of dementia? According to Gina, yes. So, ladies, let’s start living healthy.

Food, Friendship, Life, Tourism, Travel, Women, Work

When in Davao, explore!

March 30, 2015 administrator 1 Comment

I’ve been to Davao twice before to organize events for clients, and in both instances, it was a case of arriving at the airport, going straight to the hotel, organizing the event, then leaving for the airport. I remember one time, it was my son Niccolo’s 5^th birthday, so Mike and I decided to bring him with us. While I was working at the hotel, father and son had a great bonding experience visiting all the interesting sites, including the Philippine eagle sanctuary and the crocodile farm. They told me they had a grand time, and so this time around, I made sure I had an extra day in Davao after the Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI)’s 3^rd Tourism HR Summit. Problem was I was too busy in the months leading to the event that I never had a chance to research where to go.

After the summit, the congress organizers and speakers hied over to Mary Ann (Baby) Montemayor’s Habi at Kape for dinner and relaxation. True to its name, the cafe was surrounded by displays of the best handicraft and local products that Davao had to offer. I wish we had more time to browse around and shop, but we were all terribly tired from all the conference preparations the day before and from managing the conference all day, not to mention lack of sleep. And since I skipped lunch to work on my afternoon talk, I was ravenous as well.

The dinner Baby served was outstandingly delicious, as usual. I chatted with Baby about her various initiatives to help women-led SMEs in Davao gain access to the market. What a noble endeavor! She really is an admirable woman.

I sat with Pa Putu Laksaguna from Indonesia and Gina Jiraporn of Thailand. That night, I learned that Pa Putu had a beautiful singing voice as he gamely serenaded us. This after he told me that he only sang in the shower. I also met the lovely and gracious Joji Ilagan Bian, founder and chairman of the Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation, Inc., who had allowed her students to take part at the Summit.

As we were driving back to the hotel, we got around to discussing what to do the next day. Most of my companions were interested in going shopping at Aldevinco, buying pomelos, and doing a quick city tour. The others wanted to stay in the hotel and work. There was talk of going to the crocodile farm, the eagles’ reserve, and to the Malagos farm that made its own chocolates and cheeses. I’ve sampled the latter before and they rival the best. These options beckoned, but no one seemed interested to go as the drive was quite long given the distance.

Before I slept, I asked my Facebook friends for recommendations on what to do and where to go. My vibrant Facebook community was extremely helpful, and I had a number of great suggestions, mostly revolving around food. My daughters, meanwhile, advised me to skip the shopping and go on an adventure instead. Besides, I already had a box of pomelos, a gift from Myrna Padilla, CEO and president of Mynd Computing / Outsourcing Services Philippines.

To this day, Myrna is one person who I greatly admire and am honored to count as a friend. Three years ago, she spoke at the International Outsourcing Summit, an annual conference that we organize for the Information and Technology Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP). An unassuming lady, she went up to the stage to share her story as an OFW in Singapore and HongKong, learning how to use the computer from her young charge, then coming back home to Davao to set up a BPO.

Myrna touched the hearts of the 500-strong international audience composed of CEOs and senior level executives from the industry, so much so that they got on their feet to give her a standing ovation, with a few shedding tears. Myrna’s story reminded everyone that behind the numbers signifying the rapid success of the IT and BPO industry in the country, there are real people struggling with seemingly insurmountable challenges and dreaming of a better life for themselves and their families, people whose lives are improving because of the industry.

The suggestion to have civet coffee at the crocodile farm seemed the most adventurous so after a quick swim I went down to breakfast to make arrangements for transportation. Luckily, I met a few of my friends and they decided to go with me. So, off we went to the Crocodile Farm.

The crocodile farm had its many charms: from its ménage of feathery and leathery friends from the animal kingdom, its various cement figures that invite guests to have their photos taken, its locally made ice-cream and civet coffee (which I yet have to try), to its various outlets selling traditional handicraft. They were even selling oil that came from the crocodile, which ostensibly cures all sorts of skin problems, since it contains Crocodillin, an antibacterial substance found in crocodile blood.

I spied a large plastic container on a table near the entrance, and was surprised, when the cover was lifted to see a baby crocodile with its snout bound tight with rubber. I asked if I could touch it and have my picture taken. Its caretaker agreed, and I gingerly extended my hand. When the baby croc gamely stayed put, I became more courageous, and came nearer, wondering if it would turn into a prince, just as the frog in the fairytale did. Inspired by my action, Leni Ogarte of the National Union of Workers in Hotel Restaurant and Allied Industries (Nuwhrain) wanted to have her photo taken with the baby croc too, but when she came close for the photo, the baby croc jumped at her. It was so fast I was not able to take a picture.

The bigger crocs of which there were so many lying in various pens looked sleepy and lethargic. It felt safe viewing them from the other side of the fence, but knowing how swift that baby croc was, I would not want to be near any of the larger ones. What looked like green lumps on the water turned out to be the back of the crocodiles, as once in a while, one of the lumps would move.

