Af-Q1 2012 Ext Final

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www.aftercallmag.com
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www.aftercallmag.com www.aftercallmag.com
In this issue, we are to tackle the various facets of love
on the lifestyle side and the prospects of the industry for
the rest of the year on the trade side. We have prepared
feature articles on how the social network is affecting
our relationships, how to handle money issues with
your significant other, while we discuss the prospects
of the industry for the coming months. On top of this we
have put together a racy fashion editorial based on the
theme of this issue.
On the travel section, we have a contribution from
WWFs Greg Yan about Donsol, Sorsogon. Speaking of
WWF, we hope that BPO companies can join us in our
support of the Earth Hour this March 31. In our column
Straight from the Cube we are featuring three of Magellan Solutionss outstanding employees,
who model that a career in this industry is very rewarding.
We want this magazine to be by the BPO people for the BPO people. This is why we are
encouraging anyone with the talent and skills to contribute to our magazine may it be as a
writer, photographer or a model. If you are interested or have any suggestions feel free to
e-mail us at aftercallmag@yahoo.com.
Yours truly,
Bayan de la Cruz
Editor-in-Chief
Publishers Note
This year started fast, as if someone opened the race
gates and the horses violently blitzed out on to the
track. Just when the New Year hangover was beginning
to subside, American Congressman Tim Bishop (D-NY)
passed the US call center and consumer protection
legislation, and for this, I am now declaring him the enemy
of the industry (more on this on my article BPOs under
attack). This totally caught the industry with its pants
down, as BPO companies kept mum on the issue until
BPAP had an official statement.
Hopefully, this is just an opportunity for the distinguished
gentleman from New York to get his fifteen minutes of
fame and get more votes in November. And I am positive
that its going to be in lighting fast New York minutes!
On the other hand, the BPO industry continues to grow and is still on track for its goals in the
year 2016. This will be discussed further in this installment of After Call magazine, and we will
remain unwavering in our support of the industry. We hope that you enjoy this issue and rest
your worries as the Philippine BPO industry isnt going anywhere but up.
Best,

Pio Granada
Publisher
Pio Granada
Publisher
Bayan de la Cruz
Editor in Chief
Brian Lu
Business Development Director
Contributors
Writers
Dr. France Jagolino
Beverly Lopez
Greg Yan
Myka Ong
Jacob Dominguez
Photographers
Ryan Sulit
Bob James Coran
Layout and Design
SparkPlug Strategists Inc.
THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE
OUTSOURCING INDUSTRY
Editors Note
On the cover:
Models: Janet Emmrich (left) and
Hevelyn Almeida (right)
Photographer: Ryan Sulit
Make-up: Ria Gamboa
Fashion Stylist: Fritz Faelden
Hair: Lloyd Galban
On location at Remington Hotel
Resorts World Manila
On Janet: Lingerie by Elle Intimates
On Hevelyn: White Chemise
by Elle Intimates
4 5
raversing Asia and leading Dell employees
in various countries has granted Dell
Philippines President Richard Teo not
just experience and expertise, but the
opportunity to improve peoples lives: his, for
all the things he learned and experienced,
which turned him into the leader that he
is now; the companys, for his stewardship that has
brought Dells performance to greater heights; and the
publics, for his successful steering of one of the worlds
leaders in technology toward bringing only the best to its
The Office
Inspirational Leadership
Richard Teos
in Singapore as an Enterprise Services Director.
Spearheading the establishment of Command Centers
in the APJ region and enabling support for enterprise
product customers, Teo immediately spurred massive
improvements in the quality of the companys services.
Having established a stable customer service system
in Singapore, he then moved to Dalian, China to head
the companys offshore contact center for customers in
Korea and Japan. With his effective management, Teo
significantly improved the centers operations, increasing
both Employee and Customer Experience scores.
In 2006, his chance to lead the prestigious Tokyo base
came, where he supervised all operations for technical
support services in Japan and Korea, headed the
Customer Experience Office for Dell Japan, and lead all
support service operations for Greater China. After four
years, he returned to Singapore and served as the APJ
Services General Manager for Consumer and Small
Medium Business. He then moved to the Philippines,
where he now heads the Philippines Dell International
Services, which provides offshore contact center customer
services for markets in several regions.
Inspirational Leadership
For Teo, leadership is not just about making people follow
policies and procedures; it is about motivating people to
do their utmost to deliver only the best to Dells customers.
His main strategy in creating a strong employee base is
getting the finest people from the outside and developing
talent within at the same time to make sure that the
company has the strength to power its operations and
reachor even exceedits goals.
He believes in passion: the passion to win and the passion
to serve his customers. He believes that the success of the
company depends on the customers; thus, it is important
to keep them happy be it the products it provides or the
support services which it offers.
For Teo, passion with integrity and genuine concern for
people, are the main characteristics that he thinks a leader
should have. With proper mentorship, he says that a leader
can build another leader out of his colleaguessomething
customers. Unwilling to let this opportunity go to waste, he
has dedicated the past few years to positively influencing
peoples lives through leadership and service, giving a
new meaning to leadership by inspiration.
Crossing Borders
In less than a decade, Teo has worked for Dell in various
countries, pulling teams into surpassing their limits and
pushing more and more toward excellence. In 2003 he
joined the Dell Asia Pacific-Japan (APJ) headquarters
that can only be done with enough heart and dedication.
Dells DNA
Execution without excuses: this is the battle cry that has
been at the heart of Dells workforce for generations: an
inspiration that has kept its goals of providing the best
always in sight, a culture that has been aptly imbibed in
Teos codes of leadership. As he puts it, we dont really
accept people looking for (time to spend) spending time
to look for reasons why they cant do (a task) this. Dell
DNA dictates that its people cannot blame others for their
actions and that their failure is primarily due to their lack of
attempts at gaining success.
Inspiring Transformations
Wherever he went, Teo has taken an active part in
transforming Dell from a PC hardware company to an
end-to-end solutions company with hardware, software
and services that can help its customers. He envisions a
day when Dell is known as an all-around service provider
that offers solutions to any technology-related customer
problems or inquiries. In the Philippines, he continues his
journey to make this vision real. By improving customer
relations through enhanced services and mechanisms,
he brought about a remarkable increase in customer
satisfaction, pushing the scores from 72% to 80%.
Not only has he brought about good transformation in the
companys customer service operations; he has also been
blessed to have experienced such positive changes in his
life through Dell. My personal life mission is to make a
difference in someones life, he said. I think I have been
blessed by God that he has put me here and given me the
capabilities to be out in the position where I can influence
a lot of people, which means I can make a difference to a
lot of people.
This opportunity to help people change their lives,
according to Teo, was brought about by the companys
healthy environment that is conducive to such profound
missions. He sums it up by saying, How we develop
talent, how we give opportunities and by doing things the
right way we are helping Dell achieve its vision.
T
Dell DNA
dictates that its
people cannot
blame others for
their actons and
that their failure
is primarily due
to their lack
of atempts at
gaining success.
By Beverly Lopez
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itel Philippines Corporation started the year
big and fabulous in first kick-off event called
Sitel Glitterati 2012 Kick-Off Party last
January 22, 2012. Employees and the Sitel
leaders from the five Manila sites, namely,
Eastwood, One Julia Vargas, Pasig, Pioneer, and The
Corporate Group, came to participate in the event in their
chic and glamorous outfits.

The show was headlined by the popular bands Imago
and Sino si Kat and hosted by Channel [V] VJ Sanya
Smith and Brent Javier. Various performances by Sitel
employees, including a dance number by The Philippine All
Star Dancers rocked the house. Several Sitel employees
walked the catwalk in a fashion show sponsored by
Marith + Franois Girbaud and The Body Shop.

Sitel continues its momentum as it projects a much better
year this 2012. General Manager for Philippines , Australia
2012
PROMISES MORE GLITTER FOR
SITEL
The Toast headed by Ms.
Haidee Enriquez, Vice
President for HR-PHANZ,
and the Management
Team (Inkee Hidalgo,
Trevor Friesen , Anna Liza
Cagaoan, Tina Salmo, Carlo
Villegas , Matt Willians,
Dante Casimiro )
Trevor Friesen,
General
Manager for
Sitel PHANZ
One of the
Guests, The
Philippine
All Star
The General
Manager with
Channel [V]
in-house VJs,
Sanya Smith
and Brent Javier
Sitels in-house
talents
Sitel Party
People
and New Zealand Trevor Friesen lead the celebration. This
party is for our hardworking and talented associates, said
Friesen. The company celebrates many great things we
have done in 2011. We look forward to 2012 being the
absolute best year yet.

Vice President for Human Resources for Asia-Pacific
Haidee Enriquez ushered the toast and delivered a
heart-warming message for all Sitel associates. The
management team understands the commitment and hard
work of each and every Sitel associate. said Enriquez.

Sitel Philippines is recognized for its outstanding
employee rewards and for its excellent performance in the
outsourcing industry. With more than 13,000 employees
to date, the company is set to expand and continues to
grow its talent pool in the coming years. To know more
about Sitel Philippines , visit www.sitel.com or visit their
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sitelphilippines.

S
The Office
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The Office
In this edition of Straight from the Cube, we go to Magellan Solutions to interview three for their finest employees:
Eugene Guevarra (EG) an Operations Manager with Magellan for six years, Piter Afable (PA) a Program Supervisor
for six years and Anna Policarpio (AP) a Team Leader for three years. After Call magazine interviewed them to find
out what made them successful in their careers.
Straight
Cube
from the
How did you start in the BPO industry and what
attracted you to work in a call center?
EG: I was with the banking and financing industry prior
to my career in the BPO field. After several years of
working, I got to compare my salary with my younger
sister who was a fresh graduate getting her first pay-
check in a call center back then. I was shocked when I
saw the earnings she made. The rest is history.
