60+ Reasons why U’ll miss Central Luzon

June 21, 2004. With a heavy heart, I left a team that I lead for 5 years to handle another team. I handled the CL family when I was 27 until 32 yrs old hence truly memorable times in my life. I received over 60 messages from my teammates that I handled directly or indirectly and I’d like to share some of the messages;

Sir DL,
Goodluck po and a great loss indeed for CMO kasi mababawasan po sales namin because of your endorsements sa mga friends nyo na gusto mag-apply. Hehehe  You’ll always be our CL Smart family. God Bless.
K. / Pampanga

DL,
Thank you for the times you’ve helped me. And thank you for just being there.
M. / Pampanga

Sir,
Salamat…sa mga bagay na tinuro ninyo…sa opportunidad na binigay mo…sa supporta at pang-unawa. Good luck & more power.
B. / Bulacan

DL,
Thought you’ll be my superior for the rest of my SMART life. Thanks and good luck in your new team!
L. / Tarlac

Dearest Sir DL,
I believe that you are one of the best managers in Smart and I will not be surprised if you’ll be entrusted more with greater responsibilities in the future. May the good Lord continue to bless you in your endeavors Thanks so much for the trust. I hope that you’ll be proud of me someday. We’ll surely miss u! Ingat po!
B. / Bataan

Sir DL,
Just want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for guiding me and molding me into becoming the kind of person that I am right now. I had a lot of rough times at Smart and I know you were behind me all the while. Thanks for trusting and believing in me. I must say that I’m blessed to have a boss like you. Hope that I would have the chance to work with you again.
G. / Pampanga

Sir DL,
I have learned a lot from you in the short time we have known each other. Thank you for encouraging me to make decisions on my own and for allowing me to commit mistakes in order to learn. Most especially thank you for the trust & support you have given me. I’m sure going to miss working with you. God Bless!
H. / Bulacan

Sir DL,
Sayang etana mekapag basketball ulit, pero ebali dakal pa naman aliwang aldo. Sir, Kasanting mu palang akakit keng TV. Pwde kang maging host bala ku sana ita ing maging bayu mung career. Good luck!
P. / Pampanga

Dear Sir DL,
Thank you for the lessons learned from you. There maybe ups and downs along the way but it brings better relationships to both of us. Good luck to your next assignment and am sure this will add another feather in your cap. God bless you always.
B. / Zambales

Sir DL,
Thank you for everything. You’re one of the people who made me or rather showed me to love my work. Don’t work too much OK? Kaw na rin nagsabi na pagnagka sakit ka, yung family mo lang ang karamay mo. Goodluck po. I believe this is just the beginning of a lifetime of success.
P. / Pampanga

Sir DL,
Thanks for being there always. So sorry if sometimes na hurt ko yung feelings mo but I do know that you want the best for me and I really thank you for that. As I’ve said, naiintindihan ko ang lahat ng ginagawa mo. I wish you luck on your new challenges in your life. Take care always and we love you.
A../ Pampanga

Sir DL,
All good things must come to an end. It wasn’t all that bad, believe me. I know this is one opportunity you will not let pass and I’m certain that you’ll make it. Let me kthank you for letting me be part of one of the best teams in SMT. Had I not been under you, I would have been a different (maybe less of who I am right now) AE in the corporate world. I hope that somehow, I added COLOR to your “always put in B & W” approach to work. I’m happy that in our last task together, you finally got the BALIUAG’s spelling right  See you around!
A.E. / Pampanga

Sir DL!
Thank you po ken eganagana asaup nyu po kaku lalong lamo nap o itang “BIKE.” Good luck na mu po ken bayu nyo po lugar o pwestu. Sir, Amiss ku po itang “RL dating gawi!” at ing piyalung ta po basketball. Sir unit po, good luck.
R.L./ Pampanga

Sir DL,

Thank you for the support you have extended to me/us! Kamustahan with you po ay malaki ang nagagawa even not just to voice out problems if there is anybut plan sharing experiences. Good luck and more power on your next endeavor.
H. / Nueva Ecija

To Sir DL,
Thank you for believing in me and making me a part of the Smt family. I could still remember during my interview when you told me that being a contractual doesn’t make me less of a person and you were right. I was inspired and I was able to strive more and render something more than I thought I could do. Anyway, I just wish you all the best and all the luck! Gob bless you and surely you will be missed.
A.B. / Bulacan

-end-

Clean Up Drive

My blogsite is 4 years and 3 months old. It has over 400 posts. I reckon this site will outlive me barring any technical or personal concerns and I have no recourse but to shut it down. Since it is expected to be here long after I’ve gone to the next life, I should have at least clean it up. This is what I plan to do:

(1) Check spelling & grammar.
(2) Review if pictures are appropriate to the text content.
(3) Rationalize the categories.
(4) Mask the names of my family members.