I don’t much like feathered creatures, but the colorful parrots were pretty, the peacock majestic, and a myna called out “Panget” when I passed, so I am assuming the poor thing has lost its eyesight. Whenever I see a peacock, I wonder why God had granted them such beauty while the peahen looked nondescript, brown and dowdy. I guess because the male birds need the trimmings to attract the females, while the females were confident enough to know their real beauty was inside.

There were other birds but how could I not write about those huge ostriches that lackadaisically sashayed around the field? One of them walked right up to the fence where I was, looked me in the eye, then dismissing me, turned aside and walked over to some sheep that had gathered in the field. I was trembling with fear, being deathly afraid of chickens, much less monstrous ostriches.

And there was that yellow boa lying on the ledge. Four of us summoned the gumption to have a photo taken, with the boa draped across our laps. It was heavy, but it didn’t seem to be big enough to swallow us, so I felt quite safe. The tiger, in the meantime, was having a morning snooze, and didn’t budge at all. It looked quite content in its cage.

We all had a field day having our photos taken with the various cement figures in the park. Some of us sampled the crocodile pandan ice-cream (not a fan myself). I was thinking of sitting down at the café to have a cup of civet coffee, when I saw a line of shops selling traditional clothing. I loved the explosion of colors of the woven fabric made by the Matigsalog and T-boli tribes, and so decided to treat myself to a complete outfit, including the heavy belt with tinkling bells. The kind lady at the store even taught me the proper way of wearing a malong, which included biting the edge of the cloth before tying the ends in a knot. Next time I am asked to attend a function wearing Filipiniana, I intend to wear it.

Soon we had to meet up with our other companions who had stayed behind to work. Lunch turned out to be at the Blue Post Boiling Crabs and Shrimps. The restaurant’s name was quite descriptive as it was a boodle meal with a refreshing pomelo salad, boiled crabs and shrimps cooked in garlic. Oh, was it good! Nay, it was great! And we even go to write our names on the walls. I took the opportunity to quickly draw a woman’s face inside the lifesaver in the foyer. I was having so much fun. So this is the high that graffiti gives to its creators!

Reminiscing on the day gone by, I am so glad I took the day off work and went on an adventure instead. There is still so much to explore in Davao, and I hope to visit once again and perhaps next time, have that civet coffee, Malagos chocolates and cheese. C’est la vie!

competence, Confidence, Friendship, Uncategorized, Women, Work

Women Stepping Up

September 1, 2014 administrator 1 Comment

Are women naturally competitive? Is it true they cannot stand having another woman shine brighter than they do? Is jealousy natural? Does crab mentality apply to the supposedly gentler sex? Or is it possible for women to help other women, and feel good about it? These were questions going through my mind last week as I attended two women’s events: WomenBiz Talks organized by the Women’s Business Council Philippines, and two days later, Women’s Talk Network Night organized by the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Makati.

Thursday night, I attended the Women’s Talk Network Night at the Society Lounge upon the invitation of my friend, Jeannie Javelosa. Although I’ve known of Jeannie for many years as being creative partner of PR competitor, EON, and a co-founder of ECHO Store and ECHOsi Foundation along with another good friend, Chit Juan, it was not until Jeannie and I were speakers last November at the UN Women’s Conference in Barcelona that I really got to talk to her. We had a wonderful time exploring this beautiful city together (See my blog post on that memorable trip with Jeannie).

Arriving at the venue already teeming with women and buzzing with their chatter, I was happy to see Ambassador Delia Albert seated with Marivic Anonuevo, and promptly joined them. I had the good fortune of meeting Manang Delia as she is fondly called by her mentees during the APEC Women and the Economy Summit in Bali last year, and got to know her better during the Sababay Winery tour of the Gozali family, and the gala dinner.

Manang Delia is chair of BPW Makati and head of the APEC WEF Private Sector Steering Committee. A real trooper, Manang Delia went up to the stage during the gala dinner to sing Dahil sa Iyo with the guest performer, effectively breaking the ice and starting a rousing competition for the best love song among the different nationalities present. Despite her diminutive exterior, Manang Delia cuts an impressive figure and commands attention and respect because of her intelligence, her wit, her strength of character, and deep passion for helping her kababayans, especially Filipinas. I remember her saying it was important to bring together all the accomplished business and professional Filipinas to help in the hosting of the APEC Women and the Economy Forum in 2015. This way, we can change the perception of foreigners that we are a nation of OFWs and househelp, she said. And that was exactly what she was doing Thursday night, urging the accomplished guests attending the cocktails to step up for the APEC WEF meeting.

After Manang Delia’s appeal, it was Jeannie’s turn to introduce BPW Makati to the guests. Jeannie is founding president of BPW Makati, a local chapter of the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Foundation in the Philippines that espouses the Women’s Empowerment Principles of the U.N. Aptly called Equality Means Business, the Principles emphasize the business case for corporate action to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. While BPW has monthly networking opportunities to enjoy, Jeannie cautioned that membership in BPW Makati is open only to those interested to work towards putting the principles to work. No place for fluff here.

