InQuest June 2012 by QI Group

June 2012 Issue When He Makes A Hom

e…

• Gifts Of The Heart • Labour Day, Every Day! • Celebrating Pare

nts • Lessons from the Quake: Do not take the lift! • mplished! o c c A m a n t ie V o Mission T : e p o h f o e p o r e Th ss to Impress! •

Dre

• Art Attack! • What Do You Think About FACEBOOK? •

A Time To Shine • Grant me a sense of humour, Lord… •

e Un

at th e l b a p p o t Uns

ion!

vent n o C e l b a stopp

nd ted a eam a p i c i y t ant or, m nt ucht i m d , e d e we th aite ne! h-aw est!! As e… as we smile as o c y r u e v m e he ssu but nQu nts Hello nch t sue of I her this i dn’t help u a mome ey l e o t l s i t e m u g so co to urn une oud re pr d about J ed putting sions, we s and how gh the jo a e W s e n excit throu ubmi -talk d tur much ere truly cles and s nexpecte as we go w u ti ds on and I h your ar takes its r min u o cles i g n t i e r u f a d i o l e r th w are ch orld ad ho anently et light, nd the w o e e r d e g w in ed int ou rm d k r e a a c e p a r s p e st all our trip will b . are ju riage for y o shine’, r e , a e e w r m f e i e t And ! H kind of l talgia nts, a ‘tim ne-of-a- c, right? s o n o e rifi gh enou ring’ mom well as a unds ter , y a k e o O S as the shatt rdan sue. rom f s ‘earth lin and Jo packed is e t. b leagu ey do bes l n u o D u c f o t g, ic ar th p… xcitin regul t’. artist on what e r h u t o one e warmed u r here ights on’t miss The Hea g w s n i n i t s i t e e g m of re , d ian K! He ith us so out there ed ‘Gifts he Malays C A T l t rs AT tit e w m ART ines shar book love a Koleth, e fro f i l n p b e Philip for all th mn by Re stories o n u , l n colum k hort Co y s l r The w e s e t r i e Rev quar ed to knoc s r k cov o u o o Book t b for rante mmen a s This pective. o e u c g s n r s you you espo ge’ i pers re! R Digital A d to read ok. Thank o m e ’s o le there tion in th ere thril ut Faceb opic! … t i a a w t o W We unic all ab -debated ! m f m s f a o o w ‘C s much hich sock your column w s on this iew is r to th ing your v is fo s n r i a a h t rem ou happy for s a h t l y t Al wish ll our nex o t ti ay us g and tober, st n i d a e c r in O ! issue ve always i posit r… ctobe O l l i T

“Nine, you’re going to Jordan,” my boss told me one day early this year. And that was how my ‘unstoppable journey’ began. On the night of January 31, my business trip to Jordan began. The Royal Jordanian flight that took Napasorn ‘Auan’ Palawasu and I landed in Amman early the morning of February 1. The first thing that literally hit us when we stepped out of the airport was the cold wind and rain. Yes, it was raining very hard and it was 5 °C (and felt even lower with the wind). The Jordan that I had in mind was so not like this! Our mission for the day was to gather some information on the venue and the product shipments that I had arranged before leaving Bangkok. When all was done, it was time to get connected to the world – finding a local SIM card! Going to local shops was a new experience for me. Being in a foreign land with a different culture, there were so many things to observe, adapt and adjust to. I found that very interesting and I quite enjoyed it. More people from QNET came on the second day. First, it was our former Product Trainer, Johann Herling, followed by Claire Onza from NSG and Sewar Badur from Business Development. Later that day, we had a meeting with Venu Johl from The V about the event. We also met VC Zak from the Unstoppable team. In the evening, we went to the venue. We met the InService team and – the surprise of the evening – a visit from Ms Donna Imson who had an encouraging speech for the incredible InService team. Our third day was somewhat hectic. We had to prepare for our Product Exhibition on the very day the event started because the hall had been used for a wedding reception the night before. Before we left Bangkok, we learned how to set up the Product Exhibition booths

and it seemed pretty easy. But when the time came, what was easy back then was not so easy now. Instead of the estimated time of two hours, we spent six hours! Yes, it was quite a job but it was fun. We were talking, laughing and getting to know one another during those six hours. And most importantly, we worked as a team and we had this confidence that we would be fine for the next four or five days as long as we continued giving our best to the team. Saturday, February 4, was the first real day for the Product Exhibition. We had the busiest morning on that day with IRs running to our Product Exhibition area when the door was open. Seeing the reaction and seeing how IRs appreciated the products, we felt it was the best way of saying thank you for all the effort we had put in the day before. During the next couple of days, the five of us got a chance to meet more than 1,500 IRs from Jordan and nearby countries. We got to talk to them about our products and they also gave us feedback on products and the business. The information obtained was truly valuable as this was first-hand experience and they all spoke from their hearts.

by Wirakarn “Nine

” Wangsuekul

Though UCon was over, our job was not. During the few days before we had to fly back to Bangkok, we had several business meetings and talks with Mr Khaled Diab, General Manager of QNET Middle East, QNET’s Jordanian Agent, leaders from Unstoppable and other IRs. If asked what I thought about those ten days in Jordan, I would say that they were just amazing. We had so much fun representing the company, meeting, talking and working for the IRs. It was a great experience that I wish all of us could have because when you get to know the people you work for, suddenly, what you do makes more sense. After meeting all those wonderful IRs, I know that they are the reason why QNET is unstoppable!