AP: Back in April 2009, I was planning to go to Batangas
where I had my On the Job Training to complete the
requirements for the nursing board exam.
However, I ended applying to one of the call centers in
Quezon City and luckily I got hired. Well I would be
hypocrite if I will not say its the salary that attracted me
to work in a call center.
PA: Career move.
Do you consider yourself successful in this industry?
EG: Yes. Aside from getting to a position I aspired to
achieve, I also consider myself successful whenever I
see how people mature with constant mentoring and
coaching.
AP: I can probably consider myself successful if I already
achieve the things that I want to achieve in this industry.
PA: If its from my definition of successful, I guess not yet.
For you personally, what were the major challenges
getting to where you are right now?
EG: The greatest challenge is how people are different
from one another. Everyones opinion differs from
one another and thats a fact of life. Its just a matter
of how one can express him/herself and get the buy-
in of other people. Solution all boils down to constant
communication.
AP: One of the biggest challenges is when I got
promoted. My former TL resigned and recommended
me as his successor. During my first month, it was really
tough; I needed to earn the trust and respect of people
who are telling me that they deserve to be in my position
now. But Ive realized that it should be understood and
accepted that not everyones going to be happy with what
I have achieved.
PA: Balancing work and personal stuff.
What is your funniest call experience?
EG: When I was a new agent taking inbound calls for
a different call center, I pronounced Albuquerque like
how barbeque is pronounced. All throughout the call the
customer and I exchanged laughs from time to time.
AP: It was my first day on board, when I got a call from a
customer from Albuquerque, NM. I actually pronounced it
as Al-ba-qwer-qwe, for me it was funny and at the same
time embarrassing.
PA: Thats hard to recall.. uhmm.. talking to an old lady
and we ended up talking about cartoons.
How do you balance work, fun, friends and family?
EG: I make sure I dedicate quality time for each. If work
requires me to be in the office five days a week and I
spend two days a week with my family and friends, as
long as both are spent with quality then the length of time
does not matter much.
AP: I always make sure I arrive at work early so I can go
home early as well. I do not bring work at home so I can
spend quality time with my love ones. Sometimes I go out
with my friends during weekends.
PA: I had a hard time balancing my time before. So I
started scheduling all my activities.
What do you do to unwind?
EG: I love to play racket sports. The feeling of whacking a
ball as hard as you can is very stress relieving.
AP: I normally go out with friends to unwind.
PA: I am a motorcycle enthusiast so I usually go to
places I havent been before with my motorcycle.
What do you do to keep yourself in shape in this
environment?
EG: Maintain a healthy diet and living an active lifestyle. I
also plan to quit smoking.
AP: I play badminton with my colleagues; its such a
stress reliever.
PA: Is this a trick question? Clean living? Hahaha
What do you think of the stereotype working in a
call center is a dead end job?
EG: I had the same notion a few years back but it all
changed after several years of working in a call center.
For people who easily get bored, they will say its as such
but patient people will truly experience a colorful and
exciting career in the industry.
AP: Ive read an article saying that the sign of a dead
end job is the lack of additional responsibilities. Some
positions never change from day to day, or even from
year to year. Working in a call center will give you an
opportunity to get a higher salary compared to other
industries. If you work really hard enough, it is easy to get
a promotion. From starting out as Agent > Lead Agent>
Team Lead > Supervisor>Account Manager > Operations
Manager > General Manager. So I guess, the article
proves that call center is not a dead end job.
PA: Am not sure about that but theres always room for
advancement in this kind of work.
What makes Magellan a good company to work for?
EG: People treat each other as family. There are a few
conflicts here and there but in the end, we stand for each
other. Some of my colleagues will raise their eyebrows
once they get to read this but deep in their hearts I know
for a fact that each member of our organization takes
care of one another.
AP: Its because of the family atmosphere that motivates
the employees to work hard. Magellan also makes sure
to acknowledge employees who are performing well.
PA: I think its the family culture that Magellan promotes.
What does it take to succeed in the call center
industry?
EG: You have to know how to be assertive and patient at
the same time. Always starting the shift with a smile will
go a long way as well.
AP: Always have a positive attitude. Do not stop
dreaming, if you want something you need to strive hard
and perform really well. Let your superior know how
valuable you are in the industry.
PA: Its pretty much the same thing as with any traditional
job.
Anna
Policarpio
Piter
Afable
Eugene
Guevara
10 11
The BPO
Industry
in 2012,
is this the
END?
By Dr. France Jagolino
The Office
Having been part of this industry for more than half
a decade, I have witnessed it grow from a few small
companies running outbound telesales services to
colossal internationally acclaimed companies all
eagerly scouring the country for talent and manpower
to meet the ever growing demands of their clients. As
the years went by, new challenges arose and issues
like employee attrition and client dissatisfaction were
now main concerns that are desperately needed to be
addressed to ensure survival and profitability.
Along came the Global Economic and Financial Crisis.
These put all industries through the worst tribulation and
as expected the BPO industry emerged unscathed while
other industries quickly folded. Some industries that had
traditionally preferred in-house operations all started to
assess the feasibility of outsourcing merely as a means
to survive. Every company who took that chance made it
through while other companies who stood by their time-
honored traditions were soon out of business.
As the crisis abated, getting by was no longer the focus.
India has done a good job in diversifying the nature and level
of services they offered to clients. Some companies have
become so proficient in playing consultative and partnership
roles, that they have been instrumental in their clients
success and further growth. While India focused on role
diversification, the Philippines focused more on customer
service. Raising its standards to unprecedented heights,
the Philippines surpassed India when it came to voice-
oriented services, garnering a larger market share and client
preference for such services.
The year 2011 was undoubtedly another period of growth for
the industry as closing figures in 2011 have shown revenues
of over US $ 11 billion compared to the US $ 9 billion earned
last year, according to the Business Process Association of
the Philippines (BPAP). The projected revenue for 2012 is
US $ 13 billion and honestly speaking I believe that this is a
modest estimate. I continually have witnessed BPO service
providers expand faster than a forest fire, and 2012 is already
blazing. In fact, some companies I know of are barely able to
keep up with unrelenting client demands.
In 2010, the BPO Industry has employed more than 530,000
workers (according to BPAP) which rose to 640,000 in 2011.
The government has expressed its support in helping the
industry develop new talent with the Php 500 million it has
allocated to TESDA and BPAP to use specifically for this end.
The projected demand in 2012 is another 120,000. Again,
I feel this may be a humble projection as I have heard of
many companies already planning to increase their existing
workforce size tenfold by the end of the year.
The pressing issue that has been discussed frequently among
leaders of the industry is the threat of the US Legislation that
actually discourages outsourcing. Not to go into the gory
details of this legislation, its main purpose is to encourage
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very election year it seems as if American
legislators have started a tradition out of
attacking outsourcers. Last 2008, then-Senator
Barrack Obama vowed to fight outsourcing
as he blamed it for the lack of employment
opportunities for American workers. After the
2008 elections, the anti-outsourcing efforts of President
Obama fizzled out within his first 100 days of taking office.
Before the 2010 midterm elections, some Democrats
tried to pass an anti-outsourcing bill and failed. Now, they
want to discourage companies based in the US from
outsourcing and ban them from seeking federal grants
and loans for five years. In the legislation entitled US
Call Center Worker and Consumer protection bill, these
companies must report themselves in advance to the US
labor department and disclose where they outsource,
otherwise get penalized. In some respects, the new bill
actually looks like a reworked version of the 2010 bill that
didnt get enacted.
Currently, this bill seems to be gaining a lot of traction in
the US Congress and the American Call Center Union: the
Communications Workers of America (CWA) is backing
it with its 700,000 members. This makes it a legitimate
threat to the people who benefit from outsourcing, a threat
big enough to debilitate the Philippine economy and take
away the means of living of 700,000 Filipinos. On the other
hand, this may just be a pre-election publicity stunt for the
sponsors and the author of the bill: US Congressman Tim
Bishop (NY - D).
By Pio Granada
Additionally, the Call Center and Consumer protection bill
will demand strict requirements on American outsourcing
companies. Outsourced call center agents are mandated
to disclose their true location of operations if their US
based customers ask them. The customer would then
have the right to demand to be serviced by a customer
service representative in the United States.
The bill advocates bringing back off-shored jobs to
the United States, which would also in turn protect the
confidential personal information of American customers.
According to the CWA, Foreign call centers not only
ship jobs abroad, but they endanger our confidential
personal information because they operate without US
data regulation. I believe that this should not even be a
concern anymore as Senator Edgardo Angara is hard
at work passing the Cyber-crime Protection Act into law.
Among its main tenets is the protection from information
communications technology (ICT) related fraud and
identity theft and as of press time the bill is now on its final
reading.
Public Enemy Number One
It seems that Rep. Tim Bishop intends to maliciously
and politically harass American outsourcers for political
benefit, who simply are working their butts off to keep their
businesses afloat. If these companies are forced to comply
with the bill (if it is enacted) and bring the call center jobs
back to America. I fear the collapse of these companies
E
companies to move away from outsourcing jobs offshore and
bring them back to the mainland to increase the number of
available jobs and hopefully curb the rampant problem of
unemployment in the United States.
I do see the legislation as being constitutionally sound
(remember that the US government is by the people and for
the people). Undeniably, its a sad fact that many Americans
had to lose their jobs because their employers wanted to take
advantage of the labor cost savings that outsourcing offers.
For companies, employing well-educated professionals
and have them working in the echelons of the industry for
less than half price is definitely a well-placed and profitable
decision.
Setting aside any biases and speaking from a business
perspective, outsourcing is the most cost-effective means to
conduct business in any known vertical. Even industries that
have traditionally adhered to in-house operations for more
than half a century have all starting shifting to the outsourcing
model as evident for the transition I managed with one of the
worlds largest oil companies that now enjoys unsurpassed
growth and revenue while maintaining minimal operational
cost. I am quick to dispel the notion that if companies scrimp
on their budget for operations that desired results will never
be realized. Outsourcing has shown that phenomenal results
do not have to cost an arm and a leg.