My target is to clean 100 entries every month. This is a 4 month personal project which will commence on November 1, 2010 and end on March 31, 2011.

Must Have Basic Qualities

I got this material from the Careers Section of a popular local daily and had to cut it out and post it on my office and my blogsite. Nothing beats going back to basics regardless of the level you're in:

1- Exceptional Leadership Qualities
2- Highly Motivated
3- Excellent Communication Skills
4- Ready Network of Clientele
5- Team Player

-end-

How to Keep Your Boss Happy

by Anna Kadet, a writer for Smart Money magazine

http://gmy.news.yahoo.com/

1- Put in the hours
2- Emphatize
3- Defuse a Bad Situation
4- Be a conduit
5- Ask for Help
6- Connect the Boss' Way
7- Show Initiative
8- Be Positive
9- Make Like Mini Me
10- Get Your Face Time

ICBM is AYT!

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile or ICBM.

1 f d best career advice dat I recvd ds yr 2009.

Ds s AYT!

KENAN INSIDE

If you work in a telecommunications company, the biggest adjustment that one has to make is the dynamism of the industry. Telco people have to put up with fast turnaround of cellular phones, new promos released almost every week, services launched every so often and software entries, exits and modifications.

ICMS’ demise
The Integrated Customer Management System (ICMS) was introduced in 1999 in congruent with the entry of the GSM service of Smart. It is a database that primarily manages the postpaid subscribers. Originally designed for wired service (landline), it has evolved to accommodate wireless service (cellular phones). Almost a decade old, it has served its purpose hence time to retire this aging system.

Kenan’s entry
Comverse (http://www.comverse.com/) is a software company based in Wakefield, Massachusetts, USA that offers a billing solutions software called Kenan. It was created as a convergent software for wired and wireless service and this seems like the software database that can handle the challenges of the postpaid service of both Smart and PLDT. In the worldwide setting, Kenan users include VOXmobile (Luxemburg), China Telecom (China), GCI (Alaska, USA) and Euskaltel (Spain). Smart purchased its backend system and intends to use the homegrown Customer Solutions Platform as its front end tool.

CRM’s match
The Customer Solutions Platform was renamed to One Customer Relation Management to give it a holistic theme. Currently, the CSP is being used as a front end tool for the prepaid service. You can’t find CSP in the internet as this is purely a home grown system. Credit should go to our IT guys; if they can’t find a software solution in the market to meet the company’s requirement, they’ll create one for you. The software was borne out of a need which was specific to the Filipino subscriber, the ultimate texter.

The CRM – Kenan system tandem is expected to be in place next year. The fact that it will integrate numerous systems translates to operational efficiency. For the users of this software system, you may see a familiar screen in the guise of CSP however at the back end, Kenan is doing all the dirty work. It is analogous to a personal computer CPU where the computing part is done by Intel (remember the Intel inside branding). In this case, the computing will be done by Kenan hence the branding - Kenan Inside.

Corporate RPG: Lessons from a Greenhorn

I got a valuable advice from a new kid on the block during our weekend in Dakak. He said that in basketball, you should play your role, stick to it and give it your best.

IN THE GAME
During the last BBall tourney that I joined, I was a complete failure. That is my personal assessment. I never bothered to ask my teammates or the coach their thoughts. If they invite me again this season, that's probably a clear sign I met their expectation. In that tournament, I set a goal of contributing 10 points per game (ppg) and 5 assist per game (apg). The actual performance was probably 2 ppg and 2 apg. In the next season, I'd like to target a more realistic 4 ppg and 4 apg. The bigger contribution would most likely be in defense more than offense. That will be my role to the team if invited again.