… e m o H A s e k a When He M

raprapawan

by Jesada ‘‘Job’’ Si

friends or I am asked by my at th se ca e th their weddings. on It has always been t pu in or ce vi my ad an colleagues to give though I work as en ev at th em th of yet. Still, I have told many , I am not married er is an rg O d an lly Events Manager eas and they usua id y m r fo e m k to as a pleasure people continue has always been is Th e. ce em e th makes me smile… st request me to be ju es im et m so ony of it for me but the ir ted discussing his ar st I d an or ev Tr . married! He’s going to get ding plans in 2010 ed w ai h -T n ia ad nd Thaione-of-a kind Can rners to understa te es W r fo sy nt ea was very persiste No doubt, it is not or ev Tr t, Ye s. n io d tradit cards style weddings an edding invitation w e th ad h d an d osed to be in the in what he wante pp su as w g n di ed 11. His w gkok printed early 20 had reached Ban ds oo fl a eg m e th but festival year of the snake the “Loy kratong” e n bi m co to t an . and we did not w stponed to 2012 po as w it , ce en g. H with the weddin to be the was the day! I was 12 20 th 26 il pr y and I Thursday, A e water ceremon th d an t en m ge ga ests at his emcee for the en family and VIP gu e Th d! te ci ex ada, ry was, indeed, ve d sister from Can an ts n re pa ’s or Trev icz and wedding included r. Richard Zinkiew M , al ay m U in at Pathman Dato’ Vijay and D d his fiancé, Mr an er ay M JR r. M Service Vanessa Liu, ost of the Core In m d an sh O e av r. D Senathirajah, M . team from the V was set up . the tray of gifts m a. 9 .2 9 t A … h ys had to go throug ily And the groom pa m fa e th d an e ayer. H chain, headed by Mr. M which is the gold s” te ga n de ol “g e what we called th

tives. e’s friends or rela id br e th by d el h d necklace or belt oom gives the re gr e th en h w en ly op paid a The gate would on Mayer and Trevor r. M at th s ou vi ob gates! envelope. It was pass through all to sh ca of t n ou decent am her, the to the bride’s mot n ve gi as w s ft gi ced. After the tray of gement commen ga en d an y on m d cere Au) for asking of the han e – Sirinaree (or id br e th n ow g kn estic diamond rin I have personally aj m e th g n ei se ry happy y tale. years and was ve as just like a fair on her finger. It w orning ant part of the m rt po im t os m e otic. Th is a very Romantic and ex ceremony”. This er at w of g in ss le member of session was the “b is led by a senior y on m re ce e Th . s. A kind Thai tradition knows the ritual o h w t es gu d te invi together. the family or an ng of their future si es bl a as d te aced n of spell is inca hon” in Thai, is pl gk on “m d lle ca own”, ilar to Then the “twin cr e time. This is sim m sa e th y tl ac g ex ring their blessin on their heads at du rs xe bo ai Th worn by ere is the “mongkhon” es as a pair and th m co n io rs ve is th er, g the white ceremony. Howev o. The dots, usin tw e th g n ti ec n n the a thin thread co , are then put on ks on m e th by d se line up to paste earlier bles and friends then es iv at el R . le up co forehead of each ng the couple. take turns blessi off with Mr. oon party kicked rn te af e Th ! all se Speech, plea age and greeting st on up g in go cé portunity Mayer and his fian the wonderful op ad h e W . es ce as guests as the em lt speech as well fe rt ea h a ve gi d ’s da riage. of hearing Trevor ets of a happy mar cr se e th g n vi gi d an one who convince Dato’ Vijay Eswar e th as d an e, cl the un is Mr. Zinkiewicz, as sia also shared h A to a ad an C om e couple. Trevor to move fr ing speech for th us ro a ve ga d an contentment utting n was the cake-c oo rn te af e th of t of The highligh a beautiful song g n si to d te es qu re track ceremony! I was ke Home” (sound Li ls ee “F uk az e Chantal Krevi alked up the stag w ey th en h w r) pe as a of My Sister’s Kee that the couple w it m ad to ad h I . ng. to cut the cake for each word I sa n io at ir sp in t ea gr

ada s away from Can ile m d n sa ou th a It’s ls like I’m all the ee “f es go g n so e ady but just like th g”. Trevor has alre n lo be I e er h w way back his new home started building here in Thailand. And they will live

r…..

happily ever afte

Artist Title Media Price

: Carmela Estioko : We Care : Colour Pencil : USD10,000

! k c a t t A t r Acome to InQuest’s Art Attack 2012! Wel

e Philippines l with four artists from th na rso pe d an se clo up t We’ve go rough these ptional in their work. Th ce ex d an ted en tal are o the artist wh t the chance to discover ge ll wi u yo at th pe ho interviews, we s artist. Get yours to become a famou of m ea dr at th e rsu pu or in you ve to say! eir work and what they ha inspired and excited by th

rself? Q1. Tell us a little bit about you I’ve been and old rs yea 36 I’m la: A1. Carme more for here at QiComm Philippines ent par le sing than two years. I’m a During and I have a six year old son. y enjo I , res) cho er (aft s my rest day ing read by him h wit e tim ng spendi ducting children’s books, drawing, con h wit ing play or mini experiments, g kin ma and g kin coo him. I also love is m diu me rite favo My s. ject craft pro recycled materials. Consul. I A2. Paula: I’m Paula Therese sity of the iver Un the graduated from of Arts in r helo Bac a h wit Philippines Communication Arts.

A3. Lisa: I love gallivanting, eating, cooking, listening to music, painting, good conversations, learning different languages and sunsets. A4. Romeo: I grew up from a big family. I’m the eighth out of nine siblings. My mom was the one who introduced me to art. I was supposed to take up fine arts in college but instead I graduated as an Electronics and Communications Engineer. I’m now married to Cindy and have three smart kids. I work as a team leader for technical support in QIComm Philippines. I am easygoing, gentle and creative. I’m also helpful, caring and ready to help out my friends.

: Paula Therese Consul : Untitled : Pastel : USD12,000

Q2. At what age did you start drawing? And what made you to draw? A1. Carmela: I was three years old when I started drawing. The first artwork my brother and I made is still on the wall in my old bedroom. A2. Paula: 4 years old, I think. A3. Lisa: I think around four or five years old. My mother would always give us art materials to play with and I used that to create different things. Later, I moved on to sketching and painting became a tool for me to channel my different emotions. A4. Romeo: I remember, I was six when my mother showed me how to draw. It was a nice drawing of a Nipa hut and a rice field in the background. I was fascinated by that drawing because it came from her imagination. Since then, I would draw just about anything also using only my imagination. Q3. Did you take up art classes? A1. Carmela: No. But my second choice in college was Fine Arts. My brother was able to pursue that, while I went on to study Computer Science. A2. Paula: No, I didn’t take up any formal classes.