What US legislators fail to realize is that outsourcing has
indirectly helped their economy by giving US companies the
leverage for survival and eventual growth. This somehow
contributes to their Gross National Product (GNP) and
positively impacts their economy. I could only imagine what
other challenges their economy must be facing now but
killing the concept of outsourcing and over taxing its practice
may be detrimental in the long term. They should be made
aware that if their companies thrive, it also allows leeway for
the creation of new jobs in their homeland too.
In due time, there will be progress seen in unemployment
figures but companies must be allowed latitude to allow
themselves to recover from the Global Financial Crisis. Despite
this threat, I am confident that the merits of outsourcing will
speak for itself, and that decisions of this nature will not be
made without the consensus of every company that will be
affected.
As we keep this challenge in mind, I also do foresee many
changes that will manifest themselves in 2012. As early as
2010, I have already seen companies starting to move away
from the mere service provider role and shift into partnership
roles with their clients. In the recent months, I have heard
of new companies setting up office and specializing in
various verticals like Human Resources, New Media and
the Healthcare Industry. I now feel that every single vertical
you can think of can actually outsource its operations and
processes to someone else.
I have had conversations with managers and directors from
many BPO companies telling me that there are many ramp
ups in the near future, and they made their hesitations
known as to whether their recruitment teams could actually
keep up with the growing demand for skilled manpower. As
new verticals are introduced, many of them require some
prerequisite education and skill from their potential workers.
For example, some Healthcare accounts make it known that
their potential candidates need to be college graduates,
preferably from a medical or nursing related course.
When I started in the industry, no recruiter seemed to care
what course you took up in college or whether you even
finished it at all. Now, companies have set their standards
high, setting the minimum educational requirement to be
at least college level. This has narrowed their chances of
meeting their recruitment quotas. As more jobs become
available, the question we should all be asking is do we have
enough qualified people to recruit?
The last thing I really hope to see is the rise of Philippine-
owned BPO companies and to see them compete on
the same level as Multi-National companies. The lacks of
funds and large investments have deterred many Filipino
businessmen from venturing into this industry. A central
organization similar to BPAP or the CCAP (Call Center
Association of the Philippines) that caters more to the need
of smaller and struggling local BPO companies may prove
helpful in boosting the morale and business for our local
outsourcing entrepreneurs.
Another year is here and although 2011 has proven to be
a good year, the Philippine BPO Industry should continue
to outdo itself in strengthening its position in the global
outsourcing market. The government, having promised
support to the industry, should remain true to their word
and look at more ways to make the Philippines even more
enticing to foreign investors. Perhaps cutting the red tape in
processing business and corporate permits is a step in the
right direction. My motto is there is no other way than up and
by no means is 2012 the end of the BPO industry. Outsourcing
is the centerpiece of the new industrial revolution, and will
continue to be here for ages to come.
About the Author:
Dr. France Jagolino is currently a Management and Process
Consultant for call centers outside of the Philippines. Looking
for a fresh start in life, he left his medical career to join the
industry and began his BPO career in telemarketing. Being a
highly motivated and determined individual, he moved up the
ranks while working for some of the top companies and clients
in the industry. For almost 8 years, he has worked within
training and operations management for both established
and start-up BPO companies. France is a sought after expert
speaker at International BPO management conferences and
has been featured in an international business magazine as
a visionary leader that successfully consolidated the BPO
processes for one of the top oil and gas companies in the
World. He is also a leadership trainer who strongly advocates
the welfare and development of call center agents and has
a successful track record in drastically reducing employee
attrition in the companies he has managed. His thoughts
about issues affecting the industry are written on his blog;
Call Center Doc (callcenterdoc.com).
14 15
The Office
under the crushing political and economic weight of this
legislation. So what are they going to do if this happens?
Give more handouts just as they did to Detroit and the
American banking system? These industries, I may add
are in hot water again. I believe that bailing out ailing
industries are economically artificial Band-Aid solutions
and therefore, eventually cave-in to the forces of the global
market. What a waste of federal spending! This bill will
have a similar effect if enacted short term employment
followed by long term industrial crashes. This is why I am
now declaring that Rep. Tim Bishop is public enemy number
one of outsourcing and the American companies (including
the Americans who it currently employ) that depend on it.
So why is Rep. Tim Bishop and the other bill sponsors are
doing this? Is it just to get in bed with the CWA only to fuck
them and leave them after spending a sweet November
together? Is he doing this because he loves the people
of the CWA to death? Or is he desperate to pass his very
own landmark legislation? And might I add of which he
has none! According to his recent election numbers, his
winning margin has been on a diet for the past few years,
becoming slimmer and slimmer election after election. So
could this be just a desperate ploy to hold on to his seat?
We can only wait and see until after the November polls.
The Globalized World
Rep. Tim Bishop I only have four words for you, The world
is flat. Author Thomas Friedman illustrates this clearly in his
book with the same title. Where Friedman uses the metaphor
of a flat world to describe the next phase of globalization,
as the economic playing field has become more level for
any country because of the recent advances in technology,
which has made the phenomena of outsourcing a reality
and that any global company who does not take advantage
of this is going to tip over on the edge of this flat world
into the economic abyss. This phenomenon is exactly why
companies find that it is good business sense to source
their workforce requirements to countries where the labor
is cheaper and just as competent.
If the jobless Americans really want to work in call centers,
why dont they come and work here in the Philippines where
they can decently live on a US $300 to $500 monthly pay.
Some companies may even sponsor their airfare, alien tax
and housing if the Filipino BPO talent scarcity issue is not
resolved anytime soon.
Until the CWA can get pay cuts that can match the
savings companies make from outsourcing and the US
government make it cheaper to do business in America,
these companies will continue outsourcing. And if pushed
too hard, these companies might even transfer their
headquarters to another country where it is easier to do
business.
The Paper Tiger versus the Republican Congress
In a globalized economy, multinational corporations as
entities do not have any loyalty to any government. They
will simply do their business where it is most cost-effective,
stable and profitable. If they are to keep these companies
ashore and afloat, the US government should allow them
to offshore and outsource as long as it benefits their
businesses. Republicans who live and die by the ideals of
Adam Smith and globalization know this well. This is why,
at the end of the day, in a Republican free trade loving
dominated house this bill will never prosper, and if it does
get on the floor this paper tiger of a bill will be ripped into
shreds!
Money
DO
&
MIX?
LOVE MONEY
oney has been an outstanding issue
in everyones lives, especially in our
relationships. We sometimes fight over the
distribution of liabilities when it comes these
matters. Honestly, may it be hoarded or shared; money
causes problems in every relationship.
We live in a modern society, but traditional practices were
never left behind. Regardless of advancements and the
existence of a barer generation, men and women still
have their own prejudices. Men are the ones expected to
work for their families; men are still expected to open the
doors for the women. However, a different generation of
women was born, those who are with pride and who are
stronger. They are now the ones who establish a mix of
the traditional women but believe that can be equal with
men. In a world where women and men are now fighting
over power, in relationships, I believe compromise can
do the work.
For example, after a romantic date, someone will get
the bill from the waiter. At this time, men are primarily
obligated to pay. However, men should understand that
they should allow an ample amount of time to wait for
the women to get their purse and pull out some money.
This should make the women feel that they too, are
independent and well off. Then that is the time that they
should sweetly delay their dates from paying. Men are
expected to do several performances for their dates and
partners and society is aware of that. However, to avoid
disagreements and insecurities, both men and women
should understand the need of a person to feel powerful.
We should understand that we all want to feel significant
and needed by our partners regardless of tradition and
gender, which makes us actually equal.
When it comes to marriage, there are deeper issues
when it comes to money. There are some who decide to
have joint accounts and some remain to have their own.
I honestly believe that the latter is the wiser choice to
make. Joint accounts do not give you security and the
assurance of loyalty. It is like putting all your savings and
investments into a safety deposit box that can be robbed
anytime. We must all accept the fact that when the wise
men said that change is constant, relationships are part of
those things that can change anytime. We will never know
what will happen. Hence, having an account of your own
is not a reflection of a lesser love for your partner, but a
deeper love for yourselves. Love should not be mixed with
money for love can be shown and be given in many ways.
Money is something you should keep for yourself and for
your kids. More importantly, it is something that keeps
the relationship going. It must be used for supplementary
leisure in your relationship; not a constant source of debate
and exhaustion for both, you and your partner. They say
money cannot buy you happiness, but I believe it can buy
you some self-respect.
By: Myka Ong
M
Rep. Tim Bishop: the enemy of BPOs.
They say
money cannot buy you
happiness, but I believe
it can buy you some
self-respect.
16 17
begins with an
image; lust with
a sensation.
is to the other passions
what the nervous fluid is to
life; it supports them all,
lends strength to them all
ambition, cruelty, avarice,
revenge, are all founded on
lust.
Love
vs. Lust
Photographer Ryan Sulit
Models Hevelyn Almeida
and Janet Emmrich
Make-up Ria Gamboa
Hair Lloyd Galban
Stylist Fritz Faelden
Concept Pio Granada
Wardrobe and
accessories from Eric
delos Santos, Arnold
Galang and Jerome
Salaya Ang of Vatican
(4th Floor the Podium)
- Mason Cooley
- Marquis de Sade
18 19

,

,

,
,
,

,
,

- Mortimer Adler
- Judith Viorst
Wardrobe and
accessories from Eric
delos Santos, Arnold
Galang and Jerome
Salaya Ang of Vatican
(4th Floor the Podium)
On Love: White Chemise
by Elle Intimates
On Lust: Lingerie by Elle
Intimates
20 21
,
,,
,
,

- E. M. Forster
On Love: White Chemise
by Elle Intimates
On Lust: Lingerie by Elle
Intimates
22 23
Technology has tremendously affected our lives today.
