On With 2009!

To welcome the New Year, I went to David’s and got a new haircut.

Let’s wish for a brighter, happier, prosperous 2009!!!!!

Bonne annee!!!!!!

Flirting Over Coffee

Two obviously effeminate men sat at a coffee shop corner. One is more effeminate than the other as he wears a pink off shoulder top with skinny jeans and heeled steps. The oversized white loop earrings emerge at the sides of his brunette bob. He sat across the other who wears a striped polo shirt and corduroy pants with hair arranged to look like emo. 

Their table is across that of an expat in black shirt and onyx Versace jeans. Perhaps he works in one of the BPOs nearby. This guy is with a woman who seemed to be his officemate. They may be having their coffee break. 

The two effeminate beings engage themselves in deep conversations while taking glances of the expat in black. They giggle like high school girls. The guy with the loop earrings makes several quick looks at the foreigner then he talks in whispers and laughs every after chit chat. 

Two men enter the coffee shop. They are of the same height, same body type, almost the same feature. They choose a table at the side. It’s a table for four. Normally two guys would sit across each other. But this pair appears to be a couple. They sit side by side and settle into a tête-à-tête. They stop talking only to sip their warm coffee. 

The two effeminate guys notice the couple also. They glance at the pair and then talk in whispers again. The couple seems to be oblivious as they continue on with their conversation. 

I don’t know why I could not help myself but notice how the people in the coffee shop go about their actions. There’s an air of flirting that hovers in and around the joint. It’s also not surprising that Koreans could be seen in almost all the cafés in town. In this coffee shop alone, I spot 4 of their kind. 

I decided to wait for Karen here in I.T. Park. My sister is having her birthday celebration at a nearby hotel. I am alone and so I do not have anything else to do besides waiting and sipping coffee but to amuse myself by letting my eyes roam around the shop. 

I think I know that I am one of the people who may have the lowest ‘flirting detection’ ability. I mean I often find myself to be the last person to ever realize that someone is trying to flirt with me. There were occasions when I stop myself from talking when I realized that the person I was talking to was trying to hit on me. 

I could not forget how this girl in my former socio-civic group actually knocked me off my feet when she basically took the chance to express her feelings for me. She had her little note of love and hope and she handed the letter at the moment when I was really saturated with alcohol. As I started to run my eyes on the note, she stood in front of me and watched me react to her letter.  

Maybe it took a lot of courage to write the note. I was shaking when I read it. Every line I read, I felt the alcohol escaped from my blood and the redness in my face basically drained out. I was already sober when I reached the last word of her letter. I was pretty sure that I never flirted with her. Maybe she construed our lengthy conversations as something beyond friendship. As far as I know, I’m not into girls. It freaked her out when told her I would never fall in love with someone who’s gifted with a vagina. 

Two more Koreans enter the coffee shop. Both have long curly locks with uneven bangs. I wonder why they are dressed up for a fix of coffee. 

I am a regular customer at this coffee shop in Mandaue. This café had free wi-fi internet access which is why a lot of sales representatives and I.T. experts frequent it. On several occasions, I noticed this big burly guy with long black braided locks, full beard and almost East Asian in features. I do not know him but every time I enter the coffee shop, he would lift his head and stare at me and smile. 

I freaked out every time he would do the smile thing. I thought he looked so scary. Every time he’s around, I would pick a table far away from him and sit in a way that I could not see his face. But one time, I was already in the coffee shop when he arrived. The café was full and there were not enough empty tables inside. He chose the empty table near mine. I got a bit scared. I pretended that I was not freaked out. 

But I freaked out even more when he started to talk to me. He noticed that I am one of the regular customers there and he asked if it’s because of the free internet. When I answered back, he then began to talk about his profession and his life and his interest. Neither I asked for his autobiography nor did I invite him to speak to me at all, which is why I wondered so much why he was pouring his life stories to me. 

Now this guy went on to talk about his disagreement on some Christmas presentation where straight guys perform in women’s costumes. I restrained myself from making comments about it in the hopes that this guy would stop talking to me. I just wanted to finish my reports and leave. He asked a lot of questions such as the nature of my job, business health and market developments. I did not give much answer to his queries. 