Artist Title Media Price

: Lisa Faigal : Untitled : Oil On Canvas : USD25,000

Artist Title Media Price

warm or neutral colours, it brings different emotions. l A4. Romeo: My favorite colour is roya blue. I find it elegant. A3. Lisa: I did, with artist Ronald Caringal. A4. Romeo: No, it’s a gift and I got my experience from people who sought help for their art projects. I won an art competition in school when I was in Grade Six. I remember the prize I got. It was a box of pencils and a set of water colours. Q4. What’s your favorite color and why? A1. Carmela: The colour of the ocean and the sky during summer. I enjoy looking at the ocean on top of a hill, how the colour changes from light blue to bluegreen and then deep blue. I also like looking at the sky, while floating on the ocean bed...the colour of the desert as the sun sets, the combination of the orange of the sun and how it changes the colour of the desert sand. A2. Paula: My favorite colour is blue- it evokes a serene feeling. A3. Lisa: I like light pink and blue; light touches of pink because it’s dainty and it gives good vibes, blue because it’s a cold colour yet when you mix it with

Q5. What is your favorite medium and why? A1. Carmela: Right now I am using watercolour pencils and gel pens. But I would like to do more illustrations er using watercolours, like Beatrix Pott book and the Norwegian children’s illustrator Anna Emilia (she has a blog). A2. Paula: My favorite medium is oil s pastel. It’s more manageable in term ts, effec ting of blending colours and crea as cost in r lowe is not to mention it compared with other media. oil A3. Lisa: I always feel comfortable with and charcoal. A4. Romeo: Nothing in particular. ? Q6. How would you describe your style ren child that ons trati Illus a: mel Car A1. would mostly enjoy and artworks that d. will remind us adults of our childhoo ion vers nes ippi Phil a e mak to I also like the of some of the illustrations I saw on Keep Calm Gallery.

: Romeo Maliwanag : Pasang Krus : Charcoal : USD15,000

A2. Paula: I am more of an abstract expressionist painter. A4. Romeo: Its free style. I draw anything that interests me. Q7. What do you normally draw when you doodle? A1. Carmela: Right now am practicing drawing children at play and roses. A2. Paula: When I doodle, I find myself drawing swirls depicting clouds, water or a representation of a mystical goddess…but usually in the office, at the end of phone conversations, I realise that my notes are often decorated, and the letters are elaborated. Doodling has become a coping mechanism for me. A3. Lisa: It varies on my mood. It could be landscapes or figures and it is what is inside me that produces the work. A4. Romeo: Pictures of cartoon characters.

of ho The rope

Mission To Vietnam Accomplished!

by Malcolm Chiu

From my first time sleeping overnight on a train, to my first time sleeping in a traditional wooden house on a flat wooden floor and my first-time shuffling, carrying dirt and gravel for mixing concrete, this was no ordinary trip to Vietnam.

Muddy Construction site when we started,

No, definitely not! We had a mission to accomplish. And that was paving a concrete playground in Thai Giang Pho School, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam from April 25 to 30, 2012. The event was organised by the Men’s Ministry from my church – the Island Evangelical Community Church. No doubt, it was exhausting, but it was an enriching and exhilarating experience too! Just seeing the students finally being able to walk to the school without stepping on mud and having a safe concrete ground to play on was really rewarding for me.

and sharing our different cultures. Being in a very remote village location in a communist country, we were not allowed to share our faith and religion directly. But I wanted to go beyond that and reach out to them. So I took the courage to suggest that we sing a song called “Give Thanks”. We learned that the Vietnamese words for “Give Thanks” were “Guam An”, so I suggested we sing the song by switching the “Give Thanks” words to Vietnamese and the rest of the lyrics in English .

Imagine walking 20km to school… and giving rice as a “dormitory fee” to stay at the school with three students sharing one small bunk bed. All this was eye-opening for me. I will never forget the time when the teacher cooked dinner for us and we all had great fun learning

Buffalo market at the

Rice fields at the

bottom of the val

ley, Bridge to Ch

ina across the riv

er at Lao Cai

top of the mountains,

Team Building ng with Students, crete Mixing, Worki Overnight Train, Con

ound, Students Students and teacher enjoying the playgr

y at the traditional with Teachers, Sta

can now walk from their dormitory (on the

houses

/mess of the muddy ground right) to their school to avoid the danger

After the song, one teacher shared through a translator that the English lyrics “let the weak say I am strong and the poor say I am rich…” really moved her heart.

I learnt that there is a lot we take for granted and need to be thankful for. The amazing part is that I found the students and teachers were all so contented with what they have, which is something that we should all reflect on.

I was glad that we were able to leave something beyond the concrete playground for them – the knowledge that the creator cares and loves them and is there to give them strength for living every day while preparing riches for the heart for the ones who seek Him.

We want to go back because most teams just visit a village once and never come back, which causes the local people to wonder if there is something “wrong with them”. Second, we want to build a large and more spacious dormitory for the students. This is our dream and we are actively praying and planning for it.

Old palace at the tow n of Bac Ha

Celebrating Parents Hi Folks! Mother’s Day has come and gone and so has Father’s Day, but do you really think of them only on these days or express your love to your parents only during these times? We bet NO! In this issue, InQuest celebrates both fathers and mothers and has dedicated this page for all in QI to share their innermost feelings for their parents… a BIG thank you to those who contributed! We had so much fun reading and compiling all your pictures and notes/messages.