Some people may claim that it has brought changes and
advancements to the patterns and culture we were used
to. On the other hand, some claim that these changes have
adversely moved our habits. Come to think of it, technology
has not only targeted the physical infrastructures we see
outdoors, the devices we use and all the other tangible
belongings we use very frequently. Technology has gone
deeper into the ways and channels we use to communicate,
the way we behave and even into our relationships.
When Facebook was introduced to us, the world went through
another evolution; it went from traditional to digital. Facebook
will undoubtedly cover a serious number of pages in future
history books. Parts of its marketing objectives were to ease
the communication among our families and friends, to enable
us to share and upload our photos online for the world to enjoy,
to promote advocacies and of course to entertain and share
knowledge online. However, these objectives suddenly were
put behind when we abused its purpose whenever we stalk,
cyberbully and when we unconsciously blame it for our crumbling
relationships.
Tagging photos were initially designed to simplify the grabbing
of photos from friends, to tell our friends and families the people
we have met and took pictures with. The album descriptions and
captions were brilliant modifications to our old photo albums at
home. However, we sometimes use it to stalk on our partners
activities. Instead of looking at the whole picture, we can admit
that we examine every detail of the background to check whether
our partner was with someone else. Comments were made
possible to relay feedbacks on a friends post and to enable
us to have more fun communicating online. Yet, comments on
Facebook are now given malicious meanings that cause jealousy.
A simple reply by your partner to a close friend of the opposite
sex can turn into big and unwanted disagreements. Smileys
were formed to communicate emotions but somehow, smileys
are now perceived as symbols used to flirt with others. Status
updates were invented to enable us to share our feelings and to
update our loved ones of what is happening in our lives. Sadly,
people have started to become hesitant about updating because
we fear that we might indirectly hurt our partner. Relationship
statuses were developed to make our friends aware of the
commitments we have made with someone. Facebooks Its
complicated was not given as an option to give less meaning
to the relationship. In fact, there is an option for us to update it
Is Mark
Zuckerberg
Screwing up your
Relationships?
Blame Your
Partner, Not
Facebook
By: Myca Ong
or not, they have never implemented anything mandatory with
matters related to this. Still, arguments are born when a partner
refuses to change their relationship status to in a relationship,
engaged or married. We find discomfort in the rejection for
we feel that our partners are neither proud nor loyal to us. More
importantly, online accounts have paved a way to fights about the
exchange of passwords between couples. An account password
metaphorically indicates the trust in the relationship. Sharing
your password is like giving a key to your apartment or allowing
someone to probe your text messages; the only difference is that
account passwords are exchanged online.
Facebook is gradually perceived as the villain in relationships.
Nevertheless, if we try to broaden our minds of actualities and
underlying thoughts regarding the issue, it is just something that
enhances both strengths and weaknesses of the relationship.
Actually, it is the foundation of the relationship that is significant.
If you have trust in each other and if the groundwork of the
relationship is established, Facebook will be a means of showing
your happiness to your friends and families. When you go on
adventures, Facebook will be the way to relay to people not only the
memories you both had but also the amazing sceneries that are
worth sharing. When you have trust, the exchange of passwords
will just be a way to test it, not to ruin it. On the other hand,
if your partner is cheating on you, regardless of the existence
of Facebook, your partner will always find a way to cheat; that
is just how it is now. Online chat is only a mode of convenient
communication, but never a spoon-feeding material to tolerate
unpleasant behaviors like flirting and cheating. Facebook, if we
try to be a little soft- hearted about it, has broadened not only our
channels of communication but also our minds to the possibility
of being mature, of being understanding that seemingly flirty
comments are actually just friendly banter, that photos could
mean the extension of networks, not to increase the number
of girlfriends and boyfriends we have and that the like button
does not necessarily mean affection. Facebook, twitter, online
messengers heighten whatever it is in your relationship, may it
be good or bad.
The digital world only acts as a medium. We supply it with
whatever we post, do and the events that happen in our lives.
It then relays these to the world of relatives, loves (ex-loves),
friends, frenemies and spectators. It is not even the antagonist
in our stories, but simply a stage. A platform that broadcasts our
actions exponentially. Ultimately, we always have the choice to
get off the stage and disconnect.
24 25
Travel
Where the Biggest and
Smallest Creatures Converge
Donsol By Gregg Yan
The Philippines - Three very different creatures are known to converge
in the municipality of Donsol in Sorsogon: the most celebrated of
course, are the whale sharks largest of all fish and delightfully
crisscrossed with bars and spots. Next come fleets of tiny fireflies,
dancing and drifting like ephemeral clouds of light. Finally, legions
of people trudge each summer to chance upon both the largest and
smallest denizens of Donsol.The fates of all three creatures intertwine,
seemingly held in perfect balance.
Whale sharks congregate in Donsol because of all the plankton,
explains WWF-Philippines Project Manager Raul Burce. Plankton
consume nutrients discharged by Donsols still-healthy rivers, one of
the few habitats where fireflies still thrive. Remove mangroves and
the fireflies shall be driven off. Without the healthy rivers needed by
fireflies, plankton populations cannot bloom and the whale sharks
will migrate elsewhere. If one component crashes, the others follow
suit. This can be catastrophic for the people of Donsol.
Tourism of course, is what transformed Donsol into the boomtown of
today. A total of 24,191 local and foreign visitors swam with the gentle
giants from December to June 2011. Donsols Municipal Tourism
Office estimated that the 2010 season alone generated over P100M
($2.3M) from transportation, food, lodging, registration fees plus whale
shark, mangrove and firefly tours. Around P20M ($465K) was retained
by the local government, bolstering incomes and improving lives.
Says Jasmine Yanson, a 36-year old mother of seven, Malaking
tulong ang turismo sa mga taga-Donsol. Nakabili kami ng bangka,
kagamitan sa bahay at nakatapos rin ng pag-aaral ang mga anak ko.
(Tourism gave us a big boost. We were able to buy an outrigger boat,
household appliances, plus my children were able to finish school.)
It is thus important to conserve not just whale sharks, but mangroves
and other critical ecosystems which ensure the livelihood of
Donsolanos.
To further this, top environmental-solutions provider World Wide Fund
for Nature (WWF-Philippines) spearheaded a vigorous reforestation
drive to plant 10,000 mangrove seedlings in Donsols Barangay Sibago
last 13 December 2011. Together with the Department of Natural
Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department
of Tourism, Armed Forces of the Philippines and numerous local
organizations, 284 people from battle-hardened soldiers to bright-
eyed students and conservationists, partook in the INDRA and Fluor
Daniel Philippines-funded initiative.
Known in Tagalog as bakawan, mangroves constitute one of the
most productive of marine habitats able to generate 500 kilograms
of seafood per hectare annually. They absorb significant amounts of
carbon dioxide (CO
2
) the major culprit for climate change. The thick
onshore hedges protect coastal communities from violent gale winds
and waves caused by typhoons. Labyrinthine roots shelter fish and
invertebrates while stabilizing sediments and absorbing heavy trace
metals to minimize coastal erosion and prevent inland salt-water
contamination. Even fallen leaves are used by some animals for food
and shelter.
Former barangay captain Florencio Gorordo of Rawis in Donsol says,
Balang araw, makatutulong ang mga punong ire na sumalag sa
malalaking alon at malalakas na bagyo. (One day, these trees will
help protect our people from giant waves and strong storms.)
Loss of mangrove forests expose coastal communities to increased
flooding, faster beach erosion, saline intrusion and severe damage
from intensifying storms. In 2006 over 1000 stilt homes were swept to
sea by unusually high waves in Bongao, capital of Tawi-Tawi. Almost
simultaneously, freak waves demolished a further 200 homes in
Talisay, Cebu.
An estimated 450,000 hectares once rung the shores of the Philippines
in 1918. Up to 75% of the original cover has been lost as a result of the
post-war governments program to develop seemingly-idle mangrove
forests into fish and shrimp ponds for profit. Mangrove planting drives
have been attempting to remedy this.
In 2007, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources plus
the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority estimated
Philippine mangrove cover at 289,890 hectares a morale-boosting
improvement over the 112,000 hectares remaining in 1998. WWF and
its allies in the public and private sector are now working to restore
degraded mangrove habitats to improve the lives and livelihoods of
people.
Concludes WWF-Philippines Vice-Chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo
Tan, The key here is balance. Without it, the productivity of our
natural systems will crash. Strike a balance between conservation and
development and we can ensure sustainability.
With 36,289 kilometers of coast and a largely shore-borne population,
the Philippines and its thousands of seaside communities are highly
vulnerable to the worsening impacts of climate change. Recent storms
in the form of Ondoy, Pepeng and Sendong are but harbingers of the
future. Theres no better time to plant mangroves and prepare for
climate change than now.
Donsol has long been a point of convergence. Today, dozens of
groups have united to protect its productivity. Just imagine what this
place can be in ten years, gestures Burce towards ordered rows of
freshly-planted mangroves. When fireflies return to light up this forest,
well know that balance has been restored.
Log on to
www.wwf.org.ph
to know more of WWFs
work in the Philippines
Biggest Fish (Jurgen Freund) Restoring Productivity (Raul Burce)
As the largest environmental event in history, Earth Hour today
launched I Will If You Will - its official 2012 campaign to showcase
how everyone has the power to change the world they live in.
For the first time, Earth Hour, to be held on 31 March, is taking
a creative leap from its annual lights out event to offer a further
opportunity for its communities to be part of actual environmental
solutions.
Earth Hour began as a single-city initiative in 2007 and has since
grown to be a 5251-city strong global movement, reaching 1.8 billion
people in 135 countries across all seven continents.