CORPORATE LIFE
After proving that I can compete with the best managers in our org through 3 consecutive model region awards, I was tapped to fill in an unfamiliar role. Initially, handing a project team then eventually handling a small team with a big responsibility. It’s basically a support team so I’m still feeling my way as I’m not used to playing a supporting role. When you’re in the front lines, you’re touted to be a SUPERSTAR. Total control is within your hands and as Spidey said “With great power comes great responsibility.” On the other hand, being in support is BIG CHALLENGE. Just suggesting to replace a step in dusty process flow will take meetings and meetings of debates and you will surely collect more foes than friends.

ROLE PLAYING GAME
The in thing for the net generation is RPG or Role Playing Games. The most famous all time RPG is Dungeons and Dragons. If you’re a net gen guy, you probably don’t know this. And if you’re a gen Xer, you probably thought I meant Commando arcade game. Anyway, my current personal professional vision is to be a role player. I can’t be a star in my current role but can definitely contribute to make our organization a star. I’ll do this by playing my role, sticking to it and give it my best. Thank you, greenhorn Glenmarc.

My Humps

“Trials are not the reason to give up, but a challenge to improve ourselves, mistakes are not an excuse to back-out but an inspiration to move forward.”

Tim Hardaway, one third of the NBA famous RUN-TMC from the Golden State Warriors committed a major boo boo in February this year. During an interview, he said he didn't like gay people. A strong statement because I assume about 25% of the worldwide population belongs to that gender. The statement definitely earned their ire. Since then he has “recovered” and brought back the trust in some way by doing voluntary work for the underprivileged.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago also had her share of mishap recently. She took potshots at the Chinese during one interview. She called them intsik on national TV and boasted that the Chinese invented corruption. Strong words indeed reason why the Filipino-Chinese lambasted the feisty senator. She immediately wrote a letter of apology to the Chinese Embassy and publicly apologized the day after she delivered her infamous line saying that she was under a lot of stress.

One of the biggest trials of my professional life is currently in play. I hope it ends soon and I get to already view the closing credits. I'd rather not detail how it came about but would like to focus on my life learning and these are humility and tact. With all the blessing that is coming our way this year: a new car, travel with family, real property investments and achievement of our children (B5 is rank 1 in school and MC was accelerated), any normal person has the tendency to forget where he came from hence the timing of the trial is just right. There are no regrets that this happened, apologies have been delivered to the proper persons and as Julia Fordham said in her song "time heals all wounds."

The Road to Three-Peat

“Saying goodbye is not an easy thing” sabi nga nung kanta. Let me start my farewell to this super team by saying that I was irked by a fellow manager’s remark sometime in mid 2004 that SL team was a more mature group compared to CL. Hindi talaga ako pumayag at pinaglaban ko ang CL. Who wouldn’t: CL was MY BABY and we just came from a Model Region runner up finish and the usage award. Right now, I’d like to go back to that manager and tell her that maybe she was right. When I joined SL, I was just armed with a work management model. I simply copied the model that we “nearly perfected” in CL, pasted it in SL and voila! The result is a usage award in 2004 and 3 model region awards (2004, 2005 and 2006).

The experience and lessons I learned from this group in 2 and half years is more than what I learned in graduate school. Like I shared in one of our MTMs was that MY PERSONAL GOAL is to make a significant impact on your careers in my own little way and I’d like to think I was partially successful in that aspect. Just remember the lessons that you learned like R-I-O-T, our management tips, tech tips, operational experiences, teamwork brought to the hilt. Use them as if your own. The best success indicator of my personal goal is if you apply what you learned from this team. Ang sabi ko nga sa email ko “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Allow me to take a few more minutes to recall some memories in my 31 months as a member of the South Luzon team:

ABV – Your rendition of “Girls Just wanna have fun” which made Cyndi Lauper’s version sound like a gospel song.
ARR – Your butterfly costume during our natcon in Boracay. It fits you to a tee. Fly high butterfly and see you at the top.
BDT – Your numerous surprises like our last PA discussion and your new nose.
BFG –Mountain Bikes? Guns? Photography? Basketball? We have so many things in common.
BOP – Attorney Panga, I will never forget your passion matched with subtle persistence.
BPS – I will never forget our loooooooooong conversations. And that singing voice which will give Jed Madella a run for his money.
CBC – Parang complete blood count. It still puzzles me up to now why a UP Dil graduate (with honors) matched with an AIM diploma would want to experience life in Smart.
CDV – Your whistle bait figure. Have I told you that you remind me of a Jim Henson muppet?
DDG – Click is the sound that a camera makes and it’s also a term that I’d like to use to describe our professional relationship.
GMP – Your job interview was mostly in English. Halos mag nose bleed na ako. That was the last time I spoke to you in English. At any rate, what’s important is that you survived the “ex-banker’s test.”
GCO – Our professional relationship is not the fairest of all but the learning is immeasurable.
GCL – Silence is your virtue. You speak up only when it matters.
HVH – Your experience in OQA delivered the goods for you. I wonder if it is also the reason why 3 out of 7 ladies in South Luzon would like to be your “reserve” partner.
JDH – You gave justice to the term COPC catalyst.
JDP – Our lunch date sometime 1Q 2005 in Frio Mixx, Rob Sta Rosa. You know what I mean.
JPB – Our non stop kwentuhans during long trips along Maharlika Highway.
LSV – The key to success is in business…lotto-in mo na.
MEA – Your sugalera stance during our sessions. And for drinking your heart out during our natcon in Clark.
MOB – It was a fine day in April 2005 then suddenly things turned turbulent. Not to worry, I learned a lot from that experience.
MRM – That you beat me in “My heart will go on” singing contest.
PCP – Ang ninong ng bayan! Tell me the truth, pare mayroon ka bang hindi kilala sa Batangas?
RMG – Obviously, mompo ang kinalakihan mo at hindi tequila. Don’t forget your house keys.
RTS – I have to admit mababaw lang ang pinag samahan natin kaya wala pa akong ma-isulat but let me assure you that you will easily fit in the team the way I did.

I hope I didn’t miss anybody but definitely, I will miss everybody. The pessimist in me says “Good things don’t last” but the optimist in me says “All things happen for a purpose.” Thank you for the rich experience and wonderful memories. Good luck to all of us.

New Job, Old Company

It’s official, I have a new job in our existing company. My permanent job starting August 1 is called New Business & Global Support and Special Project. I shall continue my temporary job called Project Customer Relationship Management and Kenan (It’s a bit long so I renamed it Project CK One Team) until first quarter of Y2008. I don’t have a name for my new responsibility yet. I was thinking of naming it G&B team for easier recall. G&B? J&B? For my fellow whiskey lovers, J&B should have a strong recall because of the famous scotch whiskey. Although it maybe a bit infamous for women especially married because the act of drinking tends to steal precious time from family.

Now about my new job…It sounds exciting – New Business & Global Support and Special Projects. The exciting part ends after reading the title because I have to set up the group from ground up. I’m looking at 12 month to 24 months before we deliver results but I know that’s not realistic and in fact goes against the company’s culture of delivering results. Hence, I have to do a Harry Houdini and deliver results in 4 months time! Or at most 10 months. That’s my personal challenge. And what do I get if I deliver? Hopefully, a GC from SM.

Postscript: My new team’s acronym is GBS. It may mean Giorgio Brutini Shoes or Group B Streptococcus Screening or God’s Bible School but it really means New Business & Global Support and Special Projects.

Top Five Reasons why employees leave their jobs

In one of the trainings that I attended, a trainer shared a survey that says there are generally five reasons why employees join or leave a company. I have been using this survey and sharing it since I discovered it years ago. Allow me to share it with you:

1. Pay – It pays to be paid well. The key word here is right remuneration. The question is, how much is enough? The survey says people resign or join a company because of the salary. This seems to be the number one reason.

2. Company – Fresh grads would do anything to join P&G, Accenture, Ayala, SGV and recently Smart. It’s probably partly because of reason number one but then again a bigger portion is because of the company culture, the trainings that these companies offer and the experience that you’d gain from working in these companies. Often, they use the employment as a springboard to higher positions in another company.

3. Job – So you finished a B.S. Nursing degree and an R.N. (Registered Nurse) but you work for a company’s IT department. Sounds strange huh? You study hard to be a nurse (and probably hope to work abroad) but happen to enroll in a computer course and realized that you actually love working with computers. This just supports the adage: “Find a job that you love doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

4. Peers – Birds of the same feather flock together. If you’re a sheep, then you’re the odd man out and chances are, you’re going to find a group where you’d be most comfortable working. That may mean moving to another department or another company.