The seven principles include (1) establishing high-level corporate leadership and gender equality; (2) treating all women and men fairly at work, respecting and supporting human rights and nondiscrimination; (3) ensuring the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers; (4) promoting education, training and professional development for women; (5) implementing enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women; (6) promoting equality through community initiatives and advocacy; and (7) measuring and publicly reporting on progress to achieve gender equality. In short, BPW Makati empowers women to help other women succeed and achieve their potential.

Next up, Chit Juan, BPW Makati External VP and former president of the League of Corporate Foundations, together with Luvy Villanueva, director of the Philippine Commission on Women, spoke about their GREAT Women Platform, short for Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women. By helping small and medium women-run businesses package their products attractively, take advantage of the supply chain, and promote and market them effectively, women entrepreneurs get a better chance at succeeding in business.

For instance, who would have thought that the lowly suka (vinegar) can be packaged into coveted artisanal fare and exported overseas? Or that bottled taba ng talangka (crab fat) is now gourmet fare? And did we know that we can make use of the 5% mandated Gender and Development (GAD) budget of the government when selling our products and services? We learned about best practices for promoting gender equality, from PLDT’s SME ICT platform on the cloud, to Coke’s 5M by 2020 micro-entrepreneur drive, to RCBC’s EWMN financial literacy program that expands women’s potential through SME loans and start-up capital, and to Cherie Blair Foundation’s 6-month online mentoring program for women in business.

Interestingly enough, there was a lone male speaker that night. Brave man, I thought, to be the only thorn among the roses, until I found out that he was accompanied by his wife. Intellectual Property Office Director Ric Blancaflor spoke about the male perspective. A firm believer in women’s strengths, he shared that half of his board is composed of women, and 65% of IPO examiners are women. He cited the Filipina qualities he most admires: dedication to duty, bravery and competence and encouraged the women in the room to safeguard their brands by filing for intellectual property rights.

Looking around Society Lounge that night, I saw many powerful women who feel secure about themselves: Manang Delia, Marife Zamora, Chit Juan, Jeannie Javelosa, Karmi Palafox, Mylene Abiva, Emmeline Versoza, Luvy Villanueva, Rambie Lim, to name a few. Great company indeed.

So, this is a call out to women in business and professions to step up. Join BPW Makati and let’s share our blessings to help other women succeed. High time we put girl power to work, right, ladies?

Communication, competence, Governance, Tourism, Women, Work

Do we need women in corporate boards?

August 27, 2014 administrator 1 Comment

Do we need women in the Board?

This was the interesting question posed during the WomenBiz Talks organized by the Women’s Business Council Philippines at the Dusit Thani Hotel today, and which sparked a healthy debate. Aside from being inducted as a member of WomenBiz, I was glad I attended the talk, though I missed attending the Amcham General Membership Meeting next door.

After a hearty lunch of ginisang munggo, laing and adobong manok, and the inevitable photo taking, the intimate group of powerful women tackled the day’s theme. Chit Juan, president of Echostore Sustainable Lifestyle, opened the discussion with a premise that we need a law to ensure seats in corporate boards, as the addition of women corporate directors results in better decisions and more diversity in outlook.

Atty. Lorna Kapunan, senior partner at Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Office, roundly disagreed citing the case of Norway that had passed legislation mandating a 40% woman-man ratio on public limited companies to disappointing results. Because there were not enough competent (aka trained) women corporate directors available, companies forced to take on women to comply with the mandated ratio, quickly saw their stock prices plunge. To protect themselves from this legislation, about 70% of public limited companies delisted since 2003; while new companies incorporated outside of Norway to avoid this requirement.

Because men and women are wired differently, it was observed that women in boards tend to push for property acquisition rather than leveraged organic growth. And then there’s the issue of women having other interests, such as having children and taking care of their families. This is not to say that we cannot have women corporate directors, especially in the Philippines.

In the case of companies of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs), it would be disastrous not to have women on the board as they would represent the interests of the consumers, being the ones with the buying power. There are also industries where women dominate. One such example is the Tourism Industry, to which I belong.

In the country’s Tourism Promotions Board, for instance, three of the five private sector directors are women: Margarita F. Munsayac, VP of Maribago Blue Water Beach Resort (Representing Accommodation Sector); Margarita F. Villarica, president and general manager of Destination Specialists, Inc. (Representing Travel & Tour Services), and me (Representing Meeting, Incentives Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions & Events Services & Facilities M.I.C.E.Sector). And on the public sector side, we have Usec. Laura del Rosario of Department of Foreign Affairs, Usec. Fe Reyes of the Department of Trade and Industry, and Usec. Catherine Gonzales of Department of Transportation and Communication. Clearly, TPB is a woman-dominated board.