Earth Hour Philippines has led the global switch-off since 2009,
ranking number one globally in terms of town and city participation
for three consecutive years. A record-breaking 1554 Philippine cities
and municipalities switched off in 2011, 1076 in 2010, 647 for 2009
and over 50 during the countrys inaugural Earth Hour switch-off in
2008.
From 8:30pm to 9:30pm this coming 31 March, WWF-Philippines
will again stage Earth Hour to inspire Filipinos to switch off their
lights and dare their friends to save planet Earth. The I Will If You
Will digital platform is the result of an alliance between WWF, Leo
Burnett, and YouTube - merging the worlds biggest social video
platform with the worlds largest environmental event.
Promise, Challenge for Planet Earth
The I Will If You Will campaign uses the YouTube video platform to
empower people to share a personal dare with the world by asking
everyone what are you willing to do to save the planet?
The concept of I Will If You Will centers around providing a social
contract between two parties - connecting one person, business or
organization to a promise and their friends, family, customers or
members to a challenge - uniting them behind the common goal of
creating a positive environmental outcome.
The Earth Hour YouTube platform hosts a global library of I Will If
You Will challenges, while encouraging people to share their dares
publically through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and email. Friends
can be invited to participate and accept each challenge using these
popular social networks.
The simple promise can range from recycling, to switching to energy-
efficient light bulbs, turning off your mobile charger, or signing up for
paperless banking.
Public and Private Sector Allies Sought
WWF is now seeking official partners for Earth Hour 2012. Says
Earth Hour Philippines National Director Atty. Gia Ibay, We call
on corporations, local governments, media networks and other
organizations to stand with us for this years switch-off. When public
I Will If You Will Campaign Launched,
Partners Sought
and private sector forces unite - then we will be able to effect change
on the scale required to change the world.
Past corporate champions include McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Philips,
Ayala Malls, SM Supermalls, Meralco, Shangri-La Hotels, the
Yuchengco Group of Companies and many others.
Current partners include ABS-CBN, GMA-7, TV5, Discovery
Channel, Global News Network, the Philippine Star, Philippine
Daily Inquirer Online, Aftercall Magazine, Radyo Veritas, DZIQ,
Globaltronics, Photoworld Manila and Ang Sawari Ko. WWF expects
the list to grow as the switch-off approaches.
Earth Hour 2012 is set for 8:30pm on Saturday, 31 March - wherever
you are on planet Earth.
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative spearheaded by
WWF and Leo Burnett. Individuals, businesses, governments
and communities are invited to turn off their lights for one hour
on Saturday March 31, 2012 at 8:30pm to show their support for
environmentally-sustainable action. In 2012, Earth Hours I Will If
You Will concept invites individuals and organizations to challenge
others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour.
Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2011 reached over
1.8 billion people in 135 countries across every continent, receiving
acclaim as the worlds largest campaign for the planet. Earth Hour
Philippines debuted in 2008 and has since grown into one of the
largest annual events in the country, with over 18 million participants
in 2011. For more information, log on to: earthhour.org.
About WWF
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the worlds largest and
most experienced conservation organization, operating in over 100
countries through the support of nearly five million people worldwide.
WWF-Philippines has been working as a national organization of
the WWF network since 1997 and spearheads practical solutions to
help the Philippines adapt to climate change, secure food and water
sources, switch to clean sources of renewable energy and infuse
sustainability into the lives and businesses of Filipinos. WWFs
mission is to build a future in which people live in harmony with
nature. For more information, log on to: wwf.org.ph.
Earth Hour supporters at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds, 26 March
2011. (WWF-Philippines / Chris Ng)
For more information: Corporate Partnerships - Ms. Kim Ang
(kang@wwf.org.ph) Media Partnerships - Mr. Gregg Yan (gyan@
wwf.org.ph) Organizational Tie-Ups - Ms. Marlyn Santiago
(msantiago@wwf.org.ph)
Earth Hour 2012
Dares Pinoys to
Save the Planet
3/31/2012
26 27
The Pantry
ish fried while fresh and breathing into a wok,
smoked goose meat that melts in your mouth,
succulent and creamy sweet prawns swimming on
your tastebudsthese are just a few of the gastronomic delights
that Passion restaurant in Resorts World Manila has to offer.
Passion Caf, which is more akin to an elegant banquet room,
is reminiscent of royal Chinese dining, with a staff that waits on
your every move and is attentive to all your needs, there is no
denying that it has impeccable service.
Imperial Chinese food and dining has a long tradition associated
with ithigh class, luxury, and extravaganceand a strict
set of rules. However in Passion Caf they manage to fuse
the traditional opulence of Imperial China with the subtle and
delicate tastes of todays international cuisine.
Passions ambience is very inviting, and very huge. Reminiscent
of a banquet hall in Imperial China, the caf seats 400 people,
with ten people per round table, plus a row of private rooms on
the side, and the decorations are classic Chinese without being
too cluttered or decorative. Gone are the clichd dragons and
Buddhas or whatnots, only simple geometric patterns, a dark red
carpeted floor, and modern lines.
The executive chef of the restaurant, Mr. David Chu Wai Fung,
a Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards (HAPA) nominee for Best
in Asia for Service Excellence, has succeeded in meshing
traditional Cantonese Cuisine with modern day tastes without
straying too far from the Imperial standards. We imagine that
his varied dishes would satisfy any Chinese officials discerning
tastebuds.
As After Call magazine went to sample the recommended dishes
from Passion themselves, we discovered ourselves in a delightful
state of gourmet nirvana.
1. The Newport Sunset
This sunset-colored drink is the perfect healthy drink
to wake you up. Made by layering blended cherries,
mangoes, oranges and guyabanos make the perfect
after-shift drink. Its sweet, fruity, fresh and looks like
a daiquiri. The best part is when the tart orange pops
pleasantly after the sweetness of the cherries, mangoes
and guyabanos. We all agreed that it would also do very
well with a splash of vodka or gin, to which the waiters
chuckled knowingly.
2. Passion Barbeque Combination Platter
This is definitely an exotic must-try! The platter features
six different dishes cooked, smoked and steamed to
perfection. Made of jellyfish strips, pork knuckles, beef
shins, soy chicken, barbecued pork and smoked soy
goose, the different meats taste amazing, each with a
distinctive taste.
The jellyfish strips has a strange crispy gelatin
consistency, and look transparent yellow. While strange
on the eyes the taste is sure to surprise youthe
jellyfish taste is quite peppy, and the way its cooked
gives it subtle tones of spiciness and sweetness.
The soy chicken tastes like the usualsweet and salty,
but not overdone. The ginger dip that goes along with
it enhances the usual soy chicken taste into something
complex and easily appreciable by those with more
sophisticated tastes.
Two unusual food parts in the usual western culinary
traditions are made wonderfully in this platter. The beef
shins are tender well and have the well-seasoned taste
of braised beef without the thick sauce, while their pork
knuckles that have been sliced finely into thin strips are
steamed and smoked, lending it a cacophony of tastes
that are immediately sweet, salty and the taste of pork
that doesnt explode but spread out softly.
Pork barbecue, an overdone dish in most restaurants, is
given a revival by Passion. The meat is treated in such
a way that it too melts like butter when chewed, with a
taste that isnt so strong and decidedly barbecued or
grilled, but more like it was slowly cooked over charcoal
until tender.
But the piece de resistance of the dish is their smoked
soy goose! The goose, which was substituted for roast
duck, is cut into strips as well. It has a nice layer of fat
which melts in your mouth and tender meat that breaks
softly when it touches your tongue. There is no other
word for it but decadent.
3. Szechuan Hot and Sour
The Szechuan Hot and Sour follows the tradition of all
hot and sour soups, but with a simple differencethe
consistency is just right, and the soup isnt overly sour
or spicy, but its definitely hot! Dont forget to blow your
spoon before drinking. Its aromatic with mushrooms
and eggs and the usual ingredients, but also hearty. Its
easy to get full with just one bowl.
4. Hot Prawn Salad
The salad is a good palate cleanser, composed of soft
yet crispy prawns, fruits like pineapples, cherries with
cream, its sweet but not too sweet, and just the right
amount of creaminess without being over the top.
5. Deep Fried Lapu-Lapu Xi-Yuan Style
The Deep Fried Lapu-Lapu cooked Xi-Yuan style is
one of the restaurants specialties. It comes highly
recommended, and rightfully sothe fish is wok-fried
while still alive and baked on a bed of pomelo, oil and
chopped chilies. The way its cooked makes the fish
meat cooked but fresh, giving it a texture of eating fresh
salmontender and it dissolves softly once eaten, and
the pomelos give it a fresh pop, while the chilies stay
subtle and not overpowering. Everyone who tried it on
the table groaned with pleasure at the first bite.
6. Scallop Fried Rice
Sadly the fried rice wasnt much. Dry and peppered
with undercooked scallops and chives, it wasnt a good
dish, but when paired with the other dishes made the
taste of the food stand out. Maybe the chef decided that
the rice shouldnt distract from the amazing flavors of
the other dishes.
7. Beef and Broccoli
The beef and broccoli dish was unpretentious it tasted
exactly like it is supposed to, but with a quiet difference:
the dish is excellently cooked. Crispy green on the
outside but tenderly cooked on the inside, the broccoli
tasted fresh and the beef was cooked wellyou could
break it apart with a spoon. This was well-paired with
the fried rice, and gave the dish a better, buttery depth
that wouldnt be obvious at first bite.
8. Chilled Mango Pudding
And for the dessert, we were served Chilled Mango
Pudding. Blended mangoes cooked for 10 minutes
with gelatin and chilled to consistency in small delicate
glasses, its topped with a thin slice of fresh mango and
a cherry. Served with a side of fresh full milk that you
can pour on top that turns the dish creamy and sweet
while leaving your tastebuds feeling almost like new, we
recommend this dessert to everyone. Dont forget to
pair it with the milk, it makes the dessert more complex
and deceptively so, for such a simple appearance.