The shocking part was when he invited me for a workout. I had this weird connotation about working out in a gym. Just the thought of working out with him around made me totally freak out. At that point, I do not know if he was flirting with me or if he was just trying to be friendly. But I finally decided to pack my things, refused his invitation and left the coffee shop.    

The two effeminate guys are joined by a couple of hags. They engage themselves into conversations about Christmas parties and stories from the grapevines. I am almost halfway into my cup of mocha latte. 

I remember a coffee session with Ibyang in Bacolod a few weeks ago. We were at Café Bobs hours before midnight. We sat near a young couple and we could not help but noticed how they were so intimate with each other. It’s interesting because they were both guys. 

They sat beside each other and they were so intimate that at times, Ibyang and I would stop our conversation just to check where their hands went. The couple were so sweet and very demonstrative of their closeness. They both looked good together though. 

I told Ibyang that I got this friend who at that time was still in the wedding reception of our common friends. This girl is currently in a relationship with a man from the land down under. She said that because she has already a boyfriend, she would never allow herself to look at other men. 

I asked Ibyang if this is a normal case among women. I was made to believe that women do not flirt with other men once they already have a boyfriend. I wonder if this is also the case among gay couples. As I was listening to Ibyang about her thoughts on the matter, my friend at the wedding reception was flirting with the disc jockey. 

Like I said, I am not the best person that could define the act of flirting. I could not even detect if some actions or some basic conversation could actually qualify as such. It would take me a lot of time to find out what the intentions are. For me, flirting detection is a slow mental process. 

In this coffee shop a few days ago, I had my fix of non-caffeinated drink. I had some apple juice that went with a piece of oatmeal cookie. There were only a few people in the coffee shop. I was there to finish up my reports. My drink was served by a guy, perhaps in his early 20’s. He’s rather short but not dreadful at all. 

I was deep into my work when he approached me again and asked if he could interview me or something. I looked around and I wanted to ask why of all people in the coffee shop he chose me for the survey. I stopped whatever I was doing at that time and allowed him to ask me some questions. 

It was just a survey on their coffee products.  The guy was a bit nervous when he dished out his questions. In all honesty, I just wanted him to hurry up so that I could go back to my reports. I answered all the questions but I paused for a bit when he asked for my name. Surveys like this ought to have the identities of their samples placed in anonymity. 

Was he actually flirting with me? Or did I basically allow paranoia to wrap me like crazy? His intention for the survey was clear. But I was not quite sure if the survey was his only intention. I gave out my name anyway. After the survey, I packed my things and left the café. As I went out of the shop, I noticed the guy followed me with his stare. I veered away and walked to where my car was parked. 

Maybe it would be easier for me to just count the number of Koreans that enter the coffee shop than to try myself to define flirting.  At this time, I counted 12.

Joyeux Noel

Season’s Greetings Tout le Monde!!!!

Have a nice week ahead!!!!

Cheers to 2009!!!!

12th Day B4 Xmas: Christmas Eve

My life at 30

It’s Christmas Eve. Dad was very busy in the kitchen as he prepared the macaroni salad for our midnight dinner. Mom was at his side as she cleaned out the chicken wings for lunch. Christine and Karen were discussing about the ingredients needed for the carbonara. I on the otherhand was busy belting out christmas songs and danced like a headless chicken. The little diva was in the house, dancing and prancing about like an impala with a bloated tummy. She tiptoed her way around the house. ADHD of the highest form.

The 12th Day is for me, for my life, for my 30 years existence.

And I exist because I needed to. I feel the need to belong to a family or to a group. I needed to feel that I am needed. I gained friends and I wished that relationships never falter or end.

I am thankful for the 30 years. And I am thankful that the heavens gave me this life. I could not ask for anything else. The life I have now is good. I have a wonderful family. I have my Brother Bear. I have great friends. I thank the heavens for these blessings. Somehow my life has been good because of these.

Yes. It’s just a few hours more. Christmas would finally come. But I continued on with my singing. The others continued on with their macaroni salad, and their carbonara as the little diva kept doing circles in tiptoes around the house.