5. Superior – No leader will accept this reason but second to pay, this is probably one of the top reasons why people leave – the bossy boss. There’s this thing called chemistry and a superior-subordinate is the hardest concoction to mix. There isn’t one formula for all and the probability is at least one of your staff hate your guts. The good thing (or bad) is that he’ll eventually leave you.

The result is not actually in that order. The good thing about is that when I tested the theory, it was 99% accurate. And the one percent? It accounts for a staff who resigned from his previous employer because of her ex-boyfriend. Probably, the ex-boyfriend was his ex-boss who she wanted to avoid. Did I mention that the ex-boss is married?

The 3peat according to MJ

What's the similarity between MPJ (Michael Peoples Jordan) and DSL? They both delivered a 3peat in their 7th year of service. While Air Jordan did in on the basketball court, DieSeL did it in the corporate setting. MJ delivered the first world basketball champion 3peat in 91, 92 and 93 for the Chicago Bulls. DSL helped deliver an outstanding region 3peat in '04, '05 and '06 for the South Luzon WC operation.

I've always idolized Air Jordan. I have tons of MJ stuff like a complete DVD collection of his documentaries, numerous posters, a Jordan 5 shoe, basketball magazines like Sports Illustrated and Basketball Digest with him on cover. In basketball, the closest accolade was champion medal in college in a streetball (3 on 3) competition. We didn't repeat though.

MJs formula for success: 1- he constantly creates CHALLENGES for himself and the team. 2- While he was a good individual ball player, it was TEAMWORK that brought home the bacon. 3- he was very PASSIONATE with the game or his profession. This pretty much sums up our similarities.

MAFIA : Managerial Finance by Aesod.

"Mr. DSL, This is not Philosophy. Finance is an exact science so please don't wiggle your way out of your predicament." This line was delivered by my professor when I was trying to justify a wrong answer. I just completed a course called FINANCE FOR NON FINANCE MANAGERS run by AESOD trainer Porky Calaquian. It was my 4th managerial finance course in my three and a half decade existence.

The first was in college since it was a major subject for my management degree at DLSU. While I did relatively well in math in college, I had trouble then with business analysis. Probably because I didn't take it seriously since getting drunk and playing basketball occupied my mind then.

The second encounter was horrible. As a then newbie manager, the company sent me to a Manager's Development Program at AIM. The professor was very good, a respected person in the academe. Unfortunately, his name escapes me right now. We were loaded with tons of case studies. It was a brain frying experience.

The third bout with managerial finance was during my masters in management days in UP. I was an average student who had average knowledge of the principles. I was focused in class 50% of the time and the other half was spent day dreaming. The class was then scheduled from 2 to 5pm hence considered the most challenging part of the day.

This is the fourth meeting. In all honesty, this is the managerial finance course were I learned a lot. I surmise that this can be due to the following: (1) this is my Nth encounter, (2) I have more than half a decade experience as a manager and (3) the facilitator is a good teacher first then a good accountant.

The AESOD trainer said she has 27 years of managerial finance experience. It seems like I have 20 more years to go to reach her stature. Happy computing!

M.I.3 Becomes a Reality

The South Luzon wireless operations team recently won Model Region of the year (2006). This is the 3rd year in a row as they won the award in Y2004 and Y2005.

Critics says the first award in Y2004 was a fluke because this "whining" team was perceived to be a group of old dogs who ran out of new tricks. The second model region award in Y2005 proved that the accolades received were products of the region's vision which reads: T4 - Teamwork, Trust and Target Focused equals Top Region within the next 2 years (until Y2005).

The recent award was given during the Rewards & Recognition in Baguio Country Club. This 3peat only proved that the perceived whiners just needed the right direction to show that they are actually winners. The vision that guides this team says: To be the model region with the most significant contributions to Customer Care organization by Y2007. Now who ever said it's hard to teach old dog new tricks? Mission accomplished!