To top it up, we are also featuring an exclusive interview with our Digital Media and Communications Director, Ms. Donna Imson on her remarkable journey of parenthood. Exciting and inspiring, right? Scroll down to read more…

CLUSIVE! MOTHER’S DAY EX Ms. Donna Imson, Director of Digital Media and Communications, reveals all on being a single parent of three and changing times… 1. What do you like most about being a mother? It brings a lot of gratification to me. If you were to ask me what my burning desire is, it is to be at home with my kids. That, to me, is the ultimate joy.

her family. hanging out with n so Im na on D Ms.

e memories with your kids. 2. Tell us about one of your favourit things in life. Kids forget the When we started to enjoy the simple it is a luxury meal or street food, details but not the feelings. Whether t sense of joy of being together. we may forget what we ate but not tha

Indraa Thavar and a picture of his loving mothe

My Lovable Mother God is really great to provide such a wonder ful mother, You are very strong although you’re a single mother Your smile is like the sunshine; I grew up with your smile... Your love and your care led me the right way You always do what’s best for me… mum... The person that can handle everything this world, is you mum. You’re my Comfor t Zone when I fall. Your touch makes me feel more safe, I love you more than you know; You have my total respect . If I had my choice of mothers, You’d be the one I’d select! Thank you so much mum... for putting up with all my foolish acts!!!!

es’ tales? 3. Do/did you subscribe to any old wiv ther-in-law insisted on was that I didn’t…but one of the things my mo ng birth. I didn’t last a month… I didn’t shower for a month after givi I tried but I lasted ten days! a t advice would you give yourself as 4. If you could go back in time, wha new mother? ious about doing the right thing. As first time parents, we are too anx ld chill! The best way to be a mum So if I were to do it over again, I wou care of yourself. is to take care of children as you take you? 5. How has your mother influenced ay. I’m grateful to her because tod My mother still influences me m to my children. she influenced me to be a better mu 6. Roses are red; violets are blue… uld you! Mothers rock the world; and so sho

ns – neratio Four ge a’s mother nn Ms. Do far left. t n o he

MOMMY MOMENT

ke for my twoca a g in k ba s a w I y One da ed her to help. sk a I d n a r te gh u a d year old g her hand). in id u (g ly ow sl it ir Me: Ok , st then ? Cassandra : Ok . And g. Me: Just keep stirrin ? Cassandra : And then hat to do even w s ow n k e sh if s a She asked ts like these en om M . ep st t ex n e if I say th re the mos t. su ea tr I es on e th re a

They are my greatest examples of patience and kindness, love and fidelity, but mos t of all they stand for the simple fact that love knows no boundaries. From : Chris tine Pereira

I grow ned that as r a le e v a h I get wiser. my parents

erdez , From : Anne Suaval sion - Hong Kong Global Suppor t Profes

older,

Appa you will My DON and I. o!! er always be my h

ndoza

ette Me

Suz From:

lo ani Va

Baw From:

The Siraprapawan Smile

Wita Dahla n and her m om, Cik Imun, from South Sumatra.

er on a d his moth n a ts a e K e Bruc to Bali. recent trip

From: Jesa da

Siraprapa w

g about it… in lk ta is r o do book ardent fan, her on Face n it a e u is o e y n e o r y A ook? e ever as their It seems lik ke on Faceb Everyone h ? ta ? t le s d e n id o m h your ebook has re in the c e a h F w w e o m h but what is o t s u u k abo it or are yo connected y hat you thin ta w s s u to h you despise y it a w reat w ich n. So share and, it’s a g ounters wh c h n e e n e o own opinio c e fa th it ce-to ur life. On er you love , it limits fa th d e n h a affected yo h W . r n e o th racti ut on the o form of inte t say you? a t s h e W b ! to others b y e a th d e to pics le think ar e hottest to th f some peop o e n o is is or hate it, th

u o Y o D t a Wh hink About T

? ment Executive ong, Project Manage ep ne Ku en sip Sa . Ms anything. t don’t participate in I’m always online bu Like

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Thailand

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nager obal Recruitment Ma Ms. Claudine Ng, Gl r hiring yed a huge role in ou social media has pla r, a larger direct ite us ru es rec l giv ba s thi glo a d As r openings an ou st po to ok t everyone bo No ce . Fa applicants process. I use d of waiting for job tea ins t ok. People rke bo ma ce Fa job e us access to the er of people mb nu ge lar a t bu ls rta ils. I also use uses the same job po k their personal e-ma ec ch y the n tha re tes. If there is an check Facebook mo ecks for some candida ch e nc ve an ere ref l ma or n I would normally ha Facebook for inf y of my contacts, the lly, an na to rso d Pe ke lin nt. is be t um tha incumbent re about the inc mo bit a ow kn the to ve t ge n’t ha informal chat just to with friends who I do just keep in contact to od place to ok go a bo ce It’s Fa s. e ea us t ers I jus who are based ov se tho or en oft g luxury of seein happening with them. keep tabs on what is Like

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Mr. Raghunandan S, NSG Man ager I am somewhere in middle with Facebook as a social media plat form because Facebook provides you with a very specific marketing plan. This is a very useful tool or platform when doing marketing for you r business because you need to choose the right customers that are worth your time and effort. With Facebook you can search for whatever specific ations you want like age, geographic loca tion, interests…etc. With these powerful search features, you’ll save you rself a lot of time by searching for customers that have an interest in what you ’re offering. However, it takes a long time for some senior citizens and those illiterate to underst and. In India, Facebook is a nightmare to som e because to use Facebook as a marketing media, you need to be patient and it also takes time and acc ess to the internet. For some, the interne t may not be affordable. •

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Mr. Ilya Kalashnikov, Localis ation Specialist Facebook can be a very powerfu l online marketing tool with its 650 million daily visitors.