This is eve number 30. I’m grateful to have reached this far.

11th Day B4 Xmas

Bro Bear

This day is for Him, though he’s several miles away.

I met him in 1995 and again in 2003. Bro Bear was my emotional stabilizer. He put balance into my life. He enriched my heart with affection and my soul with joy. He made me realize how wonderful it felt to be hugged and embraced by an ursine soul. His warmth is truly amazing.

I could just stare at him all day as he close his eyes to sleep. I could just watch him dance his “yummy yummy” dance,  again and again and again. Or I could just listen to his words and thoughts about anything and everything, social issues, political thoughts, gossips, plans for the future and whatnot.

But I could also be contented by spooning. :-)

 

Merry Christmas Bro Bear. We’ll just have our bear hugs and kisses when you get home. But thank you for bringing joy and meaning to my life. After All, My life is meant for sharing with you.  Je t’aime et je t’adore!

Grrrrrrhhhhh.

10th Day B4 Xmas

The Wedding

I saw Irish walk down the aisle in a beautiful wedding gown which she bought in New York. She was supposed to wear it a year ago but she and Fred decided to postpone the church wedding and had a little civil marriage last December. But now, they’re more than ready to tie the knot in front of the Creator and in the company of family and friends.

The 10th day is for Fred and Irish on their wedding day.

I’ve known Fred since our GenChem days. We belonged to the same department, lived together in an apartment and later on we became roommates in the staff house. Our GenChem experience was tough. Stress levels were high, corporate morale was low, and we made so many sacrifices.

Fred was one of the first few people I told about me. Funny because he never realized that I was different until I came out to him. I could still remember how he acted after my revelation.

Just like my brother bear, Fred’s petite amie was working in Makati. We had almost the same situation. Our respective partners are in Metro Manila while we both work in Cavite and we only get to meet them once a week. At times, we would travel to the capital on weekends just to be with the people we dearly love.

We would always remember our ice cream tub sessions. Frustrations at work and in our respective relationships were poured into a conversation over cookies and cream or double-dutch ice cream. Our conversations often extended into the wee hours of morn.

Fred left the company first and transferred to Merck. I stayed on until 2006 when I finally decided to move on. I got in to Merck because of Fred.

We became officemates again for about a year until he moved on to an overseas job last December. At that time, Irish was already working in New York.

Finally, the church wedding had taken place. It was such a lovely time. Fred took Irish’s hands from her mother and brother and they both sat down in front of the altar for the blessing of the church.

 

Everyone was happy to finally see them as married couple. I knew that their 10 years of being together had withstood the trials and struggles imaginable and the wedding was just the grand “iron” that smoothened the wrinkles and the folds of their relationship. I saw how happy Fred and Irish were on that wedding day.

It was just wonderful to witness how happy they were during the wedding ceremony at the Triumph of the Holy Cross Church in Bacolod City and at the reception that followed at the Business Inn Hotel.

To Fred and Irish, your hearts have been filled with joy and love. Congratulations!!!

9th Day B4 Xmas

My Beloved Negros

I’ve made a lot of trips to Negros this year. Bacolod City was my birthplace and somehow in 2008 this place of character reminded me of my roots.

The 9th Day is for the land of sugarcanes.

This year, I was able to see some progress in the island. For one, they had a new airport facility in Silay City.  Several malls had sprouted and there were a lot of new restaurants and coffee shops that opened, especially along Lacson Street.

Personally, 2008 was special to me because our family had our first out-of-town activity in Negros last May. We visited our grandmom in Hinigaran and stayed with her for several days to experience the rural fiesta. I could not forget the wonderful time we had at Mambukal Resort.

 

I made several quick trips to Negros this year. A couple of times, I was with my boss and we took a short fastcraft ride from Iloilo to Bacolod to meet our distributor here.

Some of our friends who visited Negros said that in Bacolod, “the food is great and the people are nice.” I often thought about the chocolate cake from Calea, the grilled chicken from Manokan Country or the Chicken House, the pasalubongs of piaya from BongBong’s. 

Unfortunately, I have yet to witness or experience their Masskara Festival.

