Visit of national ballet and StarCity

Tatlong Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang - still do not know what exactly the title of the ballet means, but this ballet was something amazing. 3 different stories as performance of members of Filipino national ballet group.

3 main different things comparing to Europe ballet.
1. Dressing up - We, trainees, came dress up (as standards in Europe are dictating), but here, people just simply enjoy, do not bother too much with dressing up for ballet.

2. National anthem - sung prior to start...(together with listing all the sponsors of the event)

3. Story teller - "lola" - the old lady before every "ballet story" was explaining to the audience what is the next part going to be about. So people can really relax and not to think about what actaully was the story ballet was supposed to express...(on the another site people are not force to think so much and coming up with phantasy:). We actually could train our brains and think because stories were told in tagalog :).

StarCity

As actually the 4th different thing was all the attendees of ballet got free ticket to StarCity - place full of attractions, scare houses and shops with items for 10 PhP (= 1/4 of USD ;)).

Usually I love these kind of places - go and tickle your adrenalin...but StarCity was even more adventurous! As EU is not having its long hands in this country with all the restrictions and rules, the security standards, how to describe that, "are tickeling your adrenalin even more than needed". Basic chain and thats it...even 2 more guys would fit to one sit with me and there would be still some space to easily fall out! However amazing place to come...what was also funny about this place where in most cases "people do not feel so well after few rounds" - food stands! As Philippines are really "food adicted nation" I would honestly proclaim, imagine yourself on one of the "secure" attractions and smell all the food around...one would p... //--\\

Headway Yearend Party

Last Saturday, December 13 we had our Headway Yearend Party. That event was to summarize whole year, thank to employee for they contribution and of course to spend time together and enjoy. The event started around 7 pm when all of the guests gathered in Café Attivo, small restaurant near our office. We started with delicious dinner and even more delicious desert :) after making our stomachs full we started the program. Hosts of the evening were: Michelle (Accounting Assistance from HBS) and Justin (Business Consultant from HPL). On the beginning we had speeches of Mike and Flo, our Headquarter, later Noli, Tim and Akie (managers of Headway companies) shared their thoughts and gave wishes for next year.

After the official part we started games :)we had both team and individual games. I have to admit that I had a great fun to see all the people completing tasks and doing different funny things :) one of the games was: How good do you know your Manager?. Both managers and employees were asked few questions; the task was to answer in the same way without communication. HDI (Headway Dynamics) team become the winner, they know each other very well :) rest of the teams should spend more time with each other and get to know, integration meetings are recommended :P . We also had time to exchange gifts and we choose Best Look Girl and Boy of the evening, our winners were Flo and Jewel but she left earlier so we decided to give award to Ate Elsa :) Whole evening finished at 1 am and till the end we enjoy time together had a lot of nice moments and laugh. I think that idea of organizing such events is a great. We had chance to gather all employees and show how thankful we are that they are with us.

We as a Headway would like to wish you Happy Holidays and All the best for New Year!

Paintball

Next thing that I did for a first time – paintball! On Saturday with company colleagues we went to paintball. There were 10 of us. Actually I didn’t know what to expect :) I have to admit that it was a good fun! Especially to shut someone from your team :P the person that a lot of people would like to shoot :) haha we played 5 games (2 teams for 5 people) I was shut 1 time and even I had protection still have sign on my hand. All of us enjoyed day, no one was seriously hurt, what is positive :) I’m sure we will do it again but we have to try with a bigger group. After 2 hours of playing we were exhausted because it was very hot (like everyday here :) ) and hungry (like all Filipino) so we went to Chinese restaurant and have an amazing food. Ah you can’t image how crazy Filipino are about food, and what is worse I also become like them :) So if you thinking about paintball GO!

Hot Boracay!!

Ok so this past weekend (Nov 1-4), I decided to head out to the proclaimed island paradise of Boracay in the Philippines. This island is in the Visayas just south east of Mindoro and south of Luzon.  To get to the island you have to fly from Manila to Caticlan airport and then take a boat over to the island.