According to the International Business Report (IBR) released by local audit company Punongbayan & Araullo and global firm Grand Thornton, on average women comprise about 34% of company boards in the Philippines, which is way above the global average of 19%. One advantage Filipinas have is the availability of househelp to assist in taking care of the house and children, freeing women to pursue careers in the corporate world. And I’d like to add the social support system of families. I don’t think I could have gone very far in business without my beloved mom being there to supervise my yayas in looking after my children and my home.

What advantages do women bring to the board room? According to a study by Professor of Strategic Management Bart of the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University which polled 624 board directors in Canada, women were more likely to use “co-operation, collaboration and consensus building” when dealing with complex decisions. Also, women were more likely to take into account interests of multiple stakeholders as they viewed fairness as an important factor in their decision-making.

A Credit Suisse report on gender diversity and corporate performance indicates that companies with women on the board exhibited higher return on equity (ROE) and better average growth. Catalyst Inc. (2007) showed that Fortune 500 companies with more women on their boards were found to outperform their rivals with return on sales and return on equity. What could possibly be the reason for the better financial performance?

Credit Suisse proposes that gender diversity signals a better company, with greater effort across the board, a better mix of leadership skills, access to a wider pool of talent, a better reflection of the consumer decision-maker, improved corporate governance, and risk aversion.

Lorna was emphatic that there should be no legislation to mandate appointment of women on corporate boards. Rather, competence was the only reason women should be on corporate boards. I totally agree on this point. And that’s why I am seriously considering Chit’s recommendation to take the Institute of Corporate Directors Course, and help in raising awareness of women to aspire for board seats for greater diversity.

Friendship, Life, Tourism, Training, Travel, Work

Making a Difference in MICE Cebu

August 25, 2014 administrator

August 23 and 24. Frenzied, fun and fulfilling is how I would characterize the past two days I’ve spent in the company of Philippine M.I.C.E. Academy colleagues Tinette Capistrano of Primetrade Asia, Inc., Marisa Nallana of PETCO, Jing Lagandaoan of Globallink MP, Anton Magpantay of Creatif Foire PRO, Joel Pascual of PEP Group and Sonia Sayaman of ATN. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and so three years ago, I joined industry friends in setting up the Philippine Meetings, Incentive, Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions/Events (M.I.C.E.) Academy.

Envisioned to be the training arm of the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS), the Academy is meant to answer the need for continuing education to upgrade the quality, competence, and excellence of M.I.C.E. professionals and practitioners in their delivery of tourism and trade services and to make them globally competitive. Who best to provide industry practitioners better knowledge, updated techniques, and latest trends in M.I.C.E. than those in the trenches, like us? The problem is getting all these super busy individuals to pry themselves away from their events to actually get to teach.

And so it was almost a miracle that everyone’s schedule converged for last weekend’s Event Management 101 Workshop for the Cebu Association of Tour Operators (CATO). Under the able leadership of its president Marget Villarica who sits with me on the Tourism Promotions Board, and its VP and project lead Alice Queblatin, CATO had applied for a training grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The workshop was designed to help CATO members learn how to plan, organize, promote, manage and evaluate conferences, exhibitions and events; identify and form strategic partnerships with customers, suppliers, sponsors and other events organizers; know current global trends and marketing approaches in the M.I.C.E. industry; learn how to prepare bid proposals for international conferences and meetings; and develop competitive and winning incentive travel packages.

CATO opened up the workshop to their partners in the industry, and so we had 80 participants, consisting of tour operators, hotel and resort sales executives, a sprinkling of MICE professors and students, tourism promotion officers, tour guides and event organizers. I was surprised to see amongst the participants the famous Patricio Primor, Jr., better known as Junjet. The artistic force behind most of Cebu’s major event productions, Junjet I felt strongly should actually be one of the trainers. Representatives from the Department of Tourism and ADB sat in to evaluate the workshop.

Despite their hectic schedules, the trainers readily agreed to spend their precious weekend and rest time to travel to Cebu for the workshop. All seasoned industry experts, the trainers shared their knowledge and best practices, drawing on their vast experience in organizing MICE events. A quick survey showed we had at least 150 years of consolidated MICE experience represented in the room. Joining the Academy trainers were Raquel Tria of the Tourism Promotions Board, Clang Garcia of Jeepney Tours, and Albert Lafuente of Shangri-La’s Mactan Hotel and Resort. And because we were all busy with our own events and companies, we all had a big laugh when we realized that we had crammed preparing the slides the night before.

Most of the trainers traveled to Cebu Friday. Unfortunately, I couldn’t join them because TeamAsia was organizing Globe’s Digital Lifestyle Expo at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall Friday night. While waiting for the event to begin, I hurried over to Forever 21 to get a white t-shirt for the second day of the workshop. The Academy had decided to liven up the workshop by asking the participants to dress up according to the day’s theme. Day One’s theme was beach wear, while Day Two was all white shirts which we would ask the participants to color as an icebreaker and networking activity.