Bro Bear and I also visited Bacolod last October for our first out-of-town road trip. It was very significant because I brought him to the Church of the Angry Christ in Victorias City while I was taking the blow from the news that my Dad would lose his job by December.

This December, just a few days before Christmas, I traveled again to Bacolod City to attend the wedding of a friend. Finding myself in the land of my birth, I felt that my roots continue to dig deeper as I see myself reaching for my future in the heavens.

8th Day B4 Xmas

Photos From Digicams

I think 2008 has been a great year for collecting pictures and photos of people, places and events.  I had been given quite a lot of opportunities to travel to several places or had met a lot of people due to the nature of my job and also because of several get-togethers and maybe because there had been a lot of things that had happened this year that I get to experience or the very least witness.

So the 8th Day is for the pictures – the tangibe memory keepers.

Therefore I thank my Sony DSC, Casio Digicam and of  course the Canon Ixus 75. They had been my companion during my trips all over the country.

My very first digital camera was a Sony DSC Cybershot. It was an early version of the digital camera in which 2 AA batteries were needed to supply the power. It was a gift from the prodigal daughter back then when I was still working in Cavite. I was still using the Sony camera this year. It’s compact and small in size.

 

The second camera was a Casio Exilim Pro EX P505 which was left behind by the prodigal daughter when she decided to run away from us last 2006. The camera was a crossbreed of a digital still camera with video capture feature and a swiveling 2-in screen.

Mom and dad decided to keep the camera in their dresser and made it as a keepsake for their daughter that they feared they would never meet or see again.

The 3rd camera is a Canon Digital IXUS 75. This was given by Bro Bear’s mom as a christmas present.  I used this camera extensively this year.

  

Bro Bear was fascinated by this cam’s time lapse feature when shooting a movie instead of still photos. Apart from its huge screen display, it has face detection capability and also broad menu selection to capture pictures vividly in various light source and settings.

I was also fascinated by the fact that Tita Ching (Bro Bear’s mom) bought it for me. I never asked for such a present. At that time, the cam was priced above 20k. I was always grateful though for her because this camera had taken a lot of photos from my trips to Mindanao, the Visayas, Corregidor, Ilocos and Manila.

Now I realized that I never bought these cameras. They were more or less, presents.  I was just thankful enough for these items because until they retire from wear and tear, they will always be my constant companion in my life journey.

7th Day B4 Xmas

The Many Times in Manila

December 19 was the grand Christmas Party at Renaissance Hotel in Makati City. The 7th Day is for opportunities of traveling to Manila to be close with my Brother Bear.

I could no longer count the times when I travelled back and forth to and from the capital. What’s important for me and for my ursine petit ami are the chances to be together.

I had been grateful to my company for always giving me the opportunities to fly to Manila either for training, business reviews, strat plans and of course parties.

Those who were based outside of the capital are often brought in to celebrate Christmas in Manila. It has always been a Merck tradition that people from the pharmaceuticals and chemicals division come up with a themed party to celebrate the yuletide.

This time, the theme was retro or based on the 70’s and 80’s. Almost everyone participated in costumes and whatnot. Everybody had fun that night.

I enjoyed the night. Though at that time, my Bro Bear was not in Manila. He was somewhere in the Middle East to spend the holidays with his family. Only at that time I did not see him there.

6th Day B4 Xmas

My Distributors

With my stint at Merck I get to know 6 companies who’ve helped me in my coroporate journey. These companies are partners with Merck, distinct from one another yet similar in goals and objectives as far as sales and distribution are concerned.

I came to know these partners when I started out at Merck almost 2 years ago. Now I realized that part of my growing up in this particular field was mainly because of them. My distributors strengthened my backbone in this corporate society.

So the 6th day before Christmas Day is for them, my distributors, my partners in the business field.

DIAMED Marketing. This is the first distributor that I covered and visited after my weeklong training in the head office. Diamed is based in Cebu and covers accounts in the central and eastern visayas areas. Having business with Diamed was like having conversations at siesta time. Laid-back and relax yet seriously focused on the tasks.