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Mr. Mahendran Vijayan, Senior Internal Auditor I am in the middle. It is underst ood that the current generation is very much affected by the influence of soc ialising. I use Facebook mainly to share political issues from the view of independent journalism. Mos t may dislike it, but those who are engrossed with this mode of passion, bein g blind to the truth, leave many subject matters from being heard in hum an society. Like • Commen • • t

Malaysia

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Ms. Christine Pereira, Market ing & Corporate Communicatio n Executive I like Facebook for what it’s wor th. I love the fact that it helped me connect with people I never thought I’d ever hear from again. Plus, it allo wed me to keep in touch with new peo ple I met so I could never lose a contact. Facebook, like for many others, gave me a platform to showca se my child photography as well as promo te myself and my hobbies. Wel l, like most things internet-related it’s got its bugs, viruses, annoying guy s who want to “have a friendship with you” but if you’re smart enough not to fall for these things, Facebook is fun and is a very useful tool to promote your talents, your business or even yoursel f.

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al pport Profession achote, Global Su pr na ja rn Ka it ily and for the Mr. Tanakr with friends, fam g tin ica un m m ul for co Facebook is usef . rld wo e corporat • Like

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Thailand

al, Manager es. Mr. Rajesh Wah and to play gam rthdays of friends bi on n io at rm fo I just use it for in Like

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er apawan, Manag Mr. Jesada Sirapr book! Am a fan of Face • Like

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Thailand

tration Manager urce & Adminis so Re an m Hu t, ruchira ns choice for millio Ms. Jantana Phin the platform of is ok bo ia ce ed Fa . m l cia cebook d they also use so Yes, I am into Fa l interactions an s. That’s the cia er so om r st ei th cu t r ei uc th to cond tively with ec eff e or m ke advantage of Ta ge . ok fan page bo ce platforms to enga Fa a st ju it sh and engaging media, be d images, post fre power of social an ts en m m co user ote your brand. Facebook, sensor ents that will prom em el r he ot d an es wall posts, imag • Like

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Communication Executive Ms. Hairul Fazillah, Marketing es and gives that allows us to express ourselv Facebook is a great innovation t in which men iron people. It represents an env choose to us an opportunity to meet new you as ent ext ain r identity to a cert you ut abo ices cho e mak can you we can abuse it. t freedom does not mean that represent yourself publicly. Tha d to decide if it topic is debatable and it is har Weighing the pros and cons, the for what you ible ons on how you use it. Be resp is good or bad. It all depends ng. distinguish right and wro do and have the capability to Like

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Auditor Ms. Priya Gopal, Compliance . It has negative effects on our culture Facebook has both positive and l. I believe it leve nal rso rpe inte an on interact drastically changed the way we ts. It is a men mo re and rejoice in memorable ’t find brings people together, to sha don I t tha n tha s perspective but other and good platform from a busines uals ivid ind for d tren a ted ebook has crea to led any significant benefit in it. Fac also has nicate without verbalising and younger generations to commu ce. dan gui due to lack of parenting and addiction to this virtual world Like

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Malaysia

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iness Development Officer Mrs. Fabienne Rouhana, Bus l naturally and al; an individual who is unsocia Man is by nature a social anim an. Society is hum n tha re mo our notice or not accidentally is either beneath not lead the ividual. Anyone who either can something that precedes the ind re does not refo the ent as not to need to, and common life or is so self-suffici ociates ass ok ebo Fac beast or a god-Aristotlepartake of society, is either a m. the und aro live and y who work, stud people with friends and others a utility. it’s ity, ess nec a not Therefore it is Like

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Hong Kong

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Mr. Napasorn Palawasu, Even t And VIP Exec utive I’m into it but not strongly, I believe. I’m 24 Facebook! But /7 online and the number of connected to times I answer ‘share’ is anot , post, commen her story. Toda t, or ‘like’ and y Facebook ca but to particip n help 24/7 on ate or get into lin it e communicat re qu ire s interest and Like • Commen • ions free time. t Share • Th ailand • Mr. Martin So osay, Senior Ex ecutive Facebook is th e current trend, a fashion - so your friends, to to speak. It’s al show who you so a way to co are and it can ‘pokes’, ‘likes’ unt be a means to and so on. Ove meet people w rall, I think it is simple and a go ith so od means of co superficial; bu t it can be a mmunicating. Like • Commen • t Sh • are

Malaysia

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Ms. Manimekal ai

Vikkinerasa, In ternal Auditor I’m somewhere in the middle I guess...I just us old friends and e Facebook to find out the la keep in touch te st happenings Like • Commen • with w ith them... t Share • Mala ysia • Ms. Arisara Si ndhusen, Seni or Global Supp ort Profession Facebook is ve al ry social!! My fa mily members Like • Commen • an d fr ie nd t Share • Th s use it. ailand • Ms. Tesh Kaur , PR Executive I love this topi c, be enough of it. An cause I love Facebook! In fa ct, I’m addicted d it’s become ! I can’t get so pervasive in communicatio people’s lives n among friend that most s is done on Fa extremely rele cebook now. So vant and timel , this is an y topic. Like • Comment

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Singapore

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Ms. Rita Suttarno, Senior Executive, Social Medi a Yes to Facebook. At this moment, it is the most convenient platform for me to connect with those I care about.

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Hong Kong

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Ms. Anne Suaverdez, Global Support Profession al Gone are the days when you have to wait for days, even months to get in touch with your loved ones via snail mail. Faceb ook has done a lot in closing that gap in distance and time to reach out to everyone in your circle wherever they are. However, on the downside, most people have not drawn the line on which topics about their private lives they ought to share. For me, as long as Facebook helps one reach their loved ones miles away, or helps one boost their business, I am all up for that.

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Hong Kong

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Mr. Umesh Kanjarankandy, Assistant Manager I do interact with my friends on Facebook. I feel it’s a good way to keep in touch with your friends, but I feel that transferrin g personal data like photographs should be cautiously done. This is because these can be viewed by all those in your contact loop and there are chances of anti-social activities taking place.

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India

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Mr. Bharathisha Anand, Senior Executive I do not have a Facebook account; at the same time I heard that it is a social network that contains all the details about the each individual who registers. And I personally feel I would not want to share the details in a public forum.