10600633_10203559628005593_7090710783448159203_n — The stragglers arrive at the Cebu airport to a VIP welcome.

Going home late Friday night, I agonized over what beach wear to don, given that I was going to teach. I can’t really wear a swimsuit on stage, right? With very little time to plan my wardrobe, I quickly threw a few things in my bag, hoped for the best, and started working on my slides for the next day. I noticed Joel’s post on FB wearing the welcome lei he got at the airport. I was jealous, but happy to get my own lei when I arrived at the airport Saturday morning with Raquel and Anton. Cheap thrills to be treated like a VIP at the airport!

10540833_10203560586509555_267010336476693509_n — Presentation 101: Surprise your audience.

Operations Management was my assigned topic for Day One. How to keep audience interest in the early afternoon with such a boring, yet important and incredibly detailed brass tacks topic? Inspiration hit me just as I took the stage. I decided to remove my huge overshirt to reveal a modest tank top and sarong underneath. Presentation 101 technique: surprise your audience with a mini strip tease. Now that worked like magic! And quick-witted Sonia snapped up some photos too.

By the end of the day, we were all tired from serious teaching. With a few minutes to spare, we took out mobile phone cams and decided to have our photos taken in fun. A serious photographer (who had an all access pass at the recent Bench underwear show and lots of stories to tell), Joel gave us some tips on how to emphasize our curves for photo shoots. I am too embarrassed to include my shots here, and will just keep them for my future grandchildren to know that their lola was once a hottie (borrowing Coke’s term).

10606146_10203561437330825_8120349037533074817_n — Dinner at Lemon Grass

After hamming it up for the cameras, we hurried over to the Redemptorist Church to attend the anticipated mass, and then went to Ayala Mall to buy white t-shirts, coloring pens, stickers and sparkles for the next day’s fellowship activity. Dinner was at Lemon Grass, which sadly did not have the strong Thai flavors I was looking forward to. But the camaraderie more than made up for the food. Still wired up, we ended up at the Marco Polo Lobby Lounge for a nightcap, which was accompanied by a lot of ribbing and teasing about dating and relationships at our age. After all, we were all single people sans Jing who had to fly back to Manila, and some of us, beginning anew to relearn skills long lost.

The second day of the workshop had the participants preparing their pitches for their assigned events, and dreaming up the most creative incentive packages that would put Cebu in the limelight and attract tourists and investments. In between learning sessions, we all had fun writing messages and drawing on each other’s white shirts, forging friendships in the process.

From fiestas to conferences to sports events and concerts, the participants gamely defended their proposals for events and incentive packages to the panel of discriminating judges. Several of the presentations were gems, but one group shone brightly. No surprise that it was Junjet’s group that bagged the best presentation for both the event and incentive package. Come to think of it, the fact that Junjet stayed for the entire two days and participated wholeheartedly and actively was the best measure for the success of the workshop.

The participants obviously enjoyed the learning opportunity tremendously, with many coming up to us with words of appreciation and the inevitable request for a photo souvenir. It was truly a rewarding experience not just for the participants, but more for us trainers. I really believe that the more you share, the more you get in return. Circle of life.

During the awarding of certificates, I learned from Tinette that we had to wear the CATO shirt we were given earlier for the group photo, so I rushed back to the room to put it on. Arriving back at the venue, I heard everyone laughing only to realize that they had been looking for me to say a few final words to close the workshop, and bubbly Alice had said that Monette was probably still undressing. Will I ever live down my new reputation?

At the airport, we were told that we could not hand carry the Cebu chorizos we were given, so Marisa and Anton put their loot into my check-in luggage. I was glad for Anton’s company on the Tiger Air plane ride back to Manila. Highly claustrophobic, I worried if I could get through the hour long flight without screaming. Anton offered to exchange places so that I could have the window seat. We started talking about work, clients, family and life, and soon I had forgotten about the cramped space. Anton is an amazing person, kind to a fault, highly accomplished and driven yet very low-key. Another hero from this industry to look up to, and one I am glad to call a friend.

It was funny, but Anton’s first question was, “How long were you a nun?” I was taken aback only to realize that Anton didn’t know me as long as the others did and only picked up from the ribbing that had taken place in the past two days. The new Monette had emerged, they teased. Who once was a formal, reserved individual (aka madre) was now a daring individual, doing things they never would have imagined me to do. I guess my shirt said it all.

Corporate Social Responsibility, Food, Friendship, Uncategorized, Women, Work

LCF Ladies at the Retreat

August 17, 2014 administrator 3 Comments

It all started July 30 when I received a call from Techu asking if I would be willing to invite the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) ladies to the Hamlin Retreat in Alfonso on August 16. I immediately agreed. We had just finished celebrating the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) month, and the thought of having a break from work to relax, catch up with each other, and chat the day away seemed too good to pass up.

