Beautiful Vietnam

After travelling to India, I had to go to Vietnam with the same purpose, to meet prospective suppliers.  I flew with Tom via Manila to Ho Chi Minh City.  We arrived at 2:00 am at Bong Sen Hotel.  It was a three star Asian styled unique hotel located in the heart of the city.

Cozy and relaxing

My room at Bong Sen Hotel

My first activity was to attend church service at 5:45 am.  So I woke up early with very little sleep and hailed a taxi that brought me to the church location.  A 10-minute drive from the hotel.  There I felt at home.  I felt I am where I belong.  I met some of the brethren and chatted a bit after the service.

Some of the brethren in Ho Chi Minh City 

Our meeting starts at 10:00 am, I met Tom and Jonathan on the buffet breakfast.  Food was superb.   Two thumbs up. Then we traveled for an hour and a half to Tay Ninh Province where Easternpoly is located.  We visited two factories.  Then we headed back to the hotel to get ready for another meeting at 2:00 pm with Kanematsu, a client of Jonathan.  It was an interesting meeting and though I am not in sales, I get to see how our sales team works.

At Easternpoly factory with Mr. Dung, Deputy Manager

Tom with Kanematsu's Manager of Grain Dept.

By 4:00 pm, we are all done for the day, it's time for shopping.  Jonatahn and I went for a walk to Ben Thanh market.  A place where tourists buy their pasalubong.  Crossing the streets of Saigon is an adventure.  Buwis buhay as we put it in tagalog.  There were pedestrian crossings but no traffic enforcer or a traffic light, you have to cross at your own risk.  Motor bikes are everywhere, their number one means of transportation. We had fun buying stuffs at Ben Thanh Market.

With pretty sales ladies at Ben Thanh Market

Jonathan with a Vietnamese lady who knows how to speak Tagalog

           

It's Lunar New Year

A real tourist in Vietnam

Day 2 was as busy as Day 1. We started at 10:00am, had to travel again by land for almost an hour to Binh Tan to meet Liksin, a new supplier.  Then we have to rush to the next meeting at An Giang in District 1, a place near our hotel, after that we had late lunch at 3:00 pm.  So we were all exhausted but Jonathan has one last meeting with a client.  But he was kind enough to let us go, so he went by himself.

Jonathan with The Opera House on the background

Amazing lights surrounded the city

I knew this is my last day in Saigon, so I decided to walk one last time around the city.  It was fun, there were extravagant lights on the streets as the Lunar New Year comes near.  From the classic decorated shops to small stores, everything seems glowing with the presence of chrysanthemum flowers all over the place.

That night Jonathan and I just sat outside the hotel and watched people walk around.  It was fun seeing so much people in the streets of Saigon.

I will surely come back here.  Thanks for the experience beautiful Vietnam.

My Indian Escapade

I was sitting in a lobby of a luxurious hotel in Mumbai called The Lalit Mumbai.  A five star hotel with Asia's largest atrium lobby.  It is located near the airport but despite the busy location, it is quite peaceful and relaxing.

Atrium Lobby of The Lalit Mumbai

Travelling to Mumbai is not easy, considering the long wait I have to deal in Hongkong.  I went Mumbai to meet our suppliers which I did in one full day.  One meeting after the other all done in the grand hotel lobby.

With Mansi of Staarship Logistics

With Mr. Joseph Albert of Star Group Logistics

                                                

While my boss Tom de Bruin was on a series of meetings with our clients together with my colleague Avinash Wagh in other parts of India.  He commented I was lucky I came to Mumbai as a client so I can schedule my meetings at my convenience.  Contrary to their purpose of coming to Mumbai as supplier, so he has to travel from one place to another to meet prospective clients.

Avinash, Sandeep, me and Tom

Rattan, Mr. V.K Taparia and Vivek Taparia of Supreme Industries

I was on my last meeting when Bhushan, my colleague, arrived with his wife Di and sister Pinky.  We are going to the Fashion Street.  I was able to taste MOD (Mad Over Doughnuts), a famous doughnut chain in India where Pinky is working as a trainer.  She personally invited me to an MOD store to have a taste of my self titled doughnut Hazel Dazzle.  It's delicious.   We went to a food night market and I had a taste of Pav Bahji and shop for shawls, bags, bangles and other pasalubong.  I had fun and it was quite an experience.
Driving in Mumbai is never easy.  Traffic is so heavy.  There were cars everywhere blowing their horns.  But I realize, if I have another chance, I would love to go back to Mumbai.

With Di and Pinky

At the Fashion Street

Pav Bahji

My self tilted doughnut Hazel Dazzle

Not only for profit company

I could remember clearly back in 2007, I was employed at Cacho Hermanos Inc., as an Import/Export

officer.  I received a call from a friend asking me if I want to apply to a newly opened company in SBMA.  I was hesitant at first but the urge to try came across my mind.  So I sent my resume and I was called for an interview.  I met Tom de Bruin, and he asked me a lot of questions.  True to myself, I answered with all honesty.  The only weapon I have is my years of experience and expertise in what I do. I was offered to take the job as Purchasing and Logistics Manager. Hesitant to make a career leap, I declined and decided to stay at Cacho Hermanos Inc. But Tom was persistent. All the while, I prayed and asked for a sign, which I received. So after 3 calls, I gave in.