Farewell to CL

CENTRAL LUZON MONTHLY TEAM MEETING
Angelique Bldg., Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga
May 2004

This may be my last time to address you as a member of the Central Luzon team. I have an opportunity that suits me too well to say no but I hope nobody thinks I am being disloyal to the team by making this move. The 5 years working with you was like a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs. I will continue to apply the positive lessons that I learned from you and will take careful note of the negative lessons and try not to apply them.

Thank you for the lessons learned and for making me as tough as a nail. This team prepared me for the challenges that will come my way as I enter a new chapter in my life in Smart. Thank you for the unending support and please extend that level of support to our Central Luzon teammate Lhaydee who will now lead you to the realization of the company vision, the departmental vision and our team’s vision – to be the model region in 2004.

Comverse All Star

One little two, little three little Indians, four little five little six little Indians...plus an Asian lady and an American red head. This completes the Comverse All Stars. We'll be working with them directly (or indirectly) to deliver the requirements of K&N not later than end Y2007. I’ve always wanted to experience working with foreigners. Though this was not exactly how I want it but this will suffice. At least after the end of the project, I won’t be limited to working with Pinoys. It’s practically been that way all my professional life.

DSLs VL from SL

After using the 'First Time Last Year' as the title for the RM portion of the bulletin board for the month of January, my February title is 'DSL’s Vacation Leave from South Luzon.' I was tapped to work on a temporary however critical responsibility called Project K&N. In broad terms, K&N will replace the aging ICMS. How temporary is temporary? Chances are, this will be until end of the year. In the meantime, our winning South Luzon team will be under the care of ABV. She will handle the region starting Feb 2, 2007.

Please extend to ABV the same level of support you gave me in the last 2 1/2 years. Good Luck to all of us.

Show me the Money!

This may sound funny but last January 24, 2007 was the first time I watched Jerry Maguire. It is a circa 1996 movie starring Tom Cruise, angelic looking Renee Zellweger as Dorothy Boyd and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell. It was playing in Cinemax that night and that got me glued to the tube. I especially like the lines; some funny and some are inspiring. I’m determined to invest in an original DVD copy.

For the inactive movie buffs like me, here’s the plot outline: When sports agent Jerry Maguire has a moral epiphany (to advocate better service, fewer clients, and less focus on the bottom line) and is fired for expressing it, he decides to put his new philosophy to the test as an independent with Arizona football player Rod Tidwell as the only athlete who stays with him.

Here are some of the lines that I like in the movie:
Jerry Maguire: "What can I do for YOU, Rod? "
Rod Tidwell: "It's a very personal, very important thing. Hell, it's a family motto. Now are you ready? Just checking to make sure you're ready (Rod turns his boom box real low) here it is -- show me the money. (He now blasts the boom box at full level) OHHH!!!! SHOW! ME! THE! MONEY! Doesn't it make you feel good just to say that, Jerry? Say it with me one time brother! "
Maguire: "Show you the money. "
Tidwell: "Oh, come on, you can do better than that! I want you to say it brother with meaning! Hey, I got Bob Sugar on the other line I better hear you say it! "
Maguire: "SHOW ME THE MONEY!"

Dicky Fox: "The key to this business is personal relationships."

Dicky Fox: "If this [points to heart] is empty, this [points to head] doesn't matter."

Dicky Fox: "Hey... I don't have all the answers. In life, to be honest, I have failed as much as I have succeeded. But I love my wife. I love my life. And I wish you my kind of success."

I have a new job in the same company, same department. Though it’s a temporary job, good for about 12 months max, I find it extremely challenging and happy that I was chosen to lead it at least for our department. Unlike Rod Tidwell, I didn’t tell my superior to “show me the money.” I was looking for a new challenge, something that this new job presents. IF this new job eventually “shows me the money” then I’d be grateful, ELSE I’ll just continue to work hard and smart as I know eventually my contributions will be appreciated. That’s the optimist in me talking.

'The First Time' Last Year

Here is my New Year’s Message to the South Luzon Wireless Center Team. I'll give you a recap of year 2006 in under 3 minutes. Here are ‘The First Time’ experiences of our teammates:

The first time Naga WC was awarded Model WC in Y2005. Technically a back to back for the region as Lipa WC won the award in Y2004. Also in Y2005, the runner ups were Calapan & San Pablo WCs.

