Information Technology - To where I currently belong

Some issues IT departments are facing are:
- Customer thinks IT always force changes on them
- Unclear as to why the changes are necessary
- IT keeps clients in the dark..No info of what happened
- when IT fixes something, they usually break something else
- poor follow-up skills (don't always deliver what we commit to do)
- poor client expectation management skills

What makes IT reliable and predictable?
1. Be responsive and follow up very well. listen objectively; don't try to rationalize
2. IT goals should be in line with the business goals. focus on business, not technology
3. Deliver projects successfully
4. Communicate very well what we are doing & why it is necessary, what IT is getting accomplished and render pro-active status updates

Why should we do this?
Well, for our budgets to be easily approved!

Blogging & Google

It was June 29, 2007 when I first learned about Blogging. I learned it from Google's page itself but heard it through Ailleen Apolo, Google's representative in the Philippines. Today, bloggers in the Philippines are everywhere. They have found a way to express themselves online. Most of all, you get paid because of your articles. If you don't have a blogging page yet, start making one now!

2007 Christmas Party @ Waterfront Insular Hotel

Our Christmas Party was held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Lanang Davao City last December 22. We enjoyed it very much. The place was great. The ambiance was dominated by pirate-wearing participants and the well-decorated pirate-inspired venue. Thanks to the bosses also for the so many treasures that had been raffled off. From entertainment showcases, Aigo cameras, refrigerators, TV sets, electrifan, magic sing, and a lot more.

The dance competition also was very overwhelming. It was the first time that Decoarts won over Citihardware Matina and Bajada.

More parties to come please! Hehehe.

Globe Appreciation Night

November 29 evening was full of fun and surprises. It was Globe's Appreciation Night at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Lanang, Davao City. Distinguished IT professionals flocked the place wearing fashionably formal attire. The emcee is no other than Agot Isidro! Agot is a gorgeous nice person with a very wonderful voice.

The night was showered by Agot with her songs and by Globe's prizes and giveaways. I actually won GCASH worth PhP1,000 and my officemate Luvluv won an Apple Ipod Shuffle! Roberto Canda of USEP also won a shining new Blackberry. Wow. A lot of other people also won PhP10,000 worth of GCash, Ipod Nano, Trip for 2 to Boracay and some other great giveaways.

Food was also great. Thanks to Chepo and the rest of the Globe people for inviting us.


In these pictures, Agot got a chance to take pictures with me, Luvluv and Stephen.

Sumptuous dinner at Hola España

bakalaw soup and some of the great foods we had

Last night, we had a sumptuous dinner at Hola España. It is a restaurant along Lanang, Davao City. It was the first time that I was able to revisit that beautiful place in Lanang after the construction days. There are other restaurants there of course but my boss chose Hola España which is a great place. I saw lots of different kinds of imported cheese, ham and wine. I would admit, most of which I saw the first time.

Had great companions but the food was even great. I had fun eating the paella negra. So delicious. So interesting. There was also an orange soup. If I remember it right, the name is bakalaw soup, a mixture of cream, dried fish and cheese among others. Yummy. Also tasted the different imported hams thinly sliced and served with cheese. Chicken with a very distinctive garlic sauce and some very nutritious vegetable salad. Some of the foods we ate was named by my boss but I couldn't remember them all. You may guess it in the picture that I have embedded.

Thanks to my boss and the company that I have worked with for bringing me to that one of a kind restaurant in Davao. Thanks to Hola España also for the warm reception.

All wines at the back.

Eva of ANSI visits our office

Wearing green blouse is Eva Limbo, a small but terrible programmer of ANSI Information Systems. She works in Manila particularly Binondo where you can find delicious Chinese hopia. She visited Davao together with her cousin (or baka cousin-tahan. hehe) as was able to drop by our office in Quimpo Blvd. Matina.

In the picture also is Minviluz Ismael, aka Luvluv wearing red blouse. The guy in black shirt is Jerry Miparanum who is always out of the office setting up new stores. Stephen, the guy on the rightmost side is also small. Just like Eva, Stephen is one of the pillars of the IT group. Hehe. He's very hardworking and he likes cars very much. He would stay in the office late to browse for the latest cars available. Just browse. Hehe.

We look good in here. The camera might be high-end. Hehe.

Hongkong Ocean Park Adventure

On our back is the famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Hongkong. It was in Hongkong where I first saw a double decker bus. I didn't ride the bus during my visit because I was afraid I might not know how to give my fare. Because in Hongkong, you just drop your fare in a box or something. So what we did is walk from the Night Market to the hotel about 3 kilometers away. I felt like a kid because of my ignorance. Haha. By the way, I was with Allan Lugo, Judence Pavillar and Rebecca Mahinay that time.

This was also my first time to travel out of the Philippines. Did not even care what to wear. Hehe. I went to Hongkong with ordinary clothing on. I looked like going to Bangkerohan market even. That's why I had an excuse in going shopping so I will have something nice to wear. Hehe. My first time to shop to top brand stores like FILA, Bossini, Giordano, Hanes among others.

I enjoyed not just shopping but of course the rides in Ocean Park. My first time to ride a cable car, got thrilled in Abyss, roller coaster (where i felt like my neck was broken). Hehe. Thanks to my companions who have guts in these rides.

A lot of first times in this country.