After arriving there and seeing the white sand beaches and shops everywhere, I knew that it was a really cool place but not really the amazing location that everyone is always taking about.  Still, it was sunny for almost all the days that I was there, the white sand beaches are cool, the food was awesome and the partying was not bad.

Ok to elaborate a bit more... during the day, I just needed a towel and swimsuit and then I did a lot of swimming and tanning.  I got a great tan and now all the Headway trainees are completely jealous and envious of me and how great I look now.  They are now always saying things like "wow, you look so dark and handsome" and "I wish I could be as tanned as you!".  well what can I say...haha.  

Shopping in Boracay was also ok but actually most of the stuff you find there, you can get at Greenhills in Manila and probably cheaper.  Partying at night, was also ok.  The first night myself and the other trainee I went with went to all the clubs and bars along the beach.  The best party was at summerside's but still not a lot of people were there.  The second night I partied alone and met some really nice locals that I had drinks with.  It was strange because about half the guys were gay at the bar and the other half of the guys were dressed up like girls (=lady boys) and then there was me and the other locals I was hanging out with.  Definitely a different experience.

And on the way back to the hotel I was approached by about 5 or 6 girls offering me "special massages"... you know what that means!!  The cost was actually cheap... only 1000php but I think thats because it was the low season.  So its quite affordable for foreigners if this is what they are looking for... 

All in all, it was a good trip but you need about 1500 - 2000 php per day which includes food, drinking and accommodations.  The best food was the red curry chicken I had on Sunday night.... oh man that was good.  I rate that a 4.25 out of 5.  

Halloween Party!

Last Friday in Headway was a scary evening. You could meet ghost, devil, angel, superman, pirates, witches and other monsters. Everything because of Halloween Party! At 6 pm our mess hall was transformed to scary room. All of the people that participate wear costumes! Some of them looked very realistic, especially costume of Mike and Flo our bosses :) (first two pictures) Ate Elsa prepared food in the theme of Halloween so you could eat fingers :) some bugs, cookies with eyes as always everything delicious. It was funny to see other people from our office building scared when they so our employees :) During that evening we were also celebrating Ponci’s from Headway Dynamics Birthday. It was a first Halloween Party that I was both organizing and participating and definitely it was successful party! Next event will be Christmas Party in December

Headway interns having presentation at MOVE 2008 - AIESEC National Presidents` Meeting

As 3 of Headway interns have had AIESEC Membership Committee experience, AIESEC Philippines asked them to attend their national conference and share this experience with AIESEC current and future leaders.

MOVE 2008 took place in amazing Kuhala Bay, 2 hours from Manila. Focus of the conference was to evaluate AIESEC Philippines results for last period and set up plan for upcoming months. All local committees were presented from 3 different cities.

Headway interns - Dorota, Bryan and Eva had a chance to meet around 30 members of AIESEC Philippines and share their AIESEC experience they gained during past years thanks to AIESEC in Canada, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland and Czech Republic.
Members could see international perspective on different strategies, what means to be responsible for leading AIESEC country for one year; international opportunities which they can gain in one of 100 countries where AIESEC is presented.

Headway Business Services - Shared Services - KNOWLEDGE DAY

Headway Business Services
Shared Services

October 25, 2008 (Saturday) was an important day or HBS SS. Together with Noli (Managing Partner) we run one day meeting for all 10 employees. At the beginning Eva provide us team building games so we could know each other better, she how communication between us is important. We have a lot of fun during this part also come challenges because I was only one international person rest were Filipino so a lot of language barriers appear but everyone tried hard to support each other. After this part we were building common understanding of Headway, the values, philosophy, business structure and process so that all of us will now how we should work and what kind of services we should provide. Last part was connected with HR. I presented core competencies that we define we discussed in details what we mean by each of them and what kind of behaviors we need to see in each of us. At the end we were talking about education needs based on which an education plan was created. Now every week some education for the team will be provided so all our services will improve. Of course at the end we had some fellowship with karaoke :)


This day was very special for me. It was a fist time we gathered as team, I could get to know each of person. This day really helped me to understand Filipino culture as well as motive me even more to put effort to educate and develop this team. It is good feeling when you know that the job you are doing is useful for someone! :) I will update you about all the activities that will happen.