The first time a region won back to back Model Region award. The South Luzon team won the award in Y2004 and Y2005. It will take the next region 3 years to top that feat.

The first time the WC Sups/OICs prepared the region's vision in a team meeting early this year. The vision states: To be the Model Region with the Most Significant contributions to Customer Care organization by Y2007. The tagline: M:I:III – Taking the Model Region a notch higher.

The first time the South Luzon core team (your WC Sups/OICs) had their regional team meeting outside Makati and Tagaytay. Meeting last November was in Naga and Legaspi.

The first time your WC Sups/OICs practiced their critiquing skills legally and officially. During the WC visit in Lucena, Daet, Naga & Legaspi, they played auditors by scrutinizing their peers' WCs.

The first time the Wireless Center Head visited 60% of the South Luzon WCs, visited all Bicol region WCs and attended the regional meeting twice.

The first time to have an integrated wired and wireless operation in a mall based office in SM Lipa. By the way, let me mention that we outdid Globe in the inauguration last November. It started with our mancom arriving with a statement - on a helicopter, we gave away a free 21 inch TV and celfone to lucky subscribers and to cap it off, pretty teen star Jacky Rice and “Kiss Me” star Alyssa Alano joining us on that special day.

The first time three “in housed developed” WC Sups/OIC tied the knot; Richard of Lipa in June, Jun B of Daet in August and Cathy of San Pablo in December.

The first time three key WC Sups left their positions for various reasons; Poly of Batangas transferred to S&D Merchandizing, Betty of Bacoor is migrating to Canada and Benson of Naga migrated to the US. Not all first time items are beneficial to the team. We wish all of them well.

The first time an Inter-department Christmas party was organized. S&D, NSD, CCare & AMMD joined forces to organize this hopefully annual affair at classy The Orchard Golf & Country Club in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

In conclusion, it was a banner year for South Luzon team as it was peppered with a lot of significant firsts. I hope that this New Year 2007 brings us equal or greater accomplishments. Happy New Year to everybody!

Politics: Love it or live with it

We live in a politics crazed country, a trait that is difficult to escape. It is what our current Philippine President does best reason why she is staying in power. It is present in practically every nook and cranny of our society – government, corporate, sports, entertainment, socio civic. It is a reality that we have to embrace if we want to survive in this culture. If we have to live with it, might as well work on a guide:

1- It’s who you know that’s important, not what you know. Work on your PR skills. Be a master the art of small talk. Continuously build your network.
2- Make the right connection. It doesn’t matter if more than half of the organization hates you as long as you invest on a relationship where it really matters. To borrow a former superior’s line, this is not a popularity contest.
3- It’s all a matter of projection. Master the art of communication, doesn’t matter if it makes sense or not. Chances are, the audience won’t question you anyway. Speak in English, you’ll be questioned less. Project a tough stance. Show the world you know what you’re talking about.
4- Learn to compromise. Say yes even if your stand is no. You have to weight options and protect your interest.
5- Learn to cover your behind. As Milli Vanilli’s song goes, blame it on the rain. Cause the rain don’t mind and the rain don’t care. You have to blame it on something.
6- Hear ye! Hear ye! Your good performance will not speak for itself, you have to announce it to the whole world. At most, the glory of a good performance will last for a day. On the second day, you have to market it.
7- Flower Power. You went fishing and you caught a tilapia but describe it as if you caught a tuna. The key here is learn to hype and while you’re at it use flowery words.
8- Effective Delegation. To borrow the HSBC ad tag line, life is a matter of perspective. If you’re an optimist, the term is called delegation. If you’re a pessimist, the term is called bullying.
9- Choose your battles. A more apt term is select your projects. Volunteer to projects that will make you look good. If it won’t make you look good, refer to number 8.
10- What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine. It is a wife’s perspective of their income. It’s also a leader’s perspective of initiatives. If it is his subordinate’s idea, at top level, that is usually diluted and ends up his idea. But if it is his idea, he’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure it’s acknowledged.

I can’t believe I’m writing these down. Much more, I can’t believe I have to follow these guide. Then again, I’d be ‘plastic’ if I said I never practiced some of these traits. Probably, it’s just a matter of frequency in applying it and if you want to embrace it eternally. However way you look at it, life is a game called survival of the fittest.