It was the brainchild of my LCF mentor, the lovely Lydia Sarmiento Enrile, who wanted to gather the ladies for a leisurely day of bonding. Soon the emails were flying back and forth as plans hatched, the menu firmed up, transportation issues settled, and more friends confirmed. Maurice Ligot of Ang Hortaleza Foundation promised to bring along her therapists for some serious pampering with their signature foot massage. Raffle queen Elaine Mapa galvanized into action. Excitement was at an all-time high. The list of confirmed guests grew longer: Vicky Garchitorena, Irene Labitad, Techu Tumbali, Cecile Alcantara, Camile Buenaventura, Malu Erni, Esther Santos, Ching Jorge, Tess Villacorta, Neury Chan, My Almogino-Calara, Nicole Tirona, Rory Tolentino, Joyce Talag, Linda Atayde.

What I didn’t figure out was how busy my entire week leading up to the Saturday ladies date would be, with back-to-back meetings late into the night. When would I ever find the time to shop, cook, and make all the preparations I wondered as Friday afternoon deepened into the evening? It was a relief to finally arrive at Alfonso, and to feel its peace settle in my soul. Although we’ve had the farm for almost eight years, this was the first time I would ever sleep there alone. It was blissful, and I slept like a babe, secure that Mike was watching over me, keeping me safe.

Early the next morning, I walked around the farm. It still looked sad from being ravaged by the storm, but the birds were chirping, the cicadas were humming, and the sun was peeking out, though the sky still seemed downcast. Internet connection was spotty, and has been since Glenda unleashed her fury on Alfonso, so I went looking for signal and finally found a faint one near the gate. I was startled when loud band music began playing outside our gate. And that’s when I found out that it was the town’s fiesta. I asked Jeovanie to set up the tables out back, but he discouraged me saying it always rained on fiesta days. Better to be safe and have the tables in the veranda.

Without Internet, I couldn’t make Jango work. While searching for our music CDs, I came upon one that was still unopened, Pure Country. Mike must have bought it. Putting it on, I was soon dancing to country music.

And then the ladies started arriving. Unfortunately some couldn’t make it and we missed their company. Laughing like little girls, we hugged and hugged each other. With everyone speaking, the decimal level quickly shot up. Pretty soon, we were partaking of the sumptuous lunch and gabbing our hearts away, taking turns at foot massages at the gazebo.

The afternoon passed quickly, and the ladies said good-bye but not before taking souvenir photos at the farm. I could not let them go without having the diwata shot, and everyone gamely picked a tree and posed.

Lydia captured how we all felt in her email last night, “How wonderful it was to discover that we have not changed all these years… that we are still the same LCF ladies “na mababa ang kaligayahan… that we still shriek at winning the raffle whether it is a bag of potato chips or a P500 gift certificate from SM care of Linda Atayde who had to fly to Cebu, or a heavy bag of condiments from Splash care of Maurice. Our afternoon was truly a fun-filled day thanks to all your contributions of food and sinful desserts. But most precious was sitting together, sharing stories once more, remembering friends in prayer and recounting past LCF fun days. Elaine Mapa continues to be our raffle queen. Most of all thank you, Monette for sharing your restful home with us, preparing the laing, fish and grilled vegetables, Malu for the adobo, Neury for the chicken a la king, lastly for the Cecille who saved the day for us by driving all the way to Alfonso. I am sure I missed someone or something, I only know that we are all hopeless romantics listening and vicariously sharing Vicky’s love story. Irene Labitad cannot show up next time without a new found love in her life. Thank you all ladies for making time to renew friendships, laugh at our silly jokes and continue to be women who serve but also know how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. It is more fun with LCF friends. See you all in December!”

Truly, it was a day of fun and laughter well spent in the company of friends. I can’t wait till the next reunion!

Architecture, Tourism, Work

Today’s Hard Hat, Sneak Peek Experience

August 13, 2014 administrator 1 Comment

My interest was piqued by Marriott’s invitation to join today’s hard hat tour of their Grand Ballroom. Reported to be the largest pillar-less ballroom in the Philippines, this was going to be a most sought after venue, and I was excited to see it.

According to Bruce Winton, general manager of Marriot Hotel Manila, the Grand Ballroom would fit 2,500 people seated for a banquet or 4,500 guests for a performance or concert. With 20 meeting rooms and state of the art equipment, it would be perfect for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions/special events (M.I.C.E.) events. I was surprised to learn that several weddings have already been booked there, well in advance of its slated March 15, 2015 opening.

Together with industry stalwarts from the travel and tours industry (Felise of T.R.I.P.S. Travel, Kristine of Shroff and Joanna of Rajah Tours) and accompanied by Arangkada Philippines’ John Forbes, we donned hard hats and masks to enter the site where construction was in full swing. Dust swirled about us and sparks flew from soldering equipment as we carefully navigated the site, avoiding metallic sheets being carried and gingerly stepping over heavy wires on the floor. Everywhere we went, work hummed as busy-bee construction crew raced to meet the deadline.