After 6 years I am still here.  I am thankful I made the right decision.  It is indeed a not only for profit company but a company that cares for its employees, family, environment and customers.  The technology is just amazing.  It's the solution for post harvest losses.  A drying and safe storage solution that can effectively reduce losses due to its hermeticity.

GrainPro Phils., Inc.  exports to different countries and later on the Philippine government has realized the importance of the product.  We are serving Department of Agriculture and we offer a complete package.  We do training and sharing the know how to farmers and end users.  

The people I work with are the reason I feel at home.  The sense of belonging.  I was treated as the ATE since I am one of the pioneers i should say.  I enjoy the respect I gained for 6 years and will always be thankful I am a part of this company called...GRAINPRO.

Real Shoe Lover

Women I guess are born shoe-crazy.  Buying a pair of shoes always has a supernatural effect on me, I call it shoe lust.  I never dreamed that I would find myself having more than 10 pairs of shoes.  I've always love shoes.  But since I was on a tight budget with my kids going to college and all, I will satisfy myself by merely browsing and dreaming I could own such nice shoes.  

    

I started liking Zalora  fb page early this year.  Since then I found myself checking their website almost everyday.  Zalora is an online shopping website.  I registered and bought a pair, and another and another, until I had over 20 pairs to date.  But please take note those are on sale.  I still can't buy over Php 2,000 worth of shoes.

I love it, I just love it.

    

My adventures with everlasting memories

My first adventure outside the Philippines happened in 1996 when I was working with Subic Star Inc., manufacturer of Reebok shoes.  I was a Research and Development supervisor then.  I was invited by Reebok Philippines to join their visit to the outsole suppliers in China.

When I joined GrainPro Phils., Inc. I was not aware I could experience more trips outside the country.  I went to a plastic exhibit in Guangdong China with our President Tom and Kaye, our Production Manager.

We stayed at Grand Forward Hotel

Taiwan was one of the favorites.  I enjoyed the night market so much.

In 2012, I went to India to meet with suppliers and forwarders.  I stayed in a nice hotel in Mumbai.  It was crowded but I remembered how I enjoyed the fashion street where you can buy pasalubong at a very low price.

Got tatooed at Gateway Of India

But the most memorable moments happened in Ireland  I fell in love with the country.  Forty shades of green as they say, with rainbows, leprechauns and the famous Guinness beer.  We conducted our Annual Strategic Planning in Ireland for two consecutive years (2010 and 2011). We stayed at Springfield Castle in Limerick.  It was an ancestral home of Lord and Lady Muskerry. It was a self-catering accommodation, so we end up having groups of  'in-charge for the day' who will do all the chores.  It was also a part of our team building activity.  I always dream of going back to the same place and experience the unpredictable weather of Ireland.  There is so much to enjoy in Ireland and the color, the various shades of a single color, will forever be green.

Springfield Castle

Stop over in Hongkong, Avenue of the Stars

Education

I was once asked..."What is your biggest regret in life."  I stopped, thought for a while and wondered...do I have one?  When I got pregnant with my eldest, I was only 17.  I was in my first year in college.  So I had to stop, get married and be a mom.  It was a struggle of proving to everybody that despite our young age, we can make our marriage work.  So I tried all kinds of job that I know would help us.  From direct selling, shoe making in Reebok, Administrative job in a construction company, Import/Export officer until I became a Purchasing and Logistics Manager in GrainPro Phils., Inc.

I could proudly say, I reached this level of my career with only my experience as my weapon.  Until I realize how important education is.  But education is not all about studying and getting good marks.  It is really a means to discover new things which we don't know about and increase our knowledge.  Then I realized, what I need is a diploma.  That is my biggest regret, not having a diploma! 

Now with the help of New Era Vantage Education Management, I am able to continue my studies.  It's an Online University with a vision of becoming a world class institution with a unique Christian culture of excellence, discipline and service to humanity.  I am now in my second year, taking up BSBA-Marketing Management.  It's a distance learning with materials supplied, I can study at home but most of the time I do it during break time at work.  Kudos to my office mates whose always there to support.  I'm like a high school student, learning from my coaches.  It's fun.  I am more determined now more than ever to pursue my education with my family as  my inspiration.

  

Sweet Tooth

My craving for sweets since I was a little did not vanish.  I greatly enjoy sweet foods.  From sugar coated candies, cakes and specially chocolates, it somehow comforts me.  Maybe it's in my genes.  Having sweet tooth isn't necessary a bad thing but I also believe over consumption may lead to health problems.  

This fondness led me to start making my own candies.  Local home-made candies like polvoron, pastillas and yema.  Main ingredients are sugar and milk.  I am making money from this small business and a colleague of mine made the brand name...SWEET HAZE.  

Sweet Haze special home made pastillas and polvoron

Pillow Pastillas