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India

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Mr. Raymond D’cruz, Product Consultant Facebook has indeed changed the face of social networking. It has crept into our lives and invaded privacy like no one can imagi ne. The pros and cons of this site depend purely on the individual’s action s and the content that he wishes to share. To me, this site is just to expan d social networks but on the down-side of it, I wouldn’t want the world to know too much of my personal life and interests. Use this site diligently and with caution, and you will lead a happy life.

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India

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fficer nnected urthy, ISC O eful to get co us is Mr. Sathya M it es im . Somet into Facebook cessary. I’m not totally er times it’s really not ne th O . with people Like

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India

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er es. ahal, Manag d to play gam Mr. Rajesh W of friends an s ay hd rt bi on r information I just use it fo • Like

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India

cer to mar, ISC Offi ve permission Mr. Shiva Ku e we don’t ha us ca be e, dl re in the mid I am somewhe ring office hours. du use Facebook • dia • Like

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r Consultant ever over Vanka, Senio ed it a lot. How em by Mr. Srinivas lik I lly ia it In syst dle. re in the mid misusing the at people are I am somewhe connect with th to ed is rm al fo re at I pl e, m od ti go of a T a platform hile it’s a period ssary stuff. W e that it is NO is ce al ne re t un g us in m post people e same time people, at th nsense for sharing no • Like

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India

ke: a u Q e h t m o r f s n o s s e L

! t f i l e h t e k a t t o n o D So there I was, enjoying a day off, catching up on my reading in bed when suddenly I feel the bed shake. I get off the bed and peep out the window only to find other faces peering out their windows in the building next to mine. Ok, so I didn’t imagine it. Now, I live on the 17th floor and up here, you can really feel the building swaying. For a few moments, it felt like I was on top of a palm tree in a gust of wind.

by Ramya Chandr

asekaran

Suddenly, we can feel the tremors again and this time it is SCARY because there is nowhere to run!

“YES!! 15 of us are stuck in a lift in Basement 2 after feeling three massive THUDs and a tiny baby is bawling its eyes out. IT IS A PROBLEM!”

Now, I’ve experienced this before in 2007 and , dutifully blogged about it at the time. Then tra Suma in e quak earth an of t resul the was it . Islands in Indonesia, 8.4 on the Richter scale the felt I when So, one. that ess Nasty busin building sway the same way, it was déjà vu and I knew that this was serious.

The guard assures us that he’ll get to it immediately and we wait patiently. Well, as patiently as one can in the circumstances. The baby is really at it by now and the lift is getting as hot as hell. The mother and father try in vain to get the little one to stop. Suddenly a lady next to the mum asks, “Do you want to feed her? We’ll cover you and you can move to the corner.”

OK, next step: grab phone, wallet, keys and run out. Just then my phone rings and it’s my old friend SV on the line. Considering he rarely calls me, this is indeed an earthAs shattering occurrence. (yes, pun intended!) I tell him that I am possibly in the middle of a quake and run out the door, I make my first mistake.

Miraculously, that works. I am squashed in one corner and the mum is feeding the baby on the other.

e I decide to take the lift, forgetting every singl lift the for going ER NEV t abou ing warn safety during fires and quakes. Looks like everyone else in the building made the exact same mistake. The lift stopped at the every floor and gradually I am forced into corner at the back, squashed in next to an old and Chinese gent with a hearing aid on my left g Alon me. of front in girls ese Chin g youn two born new bly possi the way we pick up a tiny, baby with its nervous parents.

Suddenly, the old Chinese guy asks, “Did anyone ring the alarm?” “Err…yes sir, we did and we are now waiting.” Ten minutes....no sign of the guard. We ring the alarm again. This time the guard says he is waiting for the lift technician to come and he is on the way. He needs another ten minutes. By this time, everyone is getting fidgety. 15 people in a small lift in Basement Two with very little ventilation is NOT pleasant. Two guys in the front try to pry the door open in He-Man style. There is a lock on top and the doors don’t budge. The He-Man wannabes give up eventually.

Second mistake - Should have gotten out when it started to get crowded and the lift was still stopping at every floor. By the time we reach the ground floor, the lift is packed like a can of sardines with 15 of us and it comes to a stop with a THUD! We wait for the door to open...nothing happens. Then suddenly the lift is moving and we go to B1. Another THUD...then silence. Doors do not open. Just as we are recovering, lift starts moving again and goes all the way to B2 and this time the THUD is massive. The old gent loses his balances and staggers. We grab him before he falls...but then where is the place to fall? B2 is the absolute lowest the lift can go to and the doors refuse to open. A guy in the front s rings the alarm bell for what feels like hour before a security guard answers on the lift intercom - “Any problem?”

The shaking stops as suddenly as it started. I swear I can hear someone murmuring a prayer. Throughout all this, what am I doing? Since there is no signal in the lift and I can’t tweet this earthquake experience live in true social media diva style, I take notes on the iPhone. Yes, unbelievable, I know. Some cry, some pray and I tweet. Maybe that’s my salvation! Finally, after what feels like hours the rescue brigade arrives and the doors are opened. As we all rush out to get some air, an Arab girl who got in on the 16th floor, just after me stands there looking completely disoriented. I ask her if she is ok and she looks blankly at me for a second before asking - “How do I go out?” Basement 2 is the car park and clearly she has either never been down here or is still reeling from the whole “building-shaking-thud-stuckin-lift” ordeal. So, I grab her arm like the Good Samaritan that I am and lead her out the ramp that goes to the ground floor. We come out into the sunlight and I’ve never been more thankful for the harsh, humid heat of the Malaysian sun. And my phone rings again, now that I am out of the lift-basement area and the signal is back on, it’s SV again - “So, I really did shake your world?” Yes old pal, this time, you really did!

That is Ramya from a different angle...