Birthday Celebration

One of the Headway traditions is Birthday Celebration of employee. Last 2 days we have great opportunity to celebrate Birthday of 3 people (Brent, Karra and Jewel), everyone form one company – Headway Process Lgics Inc. :) As usual we gathered in mess hall at 3 pm., tell wishes and sing “Happy Birthday”. Afterwards we had some snacks and of course delicious chocolate cake :) (hmmmm mniam) :) I can’t wait for my birthday….

Asia CEO Forum

This past wednesday, Sonia and I went to the tower club on the 33rd floor of the PhilamLife Building for the Asia CEO Forum.  It was a really nice experience to hear more from an expert consultant in the Outsourcing Industry about how the outsourcing industry has been growing in 2008 especially with the global financial crisis.  Although the event was more targeted to outsourcers in the Philippines, as consultants we were able to learn a lot about how to approach companies in North America and Europe.  The networking after the presentation was also great to connect to investors and CEOs of BPO and ITO companies in the Philippines.  It was one of the only times since I've been here in the Philippines that I've been around so many white people.   Really weird.  The event also included a continental breakfast which I would rate a 3.5 out of 5.

cheers,

Bryan

New trainee in Headway!

Yes! We will have new trainee in our Headway Family! At the beginning of November we will welcome Karla from Peru! She will be working as a Consultant in Headway Process Logics, together with Petr (Manager) from Czech Republic and Justin (Consultant) from Philippines. All of the people are excited to welcome Karla on board and to have South America here. We are still looking for one more person so if you want to experience amazing internship in the paradise just apply!

Headway Management Education

Headway Management Education



For me as HR Officer of Headway it was a big day (4th of October). It was day when after long preparation I could see effects of my work. Me and Mike Cardenas organized education day for managers of Headway Companies. The event took place during last Saturday and we had 10 participants from HBS, HDI and HPL. Objective of the meeting was providing participants with knowledge about managing people. Based on previews needs analyze us define such topics as: personal planning, delegation, performance planning and evaluation, coaching/mentoring, management and leadership and resource management. People who were speakers were Ricardo Lacson (Director – ZMG Signium Ward Howell), Urbano L.Velasco (Professor of International Business Policy and Strategic Management at De La Salle University), Flo and Mike - HQ of Headway. This day it was a great opportunity for all managers to talk about their companies, problems and ideas. One of the part of agenda was group activity connected with delegation. Beside good fun participants could make useful conclusions from the exercise and related it to daily work. Thanks to external guests we could get some other perspective and gather new ideas. Now as I can see most of the participants are motivated to use new knowledge and improve their management skills. After whole day we had some fellowship drinks :) I’m looking forward next event.

Meeting Filipino Business

In the first month of my consultancy internship I have learnt a lot. Like A LOT. Not to be student any more, understand world of business which is fast, full of quick decisions, learning new things from all the industries every day...not easy even in your own country. And added to all the new information you are challenged by culture, different type of communication, english...

Here are my biggest Filipino Business AHA moments:

• If they say may be it is just absence of ability to say NO
• White face realy opens your doors, but you have to risk that not all the talks will be about business (get use to it)
• Everybody knows everybody (advantage vs. be aware)

...that is why networking events are so important. The picture is from our partner anniversary celebration. We managed to talk to some people and even win some valuable prices for Headway! Many exhibitions and informal events are in front of us...you have to be present in order to be updated what is happening in the industry, what are the trends...so excuse me for now, I am going to prepare for next "getting to know my potential business partners". Will be back with some progress news later :).

Eva

Competition evening in Headway :)

We are very young and dynamic company! Almost all of our employees are young. We are working hard every day to make Headway successful but it is not only about work. Sometime you need to relax and have some fun. And this is what happens last evening – 1st Competition Evening in Headway! It was time for all of employees to relax, get to know each other more. We played Yatzee – Darts and Charades :) It was a great to see all the emotions and smiling faces (see the pictures :) ). Our colleague Lucas from Australia had his Balut Party so now he is officially part of the Philippines. Now when we are relaxed with a new dozen of energy we can work even harder! For sure it wasn’t last social event we are all looking forward to Halloween party!