If youre looking for high-end dining, excellent service, and
groundbreaking Cantonese cuisine in Manila, Passion in Resorts
World Manila is the place to go. Dont forget to tip!
Explore Your
Passion for
By Jacob Dominguez
F
Passion Barbeque Combination Platter Deep Fried Lapu-Lapu Xi-Yuan Style Chilled Mango Pudding
28 29
One of the chia seeds best health benefits is its ability to protect
and promote the development and continued health of one of
the most important parts of our body: the brain. What makes
chia seeds so effective in this role is its high concentrations of
omega-3, a substance that is more commonly associated with
fish oils. Omega-3 is composed of fatty acids that the human
body cannot synthesize on its own, which means we must eat
foods that are rich in it in order to get the nutrition that our body
needs. In the case of omega-3, people often associate it with
fatty oils derived from tuna, salmon, and other fish. What isnt as
well known is that plants can provide superior quality omega-3.
And among all these plant sources, chia seeds are one of the
best. A full 64% of the oils contained in chia seeds are made up
of pure omega-3 fatty acids.
Better, Faster, and Smarter Performance
One of the main components of omega-3 that makes it so good
for promoting brain health is docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA.
DHA is a long chain fatty acid that is used exclusively by the
brain and nervous system. It helps maintain the delicate balance
of electrolytes in within our nervous system, which in turn
controls the electrical impulses that travel from our nerves and
to our brain. This is why people with diets deficient in DHA find
themselves suffering from weaker brain functions, manifesting
itself in poor memory, slower learning, and a smaller attention
span.
No More Blues with Chia Seeds
Another brain-healthy component of omega-3 fatty acids is Ethyl
eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA-E. EPA-E is currently being looked
at by scientists and doctors as a possible treatment for a whole
range of mental and psychiatric disorders. In one study, EPA-E
was found to boost the effectiveness of an anti-depression drug
fluoxetine. It is theorized that EPA-E helps relieve the low-grade
inflammation that is often associated with clinical depression.
It was also found that the very cells of people suffering from
chronic depression were deficient in EPA-E, another indication
of why omega-3 fatty acids help relieve its symptoms. Bipolar
disorder can also be treated by the high omega-3 content found
in chia seeds. This is because EPA-E has been found to have an
enhancing effect on the amino acid N-acetyl aspartate, which is
found in the brain. Lithium, the traditional medication for bipolar
disorder, operates by doing the very same thing. Additionally,
there are studies underway to test EPA-E as a natural treatment
for schizophrenia and psychosis. For most people however, the
EPA-E in omega-3 will be utilized by our brain to help relieve us
of some of the stress of daily life. This is because EPA-E has
recently been found to help balance the bodys metabolism of
the stress hormones cortisol and cortisone, in turn helping us
keep in better control of our moods and reactions.
An Investment in Your Future Health
Omega-3 is also an essential part of brain health in the long
run. It has been shown to help prevent the development of
neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia and Parkinsons
and Alzheimers disease. It also helps preserve the mental acuity
and memories of elderly people by preventing the buildup of
abnormal proteins in the brain. This alone will allow many elderly
people to enter their golden years with all of their experiences,
memories, and dignity intact.
The omega-3 content found in chia seeds is far superior to
that founf in traditional fish sources. The fish that contain
these essential fatty acids are often high in calories, and can
sometimes be prohibitively expensive. Fish oil supplements may
also be prone to contamination, and can have many annoying
properties, such as an unpleasant odor and consistency. Getting
your fix of omega-3 from chia seeds ensures that youll get a
lot more of it while consuming less calories and spending less
money.
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CHIA Seeds:
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Health
30 31
The advice I would give to my younger self is very,
very simple: get enough sleep and you will bemore
productive, more effective, and more likely to enjoy
your life.
This realization started with a bang. More like a thud,
actually. That was the sound my face made when it hit the
edge of my desk. It was April 2007. The night before, I had
arrived home from the airport at midnight, after a week of
taking my daughter on a tour of colleges. I had agreed to
her requestokay, it was more like a demandthat there
be no checking of my Blackberry during the days, which
meant staying up very late during the night catching up on
work. That particular morning, I had gotten up just after 5
AM to pre-tape a CNN show. I had been back at home for
about an hour when I began to feel cold.
Next thing I knew, I was laying on the floor, bloodied. I had
passed out from exhaustion and banged my head on the
way down. The result was a broken cheekbone and five
stitches under my eyebrow.
Thats when I knew I needed to renew my estranged
relationship with sleep. We had once been quite close. It
had been very important early in my career. But, as time
went by, responsibilities piled up and we had grown apart
and taken each other for granted. Sometimes wed go days
and barely see each other. But, when it comes to wakeup
calls, few are as effective as the spilling of your own blood.
So sleep was back in my life. I became obsessed with it.
And the more I studied the issueand the more I saw
how sleep deprived weve become as a nationthe more
I realized that sleep is, in fact, the next big feminist issue.
Women have, obviously, made great strides in all areas of
society, especially the workplace. But our national delusion
that the way to be ultra-productive is to cut back on sleep
is particularly destructive for women.
On average, single working women and working mothers
actually get an hour and a half less sleep than the seven-
and-a-half-hour minimum the body needs to function.
And in the macho boys club atmosphere that dominates
many offices, women too often feel they have to
overcompensate by working harder, longer, and later.
In fact, lack of sleep has become a sort of virility symbol.
I had dinner recently with a guy who kept bragging that
he had only gotten four hours of sleep the night before. I
wanted to tell him (but I didnt) that our dinner would have
been a lot more interesting if he had gotten five.
This has got to stopbecause the scientific research is
in, and not getting enough sleep is not only not a sign of
virility, its bad for you in a million different ways. Including
in the bedroom (nearly 25 percent of Americans say they
have sex less often or have lost interest in it because they
are too sleepy).
But if even you dont care about sex, lack of sleep leads to
increased risk of high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, a
weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, and heart
diseaseand the risk goes up more for women than for
men.
Sleep deprivation is also involved in one of every six fatal
car crashes. It is, literally, killing us.
Sleep deprivation severely affects relational memory,
which is the brains ability to combine and synthesize
distinct facts. Its the sort of thinking that allows us to
see the big picture and solve problems with creative and
innovative breakthroughs.
Bill Clinton, who used to famously get only five hours of
sleep, once admitted, Every important mistake Ive made
in my life, Ive made because I was too tired.
At the moment, the world is facing multiple crises. Many
brilliant leaders with extremely high IQs have made terrible
decisions, both in government and in business. Whats
been missing is not IQ but wisdomand sleep is our ticket
to wisdom.
The prevailing culture tells us that nothing succeeds
like excess, and that working 70 hours a week is better
than working 60. Were told that being plugged in 24/7
is expected, and that sleeping less and multi-tasking
more are an express elevator to the top.
Well, actually, I believe women need to sleep their way to
the top. Literally.
And even more important than doing whats best for
ourselves and our careers, the world is in desperate need
of big ideas. And there are many, many of them locked
inside of us. We just need to close our eyes to see them.
So, ladies, shut down your engines and get some sleep.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arianna Huffington is the president and
editor-in-chief of the AOL Huffington Post
Media Group, a nationally syndicated
columnist, and author of thirteen books. In
May 2005, she launched The Huffington
Post, a news and blog site that quickly
became one of the most widely-read, linked to, and
frequently-cited media brands on the Internet. In 2006,
and again in 2011, she was named to the Time 100, Time
Magazines list of the worlds 100 most influential people.
Arianna Huffington:
Sleep Your Way to the Top
by Arianna Huffington
32 33
The Dell Venue hit Philippine shores third quarter
of last year, and at first glance it really looks like a
knockout. Seeing this phone for the first time is almost
like spotting a hot supermodel in a mall or finding
a pretty girl in your school. This said the Dell Venue
certainly makes the iPhone 4 look like one of the ugly
girls in your class. And, yes it goes beyond this. Once
you hold the Dell Venue the heft, the weight and the
curved design make you feel you have something sexy
and powerful in your hands. It is almost like holding a
handgun for the first time and you feel so giddy about
firing it. Now that we have that out of the way, lets
find out if this phones beauty is skin deep, and if it
really has any fire power at all.
Contacts, Calls and Messaging
Accessing contacts on this phone is pretty standard,
but the Dell Stage User Interface (UI) makes it more
interesting. In the UI you can configure a widget to display
your top eight contacts (starred). This is really helpful,
since scrolling through a contact list is truly a waste of time
and most people just contact five to twenty percent of their
contacts eighty to ninety five percent of the time.
Call quality was spot on, either on handset or speaker
mode. Voice quality was clear as if you were talking face
to face. When it comes to messaging, the author found it
very difficult using the keyboard on portrait mode. Typing
gets so much better on landscape mode as the keys are
not as compressed. Messaging is almost seamless on the
horizontal keyboard. People with small fingers probably
wont have the same problem though.
Camera
By Pio Granada
4.1 AMOLED display @
480800 pixels (228 pixels
per inch)
Gorilla Glass Display
512MB RAM, 1GB ROM
HSDPA 7.2Mbps, HSUPA
5.76Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g, WiFi hotspot
Bluetooth 2.0 w/ A2DP
8MP autofocus camera w/
LED flash
720p video recording
1GHz Scorpion processor
Adreno 200 GPU
Qualcomm QSD8250
Snapdragon chipset
Radio tuner
GPS w/ aGPS support
Adobe Flash 10.1 support
Li-Ion 1400 mAh
Android 2.2 Froyo
On normal lighting conditions, the Dell Venues eight
megapixel shooter does not disappoint. However, on
low-light conditions things are still OK, however low-light
outdoor conditions result in frustrating pictures. Overall,
the camera on the Dell Venue is great but doesnt do well
on outdoor low-light situations.