P not

KETCHU BLOOD

meal joying her e... Ramya en ing for the rescu p! it while wa ! yum yum... Hel p Help! Hel

When they need to go, they really need to go.

e s n e s a e m t . . Gran . d r o L , r u o of hum

by Teshwindar Ka

ng the amazi Some of Shankill and n o ls mura ds Falls Roa

Getting a bird’s eye view of Dublin while atop the Guinness Brewery.

her ndfat h gra sson is Ir life le h my ut wit ave me a ball, war t ing o g Hang blin, who music, foo ! in Du h history, Guinness , in Iris of course and…

but it is one Irish saying, This is an old is beautiful ry true for th that rings ve asure of I had the ple country that ear. visiting last y funniest some of the with The Irish are meet, blessed er ev ill w ou hara. people y dry as the Sa as r ou m u h a sense of open mind est to have an It’s always b never take ng to them – when speaki Irish seem y. In fact, the them seriousl ty to keep a ncanny abili . Having to have an u telling a joke en h w ce fa straight e of the are also som said that, they ndliest people I’ve ever frie ation warmest and up a convers ke ri st n ca ey met. Th that after five h such ease, you’ve with you wit you feel like , g in lk ta of r first minutes rever. On ou fo s d n ie fr t been bes d I lost , my friend an r-by day in Dublin ached a passe ro p ap e W . our way up getting s, and ended ation for direction to our destin ed rt co es ly personal utes away! least 15 min which was at days, for only five lin b u D in e were! We wer ster days they oa rc lle ro at but wh g was the kept recurrin A theme that d ween old an disparity bet d ol g n eeti new. From m itional Irish ad tr a men in folk songs pub, singing h les of the Iris containing ta rmy (IRA) Republican A the English, and hating on ults wearing to young ad Street labels English High e days of the for whom th something IRA were just

out in they were told ab d me de school. It remin re he w of Singapore, n tio ra the older gene e th d re still remembe a re bo d days of war an nese, to pa Ja e th t grudge agains kawaii ho embrace the w e m e lik le op pe . Japanese culture a day decided to take My friend and I North e th on s situated trip to Belfast. It’ ed part er id ns co ea that is ar an , nd la Ire of rough ngdom. Stroll th of the United Ki st think ju ht ig d you m the city centre, an Belfast ’s Oxford Street. you’re on London its Sterling Pound as also still uses the . official currency eck , you have to ch While in Belfast d an lls Fa murals at out the political this s, 70 19 e During th Shankill Roads. ngs bi m bo y an e of m area was the scen an the Irish republic and shootings by urals m e es th of t es. A lo paramilitary forc The original dock of the Titanic. This photo does not do justice to its actual size!

depict that period, known as The Troubles. Walking along those streets and getting immersed in these intricate murals and the amazing history behind them, I really felt a sense of sadness for all the suffering the North Irish went through. At the same time, it’s also a pity that till now, there’s still a divide between North and South Ireland. Since I was in Belfast, how could I not visit the Harland & Wolff Shipyard where the Titanic was k built? Standing in front of the doc my , which the Titanic sailed from breath caught in my throat. I could just imagine how huge and aweinspiring the ship must have been. It was an almost magical feeling, ruined only by the fact that Leonardo Dicaprio wasn’t beside me! So, all in all, it was a pretty amazing trip. I had a lot of fun, made new friends, drank a lot of h) Guinness (perhaps a little too muc and got a history lesson. As the Irish say, “I’ll leave you and love you...” Well, I’ll always love Ireland and excitedly look forward to my next trip there.

e Some of th urals m amazing and ll on Shanki s Falls Road

Dress to Impress! ays First impressions are alw whom le rtant. There are peop impo s there we like instantly wherea

nt to stay are others whom we wa we meet away from as soon as do with the them. Usually it has to you attend a way they dress. When eting, the first party or head for a me ne to do is to thing you want everyo ey, you look look at you and say, “H nt to dress to good!” So, it’s importa g good your impress. Also, by lookin rease and self-confidence will inc

So take time you will feel good too. it might just to pick the right outfit – y! Whether make or break your da or an ”S” you you are a double “XL” th affordable can still look stylish wi ntials. se clothes and a few es how you can Here are a few tips on s turn! DRESS and make head

, gre hite, cream lours like w co al tr u . ne ent ) in ce environm (not denims! at for the offi to four pants re e g e re th ar f d o t r an consis most popula ould ideally stripes are ith ardrobe sh w w ts ce an ffi p o s ite A women’ lack and wh n. Classic b tan and so o

Pants

Straight Skirts

Add it with shawls or scarfs

These are the perfect accessories for dresses, especially, but can be used along with pants and skirts too. It adds that ‘special’ touch to an outfit giving it a cla ssy and feminine look. It is fun to match scarfs and shawls with what you are wearing and end up looking good and not just ‘ordin ary’.

Wear straight skirts that come to about your knees. They should be in solid colours, not too complex or intricately-designed . This will be perfect for the office as it will be stylish yet will not make you stand out unnecessarily. It is also professional yet fashionable and a good choice for all occasions. Black, grey or navy blue are strong choices.

Knee Length Dresses

Knee length dresses are best to wear for many occasi ons. They are sassy for an evening out, sophisticated for the office and classy for a cocktail party. You can wear it anywhere you want and touch it up with accessories according to the occasion. For parties you can select shiny or beaded knee-length dresse s. For the office, keep it simple or you can wear a waist belt with it.

Collared Shir

Yes, women may wear co llared shirts to be stylish at th the work plac e same time. e, too, and Get a specia takes into acco lly fit button-do unt your uppe wn shirt that r body size an how you wan d height. You t to wear it, w hether tucked can choose skirts or pant in or out with s. Then, you matching may move on and patterns to types of fabri that best suit cs, colours you.