It was less corporate in business approach, being family-ran, but nevertheless their process was effective for several years. Diamed was more like a basic family with the sales representatives as the children and the owners as the doting parents.

AO BIOMED. The depot in visayas and mindanao area. This company is run by a person who is an ex-Merck, a house husband and an organic farmer. The sole proprietor had been my guidance councilor, my guide in this field, for he used to manage the territory where I am now currently handling. AO Biomed is the anchor for the clinical products business in southern Philippines.

It’s surprising how this person single-handedly conduct business with Merck, considering that he has several other businesses to attend to. Not to mention that he’s still taking up doctorate studies in education, he also finds time to teach at a local university.

What is amazing is the fact that he could manage his time and could still find time for his business with Merck, his family, his farm, his schooling and his teaching stint. He is someone who doesn’t like to be idle for a long time.

BIOSPECTRA Marketing. This is my distributor in Iloilo and Panay provinces. Just like AO Biomed, this company is run by one person only. The owner had a different approach in running a business. Although heavily influenced by his sino-filipino roots, my distributor always purchase items in bulk and haggle without end for the lowest price.

Having business with this company could be compared to how a customer transacts business with a peddler in the flea market. The thrill was in the haggling and the joy is in the negotiation for the agreement of price. Biospectra is very much dedicated to his business. 

His multi-million partnership with Merck hasn’t changed his very humble style. This is the distributor who would go cover and visit clients in his old plain polo shirt, faded jeans and flipflops. And almost everytime I made joint fieldwork with him, this is the get-up combination. This dealer exemplifies simplicity wrapped in humble sheets.

MICROCHEM Trading. I also have a dealer whose coverage is the entire Negros Island. Based in Bacolod City, this dealer is responsible for the clinical accounts in the major cities in the island. Just like AO Biomed and Biospectra, it’s being run by one person.

One of the nicest things I learned from this dealer is its dedication to his business in spite of the adverse and competitive business territory and the lack of official recognition as a dealer of Merck in the area. Microchem is being run by Noel who struggles to penetrate the Negros market, the area where other Merck dealers do not want to tread.

Sir Noel has generated significant sales in the land of the sugar barons and hacienderos. He alone is keen on the potential of this market. And because of his strong belief that he could grow the business, he has kept the claws of Merck buried in the Negrense soil.

GLOBAL DIAGNOSTICS COMPANY. My clinical dealer in Mindanao, GLODIA has been the biggest support in terms of sales of the VISMIN group of dealers. Global Diagnostics is a strong, competitive player in the clinical segment and has long been a stable partner of Merck.

I admire this dealer in the sense that it would not leave a single opportunity untested. All the government biddings it would try to join, all the private hospitals and laboraties it would visit. Distance location of clients is a non-issue , they would even reach clients in the war-stricken areas and geographically remote places .

I have never seen a dealer who’s brave enough to cover clients in Cotabato City or in the towns of Midsayap or Quiamba Sarangani.  This dealer is so dedicated and focused in its goal of enriching and growing its assigned territory. In terms of business structure, GLODIA is at the forefront.

TRILIM COMMERCIAL. This is my only industrial dealer. TRILIM handles industrial clients in southern mindanao area. The wonderful thing about this family-run business is the manner of how they function as business partners and as a family on the side. TRILIM is owned by a couple who are active members of CFC. One could not help but notice how they put their prayers and religion in the middle of their business activity. Basically TRILIM is anchored by their passion for CPC.

What is truly amazing is that these people are positive thinkers. At times I thought that they could not recover from their poor performance last year. But they would always assure me that things would be brighter for them and Merck this year. And they were indeed right. TRILIM has performed extremely well in 2008.

One of the dealer representatives of TRILIM has been an interesting character. I was able to work with her in the field for several occasions and it had been wonderful to work with her always. I realized how strong her sense of getting through and getting on with life, amidst personal will to rectify her past and her desire to make things good in the future. She exhibited a courage and strength that I longed to acquire. She may have learned to embrace life without being hurt in the process.

And so the 6th Day is but a rundown of the partners and people I get to work with in Visayas and Mindanao. And I thank them for the opportunity of learning and understanding their perception of business and of life as well.