Amazed at the massive high-ceiling ballroom on the second floor, we noted six sky boxes on the fourth floor overlooking the ballroom. Equipped with their own private toilets, these sky boxes could each fit 12 guests. Imagine having your own private party with special guests enjoying a concert from way up there.

Lights would be retractable, according to JP Gutierrez, senior sales manager for MICE at Marriott Hotel Manila, who kindly toured us around. Catwalks marked the divisions where the ballroom could be divided into four smaller 700 sqm ballrooms. My imagination was in full swing thinking of all the events that could take place there, from international conferences and exhibitions to concerts, and social gatherings. Finally, Manila would have a fitting venue for large scale employee engagement events!

Outside the ballroom, a large hallway ran the length of the structure… a massive pre-function area for exhibits, cocktails, pocket events, and the like. Looking through the floor length glass windows, you could see Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

On either end were two smaller functions rooms that could accommodate up to 200 guests, perfect for weddings and social events. East and West, they were called. Parking would be a breeze with three parking levels available. On the ground floor, three restaurants would cater to the needs of exhibitors and organizers. Marriott Hotel Manila however, would be the sole caterer for dining requirements in the function rooms, but with the delicious repast we just had, that seemed just right.

Dusty and hot from our hard hat experience, we went back to Marriot Hotel Manila, to be pampered with cold towels and cold refreshing water. Now, if only my fairy godmother could wave her wand and fast track the opening to February, John and I would be grinning like Cheshire cats.

Here’s a YouTube video from the Marriott Manila channel for a “Grand Sneak Peek” on things to come http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bTJHva_mdI.

Pretty nifty, right?

Church, Corporate Social Responsibility, Faith, Friendship, Love, Work

Giving back, gaining more

August 2, 2014 administrator

August 1, 2014. Every last Wednesday of the month, TeamAsia stops work for an hour to celebrate staff birthdays and company achievements, break bread (well, mostly pizza and cupcakes), welcome new staff (who gamely butt spell their names), bid adieu to those who move on, play games, sing and dance sometimes, and generally have loads of fun together. Called Pop Up Wednesdays, this tradition was started by Bea a year ago when she came back from her studies in Boston to a company grieving the loss of its founder, her dad. Bea’s arrival was a breath of fresh air, full of sunshine and sparkles, and she quickly formed a team from different departments tasked to be as creative as they can be to come up with a fresh theme each month.

Themes vary depending on the times. We’ve had Zen (loved the shoulder and foot massages), Frozen (icy games), Glaze (hot choco and donuts), Blockbusters (challenging games), Soirees (getting to know you better), Filipiniana (tested our native tongue), TAkot 2013 (Halloween spooktivities that had the entire office transformed into the stuff of nightmares), Chinese New Year, and more. Pop Up Wednesdays was a date each month where we tucked away the stress of everyday work life and client deadlines to just talk to each other and reconnect as family. For a sneak peak into our Pop Up Wednesdays, check out this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGBM2H0C4aE.

Today’s Pop Up was different. July is Corporate Social Responsibility Month, and we wanted to give back to our local community. Because of the busy week, we moved Pop Up to a Friday afternoon, and went offsite to Haven for Children along Zapote Road. Haven for Children is a center for male street children aged 7-13 years who are recovering from substance abuse like rugby and marijuana. Some are addicted to alcohol and smoking. We were warned not to take frontal photos as some of them have taken refuge there to escape from fraternities and gangs, and to watch out for our things.

My heart sank as I learned from some of the boys that they had been abandoned by their parents, beaten black and blue by barangay tanods who caught them stealing or sniffing, survived on the streets foraging leftovers from garbage disposals or begging for food. By a twist of fate, this could have been me or my children, I thought.

The initial aloofness was soon dispelled when we began playing our games. Grouped into six teams with ate and kuya TeamAsians as game masters, the boys enacted values like pagiging matulungin (helpfulness), pag-aalaga ng kalikasan (concern for the environment), pagpapakita ng respeto sa kapwa (showing respecting for others), and pagiging madasalin (being prayerful). Each tableau was unique and I was struck that the boys were more inclusive than most adults, showing prayer in different religions: Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and in different situations: at home, at church, during calamities and celebrations. It was difficult to judge the groups; I wanted to hug each and every child and congratulate them.

The hare, wall and archer game (big brother version of paper, scissors and stone) had everyone whooping, cheering, and jumping as they competed with each other. The hula hoop relay challenged the children’s physical agility, and boy, were they fast! Tired and spent after the games, TeamAsians and their young wards happily munched on the burgers, fries and soda we brought. The children then wanted to dance and sing for us, impromptu, to show their appreciation. They wanted to go on and on, but it was getting late, and sadly we had to leave. As we walked back to the cars, the kids made “mano,” hugged, and high-fived us. “Balik kayo, ha? Promise?,” a little child asked. I nodded, my heart in my throat. One of the boys ran after our senior graphic designer and handed her a rosary as a gift.