Shirts

ks stylish cuff lin Match it witth ise. ssor acce way for men to Cuff links are a grea finishing It adds style in a subtle way, adding the array of wide a from Pick . attire ’s touches to a man robe ward your h matc to sizes and es shap colours, h’. and stand out with that ’extra touc

Shirts are one of the core components of a man’s wardrobe plain shirts all the tim and they go nicely e. There are other co with suits and ties. Tr lours also appropria fits the bill. Deep, bo y NOT to wear te for work i.e. pink, ld colours such as pu cream, beige, and rp le are recommende and have the figure even navy blue d for evening meeti to pull off slim-fit sh ngs. If you are body irts, that’s something -conscious you can try too. If yo u don’t, stay away fro m them.

Labour Day, Every Day! Now this is one day that should be celebrated every day! We are sure you answered a resounding ‘YES’ to that! But let’s be serious for a minute…Labour Day is for all of us in the work force. It commemorates our commitment, dedication and hard work. Needless to say, this special day gives us the perfect opportunity to remember those we work for, those who work for us and those we work with. It is a chance to appreciate everyone’s contribution in the work place and in society at large. On a global scale, Labour Day (also known as May Day) has its origins in the eight-hour day movement, which was the main aim of the National Labor Union. The movement to reduce the working day from ten to eight hours began after the Civil War. Bringing it back home, we hope you enjoyed the holiday and also had the chance to think back on the different aspects of your profession and how you can make a greater contribution in your work place, your community and your country. Take time to appreciate your bosses as well as your colleagues and those that work under you. Try and practise good work ethics and professionalism in whatever field of work you are in and look at the bigger picture. Think about how a little can go a long way and how YOU can make a difference (M.A.D.) in whatever you do. Till next May…

A Time toShine

es by Stevenson Charl

college graduation. A memorable day: Adrian Stevenson’s

There are certain moments in life where we need to give thanks. It is usually when any kind of success is obtained or we have achieved something. My family is no exception when it comes to special achievements. Indeed, so far, 2012 has been a memorable year for us and this is evident in the success of my children in reaching and even surpassing their goals. My eldest son, Adrian Stevenson, is 23 years old and graduated with a degree in Psychology from Help University on 22 April 2012 He is now working in a psychology clinic. He intends to continue his Master’s program specialising in Industrial Psychology. My daughter, Cassandra Stevenson obtained 9A’s in the 2011/2012 SPM examination. She is now pursing her South Australian Matriculation at Taylors College, Subang. She is 18 years old and wants to pursue a degree in Environmental Science and become an environmental scientist.

My younger son, Jhovan Stevenson is a special child and he studies at Taarana – Vijayaratnam Foundation’s school for children with special learning needs. He is 11 years old and on 31 March 2012 he took part in the 1st annual Taarana school sports. He took part in the march past and the sports events which he was not exposed to previously in the Government school. My wife and I are extremely proud of them and we consider them all a great blessing. We also have mixed emotions, proud to see their achievements as they are moving on to higher goals, but sad as they will leave home one day too. As parents, listening attentively to them was important. We told them to focus on their personal strengths and to determine how to use them to meet their goals. My elder son and my daughter both want to do their Masters and also obtain PhDs. Both want to help mankind which is evident in the courses they are doing or have done. As for the future, we have told them that the sky is the limit, and to go for it. They want to make it big in their lives. With their nature of study and qualifications

they intend to save the environment, help mankind, etc. and travel to different parts ssed of the world. They both have also expre is er, broth their n, Jhova their feelings that e. futur their of part The biggest challenge that my two older children faced was to have a special needs brother. My son was 11 and my daughter was six when their younger brother was born. A lot of attention had to be given to the younger boy, whereby the brother and sister often felt Jhovan Ste with Dato’ Vijay neglected and even Eswaran duverinnsgon the price giving ceremony on Taarana’s Sport angry. I had to s Day travel overseas for weeks and their mother had to give up her job to take care of the baby. As they grew up and understood the situation and challenges of Jhovan, they realised that he is a blessing to the family because his condition makes us all realise that we are highly blessed. We are grateful for the opportunities given to our children that have enabled them to excel and look forward to a bright future.

andra’s A proud moment: Cass high school graduation

Straight From The Heart... Gifts Of The Heart is light, humorous and easy to read, but most of all, it is straight from the heart. It is a great collection of short stories about the lives of Malaysians. The reading is enjoyable for everyone, even those who are not Malaysians as these stories include characters that are funny and believable. I must say, these stories are a delight to read! The characters are lively and the stories themselves are filled with rib-tickling humour and truth. Tan cleverly gives you a glimpse of what Malaysian life may entail by ending not always on a happy note but using sad and reflective endings as well. While reading, you are sure to be filled with emotions ranging from satisfaction, doubt, complacency and even horror in some instances. All a part and parcel of Asian life they say…

review by Reba Koleth

Each story has an interesting twist leaving you to wonder what the end will be. Finally, you will be left pleasantly surprised, baffled or pleased when the ending is revealed. The writing is simple and down-to-earth. Tan has the ability to talk about important issues for her and make them matter to you too. This includes feminist issues such as motherhood, independence and entrapment. Needless to say, her locations are exotic and her characters are either charming or unlikeable (and sometimes both) – depending on the story line and her imagination. The stories, short as they may be, portray the uncertainties of life and will educate you on time and tradition while entertaining you at the same time. There is no stopping once you have read the first story!

Gifts Of The Heart Peggy Tan Pek Tao Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn. Bhd. 202 pages 978-967-978-971-3

g e readin d m i t t a e had a gr ere enlightene u o y t a th uw ar ticles s We hope e also hope yo u o i r a e! W g the v ing in h t y r this issu ined by readin e v e ove and er ta l t , n brand e e f e i d l h n t t a u e t o a b r tures a how you s u mail at: l and fea l e e t n a w o s u !N ropping d between y b t p.com s e u o u r Q g i n I q @ nt and o e o new l m a g v e . s i e bawan issue. favourit t r x u e o n y e s h hich wa hed in t w s i l s b u so keep u l l k p e c e T a k b i l d e u would ts and fe n e m what yo m o ing in! e your c u m l o a c v e m W the funky. d n a l o , stay co r e b o t c Till O