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