One of the “nanays” (social workers) observed that the children have never been as noisy and happy as this afternoon’s outreach, although there have been several groups that have visited. “Iba kayo,” she said, “talagang masaya.” Truth to tell, Pop Up Wednesdays have always been noisy and happy, but today was so much more. It was fulfilling. We thought we were giving back, but instead, we were the ones who gained, hearts bursting with happiness, in full measure.

The words of Luke 6:38 ring true: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.”

We definitely will be returning.

Art, Family, Love, Work

Love in Pictures

Gallery July 26, 2014 administrator 2 Comments

(July 26, 2014, Manila) This morning, Bea handed me a sketch of Mike holding a camera, drawn by Joyce Romero of our Creative Department.

Each year, our TeamAsia family celebrated Mike’s birthday with a caricature of Mike as the hero of whichever movie blockbuster was hot then. The tradition was started a decade ago by our then Creative Director, Ritchie Baquirin, and was continued by the Creative Department. I bet the artists competed as to who would have the best caricature that year.

Like a little child, Mike looked forward eagerly to receiving the caricature, wondering weeks ahead what they would come up with for his birthday. And when he got his gift, he would put it up on the shelf of honor to join the others. There was always a lot of ribbing by visitors when they would see the collection:

Now displayed on what I call Mike’s wall of fame in the office, these caricatures, unspoken, tell me how much Mike was loved by our staff. He was a natural leader, a visionary who guided TeamAsia through the many challenges we had faced, embracing opportunities for expansion and growth, always with an eye to using technology for innovation, spurring everyone to be world class, and keeping firm values of doing the right thing always and giving back.

He was great at motivating people, yet set the bar high for performance, beginning with himself. He was generous with his time, mentoring the staff, allowing them to make the mistakes that would make them better people. No wonder they respected and loved him.

On his last birthday on earth, he was portrayed as the kindly grandfather who had just lost his wife whom he deeply loved and was very saddened, until a chubby little boy scout came and badgered him to buy his cookies.

I don’t know why but when I first saw that last sketch of Mike holding on to the colorful balloons as he swung up, up into the air, I felt a tug in my heart. It seemed like he was saying good-bye to me. I didn’t know that just eight months later he would be gone forever.

And now, here’s this sketch of Mike with his camera pointed at me, just as I remember him.

Is he telling me something?

Communication, Family, Technology, Work

On Close Calls and Being a Mobile Phone Junkie

Image March 28, 2014 administrator

For several hours yesterday, I was off the communication grid, and I felt terrible! Now, I understand how attached we all get to our mobile phones, that not having a working one in your hand is like a life sentence. This meant though that I was incommunicado.

On my way to a tourism promotions committee meeting yesterday, I was charging my phone in the car and browsing email at the same time, when the phone suddenly felt so hot I almost dropped it. I smelled burning, looked at the car charger and saw smoke coming out. Quickly, I removed the car charger from the charging port (and burnt my fingertips in the process). Turns out the lightning to USB cable exterior had melted and the wires exposed. Mama mia! That was a close call!

This meant though that I was incommunicado. All afternoon, I kept reaching out to my phone to check messages, only to be reminded that it was out of battery. I even asked those attending the meeting if they had a charger I could borrow. Unfortunately, no one had the model I needed. It dawned on me that this was why smokers would ask friends or even strangers for a stick of cigarette when they were out. Shudder! What a “junkie” I’ve become with all of these new technologies!

Why, oh, why, can’t iPhone batteries last long enough so constant charging is unnecessary and you don’t need to bring along a slew of accessories and back-up chargers, and a large bag to carry everything in? My Blackberry would last me all day before, while I’m lucky if my iPhone charge would last three hours.

It’s a throwback to my early motherhood days, when bringing my babies out of the house meant lugging around a large bag full of diapers, towels, milk bottles, extra change of clothes, and what have you. Now the baby has been replaced by a mobile phone.

As soon as the meeting ended, I rushed back to Alabang from Roxas Boulevard, intent on getting to the malls before they closed to buy a new cable. Without a phone in hand to check messages or FB, I suffered as we inched our way through heavy rush hour traffic, narrow roads, potholes and road repairs. And when a traffic enforcer stopped my driver for turning right from Roxas instead of from the service road, all hope of getting to ATC in time plummetted and my stress levels zoomed.

It was then that another realization hit me: I had been using my mobile phone as a baby sitter to distract me from travel stress. But then again, I argued, doesn’t it allow me to be more efficient? I can respond to client and work-related requests right away, check on my children, connect with friends on Facebook, Linkedin, Google+ and more. Relax, I told myself, and enjoy the moment.

Luckily, I did make it on time, thanks to the Skyway. And, my now grown-up daughters were at ATC, so they accompanied me to the store. I decided to get not just a cable but a Boostcase as well as another back-up option for when I run out of power.

So, here’s my challenge to the inventors out there. Design a phone that gets charged simply by holding it. Takers, anyone?

TeamAsia founder and president, trainer, event organizer, food and art lover. President, Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Supplier Philippines · teamasia.com