Battery Life
In other reviews, it was reported that the Dell Venue
wouldnt charge from a wall outlet when it is totally out
of power. In reviewing this updated unit, the author found
no trouble charging from 0% battery power from a wall
socket.
When it comes to battery life, this Android phone can last
a whole day and then some. In the battery test, the Venue
lasted for twenty-five hours and forty-three minutes. No
battery saving set up was used everything was at default
settings. For an Android phone, this is already a great deal.
User Experience (usage apps and internet browsing)
The Dell Stage User Interface (UI) makes it so much easier
to use and can best most of the other phone UIs out in the
market today. Looking polished and neat, swiping through
the UI was quick and easy. Although users may experience
lag sometimes especially when accessing the app menu,
if you are used to iPhone 4 navigation smoothness, this
may irritate you a little.
When comes to internet browsing, the 4.1 inch screen and
the multi-touch interface makes internet browsing on a
phone quite a smooth experience. Although as previously
mentioned typing is a pain when on portrait mode but
...if you love holding
something that feels
luxurious, then this
phone was definitely
designed for you.
seamless on landscape. Flash based sites appear great
and browsing on a Super Amoled display is really easy on
the eyes.
Watching 720p movies is a total blast on the Dell Venue.
The speakers are great and can compete with any
standard laptop speakers on the market. The only issue
here is when you watch movies or listen to music, and
hold the phone on a horizontal orientation. Fingers tend
to muffle the speakers located on the bottom side of the
phone.
Price
As of press time a brand-new Dell Venue can be had from
Php 15,500 to as much as Php 21,260. With twenty plus
thousand pesos you can already score a dual-core phone
so if you can get this for below Php 18,000 or lower it is
going to be a catch.
Conclusion
The Dell Venue came out with Froyo (2.2) when
Gingerbread is already de rigueur with most if not all
Android manufacturers. Even the low end Galaxy Y comes
with Gingerbread. As of press time, there is still no OS
update in sight. If Dell wants to be taken seriously in the
smart phone game, they have to keep up Android versions
with the Samsungs and HTCs out there. OS versions
aside, this phone is a huge step forward for Dell in the
design space. Design wise this phone totally looks better
than an iPhone 4S or the slab looking Galaxy S II. Dell
has gone outside the box going for a convex glass design,
which in the authors opinion gives the phone a very solid
feel and grip. Although it is just chromed plastic the weight
and heft really make you feel you are holding a cold steel
gun in your hands. Dell has achieved a design milestone
through this phone and hopefully; they continue in this
direction.
At the end of the day if you are the type of user who just
does messaging, calls, social media and internet browsing,
if you can have this phone for less than Php 18,000, the
authors recommendation is to go for it. For power users
the recommendation is not to touch this phone with a ten
foot pole, this phone will leave you listening to Adele all
day after unloading your hard-earned cash and not getting
any dual-core magic. If you are in the market for a camera
replacement, this phone is lacking, so the suggestion is for
you to look elsewhere. If you love watching movies on the
go, the Super Amoled screen and decent sound system
will make the Dell Venue worth your while and money. If
you just simply must have to look good, use the phone for
its basic functions with some online activity on the side
and love holding something that feels luxurious, then this
phone was definitely designed for you.
No notification light for messages or missed calls
No front cam
Camera button takes a long time to respond
Touch not as responsive as an iphone 4
Lags a little bit at times when switching between menus
especially the app drawer
Is still on an aging Froyo platform with no official upgrade in
sight
The curved Gorilla Glass design looks and feels good especially
when touching the screen.
Hefty quality feel, great build quality
Watching videos on 4.1 Super Amoled is a blast
Speakers are as good as on a decent laptop
Decent 720p video recording
Dell Stage UI is totally user friendly
Mute switch to quickly quell embarrassing moments if you forget
to put your phone on silent
+ Rings
Specs
- Dings
Dell
Venue:
A Design Milestone for Dell
Tech +
Mobility
The sleek and sexy Dell Venue.
34 35
http://www.sparkmyideas.com/ http://www.sarisarisounds.
36 37
QC Times
Supplement
Carlos V. Cabochan
Lecturer
Department of Leadership and Strategy
John Gokongwei School of Management
Ateneo de Manila University
T
he National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) mission states
Ours is the task to formulate development plans and ensure that
the plan implementation achieves the goals of national development.
Hence, the role of NEDA translated is to provide our country with a roadmap
to achieve certain established goals on national economic and gross domestic
product growth rates, country competitiveness, overseas Filipino remittances,
employment, wealth distribution, and poverty rates among others. The ultimate
objective is what NEDA refers to as inclusive growth.
Inclusive growth means, first of all, growth that is rapid enough to matter, given
the countrys large population, geographical differences, and social complexity.
It is sustained growth that creates jobs, draws the majority into the economic
and social mainstream, and continuously reduces mass poverty. This is an
ideal which the country has perennially fallen short of, and this failure has had
the most far-reaching consequences, from mass misery and marginalization,
to an overseas exodus of skill and talent, to political disaffection and alienation,
leading finally to threats to the constitution of the state itself.
To achieve inclusive growth, NEDA has adopted two major programs. The
first is on fiscal spending supported by better managed revenue generating
activities primarily through tax collection. Higher collections will support higher
government spending. This action by government, according to theory, will
stimulate economic activity and eventually, economic growth. The second is on
monetary policy. Low and stable inflation will create a positive economic and
business environment that will encourage more economic activity. Hence, both
fiscal and monetary strategies as presented will lead to inclusive growth.
Underlying the NEDA development plan is the notion that the Philippine econ-
omy has not been opened enough to provide for a seamless integration with
the global economy and an uninterrupted interplay between global and local
economic forces that will bring out the best in the Philippines in terms of com-
petitive advantage and eventually prosperity. Hence, NEDA prescribes that the
Philippines should go for an even more extensive economic liberalization pro-
gram and one that is anchored on the pillars of trade liberalization, investment
liberalization, deregulation and privatization, until today.
.
What is the NEDA scorecard in the last 25 years? A study shows that in 1985,
the top 1% of the population controlled 32% of national income. In 2009, the
top 1% continues to control 30% of national income. In 1985, the share of the
bottom 50% of the population was 20% of national income. In 2009, the bot-
tom 50% continued to be left with this share. In With trade liberalization, tariff
on imported products were reduced. This move was expected to make local pro-
ducers more efficient and competitive. But given the more favourable business
climate, lower production costs, and strong government support in competing
countries, local producers were at the losing end. With trade liberalization,
Philippine companies found it more efficient to import and even set up their pro-
duction facilities outside the country. Recently, even Philippine exporters have
expressed their intention to move their production facilities to China or Vietnam.
Now the country has ended up importing more and more consumer goods.
One consequence of the lowering of tariff on imported products hat has never
EscapE frOm
pOvErTy
38 39
net of those who are able to seek work outside the country. To push the
concept further, farmers, fishermen, and even sidewalk vendors will have
to be seen as micro entrepreneurs. Hence, the government will have to
see Filipino entrepreneurs as partners in growth and not merely a source
of revenue for government spending. The Filipino entrepreneurial spirit is
dampened by the high cost of doing business in the country.
While one understands the pressure on government to move fast and
the fastest is by supporting the biggest, raising taxes, and increasing
government borrowing and spending to support infrastructure and social
services, the need to go back to basics will always be present and one
that will always be critical from a longer development perspective. The
government must create a business environment that supports local en-
trepreneurship. If farmers are to stay in their farms because their farms
yield the incomes they need to support their families, the same is true for
all types of enterprises. Business ventures will have to be profitable and
one that is not burdened with various national and local charges, high
power and water rates, and high minimum wages arising from the high
cost of living.
When discussing MSMEs, it is a must to look at two economies operat-
ing not only side by side but even competing with each other such as in
food production and retail. These are the formal and informal economies.
Perhaps, there are less MSMEs in the formal sector than in the infor-
mal sector. And the government must address this dichotomy. Those
in the formal sector are covered by regulation and government revenue
generating activities. Those in the informal are beyond the reach of gov-
ernment. Hence, the tax collection effort of the government must be
measured based on what is in the formal sector and not based on both
formal and informal sectors. This becomes a disincentive to MSMEs in
the formal sector and will likewise discourage those in the informal sector
from moving to the formal sector.
From a broader perspective, the task of government is to be able to
integrate the informal with the formal economy. The big question is how?
For as long as there is a large informal sector, income opportunities and
poverty incidence will remain high. For as long as farmers, fishermen,
and livestock producers remain unable to access enterprises in the for-
mal sector due to the absence of a formal medium, they will remain de-
pendent on middlemen and they will continue to remain in the informal
sector.
There is one model that must be tried in every corner of the country. This
is what is called Tangkilikan, a sustainable development model that
addresses widespread poverty. This is a community based economic
development program and anchored on self reliance within communi-
ties. Farmers will supply the need of processors. The processors will
supply the need of consumers. Financing will come from local commu-
nity sources such as cooperatives or the processors themselves. The
consumers will purchase production for their household requirements.
Members of the household are working in the farms or are employed
by processors. In this model, substantial wealth will remain in the com-
munity and is used to fuel economic activities. Presently, a structure to
support this model is the cooperative. The government must encourage
the formation of cooperatives in the entire country.
And so the cycle continues a wealthy few at one percent of the popula-
tion and in control of vital economic resources, a struggling middle, and
a vast majority of the income deprived will continue to be for as long as
national economic development policies are not re-examined, revised,
and national economic development planning remains in the hands of
a few. The economic future of the Philippines is of a national concern
and should only be democratized. It is time for the government, both lo-
cal and national, to enable the Filipino entrepreneur to shape the future
direction of the country.
been closely examined is the loss of revenue on the part of gov-
ernment. To make up for this loss, the government has resorted
to other revenue generating activities such as the expanded value
added tax on electricity, gasoline, and now toll fees. The burden
has shifted to local businesses. Revenue collection from local busi-
ness will have to take account of revenue losses due to tariff re-
duction and one that will go down to zero in the coming years. This
development has made local companies even more uncompetitive
from a global economic perspective.
Investment liberalization as a way to lift the Philippine economy has
not materialized. Except for investments in local consumer goods
production, most investments are in assembly were value added is
low. Others are in services such as call centers where again value
contribution is low. Investments are not in production facilities that
can equip the country with resources and capabilities to compete in
the global arena for manufactured products. Investment in mining is
being pushed by the government but the net benefit to the intended
beneficiaries are unclear and even the revenue generated seems
to be disproportionate to what the country is giving up to investors.
Deregulation, the third pillar of the extensive economic liberaliza-
tion thrust, covers foreign exchange trading. It also deregulated
the importation of agricultural and livestock products. The country
now imports more agricultural and livestock products to support
its fast growing population but at the same time, dampening local
interest in farming, fisheries, and livestock production. Even the
children of farmers dream of landing a job in a foreign country. This
is a vital issue when it comes to food security food availability at
stable prices.

Privatization, the sale of government assets to the private sector,
was believed to be key to promoting economic efficiency. Govern-
ment assets in government hands were not managed well. Hence,
when brought outside the sphere of government control, the as-
sets will become productive and this will in turn lead to lower prices
for Filipino consumers. Unfortunately, there is much debate in this
area as prices have gone up substantially instead of decreasing.
Today, the Philippine government has no power to interfere in price
setting of these companies now privatized. But these are vital in-
puts to competitiveness and viability of local companies. Critical
factors of production is best left in the hands of government and
if not, government must continue price setting activities based on
normal economic returns.
Another economic thrust today is to redirect local production to the
export market with the objective of increasing total export value and
improving the balance of trade performance of the country. Again,
this fails to take into account of the need to increase local food
production and as a means to keeping prices within the reach of
the majority of the Philippine population. The countrys reliance on
imported food including agricultural products and livestock will have
to be contained. The country has land in abundance and must take
food production for local consumption seriously.
A country can only move forward if it is able to put in place pro-
grams that will promote country competitiveness not in manpower
export or assembly but in the high value creating economic activi-
ties. Filipinos must find it worthwhile to engage in business. Filipi-
nos must find it fruitful to become entrepreneurs. While employment
in large industries account for almost forty percent of employment,
the prospects of having more large corporations operate in the
country is dim. The country must look at its Medium, Small, and Mi-
cro Enterprises ( MSMEs ) to generate the balance of employment
M
ost of us are not aware that 99.6% of all Filipino businesses
that actually dominate our economy are considered micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These range from
the street vendors we encounter everyday to the businessmen and
women having less than P3 million capitalization.
The acronym MSMEs are rightly pronounced as they are really
missed me in representation in Congress. The interests of this
very important segment of Philippine economy remain largely un-
der-represented.
The party list election in 2013 gives us another opportunity to push
more able representation for the MSMEs.
One attempt is that of the revival of the Malay Democrats of the
Philippines (MDP). MDP is a political party of the Philippines. It was
first registered as Lakas ng Pilipino party in 1986 and was renamed
as Malay Democrats of the Philippines.
The MDP is considered the political arm of the National Economic
Protectionism Association (NEPA), the oldest local non-government
organization in the Philippines established since 1934.
In 1995, the MDP running then as the Lakas ng Pilipino, partici-
pated in elections in Quezon City garnered the second most num-
ber of votes. Since 2010, the party has undergone revitalization.
In 2011, through the efforts of the National Executive Committee,
chapters were formed in several provinces among them Nueva
Ecija, Cavite, Rizal, Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Lanao Del
Sur and in several cities in Metro Manila like Caloocan, Manila etc.
The Malay Democrats of the Philippines are led by former Secre-
tary Salvador M. Enriquez, Jr. as Chairman Emeritus and Bayan
De La Cruz as President. De la Cruz is also the president of NEPA.
Only recently, the party has decided to participate in the 2013
Party List elections and renamed itself aptly as the NEPA PARTY
LIST. In explaining the reason for the change of name; NEPA and
MDP President de la Cruz explained: Given the long history of
NEPA as an NGO, we hope this change of name of the MDP will
facilitate easy recall. In the future, it can also provide a call for a
national campaign and movement for nationalist development, as
espoused by NEPA.
WE ARE THE
99.6% - malay
dEmOcraTs
Of ThE
philippinEs
Malay Democrats
of the Philippines
& NEPA President
Bayan de la Cruz
and campaign
manager Rey Ramirez
meets with Obet
Posadas, founder and
Chairperson of the
National Supreme
Board and Jojo del
Rosario, National
Grand Skeptron of
Alpha Kappa Rho
(AKHRO) Fraternity
and Sorrority to
discuss possible
political alliance to
seek representation
for micro, small and
medium enterprises at
the house of Congress
through the 2013
party list elections
By Roy Cabonegro
QC Times
Supplement
Bayan dela Cruz (extreme right) with NEPA officers and supporters.
40 41
SYKES Asia is legendary for throwing memorable year-end
celebrations. In 2010, SYKES made history by hosting the first
pyromusical show in the Philippines. This 2011, SYKES marked
another first by staging Masque De Grand, a Mardi Gras-inspired
party!
Another First: Grand Parade a La Mardi Gras
Staying true to their commitment of supporting work-life balance,
SYKES ensured that each of their employees enjoyed Masque
De Grand 2011. This year, the program began with the parade
of floats. Five SYKES floats adorned with elaborate and colorful
beads, feathers, masks and other ornaments circled SM MOA Open
Grounds. To complete the festive mood, each float was accompanied
by dancers on stage and on the ground. Thousands of SYKESERS
also joined the parade to be part of another SYKES history.
Even Mr. Dean Van Ormer, Vice-President for Philippine Operations,
grooved to the Samba music as he danced on top of the Grand Float.
In true Mardi Gras fashion, Mr. Ormer also gave out SYKES T-shirts
along with beads and masks to the viewing bystanders. It is indeed
an affair to remember both for SYKSERS and the public.
We Work Hard and Play Hard
SM MOA Open Grounds was transformed into the vibrant Rio
Carnaval from the flamboyant floats, elaborate stage set-up to
the sizzling performances. Thousands of SYKESERS dressed up in
their fanciest costumes to party the night away.
Officially opening the program was Mr. Dean Van Ormer. His speech
resounded to every SYKESER. SYKES has always been recognized
as a pioneer in the industry. But more than being first, were also the
best thanks to you. You guys are so dedicated and committed to
SYKES all year round. So tonight its all about you. Relax, have fun
and enjoy!
And enjoy they did! Everyone rocked to URBANDUB and danced to
Groove Manila and Gruppo Tribales exhilarating numbers. Imbibing
the Mardi Gras spirit, SYKESERS flocked the face painting and
glitter tattoo sections. For an authentic Mardi Gras feel, SYKSERS
posed with Brazilian models at the different photobooth areas!
A Little Friendly Competition
The night got more intense as the three business units took to the
stage. Competing for team pride and the P60, 000.00 grand prize,
each team gave performances that can rival the Mardi Gras dancers
from Rio. The Masks team revealed their extraordinary talents by
performing modern samba. The Feathers team soared as they took
on the classic Capoeira. But it is the Beads Team who bedazzled
everyone with their extra hot rendition of Burlesque giving them their
back-to-back championships. Only one team may have won, but
every team showed just how talented SYKESERS truly are.
Aside from the team performances, there was also a search for the
King and Queen of the Night. Throughout the evening, gorgeous
SYKSERS were spotted everywhere. Women donned their bright
and shiny gowns. The men showed off their flashy tuxedos. Then
there were SYKESERS who wowed everyone with their out of
this world costumes. The King and Queen of the Night took home
P15,000.00 each.
A Night of Giving Thanks
The most anticipated event of the evening was the raffle draw. It
has been SYKES tradition to give back to employees. This year
SYKSERS won an Ipad, Galaxy Tab, Playbook, laptops and cell
phones. But the surprises did not stop there. Before the end of
the night, 2 lucky SYKESERS won P50,000.00 each and 2 luckier
SYKESERS took home the grand prize P100,000.00 each! And
just when everyone thought everything was given out, Mr. Ormer and
Mr. Mike Henderson, Senior Vice-President, Regional Operations,
APAC, announced that 3 additional P100,00.00 would be raffled off.
The entire SM MOA Open Grounds shook as SYKESERS jumped
and shouted in excitement. The night indeed ended on a high!
So why does SYKES go to such great lengths for a year-end
celebration?
Each year, we have events like this to reward the hard work,
dedication and outstanding performance of our employees. SYKES
also supports and promotes work-life balance. We want our
employees to have a life outside of SYKES. It has really become part
of our culture.
This is how you end the year in style!
About SYKES
SYKES is a global leader in providing customer contact management
solutions and services and has more than 50 years of combined
experience in the industry. With its more than 51,000-strong
employees, it services Fortune 1000 companies around the world.
In the Philippines, SYKES is officially recognized as a pioneer in
the industry and is consistently ranked among the top call centers
in the country. It has over 14,000 employees deployed to the
following sites in Metro Manila and Cebu: One San Miguel Avenue
Building in Ortigas Center, the Robinsons Summit Center building
and Burgundy Corporate Tower in Makati City, the World Corporate
Center building along Shaw Boulevard, the K-Pointe building in
Quezon City, the E-Com building and Riverbanks Annex in Marikina
City, and the Synergis IT Center in Cebu. To know more about
SYKES, log on to ph.sykes.com
Ends 2011 Rio Style
SYKES Asia
42
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